ArmchairBEA: My Best 2011 Reads so far

Genre: YA, Steampunk

Girl in the Steel Corset, The – Kady Cross

Genre: YA, Dystopia

Divergent – Veronica Roth

Genre: YA, Mythology

Goddess Test, The – Aimee Carter

Genre: YA, Dystopia

Delirium – Lauren Oliver

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Faeries

Iron Queen, The – Julie Kagawa

Genre: YA, Supernatural, Angels

Unearthly – Cynthia Hand

ArmchairBEA: I’m Maria and I’m an addict

I know this Armchair BEA introduction is too late, but i want to do it anyway.

I started reading books during my sophomore year in high school. I frequently visits the library for studying but one day i glimpsed a shelf of Nancy Drew Hardcover series. i borrowed one overnight. that’t where my addiciton began. i borrowed all those books and finished it one night at a time.

my first favorite genre: Mystery & Suspense (in Nancy’s case, Espionage)

I moved on to reading Sweet Valley books (from middle grade, high school and college settings), Love Stories series and started my book collection.

I barely had time (and money) during college to read. that is when i promised myself: when i begin to work and earn some cash, i will buy a book every payday.

and i did. pure bliss. until my room was cramped with books. on the floor. on the closet. on the shelf. they are everywhere. and for a country that is prone to typhoons and floods, i need to stack them up high or sell those that are not worth collecting.

books are my sleeping pills. most of the time my parents found me sleeping with a book in my hand. or in my face, covering it.

my reading habit is this: i can read anywhere. anyhow. anytime.

waiting for the bus to leave. waiting for the elevator to open. if i’m early for work. lunch time. while riding the MRT train. waiting for the van to fill up with passengers. while the van is moving on the highway. and yes, while i’m in the john, i read. so what? i simply don’t want to waste my time just by being idle.

reading The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa while lounging at Shangri-la Mactan

my affair with my Kindle is no secret. it is my most beloved gadget of all time. i ignored my digicam. i gave away my ipod. Kindle is that one thing i never left home without.

bits and pieces:

> i’m into YA Fiction, particularly dystopian genre.

> with Kindle, i now read ebooks more than prints. but i still buy hardcover and paperback books that are worth collecting.

> i’m a completist. no matter how terrible a book series turned out to be, i still read it. that is the OC in me.

> my favorite authors are Lloyd Alexander, Lisa Gardner, Suzanne Collins, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Rick Riordan and Jude Deveraux, to name a few.

so, do i love books? 😉

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.: maria :.

“giving up is the ultimate tragedy.”

Book Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Rating:

(Steampunk Chronicles #1)

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the “thing” inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she’s special, says she’s one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin’s investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff’s little company of strays apart, and it isn’t long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she’s on—even if it seems no one believes her.

***** ***** *****

PURE AWESOMENESS.

I never thought i’d love the steampunk genre this much, because of this book. the prequel The Strange Case of Finley Jane solidly built this first book into stardom!

if you’ve been reading my reviews, then by now you know i crave for action on the books that i read. lots and lots of action. and The Girl in the Steel Corset has lots of it! Hand-to-hand combat, man-vs-machine combat, girl-vs-guy combat. man, oh man it was delicious!

i find the story easy to grasp, easy to follow. there are a lot of unique elements that made me think, this author is good!

FINLEY JANE is one kick-ass chick. Literally. i love her!

Finley is a female version of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. Two personalities in one female body is taking a toll on Finley. she can’t hold a job, she can’t run back to her family. when she was taken in by Griffin, it is understandable why she is suspicious of his intent. having her share of malicious men pawing on her, it’s not hard to mistrust Griffin. But powerful Griffin slowly breaks her wall.. and into her heart. wee!

i didn’t mind the constant push/pull of Finley’s and Griffin’s relationship. i figured i can wait til the next installment for their budding romance.

everything a heroine should be, i found in Finley. she takes care of herself, doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone, gets defensive when she feels threatened. and yet, she longs for friendship, for family, and maybe, for love. she is such an enticing character! the conflict between her normal self and her darker self is entertaining.

i adore Griffin, he is really fitted to be a duke. i hate Sam, such a loser and a whiner (ungrateful bastard). i envied Emily, with her intelligence and loyalty to her friends. i like Jasper! he should be emily’s partner. he’s much more charming than that bloke. Jack – he is that one character i can’t quite figure out. is he a friend or foe? i admit his bad boy appeal is more attractive than Griffin’s aristocratic redheadedness (lol), but i am rooting for Griffin. C‘mon Griff, let’s take it up a notch with Finley! Jack is nothing but a criminal. But you, oh you are so, so much more than a duke.

i was left hanging in the end! but in a good way. this time, i can’t wait for their adventure outside of London.

i was always fascinated with Victorian setting, and add to that world a bunch of automatons, telekinesis, access to the nether world, and a little bit of romance – it makes an astounding story for a girl who came into terms with merging herself to a whole new person and became a strong woman (inside and out) of her time.

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.: maria :.

“giving up is the ultimate tragedy.”