Ironskin

Today's post is on Ironskin by Tina Connolly. It is the first in her Ironskin Trilogy. It is 302 pages long and is published by TOR. The cover has the main character in a silver dress with her iron mask on looking at the reader. The intended reader is someone who likes retellings, steampunk, and some romance. There is no sex, some mild language, and some violence in this book. The story is told from the first person perspective of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Jane Eliot wears an iron mask. It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain- the ironskin.

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a 'delicate situation'- a child born during the Great War- Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.
Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her scars and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio... and come out as beautiful as the fey.
Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what is neither of these things is true? Step by step unlocks the secrets of her new life- and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again.

Review- It was one of the best books that I have read so far this year. Everything about this book was great. The writing was solid, both original and at the same time you can see the effects of Jane Eyre on the style. The plot was mysterious, grand without being overdone. The character's were again unique but you can see where Connolly is borrowing them from. The descriptions were wonderful, lush and clear. In fact the only thing that I did not like about this novel is that it is only 302 pages long instead of the full length of Jane Eyre but that is it. Everything else I loved about it. The Fey were powerful and dangerous. The mystery was drawing and frightening when understood. Jane is an excellent character. She is smart but unsure of herself and her face. I look forward to reading the next in the series Copperhead.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money.