Book Review: Manners & Mutiny by Gail Carriger

Series: Finishing School Book #4

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 326

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Publisher: Little Brown Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Lessons in the art of espionage aboard Mademoiselle Geraldine's floating dirigible have become tedious without Sophronia's sootie Soap nearby. She would rather thwart dastardly Picklemen, yet her concerns about their wicked intentions are ignored. 

Who can she trust? Royal werewolf dewan? Stylish vampire Lord Akeldama? Only one thing is certain: a large-scale plot is under way. Sophronia must be ready to save her friends, her school, and all of London from disaster.

Review

I love Gail Carriger! Her voice as a writer is so unique and intoxicating. There's often tongue-in-cheek humor, but she isn't afraid of dangerous situations. She's able to blend all of this together effortlessly.

This was a perfect ending. Of course I would love to spend more time with many of these characters, but I don't need it. Now, I want to re-read The Parasol Protectorate just to be in this world again. I also want to read the other books she's written.

This review is pretty vague because I'm trying to avoid any spoilers.

Sophronia is a spectacular heroine and I loved going on this journey with her. The friendships and relationships were written well and with great nuance. 

I'm just so glad I read this series and was able to enjoy it. Everyone I picked it up I felt myself smiling.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

Series: Finish School #2

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 310

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Steampunk

Publisher: Hachette, Little, Brown, & Co.

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy--won't Mumsy be surprised? Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.

Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a field trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card.

Review

I'm loving this series. This book was so close to five stars. I'm still kind of confused, but I don't even care. I'm just along for this ride with Sophronia. I can't wait to finish the series and I also want to re-read the Parasol Protectorate Series, because of the overlapping characters.

Ms. Carriger is a great writer. Full stop.

Her style is unique and fun to read. And she creates fantastic and engaging characters. I particularly like the relationships/friendships she creates. And the names. She is best namer out there.

Some new characters showed up and I'm definitely interested. There was a new guy who is intriguing and a little mysterious. But if there is a romance I'm really hoping it is the one I liked from the first book. I just gobble up all the little suggestions of that ship. So, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

If you couldn't tell, I'm currently obsessed with these characters and the series.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Book Review: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Series: Finishing School Book #1

Format: Trade Paperback

Pages: 307

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased (Pretty sure)

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Steampunk

Publisher: Little, Brown Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. 

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Review

I love Gail Carriger's voice as a writer. She's quirky and fun and dignified.

Sophronia is an interesting main character. She's adventurous and headstrong. She's also unexpectedly friendly and supporting of those around her. She also doesn't know a lot about the world she's thrown into so I also don't know a lot. I trust things will be explored, but I also wish I knew more NOW!

I feel like there may be a romance which I am here for. (It's inter-racial and that is one of my favorites since I was raised in an inter-racial home). But I'm not 100% sure it will happen so I'm going to hold off on commenting too much.

I really liked the connections to the Parasol Protectorate series. There are a few-mainly characters-which are pretty obvious. I'm excited to see if there are any more connections as the series continues. And it kind of makes me want to re-read the Parasol Protectorate series. Personally, I think that's a good thing in a book/series.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Timeless by Gail Carriger

Series: Parasol Protectorate Book #1
Format: Paper back
Pages: 409
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Gift
Genre: Historical, Steampunk, Paranormal
Publisher: Orbit

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a dampener on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

Review

I can't believe this is over. I really enjoyed spending time with Alexia and her gang. And I enjoyed the introduction of Prudence and I am excited to read more about her. This was a nice conclusion to the series and satisfied me.

Honestly, I don't have much to say and what I want to talk about is spoilery.

You've been warned.

I love that a couple years have past and Prudence isn't just a baby. And Ivy had twins. The next series better feature them.

Then, there's Biffy and Professor Lyall. There story was done so beautifully. I've liked them as individuals so of course they are great as a couple. This is probably the only thing that kind of left me wanting. But they are immortal so there is always time.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Heartless by Gail Carriger

Series: Parasol Protectorate Book #4

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 374

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from the Library

Genre: Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Orbit

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.

Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?

 

Review

It took me awhile to get into this one. I think it was half the book and half that I wasn’t in the mood for this kind of book.

Alexia is still great. I actually think the pregnancy makes her even funnier. And this one was really easy to picture in my head. Basically, the whole thing is Alexia getting herself into crazy situations while waddling around super pregnant. Sometimes I would get a little angry about how she didn’t stop to think about the baby.

There was some information revealed especially about Alexia’s father. Other characters also got more development. But some things didn’t really make sense to me-especially the big reveal around the mystery of this book. I hope that makes sense. I’m trying to explain my thoughts without spoiling anything.

The biggest disappointment was the lack of Ivy and Floote. Ivy basically had one scene-it was a great one, but still only one scene. She’s a great friend for Alexia along with being funny. Floote was around and was amazing, but I want more.

I really don’t know where this series is going or how it will wrap up. I am a little worried that I won’t get enough resolution. But I’m sure I will enjoy the last book because I do love this world, the characters, and Alexia’s general awesomeness.

Thanks for reading!

Review: Blameless by Gail Carriger

Series: The Parasol Protectorate Book #3

Format: Paperback

Pages: 356

Rating: 4.5

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Orbit

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season.

Queen Victoria dismisses her from the Shadow Council, and the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs, indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London's vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.

While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires -- and they're armed with pesto.

BLAMELESS is the third book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Review

This one was definitely a (little) step down for me. I liked getting more information about the world and the players but one of my least favorite relationship story lines happened. It was definitely an enjoyable and fast-paced read but I liked the previous book more.

I think my favorite thing was Floote. I really liked him in the first book but he didn't have much of a presence in the second. It's like he and Ivy can't be in the same story because she had less of a role in this one. Floote is just so funny and I want more of him. I believe their is a prequel novella about Alexia's dad and I assume Floote is in that so hopefully I'll get more then.

And I think I've made a decision on how I feel about Madame Lefoux. I don't think I mentioned this in my previous review but I wasn't sure if I liked her or not. She's definitely an enigma and her motives are slightly questionable but I think I like her. And maybe I trust her.

Alexia is still herself. She's very funny and I love the way she talks either to herself or the people around her. It's very biting and she doesn't suffer fools...except maybe Ivy. Along with that, Ms. Carriger's writing is the same funny and engaging style as the previous books. I'm definitely going to buy her other books when I finish this series.

Like I said before I liked that more of the world was explored. Both physically and with people. Both physically and with actual people. Lord Akeldama and Lyell become more flushed out by being separated from Alexia and Lord Maccon. And since Alexia travels to France and Italy there are more scientists and views on supernatural creatures. Like Alexia I took it for granted that England was so open but other countries treat vampires and werewolves differently. It definitely makes the world feel more real. I would like more on the Order of the Brass Octopus but I'm starting to wonder if they will ever be anything other than a secret organization.

I'm glad this one ended on less of a cliffhanger. I want to keep reading because I love the characters and writing so much but I have other books I need to read first. We'll see if that actually happens.

Thanks for reading!

Review: Changeless by Gail Carriger

Series: The Parasol Protectorate Book #2

Format: Paperback

Pages: 374

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from the library

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Romance,

Publisher: Orbit

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Alexia Maccon, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears; leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. So even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can. She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

CHANGLESS is the second book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Review

I’m a little heart-broken right now with that ending. Objectively, it was a great ending, but I wasn’t expecting it. Plus, I finished this on my break at work so I couldn’t pick up the next one.

It actually took me a little while to get into this one so I was a little worried. Looking back on it, I think I just needed to take a break from reading instead of forcing myself to read. Once I got over that I flew through it.

Gail Carriger has such a unique and funny voice. Her writing has some of the subtle sarcasm I’ve read in classics, but somehow it’s got a modern flavor. It’s just so freaking beautiful.

And Alexia. I’m not surprised, but I’m glad she’s still herself even though she’s married. She is an alpha female without being a bitch. Although, considering the wolf dynamics she could be…technically. And she’s such a well-rounded and thoughtful character.

The Alexia and Connall relationship is becoming one of my favorites now. They are a supportive couple but aren’t afraid to challenge each other when it’s needed. And even though they are now a couple and work together they don’t lose themselves by being married. Plus, their banter. It’s one of my favorite things. Even when they are arguing you can tell they love each other. Ms. Carriger does an excellent job of writing their physicality with each other which shows how close they are.

Ivy stole the show for me. She’s so unintentionally funny and I hope she continues showing up. And I really like her relationship with Alexia.

I did like the mystery and paranormal part of the plot. It was interesting and I wanted to know what was going on but I don’t have much to say about it.

Thanks for reading!