The Iron Duke (And His Evil Twin)
Jan. 22nd, 2011 10:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
themadpokerGuys, I would like to talk about a book I am reading! It is called The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook. If you’ve been thinking about picking it up but don’t want spoilers then I will say right now that I would recommend it, the worldbuilding is well done and the heroine is likeable but you need to have some tolerance for sexually harassing heroes (along the lines of hey pretty lady, you are totally going to sleep with me soon! when she makes it clear she’d like it if you’d stop saying that already)
So the hero! I have mentally separated him into two people. One is a pretty decent dude, he goes around rescuing the heroine and helping her when she runs off to save street kids and gradually cluing into the fact that he’s privileged in ways she really really isn’t and wanting to help. I’m fairly fond of this guy! If he succeeds in romancing Mina I will wish him all the best and hope they are happy together. The other guy does stuff like this:
ON A CASE, EARLY IN THEIR ACQUAINTANCE
MINA: So we’re at this house investigating a murder and we’re going to have to head up in this elevator. The duke asked me to sleep with him earlier and I turned him down. It’s a good thing this elevator’s large enough to fit him, my assistant and I together! Having another person there will be an awkwardness barrier.
THE DUKE: This elevator is far too small, Mina and I shall go up alone together. You can come later Mina’s assistant.
MINA’S THOUGHTS QUOTED DIRECTLY FROM THE BOOK: As they turned to go, Trahaern started the lift. Metal scraped as he threw the lever forward. Mina stared at the gate’s flat steel panel, almost blind with rage.
So this was how it would be? When pirates took over a ship, they usually gave the crew a choice between keeping their positions under a new captain, abandonment, or death. What choice would he give to her? She accepted his offer, or he ruined her family? Or would he simply rape her here?
ZEINEB: I am aware that the Duke is the hero of this novel and thus probably wouldn’t do that but Mina isn’t! I strongly feel he should drop the whole thing and also start respecting her personal space boundaries. Her discomfort with this situation is clearly evident. Stop.
SOME CHOICE QUOTES FROM THE DUKE: -after giving her yet another onceover- “You’ll come to my bed. And you won’t think it a waste of time.”
MINA: I really really won’t. Also if you could remove your hands from my face that would be excellent.
MORE QUOTAGE: “You will accept me. And now I will know you, even if you come to me in the dark.”
MINA: I’m serious, you step away from me or I’ll rip your balls off.
THE DUKE: I am fond of my balls. But make no mistake inspector, this isn’t over.
ZEINEB: Is it too early to dismiss him as a douchenozzle? Probably. I guess I can let it go if he starts reconsidering his actions in light of Mina’s feelings and stops actively pushing the sex thing. I mean he has to know that repeatedly stating his intentions to have sex with her are only making her extremely uncomfortable around him considering she knows if he did rape her she’d have absolutely no recourse because no one in the country would take the side of a half-Horde woman over the guy he saved the country from enslavement.
THE NEXT HUNDRED PAGES: He doesn’t let it go.
ZEINEB: So I’ve warmed up to the duke a bit what with rescuing and the zombie fighting and the concern over Mina’s kidnapped brother. He’s even toned down the sexual harassment a little! I mean he does keep insisting sex is going to happen but there’s less looming physical intimidation overtones to it. Also he’s agreed to help her mother’s Ladies Reformation League! Good man, I approve of a hero who makes nice with the family.
THE DUKE: So Mina you know how despite our efforts you have yet to find your brother and I can tell you are really extremely worried about him and willing to do pretty much anything to get him back?
MINA: I did just say if we don’t find him soon, I am going to go with my brother to the Ivory Market to search for him. And yes, I know we’ll probably die.
THE DUKE’S THOUGHTS QUOTED DIRECTLY FROM THE BOOK: And he was in uncharted territory now, needing something that he couldn’t take and couldn’t buy. The only leverage he had was the Terror and her brother.
“Accept my offer and share my bed,” he said, “and I’ll take you with me to find your brother. And we won’t return until we discover his location, whether he’s on the Terror or not. But only if you come with me.”
ZEINEB:
So the hero! I have mentally separated him into two people. One is a pretty decent dude, he goes around rescuing the heroine and helping her when she runs off to save street kids and gradually cluing into the fact that he’s privileged in ways she really really isn’t and wanting to help. I’m fairly fond of this guy! If he succeeds in romancing Mina I will wish him all the best and hope they are happy together. The other guy does stuff like this:
ON A CASE, EARLY IN THEIR ACQUAINTANCE
MINA: So we’re at this house investigating a murder and we’re going to have to head up in this elevator. The duke asked me to sleep with him earlier and I turned him down. It’s a good thing this elevator’s large enough to fit him, my assistant and I together! Having another person there will be an awkwardness barrier.
THE DUKE: This elevator is far too small, Mina and I shall go up alone together. You can come later Mina’s assistant.
MINA’S THOUGHTS QUOTED DIRECTLY FROM THE BOOK: As they turned to go, Trahaern started the lift. Metal scraped as he threw the lever forward. Mina stared at the gate’s flat steel panel, almost blind with rage.
So this was how it would be? When pirates took over a ship, they usually gave the crew a choice between keeping their positions under a new captain, abandonment, or death. What choice would he give to her? She accepted his offer, or he ruined her family? Or would he simply rape her here?
ZEINEB: I am aware that the Duke is the hero of this novel and thus probably wouldn’t do that but Mina isn’t! I strongly feel he should drop the whole thing and also start respecting her personal space boundaries. Her discomfort with this situation is clearly evident. Stop.
SOME CHOICE QUOTES FROM THE DUKE: -after giving her yet another onceover- “You’ll come to my bed. And you won’t think it a waste of time.”
MINA: I really really won’t. Also if you could remove your hands from my face that would be excellent.
MORE QUOTAGE: “You will accept me. And now I will know you, even if you come to me in the dark.”
MINA: I’m serious, you step away from me or I’ll rip your balls off.
THE DUKE: I am fond of my balls. But make no mistake inspector, this isn’t over.
ZEINEB: Is it too early to dismiss him as a douchenozzle? Probably. I guess I can let it go if he starts reconsidering his actions in light of Mina’s feelings and stops actively pushing the sex thing. I mean he has to know that repeatedly stating his intentions to have sex with her are only making her extremely uncomfortable around him considering she knows if he did rape her she’d have absolutely no recourse because no one in the country would take the side of a half-Horde woman over the guy he saved the country from enslavement.
THE NEXT HUNDRED PAGES: He doesn’t let it go.
ZEINEB: So I’ve warmed up to the duke a bit what with rescuing and the zombie fighting and the concern over Mina’s kidnapped brother. He’s even toned down the sexual harassment a little! I mean he does keep insisting sex is going to happen but there’s less looming physical intimidation overtones to it. Also he’s agreed to help her mother’s Ladies Reformation League! Good man, I approve of a hero who makes nice with the family.
THE DUKE: So Mina you know how despite our efforts you have yet to find your brother and I can tell you are really extremely worried about him and willing to do pretty much anything to get him back?
MINA: I did just say if we don’t find him soon, I am going to go with my brother to the Ivory Market to search for him. And yes, I know we’ll probably die.
THE DUKE’S THOUGHTS QUOTED DIRECTLY FROM THE BOOK: And he was in uncharted territory now, needing something that he couldn’t take and couldn’t buy. The only leverage he had was the Terror and her brother.
“Accept my offer and share my bed,” he said, “and I’ll take you with me to find your brother. And we won’t return until we discover his location, whether he’s on the Terror or not. But only if you come with me.”
ZEINEB:
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