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Thursday, June 9, 2011

BBReview: "The Strange Case of Finley Jayne" By Kady Cross


Genre: Young Adult -Steampunk
Publishing Date: May 1st, 2011
Page Count: 78
Source: Bought from Amazon
Format: E-Book

Description from Amazon:
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.

Review:
When i first heard the term "steampunk" i had no idea what it really was. I thought maybe it meant something like a steamy romance novel but one that still had elements of punk culture. I was completely off. Steampunk is "Victorian Science Fiction that has dark & ominous tones, often where technology is an enslaving force and the main characters are fighting against the oppressive establishment. Cyberpunk with steam technology." Quote from Google dictionary. To help that quote, my definition is a sub-category of science fiction that takes place in the victorian era in europe that has gothic elements and includes steam technology such as steam powered doors, widows, autobots, horses, carriges, etc.

The novel that this prequel is for is 'The Girl in the Steel Corset'. When i first saw that a lot of bloggers were reading and reviewing that novel i read the description and wasnt too hooked. It sounded interesting, but i wasnt familiar to steampunk so i just swatted it away from my brain. Then i saw that you could get this prequel for free. I thought its free, i can experience what steampunk really is, and there would be no loss. Honestly i didnt even know that this was a prequel to that story until after downloading it, and now after swatting and dismissing the series i cannot wait to get my hands on it.

If the rest of the steampunk chronicles is anything like this 9 chapter prequel then it will be AMAZING. I love that this novel has victorian era themes, but still has normal everyday talk. It isnt written in shakespearian language or anything like you would expect. It is very easy to read and very very good. I think the part i loved most about it was its gothic elements and also the steam technology. I think my favorite invention was the steam powered horses. I dont know why, but i just loved when they were mentioned. I pictured them so vividly. I found it very easy to relate to Finley, because she is just an average girl with lots of spunk, keeps to herself, a little nosey, and very true at heart. A lot of the things she did i could somehow see myself doing it too if i was in that position or had her "other self". This new genre, well new to me, is very different and i am in love. I really just hope that other books that categorize themselves in this "steampunk" genre can live up to this prequel, because it is amazing

Overall:
This prequel is fantastic and i cant wait to read more from the steampunk chronicles. I think Finley Jayne is a wonderful character, i couldn't ask for more from her, and i especially LOVE her name. I might just name my kindle that, because i have nothing else to name lol. This was a great opportunity to get to know the series and get to know what the steampunk genre is about. I honestly couldn't find a single error, besides two minor grammatical errors, in this prequel. I loved everything. I recommend this to anyone interested in this genre, or anyone interested in the girl in the steel corset.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 5/5

P.S. Thank you SO much ABookVacation!! If you didnt review this prequel before me i would never have heard about it and would have never fallen in love with it so thank you =D Go follow her, shes one of my favorite bloggers!!