Review: Steampunk/fantasy
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 22, 2014
This is a sweet story, there's no sex so if that's something you require, I would suggest that you don't read this book. And the ending is very abrupt, almost as if to leave it open for a sequel.Melba is a thief & message runner who is rescued when she's almost press-ganged by some sailors. She realizes the man who's rescued her is Master Turk, a master spy. She's hoping to better herself so she convinces Master Turk to let her pledge to him. Once they're at his home, she's outed as a girl. And Turk realizes as soon as he sees her feet, just what girl she is. She's the lost princess who was kidnapped many years ago.Turk is given the task by the Shining Brotherhood (a group of monks) of making her into a lady so that he can return her to her rightful place in the palace. As he's teaching her, the pair become friends & Melba's feelings soon turn to love. She asks Turk to marry her so that they don't have to part, but Turk is a Monk & can't break his vow of chastity.Melba is returned to the palace & the Grand Victualler starts to court her, hoping for an easy way to gain the throne once her father dies, which he's been working on hastening. Vitorrio begins to make Melba sick as well, wanting her to turn to him for aid. But Vitorrio's brother, Dante the Trash King, senses Melba's illness & gets Turk involved with a way to rescue Melba.