The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross

This book counts for the Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge, the Prequel & Sequel Challenge, and Series Enders Reading Challenge. This is also number 74 for the COYER challenge and is a Booking Through Summer book. This is the final book in Cross's Steampunk Chronicles and will have some spoilers for the other three books.

Harlequin Teen

Cross brings to a close all the threads of her past stories and gives us one last romantic couple to fall in love with. Mila just wants Jack to notice her, as a real woman, not as a robot turned girl who needs protecting. She is stronger than all men after all and can take care of herself. The only way to accomplish this is to leave Jack and strike out on her own. In the meantime, Griffin has been kidnapped into the Aether by the Machinist. Finley is willing to save Griffin at all costs even if all costs means her life. Finley convinces Emily to "kill" her, meaning to make her dead enough to travel in Tesla's suit into the Aether, the place between life and final destination. Once inside Finley will have to face down her worse fears and is reunited with the one person she has always missed from her life. While Finley is battling for herself and Griffin, Jack learns to trust others, like Wildcat and Jasper and Emily and Sam, to help him find Mila and keep her safe. Finley and Jack both learn the true meaning of sacrifice when they realize those they love have to have the power to decide their own fates and trusting someone is more important than protecting them. Will the group be able to defeat the Machinist without the loss of those they hold most dear?

What a great ending to the series! I will miss these characters so much and I loved seeing all the romances develop in each book. I love Cross's steampunk creations and her well developed characters and their romances. I also like her writing style and hope to read more by her. 5 cups of cocoa!