152) Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

The Blurb :

Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests?

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 school 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.

My Thoughts :

Gail Carriger is my favourite Steampunk author.  She mixes this weird and wonderful genre with the paranormal and adds a certain 'je ne sais quoi' that leaves you dying for more.  I adored her Parasol Protectorate series and enjoyed the debut to her new Finishing School series.  There is nothing more special or unforgettable as a Dirigible school filled with Young Ladies!  Unique and fantastic, this author never fails to expand your mind and imagination.  If you haven't already had the pleasure then you really should.

However this second part in the new series has left me feeling slightly unsure.  While it had all the ingredients of a super steampunk paranormal it didn't taste quite right.  I can't be more specific but as I was reading this sequel I wasn't really feeling the wow factor anymore.  Maybe I have become immune to the weird and wonderful goings on or the story just wasn't my cup of tea this time around.  Whatever the case this one fell a little flat.

Although don't be discouraged.  I am still happy with the progress made in the book and the interesting things that happened.  There is certainly more to come and I am going to be there ready to read it.  There is nothing that could stop me from continuing this Steampunk Harry Potter and I am looking forward to more strange happenings.

If you haven't tried this author yet then you are missing out on something very special.  I am not a huge Steampunk fan but this author will make you yearn for more with her fun and witty wrtitings.  If you aren't drawn to this Young Adult offering then definitely try out the Parasol Protectorate.  I had loads of fun with this series and will be visiting it again someday soon!

 

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19) Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

The Blurb :

Sophronia Temminnick at 14 is a great trial more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners -- and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Her poor mother, desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady, enrolls the lively tomboy in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But 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.

My Review :

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book and it came along as I was ill. However as soon as I was feeling well enough to read, this was the first book that came to mind. I loved Gail Carriger's Steampunk Parasol Protectorate series and it was my first introduction to this special genre. I couldn't wait to dive back into the wonderful paranormal world the author has created and hoped it would be as good as her previous books.

Things began with a fun and interesting introduction to the new leading lady. Or should I say, girl. Now back in the days, girls became ladies and were definitely more mature than a teenager today. So be warned that this is therefore a Young Adult novel and be happy to know that it doesn't really matter if you are an adult reading the book. It is upstanding and well thought out. It is not girlie. So after being introduced to Sophronia I was very intrigued about her future. It didn't take me long to devour the book up and smile away at the same time.

I loved the concept and I am a happy reader. Etiquette & Espionage shows that Carriger can write for younger readers while not making things silly or boring. The character is quite different to Alexi Tarabotti in that she has a young recklessness and doesn't care much for her clothes. She could grow into a very well behaved young lady but it seems that Sophronia is destined to be something else entirely.

The special mix of paranormal and steampunk is kept in this new series and readers of the Parasol Protectorate will recognise more than a few of the other characters mentioned in this book. Some have a bigger part to play than others but there is a sense of the familiar all the way through.

A wonderful and delightful read that I really enjoyed. Action, fun and espionage in the paranormal steampunk Victorian setting was exactly what I was expecting and exactly what I got. I love this author and all her books so far and can't wait for more. A must read series to add to my list and of course I do hope that another adult series comes along again soon.