Swoon Thursday (#67): The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross!

Griffin was awake.

Finley went to him and placed her hands on either side of his face, feeling the stubble on his scratch her palms. His eyes were brighter now, the kind of blue that a summer sky sometimes aspired to. 

"I dreamed about you," he murmured with a slow smile.

She pressed her lips to his, kissing him as though she hadn't kissed him in weeks, as though the fate of the world depended upon a thorough kissing, He didn't seem to mind. He kissed her back, fingers curving over the back of her neck as though he was afraid she might try to break the kiss before he was ready. Silly boy.

- eARC, 61%

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Check out my review of this book HERE!

I loved this book! And the series in general. I wish there were more scenes like this between Griffin and Finley!

Review: The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross

The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross

Book Four of the Steampunk Chronicles

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Publication Date: May 27, 2014

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.

London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.

Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.

Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.

What I Liked:

I'm actually going to try and be a little brief in this review, because I don't want to spoil anything in this book, as well as in the series in general. I kind of liked the first book, liked the second book, LOVED the third book, and definitely enjoyed this final book. The third book is by far my favorite, but I think I'd give this series four stars overall. That's pretty great!

Finley and the crew never have it easy - even if Garibaldi is dead. In the Aether, Garibaldi hunts Griffin - and succeeds in capturing him. Now it is up to Finley to find Griffin in the Aether, with the help of Emily, Sam, Jasper, Wildcat, Ispley, and someone no one expected.

Meanwhile, Mila is adjusting to life as a human. Once an automaton, she is now a human, living under the care of Jack Dandy. Except that she is in love with Jack, and he doesn't seem to either notice, or reciprocate, the feeling. Stupid, typical man, no? So Mila does exactly what Jack did not want her to do - she leaves, and goes on her own. She joins a circus!

There are several plots going on in this book. There is the overarching plot, for the entire series, in which Griffin attempts to defeat Garibaldi. There is the plot that each book has, in which a pair of characters struggles to find each other (in this case, it is Mila and Jack). There is Finley and Griffin, and their own personal struggle to be a couple. But in this book, there is also the problem of Jack and his past. You'd think that I'd immediately be all over this multiple plot thing, saying something about the plots being too confusing or underdeveloped, but no. I actually really like this setup. One thing that bothered me about it is below, in the next section. Just to give some perspective.

You all know how I feel about Finley and Griffin. I love the pair of them, as well as each of them individually. I love how well-characterized each character is in this book, despite the fact that there are at eight important ones. I wish that Griffin and Finley could have gotten more page time. They are the most interesting about which to read, and the chemistry and romance between them is beautiful and fiery. I can't find it in me to put that in the next section (that Griffin and Finley didn't get enough page time), but I wish there could have been more scenes between them. Alone. Not necessarily doing certain things. Just, alone.

This book wraps up beautifully. Like, I'm always terrified of reading conclusion novels, because authors always find a way to make the ending depressing or bittersweet or something. That is NOT the case, with this book (and series). The ending is a good one, a happy one, an even, well, slightly perfect one. You all know how I feel about perfect endings. BUT. I liked this ending.

What I Did Not Like:

I think this book was a little strange, in terms of its structure. I like the multiple plots - that was interesting and definitely not confusing. But it felt like the overall series plot - Griffin vs. Garibaldi - got pushed to the side a little, with other plots threading through this book. Like, it wasn't always a concern of mine that Griffin might be dying. Which is bad, because Griffin is probably my favorite character. In the first book, it was all about Griffin and Finley. While I like that each of the successive books feature another pair along with Griffin and Finley, I dislike that Griffin and Finley (and Griffin himself) are pushed aside a little. Sometimes, with a large cast of characters, we need to remember who are the MOST important. And you can't say all of the, or one large group, because that is NEVER true. One or two characters are always primary. 

Would I Recommend It:

This book in particular, or the series in general? I'll start with the book. If you've made it this far into the series, DEFINITELY read this book. If you've read book one, or books one and two, read the remaining books in the series (including this one). If you haven't started this series, but you have the means to do so (legally, only legally), then do it! I had a rocky start with the series, but I'm so glad that I kept reading.

Rating:

4 stars. What a great ending to a fantastic series! I feel so proud of myself, for sticking with yet another series - especially with a series that started out in the "meh" direction, for me. I ended up really liking this series!

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Review: The Girl With the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Publication Date: May 28, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

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...

What I Liked:

I honestly cannot believe just how much I absolutely LOVED this book. I read The Girl in the Steel Corset, the first book a few years ago (i.e., a really long time ago, in which I don't remember much of what happened). I was not impressed with the first book. I gave it just about three stars - but on the low end of three stars. It was somewhat boring, very slow-paced, and only minimally interesting. 

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, the second book, was better. There was more action, a faster pace to the story, and, well, MORE. I liked that book so much more than the first book, and I gave it four stars.

This book was AMAZING. I almost can't believe that this book is in the same series as the first book. This book is so different from the first book. Things actually happen! There is more characterization! I can finally see the underlying plot that connects the books! I honestly thought this series was more of a companion series, and not a continuation series.

I was so impressed by the plot! It felt like action or scheming or SOMETHING was happening, page by page. I found the story easy to follow, despite the much faster pace. The plot took twists and turns and made me guess right until the end.

When I said characterization happened, I meant it. This book is "Emily's" book, so we get to see more of Emily and transitively, more of Sam. I liked finally being able to get into the Irish girl's head, and understanding her thoughts. Emily is no longer a mystery to readers. I really like her! And I like the pair of Emily and Sam even more now.

All of the characters seem to undergo some characterization. By the end, Griffin is more open about what is happening to him, Finley is more caring towards everyone, and Jack is more caring to certain people, and less invasive to others.

I think one of the biggest reasons why I loved this book so much more than the first book and the second book is the romance. Emily and Sam are truly a couple now (as if there were any doubts). But Finley and Griffin! Despite Griffin's secretiveness, Finley is consistent and keeps harrowing away at his walls. They FINALLY do stuff! I'm so happy to see their relationship take a new level. 

The scenes with Finley and Griffin almost getting close, but get interrupted, are my FAVORITE. It always seems to be Sam barging in at the wrong moment. But I love those scenes! I love Griffin even more (despite his secrecy), and I compliment Finley on her persistence.

The plot and the ending of this book are so well written. I am so happy that I stuck with this series, because now I cannot wait to read the next book, The Girl with the Wind-Up Heart!

What I Did Not Like:

There really isn't much I can say here. I know, I am as shocked as you are! I didn't think I would like this book at all, but instead, I loved it so much!

Would I Recommend It:

YES YES YES! If you've already started the series, stick with it! You may not have liked the first and/or second book (or maybe you did!), but trust me when I say that you will LOVE this one! I hope you do!

Rating:

5 stars - I keep saying it is rare for me to give a book five stars, but here I am giving books five stars left and right! It seems like this year has some amazing books, and I am thrilled to be reading books that I love!

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