The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross
Since I'm a glutton for punishment, I actually read the vapid sequel to the equally vapid 'Girl in a Steel Corset'. The sequel is titled 'Girl in the Clockwork Collar' and the biggest hint that this was going to be bad was the model on the cover was East Asian. The reason I felt my stomach sink was because this is a steampunk novel and East Asians would not be portrayed in a positive light, but MAYBE Providence would be kind to me and not make me want to put my foot through the wall.
Providence was not kind.
This will be long, this will be snarky and I have a wicked soft spot for steampunk. Also, I have shortbread cookies and Diet Coke, so I can go all night!
First and foremost: This book is set in Victorian England and America.
Alright, this is a sequel and I'll give a brief rundown of the characters:
Protagonists:
Finley: A poor girl from a working class background who has a Jekyll and Hyde thing going on where she is IMMENSELY powerful (even for a girl!) and struggles with her 'light' and 'dark' side. She likes dressing in "Chinese" fashions which is explained to be "pretty dresses with dragons on them and they're slit up the thigh REALLY high". I think the author, in her ham-fisted way is describing a bastardized qípáo. Oh, and she regularly wears trousers and goes out and about, shopping, fighting and lunching in fancy hotels in trousers. In Victorian England/America.
And she has a super cool steel corset because even though she wears trousers, she's still sexified in a corset.
Griffin: Rich as sin and has some sort of Godly power referred to as 'Aether' and is described as something he's tortured by all the time, but is later referred to as an annoyance tat comes and goes. He has a terribly crush on Finley, and cannot stand that men adore her and her feisty ways. He's a count and loves spoiling Finley with pretty things, and because he's in love with her but he's tortured.
Sam: Is a dick. In the first book, something happens to him and he's turned into a cyborg.. somehow. And he's terribly overwrought by this and mopes and broods about it all the time. He is massive in stature and is incredibly strong as well, but not as fast or as spunky as Finley. When he's not brooding about, he's obsessed with Emily.
Emily: It's pretty much beaten into your head that Emily is:
- Irish
- Has an Irish accent
- Says the word "thanks" funny
- Is short
Also, the author is obsessed with Emily's hair. It's curly, but is most often compared to rope. Her 'ropes' of curls, her ropes of curls, shining in the sun, coiled into a bun, don't sound much fun etc. Ropes.
She's a mechanical genius who fixed Sam and has created some sort of nano technology called 'Organites'. They can do anything. If you have any sort of injury, Emily will inject you with her 'wee beasties' and they will knit everything together. There is nothing realistic or accurate about the medical technology and people are never invalids for very long because that's boring.
Jasper: He's the cowboy American who is lightning fast and also loves Emily, but he was arrested in England and taken back to America for his 'crimes'. And his loyal English (and one lone Irishwoman) gang set out to find him
Antagonists:
Dalton: Generic asshole, he's slick, butter wouldn't melt in his mouth and he used to run a gang that Jasper was in, but Jasper left and stole a magic weapon that Dalton wants back. Now.
Lady Waldorf-Astoria: She's a pain in the arse antagonist who pursues Griffin and is a stereotypical female antagonist. She's vain, catty, only cares for money and status and could never be as awesome as Finley. She doesn't further the plot, with the exception of the bit where Griffin has to go to some high society functions and Astoria tries to sink her claws into him.
Here we go my treasures...
The Scooby gang head to America because they think something is wrong with Jasper that he's not telling them about and so Griffin fills up his blimp and off they go. they land in New York and quickly realize that Jasper was not taken by actual American police but most likely by the criminal underworld within NY. Finley decides to hell with the people who care about her and enters a battle royale to try and meet who they think has Jasper. But don't worry, her spunky Irish sidekick and her ropes of hair came along too.
Then we meet Jasper, who is staying in Dalton's house and his lady love is being held there against her will via a clockwork collar that tightens if it's interfered. And what's her name? Mei Xing. She came from Peking and Jasper is in love with her and took a murder rap for her when he was worried she'd be forced into prostitution.
The words used to describe Mei:
- Porcelain china doll
- Thick accent
- Ivory skin
- Long, jet black hair that falls to her waist
- Wears 'Chinese dresses', so again, I'm assuming this means a qípáo but it's described as a cross between that and a kimono...
Finley wins the fight and sets herself up as Dalton's right hand girl and when she meets Mei, she is VERY upset that Mei glares at her and wonders, why is it that all women always loathe her? Is it because she's too pretty? She knows she's not like those OTHER girls and she wishes women could just get along. But she hates Mei too and constantly makes jokes about her name being "amazing". Yeah, no. Mei Xing does not sound like 'amazing' when you say it aloud.
Mei Xing is jealous that Jasper seems to be paying attention to Finley and when she confronts her, Finley learns that Mei knows "Oriental martial arts" and can fight as well, but she's not as strong as Finley.
Dalton is enamoured with Finley and not realizing that she's undercover, he sends her out with Jasper to retrieve parts of the magical weapon and Mei pouts.
Griffin is furious that Finley would go off without talking to anyone and when he gets mad, something goes wrong with his magical powers and he's rendered unconscious. then, Finley rushes to the fancy-pants hotel and realizes that she does have a heart, and does believe in Santa Claus care about others.
There is a subplot with Tesla that I am not going into because it makes my brain hurt.
Climax of the story is when Griffin, sam and Emily learn that the magical weapon allows people to walk through walls (as to why they wouldn't fall through the floor is not explained or touched on).
Then, during the final battle, Mei reveals that the oppressive collar does nothing, it was simply a device to make Jasper stay and cooperate with Dalton. Mei has a taste for money, and plans to commit a series of robberies with Dalton and their Shadowcat powers.
Griffin uses his magical powers to break this machine and Mei is tragically half in/ half out of a wall when she is rendered solid again and she dies. Griffin hates himself for killing someone, despite reminding himself that "her greedy nature did her in" and he and Finley admit they like each other and they blimp off into the sunset.
Jasper stays in America because he wants to see his family.
Problems I have with the book:
I have a real problem with how Mei is portrayed, I was worried when I began to read the book that the author would take the common route and portray the East Asian woman as 'china doll' who turns into 'dragon lady'. I was not wrong. Mei is portrayed as not really caring about who gets hurt as long as she gets money, and I know that this was a bit of a stereotype and I thought 'maybe she's going for authenticity'? But, honestly? It's just basic racism. Between constantly describing her as a 'china doll' or fetishizing her skin/hair/eyes it makes various unkind implications that all East Asian women are greedy females that would step over their mothers for money and also implying that all East Asian women are wuxia stars. Plus, if you're going to CONSTANTLY refer to her clothing, at least pick an actual style. Either she's wearing a kimono or a qípáo not both.
Finley is a Mary Sue that bothers me almost MORE than Bella Swan because Finley is simply an asshole. She constantly whines (out loud and inner monologue) that it's so difficult being friends with other women because they always hate her right away. This is funny when you realize that every time Finley is introduced to a female character, she always assumes they're weaker then her, and sees no problem in belittling them.
Emily is not given any real depth beyond- SHE'S IRISH, ROPES FOR HAIR, IS VERY SHORT, LOVES NERD THINGS.
And finally, I love steampunk, but I need SOME aspects of Victorian culture beyond corsets and tea. Nothing about the issues within class and gender roles (when did women wear pants when out and about?!) How the hell did medical technology and procedure suddenly become more advanced than what we have now? And the Irish do not 'talk funny'.
In the end, I will not give up on steampunk. Right now my favourite steampunk novels are the 'Parasol Protectorate' series and 'Joe Golem and the Drowning City'. But I urge you to avoid 'The Girl in the Steel Corset' and 'The Girl in the Clockwork Collar'...unless you like throwing books and being angry.
Providence was not kind.
This will be long, this will be snarky and I have a wicked soft spot for steampunk. Also, I have shortbread cookies and Diet Coke, so I can go all night!
First and foremost: This book is set in Victorian England and America.
Alright, this is a sequel and I'll give a brief rundown of the characters:
Protagonists:
Finley: A poor girl from a working class background who has a Jekyll and Hyde thing going on where she is IMMENSELY powerful (even for a girl!) and struggles with her 'light' and 'dark' side. She likes dressing in "Chinese" fashions which is explained to be "pretty dresses with dragons on them and they're slit up the thigh REALLY high". I think the author, in her ham-fisted way is describing a bastardized qípáo. Oh, and she regularly wears trousers and goes out and about, shopping, fighting and lunching in fancy hotels in trousers. In Victorian England/America.
And she has a super cool steel corset because even though she wears trousers, she's still sexified in a corset.
Griffin: Rich as sin and has some sort of Godly power referred to as 'Aether' and is described as something he's tortured by all the time, but is later referred to as an annoyance tat comes and goes. He has a terribly crush on Finley, and cannot stand that men adore her and her feisty ways. He's a count and loves spoiling Finley with pretty things, and because he's in love with her but he's tortured.
Sam: Is a dick. In the first book, something happens to him and he's turned into a cyborg.. somehow. And he's terribly overwrought by this and mopes and broods about it all the time. He is massive in stature and is incredibly strong as well, but not as fast or as spunky as Finley. When he's not brooding about, he's obsessed with Emily.
Emily: It's pretty much beaten into your head that Emily is:
- Irish
- Has an Irish accent
- Says the word "thanks" funny
- Is short
Also, the author is obsessed with Emily's hair. It's curly, but is most often compared to rope. Her 'ropes' of curls, her ropes of curls, shining in the sun, coiled into a bun, don't sound much fun etc. Ropes.
She's a mechanical genius who fixed Sam and has created some sort of nano technology called 'Organites'. They can do anything. If you have any sort of injury, Emily will inject you with her 'wee beasties' and they will knit everything together. There is nothing realistic or accurate about the medical technology and people are never invalids for very long because that's boring.
Jasper: He's the cowboy American who is lightning fast and also loves Emily, but he was arrested in England and taken back to America for his 'crimes'. And his loyal English (and one lone Irishwoman) gang set out to find him
Antagonists:
Dalton: Generic asshole, he's slick, butter wouldn't melt in his mouth and he used to run a gang that Jasper was in, but Jasper left and stole a magic weapon that Dalton wants back. Now.
Lady Waldorf-Astoria: She's a pain in the arse antagonist who pursues Griffin and is a stereotypical female antagonist. She's vain, catty, only cares for money and status and could never be as awesome as Finley. She doesn't further the plot, with the exception of the bit where Griffin has to go to some high society functions and Astoria tries to sink her claws into him.
Here we go my treasures...
The Scooby gang head to America because they think something is wrong with Jasper that he's not telling them about and so Griffin fills up his blimp and off they go. they land in New York and quickly realize that Jasper was not taken by actual American police but most likely by the criminal underworld within NY. Finley decides to hell with the people who care about her and enters a battle royale to try and meet who they think has Jasper. But don't worry, her spunky Irish sidekick and her ropes of hair came along too.
Then we meet Jasper, who is staying in Dalton's house and his lady love is being held there against her will via a clockwork collar that tightens if it's interfered. And what's her name? Mei Xing. She came from Peking and Jasper is in love with her and took a murder rap for her when he was worried she'd be forced into prostitution.
The words used to describe Mei:
- Porcelain china doll
- Thick accent
- Ivory skin
- Long, jet black hair that falls to her waist
- Wears 'Chinese dresses', so again, I'm assuming this means a qípáo but it's described as a cross between that and a kimono...
Finley wins the fight and sets herself up as Dalton's right hand girl and when she meets Mei, she is VERY upset that Mei glares at her and wonders, why is it that all women always loathe her? Is it because she's too pretty? She knows she's not like those OTHER girls and she wishes women could just get along. But she hates Mei too and constantly makes jokes about her name being "amazing". Yeah, no. Mei Xing does not sound like 'amazing' when you say it aloud.
Mei Xing is jealous that Jasper seems to be paying attention to Finley and when she confronts her, Finley learns that Mei knows "Oriental martial arts" and can fight as well, but she's not as strong as Finley.
Dalton is enamoured with Finley and not realizing that she's undercover, he sends her out with Jasper to retrieve parts of the magical weapon and Mei pouts.
Griffin is furious that Finley would go off without talking to anyone and when he gets mad, something goes wrong with his magical powers and he's rendered unconscious. then, Finley rushes to the fancy-pants hotel and realizes that she does have a heart, and does believe in Santa Claus care about others.
There is a subplot with Tesla that I am not going into because it makes my brain hurt.
Climax of the story is when Griffin, sam and Emily learn that the magical weapon allows people to walk through walls (as to why they wouldn't fall through the floor is not explained or touched on).
Then, during the final battle, Mei reveals that the oppressive collar does nothing, it was simply a device to make Jasper stay and cooperate with Dalton. Mei has a taste for money, and plans to commit a series of robberies with Dalton and their Shadowcat powers.
Griffin uses his magical powers to break this machine and Mei is tragically half in/ half out of a wall when she is rendered solid again and she dies. Griffin hates himself for killing someone, despite reminding himself that "her greedy nature did her in" and he and Finley admit they like each other and they blimp off into the sunset.
Jasper stays in America because he wants to see his family.
Problems I have with the book:
I have a real problem with how Mei is portrayed, I was worried when I began to read the book that the author would take the common route and portray the East Asian woman as 'china doll' who turns into 'dragon lady'. I was not wrong. Mei is portrayed as not really caring about who gets hurt as long as she gets money, and I know that this was a bit of a stereotype and I thought 'maybe she's going for authenticity'? But, honestly? It's just basic racism. Between constantly describing her as a 'china doll' or fetishizing her skin/hair/eyes it makes various unkind implications that all East Asian women are greedy females that would step over their mothers for money and also implying that all East Asian women are wuxia stars. Plus, if you're going to CONSTANTLY refer to her clothing, at least pick an actual style. Either she's wearing a kimono or a qípáo not both.
Finley is a Mary Sue that bothers me almost MORE than Bella Swan because Finley is simply an asshole. She constantly whines (out loud and inner monologue) that it's so difficult being friends with other women because they always hate her right away. This is funny when you realize that every time Finley is introduced to a female character, she always assumes they're weaker then her, and sees no problem in belittling them.
Emily is not given any real depth beyond- SHE'S IRISH, ROPES FOR HAIR, IS VERY SHORT, LOVES NERD THINGS.
And finally, I love steampunk, but I need SOME aspects of Victorian culture beyond corsets and tea. Nothing about the issues within class and gender roles (when did women wear pants when out and about?!) How the hell did medical technology and procedure suddenly become more advanced than what we have now? And the Irish do not 'talk funny'.
In the end, I will not give up on steampunk. Right now my favourite steampunk novels are the 'Parasol Protectorate' series and 'Joe Golem and the Drowning City'. But I urge you to avoid 'The Girl in the Steel Corset' and 'The Girl in the Clockwork Collar'...unless you like throwing books and being angry.