MICHELLE'S REVIEW:

RATING : 4.5 GRIFFIN STARS!!!

I’ve decided I really am a , ‘steampunk’, lover at heart. If you enjoyed reading Cassandra Clare’s, ‘Clockwork Angel’, then this is the book for you.

Kady Cross has me badly wanting to read her next book in the ‘Steampunk Chronicles ‘, series. I shall have to settle for her #0.5 , ‘The Strange Case Of Finley Jayne’ until I can get another fix.

London 1897, Finley Jayne ( awesome name for a character) has got herself in a pickle with the gropey , Lord Felix, a member of the ‘Dandies’, who happens to enjoy beating up on the women that won’t take to his advances. Finley isn’t your average maid and after a smack down that would send us regular girls out for the count, she escapes and after high tailing it through Hyde Park gets run over by the most handsome, Griffin King, Duke Of Greythorne who is out for a spin with Sam Morgan on their velocycles.

Finley wakes up in Greythorne House and is a tad upset , to say the least. Finley doesn’t understand herself, or what happens to her and Griffin has taken it upon himself to take her under his wing and help her. Sam is not so trusting as there is a lot at stake keeping the house occupants safe and under the radar and this causes a bit of a riff. I think Sam needed a bit of a slap for being so single minded, but that gave the story its direction.

Emily O’Brien , is a wonderful character who Griffin adores. She is the brainiac, the inventor, the one that most of us , brain wise, couldn’t keep up with....I doubt Einstein could. She invents gadgets like the Personal Telegraph Machine for fast communication, she tinkers with the velocycles, works on the automatons and can just about do anything she puts her brain to. She is always putting her brain to something.

Jasper Renn, makes me laugh, he is the American cowboy in this story. He has earnt Griffin’s trust and has his eye on Emily and he knows how to kick butt.

Jack Dandy is the Cockney, crime boss of Whitechapel. Finley feels comfortable around him. Jack doesn’t feel all that bad when Finley is at his doorstep, but is he? I love the way he talks to her, calling her ‘Treasure’. He seems taken by her, yet dangerous, but unable to help himself. I really like Jack’s character. He is written almost to make you feel sorry for him when it comes to Finley and her affections she also has for Griffin. It’s like he gives in , but Finley always winds back at his doorstep.

Jack Dandy is Finley’s darker side and Griffin is her better side.

Naturally you need a villain and I did admittedly pick The Machinist and worked what he was up to, but for a debut book I still give this high marks as the descriptive was wonderful. I loved the ever changing clothes the girls wore. I want me a pair of those big googly steampunk goggles...wiiccckkeed!!!!

I loved the Pick-A-Dilly Ball scene. There’s something about a beautiful dress, the girl getting all dolled up and the 2 boys that only have eyes for that girl and the close dancing .....sigh....

I enjoyed all the POV’s in this book. You are in just about everybody’s head, which I really liked, it helped with the world building and getting to know the characters and how they felt. I really ‘feel’ like I know these characters. They weren’t 2 dimensional.

Griffin is just gorgeous and for only 18 years old, very mature and I love his caring side with Finley when she is at her darkest.

The Girl In The Steel Corset , ( yes there is one) is a book I couldn’t put down, I just kept reading until the last page, so much happened, I loved the characters and I can see that I’ll be off to...... for the next book, so should be lots of fun. The colourful clothes, devices, and even the Queenie herself got an amusing part.

All in all this is fast paced, lots of action and the story keeps unfolding. There is a triangle forming, well I think 2 triangles, possibly. I would be Team Griffin 100% , but Kady writes Jack with me going awwww...he just doesn’t act so bad around Finley, he kinda pushes her out the door, back to Griffin . He hasn’t misbehaved in front of her, he’s been the perfect gentleman. Kady, give me an excuse not to like him...lol!!

FAVE QUOTES:

Was there nothing she couldn't do? Sam wondered a little bitterly. He wouldn't be surprised if she sprouted wings out of her arse.


He smiled over his shoulder at her. "I've a sneakin' suspicion you're much more entertainin' awake than asleep."


Jack Dandy reached out the long fingers of his right hand and gently touched her cheek. "Don't mistake me, Treasure. I can offer you many things, but friendship ain't one of them. Now , for once in your life, be a sensible girl and run away."


She whirled on him, but he kept his hold on one of her wrists. His other hand, instead of coming up to defend himself as she thought it would, circled her waist, pulling her against him. He hugged her. Letting go of her wrist, he cupped the back of her head, holding her so her face was in the crook of his neck. He smelled warm and spicy-- like cinnamon and cloves. Safe, and comforting. As he held her, he murmured soft words.


A gentle and hesitant hand came down on her back. "Don't cry, Treasure. You'll get me all wet and then I'll melt. I'm made of sugar, don't you know."