A FEAR SHE CAN'T ESCAPE
Ten years ago, Perry fled her thrall contract to find sanctuary among the Nighthawks. In that time, she's become a respected woman of the Guard, and she's wanted Garrett Reed for as long as she can remember. But when a new case takes a chillingly familiar turn, Perry finds herself once again in the path of a madman...only this time, there's nowhere left to run.
A DESIRE THAT CAN'T BE TEMPERED
Out of their depth and racing against time, Perry and Garrett must learn to trust the desire sparking between them...or risk losing themselves forever to the darkness stalking London's streets.
The Review:
The Nighthawks must investigate a case that is disturbingly familiar to Perry, but the secretive detective isn't about to give anything away to her partner, Garrett. Not about the case, her past, or the fact that she's totally in love with him.
This is Book 4 of the London Steampunk series and at this point I really feel like you’re either already reading the series, and know how incredibly freaking awesome it is, or you need to go, RIGHT NOW, and read the first book Kiss of Steel. There may or may not be spoilers for the rest of the series in this review, so, just to be safe, you better go read Books 1-3.5 before you read on. You won’t regret it.
So, to Perry and Garrett. The series has been building up to this romance for the last two books (starting in My Lady Quicksilver and then rewinding but developing significantly in The Curious Case of the Clockwork Menace), and, thank goodness, Forged by Desire did not disappoint.
One of the VERY many things I love about this series is how different each pairing is. This time we had a friends to lovers storyline, which is something I usually avoid. I often find it hard to get to know characters when they already know each other, but, possibly because of the buildup and romance prequel in The Clockwork Menace, that was not a problem in this one. In fact, I think the history between Garrett and Perry meant that this relationship was possibly the deepest and most meaningful of the series.
Garrett has no idea that Perry has been in love with him for years, but after an event (that took place during My Lady Quicksilver), when Perry cast aside her tomboy look and glammed up like a girly-girl for a case, Garrett’s feelings for his partner became a little confusing. Ah, Garrett, a total ladies’ man, he’s not really emotionally equipped to deal with the likes of, you know, feelings. To make matters worse, his craving virus levels are dangerously high and he is beginning to have trouble controlling his more primal vampire desires.
I have to admit, I had my doubts about player Garrett. Does he really deserve Perry – the tomboy nighthawk who somehow found a special place in my heart? Well, I’m not sure, but by the end of this book I was completely head over heels in love with him anyway.
As for Perry… Well, she’s such a wonderful heroine. While most of the heroes and heroines of the London Steampunk series have pretty extensive traumatic backgrounds, Perry is the one I felt expressed quite realistically the results of that trauma. She’s the most boyish heroine, as well as very empowered like the others (She also gets some totally fantastic girl power moments, including an epic fight scene towards the end that is so kick ass), but her past is very much a dark and haunting element in this book. It’s actually quite heartbreaking. Although Rosalind remains my favorite London Steampunk heroine, Perry is the most three dimensional and emotionally absorbing character of the series.
I really liked the way Garrett takes on her trauma, even though he doesn’t know her full story, and looks after her as the caring protective friend first, and lover second. Ah, see how he won me over?
In this story we also get development from the other characters of the series. Lynch takes on a more paternal role, which I thought was really sweet, and by the end we have the full gang together – both the street gang from the first two (and a half) books and the nighthawk gang from the last two (and a half books), as well as dearest Leo.
The world is getting much darker at this point and the stakes are getting higher as we head into the final twists and turns of the series. Our favorite characters are plotting, revolution is on its way and things are getting real!
I can’t wait for the next installment (AND LEO’S ROMANCE!), but I know I’ll be devastated when it’s all over.
What am I even going to do with my life?
You can find the rest of my London Steampunk reviews here:
Book 1: Kiss of Steel
Book 2: Heart of Iron
Book 3: My Lady Quicksilver
Book 3.5: The Curious Case Of The Clockwork Menace
Forged by Desire by Bec McMaster is a steampunk romance released by Sourcebooks Casablanca on September 2, 2014.
Find this book at: Amazon | Book Depository | The Publisher | Goodreads
