Review - The Girl in the Steel Corset

by Kady Cross
publisher: Harlequin Teen
date of publication: May 24, 2011
format: eGalley
pages: 477
source: Netgalley
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

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.

What I Thought

Having already read the prequel, The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, I will briefly begin by comparing The Girl in the Steel Corset to the aforementioned novella. The overall tone of each work was slightly different. The Girl in the Steel Corset was a lot more involved, as well as a lot grittier. Although the span of time that has elapsed between the two stories is not very long, there are some differences in Finley's character. While she was a formidable enough character in The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, she is much more dangerous in The Girl in the Steel Corset. In the latter, we learn the real extent of Finley's worry over her darker half, as well as just how much its influence has progressed. While she had a certain gentleness about her in TSCoFJ, glimpses of that gentleness are fewer and more far between in TGitSC. She has more worries to contend with now, as well as more serious dangers to face than she had previously.

In The Girl in the Steel Corset, we are finally introduced to the mysterious Duke of Greythorne, Griffin King, who, if you read The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, you may remember. As it turns out, Griffin is a spectacle in his own right. Much like Finley, he is in possession of some very mysterious powers, though of a vastly different type. He is also a very affable character that it would be very difficult to be annoyed with. Though only eighteen or so, Griffin possesses a maturity beyond his years thanks to the mysterious death of his parents three years prior. It is easy to forget as his authoritative attributes are explored that he is so very young. Also revealing more about Griffin is the company he keeps. Sam, Emily, and Jasper are all vastly talented people who have found both friendship and a home with Griffin. His interactions with these people, as well as Finley, do a great deal to reveal the level of kindness he is capable of. It is no wonder he is a love interest for Finley.

As this is a YA novel, there is (perhaps not too surprisingly), a love triangle in the works. The other member of this triangle is a bit shocking, however. Rather than another member of Griffin's household or circle, Finley's interest is piqued by Jack Dandy, a cocky criminal overlord with a Cockney accent. The interactions between the two is perhaps more surprising. There is something underneath the surface of Jack that leaves behind the feeling of curiosity. What are his motives? Just what is he involved in? How can Finley possibly be interested in a self-admitted criminal? There are several points to ponder, which makes him a very intriguing character. I will be curious to see what else he has to offer in the next books.

I loved the action that The Girl in the Steel Corset had to offer. From tangles with people to altercations with automatons, there is a lot going in this book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It was very easy to become immersed in this book. Kady Cross has also given us a fascinating taste of steampunk, a taste that has left me with a craving for more. With strong female characters, biting wit, and gritty action sequences, this book is sure to please. There is so much more I could say, but it would give away too much. Suffice it to say that I will be looking forward to Kady's next book and give this offering 5 hoots.

Obligatory legal statement: This galley was provided to me free of charge via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.