The Dark Discovery of Jack Dandy Review: Jack

Book: The Dark Discovery of Jack Dandy
Author: Kady Cross
Series: Steampunk Chronicles
Standing: Book 2.5
Setting: London, 1897
POV: 3rd person by Jack, past tense
Genre: YA steampunk, paranormal

Source: ebook
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 44
Release: July 1st, 2013

Goodreads Before he makes his appearance in The Girl with the Iron Touch, Jack Dandy had an adventure of his very own. Learn how his actions set the plot in motion in The Dark Discovery of Jack Dandy, a short teaser story from author Kady Cross’s Steampunk Chronicles.  Jack Dandy didn’t become prince of the London underworld at barely twenty-one by being softhearted, even if a certain girl in a steel corset has wormed her way into his affections of late. He knows how to manipulate, charm and rob people blind. And if his criminal activities embarrass his aristocratic father, so much the better. So when a friend of Jack’s father hires him for an underhanded job, Jack is happy to oblige—for an outrageous fee, of course. Delivering a mysterious crate seems like an easy task—until Jack realizes just what is inside...

Jack Dandy is definitely a criminal lord you'd want on your good side. This short novella depicts a friend of Jack Dandy's aristocratic father coming to Jack for help to deliver a crate containing some rather...illegal contents.

We get to see Jack's personality and facade right from the beginning. His backstory is teased at, and we're given the bare minimal information about his miserable upbringing for us to get the sense of Jack's desire for revenge. One thing that really amazed me was how Jack conducted himself differently in order to charm--or intimidate--his way to getting what he wants. Jack hides his history extraordinarily well, being able to imitate a ruffian accent in order to make people underestimate him, or, when need be, absolutely terrify people. His thought process for his deliberate actions are brilliant, as he's able to read people and know what he needs to do to get his way.

The ending of the novella--what he finds in the crate--sets up the beginning of his main part in The Girl With the Windup Heart, and we begin to see a change in heart as he realizes he's done the same thing his father has done to him. The beginning of his character arc in regards to abandonment is hinted at, which bridges his rough and seemingly uncaring ways in the first few books in the series to the final book, where we see his true side, and his good heart.

If you're a fan of Jack Dandy, definitely give this one a read. It's a quick dark and smart read, one where you can't help but love him for all his dark ways.