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6.27.2011

PJ Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Genre: Young Adult, Steampunk
Paranormal Element: Ether, Steampunk
Series: The Steampunk Chronicles #1
Order Online:  Amazon.com
Stalk the Author: Web | Blog
Digital copy from Netgalley.com for Review

PJ's QUICKIE POV:
Can I just say...great book, fabulous cover?! Hello Young Adult Steampunk! THE GIRL IN THE STEEL CORSET is a fabulous mix of steampunk goodness, paranormal quirkiness, mystery, romance, coming-of-age emotion and dastardly evil villains - I was enthralled from start to finish.This is another young adult titan to add to your Must Have list!

REVIEW:
The setting is 1897 England, steampunk version. Our main kick-arse heroine is Finley James, ladies maid who has a very shocking secret. A beast lives inside her and when pushed to the edge it rears it’s head and strikes.

Finley is pushed to the edge when her ingrate of an employer’s son tries to force himself upon her. She let’s her dark side take over and the poor noble ends up knocked out on the floor and Finley is fleeing for her life. Out of the mist, literally comes Duke Griffin King and sweeps in to rescue Finley, taking her to his home and inviting her to become a part of his band of “special” friends.

One of their past-times is solving unsolvable crimes and they are currently investigating the nefarious crime lord who calls himself The Machinist. His recent rash of thefts and crimes have all been enacted by a band of automatons that seem to possess an ability to think. Finley agrees to help but with a bit of reservation. She’s nervous around Griffin’s friends and the fact that he is a Duke is very intimidating - even if she does find him deliciously seductive.

As The Machinist begins focusing specifically on Griffin and his friends things start to get very heated and a plot is revealed that speaks of things a lot more intense then just a few thefts here and there...

A wonderful example of the greatness that is steampunk! THE GIRL IN THE STEEL CORSET sucks you in and pops you out with crazy machines flitting around your head. I can not wait to read more. The reason this rated a four star instead of a full five was only because I found some plot threads that just didn’t add up within the mystery. The villain was discovered just a little too easily from elements that were introduced outside of the plot instead of discovered within. Nothing that detracts though, there was so much going on in this novel I’m surprised more wasn’t dropped. Yet, if the mystery held it’s own it would have been perfect.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommended for Steampunk fans young adult and adult alike. This is a wonderful transition from paranormal romance to steampunk if you are looking to broaden your horizons.





review title


Like this Like That
  1. The Iron Duke (A Novel of the Iron Seas) by Meljean Brook (Adult Title)
  2. Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger (Adult Title)












20 comments:

Cait said...

PJ I cannot believe there is not one mention of Jack Dandy in your whole review! Aside from that, totally agree with eveything you said. The book was almost perfect aside from the slightly disappointing mystery. I cannot wait for the sequel

The Cait Files

April (BooksandWine) said...

The Girl In The Steel Corset sounds awesome! What a fabulous review.

Also, wanted to mention that it looks to me like you did a redesign of your layout and I love it! Your site loads way faster now and it looks really nice. Good job :-D

ParaJunkee said...

@Cait - I actually didn't like Dandy he just drove me crazy. I think it was because his personality was a facade and so very fake and it was only dropped a few times. Maybe in later books I'll get to like him more, because I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of him. His character was phenomenally developed though - like all of the characters in this novel.

@April - thanks sweets. Spring cleaning. I dumped everything.

Lisa (Reading to the Moon) said...

Great review. I read The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (as a free e-read) and definitely need to read this book. I really liked Soulless and The Iron Duke.

Shelagh said...

Fantastic review Rachel - I always appreciate your call-it-like-I-see-it approach. Now, of course, I have even more reason to desperately want a copy of this book. Hmm.... *retreats to make nefarious plans*

Shelagh
The Word Fiend

Samantha said...

I want to read this soooooo bad!

TheBookAddictedGirl said...

Brilliant review! It sounds like you really liked this book. And now I have to get my hands on a copy of this book! ;)

Rain Maiden said...

Enjoyed your take on this book, I want to go out and get this now!

Stephsco said...

I like that you posted the two other books under Like This Like That. I read "Soulless" and liked it for the most part, very creative but it had some issues, too. This story sounds just as interesting. Thanks for the review!

Alyssa Kirk said...

Great review! More steampunk goodness!

ParaJunkee said...

@LC - Both of those adult titles were phenomenal and I was a little hesitant to list them, because of this being a YA title -- but I haven't read any other steampunk YA

@Shelagh - Thank you! Good luck with those nefarious plans. I saw a certain Book Addict make off with a copy at the Harlequin book at ALA11 - pay me enough money I'll give you her address… *wink wink*

@Samantha - What is stopping you??

@TheBookAddictedGirl - Thank you! Good luck.

@Rain - thanks! Well let me know what you think of it if you get it.

@Stephsco - You are welcome. I really enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate books.

@Alyssa - Gotta love steampunk goodness.

Unknown said...

Awesome review! I really need to read this ASAP!!!! THank you for sharing your thoughts PJ!

Johanna said...

I just finished The Nightwatchman Express(another Steampunk novel) and loved it. Can't wait to check this one out too.

Gina @ My Precious said...

This is one I picked up on NetGalley. I'm about 70% done (reading it on my Kindle). This is my first experience with the Steampunk Genre. I am finding I like it a lot.

What did you think of Sam, to me he was whiney and wore on my patience with all of his wallowing in self pity, plus he was so mean to Finley.

I like the character Jack Dandy. I felt like Finley's good side was drawn to Griffen and the evil one to Jack Dandy. It seemed suitable and fitting to me.

Lola said...

Wow! Awesome review! I'll definitely have to check this one out! :)

Bookish in a Box said...

This looks amazing! I love everything from the cover to the genre to the description. Glad you liked it!

Lani Wendt Young said...

Okay i had never heard of 'Steam punk' until now - thank you for once again opening my eyes to something else in the YA fiction world that I needed to know about!

Molli @ Once Upon a Prologue said...

Great review! This one sounds really fab, and I have added it to my TBR list!

Allison said...

yay, glad to see a positive review for this! I've read the prequel, but haven't had a chance to dive into this yet. Really looking forward to it :)

Denise Z said...

I so want this book! Thanks for sharing today :)

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