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renuked's review
2.0
Not nearly as engaging as the first three, mostly because the plot just wasn't as all-encompassing. Many characters felt excluded or ignored, and the plot-lines just fell flat. Still an amazing world with a great cast of characters, although the series might have been better off with just 3 books.
I really have enjoyed this series overall. The first book was probably the weakest, and this conclusion was also a slight disappointment compared to the middle two. The brilliant cast of characters introduced over the course of the series was ultimately ignored and shunted to the side. The once intricate plots returned to the slightly moldy Machinist plot of the first book.
There just wasn't anything gripping about the conclusion, because it was the same plot. It was supposed to be an "epic final battle between the forces of good and evil," but I felt no tension between the characters. Same forces, same powers, same people. Griffin and Finley had no character development over the course of this book, making it feel like an unnecessary, unplanned fourth book.
The other characters were in an equally disinteresting role of standing by while watching Finley risk her life for Griffin. Sam and Emily were such dynamic characters during the first three books, and suddenly they were returned to the sidelines. I would also have also loved to see more of Jasper and Cat, and delved into their different roles on the team (also their dynamic as Americans would have been super fascinating to explore some more).
The romance aspect of the book was then delegated to Mila and Jack, and as much as I wanted to like the couple, I had three problems with this:
1) No connection to the rest of the plot (seriously why did this matter)
2) I didn't really feel the chemistry (sorry not sorry)
3) IT WAS CREEPY (yep)
Honestly, as much as Mila wanted to prove herself as a "woman" there is no way I was okay with her father figure essentially becoming her lover. It was just really gross, and although I know there are huge fans of the pairing, I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Perhaps if it had been executed slightly differently I could have enjoyed it, but instead of forgetting Mila's initial childlike innocence, and Jack's role as her father/mentor, I found myself increasingly, unpleasantly reminded of it.
The world-building and cast of characters rescued the book, but overall it fell flat as a conclusion, and I wouldn't put it in the same category as the first three.
I really have enjoyed this series overall. The first book was probably the weakest, and this conclusion was also a slight disappointment compared to the middle two. The brilliant cast of characters introduced over the course of the series was ultimately ignored and shunted to the side. The once intricate plots returned to the slightly moldy Machinist plot of the first book.
There just wasn't anything gripping about the conclusion, because it was the same plot. It was supposed to be an "epic final battle between the forces of good and evil," but I felt no tension between the characters. Same forces, same powers, same people. Griffin and Finley had no character development over the course of this book, making it feel like an unnecessary, unplanned fourth book.
The other characters were in an equally disinteresting role of standing by while watching Finley risk her life for Griffin. Sam and Emily were such dynamic characters during the first three books, and suddenly they were returned to the sidelines. I would also have also loved to see more of Jasper and Cat, and delved into their different roles on the team (also their dynamic as Americans would have been super fascinating to explore some more).
The romance aspect of the book was then delegated to Mila and Jack, and as much as I wanted to like the couple, I had three problems with this:
1) No connection to the rest of the plot (seriously why did this matter)
2) I didn't really feel the chemistry (sorry not sorry)
3) IT WAS CREEPY (yep)
Honestly, as much as Mila wanted to prove herself as a "woman" there is no way I was okay with her father figure essentially becoming her lover. It was just really gross, and although I know there are huge fans of the pairing, I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Perhaps if it had been executed slightly differently I could have enjoyed it, but instead of forgetting Mila's initial childlike innocence, and Jack's role as her father/mentor, I found myself increasingly, unpleasantly reminded of it.
The world-building and cast of characters rescued the book, but overall it fell flat as a conclusion, and I wouldn't put it in the same category as the first three.
geisttull's review
3.0
good - not as good as other titles in the series, but i'll still keep reading! i do like the characters and the story line, but it seems the editor has started to slip. found several errors that stuck out to me.
amotisse's review
5.0
Another series finished (except for the novellas).
I love The Steampunk Chronicles. There is just enough of everything to make the story and characters admirable. Excitement, strength, adventure, suspense, love and romance, intriguing settings, mystery and magic steampunk style, hunky men and gutsy women!
A world I would love to hang out in more.
I love The Steampunk Chronicles. There is just enough of everything to make the story and characters admirable. Excitement, strength, adventure, suspense, love and romance, intriguing settings, mystery and magic steampunk style, hunky men and gutsy women!
A world I would love to hang out in more.
amethystbookwyrm's review
4.0
This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/
Mila, a part-automaton is struggling to find her place in the world, especially with the criminal mastermind, Jack Dandy, not seeing her as woman, she decides to leave his house in search for independence. Meanwhile whilst stopping a killer, Griffin is taken to the Aether and is held captive by his archenemy The Machinist. Finley, along with her friends, find that the only way for them to go into the Aether to free Griffin is for Finley to temporarily die. With The Machinist determined to destroy Griffin, body and soul, Griffin must confront his greatest fears but will he survive the destructive power within him.
The Girl with the Windup Heart is the really good final book in the steampunk chronicles, which is very fast paced with non-stop action and romance. There are 2 stories going on at once in this book and while I enjoyed Jack and Mila’s it felt like it should have been in a separate book or novella, as it was distracting form the main story.
Mila is a likeable character as she is a naïve and innocent young woman who, during this story, learns about both herself and others. In this book we got to see a different side of Jack as he was caring and protective. Both Finley and Griffin are the same from the other books, as they were strong and loyal, and were willing to do anything to save each other.
I really enjoyed this series and I hope Cross writes more books like this in the future. I would recommend The Girl with the Windup Heart and the whole series to fans of YA steampunk.
Mila, a part-automaton is struggling to find her place in the world, especially with the criminal mastermind, Jack Dandy, not seeing her as woman, she decides to leave his house in search for independence. Meanwhile whilst stopping a killer, Griffin is taken to the Aether and is held captive by his archenemy The Machinist. Finley, along with her friends, find that the only way for them to go into the Aether to free Griffin is for Finley to temporarily die. With The Machinist determined to destroy Griffin, body and soul, Griffin must confront his greatest fears but will he survive the destructive power within him.
The Girl with the Windup Heart is the really good final book in the steampunk chronicles, which is very fast paced with non-stop action and romance. There are 2 stories going on at once in this book and while I enjoyed Jack and Mila’s it felt like it should have been in a separate book or novella, as it was distracting form the main story.
Mila is a likeable character as she is a naïve and innocent young woman who, during this story, learns about both herself and others. In this book we got to see a different side of Jack as he was caring and protective. Both Finley and Griffin are the same from the other books, as they were strong and loyal, and were willing to do anything to save each other.
I really enjoyed this series and I hope Cross writes more books like this in the future. I would recommend The Girl with the Windup Heart and the whole series to fans of YA steampunk.
jadziadax's review
I remember reading the first three books when I was younger and liking them quite a bit, so I returned to read the last one with interest.
Um.
So, there were things that made this a did-not-finish for me.
1. The romance with Jack and Mila was fricking creepy. Ugh. Ugh. He's constantly referring to her as poppet, there's this whole 'raised you' thing (I mean yeah she looks like a women, but she's obvs not and he doesn't think of her as one earlier) and the writing emphasizes this fact. It's creepy.
Um.
So, there were things that made this a did-not-finish for me.
1. The romance with Jack and Mila was fricking creepy. Ugh. Ugh. He's constantly referring to her as poppet, there's this whole 'raised you' thing (I mean yeah she looks like a women, but she's obvs not and he doesn't think of her as one earlier) and the writing emphasizes this fact. It's creepy.
laughlinesandliterature's review
5.0
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The Girl with the Windup Heart was a great finale for this series. I truly enjoyed every moment of this book. I loved that Mila actually became a character that I could connect with, and I loved seeing Jack get his happy ending.
I know these books started with Finley, and I did love her and Griffin’s story especially because they’ve finally admitted that they love each other. It was terribly sweet to finally see them together despite all the nonsense with Garibaldi. Which by the end of this book I was so so ready for him to be completely gone.
There were also some scenes in the Aether with Finley that just made me love this series even more. It really gave closure to some of the characters that had just been hanging around for too long. I loved that Finley was her own hero, and so was Griffin. Despite being willing to die for each other, they each saved themselves.
I really loved Mila and I loved that she added a whole new dynamic to their group and especially Jack. She was just so sweet, but it was wonderful to watch her grow and learn. I loved that she put Jack in his place a few times because he was so cocky that it was sometimes annoying.
The author did a great job of utilizing the Aether in this final book, and it was wonderful to watch all these characters who have matured and grown finally get the resolution that they all deserve. I loved that Sam overcame his fear of the automatons, and that he and Finley finally started being friends on their own.
I can’t sing the praises of Kady Cross enough for creating such a well-rounded series, and while I was incredibly done with Garibaldi by the end he was also the perfect villain. I think this book was definitely the best of all 4 so I would give this 5 out of 5 stars. It was unique, engaging and utterly thrilling. I highly recommend this series!
*This review was first posted to Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2014/05/the-girl-with-the-windup-heart-by-kady-cross-review.html*
The Girl with the Windup Heart was a great finale for this series. I truly enjoyed every moment of this book. I loved that Mila actually became a character that I could connect with, and I loved seeing Jack get his happy ending.
I know these books started with Finley, and I did love her and Griffin’s story especially because they’ve finally admitted that they love each other. It was terribly sweet to finally see them together despite all the nonsense with Garibaldi. Which by the end of this book I was so so ready for him to be completely gone.
There were also some scenes in the Aether with Finley that just made me love this series even more. It really gave closure to some of the characters that had just been hanging around for too long. I loved that Finley was her own hero, and so was Griffin. Despite being willing to die for each other, they each saved themselves.
I really loved Mila and I loved that she added a whole new dynamic to their group and especially Jack. She was just so sweet, but it was wonderful to watch her grow and learn. I loved that she put Jack in his place a few times because he was so cocky that it was sometimes annoying.
The author did a great job of utilizing the Aether in this final book, and it was wonderful to watch all these characters who have matured and grown finally get the resolution that they all deserve. I loved that Sam overcame his fear of the automatons, and that he and Finley finally started being friends on their own.
I can’t sing the praises of Kady Cross enough for creating such a well-rounded series, and while I was incredibly done with Garibaldi by the end he was also the perfect villain. I think this book was definitely the best of all 4 so I would give this 5 out of 5 stars. It was unique, engaging and utterly thrilling. I highly recommend this series!
*This review was first posted to Moonlight Gleam Reviews http://moonlightgleam.com/2014/05/the-girl-with-the-windup-heart-by-kady-cross-review.html*
thisonecassie's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Not the best of the full sized books in the series, but certainly a good one to end on. Mila and Jack... meh? Griffin is back on his 'the aether is gonna kill me' bullshit (though finally there is a resolution, and a pretty good one at that), Sam and Emily dont progress much since the last book, Fin also seems very stagnant, and i guess this book is not as focused on the 'main four', but its really bare bones in terms of development for fin, em, jas, sam and grif. unless you count Fin and Griff having sex character development, which... you know it isn't. The ending of the Garibaldi aether demon saga is a welcome ending, though i wish it hadnt taken the WHOLE SERIES TO HAPPEN.
bookhoarding's review
4.0
Final installments are bittersweet, and Windup Heart is no exception to this rule. From the start, Kady Cross has woven a fantastic steampunk saga that keeps you on your toes. In this finale many plotlines are resolved, characters given their space for growth, etc., but most importantly, this sets a standard for quality steampunk storytelling.
Griffin is taken hostage into the Aether by the Machinist and his friends, including our steely heroine, Finley Jayne, must use their enhanced abilities to try to rescue him. The winner of the Aetheric showdown we've been waiting for since the start of the series will have powers that could go beyond the Aether, putting London, and the rest of the world, in danger.
When Finley steps into that other world in the hopes of helping her beloved she finds herself face-to-face with her own demons.
Back on the streets of London Jack Dandy is attempting to care for the automaton with a heart-of-gold, Mila. His complicated feelings for her push her away, and she comes into her own on the shady underworld streets. Dandy is frantic to find her, terrified that her naivete will lead her into danger.
This book was just as fast-paced and detailed as the others. We get a taste of every character's conflicts and see a solid bunch of plotlines weave themselves into a conclusion.
Griffin is taken hostage into the Aether by the Machinist and his friends, including our steely heroine, Finley Jayne, must use their enhanced abilities to try to rescue him. The winner of the Aetheric showdown we've been waiting for since the start of the series will have powers that could go beyond the Aether, putting London, and the rest of the world, in danger.
When Finley steps into that other world in the hopes of helping her beloved she finds herself face-to-face with her own demons.
Back on the streets of London Jack Dandy is attempting to care for the automaton with a heart-of-gold, Mila. His complicated feelings for her push her away, and she comes into her own on the shady underworld streets. Dandy is frantic to find her, terrified that her naivete will lead her into danger.
This book was just as fast-paced and detailed as the others. We get a taste of every character's conflicts and see a solid bunch of plotlines weave themselves into a conclusion.
l1nds's review
3.0
If it wasn't for the Jack and Mila storyline I'd have given it 2 stars. Really given that it was named for Mila their story should have been more of a focus, in the same way that Emily was the centre of The Girl with the Iron Touch. The nonsense with Griffin in the Aether was frankly ridiculous and distracted from the interesting bits. A disappointing end to what has been an enjoyable series.