The only other book I've read from the Steampunk Chronicles series is The Girl with the Iron Touch..and frankly I didn't even took the time to check the order of the books. While I like this one, I would say I like the earlier one better. Both the books have a kind of serious tone to them I would say, but this is definitely a recommended read for those who like steampunk novels.
It was a nice and decent ending to a nice series. All ended well. :)
It kind of feels like the author paired up everyone else together but it works, so it’s not that bad.
I like how this book pulled off some themes in terms of what happens in the Aether and I’m not surprised that The Machinist made his final appearance within this book. Even though the way he was gone felt extremely convenient, it was fine.
I really enjoyed Mila as a character! Compared to all the other characters in this book she was just so refreshing and perfect! Watching her explore and do things because she was new was so funny!
An enjoyable series overall, and really made me enjoy the world of steampunk! :D
After five books and numerous novellas, Kady Cross’ Steampunk Chronicles finally come to an end. This rocky series has seen its share of ups-and-downs. Weak subplots, rushed action, and fairly one-dimensional characters make up a majority of the stories. Yet, there is something entertaining about Finley’s story that kept readers coming back for more. The Girl with the Windup Heart is no different in that regard but has the added bonus of a sense of real closure to the series.
The Girl with the Windup Heart is really two stories combined into one. Because apparently everyone in the series must end up as a part of a couple, the one person still relationship-free is Jack. So, Jack’s burgeoning relationship with Mila makes up more than half the novel. While it is entertaining to see a different, softer side of Jack, in reality this subplot has absolutely nothing to do with the main story other than making sure once and for all that Finley and Jack will never be a couple. It’s an amusing side story but distracting all the same.
Meanwhile, while Jack fights his feelings for Mila, the rest of the group is tackling The Machinist in a final showdown. This is ultimately where the series has been leading readers from the very beginning. It unfolds in typical fashion, following the same structure as previous battles. Just as the other battles have all been learning scenarios for the individual group members to learn and accept their individual powers and limitations, Griffith is the last one to do so. That he must do it in order to defeat the “greatest mastermind of all time” is neither shocking, climactic, or suspenseful. If anything, this part of the story very much feels redundant.
Still, there is a lot to be said about closure, and The Girl with the Windup Heart has it in spades. The writing might still be trite, the characters still flat and undeveloped, and the action rote and rushed. However, everyone has a loved one. Everyone knows and accepts their powers. They know what is causing those powers. Together, they saved the world, or at least London, multiple times over. Their greatest foe is gone, and now they can all live happily ever after. Really, in such a simple series, one cannot ask for more than that.
When my wife's friend recommended this series to us, I didn't even notice it was published by Harlequin Teen until I was well into the first (and best) of the series. By contrast, I don't think there was a page in this one that didn't scream Harlequin, Teen, or both. Still, I'd enjoyed this X-Men in Steampunk Victorian England series up til now, so I persevered. But I'd read about half of the novel before I really "got into" the story.
There were basically two storylines in this novel -- the B story (oddly, the one the book is titled for) is all about the highly advanced automaton that Jack discovered in the previous novel becoming a "real life girl" -- just like her favorite, Pinocchio. There were some interesting moments in this story -- and if it had been given more time to breathe -- maybe taking place over a few weeks, rather than a couple of days -- I'd have bought it and been invested in it.
The A story was even more rushed. Further proof that you can't keep a bad man down, The Machinist is back -- again. This time, a full-fledged resident of the Aether, he kidnaps Griffin and begins to exact his revenge. Finley goes off to rescue him -- with a little technical support from her friends. This is one of the bigger problems with this installment -- the series is strongest when it's dealing with all the interpersonal relationships -- not just the romantic ties -- seeing the characters interact with each other. There was so little of that this time, it felt like a different series. Sam didn't get to be too Sam-ish. Both he and Emily mostly worked behind the scenes -- ditto for Jasper and Wildcat (when they weren't off helping Jack in the B story). Emily and Finley got 1 or 2 good scenes together, but that's about it.
Anyway, Finley goes off to save Griffin and runs into a couple of blasts from the past. One of which was simply an unnecessary plot complication -- and was dispatched as such. The other was probably the best part of this book. Probably its saving grace.
Initially, I was disappointed to read that this was the conclusion to the Steampunk Chronicles. But by the end, I think it's time -- and clearly Cross did, too. There's no getting around the idea that she was wrapping things up (and rushed a few things to get to that point). Still, readers that have been with Griffin's little crew up to this point will appreciate seeing how things end. The book may have been not terribly impressive, but the series as a whole was still a fun Steampunk-ish tale. Because of the aforementioned saving grace and the series as a whole, I'll give this 3-stars. It should probably get 2 - 2.5.
** Originally posted @ ReadingDiva's Blog - Rating 4.5 of 5
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