The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

The Steampunk Chronicles #2

by Kady Cross

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling-or dangerous Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper from the clutches of a devious criminal demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him... for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper, and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens and tightens. From the rough streets of lower Manhattan to elegant Fifth Avenue, the motley crew of teens follows Jasper's elusive trail. And they're about to discover how far they'll go for friendship.

More than ever, Finley must rely on powerful English duke Griffin King to balance her dark magic with her good side. Yet Griffin is at war with himself over his secret attraction to Finley... and will risk his life and reputation to save her.

Now, to help those she's come to care for so deeply, Finley must infiltrate the criminal gang. Only problem is, she might like the dark side a little too much...

Genres: Steampunk, Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Science Fiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published May 22, 2012

About the author

Kady Cross is a pseudonym for USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Smith. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and a pride of cats. She likes singing with Rock Band on the 360, British guys, Vietnamese food, and makeup (she’s hopelessly addicted to YouTube makeup tutorials!). When she’s not writing Kady likes to catch up on her favorite TV shows, read a good book or make her own cosmetics.

Reviews

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

I did it: I finished this loooooong, dry book full of flat characters, endless repetition and tons of of the hated "showing not telling" way of expanding the history. Though my experience with round two of this "straynge band of mysfits" was sliiiightly better than with its predecessor The Girl in the Steel Corset, I want to express this loudly and clearly: This series is not a good example of steampunk. Also, why I am just griping: whyyy the random, painful bastardization of "strange band of misfits"? (SPOILER for first in the series) If you've read book one, you know that "Jayne" is not in fact Finley's surname, nor does she go by it at all during this novel... So enough with the strange application of "y"'s. A lot of my issues from the first are present oce again here: Finley herself continued to be a bit of a disappointment and an erratic and brainless main character, continuing my lack of enthusiasm for her, most of the background characters remain flat and one-dimensional, and the villain/twist is telegraphed very early on in the book. This review might get a little long and spoilery, or even a lot, so keep your eyes elsewhere unless that's what you want.


Things I Am Vastly Tired Of Reading About In The Steampunk Chronicles:

Emily's "ropey" hair (what does that even mean? Dreadlocks? Braids?)

any kind of overwrought love triangle (Jasper-Mei-Emily or Jasper-Mei-Wildcat - either/or - no, thank you)

Sam surliness/moodiness (less of an obvious page-to-page problem than in book one, but still not redeemable)

How Finley's drawn to the darker side of life (it's been two books, countless examples [Felix, Jack, fights, Dalton] and something like 800+ pages - we get it already!)

Finley's worries about being worthy for a Duke (I'm pretty sure the boy that can be ~one~ with the Aether doesn't care about society, given that he already lives unsupervised with two young women of not exactly sterling repuation)

Griffin's "I-trust-you-now-I-don't" wishywashy bullshit with Finley + worrying over whether he is exciting enough for the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-ian girl he loves likes (Have some self-respect, dude.)

Anything involving the word Organites (including Darwin and this books misuse of his theories on evolution)

I think some of the problem with this series is that it wants to be X-Men but with a steampunk background. On the surface it seems to sort-of/maybe fit the mold cast by Charles Xavier and his motley crew: there are a bunch of mutated kids with special abilities like super strength and speed and healing, the ability to talk to machines, dual natures, etc. that all live together in a big mansion, owned by a family with a lot of money. But such a comparison starts to fall apart upon closer inspection - most aspects of this historical steampunk young-adult novel are rather run-of-the-mill and cliched, easy to find in slightly different forms all over the paranormal teen novel market.

Though this takes place merely a fortnight after the events of the first book, a lot of the superficial details have changed, including the cast of characters. At first I was, well, not really excited, but less apprehensive to start this based on the cover. For one - it's not a generic, whitewashed cover. Mei is an important part of the plot - in fact the whole book falls apart without her participation - and I'm really happy that an Asian young woman was selected to show and advertise for ya novel. But there's always a but, and here is no exception. Mei is a new character and her race makes her stand out in this largely English cast, but I'm bothered and disappointed that the author chose to name her "Mei Xing." As in the word "Amazing" - how awkward and shallow of a choice! But that was just the first of many character issues I found here. I also wish there had been more subtlety with her role in the plot (subtlety from the woman who named her main male character/love interest Griffin King? My bad) - while I wasn't sure at first, it's rapidly apparent what's going on. A lot little more authorial sleight of hand would make the unraveling of the plot and characters much more engrossing to read.

Main character Finley has been a problem from me since early on in the first chapter of The Girl in the Steel Corset and sadly, she is no better here in round two. Her previous problem of acting brainlessly and without thought for repercussion shows up early and often but good ol' Fin now drags her friend Emily into her messes. I know that the big 'deal' with Finley is constantly-battling dual nature, but the author's depiction of her lead's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde-type tendencies is really over the top here. She's supposed to dance on the fence of morality and legality, but considering backhanding another girl for a look? That's extreme and just makes Finley look like a judgmental and unhinged maniac - not a fiercely protective and loving friend, which is I think what the author was trying to impart? I may have missed the finer point of it because Finley was devolving into an autocratic violence machine.

Once again I felt there was a superfluous amount of POVs used here - just like I thought for the first book; Finley's alone would be sufficient if grating on my nerves. So much of the text feels like repetition - even if it's Finley, or Jasper or Griff, they all think along the same lines. I mean, Jasper explains and re-explains his plans to hide a device multiple times. It gets old, quick. It must be said that Jasper's voice is the most identifiable, but that's largely because of his affected and annoying accent. (Also? Being from San Francisco and wearing a ten-gallon hat does not make one a cowboy. OK?) The lack of Jack Dandy is lamentable, but at least the love triangle tension and drama was slightly scaled down as well. The charming but fake Cockney crime lord is one of my few liked characters, even if Griff is slowly climbing his way up in my estimations to give him a run.

In the end, I'd have to say that The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is ultimately just as energy-sapping and time-consuming as its immediate predecessor. It's also just as frustrating to slough through for over 400 pages. It feels amateurish, characters haven't grown or evolved, there's too much focus on fripperies instead of potential awesomeness, and infodumps and love triangles run rampant. There seems to be some love-connection type resolution for Finley and Griff (until she gets back to London and Jack...) as well as the main storyline. With a rushed ending that was over veeery quickly, I can't say I'm sad to say "goodbye!" to this series - for forever - even if there's a book three.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update 12/20: OMG THIS COVER IS AWESOME! I like that it's not the same model as the previous cover (who looked a whole heck of a lot like Megan Fox!). Can't wait to read this book!!

Review

Similar Books: Soulless by Gail Carriger, Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore

I enjoyed Kady Cross's YA debut The Girl in the Steel Corset last year, so I was excited to get the sequel from NetGalley. And while most sequels tend to not be as good as the original book, I think I liked this one even better than the first! (I'm also IN LOVE with the cover, but more on that later.)

What was great about this book was the change of setting. You don't get many steampunk novels set in America, so it was really interesting to see Finley and the gang in New York City. This also gives them the opportunity to meet a very important inventor who plays a major role in the plot. (Hint: It's not Thomas Edison.)

I also thought the characters really came into their own in this book. Finley still struggles with merging the two sides of herself, but she grows in confidence in who she is. I also loved how Griffin struggled with trusting her - he's afraid that she'll end up choosing to be bad instead of good. And he has a serious hero complex, but it was recognized as a character flaw rather than an asset, and I found that really interesting. He didn't really do it for me in the first book, but I ended up liking him a lot in this sequel! He's the brains behind the operation, and he binds everyone together. He struggles with letting go of the reins a little when it comes to Finley, letting her take more control of the situation - great conflict!

And while we were introduced to Jasper's character in the previous book, he takes a much more central role in this book. He instantly became my favorite character. I adore a funny guy, and he was also really sweet and charming. It's adorable that he calls the girls Miss Finley or Miss Emily. And OMG he's a freakin COWBOY! I loved him. Seriously.

But something I noticed was that all the characters felt a bit old. I'm not sure if it's because of the historical setting, where people grew up quicker or because there really aren't any adults in this book, but Griffin and Sam especially felt really mature. They came off as a 20-somethings to me. Not that that's bad, it just didn't seem to fit all that much with the YA genre, I guess. You can say Sam is 17 but if he acts 25, I'm going to think of him as 25.

I also wished there could have been some more interplay between Sam and Emily. They really took a backseat in this book since Jasper became more prominent. And I understand that the Jasper/Mei and Griffin/Finley relationships were the important ones, but I missed Sam's awkwardness and Emily's scolding; they're precious.

And OMG WHERE WAS JACK DANDY?! Okay, I get it - he's still in England. But he was sorely missed in this book. I think Cross tried to replace him with Dalton, the villain of this book, but I'm sorry - there is no comparison. While Jack really embodied the Cockney crook (how's that for alliteration?), Dalton didn't really feel all that much like a Southern gentleman when he was supposed to be from Virginia. I guess that surprised me since all the other characters really reflected their homes (like Jasper being a California cowboy and Emily's Irish-isms) with the exception of him. I guess it's better than being a caricature, but I wish he'd at least said 'y'all.'

Overall, this was a solid sequel. I really enjoy a good steampunk, and I'm looking forward to the third book! But all I've got to say is there had BETTER be some more Jack Dandy!!!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this YA steampunk fiction, the great cast of characters from The Girl in the Steel Corset are back. Finley and Griffin are fighting an attraction to each other. The device around Mei's neck continues to tighten and Jasper is desperate to save her. The science and steampunk aspects of all the different inventions and forces brewing in this novel were especially interesting and well done. I did wish there had been a bit more romance, to be honest. After so much longing in book one, I had expected things to develop a bit more here than they did.

[Ferdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar was predictable, cheesy, boring and frustrating. Why did I read it? Because I was in the mood for rubbish YA, I get like that sometimes.

My main issue was the lame characters and silly love triangles — they weren't exciting, entertaining or engrossing. The plot wasn't all that either - Jasper is forced to go to America and Finley, Griffin, Emily and that other dude follow him. The mystery surrounding Jasper's kidnapping wasn't remotely interesting - I knew what was going on and I was frustrated with all the dumb characters being dumb.

I quite liked Jasper in the first book but because he turned into the typical manslut, I hated him. The idiot seemed to fall for every girl he laid his eyes on and for some reason they fell for him even though he was playing away with other girls. Ugh.

The worst character was super speshul snowflake Mary Sue, Finley. She was the strongest, the baddest and the sexiest of them all… Ugh. I hated how everyone fawned over her and acted like she was amazing — she was bland and annoying. The way she acted around Griffin was off putting — it's clear that he likes her but she just strings him along whilst getting lusty over guys that have a bit of a bad streak. I hope Griffin finds someone else.

Emily and that other guy(?) were okay… But that other guy was a bit of thicko when it came to their potential romance.

Another disappointment was the world building… It didn't seem very steampunky… The characters acted too modern and all the gadgets and devices came across as too high tech rather than steampunkish.

All in all, meh.

[Ava · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC supplied by NetGalley and Harlequin Teen in exchange for an honest review.

I live in South Florida, where it’s so hot you want to sit under the shade of a scrawny Jacaranda tree and hope to die quickly.

THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR is like a 16 oz-glass of vanilla ice-cream milkshake, a giant umbrella, a fan, and a pool magically appearing next to your sweltering body.

Okay, perhaps not that (really not that), but it was a good book.

It’s so refreshing, I couldn’t wait to continue reading it. It was nuts. I have 16 unread books to read on my Nook, the library, and from ARCs and B&N, and all I could think about was getting back to this one.

Let me just say firstly that the cover - and the name - is absolutely gorgeous. I’m debating whether the first or the second cover is prettier, but the name for this one won me over. I mean, THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR. It’s so alluring. I wanted to eat the cover, but unfortunately the ARC version did not come with the cover so I could zoom in and out and stare at it.

Damn it.

THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR seems to be better then its preceder, THE GIRL IN THE STEEL COREST. We get more insight on the characters and introduced to new ones - like Mei Zing, the pretty Chinese girl with the unfortunate name, and Dalton, the vicious gang leader.

badass |ˈbadˌas| informal
noun
a tough, aggressive, or uncooperative person

+

fighter |ˈfītər|
noun
a person who does not easily admit defeat in spite of difficulties or opposition

= Finley Jayne

Oh my god. Why can't all YA books, if the heroine is supposed to be strong and brave, be like Finley? Seriously? She is the definition of badassery. She won't give up, and she's no goddamn damsel in distress all the time. I mean, one time there was, but it was that sort of scene where you're squealing with happiness and tearing your hair out. I mean, sure, she has these totally amazing strength powers... but she also has a witty, sarcastic, and smart personality to match them.

Griffin. Hehe. Hehehehehe. He's so mellow. I love it. He's pretty much everything a good love interest should be for a girl: sweet, kind, concerned, the list goes on and on. Though boring. He's kind of boring.

I hated Mei Zing from the start, but in that good way, if you know what I mean. When Finley decided to hang her from the window I was shrieking, "GO FINLEY TEACH THE BITCH A LESSON." But I also liked her in a girl-to-girl sort of way.

I dunno. I'm a confused person.

But of all things, I was not expecting that ending. At all.

So, why did this book get 4 stars and not five?

Because I missed *sniffle* my *sniffle* JACK DANDY. I MISSED HIM SO MUCH.

There could have been some more action between Finley and Griffin. They barely do anything except shoot each other looks.

And in the end I enjoyed TGITCC, but not insanely.

*sighs*

[Commodore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess the moral of this one is, "Fool me once with a very pretty cover, Kady Cross, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

I should've just put the book down right at the beginning, when Finley was all, "I'm flying, Jack Griffin." It all went downhill from there. I'm going to run down the highlights (lowlights) of the worst parts of the book.
* - If I had to hear about Emily's "ropy" hair one more time, I was going to hurl the book across the room. Being as I read it on Kindle, this is no light claim I make. Also, Cross puts her in a maroon dress in the beginning, saying it did wonders for her skin, but why on earth would you put a redhead in that color?
* - There's never any real danger. STEAMPUNK FIXES EVERYTHING. Need to communicate and you're not in the same room? STEAMPUNK EARBUDS. Need to communicate and you're in different parts of the city? STEAMPUNK CELL PHONE. Need to get out of your high-rise hotel room stat? STEAMPUNK CAT-HELICOPTER-MOTORCYCLE HYBRID. Got the shit beaten out of you but need to do more work later today? STEAMPUNK NEOSPORIN.
* - All Irish people do not know each other. Particularly given that a lot of the gang members were first-generation Americans, it was doubtful they'd give two shits (excuse me, shites, because they're from England, remember? I don't know if you remember, but they're from England.) about some taser-handed ginger telling them that Ireland would be so disappointed in their behavior, especially after said ginger's friend had just spent the last five minutes beating up on them.
* - Finley's awful faux-minism. She pisses and moans Griffin not treating her and Emily as "capable women," (which mostly just means, "Why do you get angry when I don't consult you about my plans, which are for the most part really foolhardy and based solely on my ability to punch things.") and we're supposed to buy her as super-progressive. That sort of falls apart, however, when you realize every other female character mentioned in the series for more than a few sentences with the exception of Emily is put in direct conflict with Finley one way or another. Let's count it off, shall we?
Lydia Astor-Prynn - Is bad because she wants to marry the guy Finley has a crush on (which, socially speaking, makes more sense. Finley even knows this), wasn't raised unconventionally as Griffin's group, and sees the girl who punched Griffin in the jaw and knocked him out at a dress shop--a stupid, convoluted story to put forth for someone who has jumped out of two story windows in the past without a scratch--trying to use Griffin's name to buy her dress and rightfully calls her out. Sorry Finley, you act like a hardened criminal, you can't be pissed off if someone calls you on it, even if you were only pretending. Even if the girl calling you out can't punch through a wall or make taser-gloves.
Wildcat - She's like Finley--fighty, sassy, lower classy--but not as good. After all, it's not Wildcat who saves everyone in the end, is it?
Mei - My god, Mei. See, I really liked Mei when I thought she was on the good guys' side. I'm a sucker for characters who don't like the main character, but are still on the same side (see: Johanna from the Hunger Games). So Mei could be "a proper cow" to Finley, and they could be working towards the same goal, but for totally different reasons. Or they both hate each other, but want Jasper to be free, so they decide to put their differences aside for the time being. See? Tension! Conflict! People being people! But what really happens instead is that because Mei is mean to Finley, it's indicative of the later, deeper betrayal. Because if you're a girl who doesn't like Finley, you're obviously either weak, jealous, evil, or all three.
* - That whole line where Jasper "falls in love with Finley a little bit" when she tells him she save him and only him if it came down to it. Really? How hard is it to say that he felt gratitude, or was happy he had such a good friend in this mess? That line coupled with that "Jasper was her new favorite person" business, I'm inclined to think Cross just wants to diversify her readers' shipping choices so she can go along and read the fanfiction later.
* - Whatever Finley was wearing, it wasn't a corset. Corsets do not move that way. Also, you wear corsets under your clothing. Though it would be kind of funny if it turned out Cross was making a joke about superheroes wearing their underwear on the outside of their clothes, a la Superman and Batman, I highly doubt she's that clever or capable of that kind of subtlety.
* - "Oh, that Whip Kirby. He's handsome for an old dude. He's got to be at least thirty." I'm sorry, what?
* - Mei. Quite apart from her dreadful, telegraphed-from miles away betrayal of Jasper, I don't really understand why everyone gets so broken up over her death. Jasper I can understand has a lot of complicated feels, but literally five pages ago everyone wanted to tear a chunk out of this girl's hide for being a big betraying bitch who betrayed and doesn't like Finley. They were threatening her with the characteristic hyperbolic violence that appears every chapter or so ("I'll tear his arms off, I'll make him pay, blah blah blah," we get it, dude.) But the second someone makes more or less good on that threat--accidentally--I might add, the whole group flips the fuck out. Maybe it was supposed to show that the group were still kids, really, when it came down to it, and when they were faced with the reality of actually killing someone they weren't so tough as their words and thoughts led them to believe, but I don't believe that. I think it was a sloppy attempt to make them better than those they fought, more human. Yawn.

(And uh, Sam? You might want to cool it on being jelly of Emily and Tesla's great science-y love, since dude hated germs so much he was celibate.)

And the adding of the Dead Rabbits was so fanfiction-y, and that stupid note in the end about "an Italian actor portraying an Irish character, and an Irish actor portraying an Italian one." Yes, Kady, we all thought that was super interesting when we read it on IMDB.

[Arooj · Rating 5 out of 5]

So. Freakin'. AWESOME!
I loved it.
I want to eat it.
GAAAHHH!

The Good
- This book had a different plot line than the first one. Here, we follow Jasper's story. Usually I get overwhelmed when an author has more than one plot line in a series, but that wasn't the case here. Full of mystery, action and evil villains, this book was a joy to read!

- That twist revealed near the end? TOTALLY SHOCKING. I had already begun to suspect it from all the clues that were given, but even then I couldn't help but be surprised.

- I'm in love with the cover. I'm tired of all these covers with girls in pretty dresses, most of which serve no purpose to the books, but the cover for this book is stunning. It actually has something to do with the book. I really love the dress Mei is wearing, as well as the clockwork collar. I WANT IT SO BADLY! Not the actual thing, of course, but maybe a replica. It's so pretty, right?

The Bad
- N/A

The In-Betweens
- The romance finally had some development, but I wasn't all that impressed with it. Finley and Griffin kept having these stupid arguments where they're both trying to prove to the other that they're capable of handling things themselves and just want to protect the other person. I wanted to slap both of them on the head. Couldn't they see how this was ruining their relationship? However, because of some life threatening events, Finley and Griffin finally open up more to their feelings for each other. Also, I sensed a connection with Finley and Jasper. If Griffin weren't in the picture, I'd actually like the two of them together!

The Characters
- Finley was even more scarier then ever. In fact, she was really aggressive. I liked how bad ass she was, but at the same time, I couldn't help but be afraid of her. It was no secret that she liked being like this. She has both the good and bad sides of herself under control, but at times she went overboard. For example, when she went off to do something dangerous without even informing the others, then not even caring when they're worried. But in the end, it all paid off. I still very much like Finley, but she's one of those heroines who I'd rather not cross.

- Griffin reminded me of those YA female leads who are always feeling helpless and self-conscious and complain about it all the time. I felt that Griffin should've had more confidence in himself and not try to be in control of everything all the time. I guess I'm used to reading books with guys doing most of the action that made Griffin seem a little tame, but I don't think he was as weak as he claimed himself to be. He's just a perfect gentlemen, one who's company I wouldn't mind being in.

- Oh, my poor Jasper. I learned so much more about him here, and I can't help but feel sorry for him. Like Emily and Finley, I want to hug him. And never let go.

- Mei. This girl...man, did she ever surprise me. By the end of the book, my opinion of her was completely different from what I first thought. If you've read the book, see the spoiler to see my full reaction towards her. THIS LITTLE BITCH! I wanted to strangle her! At first I was like, hey, she seems nice and interesting, but when it was revealed that she was actually in league with Dalton (and the fact that the clockwork collar was FAKE), I wanted to break her little neck. How dare she! There aren't that many characters that I hate with this much passion, so this shows how much I hated Mei for hurting Jasper like that. I'm sorry Finley for thinking you were too harsh on her when you threatened to throw her out the window. You should've just done it.

- Dalton? I wanted to kick this son of a biscuit right in his jewels.

Recommended?
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is an insane book. A lot better than the previous one in the series. I highly recommend that you continue on the series with this book!

Is there a third book? Please tell me there is. I need MORE.

4.5/5

[oliviasbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first volume in this series, The Girl in the Steel Corset, had been so much fun. It was kind of ridiculous, vapid, action-laden, a bit trashy and inhabited by superhero-comic-like characters, but unquestionably fun. A perfect guilty-pleasure-combination of steampunk, fast action, mystery and bodice-ripping "light" (It seemed to me as if the "ripping" scenes had been "ripped" out of the novel to turn the soppy romance into something young-adult-appropriate - whatever that is).

At a first glance the sequel - including cover and title - does not stray very far from the former, successful recipe. There are the same old supernatural, monetarily independent teens clinging to the same old love-triangles and I-should-not-confess-my-feelings-resolves, displaying the same old sets of faults and and playing around with fantastically steampunky devices (i.e. armor, mobile phones, weapons and transportation objects) that one of them constructs in the course of one night from thin air if they are needed to facilitate or liven up the otherwise thin plot.

There are tiny variations, though, which caused the pudding to taste stale and unbearably boring to me: The even stronger focus on the romantic problems and multiple inner monologues of the tormented parties and the lack of danger and pepper and mystery. Around the middle of the story I grew antsy, because nothing really riveting happened, because of the repetitions and because the characters proved themselves to be pretty see-through and black-and-white Am I right? Amazing Mei Xing is of the evil sort and in the end Jasper loves "Miss" Emily and Emily still loves both Jasper and Sam ... and perhaps an army of other supernatural hunks, too?.

I never would have thought I would consider not finishing this book. Yet, here I am, burying the file in a dusty folder in the depths of my Kindle and shifting the writer into the blind spot of my consciousness: As it is I do not see sense in trying one of her future works.

[Sandra (LadyGrey Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a disappointment compared to the first book, but still highly entertaining. I liked the new setting and the new characters and for a long time I thought that it would be a 4.5-5 star book, but then it got closer to the end and... well, to be honest, the ending felt very rushed. It could have been executed a lot better and the climax of the book could have been written to be much more complex and difficult for the heroes to fix. Now everything was crammed together in one chapter and everything worked out just as planned. Also there was no real cliffhanger that made you want to read the next book right away, as there was at the end of the first book.

There are, however, interesting things happening that I'm guessing will be explained and further developed in the following books. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a better third book :)

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

This is one of my favourite series so I was absolutely ecstatic to get my hands on this book! If you fell in love with Finley and her special crew in Steel Corset, you'll love Clockwork Collar because things get even more action-packed and exciting. Does the synopsis not capture your attention immediately? Jasper's been taken by a dangerous gang leader, Reno Dalton, and must find all of the pieces of a secret device he scattered around New York last year after escaping. The clockwork collar around his past love's neck is quite literally one that will tighten and tighten. If anyone but Mei touches it, she'll die, simple as that. The stakes are high, yes? So strap yourselves in for another beautiful adventure with Kady Cross!

While I loved the London setting in the previous book, New York was so much grittier and had this indescribable atmosphere about it. As always, I felt right back in the 19th century and was thoroughly sucked into the world! Of course, I was slightly sad that Jack Dandy got left behind but the other characters were more than enough to keep me satisfied! What I love about this series is how Cross manages to incorporate every single character into the storyline and let them have their own personal journeys parallel to Finley's. YA books often focus 99% on the main female lead, but Cross switches narrators throughout the book and makes all of her characters stand out because they're REAL and have lives outside of their interactions with Finley. When I first saw the synopsis, I admit I was slightly worried that the book would be boring and all about Jasper and Mei, but I found that it wasn't the case at all. We spend a significant amount of time with Finley's gang (although the two worlds overlap a lot!) but with the story Cross has written, I really don't think you'll mind reading an entire Jasper book anyway! He's a very fascinating person...

What do I even say about Finley Jane? Her character becomes even stronger than before and it is always such a joy to experience new things with her. She and Griffin King, the gorgeous Duke of Greythorne, are still trying to resist each other for reasons completely unbeknownst to us! Boy likes girl and vice versa…What's the problem?! Oh Griffin's sense of morality. *shakes head* However, there are so many moments of absolute sweetness and adoration you just can't look past. It's completely obvious to us that Griffin's taken with Finley and we can see it in the way he behaves, the things he does for her and so much more! He's aware of Jack's interest in her too, which makes things even more exciting! Is he just going to stand by and watch his lady be charmed away or is he finally going to do something about it? ;) You will adore seeing him jealous. It's too cute.

It was surprisingly very enjoyable to watch the Dalton/Mei/Jasper storyline unfold. Like I said, the time we do spend away from Finley is amazing and just as exhilarating! You wouldn't believe the fun I had with the other narrators. I refuse to spoil anything so just know that it's filled with danger, excitement, love and fear, all rolled in a bowl full of deception! Cross stays true to the adventure we're used to seeing and it honestly made me feel like jumping into a boxing ring to let out some excess badass! Clockwork Collar is truly one that involves you in the story and engages you completely. You'll be out of your seat and cheering for the heroes soon enough! Although…Dalton really isn't hard to look at. Why are the evil ones always good looking? *coughs* We like a bit of evil...right?

Overall, Clockwork Collar is the kind of book that demands your attention. With its beautiful cast of characters who lead lives far more interesting than ours, there's no way it won't sweep you up off your feet! The romance and action had me fainting and squealing all over the place so watch out! Even though there are a few things that you know are going to happen, it doesn't make the ride any less enjoyable. Oh, the drama and mystery! I'm desperate for the third book now. I need to know what happens next! This is an absolutely must-read book so don't even think about giving it a miss!

[~Tina~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

After reading The Girl in the Steel Corset, I became an instant fan of Kady Cross writing, so I was thrilled to see the sequel on Netgalley.
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is even better!!

First off, I adore the way Cross writes! This is the stuff that makes historical fun and addicting. It's crisp, clever and cunning and I enjoyed every word.

The story-line moves over to New York, where Finley, Griffin, Sam and Emily go to try to help out their friend Jasper who's been accused of murder, only once they get there it's not what it seems, and in more ways then one.
This heart pounding plot moved with great flow and excitement. There was never a dull moment, the twists and turns kept me on my toes. The pace was perfect and I loved how is sizzled with anticipation around every corner. I also loved learning more about the Aether and the automans and the wicked devices. It's all completely fascinating.

But my favorite part about this book is the outstanding cast!

Finley still struggles with the conflict of her two selves. There is a big part of her that will always be drawn to danger and adventure, but I think she's come along way since the first book with a little more help from her friends.
Griffin won me over in the first book. There is just something incredibly sexy about a powerful man with a jealous streak. The whole trust issues may seem a bit frowning, but I think it's a very human move on his part. It was an acceptable conflict.
Sam and Emily are still just as great, but I did wish we could have seen some more of their lovely banter. In the first book it was like watching a firm but gentle hand calming down a tempered child. It was amusing, sweet and awfully missed.
Jasper wasn't a character I knew well in the first book, so it was nice to see him in the spotlight. I thoroughly enjoyed what he brought into the storyline. He has a loyal heart, witty humor and brings enough comic relief to the more dire situations.
Mei would be our girl in the clockwork collar, which is why I love the cover so much since it gives a great visual.
I'm guessing Dalton would be our Dandy in this book. I admit that I missed Jack a lot, I guess he's just my kind of scoundrel, but never the less, Dalton played the villain very well.

I was really happy that some romance seemed to find it's way into this book. It kinda of lacked in the first one but the plot was so much fun that it wasn't really a big issues. This one seemed to have it all. The excitement and the romance. Finley and Griffin have such an irresistible chemistry. Griffin likes to play the hero but Finley refuses to play the damsel in distress, the dance is well rehearsed and intoxicating to witness.

All in all, I had a great time with this book. It's fun and exciting and has some of the scrappiest characters I ever did meet!
Looking forward to reading the next installment in this must have series!

(Arc provided by Netgalley and Harlequin Teen)

[Shera (Book Whispers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah. So good. Everything just clicked into place with this one. There was this one character that I hoped, and wished, that Cross would go there with. Sure I'd predicted the plot, but it would be soooooo cool. And Cross did go there. I love an author who isn't afraid to DO things with their characters. To throw them a situation that will forever alter them.

The Girl In the Clockwork Collar is the second book in the Steampunk Chronicles. While it swiftly picks up where the last book left off, our characters won't stay comfy for long. The changing POV is still present and I'm so happy that a lot of the characters get to tell the story. Sam and Emily’s page time is not happening, but Cross writes them in so well that it doesn't feel like a loss. Jack Dandy may never have stepped into this story, but he made his presence known. *Grins* Finley and Griffin are very much the main characters. It's so wonderful watching them deal with their emotions with each other. To learning together that society should never dictate how you love someone. Life can be startling short.

Oh, and don't forget poor Jasper. He's very much the scoundrel. He's left broken hearts everywhere and his past in a gang is coming back to haunt him. However, Jasper is a true gentleman and I loved him. It's so hard to pick favorites with so many wonderful characters but Jasper is pretty darn amazing. Which is shown by the type of women he picks. (No one should complain about Finley's taste in men anymore.) I was fascinated by his exes and one in particular I hope to see in future installments.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar does nothing to expand on the The Machinist. However, I enjoyed the peek into New York and really enjoyed how much this entry expanded the world of the Steampunk Chronicles. Now that the bulk of the character introductions and world building were handled in the first book, this book just felt effortless. There are also some heavy consequences that will affect the characters. I'm very excited to see what the next installment brings!

Sexual Content: Some mild adult themes mentioned. Kissing.

5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

Originally reviewed at Book Whispers.

[Colleen Houck]

Every time I read a Kady Cross book I get all excited about steampunk to the point where I think I might write one someday, then I remember that I'm too chicken to take it on and there's no way on earth I'm putting on a corset. Congrats Kady on another inspirational story!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“
Four stars: More action, more steampunk and more danger in this sequel.

After Jasper Renn, the American Cowboy, was hauled off by a bunch of thug bounty hunters, the gang is in pursuit, headed to New York City. Jasper was taken prisoner accused of murder. Griffin and Finley refuse to believe their loyal friend is guilty of this crime. So they are currently aboard Griffin's airship gliding over the glittering city. Once Griffin, Finley, Sam and Emily settle in New York, they head to the jail in search of
Jasper. Strange he isn't at the jail.....Meanwhile, a battered and bruised Jasper is currently residing in the home of his former boss, Dalton. Dalton is the leader of a gang of ruffians and he is certainly not an upstanding citizen. It seems that Jasper double crossed Dalton by stealing and dismantling a strange invention that he helped Dalton procure. Jasper had no idea what the device was designed to do, but he had a feeling it wasn't anything good. Now, Jasper's criminal past has come back to haunt him and at a steep price. Dalton is demanding that he recover the pieces. If he fails to do so, the girl who once stole his heart, Mei Xing, may die, strangled by the clockwork collar she is forced to wear by Dalton. Enter in Finley and the rest of the gang. They plan to recover their friend and determine if he is indeed guilty. To do so, Finley infiltrates Dalton's gang and enters into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Will she succeed in freeing the cowboy?

What I Liked:
*This book picks up right where the first leaves off. All the characters and elements I loved from The Girl in the Steel Corset return in this sequel. There are more interesting steampunk inventions as well as the continued camaraderie of the four friends. Finley Jayne is tough as nails and she find herself in the middle of numerous fights and scuffles. I love reading about this kick butt heroine.
*I liked that this book was full of surprises. I was caught off guard by several big reveals. First impressions are often wrong in this book!
*The romance is a more prevalent in this book, but it takes its sweet time. What started as small sparks between Finley and Griffin has turned into a smoldering tension that runs throughout the novel. The two dance around their kindling feelings, hesitating..and you are on the edge of your seat wondering if those smoldering sparks will ignite into a full blaze. Ms. Cross does an excellent job creating a romance that keeps you guessing. If you like romances that are slow building and wrought with tension, you will enjoy the dynamic between Finley and Griffin.
*I appreciate that this series not only has great characters, good story lines and fun steampunk elements but the best part is that the novels are written so that they can be stand alone books. There are no cliffhangers and they resolve neatly. Yet, they build upon each other. I am all for a series that avoids the dreaded non resolutive endings.
And The Not So Much:
*I just don't believe that any of the main characters are teenagers. I think Ms. Cross created them as teens so that this series could be labeled as Young Adult. The problem is that they do not act like teenagers, more like they are in their twenties. All four of the characters are mature, capable and dealing with issues more suited for adults. This series excels beyond the typical YA boundaries and I personally don't really see it fitting well into that classification. There is absolutely nothing appropriate about these books so they can be read by youth as well as adults. Don't let this keep you from reading these books, they are so much fun. Just don't expect a book with a typical teen related issues.
*I was excited that this book was coming to America and I especially wanted to see how the author envisioned New York City at the end of the 1800's. Unfortunately, the city is just a backdrop and there is little description or detail on New York during this time period. I wish that she had showcased New York City more.
*The final showdown felt a touch rushed. The book builds to this big climatic showdown and it is over in an instant. I was expecting a bit more in the final scene.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar lives up to its predecessor. This is an action packed adventure set at the end of the 19th century in New York. When gangs dominated the city and guns and fists were often the way to settle disputes. Add in a dash of romance, a dose of steampunk and a strong camaraderie and you have the framework for an exciting sequel. If you have yet to dive into steampunk, The Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross are an excellent way to immerse yourself into the genre.

Favorite Quotations:
"Spread out before them---just beyond the ship's lanterns---was a blanket of lights. It looked like stars covered the ground, and set a short distance from it all was the largest lady she'd ever seen, the glow from her torch illuminating from her raised hand to just the top of her crowned head."
"New York looked like someone had captured the stars and dragged them down to Earth."
"Her mouth hung open like an old door off its hinge."
"When she moved around to the front of the desk, he saw that she was wearing and evening gown that fit her almost perfectly and and made her skin look as smooth as cream."
"I know thinking the worst of people makes it hurt less when they disappoint you, lad, but not everything is at it seems."
"Either she was a good actress or she truly didn't trust him any further than she could throw a buffalo."
"A fella couldn't outrun his past, no matter how fast he was."
"When the stormy blue of his gaze locked with her own, it was as though her heart fell over."
"The two of you are like a twister colliding with a mountain."
"You want a torch or a candle, maybe? You've got your head so far up your own arse, it must be dark in there."
"She tasted like the strawberries they'd had for dessert, and she smelled of fresh air and cinnamon."”
Posted originally @ http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Griffin, Finley, Emily, and Sam travel from London to NYC to try to help Jasper who is suspected of murder, only they discover that Jasper wasn't taken by the police but instead a gang leader named, Dalton. Dalton is blackmailing Jasper into retrieving parts of a mysterious device by holding Mei Xing (who Jasper is in love with) captive. The Duke's group must first determine if they trust Jasper and then how to help him out of this predicament. It all comes down to the wire when the machine is finally assembled and they try to thwart Dalton's plans to use it.

I'm getting hooked on this series. I love the steampunk aspect of it. The characters have all grown on me too, especially as Finley reconciles her two halves into one personality and everyone is waiting to see which one will be dominant. While there is an open plotline waiting to be continued in the next book, I must admit I am pleased the author didn't resort to a silly cliffhanger to get me to read the next book. It's not that I'm against cliffhangers, per se, I've just read a few ridiculous ones the last couple of weeks and liked that I didn't get one here.

[Veronica Morfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second book of the Steampunk Chronicles Griffin, Finley, Emily and Sam travel to New York to save Jasper from prison. But soon they find out that Jasper isn't really at prison but has been held captive by an old 'friend' of his, Dalton. Dalton wants back all the pieces to a device Jasper was suppose to deliver to him a year ago and in order to do that he keeping Mei, Jasper's old love, with a clockwork collar around her neck. One mistep from Jasper and Mei may be dead.

I loved this book. It was as good as the first if not better. The streets of New York came to life in front of my eyes, from the funcy balls to the gang alleys. Also I loved the fact that Tesla was in the book along with references to Edison, it makes the world Cross created even more realistic.

Once again the characters wer one of my favorite things. I loved how the romance between Finley and Griffin is slowly and steadily evolving. It's worth reading all the fights just for the moments that they fall a lit more in love with each other. In this book we see a lot from Jasper and I think it is great to know his story too.

But yet again I am not the biggest fan of the villain. He was better than the Machinist but still I feel like he was missing something. Also I had everything figure out again from an early chapter, just like the first book, I would love it if Cross didn't give away that many clues as to what will happen so that I can be surprised for once.

All in all, I love this book and the whole series. I am in love with the world Kady Cross has created and can't wait for my next visit there.

[Bec (Aussie Book Dragon) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2021 review
First appeared on my Instagram, @booktineus.

The Good Things
+ A reread for me! I first read this series when they were being released (starting back in 2011-ish). I’ve been filled with so much nostalgia rereading.

+ Do recommend if you enjoy steampunk! There are some really fun and interesting inventions in this one. And this was set in New York, which was interesting.

+ The fantasy elements are really interesting too! We’re slowly getting more of a glimpse into the aether and strange abilities of the characters.

+ The characters had some interesting growth! I love them all still, and actually wish we had more point of views in the book haha.

+ It was really interesting how Mei was written. Each character saw her differently and it was fascinating.

The Not-So-Good Things
- The love triangles are getting old. I’m rarely a fan of these and it’s getting angsty. I thought they’d been resolved at the end of book one but nope, things went backward at the start of this one.

- I missed Jack Dandy. He’s a charismatic, morally grey character who likes to steal the page.

- The ending felt really anticlimactic. There was so much build up to a heist they had to stop… and it was over in less than three pages. There were some shocking outcomes during this climax, but I was still expecting it to span over a chapter or two at minimum.

TL;DR:
This is a fun series overall and it’s so nostalgic rereading it. The steampunk and found family vibes are still going strong. The angsty romance is getting a bit old though. Other than that, I’m still enjoying this series.


2012 REVIEW
Steampunk is one of my favourite genres--especially when it's set roughly between the 14-1900s--and honestly, I have not read enough of it. Not much streampunk exists in YA fiction (as far as I have seen) which is a shame, because every time I read one I fall in love with it. So much interesting technology worked into the Victorian era... Uh! I cannot get enough. The Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross contain some of the best steampunk I've ever come across, containing those well known elements of the genre, but also throwing in some almost paranormal themes (Plus, she brought it Jekel and Hyde in the first book. I really appreciated that).

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar takes place in New York, picking up almost immediately from that horrible cliffhanger that was the end of The Girl in the Steel Corset (A year is a very long time to wait, I'd have you know). A fairly steady pace was kept throughout the novel--it was fast when it needed to be, and slowed down for some other scenes that needed the time. The language helped transport me back to the era the novel is set in, while also doing a great job of carrying the British origins of the majority of the main characters.

Speaking of Griffin and Finely... This couple!!! I LOVE their relationship, I've been wanting something MORE to develop in the romance department between them for a very long time. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar did a great job of taunting me on this aspect. As the POV switched between Finley, Griffin, and Jasper (but he's not as important at this exact moment), each one admitting their feelings to themselves or their friends, but never too each other! It was so gloriously frustrating.

Other new characters were introduced in this novel, and some from the previous book didn't appear (much to my disappointment). Dalton, the main antagonist of The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, was a creepy and sadistic man. His violent nature was hinted at but never shown fully until the beginning of chapter thirteen. The first two pages of that chapter were arguably the most violent part of the entire novel, or at least the most deadly.

Wildcat is a new character I definitely want to see again. She really intrigues me. And Cross certainly left her part of the story open, insinuating there was more to the Irish lass than we know. Considering she can climb walls with her claws, can hold her own in a fight with Finley, has fangs, and is respected and listened to by the majority of Irish gangs in New York... She's no ordinary girl. I think she may be "evolved" like the others, but you never know.

Teslov, an actual scientist from the era who researched radio waves or something, is another minor character of this novel. He was quite eccentric, but a genius none the less. I really liked reading the scenes he appeared in. I found it funny that a couple of hours after finishing The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, I went to rewatch the trailer for the upcoming Nancy Drew computer game, which actually has something to do with Teslov it appears. I really love the intertwining of real historical events into a fictional world, which Cross has done beautifully.

I only have two complaints: 1) There was no Jack Dandy. None. I missed him and his swash-buckling, criminal ways and wonderful wit. I'm thinking about rereading the first book just to read about him again. 2) There was a really big build up for what turned out to be a really short climax. The final complication/chase was over in a chapter, then in the next one or two the book was wrapped up. It didn't end in a cliffhanger either. It just seemed so... disappointing in a way. I wanted it to be harder than that. It didn't detract to much from the enjoyability of the book, though.

Despite those little complaints, I really enjoyed The Girl in the Clockwork Collar. I don't think I liked it as much as the first book, but I'm not ready to say goodbye to the characters just yet. There's still questions that need to be answered. Here's hoping to another sequel!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Girl in the Steel Corset so I'm not sure why it took me quite so long to get around to reading The Girl in the Clockwork Collar. The good thing about waiting is that all three books in the trilogy are now available so I'm going to be able to read the final instalment fairly quickly! I'd actually forgotten how much I liked Finley and the crazy group of misfits that she has become friends with and it was great to get back into the world that Kady Cross has created.

Finley is still struggling to bring both sides of her personality together but she has come a long way from who she was in the first book thanks to Griff and the others. She is still incredibly independent, intelligent and more than capable of looking out for herself which is something that has to be admired but she does have a tendency to act without thinking through the full consequences which often gets her in trouble. Griff struggles with the fact that Finley is often more capable of protecting herself than he is of looking after her but as much as that grates on him he puts that to one side once he has time to think about things. I have to say that Griff has grown on me since the first book but I did miss Finley's other potential love interest Jack in this instalment. It's not often I'm interested in love triangles but with the two distinct sides to Finley's personality it's not surprising that she is attracted to both of these very different men. I always tend to have a thing for the bad guy so it wasn't much of a surprise to me that I previously found Jack the more appealing of the two but after reading this book I'm now split down the middle and I'm almost tempted to switch to team Griff.

It was great to catch up with Emily and discover her latest impressive inventions, she is the smartest one of the group by far and she always has a few tricks up her sleeve. Sam has had quite a change of attitude which he desperately needed and he and Finley have almost reached a point where they could consider each other friends rather than enemies. This story takes us away from London and across the pond to New York and Jasper's old hunting grounds. Jasper is in a mess, his old gang have caught up with him and they are using blackmail to get their hands on a weapon he stole and hid from them before he fled to London. Finley, Griff and the others can't leave their friend to deal with the mess on his own and they have followed him to America to assist in any way they can. I always loved Jasper so it was great to spend more time with him and to get to know more about his past. I have to admit I wasn't a huge fan of his ex-girlfriend Mei but I absolutely loved his old friend Wildcat and really hope we get to see more of her in the future.

The story was well paced, had a nice amount of action and had a couple of great twists. I'll admit that I had suspected one of them well before the big reveal but I'm pretty sure that was intentional and it didn't spoil my enjoyment. I really like this steampunk world full of automatons, organites and airships and am looking forward to reading The Girl with the Iron Touch in the not too distant future.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar begins just as it left of with The Girl in the Steel Corset. The team of Finley, Griffin, Sam & Emily are on their way to America. (For reasons I will not disclose in this review as to not be spoilery!) The group finds themselves up against another evil foe! One that won’t be easily stopped.

The girl in the clockwork collar is a new character to the series and due to her presence we get to learn a little bit more about the cowboy Jasper, that we met in The Girl in the Steel Corset. I loved Jasper before, but I think I may love him even more now!

If you were a fan of book one, you will NOT be disappointed. The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is even more of a wicked ride than The Girl in the Steel Corset. If that’s even possible! Can I just say that the tension between Finley and Griffin was killer! Would those two just kiss and profess their undying love for each other already!?!

Okay, so things that I liked. Besides more Jasper, which is always a good thing.

1) I absolutely loved the New York City setting in this one! And even though it’s steampunk, from Kady’s author notes a lot of the places in the novel were factual, which is always cool.

2.) And we also get to meet a particularly interesting inventor from that era as well. And though his creations in The Girl in the Clockwork Collar may not have been his ideas, he was very much a real person.

3.) Griffin. He so stepped it up in the novel.

There were a few things that I missed from the first book. Like, what happened to Emily and Sam!!?! I feel like I hardly got to see them in this book. I get that they aren’t where the action is happening. But I so missed Sam being the big burly teddy bear and Emily showing everyone that there really is a heart in there. (And not just because she’s the one that put it there. No really she physically put his heart in there!)

And more importantly… where the heck was Dandy? I mean he sends some flowers and that was it!? I missed him!

Such an exciting addition to the series. I can’t wait to see what happens to these four next!

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading the first book for this series and thinking...wow. Just WOW! The setting, the world that Kady Cross has created...it blows me away everytime I enter it. The inventions, the fight scenes, the bas-ass girls, the ballgowns and the raw human emotions create a world I want so badly to live in. Seriously! I would love to be apart of Finley's world (granted...it's mainly because of Griffin!).

Book 2 picks up from where book 1 ended...Finley, Griffin (*sigh*) and the gang are travelling to New York, in the hopes of rescuing their cowboy friend Jasper - though from what, the motley group do not know. But politics, parties and rescue missions aren't the only thing on their minds. Sam is trying his best to prove his trustworthiness to the gang, Emily finds happiness in her love for Sam but still aches at the loss of Jasper, Finley is finally whole once more but the dark side seems more inviting than ever and Griffin...well, he doesn't know what to do about his growing love for Finley. Or his growing connection to the Aether. Both of which could prove dangerous not only to the gang but to the mission ahead.

Mentioning old characters - e.g. Jack Dandy. Poor Griffin. Jack reminds me of George from the Lioness books by Tamora Pierce...could be the "love" and "lass" thing!! Griffin's SO green-eyed about his friendship with Finley!! - and bringing in new ones - e.g. Dalton and Mei - this book has not stopped the machine rolling (LOL). Rather it has created a fast-paced, detailed, highly enjoyable adventure that rivals Girl in the Steel Corset and makes me long for what is to come. And I'm sure, whatever it is, will be great!

N:B the witty lines and the scene at the dressmakers ("If I punched her in the mouth, do you think she'd shut up?")...priceless!!

[ℓуηη_σƒ_νєℓαяιѕ · Rating 1 out of 5]

To start off, I LOVED the prequel novella The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, and gave it 5 stars. The first novel of this series, though I didn't love it (giving it only 3 stars, and sadly I didn't write a review for it), was still a pretty decent book. The plot was intriguing, and the characters I liked for the most part, though Sam I always thought was a broody oaf, and Finley annoyed me periodically with her constant visit/flirtations with Jack Dandy. Way to test your friends' trust!! But overall, I had liked it, so I thought I might like the second volume at least as well, if not better. Boy was I in for a rude surprise -_-

Now most of this review will be my takeaway of the book after only reading the first half. Sadly, the second half did NOT improve my opinion in the least. It actually worsened it. And I can't honestly say if I can even muster the determination to finish this series to the end. Two more books after the flat-lining plot of this one....mmmm, don't know if I can do it.

This book was just all around uggghhhh!! I read the first half and was entirely bored out of my mind. The plot is incredibly slow, nothing really to get excited about. It's pretty much just constant rehash after rehash, from the first book as well as just constant repetition of the minimal stuff that happens in this book itself.

Every time we have Griffin's PoV it's mostly just him worrying about Finley giving in to her darker half; if it's Finley's PoV then all we hear is how she loves beating up people, doesn't think she's got a chance with Griffin, and how she finds dangerous men intriguing, yadda yadda. And then Jasper, omg his PoVs were the worst. This whole "plot" was supposed to be about an event that happened in his past coming back to bite him, and yet his parts in the book were the boringest, most pointless segments ever!! Other than one initial smidge of a detail in his first segment, his PoV lent nothing to the story. All we ever got from him was "Omg, it's all my fault! Why was I so stupid?! If anything happens to Mei it's on me. If Dalton harms her I'll kill him. I wish there was something I could do" blah, blah, blah. I think the book could've just just as well without his PoV segments.

So overall for this book, hardly nothing happens! The plot was dull, there were only like two brief instances where the flat-line got a couple pulses, but they were brief, and involved Griffin, the only interesting character in this particular book. I still LOVE his character, we just don't get enough of his perspective. It's sadly mostly told from Jasper & Finley's PoVs, bleck! I liked Jasper in the first book, he just lends nothing in this one. And he's totally a dope about something at the end, which I totally saw coming. Finley I only really tolerated in book one, and in this she's just bloody obnoxious, in my opinion. She's definitely not worthy of Griffin, in my opinion. At this point I'd sooner ship Griffin & Emily together if Finley is the only other option. The only thing good I can say about this book is that Sam grew on me a little bit. Really, that's the only good thing I can say about this book.

In addition to the never-ending rehash of the same dang crap, the author doesn't allow for suspense to build or distrust between characters. If anything happens that might make a character grow suspicious of one another to build intrigue, in a properly written book that is, is quickly explained away and the plot continues to flop like a dying fish. And in many instances the author seems to talk down to you & state redundant things like you're a small child or just too stupid to figure things out for yourself. I didn't appreciate that. At all. I like a plot that leaves you questioning what's going to happen next, a plot that let's the tension build a slow burn that ignites into a full-blown eruption during the climax. That is NOT how this book was written >_<

I just couldn't find anything good about this book D: Even their clothing choices were repetitively the same thing: Finley could only wear deep purple dresses, and Emily copper/gold. When the clothes can't even do something different...I just ask myself, WHY did she think this series required four books??? One was honestly about all it could support. Just, ugh.

[Mitchii · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Um…where’s Jack Dandy?

*coughs* Anyhoo, Ms. Cross did it again. I loved and enjoyed The Girl in the Clockwork Collar as much as the first book. I tried putting it on hold so I can savor the moments (I mean, let’s face it; I need to wait another year for the third book. And that’s a torture. Plus I didn’t get my Jack Dandy fix). But I can’t help myself, I dig this book. I just need to read it. Like, right now! So with that, huge thanks to netgalley.com. I got the chance to read the book this early.

Once again this book didn’t fail to impress me. The lush steampunk goodness that I fell in love in the first book is still here. And should I say, more? Yes, there’s more of that. And more of Finley, Griffin, Emily and Sam. Oh yeah, and Jasper too. I’m still sad that’s Mr. Dandy is not here (he better be in the next book).

When I first saw the cover, I was surprised because that’s not Finley. She’s Asian. And Finley is not Asian. But in this book, I got the chance to meet Mei. She plays an important role (and it’s pretty obvious that she is the girl in the clockwork collar). So hence the front cover. BUT gosh she’s awful. She is not good. Not good at all. I won’t go into details because I don’t want ruin it for you dear peeps. That said, I still felt sorry for her after what happened to her. But my empathy inclines more on Jasper. The poor guy. :(

As for the story, the gang went to New York to save Jasper. Who wasn’t taken by the police but actually held against his will by his former friend and now enemy, Dalton. He uses Mei as a hostage; and if he does something wrong, the collar on her neck will strangle her. So he has no choice but to comply with his demands. On the other hand, Finely thought of a plan to save him. She decided to enter Dalton’s group by working for him and while there, she found out Dalton’s true plan.

There’s a lot of exciting things in here. And I love every moment of it. Finley is no doubt one major kick-ass heroine. I love how she stood up for herself (even to Griffin—actually especially to him). That she doesn’t depend on her partner. That she can fend for herself. And not just her, she loves her friends and will do anything to save them. If there’s an embodiment of true blue heroine, Finley will make it to my top list. She is great character.

I also liked how the romance was played out. There’s a huge development between Griffin and Finley. And as I said before I like Griffin (I mean, he’s a duke) and I sense chemistry between them. The book explored their dynamics. They got the chance to see good and bad side of each other. For Griffin, he’s well aware of Finley’s unusual attraction to bad stuff. While Finley is insecure because of their social gap. But I think (and the way I read it) they finally came to an understanding. Can’t wait for new developments for these two.

Fans of the first book will not be disappointed, unless you’re a Jack Dandy fan like me. Sorry, but I’m taking a half star because of it. I know, super shallow reason. But…it’s Jack…Dandy. :P

Still, it’s a great follow up! Steampunk Chronicle series fans should not miss it.

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/

Finley, Griffin, Emily and Sam are travelling to New York to save Jasper, who they believe has been arrested for murder. However, Jasper is not with the Police he is being held captive by his former gang. If Jasper returns the machine he stole from the gang’s leader Dalton, then Jasper’s first love Mia will not be killed by the mysterious clockwork collar around her neck. Finley goes undercover to help save Jasper and Mia, and to find out what this machine does and stop Dalton from using it.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is the second book in the steampunk chronicles and is just as good as the first as it is still action-packed and full of romance. However this book is much more predictable than the last, as I could tell what would happen next and who the good and bad guys were.

While Finley’s two sides of herself have merged into one however she is not sure which side of herself is dominate the lighter or darker, this adds a lot of depth to her character and really makes her relatable to most people. I also really like the tension between Griffin and Finley as it adds another level to their romance.

Kady Cross is really talented at writing characters as they are well written and I could identify with every single one of them. I hope in the next book we learn more about Emily’s past and we get to see more of Jack, also I would like it if Wildcat was in it again as I think she would fit in with the group.

I really can’t wait to see what happen next in the series. I would recommend The Girl in the Clockwork Collar to people who liked The Girl in the Steel Corset or readers of steampunk.

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having no recollection of anything going on in this series since I read book two first I had high hopes for this novel. I'm glad it didn't let me down. We find Finley who is this insane, smart and fierce fighter who can take anyone whether there are man or woman, down. Her love interest Griffin is by her side and constantly worrying about her. She has a vulnerable side to her when it comes to Griffin and the two share a love that is rather sweet. Then there's Jasper who is trying to keep his love Mei Xing from being murdered by his ex-friend Dalton. Dalton being the villain in this story is after a device that Jasper has taken and dismantled all over the city. Jasper will find a way to get Mei back with the help of his friends before it's too late.

I rather enjoyed this one. Whenever a character has super powers I always sit up and the notice. Maybe if I read the first one I would find out why they have these powers. The Aether monster freaked me out and I can't help but wonder what it was. Seems powerful enough and I'm sure it'll be in the next book.

Kady Cross writes with a strong knowledge of steam punk, and weaves her characters in a certain plot that will make sure to have readers turning the pages for more.



Quotes

"Word is Daulton likes rough girls.”
"Then he ought to love me.”—Finley (65)

“You know, I could always have a photograph taken, then you can stare at that as long as you want."—Finley (153)

“It's not the dress—it's the girl.”—Griffin (389)

[Savannah (Books With Bite) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and very explosive!!!


And they travel to the continental US to solve another murder and come into the brink of a deadly project. I really loved the plot. Fulfilling and exciting, each chapter leads to new people, new missions, and new betrayals. I loved that the plot is always moving. The reader learns more about the characters of Griffin, Finley and the others past. The friendship also blooms beautifully before the readers eyes.


The love interest is particular exciting in this book! I am happy to report that Griffin and Finley finally see each other. Even while they were fighting against each other all the time, you can tell deep down they are meant to be. They cringed with the other got hurt, got angry when the other did something stupid. It is funny to read and to see the adoration in their eyes.


The betrayals in the book are so HOT! Half-way through the book I thought I knew where it head but oh no, the author pulled a fast one on me. The turn at the end, with the literal picture of a heart-breaking ahhhhhhhh! Priceless. I did not see that coming and boy was it a breath stealer.


The Girl In The Clockwork Collar slams right into the readers mind with the perfect combination of action, desire, and lies. The plot flows beautifully with surprises at every corner. With deeper and richer plot, The Girl In The Clockwork Collar takes your breathe away!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, I'm not a huge fan of the whole steampunk genre. I just don't get it. The obsession with Aether and mechanical things and dirigibles? Does nothing for me. However, as many of my reader-friends have informed me, I'm clearly out of my mind. So bear that in mind when you see that this was only a 2-star book.

Second, if this book hadn't been a steampunk book, it still would have only gotten 3-3.5 stars. Why? Because the plot just didn't work for me. For example, Griffin is only 18? That either makes the others around that age, which they don't seem to be, or they're older and somehow deferring to a younger guy? Mei's supposed devotion to Jasper? So obvious that there was more going on there than what she was telling him. Etc.

As heist plots go, this wasn't terribly interesting. What Dalton wanted was always hidden, but not in a clever way. It seemed to be that the author had to figure out a reason for him to kidnap Jasper and retrieve the machine pieces and - oh! a heist! that'll work. The real raison d'etre for the book was the steampunk world, not the plot or the interpersonal motivations and relationships. YMMV, particularly if you're a steampunk fan.

Copy provided by publisher.

[Chels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread December 2015

Read May 2013
This was a very good sequel! I’m really impressed! The plot was definitely different from the first book and it was still really good. I like how she told Jasper’s story, it was a really nice change. The plot was very nicely paced and kept me entertained the whole time. The plot twist near the end was fantastic! I liked that the romance between Finley and Griffin developed a little but I still wasn’t overall impressed with how it was going. Hopefully we see some drama in the next one!

I like how aggressive Finley is getting. She’s not your typical heroine and I think I was a little afraid of her sometimes. I love how bad ass she was! I like how this book showed a lot more of her dark side. It was a cool twist. Griffin almost seems like the girl in the relationship but I still really like him. He’s more of a smart guy than an aggressive one. Also loved Jasper and Emily of course. They’re just both great characters in general. The villains were also fantastic! Don’t wanna spoil too much here! From my review I should probably give it 5 stars but there was just a little something missing. A great read though.

Side note: Love this cover! Usually I hate the typical girl in a pretty dress cover but this one is really nice just like the first.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I didn't think it was as good as The Girl in the Steel Corset, but it was still a decent read.

Finley just isn't as exciting now that she doesn't black out and go all Mr. Hyde on people. I mean, I happy for her now that her two personalities have sort of merged, but it would be nice to see her get super crazy again. Am I wrong to want that?
Also, she and Griff need to shit or get off the pot. Their relationship was too wishy-washy for me to get into it. Again, I may be wrong, but I sort of like Jack Dandy a little bit better than Griffin. For a romantic lead, he seems to be a tad boring.

Don't think I'm totally trashing this book, because it certainly wasn't painful to read, and I plan on continuing with the series. I'm just hoping for a bit more excitement from the next one.

[Icy-Cobwebs-In-Space · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Girl in the Clockwork Collar” is an endearing story in the Steampunk sub-genre, set in Victorian England and America. Full of science, magic, romance, suspense, gangsters, history, settings galore, this novel will keep the reader riffling those pages without realizing the passage of time. You will want to read this at one sitting because it’s just too compelling to put down. This is such a captivating novel that I immediately determined to read the prior books in the series (this is #2). Kady Cross is a skillful writer, who weaves actual historical fact with the spinning of her own imagination, and brings us a story that is simultaneously edge-of-the-seat suspenseful, and romantically cosy. “The Girl in the Clockwork Collar” is suitable for any YA readers, and anyone older. I recommend it highly!

[Melanie Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das zweite Buch fand ich sogar noch besser, als das erste. Die Geschichte war spannend, aber vor allem mehr über Jaspers Vergangenheit zu erfahren, hat mir gefallen.

Dieses Buch wurde aus weniger Perspektiven geschrieben, was es noch flüssiger lesbar machte.

Alles in allem bin gerate ich in Versuchung, mir sofort Band 3 und 4 zu bestellen.