What do you think?
Rate this book
The Iron Seas #5
The Blacksmith
The Blacksmith's book (publication date TBD)
Unknown Binding
991 people want to read
About the author
Meljean Brook
51 books2,575 followersBook info: I am the author of the Iron Seas steampunk romance series. I've written a guide to the world (including a map) on my website.
I also write a paranormal romance series, the Guardians. That series guide is also on my website, including a "The Story So Far" feature, which allows you to catch up on all of the books that previously released in the series if you start after the first installment.
Goodreads info: I am slowly, slowly adding to my shelves and reviews. It's unlikely that I will join many book discussions (especially of my own work) simply because I don't want to stifle reader conversation.
Bio: Meljean was raised in the middle of the woods, and hid under her blankets at night with fairy tales, comic books, and romances. She left the forest and went on a misguided tour through the world of accounting before focusing on her first loves, reading and writing–and she realized that monsters, superheroes, and happily-ever-afters are easily found between the covers, as well as under them, so she set out to make her own.
Meljean lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.
I also write a paranormal romance series, the Guardians. That series guide is also on my website, including a "The Story So Far" feature, which allows you to catch up on all of the books that previously released in the series if you start after the first installment.
Goodreads info: I am slowly, slowly adding to my shelves and reviews. It's unlikely that I will join many book discussions (especially of my own work) simply because I don't want to stifle reader conversation.
Bio: Meljean was raised in the middle of the woods, and hid under her blankets at night with fairy tales, comic books, and romances. She left the forest and went on a misguided tour through the world of accounting before focusing on her first loves, reading and writing–and she realized that monsters, superheroes, and happily-ever-afters are easily found between the covers, as well as under them, so she set out to make her own.
Meljean lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 8, 2024
Still patiently waiting for this old love of mine.
On her blog, Meljean wrote a while back:
"MELJEAN, ARE YOU ALIVE?
...
But the reason I haven’t published The Blacksmith is that I had a bad bad bad bad burnout following THE KRAKEN KING. I was still able to write, and have been writing all this time, but getting back into steampunk and the book I’ve wanted to write forever—the Blacksmith’s—wasn’t happening. And…it still isn’t.
So if you’re here looking for an update on the Blacksmith, I don’t have one. And I probably won’t have one for a while. I’ve put it aside for the time being, because my choice is to either force a book that isn’t coming (and that I’ve hated every time I’ve put words to page, even though I love the story in my head) or just wait until it does. I’d rather do the latter, even though it sucks. For some reason, the steampunk is stuck. I have my theories about why, and I’d be happy to discuss them in terms of being a writer or just in general, but that’s not what this page is for.
....
I also still love the Blacksmith’s story, and a part of me is hoping that now, with the “OMG THIS CONTRACT IS DUE AND YOU NEED TO WRITE THIS RIGHT NOW!” feeling gone, it’ll click between my brain and my words. Because the second it does, I’ll write it. I want to write it. But I don’t want to write crap, which is what it is now. "
So here we are folks. Don't know about you all, but I'm still just as hyped for this no-doubt gem. And if there is something I do get, then that something is called a burnout.
On her blog, Meljean wrote a while back:
"MELJEAN, ARE YOU ALIVE?
...
But the reason I haven’t published The Blacksmith is that I had a bad bad bad bad burnout following THE KRAKEN KING. I was still able to write, and have been writing all this time, but getting back into steampunk and the book I’ve wanted to write forever—the Blacksmith’s—wasn’t happening. And…it still isn’t.
So if you’re here looking for an update on the Blacksmith, I don’t have one. And I probably won’t have one for a while. I’ve put it aside for the time being, because my choice is to either force a book that isn’t coming (and that I’ve hated every time I’ve put words to page, even though I love the story in my head) or just wait until it does. I’d rather do the latter, even though it sucks. For some reason, the steampunk is stuck. I have my theories about why, and I’d be happy to discuss them in terms of being a writer or just in general, but that’s not what this page is for.
....
I also still love the Blacksmith’s story, and a part of me is hoping that now, with the “OMG THIS CONTRACT IS DUE AND YOU NEED TO WRITE THIS RIGHT NOW!” feeling gone, it’ll click between my brain and my words. Because the second it does, I’ll write it. I want to write it. But I don’t want to write crap, which is what it is now. "
So here we are folks. Don't know about you all, but I'm still just as hyped for this no-doubt gem. And if there is something I do get, then that something is called a burnout.
Read
August 2, 2025We are not owed an artist's art. As readers we need to remember that and celebrate the books we love, regardless of who wrote them. That's how we can support our favorite authors, be vocal about a book we've read, loved and buy those books. More importantly, accept what we cannot know or understand about an author - who is a human being far different than the author we think we know. Good Luck, Meljean Brook!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews