Review - Girl In The Steel Corset By Kady Cross

"She thought there was something wrong with her. She was right.  Finley Jayne has known for quite some time that she isn’t ‘normal,’ but when she beats up the son of her employer and is forced to flee, she stumbles into a world where there are bigger freaks than her. They take her in, treat her like family and demand her trust. How can Finley trust them when she can’t trust herself? And why is she drawn to the powerful Griffin as well as the dangerous Jack? She has to get herself under control before she gets into trouble she can’t get out of.

Griffin King is one of the most powerful men in Britain but he couldn’t save his best friend from almost dying. He is determined to save Finley and help her become the person he knows she can be, but there’s evil afoot in London. Machines have attacked humans under the orders of a nefarious criminal called The Machinist. He has sworn to protect his country against such a threat, but he’s never faced any foe like this. However, when he discovers The Machinist’s connection to his past, Griffin vows to end the villain once and for all — but he’ll need the help of all his friends, including the beautiful Finley Jayne – the girl in the steel corset." taken from Goodreads

I was lucky enough to be invited to the very first Mira Bloggers event, which was so good. It was so friendly with the loveliest people, gorgeous cupcakes, and nibbles, what more could a girl ask for!!! What was even more awesome, was a red or black carrier bag on each chair! inside this marvellous bag were 7 Books, a few sweets, and a bottle of nail varnish, they know what we ladies like.

The first book that caught my eye, was a hardback copy of The Girl in the Steel Corset, by Kady Cross. It had to be my first read from the bag, I love Steampunk and the cover says it straightaway. The cover is a dark background, with various cogs and gears in the distance, and a slender girl in a gorgeous red satin dress with a steel corset stands against the background. In her hand she holds a locket, its a simple but powerful cover and it drew my eye in.

The story is of a young girl Finlay Jayne, who I came to think of as a female Jekyll and Hyde, set in 1897 in London. She doesn't know why she's like she is, but is very disturbed by the changes in her character. The book slowly unravels Finlays past, as well as going forward. We don't live far from the area's that are mentioned in the book, Commercial Street where I used to go to buy fabric for the business that I ran, The Princess Alice Pub, which is in my opinion The Ten Bells Pub, that Jack the Ripper is known for, and where I was a little while ago on a Jack the Ripper walk.

Kady Cross is in my opinion a very talented writer, she slowly uncovers the plot but not in a drawn out way, every page you become more engrossed, and at the end of each chapter you know that much more. In the book she covers Murder, Aether, Ghosts, Love triangles, Automons, history, family loyalties to name but a few. What I really enjoyed was Kady's description in each new day of the characters clothing, if only I could dress like that!!!! Also her description of London of 1897 but in a steampunk way, you could really picture it.

In my opinion the book is very well worth reading, and I would thoroughly recommend, the only thing in my case that was a negative was that I guessed who the Machinist was, but I'm one of those annoying people that have a talent for guessing the bad one, but in no way did it deter the book at all. In fact I finished the book last night, and will be purchasing the next book as soon as its available.

Many Thanks to the lovely ladies at Mira Ink for their kindness and hospitality.

Rating 4 1/2 Out of 5

Published In The UK By Mira Ink

This Can Be Purchased HERE and from good book seller

Review By SUE x

The Peculiars By Maureen Doyle McQuerry Cover Reveal

Yesterday the lovely guys at Abrams And Chronicle (Amulet) did a big cover reveal for their upcoming title

The Peculiars

By 

Maureen Doyle McQuerry

"On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena's father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears."

 Not only does this sound amazing, but it looks truly gorgeous too.  I would love this book on my shelf NOW!!  Sadly I have to wait till May - or do we???

The lovely Abrams & Chronicle are going to be giving away a very special Pre-publication copy to one lucky person.  All we have to do is get their facebook page to 1000 likes - Simple!!!  So Go follow now and be in with the chance to get this in your life soon!!!

A&C Kids UK Facebook