Emily is kidnapped by automatons serving a comatose Frankenstein-like scientist. Finley (The Girl in the Iron Corset; The Girl in the Clockwork Collar) and her friends must find Emily before she is forced to transplant the Machinist's brain into a new host--her boyfriend, Sam. This mix of romance, sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure requires much suspension of disbelief but provides an entertaining, page-turning read. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The Steampunk Chronicles return to Victorian London after a journey to New York City, with our team of paranormal adventurers grown older, wiser, sadder (in the case of American cowboy Jasper), and more firmly coupled. Finley and Griffin, Duke of Greythorne, are breathlessly close to consummating their relationship, while mechanical genius Emily and ruggedly handsome Sam are clearly an item as well. The plot and subplots include an automaton of Queen Victoria, the evil genius known as the Machinist, and a not-human-but-not-wholly-machine automaton in Emily's likeness. Classic steampunk elements abound as do classic romance cliches, including fantastical airships and submarines; dandified crime lords; plentiful clothing descriptions; and hard biceps and trembling excitement. Hardcore steampunk fans may object to the formulaic romance writing, and as the third in the series, this title won't quite stand alone. However, romance-loving steampunkers new to the series may go back to the first two titles to catch up on the action-packed adventures.--Carton, Debbie Copyright 2010 Booklist

A fast-paced steampunk adventure features a band of paranormal teammates who search Victorian streets to find their abducted friend. Set in 1897 London, this story gets off to a suspenseful start with mechanically gifted Emily escaping a squidlike Kraken that's attacking her submersible in the Thames; friends Griffin, Sam and Finley come to her aid. Readers of Cross' series (The Girl in the Steel Corset, 2011, etc.) will recognize her signature blend of kickass-yet-tenderhearted heroines (Emily's and Finley's superhuman abilities don't keep butterflies from their stomachs when around certain males), mechanical contraptions (like automatons and velocycles) and intriguing side characters (meet Mila, a rapidly evolving, more-than-machine creation enriched with the team members' own genes). When Emily is kidnapped by automatons, her friends must plot her rescue while warding off their own demons, whether in the form of wraiths populating the power-giving Aether or more complex psychological challenges posed by their pasts. Emily, meanwhile, discovers a surprising ally in Mila; their relationship raises provocative questions about where the soul resides and where humanity begins and machinery leaves off. Frequent references to Sam's broad shoulders and Griffin's swoon-y properties may irritate some readers, but all will appreciate the gritty, original surrealism of Cross' steampunk world. A well-calculated blend of paranormal romance and genuinely innovative story. (Steampunk. 13 up)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.