Monday, June 6, 2011

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

We are first introduced to Miss Finley Jayne as she uses brute force to ward off the unwanted advances of her employer's son. She flees the scene and is taken in by a Duke named Griffin King. Griffin is no ordinary boy, however, and neither is the company he keeps. Griffin can see into the Aether and holds deep family secrets. Sam's body is infused with machines, leaving him super strong and plenty angry. Emily is an incredible doctor. And Finley herself is battling emerging powers she is only beginning to understand. Put these characters together, and they become quite the team. Which is good, because there is a terrible criminal out there who can only be stopped by the combined forces of this group.

I didn't want this book to end. What a fantastic world Kady Cross has created! This wasn't the sort of steampunk with airships and clockwork villains, but rather the kind of steampunk that is full of well-oiled machines and fancy corsets. An actual steel corset! I totally want one. And the automatons were fantastic! Used in everything from chauffeurs to surgeons to housemaids. Brilliant! Finley is a wonderfully tough chic, much like Aoife in The Iron Thorn. Fans will love this book! The minor paranormal elements were marvelously thought out. Sometimes I thought they might not fit too well with the steampunk world, but they actually blend quite nicely. I like the strong Jekyll & Hyde undertones as well. Kady Cross writes gorgeous dialog that is subtly funny and powerful in style. My favorite passages in the book were the ones filled with vivid colors and textures. This is a great stand alone book, but the last few pages leave a wide opening for book two. I personally can't wait!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

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