Book Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset (ARC)

The Girl in the Steel Corset (The Steampunk Chronicles #1)
by Kady Cross
336 Pages - Hardcover (477 Pages - eARC)
Expected publication: May 24th 2011 by Harlequin Teen
Source: ARC from NetGalley

Summary:

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

Review:

The Girl in the Steel Corset picks up where The Strange Case of Finley Jayne left. After Finley’s departure from the Morton’s, she is offered a position as a lady maid in the August-Raynes’s household. Finley thinks she couldn’t get into much trouble by being a lady maid. So when a lord tried to force himself upon her, she knew then and there that she would be unemployed for the nth time in as many months. After that, Finley finds herself under the care of Griffin King, the Duke of Greythorne, along with others who have superhuman abilities like her.

In the prequel, I didn’t quite catch the difference between Finley’s two personalities. I didn’t give much thought into it either but in TGitSC, her two personalities are given more emphasis and thus, became more distinct. But I'm not sure if I like the shy Finley. Her badass self is definitely more interesting. Though I also don't like how she's so compelled to any kinds of trouble.

Cross's writing is as compelling and twice as witty as in the prequel. TGitSC is action-packed, fascinating and hugely entertaining. The world that Cross created is vivid and imaginative. Her characters are very likable and easy to connect with. They have really interesting back stories that support the present story. The romance, also, is very realistic. There is a love triangle here, but I think everyone could guess who Finley's really going to end up with (I hope).

TGitSC is told in third person POV. Practically all the characters, even some of the minor ones have their own POV so it could be a little confusing when the POV switches from one character to another. This is also a very lengthy read. Goodreads says that this has 336 pages but the eARC has 477. But anyhow, lengthy or not, Kady Cross's The Girl in the Steel Corset is one novel you must not miss.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Disclosure: This e-ARC was provided by the publisher (Harlequin Teen via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.

Download The Girl in the Steel Corset's prequel, The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, for free!

29 comments:

  1. Sounds like this book is even better than the prequel. I'm really looking forward to reading it. I wasn't sure but I've read so many good reviews (yours included!) that made me set it firmly on my TBR list. Thanks for another great review.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can't wait to read this, and I'm excited to know that it has a love triangle with a pretty clear winner. I'm tired of backing a loser!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have been dyinggg to read this! Can't wait to read it! Definitely on my list of TBR!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am more excited about this book than any other at the moment, thank you for the great review!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You're definitely making me anticipate this novel even more. I love the time period, and the added steampunk feel just makes it sound excellent. I'm really excited for this one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I didn't know this one was a sequel I've seen it on multiple sites though and the thing that got my attention was the amazing cover. I'm a cover freak what can I say.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am glad you enjoyed this book! I loved it! I was able to read the eARC on netgalley. I can't wait for the second one. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This sounds like an interesting book. I can't wait to read it. Nice review.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have been seeing this book on the blogs and was interested. The cover really caught my attention. I did not know it was Steampunk and there was one before this book. Great review, thanks.

    Judy
    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  10. This sounds so interesting, and now I want to read it even more! Great review! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for writing this review. I enjoyed the wit in The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, so I'm happy to hear there's even more in TGitSC. I'm looking forward to it even more now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the synopsis of the book, I need to read this so badly! Awesome review!

    ReplyDelete
  13. As long as I can distinguish between the POVs somehow, I'll be happy. I hate it when characters switch and I have no idea who's side I'm reading. Great review, Chel!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great review! I've just started reading steampunk, and this book looks like it would make a good addition to my reads.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I've only read a few Steampunk's and this was one of the best. love, love, loved it.

    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've been waiting forever to read this novel! Good Reads releases these titles really early in advance, you are so lucky you got to read it first!

    ReplyDelete
  17. love the cover and been wanting to check it out for a while now. thanks for sharing a good review on it

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sounds like a great book! I've been dying to read it for so long now! I'm glad to hear that it's as good as I hoped. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. This sound like a good book! I've never heard of this author before. Thanks for the review!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have been looking forward to this book since I first heard about it. This review makes me want to read it even more! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you so much for sharing your honest opinion! I have been dying to read this one for a while and I really cannot wait to get my hands on a copy! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I want that dress. Gorgeous! Oh, and I guess I want to read the book, too. ;) I've heard so much about it that now I *have* to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I've read books by this author(under another name) and can't wait to read her first YA book. I'm slowly making my way back into the YA genre. Thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love the book cover. Awesome review cause I really want to read it now.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I've heard so many good things about this book, and I'm quite excited to hear that it's third person. I haven't read a third person story that shifts POV in awhile, and I always love them. I can't wait to read this book...

    ReplyDelete
  26. Characters for me really break or make a book - I feel character development and whether they are relateable and/or likable is key! Sounds like Kady Cross did an amazing job at both! Can't wait to read this book, I have heard nothing but good news about it.

    Great Review!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love steampunk so I know I'm going to love this book! I can't wait to read it, and the prequel too :) Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Glad you loved the actual book. I've only heard good things about The Girl in the Steel Corset. Which is better to fully comprehend the story concept... to read the prequel first or the actual book instead? Or will it make a difference or spoil things if read out of place?

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thank you for the Review. Glad to hear you like it. I haven't read any Steampunk novel yet... But I think I'm going to love this kind of book now I read your comments...

    See ya!

    ReplyDelete

Internet high-five for every comment!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 

Blog Template by BloggerCandy.com