Review: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 23, 2011
Kady Cross introduces us to Finley James, a girl of around 16 years old set in Victorian London-Steam Punk Style! A great Novella to usher in The Girl in the Steel Corset due out May 24th!After losing yet another position, Finley goes home to her loving mother and step-father who own a modest book store with only one automaton that dusts and does other menial chores. She feels down-trodden and useless because she knows there's something wrong with her. There's a side of her that enjoys doling out 'punishment' to those that deserve it such as the governess who likes to slap and abuse the small children at her last post. Oy, she deserved that punch in the face, she did! Is it Finley's fault she's stronger than 10 men twice her size? On the other hand, the other side of her abhors violence and wouldn't harm a hair on the head of an innocent! It's just those that deserve it that seem to bring out that other side of her.After staying with her mom and step-father only a few days, she receives a visit from a wealthy Lady seeking Finley to be a companion for her daughter. Finley is shocked, of course, expecting that her reputation would be ruined after her last two positions for which she was sacked. Finley is further shocked at the large amount of her wages along with her employer's generosity when it comes to clothing. When Finley meets her charge she is shocked to find out that she is engaged to a man much older than she and he is famous, the genius behind most of London's automatons-varying from mechanical servants, horses, carriages, etc... all run by steam of course. But as all great story's go, there's an underlying villan and it's up to Finley to find out just what's going on even as she struggles with the two sides of her personality: the side that delights in doling out violence and vengence-justly, of course and the side that is a young lady who would never partake in such behavior.Kady Cross set up a world that is delightfully steam-punky, super suspenseful, tremendously thrilling with perfect paranormal elements. Finley is an amazing heroine and quite possibly one of my favorites! She's brave, stands by those she cares about and does what she feels is right despite the cost to her own life. It's almost a Jekyll and Hyde story but so so much more!Look for The Girl in the Steel Corset coming out May 24th!