Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Etiquette and Espionage (Finishing School, #1)

by Gail Carriger

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.

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.

Reviewed by Amber (The Literary Phoenix) on

5 of 5 stars

Share
This little book was far more delightful than I expected!

Steampunk and I have a notorious love/hate relationship. I really want to love it BUT then I read the books and am left wanting for stronger characters and less stiff social settings. I do believe it is possible to do great steampunk and still empower women ([b:The Strange Case of Finley Jayne|11130686|The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles, #0.5)|Kady Cross|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1303414416s/11130686.jpg|16053889] does it well, even if the book series it's attached to does not). And, FINALLY, I have found a book with a grand assortment of women in various states of personality, strength, and refinery. So refreshing.

I'm not speaking poorly about other steampunk, mind you. They just leave me wanting more.

This novel was fast-paced, but not exhausting. If Sephronia's hijinks were not keeping me entertained, the curiosities of the world were. Even her name is delightful, surpassed only by the terribly useful Bumbersnoot. Additionally, I really liked the female friendships in this one. They came in all shapes and sizes, and AMAZINGLY when two friends had a problem, they worked it out maturely and sensibly. Why can't all fantasy girls do that?

If you like stories about boarding school and posh gentlemen and assassins and whatnot, you'll quite enjoy this tale.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 12 May, 2018: Finished reading
  • 12 May, 2018: Reviewed