stephin_lalan

Normally I'm not a fan of historical fiction, but steampunk to me is something entirely different, transforming normal fiction and infusing fantastical elements that make it come alive. I find it such an amazing genre! The Girl in the Steel Corset revolves around Finley Jane, an interesting main character to say the least. After she beats up her boss who tried to force himself on her, she runs away and finds herself in the mansion of the dashing Mr. Griffin King and his band of 'misfits'. He, his friends, and Finley all possess some sorts of supernatural abilities, and working together, whether they want to or not, they must hunt down the elusive Machinist. First of all, I adored Finley. She is a spitfire. Even in a time and place such as historical London, when ladies shouldn't be anything but proper, she manages to come across as demure and fierce at the same time. She doesn't grow into her bad-assery--she already is. She isn't afraid to get her hands dirty, and while she certainly is independent, she's also insanely happy to find a friend in dear Emily. When taking her story into consideration, I consider her, literally, to be two sides of the same coin. You want to befriend and fear her at the same time! The other characters that make up this story were also very likeable. Griffin, the rich orphan, was the nice guy of the love triangle that appears. He's fascinated by Finley and how different she is from other girls, and he also desperately wants to help her deal with her 'condition'. He's smart, dashing, loyal, and possesses his own magical abilities, making him a character I wanted to learn even more about. Emily was the previously lone girl of the group. She's described as a tiny Irish lass with ropes of copper hair, and just imagining the accent as she spoke endeared me to her. She's incredibly sweet but also one heck of a genius, extremely capable with machines and all sorts of other things. I'm not sure how she knows all that she does, but maybe that's something that will come up in book 2. Then there's Sam, Griffin's best friend. He nearly died when attacked by an automaton and as a result, Emily had to replace his arm with a metal one. He spends a good portion of the book surly and disgusted with himself, and it really bugged me. He had been given a second chance at life, albeit with a few extra metal bits, but he came across so ungrateful and his friends were so patient with him, even when he resorts to physical violence. Not the best way to introduce a character but he does go through some changes by the end of the book, thank goodness. Jack Dandy, a dark, dangerous criminal is the other guy in the love triangle. He appears sporadically, usually when it would annoy Griffin, and while I don't want to like him, I was as intrigued as Finley was by his mysterious ways. There's so much to learn about Jack, and I want to see more of him and his different sides in book 2. Jasper also appears, but not as often as I'd thought. I was waiting for his 'shadowy secret' but it seems he wants to hold onto it a little longer. The Girl in the Steel Corset has a murder mystery plot throughout, as the group tries to hunt down the Machinist and take down robots that seem to be going against their programming. I really loved the mix of science and fantasy, the robots and gears and steam inventions to the Organites, little 'beasties' that have the ability to mimic human cells, one of the coolest things I've ever read. The mix of old and new, together with the proper London setting, speech and clothes, made for such a fascinating story! The magical element was very interesting, but I can't wait to see it developed even more. Griffin's power is, in my opinion, the most fascinating, but I think Emily's burgeoning abilities have serious potential. I was definitely hooked on this book, and I had a hard time putting it down not only to keep up with the plot progression, but to also take in the vivid descriptions of London, from the steam powered carriages, to the dark alley slums, to the incredible fashion. Not to mention the chivalry that's present in this time period is totally swoonworthy ;) Bottom Line I love steampunk! This genre is so incredibly interesting, and The Girl in the Steel Corset melds science and magic, old and new, into a rich story with interesting characters and a wonderful setting in Victorian London. This being the first in a trilogy means that some characters still have room to be developed even more, and from what I've seen with book one, I'm eager to see that happen. Check this one out!

2022-11-14 13:54