The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross

Genre:  YA Steampunk

The Steampunk Chronicles, Book 4

Kady Cross' website

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Note:  If you haven't read this series, the information below could spoil plots from earlier books.

Description (taken from Kady Cross' website):

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.

This is a steampunk series told from multiple points of view.  We have Finley/Griffin, Emily/Sam, Wildcat/Jasper, and Mila/Jack.  It seems like new characters are creeping in and everyone's got a partner to love.  Regardless, this story gets to introduce Mila a little bit more, and the story weaves through her relationship with Jack.  It looks like bad boy Jack might have finally found a reason to be happy.

Garibaldi, Griffin and the gang's arch nemesis, was finally destroyed in the last book.  But now he's in the Aether, and he's out to get Griffin.  So when he finally does capture him, all hell breaks loose with the gang as they try to figure out how to save him.  But Finley will stop at nothing to save the man she loves.  Even if it means destroying herself in the process.

Honestly, I have fun with this series.  I can't really say I remember exactly what happened in the previous books since it's been a year in between books, but I still enjoy reading them.  Sometimes, the multiple points of view get to me, but I think it went well with this one.  I got enough from each character to stay content but was left with a little mystery to want to keep reading.

This is an original steampunk series that keeps going.  If you haven't looked into it, I'd suggest you read the first one.  It might catch your eye (and keep your heart).

The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

Genre:  YA Steampunk

Steampunk Chronicles, Book 3

Kady Cross' website

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Description (taken from Kady Cross' website):

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 of triumph, she must summon a strength even she doesn’t know she has….

So, the description above seems more succinct and coherent than the book I just read.  And I feel awful saying that because I grew attached to these characters in the second book.  But the different stories: Finley/Griffin's and Emily/Sam's just didn't seem to mesh well for me.

After what happened in the second novel, we're seeing repercussions.  Jasper, the American, takes a back seat (I like to think he's sulking --- err, still dealing with what happened).  And Griffin, as always, is keeping secrets which tends to make him whiny.  And it's driving Finley and Sam nuts until Emily mysteriously disappears.  And then everyone's focused on finding Emily, or so you'd think...

Griffin and Finley focus more on themselves and their relationship.  Yes, that is what bothers me.  When Finley's best friend goes missing, I'd expect her to do everything in her power to find her.  Not let Sam, the massive hulk, go on his own to find her.  But instead, she's off flirting with Griffin.  Yep, I still don't care for his duke-ness.  This book focused more on this than the interesting things and answering questions.

Ugh, I feel like the camera's focus was on the wrong spots in this story.  It's still a fun and quick story.  But I'm mad with my characters here...

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

Genre:  YA Steampunk

Steampunk Chronicles, Book 2

Kady Cross' website

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Description (taken from Kady Cross' website):

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.

From the rough streets of lower Manhattan to elegant Fifth Avenue, the motley crew of teens with supernatural abilities is on Jasper’s elusive trail. And they’re about to discover how far they’ll go for friendship.

Before reviewing this book, I have to admit that the first book slightly disappointed me.  Because I wasn't expecting a book from so many people's points of view.  I guess the title lead me to the wrong expectations.  Having the right expectations in mind when I picked up this one, I believe I liked this one better than the first book.

From the first book, we are introduced to Finley, Griffin, Emily, Sam, and Jasper.  The 'girl in the clockwork collar' is introduced in this one, and she's an interesting character to say the least.  If you asked me, I had hoped to see Finley end up with Dandy instead of Griffin because I thought the latter tended to be more whiny and pansy-ish (in the first book).  But Dandy is hardly ever mentioned in this book.  And yes, there is still a lot of banter between Finley and Griffin in this novel.  And while I hate seeing the second-guessing and self-doubt every twenty pages, it seemed to work for this book.

I have to say I'm glad I stuck with the series.  While the plot is fairly predictable, I feel like I know the characters (and I'm reading the books solely because of them now).  Fans of steampunk and historical fiction should pick this series up.  I still hold to my earlier recommendation that fans of Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series should give this series a go.

Thanks goes to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for providing me a review copy.

Challenges:  Sensational Seconds Challenge and Young Adult Reading Challenge

The Girl in the Steel Corset

Genre:  YA Steampunk Fiction

The Steampunk Chronicles, Book 1

Kady Cross' website
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Description (taken from Kady Cross' website):

She thought there was something wrong with her. She was right. Finley Jayne has known for quite some time that she isn’t ‘normal,’ but when she beats up the son of her employer and is forced to flee, she stumbles into a world where there are bigger freaks than her. They take her in, treat her like family and demand her trust. How can Finley trust them when she can’t trust herself? And why is she drawn to the powerful Griffin as well as the dangerous Jack? She has to get herself under control before she gets into trouble she can’t get out of.


Griffin King is one of the most powerful men in Britain but he couldn’t save his best friend from almost dying. He is determined to save Finley and help her become the person he knows she can be, but there’s evil afoot in London. Machines have attacked humans under the orders of a nefarious criminal called The Machinist. He has sworn to protect his country against such a threat, but he’s never faced any foe like this. However, when he discovers The Machinist’s connection to his past, Griffin vows to end the villain once and for all — but he’ll need the help of all his friends, including the beautiful Finley Jayne – the girl in the steel corset.




When I picked up this book, I was expecting to read a story about a girl, Finley.  Instead, I got a story about a whole group of characters:  Griffin, Sam, Jasper, Emily, etc.  I really enjoyed the setting in old time London.  And the machines; kind of reminiscent to Cassandra Clare's new series.  I enjoyed the love triangles and the plot.  But I wanted more.  More emotion and background from the characters.  Why was Griffin so attracted to Finley?  Why put up with Sam's issues and bullyness?  I felt the explanations the book gave weren't enough for me to relate to the characters.  I wanted more dynamic I guess.

Besides my complaints, I enjoyed the story and the characters.  I will definitely continue this series (because I'm a sucker for these kinds of books).  Anyone who likes Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series will most likely enjoy this book.