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The Steampunk Chronicles #4
The Girl with the Windup Heart
In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.
London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.
Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.
Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.
London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.
Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.
Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.
396 pages, Hardcover
First published May 27, 2014
77 people are currently reading
5512 people want to read
About the author
Kady Cross
16 books1,909 followersKady Cross is a pseudonym for USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Smith. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and a pride of cats. She likes singing with Rock Band on the 360, British guys, Vietnamese food, and makeup (she’s hopelessly addicted to YouTube makeup tutorials!). When she’s not writing Kady likes to catch up on her favorite TV shows, read a good book or make her own cosmetics.
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November 30, 2013Haven't even read the third one yet. It's sitting in my hands. LEMME READ THIS ONE NOW!!!
August 9, 2016
Spoilers
Bleh, a boring end to a boring series. The story was super predictable, there were no exciting twists or turns, everything just dragged and dragged.
-Most of the characters were bland or unlikeable. Finley was an annoying shrew who wanted to hit people whenever things weren't going her way, Griffin had very little personality, Jack was cliched and read like most other unrealistic YA love interests, and Jasper/Wildcat were rather pointless. I guess, Emily and Sam were somewhat decent characters sadly they didn't have much of a role in the story.
-Jack and Mila's relationship was creepy and awful for many different reasons. Jack was basically like a dad to her when she first went to live with him, she was so child-like and innocent, and even though she learned things quickly he still pretty much raised her. The fact she wasn't human and was basically a cross between a robot and blow up doll made their relationship even more weird. Then there was the whole him being a typical manslut who of course wanted to settle down with the boring, virginal, robot Mary Sue who was still very much wide eyed, child-like, and easy to control even after she supposedly 'grew up' — just ugh.
-The fact that Jack hated being an illegitimate child yet was happy to shag around and risk creating a bastard of his own was disgusting. What a wanker move.
-Mila was a pathetic, misogynistic, dull Mary Sue. Why would she even want Jack when he was sleeping around with loads of women, she even heard him have sex… Yet she still wanted him, where was her self respect? She was an awful character overall, she was needy and desperate, and also sexist, she called the women Jack slept with tarts and ugly, and looked down at them yet she didn't think any worse of Jack. Any girl that was connected to Jack or showed interest in him she either thought very poorly of them or wanted to beat them up, she was vile. There was nothing to her character apart from her loser obsession with manslut Jack. I hated her, she was a horrible, hypocritical, misogynist.
-The British dialogue/narrative was poorly written and full of cliches.
All in all, I'm glad the series is over… The story as a whole wasn't interesting at all, the characters were flat and/or insufferable, and the relationships were over the top cheesy or plain cringey.
Bleh, a boring end to a boring series. The story was super predictable, there were no exciting twists or turns, everything just dragged and dragged.
-Most of the characters were bland or unlikeable. Finley was an annoying shrew who wanted to hit people whenever things weren't going her way, Griffin had very little personality, Jack was cliched and read like most other unrealistic YA love interests, and Jasper/Wildcat were rather pointless. I guess, Emily and Sam were somewhat decent characters sadly they didn't have much of a role in the story.
-Jack and Mila's relationship was creepy and awful for many different reasons. Jack was basically like a dad to her when she first went to live with him, she was so child-like and innocent, and even though she learned things quickly he still pretty much raised her. The fact she wasn't human and was basically a cross between a robot and blow up doll made their relationship even more weird. Then there was the whole him being a typical manslut who of course wanted to settle down with the boring, virginal, robot Mary Sue who was still very much wide eyed, child-like, and easy to control even after she supposedly 'grew up' — just ugh.
-The fact that Jack hated being an illegitimate child yet was happy to shag around and risk creating a bastard of his own was disgusting. What a wanker move.
-Mila was a pathetic, misogynistic, dull Mary Sue. Why would she even want Jack when he was sleeping around with loads of women, she even heard him have sex… Yet she still wanted him, where was her self respect? She was an awful character overall, she was needy and desperate, and also sexist, she called the women Jack slept with tarts and ugly, and looked down at them yet she didn't think any worse of Jack. Any girl that was connected to Jack or showed interest in him she either thought very poorly of them or wanted to beat them up, she was vile. There was nothing to her character apart from her loser obsession with manslut Jack. I hated her, she was a horrible, hypocritical, misogynist.
-The British dialogue/narrative was poorly written and full of cliches.
All in all, I'm glad the series is over… The story as a whole wasn't interesting at all, the characters were flat and/or insufferable, and the relationships were over the top cheesy or plain cringey.
September 3, 2016
Well, this took me longer to finish than I thought. Mostly because I wasn't in the mood for it and was kind of losing interest. After finishing this, I thought how could I?
This series is awesome with interesting characters, the writing fast paced and well the steampunk elements along with the story is also pretty good. Oh and the covers are gorgeous.
Anyway I found I liked this one a little bit more for the second half. Where the characters came together. The first half started off good but then I don't know, I wasn't that invested as I was in the beginning of the series. It happens with a lot of book series.
With the exception of Finley and co trying to save Griffin, the Mila and Jack story arc I kind of liked but felt it would of been better as a short story or something.
That doesn't mean I didn't like those characters. I think those two are adorable and are just as interesting as Finley, Emily, Sam, Jasper and Griffin of course.
Near the end though, I was thinking wait that's it, no epilogue or something. But as this I think being the last in the series, its a god finale I guess. So this is a 3 for the first half and a 3.5 for the second half. One of my favorite series regardless.
This series is awesome with interesting characters, the writing fast paced and well the steampunk elements along with the story is also pretty good. Oh and the covers are gorgeous.
Anyway I found I liked this one a little bit more for the second half. Where the characters came together. The first half started off good but then I don't know, I wasn't that invested as I was in the beginning of the series. It happens with a lot of book series.
With the exception of Finley and co trying to save Griffin, the Mila and Jack story arc I kind of liked but felt it would of been better as a short story or something.
That doesn't mean I didn't like those characters. I think those two are adorable and are just as interesting as Finley, Emily, Sam, Jasper and Griffin of course.
Near the end though, I was thinking wait that's it, no epilogue or something. But as this I think being the last in the series, its a god finale I guess. So this is a 3 for the first half and a 3.5 for the second half. One of my favorite series regardless.
June 2, 2017
2016 Book Awards
(more information about these awards on my blog)
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars
Oh, yes, I'm happy about this ending!
I love Mila's character and her relationship with Jack - honestly, they became one of my favorite ships of all time when I read this. Mila's naivete and fresh eyes are an amazing addition to the dysfunctional group of main characters in this series, which was exactly what was needed after the past 2 books. If things had continued the same way and Mila had been different, I think I wouldn't have enjoyed this final novel as much.
The story is actually quite short - time-wise, not page-wise - and that's usually something that makes me squint my eyes and go "alright, you better have a ton of details and a brilliant story line or this was not worth it". In the case of this book the beginning was a bit of a let-down - and the reason why I deducted half a star - but then it picked up. It became intense, action-packed - and far bloodier and scarier than I had anticipated. And I loved it! Also, loved seeing the return of some characters and the addition of other, unexpected ones!
In short; a good, good, good ending to this series :)
(more information about these awards on my blog)
Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars
Oh, yes, I'm happy about this ending!
I love Mila's character and her relationship with Jack - honestly, they became one of my favorite ships of all time when I read this. Mila's naivete and fresh eyes are an amazing addition to the dysfunctional group of main characters in this series, which was exactly what was needed after the past 2 books. If things had continued the same way and Mila had been different, I think I wouldn't have enjoyed this final novel as much.
The story is actually quite short - time-wise, not page-wise - and that's usually something that makes me squint my eyes and go "alright, you better have a ton of details and a brilliant story line or this was not worth it". In the case of this book the beginning was a bit of a let-down - and the reason why I deducted half a star - but then it picked up. It became intense, action-packed - and far bloodier and scarier than I had anticipated. And I loved it! Also, loved seeing the return of some characters and the addition of other, unexpected ones!
In short; a good, good, good ending to this series :)
September 26, 2014
2.5 Stars
What's worse than ending a series with the worst written book in the series?..... When it is also the story of your favourite character within the series....
Jack has been my favourite character in this series since The Girl with the Steel Corset. He is a perfectly inappropriate rake and I love it!! So I was looking forward to his story, A LOT!
The two main plots did NOT work for me. It reads too jumpy and confused. The editing was really shoddy - especially in the first half.
I have nothing else to say....
What's worse than ending a series with the worst written book in the series?..... When it is also the story of your favourite character within the series....
Jack has been my favourite character in this series since The Girl with the Steel Corset. He is a perfectly inappropriate rake and I love it!! So I was looking forward to his story, A LOT!
The two main plots did NOT work for me. It reads too jumpy and confused. The editing was really shoddy - especially in the first half.
I have nothing else to say....
August 27, 2014
God, that was such a sweet ending. I'm gonna miss this series so much.
November 24, 2025
It is amazing that a few years ago, I didn't even know what Steampunk was...now it's one of my go-to choices for favorite genres. Kady Cross's Steampunk Chronicles is a series I devotedly follow. The Girl with the Windup Heart is a wonderful addition to this collection.
It is about time someone really took Jack Dandy on, and Mila was a splendid match. Her basic naivety was refreshing and quite humorous. I loved watching her experience the world with such a fresh and excited demeanor while we got deep insight into the elusive Jack Dandy and his true history.
The story wasn't all about Mila's automaton-to-human transition; we also get a heavy dose of the ever-expanding core gang and fabulous cast of the Steampunk Chronicles. The Machinist just won't stay dead and has come to play havoc with Finley and her friends.
I found myself getting lost in the story, sucked in by Cross's imaginative world-building. She gives us just enough science to back her storytelling but doesn't bog it down with technical jargon. Filled with marvelous gadgets, superior female intellect, outrageously funny situations, supernatural circumstances, and incendiary attraction, The Girl with the Windup Heart was a marvelous read.
I received this ARC copy of The Girl with the Windup Heart from Harlequin TEEN in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on May 27, 2014.
It is about time someone really took Jack Dandy on, and Mila was a splendid match. Her basic naivety was refreshing and quite humorous. I loved watching her experience the world with such a fresh and excited demeanor while we got deep insight into the elusive Jack Dandy and his true history.
The story wasn't all about Mila's automaton-to-human transition; we also get a heavy dose of the ever-expanding core gang and fabulous cast of the Steampunk Chronicles. The Machinist just won't stay dead and has come to play havoc with Finley and her friends.
I found myself getting lost in the story, sucked in by Cross's imaginative world-building. She gives us just enough science to back her storytelling but doesn't bog it down with technical jargon. Filled with marvelous gadgets, superior female intellect, outrageously funny situations, supernatural circumstances, and incendiary attraction, The Girl with the Windup Heart was a marvelous read.
I received this ARC copy of The Girl with the Windup Heart from Harlequin TEEN in exchange for an honest review. This book is set for publication on May 27, 2014.
Read
June 12, 2015I'm so glad everyone was left in a good place by the end of this book. I've grown to love all these characters. Especially have a soft spot for Jack Dandy. Also really love Griffin and Finley. My love for steampunk I can trace exactly to Kady Cross!
September 27, 2019
Griffin is abducted by the Machinist and held a prisoner in the Aether, slowly being drained of power while Finley and the gang determine how to rescue him and defeat the Machinist for good. Meanwhile, Mila decides she is tired of Jack not seeing her as a real girl so she leaves his house and has an adventure of her own in the city.
As much as I have adored this series for its strong female characters that often save the men in their lives, I actually liked that Griffin saved himself in this one. It was about time. Jack and Mila's side story was cute too. I liked them together. I almost wish there was another book in the series, but I'm happy with where this one ends. Everyone has a bit of happiness and there are no obvious bogeymen biding their time to try to destroy it.
As much as I have adored this series for its strong female characters that often save the men in their lives, I actually liked that Griffin saved himself in this one. It was about time. Jack and Mila's side story was cute too. I liked them together. I almost wish there was another book in the series, but I'm happy with where this one ends. Everyone has a bit of happiness and there are no obvious bogeymen biding their time to try to destroy it.
lost-interest
March 15, 2015Okay, let's begin.
*sighs*
Last year, I added this book to my to-read shelf, and I left it there untouched until now. I'm no longer interested in it. The previous installments were all predictable, insipid and boring... in other words, they were "meh." I didn't hate them nor loved them.
The problem is that I let so much time pass between my adding this book and now. They say time cures. Well, I don't agree with that in 100% of the cases, but it certainly wiped away my interest for this series. I have to admit, though, that the covers are beautiful.
This one and the one of The Girl in the Steel Corset are my favorites. They're really pretty covers. Unfortunately, the content does not make justice to it... at least in the three books I read.
Anyway, perhaps this one is not so bad (although the reviews don't say so), but I'm not interested anymore in finishing this series.
*sighs*
Last year, I added this book to my to-read shelf, and I left it there untouched until now. I'm no longer interested in it. The previous installments were all predictable, insipid and boring... in other words, they were "meh." I didn't hate them nor loved them.
The problem is that I let so much time pass between my adding this book and now. They say time cures. Well, I don't agree with that in 100% of the cases, but it certainly wiped away my interest for this series. I have to admit, though, that the covers are beautiful.
This one and the one of The Girl in the Steel Corset are my favorites. They're really pretty covers. Unfortunately, the content does not make justice to it... at least in the three books I read.
Anyway, perhaps this one is not so bad (although the reviews don't say so), but I'm not interested anymore in finishing this series.
May 29, 2014
**I received this book for free from Netgalley/Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Steampunk
*Rating* 3.5-4
*MY THOUGHTS*
In the beginning, there was The Strange Case of 16 year old Finley Jayne Sheppard and her unnatural abilities to stomp anyone who attempted to harm her. Having lost her father Thomas at an early age, Finley fought the two sides of her personality which made her an outcast among London's society.
**SEE MORE OF MY REVIEW HERE**
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
PUBLISHED: May 27th 2014 by Harlequin TEEN
*Genre* Steampunk
*Rating* 3.5-4
*MY THOUGHTS*
In the beginning, there was The Strange Case of 16 year old Finley Jayne Sheppard and her unnatural abilities to stomp anyone who attempted to harm her. Having lost her father Thomas at an early age, Finley fought the two sides of her personality which made her an outcast among London's society.
**SEE MORE OF MY REVIEW HERE**
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
PUBLISHED: May 27th 2014 by Harlequin TEEN
May 28, 2014
Three and a half stars: A book about tying up loose ends that ends up being a bit too hurried.
Griffin, Finley, Sam, Jasper, Wildcat and Emily are hunting down the latest menace to London society. When Griffin taps into the Aether to control the threat, all hell breaks loose. The Machinist appears from the Aether and snatches Griffin. Finley is desperate to recover Griffin. She knows that the Machinist will slowly torture and then kill Griffin. If it means dying to retrieve him, then so be it....Meanwhile, Jack Dandy has taken in Mila, the half human, half automaton. Mila is a handful, but Jack is patient and kind, until the day she claims to have developed feelings for him. Feeling jilted, Mila runs off and joins the circus. Jack turns to Finley and the gang for help, but finds they are busy trying to recover Griffin. Can Jack, Finley and the others recover Griffin and Mila?
What I Liked:
*Yet another series comes to an end..... I have been a fan of this series from the beginning and I was anxious and eager to read this final installment. For the most part, I was pleased with this ending as all the loose ends are tied off and the book ends on a happily ever after note. It was a satisfying conclusion to a fun series despite a few flaws.
*There are two story lines in this book, the main one that focuses on the gang recovering Griffin from the Aether and stopping the Machinist for once and for all, and then the subplot which follows Jack and Mila. I was surprised to find that I was much more engaged in Jack and Mila's story line. Jack Dandy has long been one of my favorite characters in the series. He is a bit of a scoundrel, but underneath his facade, he has a kind, big heart. His true nature shines through in this one as his relationship with Mila develops. It was all kinds of fun watching the antics between the two, and then seeing Mila runaway and discover the world. I loved the romance, and I liked peeling away Jack's layers and finding out more about him. This is really Jack's novel in my opinion, and in all honesty I would love to see a spin off series featuring Jack Dandy.
*I liked that Finley and Sam finally seemed to come to an understanding. After Griffin is kidnapped, they work together and realize that the have much more in common than they thought. Sam understands when Finley is frustrated and needs something to punch. Their relationship has been one of friction and jealousy, but this time around they put their differences aside and work together, and end up real friends.
*The book moves at a quick clip leading up to a dramatic conclusion that satisfactorily ends the series. I was pleased that there weren't any dangling questions and I liked the resolution. A good ending to the series.
And The Not So Much:
*While I appreciated the fast pace of the story, there were two times that I was not happy with the rapid movement. The first occurs when Mila has landed in a dangerous situation and the gang storms to her rescue. Everything was set up for a terrifying scene, and then it is concludes quickly and I felt it was too easy. Then in the big, final confrontation between Griffin and the Machinist, everything goes fast and furious, and then the last battle cuts out, and the reader doesn't get to witness the battle, instead you get a recount after the fact. Seriously? After all the buildup? I thought that both of this scenes could have benefited by a slower pace and more detail.
*In order for Finley to save Griffin, she must don a special suit that allows her to be in the Aether, and in order to go into the Aether she must die... say what? I was disappointed that there was little description on the suit and then Finley supposedly keeps dying, but there is no detail on how this is achieved. This was a big flaw. How does someone continually die? What exactly was the suit made of and how did it function? Usually I am impressed with the detail and the gadgets in this series, but this time around, they were a fizzle.
*I have always enjoyed the relationships between the gang, but this time around, there was not much focus on the relationships. Sam and Emily are not big players in this book and their relationship is not a focus. I missed the dynamic between the two, and I was disappointed that there didn't have bigger roles.
*In all honesty, I thought the plot following Jack and Mila completely detracted from the main storyline and I lost interest in the main story of Griffin trying to defeat the Machinist. It might have been better to put Jack and Mila's story into their own book.
*I was not a fan of the transitions. This is a book that switches view points and story lines from one paragraph to the next without any indication. I always find this jarring.
The Girl with the Windup Heart was a good ending to a fun series, but I found that I was disappointed in the rapid pace, and the anticlimactic finishes after big buildups. I thought the sub plot featuring Jack Dandy and Mila was far more entertaining than the main story. Still it is a book that ties up all the loose ends and answers questions, and it leaves the reader satisfied.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Griffin, Finley, Sam, Jasper, Wildcat and Emily are hunting down the latest menace to London society. When Griffin taps into the Aether to control the threat, all hell breaks loose. The Machinist appears from the Aether and snatches Griffin. Finley is desperate to recover Griffin. She knows that the Machinist will slowly torture and then kill Griffin. If it means dying to retrieve him, then so be it....Meanwhile, Jack Dandy has taken in Mila, the half human, half automaton. Mila is a handful, but Jack is patient and kind, until the day she claims to have developed feelings for him. Feeling jilted, Mila runs off and joins the circus. Jack turns to Finley and the gang for help, but finds they are busy trying to recover Griffin. Can Jack, Finley and the others recover Griffin and Mila?
What I Liked:
*Yet another series comes to an end..... I have been a fan of this series from the beginning and I was anxious and eager to read this final installment. For the most part, I was pleased with this ending as all the loose ends are tied off and the book ends on a happily ever after note. It was a satisfying conclusion to a fun series despite a few flaws.
*There are two story lines in this book, the main one that focuses on the gang recovering Griffin from the Aether and stopping the Machinist for once and for all, and then the subplot which follows Jack and Mila. I was surprised to find that I was much more engaged in Jack and Mila's story line. Jack Dandy has long been one of my favorite characters in the series. He is a bit of a scoundrel, but underneath his facade, he has a kind, big heart. His true nature shines through in this one as his relationship with Mila develops. It was all kinds of fun watching the antics between the two, and then seeing Mila runaway and discover the world. I loved the romance, and I liked peeling away Jack's layers and finding out more about him. This is really Jack's novel in my opinion, and in all honesty I would love to see a spin off series featuring Jack Dandy.
*I liked that Finley and Sam finally seemed to come to an understanding. After Griffin is kidnapped, they work together and realize that the have much more in common than they thought. Sam understands when Finley is frustrated and needs something to punch. Their relationship has been one of friction and jealousy, but this time around they put their differences aside and work together, and end up real friends.
*The book moves at a quick clip leading up to a dramatic conclusion that satisfactorily ends the series. I was pleased that there weren't any dangling questions and I liked the resolution. A good ending to the series.
And The Not So Much:
*While I appreciated the fast pace of the story, there were two times that I was not happy with the rapid movement. The first occurs when Mila has landed in a dangerous situation and the gang storms to her rescue. Everything was set up for a terrifying scene, and then it is concludes quickly and I felt it was too easy. Then in the big, final confrontation between Griffin and the Machinist, everything goes fast and furious, and then the last battle cuts out, and the reader doesn't get to witness the battle, instead you get a recount after the fact. Seriously? After all the buildup? I thought that both of this scenes could have benefited by a slower pace and more detail.
*In order for Finley to save Griffin, she must don a special suit that allows her to be in the Aether, and in order to go into the Aether she must die... say what? I was disappointed that there was little description on the suit and then Finley supposedly keeps dying, but there is no detail on how this is achieved. This was a big flaw. How does someone continually die? What exactly was the suit made of and how did it function? Usually I am impressed with the detail and the gadgets in this series, but this time around, they were a fizzle.
*I have always enjoyed the relationships between the gang, but this time around, there was not much focus on the relationships. Sam and Emily are not big players in this book and their relationship is not a focus. I missed the dynamic between the two, and I was disappointed that there didn't have bigger roles.
*In all honesty, I thought the plot following Jack and Mila completely detracted from the main storyline and I lost interest in the main story of Griffin trying to defeat the Machinist. It might have been better to put Jack and Mila's story into their own book.
*I was not a fan of the transitions. This is a book that switches view points and story lines from one paragraph to the next without any indication. I always find this jarring.
The Girl with the Windup Heart was a good ending to a fun series, but I found that I was disappointed in the rapid pace, and the anticlimactic finishes after big buildups. I thought the sub plot featuring Jack Dandy and Mila was far more entertaining than the main story. Still it is a book that ties up all the loose ends and answers questions, and it leaves the reader satisfied.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
June 24, 2014
*Digital Galley provided by Netgalley
I have been so excited to see how Cross would end this series!
Mila has grown beyond her Machinist roots and matured as a real woman who has developed deep feelings for the disreputable Jack Dandy. However, when she feels like Jack will never be able to see her truly as the woman she has become, she decides to strike off on her own. While Mila is learning to live independently, her friends at Griffin Manor are fighting their own battle. Griffin has been kidnapped and imprisoned in the Aether by the Machinist. When Finley enters the Aether to save him, she finds herself fighting a frightening enemy from her past, and Griffin will find that in order to finally triumph over The Machinist, he will have to face his darkest fears as well. Will they be able to conquer their pasts and secure a future together?
Spoilers:
Jack Dandy fans will love this last installment of the series since we get to find out about his past and see him get his happily-ever-after. It actually felt to me like there was more of the Jack and Mila storyline than there was of Griffin and Finley and made me wonder if there might be a Jack and Mila spin-off possibly in the future? I have really loved Kady Cross' characters and the world that she has created and am so glad to have been able to finish out the series.
I have been so excited to see how Cross would end this series!
Mila has grown beyond her Machinist roots and matured as a real woman who has developed deep feelings for the disreputable Jack Dandy. However, when she feels like Jack will never be able to see her truly as the woman she has become, she decides to strike off on her own. While Mila is learning to live independently, her friends at Griffin Manor are fighting their own battle. Griffin has been kidnapped and imprisoned in the Aether by the Machinist. When Finley enters the Aether to save him, she finds herself fighting a frightening enemy from her past, and Griffin will find that in order to finally triumph over The Machinist, he will have to face his darkest fears as well. Will they be able to conquer their pasts and secure a future together?
Spoilers:
Jack Dandy fans will love this last installment of the series since we get to find out about his past and see him get his happily-ever-after. It actually felt to me like there was more of the Jack and Mila storyline than there was of Griffin and Finley and made me wonder if there might be a Jack and Mila spin-off possibly in the future? I have really loved Kady Cross' characters and the world that she has created and am so glad to have been able to finish out the series.
October 20, 2015
I am so sad to see this series end! I'm not a big steampunk fan, the whole idea of mixing history with modern technology just always seemed unrealistic to me. My views of steampunk changed a lot after reading this series.
The plot:
The plot is always very simple in these books. If you actually think about it after you read it you realize there isn't much that actually occurred, yet I never felt bored with it.
The characters:
I love the characters in these books so much. They were all relatable in their own way and I enjoyed the switching POV so I got a little of every character. I love the romances going on in this book especially the romance between Jack and Mila. I really like how the author doesn't make the romance overly gushy, which is something I really hate about YA books.
Overall:
This was a great ending to a great series. The only reason I couldn't give this book a 5 star because I felt like I didn't love it enough to be a 5 star. It was great it just didn't have that "wow, that book was amazing!" vibe. If your a steampunk fan you should definitely pick this series up.
The plot:
The plot is always very simple in these books. If you actually think about it after you read it you realize there isn't much that actually occurred, yet I never felt bored with it.
The characters:
I love the characters in these books so much. They were all relatable in their own way and I enjoyed the switching POV so I got a little of every character. I love the romances going on in this book especially the romance between Jack and Mila. I really like how the author doesn't make the romance overly gushy, which is something I really hate about YA books.
Overall:
This was a great ending to a great series. The only reason I couldn't give this book a 5 star because I felt like I didn't love it enough to be a 5 star. It was great it just didn't have that "wow, that book was amazing!" vibe. If your a steampunk fan you should definitely pick this series up.
November 7, 2015
This was a great conclusion to a series I loved. I was very happy with all of it! I'm kind of sad to say goodbye to some of my favorite characters! I think that's what really made this series fun, along with an original concept (The Aether) and great action!
June 4, 2016
A good ending to a good serie.
to-read-arc-or-galley
April 3, 2015I'm overdue for a marathon of this respective series. But I love the cover (favorite color, beautiful dress, etc).
November 8, 2015
Garibladi is back and seems to be more powerful now he is dead. He has kidnapped Griffin into the Aether and Finley and his friends will do anything to get him back. Jack is teaching Mila about life and she has fallen in love with him. When she leaves to go out on her own will Jack finally see her as a woman and not a child.
There are two plot lines going on in this book. Jack and Mila's and the Griffin/Garibaldi's showdown. I am really happy to finally be able to talk about Mila. It was great that Mila is one of the central characters in this book as I loved her in the last one. I just knew she was going to be a love interest for Jack. Jack's feelings for Mila started out as those of a protective friend but have morphed into romantic feelings. Mila loves Jack for who he is and he needs that. He has always thought himself unworthy of love and friendship. A lot of his issues stem from his SoB of a father who you meet in this book. Let's just say it is not a pleasure. I love how sweet and native Mila is. I have always thought that your favorite book says I lot about you and love Mila pick is a great one. Seeing the world through Mila's eyes is one of my favorite things about this book. Her childlike wonder was so much fun to read about.
Mila's determination to go out and see the world and prove she can take care of herself is a feeling everyone has had at one time in their life. I very much understand why Jack took to crime. It was the only way that he could get his father to see him and get his revenge on him. Poor Jack is trying to do what he thinks is right for Mila but what he doesn't understand is that right thing for Mila is him. Jack makes a lot of character growth in this book and I loved every minute in his head. Ever since meeting Jack in book 1 I have loved him. Jack and Mila's moments together show just how wonderful a person Jack is under his persona. I loved all the scenes when Mila was new and Jack was teaching her to be human. It was so sweet and beautiful. It was heartbreaking hearing Jack talk about his mother. Jack's father is a monster. His father reminded me of Lord Felix just grown up. He loves to make people feel pain. We also find out who really killed Lord Felix. Jack confronting his father was a long time coming and I loved the twist.
The Garibaldi/Griffin storyline plays out a little differently than I thought it would. I will not say any more about that as I don't want to spoil anything Wildcat has now become a member of the team and liked seeing her again. Finley will do anything to save Griffin and I loved the moment when she finally realizes she is in love with him. I first loved Sam's character in the last book and loved his character even more in this book. The library scene when he and Finley talk really shows how far both of them have come in trust and respect for each other. I smiled at Sam's confession to reading Jane Austen for Emily. The only fault I can find with this book is I wish it was longer because I felt that both stories could have been their own books. There was so much going on and so many characters that I felt some of the characters were neglected and wish there was more about all of them. As always with any last book I was happy and sad to finish this series. I have always loved the fast paced of this series and the value it shows and places on love and friendship. This last book didn't disappoint. What a great ending to an amazing series. I will miss this band of misfits and will be reading the author's other work.
Rating:4.5 out of 5
Content Rating: PG-13
There are two plot lines going on in this book. Jack and Mila's and the Griffin/Garibaldi's showdown. I am really happy to finally be able to talk about Mila. It was great that Mila is one of the central characters in this book as I loved her in the last one. I just knew she was going to be a love interest for Jack. Jack's feelings for Mila started out as those of a protective friend but have morphed into romantic feelings. Mila loves Jack for who he is and he needs that. He has always thought himself unworthy of love and friendship. A lot of his issues stem from his SoB of a father who you meet in this book. Let's just say it is not a pleasure. I love how sweet and native Mila is. I have always thought that your favorite book says I lot about you and love Mila pick is a great one. Seeing the world through Mila's eyes is one of my favorite things about this book. Her childlike wonder was so much fun to read about.
Mila's determination to go out and see the world and prove she can take care of herself is a feeling everyone has had at one time in their life. I very much understand why Jack took to crime. It was the only way that he could get his father to see him and get his revenge on him. Poor Jack is trying to do what he thinks is right for Mila but what he doesn't understand is that right thing for Mila is him. Jack makes a lot of character growth in this book and I loved every minute in his head. Ever since meeting Jack in book 1 I have loved him. Jack and Mila's moments together show just how wonderful a person Jack is under his persona. I loved all the scenes when Mila was new and Jack was teaching her to be human. It was so sweet and beautiful. It was heartbreaking hearing Jack talk about his mother. Jack's father is a monster. His father reminded me of Lord Felix just grown up. He loves to make people feel pain. We also find out who really killed Lord Felix. Jack confronting his father was a long time coming and I loved the twist.
The Garibaldi/Griffin storyline plays out a little differently than I thought it would. I will not say any more about that as I don't want to spoil anything Wildcat has now become a member of the team and liked seeing her again. Finley will do anything to save Griffin and I loved the moment when she finally realizes she is in love with him. I first loved Sam's character in the last book and loved his character even more in this book. The library scene when he and Finley talk really shows how far both of them have come in trust and respect for each other. I smiled at Sam's confession to reading Jane Austen for Emily. The only fault I can find with this book is I wish it was longer because I felt that both stories could have been their own books. There was so much going on and so many characters that I felt some of the characters were neglected and wish there was more about all of them. As always with any last book I was happy and sad to finish this series. I have always loved the fast paced of this series and the value it shows and places on love and friendship. This last book didn't disappoint. What a great ending to an amazing series. I will miss this band of misfits and will be reading the author's other work.
Rating:4.5 out of 5
Content Rating: PG-13
February 26, 2015
And so the Steampunk Chronicles come to a close. Unfortunately the series...excuse the pun, lost it's steam. This book wasn't bad, per se...but it could have been so much more. I felt like this was two novellas shoved together to make one book and it's a shame. If they had been kept seperate, given the proper time to expand then it would have been so much better. Let's break it down....
Emily/Sam: Almost non-existant in this book. Which is a shame, because Emily is amazing and as this was a "final showdown" sort of novel, she really could have done so much more. Sam had a chance to confront his demons and he did for a half page. All it took was Finley to say, "We can do this!" to get him to...well, do it.
Jasper/Wildcat: They've always been side characters with little to no chemistry but now are a couple. Apparently Jasper is over Mei. They sort of had a time to shine in helping to save Mila, but again...they were never the focus and I thought that if we'd had seen them more in past books, instead of just teases then it would have been better.
Finley/Griffin: They are not holding back anymore, after only just realizing their true feelings for each ohter they are ready to jump in the sheets. Except not really since the Machinist sucks Griffin in the Aether. This was the best plot in the book the perfect plot for the final book. It was finally time to face all the rotten things that had happened, all the toruturing would come to a close....but again, it was rushed and just fell a bit short for me. It was a lot of false-starts and plans falling through. Random run in with Lord Felix (was that really necessary??) and the discovery of Finley's father. It was a lot of Griffin sitting there and rotting away as thye planned, only for his ghost Mom to tell him to "let go". Disappointing.
Mila/Jack: OMG. I loved this, I loved them...but I regret the decision made with them. There was so much story here that it distracted from the big plot. They should have been honored with their own spin-off novel. This could have been a great introduction of cute interactions leading to a spin-off novel where their romance could have grown. Mila went from Naive to street-smart within a page...there were so many flashbacks it was hard to keep them straight, and honestly? Why were they even included in this? They didn't help defeat the Machinist at all. They were just there to fill space.
So, yes, I was disappointed in this final volume. The first two books were so good! And then this just crammed all the loose ends in one and it was a mess. I'm sorry this ended the way it did.
Emily/Sam: Almost non-existant in this book. Which is a shame, because Emily is amazing and as this was a "final showdown" sort of novel, she really could have done so much more. Sam had a chance to confront his demons and he did for a half page. All it took was Finley to say, "We can do this!" to get him to...well, do it.
Jasper/Wildcat: They've always been side characters with little to no chemistry but now are a couple. Apparently Jasper is over Mei. They sort of had a time to shine in helping to save Mila, but again...they were never the focus and I thought that if we'd had seen them more in past books, instead of just teases then it would have been better.
Finley/Griffin: They are not holding back anymore, after only just realizing their true feelings for each ohter they are ready to jump in the sheets. Except not really since the Machinist sucks Griffin in the Aether. This was the best plot in the book the perfect plot for the final book. It was finally time to face all the rotten things that had happened, all the toruturing would come to a close....but again, it was rushed and just fell a bit short for me. It was a lot of false-starts and plans falling through. Random run in with Lord Felix (was that really necessary??) and the discovery of Finley's father. It was a lot of Griffin sitting there and rotting away as thye planned, only for his ghost Mom to tell him to "let go". Disappointing.
Mila/Jack: OMG. I loved this, I loved them...but I regret the decision made with them. There was so much story here that it distracted from the big plot. They should have been honored with their own spin-off novel. This could have been a great introduction of cute interactions leading to a spin-off novel where their romance could have grown. Mila went from Naive to street-smart within a page...there were so many flashbacks it was hard to keep them straight, and honestly? Why were they even included in this? They didn't help defeat the Machinist at all. They were just there to fill space.
So, yes, I was disappointed in this final volume. The first two books were so good! And then this just crammed all the loose ends in one and it was a mess. I'm sorry this ended the way it did.
August 26, 2023
This book, what can I say about this book. Oh I could say that it was bizarre, dull, made very little sense, had the worlds creepiest relationship between a 20 yr old man and someone who randomly popped into existence yesterday. This book tried to be less heteronormative than the first few, but failed even that.
The characters: a bunch of melodramatic twits who in attempt to be deep end up sounding like emo kids from the early 2000s,
Griffin: I hate him, and he is only rarely featured in this book, but when he is, he withholds important information
Jack:ew
Finley: ach! Why does this author keep torturing us with Finley being an idiot! Oh wait! There’s actual torture in the book! Graphically described torture! Why was there no trigger warning? Finley is awful for most of the book, like when griffin is kidnapped (not a spoiler if it’s written in the blurb) she complains about Sam and Emily’s canoodling, do we all remember what happened last book when Emily was in mortal peril?
Mila: i might have liked her, if her entire purpose wasn’t to end a love triangle which was rather dull in the first place!
Quotes: brace yourself, they are pretty rough:
“He pummeled the ghost with his fists as his eyes blazed”
“Could you stop batting your eyelashes at each other and help me save Griffin?”
“This was the question that plagued Finley as she waited for death to claim her”
“Her insides felt like someone had used her organs in a cricket match”
Final notes: this nightmare of a book featured more bad fake Britishisms, a misunderstanding of what Piccadilly Circus is, an overuse of the word prayer for characters who are canonically agnostic, and the worlds least emotionally impactful ending ever written. Enjoy!
The characters: a bunch of melodramatic twits who in attempt to be deep end up sounding like emo kids from the early 2000s,
Griffin: I hate him, and he is only rarely featured in this book, but when he is, he withholds important information
Jack:ew
Finley: ach! Why does this author keep torturing us with Finley being an idiot! Oh wait! There’s actual torture in the book! Graphically described torture! Why was there no trigger warning? Finley is awful for most of the book, like when griffin is kidnapped (not a spoiler if it’s written in the blurb) she complains about Sam and Emily’s canoodling, do we all remember what happened last book when Emily was in mortal peril?
Mila: i might have liked her, if her entire purpose wasn’t to end a love triangle which was rather dull in the first place!
Quotes: brace yourself, they are pretty rough:
“He pummeled the ghost with his fists as his eyes blazed”
“Could you stop batting your eyelashes at each other and help me save Griffin?”
“This was the question that plagued Finley as she waited for death to claim her”
“Her insides felt like someone had used her organs in a cricket match”
Final notes: this nightmare of a book featured more bad fake Britishisms, a misunderstanding of what Piccadilly Circus is, an overuse of the word prayer for characters who are canonically agnostic, and the worlds least emotionally impactful ending ever written. Enjoy!
March 23, 2015
I read the first three books of The Steampunk Chronicle and felt like the third one perfectly set up a fourth book. Of course by the time I got around to reading this, I had forgotten exactly why. Happily as I dove back into the world, the characters kept me engaged regardless of how much I remembered of the series.
Quite simply there were two main threads in this plot. One focuses on our heroes of earlier book: Finley, Emily, Sam, and Jasper as they tackle previously introduced villain Garibaldi and his dastardly plot for their pal Griffin. The other involves Jack Dandy and his poppet Mila, originally metal but now living life as a human girl. Though I would have predicted that the former story would best hold my interest, in the end, it was actually Jack and Mila. She is possibly the strongest person around but she is very naive in the ways of the world in the most endearing of ways. Her struggle to demonstrate to Jack that she was a woman and should be viewed as such absolutely charmed my heart. Consequently I was a bit bored with the parts that didn't feature them but I was able to keep going just to see how everything wrapped up.
Overall I think this was a nice romantic steampunk series and I would recommend people read all four and see the love stories that develop (romantic but also the closeness of friends and family) and the imaginative use of fantastical elements on the part of Cross.
Quite simply there were two main threads in this plot. One focuses on our heroes of earlier book: Finley, Emily, Sam, and Jasper as they tackle previously introduced villain Garibaldi and his dastardly plot for their pal Griffin. The other involves Jack Dandy and his poppet Mila, originally metal but now living life as a human girl. Though I would have predicted that the former story would best hold my interest, in the end, it was actually Jack and Mila. She is possibly the strongest person around but she is very naive in the ways of the world in the most endearing of ways. Her struggle to demonstrate to Jack that she was a woman and should be viewed as such absolutely charmed my heart. Consequently I was a bit bored with the parts that didn't feature them but I was able to keep going just to see how everything wrapped up.
Overall I think this was a nice romantic steampunk series and I would recommend people read all four and see the love stories that develop (romantic but also the closeness of friends and family) and the imaginative use of fantastical elements on the part of Cross.
June 7, 2014
2-
This was book is my least favorite of the series. I didn't like all the extra time spent with Mila, and the flashbacks of her time with Jack. In the previous books they followed other characters, but their stories related to the main plot. In this book Mila had her own separate story that was connected really sloppily at the end in an attempt to unify the two storylines.
The ending was also a big disappointment, and it probably contained some of the worst writing of the series. Not to be too spiolery, but the characters were kind of just thrown into the final battle to keep up the pacing into the end of the book. They didn't know how to win, and they still went for it anyway. It is a classic 'against all odds' scenario, and the author missed an opportunity! Instead the characters have too much optimism, which is confusing, because everything is relying on a solution to just magically appear.
The only reason I couldn't give this book a one star review was because I usually reserve those for books with bad grammar and misspellings, so this book is a step above those.
This was book is my least favorite of the series. I didn't like all the extra time spent with Mila, and the flashbacks of her time with Jack. In the previous books they followed other characters, but their stories related to the main plot. In this book Mila had her own separate story that was connected really sloppily at the end in an attempt to unify the two storylines.
The ending was also a big disappointment, and it probably contained some of the worst writing of the series. Not to be too spiolery, but the characters were kind of just thrown into the final battle to keep up the pacing into the end of the book. They didn't know how to win, and they still went for it anyway. It is a classic 'against all odds' scenario, and the author missed an opportunity! Instead the characters have too much optimism, which is confusing, because everything is relying on a solution to just magically appear.
The only reason I couldn't give this book a one star review was because I usually reserve those for books with bad grammar and misspellings, so this book is a step above those.
March 20, 2014
Overall, while I've had my ups and downs with this series, but I still wanted to read this book for the sake of finishing it and to see what happens to the characters in the end of it all. On one hand, I liked the book and the conclusion the author gave to her characters which were both very nice and very fitting for all involved, but on the hand too, I also didn't feel . . . that oomph from the story and its characters either. But in any case, it was a good ending to the series and if you're already a fan of this series, you'll most likely love this book.
February 2, 2017
The final book in The Steampunk Chronicles. After the Machinist's death in the last book, he gained strength in the Aether - strength enough to kidnap Griffin's physical body and imprison him in the Aether.
This series was interesting - steampunk romance, with a strong-headed heroine. The ending felt a bit... Not sure what to say, romance novels are not quite for me I guess. (I picked it up for the steampunk aspects, not cluing in until the third book that it was by an imprint of Harlequin)
This series was interesting - steampunk romance, with a strong-headed heroine. The ending felt a bit... Not sure what to say, romance novels are not quite for me I guess. (I picked it up for the steampunk aspects, not cluing in until the third book that it was by an imprint of Harlequin)
October 31, 2014
Even though this felt a bit rushed, I still enjoyed this book a lot and I thought it was a nice ending to this series.
August 5, 2018
Okay, so I’ve finally finished reading this series. (I read the first couple of books a few years ago and loved them but never finished the last couple). And I remain in awe of kady cross and the world she constructed, I love exploring all the aspects of the characters and world and her writing and descriptions are so vivid, I love them.
*spoiler-y specific highs and lows include:
Highs:
- seeing Mila and her story, she’s like a more smol pure version of Finley and I love her
- I love how very respectful of the women the male characters are, which isn’t seen enough (especially in YA)
- reading about female friendships always makes my heart sing and the easy camaraderie between Finely, Mila and Emily and Mila and the circus girls was a highlight of the book
- I like the small mention of a twin having a crush on a girl but I would love more wlw rep
Lows:
- I feel like brief mentions of any same sex attraction was slightly tokenised and would have loved for Ipsley to have a small arc or something maybe where he ended up with Jasper or just had some sort of romantic encounter with another man, it made me sad that his sexuality wasn’t mentioned at all in this book
- it happens a lot in YA, but it seemed arbitrary how the characters were all neatly paired off with a romantic love interest, Wildcat and Jasper in particular seemed more than a little forced, they could’ve had an easy family-type bond instead of the forced relationship
*spoiler-y specific highs and lows include:
Highs:
- seeing Mila and her story, she’s like a more smol pure version of Finley and I love her
- I love how very respectful of the women the male characters are, which isn’t seen enough (especially in YA)
- reading about female friendships always makes my heart sing and the easy camaraderie between Finely, Mila and Emily and Mila and the circus girls was a highlight of the book
- I like the small mention of a twin having a crush on a girl but I would love more wlw rep
Lows:
- I feel like brief mentions of any same sex attraction was slightly tokenised and would have loved for Ipsley to have a small arc or something maybe where he ended up with Jasper or just had some sort of romantic encounter with another man, it made me sad that his sexuality wasn’t mentioned at all in this book
- it happens a lot in YA, but it seemed arbitrary how the characters were all neatly paired off with a romantic love interest, Wildcat and Jasper in particular seemed more than a little forced, they could’ve had an easy family-type bond instead of the forced relationship
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2018
Coming into the fourth book of a series, I wasn't quite as confused by the storyline as I could've been. There are a lot of characters but two main sets - Mila and Jack and Finley and Griffin. This being a steampunk book with a bit of magic thrown in as well as ghost hunting, it made sense in its own way. The worldbuilding seemed pretty solid, the characters as well.
The characters are all somewhat otherworldly, though. Mila is an automaton turned human. Finley's father was working on a "Mr. Hyde" serum and injected it into himself, and Finley inherited that bad temper and strength. Jack can bend people to his will. Griffin is an "Aethermeister" - he can manipulate the Aether, the otherworld. The rest of Griffin's group are equally amazing - Wildcat has the features and some of the abilities of a cat, Emily is brilliant, Sam is super-strong, and Jess is a snap marksman. The villain of the piece is a guy who's dead and hiding out in Aether.
The book was a fast read, though I never really felt invested in any of the characters. I considered counting how many times eyebrows arched, twitched, and scowled, because it was really evident.
A decent story but I probably won't go looking for the rest of the series.
The characters are all somewhat otherworldly, though. Mila is an automaton turned human. Finley's father was working on a "Mr. Hyde" serum and injected it into himself, and Finley inherited that bad temper and strength. Jack can bend people to his will. Griffin is an "Aethermeister" - he can manipulate the Aether, the otherworld. The rest of Griffin's group are equally amazing - Wildcat has the features and some of the abilities of a cat, Emily is brilliant, Sam is super-strong, and Jess is a snap marksman. The villain of the piece is a guy who's dead and hiding out in Aether.
The book was a fast read, though I never really felt invested in any of the characters. I considered counting how many times eyebrows arched, twitched, and scowled, because it was really evident.
A decent story but I probably won't go looking for the rest of the series.
August 4, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross
Book Four of the Steampunk Chronicles
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.
London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.
Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.
Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.
What I Liked:
I'm actually going to try and be a little brief in this review, because I don't want to spoil anything in this book, as well as in the series in general. I kind of liked the first book, liked the second book, LOVED the third book, and definitely enjoyed this final book. The third book is by far my favorite, but I think I'd give this series four stars overall. That's pretty great!
Finley and the crew never have it easy - even if Garibaldi is dead. In the Aether, Garibaldi hunts Griffin - and succeeds in capturing him. Now it is up to Finley to find Griffin in the Aether, with the help of Emily, Sam, Jasper, Wildcat, Ispley, and someone no one expected.
Meanwhile, Mila is adjusting to life as a human. Once an automaton, she is now a human, living under the care of Jack Dandy. Except that she is in love with Jack, and he doesn't seem to either notice, or reciprocate, the feeling. Stupid, typical man, no? So Mila does exactly what Jack did not want her to do - she leaves, and goes on her own. She joins a circus!
There are several plots going on in this book. There is the overarching plot, for the entire series, in which Griffin attempts to defeat Garibaldi. There is the plot that each book has, in which a pair of characters struggles to find each other (in this case, it is Mila and Jack). There is Finley and Griffin, and their own personal struggle to be a couple. But in this book, there is also the problem of Jack and his past. You'd think that I'd immediately be all over this multiple plot thing, saying something about the plots being too confusing or underdeveloped, but no. I actually really like this setup. One thing that bothered me about it is below, in the next section. Just to give some perspective.
You all know how I feel about Finley and Griffin. I love the pair of them, as well as each of them individually. I love how well-characterized each character is in this book, despite the fact that there are at eight important ones. I wish that Griffin and Finley could have gotten more page time. They are the most interesting about which to read, and the chemistry and romance between them is beautiful and fiery. I can't find it in me to put that in the next section (that Griffin and Finley didn't get enough page time), but I wish there could have been more scenes between them. Alone. Not necessarily doing certain things. Just, alone.
This book wraps up beautifully. Like, I'm always terrified of reading conclusion novels, because authors always find a way to make the ending depressing or bittersweet or something. That is NOT the case, with this book (and series). The ending is a good one, a happy one, an even, well, slightly perfect one. You all know how I feel about perfect endings. BUT. I liked this ending.
What I Did Not Like:
I think this book was a little strange, in terms of its structure. I like the multiple plots - that was interesting and definitely not confusing. But it felt like the overall series plot - Griffin vs. Garibaldi - got pushed to the side a little, with other plots threading through this book. Like, it wasn't always a concern of mine that Griffin might be dying. Which is bad, because Griffin is probably my favorite character. In the first book, it was all about Griffin and Finley. While I like that each of the successive books feature another pair along with Griffin and Finley, I dislike that Griffin and Finley (and Griffin himself) are pushed aside a little. Sometimes, with a large cast of characters, we need to remember who are the MOST important. And you can't say all of the, or one large group, because that is NEVER true. One or two characters are always primary.
Would I Recommend It:
This book in particular, or the series in general? I'll start with the book. If you've made it this far into the series, DEFINITELY read this book. If you've read book one, or books one and two, read the remaining books in the series (including this one). If you haven't started this series, but you have the means to do so (legally, only legally), then do it! I had a rocky start with the series, but I'm so glad that I kept reading.
Rating:
4 stars. What a great ending to a fantastic series! I feel so proud of myself, for sticking with yet another series - especially with a series that started out in the "meh" direction, for me. I ended up really liking this series!
The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross
Book Four of the Steampunk Chronicles
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.
London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.
Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.
Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.
What I Liked:
I'm actually going to try and be a little brief in this review, because I don't want to spoil anything in this book, as well as in the series in general. I kind of liked the first book, liked the second book, LOVED the third book, and definitely enjoyed this final book. The third book is by far my favorite, but I think I'd give this series four stars overall. That's pretty great!
Finley and the crew never have it easy - even if Garibaldi is dead. In the Aether, Garibaldi hunts Griffin - and succeeds in capturing him. Now it is up to Finley to find Griffin in the Aether, with the help of Emily, Sam, Jasper, Wildcat, Ispley, and someone no one expected.
Meanwhile, Mila is adjusting to life as a human. Once an automaton, she is now a human, living under the care of Jack Dandy. Except that she is in love with Jack, and he doesn't seem to either notice, or reciprocate, the feeling. Stupid, typical man, no? So Mila does exactly what Jack did not want her to do - she leaves, and goes on her own. She joins a circus!
There are several plots going on in this book. There is the overarching plot, for the entire series, in which Griffin attempts to defeat Garibaldi. There is the plot that each book has, in which a pair of characters struggles to find each other (in this case, it is Mila and Jack). There is Finley and Griffin, and their own personal struggle to be a couple. But in this book, there is also the problem of Jack and his past. You'd think that I'd immediately be all over this multiple plot thing, saying something about the plots being too confusing or underdeveloped, but no. I actually really like this setup. One thing that bothered me about it is below, in the next section. Just to give some perspective.
You all know how I feel about Finley and Griffin. I love the pair of them, as well as each of them individually. I love how well-characterized each character is in this book, despite the fact that there are at eight important ones. I wish that Griffin and Finley could have gotten more page time. They are the most interesting about which to read, and the chemistry and romance between them is beautiful and fiery. I can't find it in me to put that in the next section (that Griffin and Finley didn't get enough page time), but I wish there could have been more scenes between them. Alone. Not necessarily doing certain things. Just, alone.
This book wraps up beautifully. Like, I'm always terrified of reading conclusion novels, because authors always find a way to make the ending depressing or bittersweet or something. That is NOT the case, with this book (and series). The ending is a good one, a happy one, an even, well, slightly perfect one. You all know how I feel about perfect endings. BUT. I liked this ending.
What I Did Not Like:
I think this book was a little strange, in terms of its structure. I like the multiple plots - that was interesting and definitely not confusing. But it felt like the overall series plot - Griffin vs. Garibaldi - got pushed to the side a little, with other plots threading through this book. Like, it wasn't always a concern of mine that Griffin might be dying. Which is bad, because Griffin is probably my favorite character. In the first book, it was all about Griffin and Finley. While I like that each of the successive books feature another pair along with Griffin and Finley, I dislike that Griffin and Finley (and Griffin himself) are pushed aside a little. Sometimes, with a large cast of characters, we need to remember who are the MOST important. And you can't say all of the, or one large group, because that is NEVER true. One or two characters are always primary.
Would I Recommend It:
This book in particular, or the series in general? I'll start with the book. If you've made it this far into the series, DEFINITELY read this book. If you've read book one, or books one and two, read the remaining books in the series (including this one). If you haven't started this series, but you have the means to do so (legally, only legally), then do it! I had a rocky start with the series, but I'm so glad that I kept reading.
Rating:
4 stars. What a great ending to a fantastic series! I feel so proud of myself, for sticking with yet another series - especially with a series that started out in the "meh" direction, for me. I ended up really liking this series!
November 5, 2017
Good ending to the series, a bit predictable but still pretty good story line. I enjoyed how each chapter left us in suspense in regards to the 2 stories going on simultaneously between Fin & Griffin and Mila & Dandy. This book was definitely more of a page turner since it is hopping between both of the storyline and it also does some flashbacks. The scenes in the "Aether" or ghostly realm were very interesting as well, I think the author did a good job creating that world. I wish there had been a bit more about the other characters but I guess their stories were "done" or figured out in the second and third books. Series has a slow start but it gets better and the last 2 books are definitely the best. Not sure if I'll read another series by this author though.
April 12, 2019
Good ending
Awesome series! In this book we find out more about jack and his happy ending. Finley meets her father and every one becomes closer together
Awesome series! In this book we find out more about jack and his happy ending. Finley meets her father and every one becomes closer together
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