[Review] The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross--book one in the Steampunk Chronicles

AU cover

Title: The Girl in the Steel Corset {goodreads}

Authors: Kady Cross

Publication (dd/mm/yyyy): 01/06/2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen // $19.99

Source: Publisher sent for review
Precautions: Clean Mild violence, mild romance
Series: #1 in the Steampunk Chronicles

Pages: 388

My Rating:

Amazing read

Summary:

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 not all Victorian girls have a darker side that makes them capable of knocking out a full-grown man with a single punch...

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that makes Finley special - makes her 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; 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.

My thoughts: 

~ Final thoughts ~

Kady Cross has taught me a valuable lesson: steampunk is cool! Cross introduces an X-Men-esque concept to historical (1897) London in a captivating story that will appeal to YAs and fans of historical fiction and the supernatural. Even at 388 pages, I'm sitting here wishing there was more; I'm so glad that this is the first in a series, because I don't know how I'd be able to say goodbye to these delightfully dazzling characters so soon.

YA Historical Fiction Challenge 2012 & January is for the past

I'm such a fan of historical YA fiction, and I'm glad that Sab over at YA Bliss seems to feel the same way, since she did make this challenge a reality. I've already started off the year on good terms with my historical YA books, so I've deemed January 2012 my personal month for historical YA. With a couple others sprinkled in.

Level 2, I choose you! (because it rhymes)

This means that I solemnly (well, actually I'm giddy because I love HYAF) swear that I shall read at least 10 historical YA book in 2012.

Level 2: 10 books

My list so far includes (own | read | intend to own in 2012):

• Plain Kate/Wood Angel by Erin Bow
• Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (re-reads count . . . right?)
• The Girl in the Steel Corset (#1) by Kady Cross
• The Luxe (#1, Luxe) & The Lucky Ones (#3, BYT) by Anna Godbersen
• Vixen & Ingenue (#1, #2) by Jillian Larkin
• Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
• What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
• Faithful by Janet Fox & Forgiven (#1, #2) by Janet Fox
• In the Shadow of the Lamp by Suzanne Dunlap
• Emerald by Karen Wallace
• Guardian of the Gate & Circle of Fire (#2, #3, Prophecy) by Michelle Zink
• When We Were Two by Robert Newton
• Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood
• The Jewel and the Key by Louise Spiegler
• Kat, Incorrigible by Stephanie Burgis

Progress count: 3/10

I'm a paperback book buyer, so lots of HB releases in 2012 will be part of my 2013 Historical YA challenge. ;)

If you're planning on reading ANY of the following books, or you're participating too, please do friend me on Goodreads! I'd love to discuss and share opinions on historical YA. :)