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: 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!

Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Series: Parasol Protectorate Book #1

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 373

Rating: 4.5 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from the library

From page one I knew I was going to like this book. The tone and humor were perfect for me. And I don’t listen to audiobooks, but I feel like this would be a great one. Ms. Carriger just has a light funny writing style. Seriously, it just made me so happy and I am excited to continue the series.

I think one of the reasons I loved this was the world. I read a lot of historical romance and I could see that world I’m used to but Ms. Carriger easily blends in paranormal and steampunk elements. I’m completely like: yes, this is exactly what the 1800s were like.

And Alexia. She’s so odd that I can’t help, but love her. She’s also very forceful and opinionated. Sometimes those characters can be annoying, but not Alexia. Plus, she’s very fixated on food and eating. I also have these feelings so we are on the same team.

Then, there’s the Earl. Why do I love you so much? He’s exactly what I want in my historical alpha hero. And she did a very good job of exploring pack dynamics and what being an alpha means. I hope we get more of this.

I don’t want this to go on forever, but I also like Professor Lyall and Floote the butler. They both provide some sarcasm I guess-they’re kind of the straight men. Especially Floote. I feel like he’s my favorite character and he better continue to show up.

Then, there’s the romance. It’s definitely my kind of romance and I’m glad there’s so much of it. And without spoiling it I’ll say I’m glad it progressed the way it did. Mostly because I’m happy to see what happens with the rest of the series.

The non-romance plot was also executed very well. I was on edge and constantly questioning what was going on. And just like the romance I’m very excited to see how it develops.

That was a lot of complimentary things so I feel like I need to say something negative. My only complaint is minor, but it happened a couple of times. That issue is that I would get confused about which character’s head I was in. The book is in third person but bounces around without page or chapter breaks. It was a little confusing, but not distracting.

OK. I need to stop because this one is getting a little too long.

OK. Bye.

Thanks for reading!

~Holly