Steampunk Chronicles #4 The Girl with the Windup Heart

Presenting Steampunk Chronicles #4 The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross.

Here is the summary of the book:

In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.

London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.

Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.

Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.

Another great ending to a great series. Steampunk Chronicles, of course its steampunk and the paranormal romance makes it an even more desirable series. Kady Cross has done a really great job in shaping this series and this concludes it with a fitting finale. Although Goodreads mention a 5th novel, so I don't really know if this is the last one yet.

Finley, Griffin, Sam, Emily, Jasper, Cat, Jack Dandy and Mila. All of them paired off and all of them getting their happily ever after. Hard to believer at first but that is the truth and I totally love all the pairs. So, 'The Girl with the Windup heart' literally tells two stories. Divided equally with Dandy and Mila on one side and our resident steampunk-y motley crew of Griffin, Finley, Sam, Emily, Jasper and Cat finally taking on the Machinist in the final showdown.

Perfectly well balanced and well balanced with just the right amount of drama, romance and action, Cross manages to successfully pulls us into her perfectly constructed 1897 steampunk London. Of course, their is no shortage of strong characters evidencing strong character development. I really don't want to say anything more because then i'll be spoiling the story for those who haven't read it yet, so I strongly recommend that you all check this out and if you haven't begun the series yet, then definitely do so.

"A well balances, action packed and unputdownable steampunk saga"

Genre :      Historical Fantasy, Steampunk, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: 27th May, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Books in the series (review links):
              #0.5 The Strange Case of Finley Jayne 
              #1 The Girl in the Steel Corset 
              #2 The Girl in the Clockwork Collar 
              #3 The Girl with the Iron Touch

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Steampunk Chronicles #3 The Girl with the Iron Touch

HAPPY RELEASE DAY.... Another perfect strike. Presenting Steampunk Chronicles #3 The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross.

Here is the summary of the book:

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

Steampunk, the ever elusive branch of sci-fi reinvents itself everytime an author successfully tries to incorporate this historical science fantasy bringing in something never before read. Kady Cross' Steampunk Chronicles is one such beauty that adds sci-fi, steampunk, history, drama, suspense, romance and all things nice to deliver something of the order to us and we readers have the right fun time reading and visualizing them as if they are happening right infront and we are an integral part of it.

For Finley, Griffin, Sam, Emily and Jasper .... our band of heroes this is another adventure that brings them even closer together. The archenemy, Machinist/Garibaldi is still at large and he has something even more dangerous up his sleeve, an automaton more human than machines.... does not bode well at all and Emily gets one garnering major attention because of her expertise with machines.

What I liked about the book and every other one in the series is that Kady Cross keeps it original and distinct, nothing too longwinding for readers to even consider not reading it. There are more than two characters in this series so I really commend Cross on successfully keeping all the perspectives separate.

The Girl with the Iron Touch, while primarily is Emily, Sam and new girl Mila's story but Griffin, Finley and Jasper still play a major part of the tale. Sam & Emily and Finley & Griffin finally address their feelings for one another. My personal favorite were when they had separate scenes together and the epic battle.... the use of clever tactics was just simply the most brilliant conclusion the book needed.... Ms. Cross I hope you are going to write more in this series because.... WE WANT MORE....

"Epic, Historical and Steampunk-tastically perfect"

Genre :     Historical Fantasy, Steampunk, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


My Copy: Publisher and Netgalley


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Awesome)


Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 The Strange Case of Finley Jayne

         #1 The Girl in the Steel Corset

         #2 The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

Steampunk Chronicles #2 The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

Friendship, trust and love are the most basal emotions or feelings in this universe and that is what forms the center of Griffin, Finley, Emily, Sam and Jasper's next adventure. Presenting Steampunk Chronicles #2 The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross.

Here is the summary of the book:

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous. Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

The Girl in the Steel Corset ended with Jasper being taken to New York for some crime he had committed. Now Griffin values friendship very much and Jasper's case seems very peculiar, so him, Finley, Emily and Sam set out to New York to get some answers...and also get Jasper back. But the situation is much more different than that. Turns out that Jasper had stolen some device from this underworld guy called Reno Dalton and dismantled it all across New York to keep Dalton from finding it again.

Dalton wants it back and holds his....love, Mei's life as leverage. If Jasper doesn't do as asked then Dalton would tighten the Clockwork Collar around Mei's neck and strangle her to death. Add to the mix Griffin and the gang, they are trying all they can to get Jasper out of Dalton's house and decide to infiltrate Dalton's gang and find out what Dalton wants from Jasper and why does he want that dangerous machine. But if things are not how they seem to be...will Jasper, Griffin, Finley, Emily and Sam be able to figure it out or will it be too late.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, sheds new light on the life and times of all our main characters. The multiple perspective is also a plus in this case. While Girl in the Steel Corset was all about Finely finding and coming to terms with her dark side, this one is Jasper's story with Griffin and the gang playing a secondary role. All Jasper wants to do is keep his friends safe and keep Dalton from killing Mei, even if it would mean that he'd loose his life.

Griffin and Finley on the other hand.....well now they are a case of their own....too much sexual tension there. It is clear enough they have strong feeling for one another. Their social status in Finley's case and jealousy in Griffin's seems to be what is stopping them to do anything about it. God throughout the book you'd want to bang your head and yell at them to get their acts together. Sam and Emily again pretty much remain the secondary characters.....maybe we'll see them more in a future book of the series. Just like the previous books this one can also be seen as a standalone book and very interesting read, dynamic and action packed. Great work done by Ms. Kady Cross. Hope we'll see more in the Steampunk Chronicles and this was not the end.

"Action packed and adrenaline induced; Griffin, Finley and the gang take New York by storm"

Genre :      Young Adult, Steampunk


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Steampunk Chronicles #1 The Girl in the Steel Corset

I have read very few steampunk books but I tell you thi tops over everything I have read so far. Presenting Steampunk Chronicles #1 The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross.

Here is the summary of the book:

In 1897 England, 16-year-old Finley Jayne is convinced she's a freak. 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 . . . that she's one of "them."

The events here follow straight after the novella, The Strange Case of Finley Jayne. Finley's dark side rears it's head when she is in trouble, sometimes it gets her in trouble with the ones who employ her. This is where The Girl in the Steel Corset begins. Finley after a gruesome encounter(I don't think I need to describe the nature of it) with the son of her current employer runs for her life straight into Lord Griffin King of Greythorne and his companion Sam. They are there looking out for an enemy, the clever and cynical, the Machianist. Griffin, Sam and his group including Emily and Jasper take her in because Griffin King sees the magical darkness in Finley and promises to help her. Also his group is special and Griffin sees that she is also special..and one of them. To elaborate Griffin can walk the astral plane and calm a wayward or a distraught soul, Sam is part automaton and is very strong, Emily is the mechanical expert and can talk talk to the bots, and Jasper, an American Cowboy, although is not a permanent member but he has great speed and knows martial arts.

All in all they are not much more different than Finley. They take her in help her connect to her dark side. Histories are revealed. Alliances are formed, and amongst all of this th Machianist is playing a dangerous game that threatens the stability of the British crown itself. Very Apocalyptic...the stakes are higher than ever.

A solid narrative, the perfect use of steampunk and supported some sold character, this is a power packed and tight story. There is everything in here, friendship, comfort, first love, jealousy, great action, the perfect London atmosphere with a cynical villain running around reeking havoc.

All this is helped along by the characters Griffin, Finley, Sam, Emily, Jasper, The Machianist. In every ways they complement each other to bring this narrative to fruition. Griffin with his need for vengeance, Finley looking to belong somewhere and finding out what she actually is, Sam with his insecurities, the soft spoken Emily tinkering with her machines, Jasper with his long winded past and the cynical villain with his need for revenge on the Queen. Kady Cross you are my new favorite, I'm so checking out the Girl in the Clockwork Collar next.

"An action packet dark and medieval England"   

Genre :      Young Adult, Steampunk


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Steampunk Chronicles #0.5 The Strange Case of Finley Jayne

Steampunk at its fullest and still retaining the big shroud of mystery, presenting Steampunk Chronicles #0.5 The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross.

Here is the summary of the book:

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined...An ebook exclusive prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles. 


The Strange Case of Finley Jayne is a short novella, that portrays the time of London 1897, where Finley Jayne is a young girl who knows she is not normal, her behavior just had cost her a job, so when she is offered a lofty position to act as the friend and shadow of Phoebe, who had just gotten engaged to Lord Vincent, a scientist who is much more older than her. But things start to escalate to dangerous promotions when Finley swoops Lord Vincent's house in the dead of the night, and learns of the monstrosities that await Phoebe should she marry Lord Vincent.

This is a welcome change for me into the steampunk genre and i'm totally in love with it. Finley Jayne is a strong heroine. She knows what she wants and she gets it, and she can throw a mean punch, that would make even the strongest of guys today fearful of what she is actually capable of. There is definitely the element of mystery in this Steampunk London of Kady Cross, provided aptly by Lord Vincent's character and all the marionettes abound. You definitely are going to love this book. I'm so jumping into the next book The Girl in the Steel Corset the minute I can....you all would too if you want to know exactly what Finley's true nature is.

"Strong, Non-stop action and Steampunk London - what more can you ask for!!"

Genre :      Young Adult, Steampunk


Publisher: Harlequin Teen


Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)