Thursday, February 27, 2014

Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
Series: The Steampunk Chronicles #1
Published by Harlequin Teen
Pages: 377
Genre: Steam punk (YA)
Rating: Awesome
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Finley Jayne isn't normal. A normal girl couldn't knock a full grown man out with just one punch. A normal girl wouldn't have an alternate personality inside her - one that takes over in moments of high stress and danger. A normal girl couldn't survive a collision with a velocycle. Finley Jayne isn't normal.

And that's exactly why she is offered the chance to be a part of something. To join a group of other uniquely talented people. To save the day.

Quote:
'Pencils were excellent for hairstyling. They also made a very effective weapon if the need arose.'

If I had heard the author's concept for this book being a cross between the X-Men and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen I would have probably felt a lot more secure going into it. However, I didn't. Instead I had heard so many mixed review that I entered this story with a high level of trepidation.

I needn't have worried as I loved this book.

Finley is a very entertaining lead character. Early on in the book her two personalities are fighting for dominance - one of them being very sweet and rather subservient and the other being anything but. I do love the fact that this storyline wasn't dragged out the way I thought it was going to be, especially once I realized that book two follows the same group of people. While I didn't love Finley at first, her personality taking a while to truly grow on me, I really began to adore the girl when her split personality issues started getting resolved. That actually turned her into a very well rounded character - even if it was rather lazy characterization and (for as much as I liked her, I will admit) Finley has something of a Mary-Sue about her.

I look forward to seeing the other characters in the book fleshed out because they were also very fun and I wound up liking every single one of them more than I had expected. First we have Griffin, the leader of our little band of superheroes society misfits. He's a real sweetheart, and it's obvious early on how much he cares for his team. He's also obscenely rich but doesn't act like an entitled bastard. Odd, huh? Then there's Sam, his best friend. He's not the brightest, and tends towards racing into a fight without thinking. And he suffers from being a bit of a hothead. Those are the two guys, along with Finley, that share the narration of the story and I feel that the author did a good job nailing down their voices.

Our other characters consist of: Emily, a young lady that's a mechanical genius - and who, for some reason, reminded me of Kaylee from Firefly. Jack Dandy, a criminal overlord - or is that underlord? - with a habit of butchering the English language. And Jasper, a genuine gun-toting American cowboy that is only a little out-of-place in London. Honestly, as those last three are my personal favorites, I look forward to getting to know more about them and - hopefully - getting inside their heads in the sequels.

The plotline was a mystery/conspiracy that, I will admit, it took the characters way too long to figure out. Add to that the rather cartoonish villain and the book starts feeling more and more like some of those X-Men cartoons from the nineties. Of course, I was never one to watch those cartoons for an amazing plotline, instead focusing on the interplay of the characters as they got along or squabbled. This book works much the same way for me.

While these people were - at least, mostly - friends, that doesn't mean they always get along. It was interesting to see how disagreements would play out and how relationships were formed. As this is a YA novel, there is certainly some romance. Mostly, in this first outing, between two of the supporting characters. While Finley does find herself in a bit of a love triangle, I thought it was handled wonderfully.

You see, Finley actually finds herself more attracted to a different guy depending on which personality of hers is predominate. I'm not sure it would actually work that way, but it's an interesting idea. Everyone involved, from both 'love interests' to Finley herself, are quite aware of how common it is for the girl to choose the 'bad boy' type. For bonus points, they also all realize how bad of an idea that usually is. As a reader that has read just enough YA novels to get feed up with the girl choosing the bad boy in the end because he changed for her/she can change him, it was really nice to see allusions to that in this book. I would like to add that there doesn't seem to be much of a love triangle at the end of this book.

I really like the way the world was handled. Instead of being as localized as most English steampunk series are, this one explores the world outside England a little. We have the aforementioned American character as well as a decent amount of Asian influenced clothing. There were even mentions of specific martial arts (Kung Fu (which originates in China) and Jujitsu (which originated with the samurai of feudal Japan) if I remember rightly). Considering how most English steampunk - Victorian era or otherwise - tends to forget that the rest of the world even exists, this was very nice indeed.

Now, as much as I liked this book and as much as I can over look these things, there were some minor issues I had. First, Finley. I love the name. I personally have created no less than three characters bearing that name in stories I've started writing. Eventually I will find the perfect fit - even though I think I already have... Anyway, cool name. Awesome name. However, the chances of anyone actually naming their daughter this in c. 1870 is so tiny as to be, basically, nonexistent. It was moderately popular thirty years later as a boys name, but alongside names that can pass as old fashioned - even if they may not be - it seems very anachronistic. While I know that's what steampunk is all about, this was just very odd.

Second issue: The front cover. Beautiful, isn't it? Problem is, that isn't Finley on the cover. So, who is it, you ask. No clue. It could have been Finley... With several changes. For example: The only fancy dress Finley ever wears is blue and green. Or something along those lines. (Honestly, the only thing I remember about that dress was that they kept comparing it to a Peacock.) That gorgeous jewelry that Finley's wearing was never mentioned or even alluded to in the book. To the best of my knowledge, she never wears jewelry and the only thing mentioned that even vaguely resembles this is a pair of totally cool brass knuckles. Finally, and perhaps most telling, that's not the color of Finley's hair. She is blonde. I do believe it was described as honey blonde. Maybe not. I always pictured her as strawberry blonde myself - though I would say we had quite enough red heads in this book. But there was a minor plotpoint in the book that was based on her not having dark hair.

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Comments (5)

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15stitches's avatar

15stitches · 459 weeks ago

Generally agree with your comments of this, but I would like to point a few things out regarding the two issues you have with it. (As an F.Y.I. I also quite enjoyed this book and have my own issues with it).

On your first issue regarding the name being very unlikely for the time period, I would agree. However, in order for a reader to get hooked into reading more than just the summary on the back of the book, authors often use creative and unique names to hold the reader's attention long enough to spin them into the story. I love the name Finley, and quite enjoy the female use of it in this book and would have to suggest that the author is probably aware that it does not fit historical popularity of the 19th century, however, it helps the story stand out and make the character interesting which is essential to gain a fan-base and sell the novel. Certainly not trying to sound like a jerk here, just adding my opinion to piggy-back off of what you've said already!

Your second issue with the book happens quite often in the book industry often because authors usually don't get very much say (or hadn't in the past) regarding the cover art for their books. I doubt that many artists who create them have the time to read each book they are commissioned to do and therefore have creative license to do their best with having probably only read the summary or running on small bits of information. This may have changed by now since things have been turning more digital and such, but I imagine Kathryn Smith may not have had any or much say in that cover art.

In addition, I do like the cover as well but see it differently. I see that her full-finger "rings" (set in quotes because they may not be rings, may be an illusion to show her strong skeleton/unusual strength) and steel corset draw the eye to her back and face while revealing subtleties about Finley. She is incredibly strong (hence the "rings) and ends up getting that corset from Emily. The hair color is a bit interesting because she does end up with a dark streak but that is near the end of the series with a big plot spoiler as the story behind it. So, I can see how the artist may have chosen the dark hair, but my take on that is a bit stretched, lol. The earrings are very interesting as well because they are elegant but sharp, eluding to Finley's personality; She can be sweet, caring, bold, and dangerous (among other things).

I agree that the art is a little deceiving, but I also like the symbolism within it!!

Cheers and thanks for sharing your review, I enjoyed it!!
1 reply · active 459 weeks ago
Okay, before I respond to anything, I'd like to mention that this review is over two years old and my opinion and thoughts on things have changed. As they are wont to do.

I totally get what you're saying about the name. You need something that will hook the reader and make them go 'I want to know more.' Sometimes that's the plot/world, sometimes that's the character and sometimes that's both working in tandem. I also totally get that not every girl from 1870's England can be named Mary or Sarah - and I'm honestly glad they're not in books. That being said, now I kind of like the anachronism of using a boys name for a girl - after all, a lot of things changed in this book from what England in 1870 was ACTUALLY like. Why not change the names up a little too? (Excuse the younger me that seemed to think historical fiction, even alternate history, had to be 'historically accurate' - at least to everything it could be. ◔_◔)

As for the cover, I can honestly say I have no clue how this works. I guess I thought the agent/editor/author/SOMEONE wrote out a description of what Finley looked like. And dressed like. At the very least, I felt - and still feel - that there should have been someone that both read the book and saw the art that was 'in charge' that said 'Finley was not dark haired.' And had the artist change it. I probably never would have mentioned the cover if the girl on it had blonde/ish hair because I still find it so glaring when the cover doesn't match something as simple as the hair color in the book. Also, I am so not blaming anyone for that. I wasn't at the time and I'm not now. (It's just a pet peeve of mine.)

As for the rest of the cover...symbolism goes right over my head. (At least now it might pause long enough to tap dance. Two years ago all it did was leave a whooshing sound as it blew past.) If that's what they were going for, good for them. Your idea's sound interesting and, looking at it like that, makes the art at least make some sense and I do like your take on it. I'm just a very literal minded person and, even now, I'd rather have a cover that showed Finley in trousers with her brass knuckles.

Totally take no offense, and I do appreciate the well thought-out comment. Even if it did bring up a review that I had almost completely forgotten I wrote. ;)
15stitches's avatar

15stitches · 458 weeks ago

So glad you replied!

I like your review and admire that you are knowledgable of he 19th century!

I agree with you on the cover art. It makes much more sense (and in my experience so far) prices much more magnetic when the cover matches the protagonist or whichever character the artist is trying to portray. Your idea of trousers and brass knuckles sounds pretty awesome, to be honest, and zi'd prefer that over the silly, over-the-too red dress. They could keep the steel corset top but lose that crazy skirt train for trousers :)

I tend to not think on the cover much once I read a book, but I did here to process what you had said in your original review. I think the symbolism could be there but they were also trying to make it flashy, which I think they did. But yes, totally agree that it's annoying (and sometimes misleading) when the book isn't properly portrayed by the cover art.

Have you written any more reviews for this series? I've tried to find out through the website but didn't have any luck. Interested in seeing what you thought of: The Girl with the Iron Touch and The Girk with the Windup Heart!
2 replies · active 457 weeks ago
I think with the cover, it was trying a little too hard to look like all the other 'girls in poofy gowns YA'. And just think about how much attention a very different look (Finley in trousers with her brass knuckles) would get the book. Yeah! The steel corset and black or brown trousers would make Finley look as kick-butt as she sounds in the book.

I'm actually really terrible about writing reviews for sequels. In short, I really liked The Girl in the Clockwork Collar and The Girl with the Iron Touch was my favorite in the series. (Mostly because Emily is my favorite in the series.) I do have a review for The Girl with the Windup Heart - because I was soo letdown with that as the finale for the awesome series. This should take you to it: http://pagesofstarlight.blogspot.com/2015/10/revi...
15stitches's avatar

15stitches · 457 weeks ago

Woohoo! Thanks for the link, I replied to your review there as well. Totally agree.

My favorite was the very same! Me is a fantastic character,

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