Around the blogosphere, you can read any number of reviews. From Hilcia at Impressions of a Reader:

I loved The Iron Duke. It’s a fast paced adventure with intrigue and excellent worldbuilding. I loved all the characters, both central and secondary — heroes and villains — the steampunk details and atmosphere.

Kristin at Nocturnal Bites:

Up until a few weeks ago, if you told me I would be knee-deep and utterly enthralled in a “Steam Punk” book I probably would have laughed out loud and declared on the spot where my reading loyalties lie. I’m a Vampires, shape-shifters, demons, etc. kinda gal. I’ll even stretch for a fallen angel here and there, although he better be bad arse or forget it!!

and while this isn’t the most positive review of The Iron Duke, I thought it was a great one nonetheless by Byrt at BookYurt:

Meanwhile, there are AMAZING ideas cluttering up the background of this story and it is painful to watch them be passed by in favor of the romance. The social tensions between the people who survived the Mongol occupation and those who fled and have now returned (i.e. those who have nanites in their blood and those who don't); the mysterious Blacksmith who can create living metal; the actual plot behind the murders; the Duke's history as a slave; how Mina's wonderful relationship with her adoptive father came about when her parents were initially so disgusted by the sight of her; how she can possibly get her job done when she's spit on by just about everyone she sees; the fear of a weapon that could control everyone who has nanotechnology in their blood (a second coming of the nightmare of Horde control); whatever happened to the Horde and why they haven't tried to take over Britain again; the emotional damage to those who were puppets under the Horder's control – I absolutely loved all of this, and it is all glossed over and rushed past in favor of Mina's utterly stereotypical romance. ARGH.

I think the BookYurt points out that there is a lot for us to be talking about in regards to The Iron Duke and I invite you to join the bookchat to begin at 8 PM CST tonight. Meljean Brook will join us at 9 PM CST so that the readers can chat about the book and say anything we like without the author looking over our shoulder. Come and let’s discuss.

Please remember that this discussion will be full of spoilers so don’t read/participate if you don’t want to be spoiled.

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The following are questions that we thought of in relation to the book. Let us know if you have answers or other questions.

• What does the future hold for Katniss, Peeta, and Gale?
• What did you think of Heymitch? Troublemaker? Untrustworthy? Surprising savoir?
• What do you think is the future of the political structure?
• Will there be a rebellion? If so, who will lead it? How do you think it will play out?
• Will there be retaliation against Katniss for her actions?
• Did you think it was fair for Katniss to get the rating that she did in archery?
• Did you think that Katniss had to face difficult moral decisions or where those tough choices ones she could avoid?
• What do you think was the inspiration for Hunger Games? One review says that it has ties to Rome.
• What role do you think Cinna plays?
• Which children were the worst off? The ones in the Districts where the children were raised to think that competing to kill other children and possibly die themselves was honorable as in Districts 1 & 2? Or the outlying districts which were so poor that the inhabitants had to forage for the smallest portions.
• Are there other books that reminded you of Hunger Games (because Jia and I want to read them).
• If you are an adult, why do these YA books appeal to you? Do you wish there were more books in the romance genre like this one?

And lastly, are you rooting for the K/G pairing or the K/P pairing? Choose sides and let’s rumble.