Review: Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

(Finishing School #2)

November 5, 2013

310 pages

Genre: YA Steampunk

Content: Clean

Source: eARC for Honest review

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 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.

In this sequel to New York Times bestselling Etiquette & Espionage, class is back in session with more petticoats and poison, tea trays and treason. Gail's distinctive voice, signature humor, and lush steampunk setting are sure to be the height of fashion this season.

This series continues to be great fun. Sophronia, now 15 but still in her first year at espionage school, is engrossed in the insides and out of her school. Always with an eye out for conspiracy and mischief, she is not one to sit by the sidelines and let things just happen. Sophronia is involved in it all, whether she should be or not. And as the advanced pupil that she is, keeping her uninvolved is a virtually impossible task for any teachers, friends, or foes. Book two continues with some of the unresolved mystery of book one, plus several more layers of its own, making it highly entertaining and exciting.

Along with the layers of discovery, mischief, and mystery, we get the wonderful cast to keep us fully entertained. I continue to love Sophronia. She is such a great heroine to follow along with. She's smart, curious, observant, and also a great friend. I like watching how she handles everything. Her girls, Dimity, Agatha, and Sidheag, help round out the personalities of the school, counteracting Monique. And let's not forget the boys. I continue to love Soap and his presence not only in the book but in Sophronia's life. The addition of Felix also trying to keep the notice of Sophronia certainly complicates things. I'm curious and nervous to find out what direction the author will take this little love triangle into as the series continues.

Overall, I loved this sequel. It was fully engaging and entertaining. I also love that it continues to be a clean series. (Of note, for those who care, there was one minor reference to male genitalia, which was brief but pretty funny.) I can't wait to see what happens next with this great cast of characters.

AMAZON -- GOODREADS

 

Have you started this series yet?

Book 1: Etiquette & Espionage

MY REVIEW -- AMAZON -- GOODREADS