Author: Kady Cross
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Pages: 480
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Another book off my dusty shelf, I have to thank personal vacation time for this one!
Everyone always tells you not to judge a book by its cover, but to some avid readers, that's the first selling point.
Such was true when I picked 'The Girl in the Steel Corset' up off the shelf a few months back and decided to add it to my 'to read' mountain.
The dark background contrast by the rich red of the dress drew my eye almost imediately, the inside flap only succeeded in pulling me in farther.
I will admit to being a little wary about this particular book - I'm a love of fantasy, Steampunk has never really appealed to me. I'll balme that for letting this absolute gem gather dust for a good 8 months.
Corset starts off with a hook - Finley, our main character, has a slight... altercation with her employer, allowing her darker side to emerge and leaving him close to death.
Then, she promptly runs away.
Sure, the book took a few pages to get into, but it was absolutely breath taking when you really got into it. The characters are well written, although Kady could do more to draw connections between her main five and her audience, but they are captivating none the less.
The plot... well, there may have been a few little wrinkles that allowed for (and now I draw on all those English classes i took) Dramatic Irony. If you have half a brain in your head, you can figure out what's going on and who's involved how well before any of the plot is revealed.
Now, I know what your saying:
"But Si, this review paints Corset in such a lack-luster manner..."
For that, I appologize.
I really did enjoy Corset. I though it was very well written, with entertaining characters and a unique, imaginative plot. I though the setting was accurate, and that Kady did a wonderful job researching her fashion and history (Or did a wonderful job of pretending she did.)
Kady Cross creates a capitavting world and gives her characters some real depth, something I have often found lacks in historical novels, as authors spend as much time trying to be right and descriptive as they do sussing out the characters.
Corset took a new approach to harlequin romance, and opened the worlds eyes little wider to the late 19th century, and for that, I am glad.
I believe Kady could have made the book a little less prediactble, but with her not being a suspense or mystery novelist, I'll let her pass on this one.
Overall, I'd score Corset at a 4/5, and admit to be eagerly awaiting the second installment, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar due out this May!!
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