Review: Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare

Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books; 1ST edition (December 6, 2011)

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

I wasn't sure that this book could hold up to the first book, but wow it blew it away. There was so much to this story. I loved Will's story line and how it involoved Mangus was great, seeing all that cleared up some of the things said between Camille and Mangus in CoFA. I also loved every second that we spent with Jem!

Tessa is still trying to figure out what she is and I think we found out, and hopefully I'm right and Cassie will explain it in book 3. Now I for one was shocked yet not shocked by the betrayals in this book. And while Charolette's decisions must have been hard I am glad they were what they were. 

Cassie made me swoon, laugh, smile, and angry at Tessa. I am totally team Jem and if Tessa chooses will in the end I will gladly take Jem! I really can't wait for the next book I am so anxious to see how all of this wraps up! Will or Jem, What is Tessa? What happens to the bad guys?!? Ahhhhh....I need to know! I give this one 5 stars! And it might just have been my favorite book of 2011!

Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset - Kady Cross

• 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.

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. 

Review: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne - Kady Cross

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 251 KB
• Publisher: Harlequin Teen (May 1, 2011)

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined…

An ebook exclusive prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles.

My Thoughts...

I think I might be in love. Finley is awesome, I have been putting off reading The Girl in the Steel Corset for a while because my first try with steampunk ended badly.  So I was a little nervous but when I saw the prequel I said what the heck give them a shot.  I now have a new love and appreciation for steampunk, and I loved this story.  Kady Cross did an excellent job and I really enjoyed all the characters even the bad ones. I really can't wait to start The Girl in the Steel Corset and see what else happen to Finley.  I think this was a 5 star novella and I hope that all of you enjoy it as well!