Review: The Girl with the Windup Heart
As you may notice when you read the book information further down, this is an ARC of a book that was published in May.
*cough* I'm catching up on reading.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy! But be aware that some things may have changed since the version I read was not the final copy. Tallyhoooo.
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Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 400
Source: NetGalley
Format: ebook ARC
Series: Steampunk Chronicles (#4)
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.
Okay, you may or may not know that I love this series. Especially books one and two. So, after being slightly disappointed with book three, I came into this one a little nervous.
For this review, I decided to do lists. Lists are very nice.
1. More Jack Dandy. Erm, that is, learning more about Dandy and his family and history. He's been in all of the books but he's always pretty mysterious. So it was fun learning more!
Also, why does everybody in the books think his Cockney accent is awful? It's awesome. And some of the lines he delivered wouldn't be the same without it. #fact
2. Mila, whom we know from book three, is evolving rapidly into a human. BUT, she still has areas that are a little blacked out for her--things she doesn't naturally know or think. I think the author did a really great job of writing for Mila with that in mind. Plus, it was fun seeing her smash things.
...What are you looking at?
3. Learning more about the Aether and the afterworld. This is something I've only read (in depth) about in this particular series. And it's such a neat concept. The author really dived into more explanations and experiences having to do with the Aether in this book.
4. I really loved how, when certain relationships matured (the ones with the physically strong girls-- Go Finley and Mila!), the guys weren't threatened by or disapproving of the girls' unique qualities. They're secure in their relationships, even in ones where the girls can pick them up easily. I think that's a great thing to be incorporated in the story.
5. Wait for it. Wait for it.... Steampunkishness! I LOVE everything about steampunk. The vehicles, the clothes (especially the clothes), the weapons. The steampunk world is a world that is, in a lot of ways I think, much more advanced than our world even. *hugs everything* Everything is awesome. (Kudos to you if you got that movie reference ;))
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1. Mila's flashbacks of her and Jack doing things together. While I did sort of like it because I got to see them interacting and learn little things important to the story, it was kind of disruptive to the reading flow. I would be reading along and then be ripped back in time. This is more of a personal preference.
2. Also, I loved the focus on Mila and Jack, but I also really missed the other characters a lot. Even though Finley and Griffin had a point-of-view, I missed stepping into Emily's, Sam's, and Jasper's head. Especially Jasper. Wildcat also really intrigued me. E-novella maybe Kady Cross? *wink wink*
3. This has to do with the characters too, but I wished that the whole cast could have done things together more often. For a majority of the book, they were kind of split in half taking care of different problems. I just like them all together like a big family. :D Even though it's not the most logical wish. WHO CARES ABOUT LIGICALITY. NOT I.
Anyways, the "things I liked" outnumber the "things I didn't like" by quite a bit (obviously). I really liked this book and it was a great ending to the series.
I recommend this book to readers who like steampunk, action, paranormal, awesomely kick-butt girls (ehem, women), and ghosts. Wooooooo.
That was a scary ghost noise.
Disclaimer: I was given this book by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
*cough* I'm catching up on reading.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy! But be aware that some things may have changed since the version I read was not the final copy. Tallyhoooo.
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 400
Source: NetGalley
Format: ebook ARC
Series: Steampunk Chronicles (#4)
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.
Okay, you may or may not know that I love this series. Especially books one and two. So, after being slightly disappointed with book three, I came into this one a little nervous.
For this review, I decided to do lists. Lists are very nice.
1. More Jack Dandy. Erm, that is, learning more about Dandy and his family and history. He's been in all of the books but he's always pretty mysterious. So it was fun learning more!
Also, why does everybody in the books think his Cockney accent is awful? It's awesome. And some of the lines he delivered wouldn't be the same without it. #fact
2. Mila, whom we know from book three, is evolving rapidly into a human. BUT, she still has areas that are a little blacked out for her--things she doesn't naturally know or think. I think the author did a really great job of writing for Mila with that in mind. Plus, it was fun seeing her smash things.
...What are you looking at?
3. Learning more about the Aether and the afterworld. This is something I've only read (in depth) about in this particular series. And it's such a neat concept. The author really dived into more explanations and experiences having to do with the Aether in this book.
4. I really loved how, when certain relationships matured (the ones with the physically strong girls-- Go Finley and Mila!), the guys weren't threatened by or disapproving of the girls' unique qualities. They're secure in their relationships, even in ones where the girls can pick them up easily. I think that's a great thing to be incorporated in the story.
5. Wait for it. Wait for it.... Steampunkishness! I LOVE everything about steampunk. The vehicles, the clothes (especially the clothes), the weapons. The steampunk world is a world that is, in a lot of ways I think, much more advanced than our world even. *hugs everything* Everything is awesome. (Kudos to you if you got that movie reference ;))
1. Mila's flashbacks of her and Jack doing things together. While I did sort of like it because I got to see them interacting and learn little things important to the story, it was kind of disruptive to the reading flow. I would be reading along and then be ripped back in time. This is more of a personal preference.
2. Also, I loved the focus on Mila and Jack, but I also really missed the other characters a lot. Even though Finley and Griffin had a point-of-view, I missed stepping into Emily's, Sam's, and Jasper's head. Especially Jasper. Wildcat also really intrigued me. E-novella maybe Kady Cross? *wink wink*
3. This has to do with the characters too, but I wished that the whole cast could have done things together more often. For a majority of the book, they were kind of split in half taking care of different problems. I just like them all together like a big family. :D Even though it's not the most logical wish. WHO CARES ABOUT LIGICALITY. NOT I.
Anyways, the "things I liked" outnumber the "things I didn't like" by quite a bit (obviously). I really liked this book and it was a great ending to the series.
I recommend this book to readers who like steampunk, action, paranormal, awesomely kick-butt girls (ehem, women), and ghosts. Wooooooo.
That was a scary ghost noise.
My Rating:
Ooh! *adds to TBR-list* I keep meaning to read more steampunk and this one looks good, I may have to try it!
ReplyDeleteNice review! :)
This series is SO good. :D Especially for steampunk because in some other books I forget that I'm reading steampunk. That never happens with this series. :) Yay! Read it, read it ;)
DeleteThanks!