The Girl in the Steel Corset *Some Spoilers*

Reviewer: Kaependragon

Author: Kady Cross

Pages: 473

Publisher: Harlequin

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. (via goodreads)

I am an enormous fan of the Victorian era and I absolutely love anything steampunk so if you mix those two things together you get The Girl In The Steel Corset and then some!

Kady Cross is an excellent story teller who has created her own world within an era and has does so beautifully and rather flawlessly! I didn't realize how much time had past until I had looked up at the clock and saw that I was already halfway through the book! I can tell you that this story will grab you the the collar of your shirt and haul you in until you've either finished it or have fallen asleep. When I wasn't reading I was repeatedly taking glances at the beautiful cover! I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book! Her writing style was easy to follow and her descriptions of the characters and setting were so vivid! It was almost as if I was inside the story and could look around and see, hear, smell and even experience what the characters were going through! The inventions and the machinery found woven into the story left my mind wanting to know more!

Finley Jayne is a 'kick some butt now and ask questions later' kind of character who embodies everything a strong heroine is needed to be! She’s definitely my kind of girl! I’m loving how many of the novels released this year have female protagonists that rock and Kady Cross’s character is surly one of my favourites! From dishing out some well needed beat downs to tearing the arm off an automaton with her bare hands leads Kady Cross’s character to becoming a model to what, I’d imagine every women in London wished she could do—stand up for herself.

At times Finley is unsure and is afraid of what her ‘darker’ half makes her feel and do. However she is still a confident, independent and head strong character. I mean what sane person would walk around Whitechaple, London in the dead of night and a woman no less? Definitely a person who can take care of themselves!

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters, like the young Irish genius Emily and Sam who is a deeply conflicted and distraught man. Who could forget the super fast American cowboy named Jasper? They added so much volume to the plot! I couldn't forget about the two men who vie for Finely’s affections: Griffin King, a Duke who is a kind hearted and charming gentleman who is open-minded and accepts Finley for who she is and then there is Jack, the flirtatious yet dangerous man who embraces Finley’s dark side and ultimately causes Finley’s dark self to rise up.

I absolutely loved Kady Cross’s debut novel and I can say that I wasn't ready for it to end! I am anxiously waiting for the next installment of The Steampunk Chronicles! I need the next one. As soon as possible! Scratch that, I need it now! I need to know what happens next! An instant favourite of mine and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the Victorian era, love triangles, killer machines and romance!

5/5 Altered Automatrons!