The Steampunk Chronicles
by Kady Cross
The Strange Case of Finly Jayne:
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 Girl in the Steel Corset
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.
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar
Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "strange band of misfits" 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.
More
than ever, Finley Jayne will rely on powerful English duke Griffin King
to balance her dark magic with her good side. Yet Griffin is at war
with himself over his secret attraction to Finley…and will risk his life
and reputation to save her. Sam, more machine than man, finds his moody
heart tested by Irish lass Emily—whose own special abilities are no
match for the darkness she discovers on the streets.
Now, to help
those she's come to care for so deeply, Finley Jayne must infiltrate a
criminal gang. Only problem is, she might like the dark side a little
too much….
About the author:
My review:
Last month I received a copy of The Girl in the Clockwork Collar from netgalley last month and was planning on purchasing The Girl in the Steel Corset to read first. i went on amazon and found out that The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (a prequel to the series) was due to come out on May 1st so I waited to start with it. I'm so glad I waited. This is a short story that gives you a real feel for who Finley is and even though it's a prequel stands very well on it's own as a well written short story.
The Strange Case of Finley Jayne was so good I didn't put it down reading it from cover to cover in one sitting and I couldn't wait to dive into the next book.
The Girl in the Steel Corset picks up shortly after where the prequel left off. Finley finds that her dark side just can't keep her our of trouble. I love both sides of Finley. On one side you've got the kind, loving and smart girl who just wants somewhere to fit in, in the world. On the other you have a fierce girl who isn't going to let anyone push her around. Of course being from a lower station in life standing up for yourself usually gets you into trouble. Especially when you beat the crap out of a nobleman trying to take advantage of you.
After a that really bad experience at her last employers Finley accidentally find a place where she can belong. She's never had friends before and doesn't trust easily. Finley finds a friendship with other people who have alot in common with her. As she discovers secrets from her past she finds herself connected to Griffen, Sam, jasper and Emily in more ways than one. Finley finds herself very interested in Griffen. But she has a problem, when her dark side takes over she seeks companionship Jack Dandy an equally dark (and seedy character). For the record I LIKE Jack and the more I get to know him the more I like him. However not as much as I like Griffen.
Then there's the big bad, a guy named "the machinist" who has been causing mischief with his rouge automatons. When Finley and her gang of misfits figure out what his end-game is they have find out a way to stop him before it's too late.
The Girl in the Steel Corset was a great read 5 stars hands down. Great action, awesome characters and an amazing storyline. I'm so glad I got The Girl in the Clockwork Collar from netgally and didn't have to wait to start reading it.
The book starts of right where the last one ends. Finley and her friends have to travel to America to save one of their own when Jasper has been taken by bounty hunters to face murder charges. Little does everyone know that he's in alot more trouble than any one could imagine.
Jasper has been basically imprisoned buy Reno Dalton the leader of a bad gang Jasper had once ran with. Dalton has Mei (Jaspers one time lady love) and has fashioned with collar that gets tighter, and can kill her if Dalton sees fit. To save her Jas has to give back something that he's stolen from Dalton. To try to save Jas Finley has to join the gangs ranks and dive into New Yorks seeder side of life.
Griffen is not happy for many reasons. Finley has put herself in a dangerous situation that could lead to the dominance of her darker nature. He has also started realizing that his feelings are not just of a friendly nature He doesn't know how to react to that especially since Finley is still trying to figure out who she is since merging her two halves in to one whole. Then there is Jack Dandy that appeals to her darker side. All of this leaves Griffen feeling very much out of control.
Okay enough about what happens in the books let me tell you how they made me feel.....I love Finley Jayne she's a woman that may not know herself but knows right from wrong and isn't afraid to tell it how it is! Griffen is a knight in shining armor with out the armor and always there for a friend even if it means giving his own life for the ones he loves. Sam may be a brut but he's loyal to the end. Jasper may be a cowboy but he's not an outlaw and Emily is the smartest most loyal of them all.
Then there's the big bad, a guy named "the machinist" who has been causing mischief with his rouge automatons. When Finley and her gang of misfits figure out what his end-game is they have find out a way to stop him before it's too late.
The Girl in the Steel Corset was a great read 5 stars hands down. Great action, awesome characters and an amazing storyline. I'm so glad I got The Girl in the Clockwork Collar from netgally and didn't have to wait to start reading it.
The book starts of right where the last one ends. Finley and her friends have to travel to America to save one of their own when Jasper has been taken by bounty hunters to face murder charges. Little does everyone know that he's in alot more trouble than any one could imagine.
Jasper has been basically imprisoned buy Reno Dalton the leader of a bad gang Jasper had once ran with. Dalton has Mei (Jaspers one time lady love) and has fashioned with collar that gets tighter, and can kill her if Dalton sees fit. To save her Jas has to give back something that he's stolen from Dalton. To try to save Jas Finley has to join the gangs ranks and dive into New Yorks seeder side of life.
Griffen is not happy for many reasons. Finley has put herself in a dangerous situation that could lead to the dominance of her darker nature. He has also started realizing that his feelings are not just of a friendly nature He doesn't know how to react to that especially since Finley is still trying to figure out who she is since merging her two halves in to one whole. Then there is Jack Dandy that appeals to her darker side. All of this leaves Griffen feeling very much out of control.
Okay enough about what happens in the books let me tell you how they made me feel.....I love Finley Jayne she's a woman that may not know herself but knows right from wrong and isn't afraid to tell it how it is! Griffen is a knight in shining armor with out the armor and always there for a friend even if it means giving his own life for the ones he loves. Sam may be a brut but he's loyal to the end. Jasper may be a cowboy but he's not an outlaw and Emily is the smartest most loyal of them all.
These books have moved me they are not only about friendship and love they are about family with an X-men, steampuck twist. they are witty and heartfelt and I loved every bit of them. These books are at the top of my all time favorite reads list.anyone who hasn't picked them up yet are seriously missing out on an amazing series!
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar comes out June 1st 2012.
now for the fun part:
I loved these books so much I decided to give one lucky person all three in ebook form below is a rafflecopter that will last until June first 2012 when I'll pick one person to receive one ebook of The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, one ebook of The Girl in the Steel Corset and one ebook of The Girl in the Clockwork Collar
Click on "read more" for giveaway entry...
I like everything. I'm really hoping I get to read them one way or another. They sound great.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS ReaBeth you won! I'm PMing you on facebook right now. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do <3
DeleteThank you very much.
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