From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles, #1)

Kady Cross

Start date: January 4, 2012

Finish date: January 31, 2012

Discussion: Books of the Month

Why we're reading this: We voted and this one won the January Paranormal/Urban Fantasy/Science Fiction/Fantasy Book of the Month.…more
[close] We voted and this one won the January Paranormal/Urban Fantasy/Science Fiction/Fantasy Book of the Month.
Here is the link to the discussion: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...

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What Members Thought

Apr 16, 2012 Paula Phillips rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. With the year 2011 , it brought with them a new form of literature known as Steampunk and many novels started to turn up published with this theme , one of them in particular was The Girl in the Steel Corset which I have above the English and German Covers. The Girl in the Steel Corset captures the reader's attention from it's outstanding cover of a girl in a red dress with her back to us , it's almost like she is trying to escape from whatever is holding her back. The Girl in the Steel Corset t With the year 2011 , it brought with them a new form of literature known as Steampunk and many novels started to turn up published with this theme , one of them in particular was The Girl in the Steel Corset which I have above the English and German Covers. The Girl in the Steel Corset captures the reader's attention from it's outstanding cover of a girl in a red dress with her back to us , it's almost like she is trying to escape from whatever is holding her back. The Girl in the Steel Corset turns out to be a young girl by the name of Finley Jayne , the year is 1897 and the location is England. Finley , has always felt a bit out of place as she has a side to her that when she is irritated , hurt or angry appears and takes over. This side can be violent and one night whilst working for Lord Felix August-Raynes , he comes to her drunk and tries to rape her . Finley cracks and soon a full-blown fight escalates and then Finley scared runs , whilst running she is nearly hit by Griffin and his friend Sam. Griffin King is one of the richest men in Britain and he and his friends though have a dark secret, they each have special abilities. Griffin has spent his life pursuing and continuing his father's work bringing in a team of specials . He has his right-hand man Sam who is part mechanical and Emily who is a whiz at machinery and other abilities and of course Jasper- an American Cowboy with a dark secret. The team are hunting down a serial killer known as The Machinist and when they discover Finley , she could be the asset to their team. The downside though is that no-one believes in Finley except for Griffin , who we can read is smitten and I'm sure we can sense a start of a romantic engagement between the pair. We discover the true identity of Finley's father and why she is the way she is. Reading the book - I figured Sam to be almost like Frankenstein , Jasper like Dorian Gray and Finley Jayne reminded me of the Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde but in her case Dr. Jekyl and Miss. Hyde. Can the pair teach Finley to get her powers and abilities under control ?
The Girl in the Steel Corset has all the bits and bobs for lovers of Historical , Supernatural, Steampunk, Mystery novels. It also reminded me alot of a younger almost-teen like version of the movie starring Sean Connery "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" mixed with Beth Fantaskey's book "Jekyll Loves Hyde".
Stay Tuned readers as I bring forth to you Books #1.5 and #2 ...more

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Jun 01, 2011 Lacey rated it it was amazing

Warning Very Addictive

First Thoughts:

I went into this book ready, I had heard mixed reviews, but upon reading the summary I was more than intrigued. I enjoyed this book immensely. There was so much action and twists that it definately kept me on my toes. I really thought the plot was unique and beautiful. I haven't read a book this unique in quite awhile. There's been so many books lately that haven been using the same plot likeness over and over, boring me to death but this isn't one of them. Warning Very Addictive

First Thoughts:

I went into this book ready, I had heard mixed reviews, but upon reading the summary I was more than intrigued. I enjoyed this book immensely. There was so much action and twists that it definately kept me on my toes. I really thought the plot was unique and beautiful. I haven't read a book this unique in quite awhile. There's been so many books lately that haven been using the same plot likeness over and over, boring me to death but this isn't one of them. I was taken on a ride of a lifetime, introduced to Finley, who was once a troubled girl, who transformed into such a beautiful and confident woman. This journey was well paved and I had fun reading this book, even though all I wanted was to devour it.

Summary:

This is about a girl named Finley who was taken in my a duke named Griffen who took her only in because she intrigued him, he knew there was something special about Finley, that she witheld something powerful and knew he would fit in with the rest of his friends at his mansion.

Soon Finley, Griffen along with his friends, Emily, Sam and Jaspar are put to the test as their unique powers blossom and they are in search of "The Machinist" who is responsible for several unique robberies and is the one who might expose their secrets and all hell would break lose. The five of them team together to discover his plans and to stop him before its too late.

Last Thoughts:

This was a very fast read for me, no joke. This is the kind of book that once you start you don't want to put down. You'll find your thoughts straying to the book even when you're not reading. The writing was very good, though some might find it a bit overwhealming, with all the new ideas and thoughts being cramed into these pages, but once you read after awhile, you'll get used to it and will catch on quite quickly. And there's one thing for sure. This journey is far from over and I cannot wait to continue reading their journey and see even more transformations. I give this book 4.5 stars, for being so unique and beautiful. Thank you Cross, for such a great book and not following the usual plot line of so many other books. ...more

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Nov 19, 2011 Midu Hadi rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, read-in-2012, series-completed, 212books, fantasy, after-2011, historical, alternate-history, steampunk, canada-author

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 28, 2019 Morgan rated it liked it

Same with the novella that I would have rated it higher not knowing about the other. Frustrating to start with one Finley and then flip a page onto a totally different one who outright contradicts things that happened previously.

Going to keep going but no more novellas.

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Feb 25, 2012 Mary (Biblophile) rated it liked it

Shelves: kindle, in-my-collection

Very entertaining steampunk adventure. While I enjoyed the story, I feel it needs a little more work in the pacing and character development. Overly descriptive in some areas and sketchy in others. Looking forward to the next installment.

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