The Steampunk Chronicles #1: The Girl in the Steel Corset Review

Title: The Steampunk Chronicles #1: The Girl in the Steel Corset

Author: Kady Cross

Date of Publication: May 24, 2011

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Finley Jayne is a girl fighting for control in her own body. For as long as she can remember there has always been a 'thing' inside of her, taking control when she is in danger or frightened. When Finley is threatened by her employer her dark side takes control and fights back, leaving him incapacitated on the floor. Griffin King, a young orphaned duke who can speak to the dead, finds Finley on the streets and takes her in to join his band of misfits; a girl who can talk to machines, a half robot boy, and an abnormally fast American cowboy. Together they must stop the Machinist, a criminal with a plan to destroy all of London and give away the secret of their powers.

My Review:

Despite starting off a little slow, The Girl in the Steel Corset is a wonderful example of young adult steampunk. With a bit of mystery and romance thrown in and interesting characters this novel makes for a fast read. While the mystery was a bit obvious it still made for a good story and I enjoyed this book immensely.

Finley is a perfect main character, she manages to be kick-ass while also being a sweet and somewhat vulnerable. Both Griffin and Jack Dandy are swoon worthy love interests; Griffin being sweet and protective while Jack is dangerous and mysterious. The love triangle between Griffin and Jack was perfect, I loved both of them equally and can't wait to see where the romance goes.

The plot was interesting, yet a bit transparent. Many random events were necessary for the story to move along without much explanation to why or how they were happening. However I loved the changes in point of view, although it always seemed to happen at the most climatic moments. I also loved the action, each of the characters had their own special power that was necessary in defeating The Machinist.

The Girl in the Steel Corset is a must read for fans of the paranormal and steampunk genres. While the beginning is a little slow, once the story picks up speed it's impossible to put this book down. Cross is an excellent writer and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar.

4/5