The Girl in the Clockwork Collar ~ Kady Cross (eARC) review

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (The Steampunk Chronicles #2)
HarlequinTEEN
May 22, 2012
416 pages
add to Goodreads/buy from Book Depository/or Amazon

*Contains spoilers for The Girl in the Steel Corset - my review*

When their friend Jasper is hauled off to America, accused of murder, Griffin, Finley, Emily and Sam know they can't just stay in London and let whatever happens to him, happen. Following in Griffin's private airship they plan to prove to the New York lawmen what they know to be true: Jasper's no murderer.

But Jasper and his friends soon, separately, realize it wasn't the police that took him into custody. A lawless former acquaintance, maybe even friend of Jasper's is requesting his help. Extorting it, more like. Jasper can return the device he stole and the girl he loves will stay safe. If he doesn't, well . . .

The clockwork collar around her neck can tighten seemingly on his whim.


The Girl in the Clockwork Collar brings Finley Jayne and the other characters from The Girl in the Steel Corset to New York City, in 1897. It's a great time full of high society, new things, but also some crime (that allows the plot to take place brilliantly) as well.

While Clockwork Collar is the second in this series and readers will definitely get more enjoyment out of it if they've already read TGitSC, it might not be necessary to understand things. Author Kady Cross does a great job reminding returning readers slash informing new readers in the beginning what different things like the Organites are, what's unique about the different characters. It's a great refresher if you've read the first book and also keeps readers who've just picked this book up from being lost.

The set-up of Clockwork Collar is a bit different from Steel Corset, focusing more on Jasper and on Finley than it did on the group as a whole last time around. We still see the group, but the action is centered differently. It's also set more around Jasper's old friend who's into crime and that life whereas last time The Machinist and Finley's self-discovery lent the book more of a steampunk air.

This is still a steampunk book  . . . just with less steam? There are less machines, less contraptions in The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (or seem to be). It's still obvious that it's not a straight, how we remember it version of 1897 but it's not full of as many extra things as The Girl in the Steel Corset was.

The developments the characters received - especially with the slightly different was the novel was focused - was very enjoyable. I liked the introduction of the new characters and the way they played a role in the interaction of the relationship of the four main characters of the series.

I missed the machine and extra steampunk invention bits from the first book and it wasn't quite as exciting but enjoyed seeing the characters back for another round. It was also great to see more of Jasper.

Rating: 8/10


Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for my e-galley of this title