The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1)

Author: Kady Cross
Series: Steampunk Chronicles, #1
Age Group: Young Adult
Format: Hardback
Pages: 473
Published: 5/24/2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Local Library
My Rating: * * * *

In 1987 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 dukes 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.

I just finished this book about ten minutes ago! That's a good thing, believe me. I felt so many conflicting emotions that I have never felt when reading any other book so far. I was frustrated, overjoyed, confused etc... I just didn't know what to do!


This is the first book in which I can't choose over the love interests. There's Griffin with his dominant character. At times, I wanted to hit him, but at other moments I wanted to hug him.


Jack Dandy. Dangerous. Gorgeous. Lethal. Pirate accent. Overall, just a hottie! A very different bad boy I would say. Here's one of his quotes that especially made me fall for him. "Don't cry, Treasure. You'll get me all wet and then I'll melt. I'm made of sugar, don't you know."(pg. 459) Isn't he amazing?!


Do you see where my turmoil comes from? I just couldn't hate one and love the other. Miss Kady Cross is a genius! Let's move on. The other love triangle was Emily, Jasper, and Sam. Emily was adorable! Smart, but unfortunately helpless. I actually preferred Jasper over Sam, but Emily seemed to disagree with me.


Lastly, the mystery in this book was very entertaining. Predictable, but fun. As always, I detested how Finley was portrayed as very strong, yet Griffin was stronger than her. It always bother me when the male is stronger. That's it! I will recommend this book. The Girl in the Steel Corset is an entertaining read, and I would have given it five stars, except that it wasn't perfect. Otherwise, it was a wonderful read. Maybe the next book, coming out in June 2012, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, will receive five stars.


About the Author:

In her other life, Kady Cross is a USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty books. She is lucky enough to have a husband who shares her love for the slightly twisted and all things geek, and a houseful of cats with whom she shares her darkest secrets. When she's not listening to the characters in her head, she's either trying to formulate the perfect lip gloss or teaching herself to soldier. She has a weakness for all things girlie, sugar skulls and boots. Her love of books and makeup borders on addiction--of which she never, ever wants to be cured.

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