Back to Wheel of Books
Cover of The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

by Kady Cross

Fiction SteampunkYoung AdultFantasyRomanceHistorical FictionHistoricalScience Fiction
416 pages
Daily Reading Time
5min 10hrs

Book Description

A sinister invention threatens to tear apart the fragile threads of love and loyalty in this steampunk adventure. As the clock ticks down, Finley Jayne races against time to rescue her kidnapped friend from the clutches of a chilling master villain. With her heart entwined in a dangerous love triangle, battling dark forces and her own fierce emotions, every decision could cost her everything. Allies are few, enemies are many, and the stakes have never been higher. Will Finley uncover the truth behind the clockwork collar before it’s too late, or will fate seal her friend’s doom forever?

Quick Book Summary

In "The Girl in the Clockwork Collar," Finley Jayne and her eccentric crew travel to New York City to save their friend Jasper Renn from a diabolical villain, Dalton. Jasper has been falsely accused of a crime and is forced to use his mechanical skills to create a deadly device, while his former love, Mei, is trapped by a clockwork collar that threatens her life. As Finley and her friends navigate the dangers of a city teeming with mechanical marvels and dark plots, they must untangle webs of deception, confront their deepest fears, and grapple with burgeoning romantic feelings. The stakes are raised with each passing hour: loyalty and trust are tested as Finley races to outsmart Dalton, stop his sinister plan, and rescue both Jasper and Mei before it's too late.

Similar Books You'll Love

Discover books with a similar style, theme, or energy.

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel cover

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Angel

Cassandra Clare

The Clockwork Scarab cover

The Clockwork Scarab

Colleen Gleason

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince cover

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince

Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel cover

Clockwork Angel

Cassandra Clare

Find Similar Books

Summary of Key Ideas

Loyalty and Sacrifice in Friendship

Finley Jayne and her companions find themselves journeying to New York in pursuit of their friend Jasper Renn, who has been captured and accused of theft involving a powerful piece of machinery. The team, comprising Griffin King, the Duke with paranormal abilities; Sam, the mechanically enhanced strongman; and Emily, the ingenious inventor, band together, determined to rescue Jasper. Their voyage is not just across the Atlantic but also into a city suffused with industrial wonder and hidden menace. Each member brings unique skills, but Finley’s inner struggle with her own supernatural strength and darker impulses becomes increasingly pressing.

Power and Control through Technology

Upon arrival, the crew learns that Jasper is a pawn in the hands of Dalton, a cunning criminal mastermind. Dalton wields power over Jasper by threatening the life of Mei, Jasper’s former love, who is trapped in a collar—an intricate device set to kill her if Jasper disobeys. This deadly mechanism symbolizes the story’s focus on power, control, and the horrors technology can inflict. As Jasper is coerced into constructing a dangerous weapon for Dalton, Finley and company must outmaneuver Dalton’s technological traps and criminal network while unraveling the truth behind Mei’s loyalty and Dalton’s motivations.

The Complexity of Morality and Redemption

Throughout their quest, loyalties are tested and emotions run high. Finley faces her growing feelings for Griffin, but their relationship is complicated by their respective pasts and the dangers they face. Meanwhile, the ever-present possibility of betrayal looms, as the group must decide whom to trust. Jasper’s tormented history with Mei and his fight for her freedom force the characters to confront the nature of forgiveness and redemption. The romantic tension among the protagonists adds layers of emotional depth, driving character decisions and highlighting the blurred lines between love and loyalty.

Romantic Tension and Emotional Growth

The novel thrives in its atmospheric rendering of steampunk New York—an imaginative landscape where mechanical marvels, automatons, and clockwork inventions are woven seamlessly with Victorian societal strictures. This alternate historical setting not only serves as a vibrant backdrop for the action, it directly influences the plot through the perils of unchecked technology and social hierarchies. The blend of science fiction, fantasy, and historical romance creates a dynamic environment in which the characters must adapt, innovate, and rely on both intellect and heart to survive.

Victorian Society and Steampunk Innovation

In a pulse-pounding climax, Finley and her friends infiltrate Dalton’s operations to save Jasper and Mei, unleashing a battle where each must call upon their inner strengths and the power of their bonds. The rescue hinges on overcoming personal fears, daring teamwork, and trust in one another. As they dismantle Dalton’s sinister plot and destroy the lethal clockwork collar, the crew emerges transformed by their experiences. The aftermath leaves them changed but united, with new understandings of themselves and each other—ready to face whatever steampunk dangers their world may next hold.

Download This Summary

Get a free PDF of this summary instantly — no email required.