- Reading level: Young Adult
- Hardcover: 480 pages
- Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (May 24, 2011)
In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the thing inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch.
Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.
Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.
But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch.
Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.
Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.
But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.
My Thoughts...
It took me forever to finish this book, but really that isn't a reflection of the book, I was jut very busy and had no time to read. I really really love Finley! She is fantastic. I loved the move the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, I've watched it a countless number of times (Sean Connery *swoon*) this story and group of characters had the same feel to them. I really wasn't excited about the steampunk aspect of this book at first, but I was quickly sucked in, and it changed my thoughts on steampunk as a genre. While I did enjoy the story I did feel that parts were a little predicable. My favorite thing here had to be the characters, there interactions were fun and at times had me grinning or chuckling. I also liked the direction that was taken with Finley's character. That was something I really wasn't expecting. Overall I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more books in this series. I give this one 4 stars.
