ARC Review--The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken.

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons-or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist’s ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she’s to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn’t know she has....

 

I received this e-ARC from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.


It's been a long time since I last ventured into Kady Cross' Steampunk Chronicles, I've read them all so far with Netgalley, so it's somewhat helpful to at least be able to read them the same time each year, but I've been reading lots lately, so it's hard to remember everything about every seires! No matter!

The Girl with the Iron Touch is Emily's book in a way, like the last one was Jasper's, in a way. I say "in a way" because the story doesn't totally revolve around them, yet they each play a key role in the plot! And this is one where we get to see Emily, as you may note on the cover.

Emily is good with automatons. She has the ability to understand the machines when they make their clicks and whirl sounds and know what they are trying to convey. She's very talented. Which is what makes her a prime candidate for the kidnapping that happens, by automatons no less.

The automatons are being controlled by none other than Leonoard Garibaldi. Yes, you heard right! The villain from the first book who we believed to be dead once a building came down on him. He's in a sort of stasis, yet at the same time he is able to communicate with his automatons to do his bidding. He wants Emily to put his brain into an automaton they have prepared for him. His brain will go into this new version of the automatons that is slightly more human. Everyday she becomes more human like and is being prepared for the transistion.

Emily is terrified, and yet fascinated. She realizes she has the means to put an end to Garibaldi for good. The automaton is a friendly girl like person. Emily is captivated by her because Emily likes to tinker with automatons and other machinery, yet she sees that this automaton is growing her own personality and she soon names herself Mila, after Emily said it would be weird if she chose Emily as her name too!

Emily is set in her plan to kill Garibaldi, but her plans get thrown out the window when Sam comes to rescue her. While that is all good and plenty, it's also when things start to turn south.

This was a wonderful read! I enjoyed each and every moment! The characters are just so awesome and colorful that I enjoy returning to London with this cast! They are each so detailed with their own quirks and personalities! I love all the different accents Kady gives them! I feel like I can hear each of them speaking with their particular dialect!

The romance in this one was pretty widespread! We have Emily and Sam. They're in love, yet cannot bring themselves to admit it to one another. Emily has known that she was in love with Sam for awhile and he seems to return some affection towards her, they just have a few kinks to work out. And also admit to one another that they love the other!

Then there's the ever present Jack-Finley-Griffin debacle! Although, I am pretty sure last time around, Jack was out of the picture for Finley. Her heart has decided on Griffin, yet there is still some sort of friction between her and Jack! And I have to admit that I really love Jack! His accent is so fun and he's a very mysterious kind of guy! I don't begrudge Finley for not choosing him and I kind of like her not being with him even though he cares for her and may even love her. Besides, in this one, it looks as if though Jack might be having a new love interest! Hard to say really, but I won't get into it!

Griffin and Finley are still butting heads with some things. They are so much alike, it's no wonder they spend a good deal arguing! Griffin is harboring his own kind of secret though that has been putting distance between him and Finley and when it's revealed it's pretty surprising!

Overall this was just a delightful read! So much action and adventure and lots of secrets! The ending was spectacular! I cannot wait to see what the characters are going to do now after this big event! There was also something else pretty wicked that happens, but again, not saying what! I tend to have the need to give people the heads up on all the awesome surprises that occur, because who doesn't want to know that something incredible happens? I always do! And you will find I will say something amazing happens, yet I'll never say what!

I think what I enjoy most about this series are the characters, as I mentioned, they are just so colorful and detailed! I love it! It really makes me feel like I am in London! The worldbuilding is also incredible! We have the steampunk element where the setting is 1897 and yet there seems to be an excess of technology! In the steam engine type way that has become norm for steampunks! I love that blend, it gives a slightly more modern feel to the story that at times I forget what century the characters are in! Which just sums up to how beautifully written this novel is that it can take the reader away from the world and be swept up into a new one!


Overall Rating 5/5 stars


The Girl with the Iron Touch releases May 28, 2013