Mini-Review: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

Goodreads | Amazon**

**Free eBook

Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises (May 1, 2011)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (eBook): 78
Series: The Steampunk Chronicles (Prequel)
Read Next: The Girl in the Steel Corset
Source: Bought
ISBN-13: 9781459204140
Genre: Steampunk

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined…

An eBook exclusive prequel to The Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross.

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Novella Mini Review:

This book maintains a great balance in introducing the character, Finley Jayne, and maintaining enough mystery to avoid any hints to the rest of the series. Kady Cross has done a wonderful job a providing intense action in such a small amount of pages. I thought that all the characters were riveting and that it was excellently paced.

Having read it first, it has set a wonderful precedent for The Girl in the Steel Corset. We have a small window into Finley and I cannot wait to reveal more of her and her monster. There was such a deeper introduction for steampunk in this book; a great collaboration between mechanics and humans. 

While this book provides great introduction to Finley, I have been told that reading it after The Girl in the Steel Corset, it illustrates a different side to Finley, which (if possible) helps create even more depth. Wonderful job, Ms. Cross!

In My Mailbox (20)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren; here we share with you, the lovely readers, what books came to us this week whether it be in the mail, from the library, purchased or borrowed.
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From the library...

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

I wish I had gotten more but at least this selection is something I have been dieing to read! What did you get in your mailbox?

Review: XVI by Julia Karr

XVI by Julia Karr

Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Puffin/Speak (January 6, 2011)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Paperback): 325
Series: XVI (Book 1)
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9780142417713
Genre: Dystopia

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls, she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world-even the most predatory of men-that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past-one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

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Overview:

After spending some time reading this book, I was disappointed in the writing style and abandoned the selection. As a dystopian world, I didn't feel like I was being introduced into the world at all and there was a LOT of jargon and situations that left me confused and upset. There are simple things about this world that shouldn't be left to be explained later like the explanation on acronyms like FELS, PAV, AV, or terms like NonCon and verts and why they are so pivotal. I also didn't feel like the book was taking one the unique theme that I was expecting given the concept of XVI and the sex-teen.

Review:

This book is the first in a long time that left me disappointed. The first impression that I got was overwhelming; the world, I assume, had been like this for a while and for Nina to understand everything that was going on, I as a reader had no clue. There was so much that was thrown at me in the very beginning that I didn't understand that I didn't really even feel connected to the world or the characters.

This book had a unique concept and the idea of the exploitation of women is real; it was for this reason that I even picked up the book to begin with. But within the first 60 pages the concept wasn't appropriately executed and was nearly irrevelant to the story. Nina is seemingly afraid of sex, boys, and being a sex-teen. The impression I got from her friend is the opposite; at the mention of a boy, she gets overly excited and can't get sex off the brain.

I understand that each character is an individual but the extremities here made it hard to like either of the girls. The immediate introduction to them puts them at the forefront and to dislike Nina from the beginning means the book have to work even harder.

There may have been a deeper connection to the idea of the sex-teen and the exploitation that was revealed later in the book, but I couldn't sift through the jargon, the unexplained, and the characters to finish. I have chosen to supply this book with a rating because of the reasons I did not finish. It is in the interest of balance that readers get all opinions.

Rating out of 5:

I know this week has sucked....

What better way to get your attention then to tell the truth in the title?

I know that I haven't posted anything this week, unless you really count IMM, but I promise I have a good reason. I'm not one that usually feels the necessity for explaining a few days without posts but I have something to share.

You see, I have spent the last hour venting in my personal blog about the very reason I haven't posted here. I won't get into it much, that isn't what this blog is for. Just know that after five and a half years, my boyfriend and I decided that a break up was for the best. It is a long and unique situation that I encourage you to read about at the other blog if you want to know it all.

I am getting caught up on the reviews that need to be finished this month and I hope to return to your regularly scheduled programming soon.