Description (from cover):'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 ins 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.'
My thoughts:
Steampunk is not my forte by any means, but these books are thrilling and enjoyable. I love Sophronia's character and her sense of humor. The author does a fantastic job of portraying an alternate universe with the supernatural and humans mixing together. Of course, nothing is what it seems and Sophronia must use her wits to discover the plots that are afoot. Sophronia is a typical nosy upper-class girl set in the Victorian era finishing school setting. But that's where the Victorian era as we know it ends. There are vampires, werewolves, and Picklemen all trying to make a place for themselves.
I think that if you've read the Parasol Protectorate books, then it might be easier for you to understand these novels. I haven't and there are some things that I don't really understand. I am going to amend this problem by reading the series right away, but I think it would be easier for readers of that series to enjoy this series. It's not too complicated, but I feel sometimes like I am missing something that I should already have known. Nevertheless, this book was a dashing good time and I couldn't put it down.
If you like the supernatural (I don't) and like to read interesting tales, then this series and this book is for you. It is aimed more at teenagers, but I think it appeals to all ages. I hate werewolves and vampires, but this book really didn't bother me all that much. This book is a book that will appeal to fantasy, steampunk, historical fiction and young adult readers alike. This author is a New York Times bestselling author for a reason. She has an amazing writing story and her creativity and imagination are completely out of this world.
Overall Rating: 4.5
Title: Curtsies & Conspiracies
Author: Gail Carriger
Series: Finishing School #2
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 11/5/2013
Pages: 320
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was purchased by myself and I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
