A Vintage Reads YA Review: Curtsies and Conspiracies

Curtsies and Conspiracies (Finishing School, 2) by Gail Carriger, November 5, 2013. 310 pages. Published by Hachette Little, Brown & Co. Source: Borrowed from Library.

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.

First Sentence

Miss Temminnick.

My Thoughts

Months after finally reading Etiquette and Espionage I remembered to find the second volume at the library. Weeks after finishing it, I finally remembered to review it.... 

• I cannot tell you guys how much I enjoyed this one! Between dying of laughter because Sophronia is hilarious and the bantering, which was on point, I found myself thoroughly amused and entertained. Add in further interactions between her, Soap and Felix, and you have a mess of trouble. Ah! It was just so fun to watch things unfold; especially since this book saw relationships taking new, and somewhat dangerous, twists. You'll get a taste of the witty dialogue if you check out tomorrow's Teaser Tuesday post.

• It was nice to see Dimity have a slightly larger roll in book two. Even if that roll came with an unfortunate occurrence... Yes, I found myself really enjoying the way the characters balanced each other out. Plus, it was a nice change of pace to see Sophronia make decisions that would effect more than her curiosity. It really gave her some time to grow as a character; though she still has a long way to go into maturity (such a rash minded girl but that's what makes her so interesting, too).   

• Again, I really love the world Gail Carriger created. Also that in Curtsies and Conspiracies that you learn more about Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality and the teachers. The world and characters all blend in so seamlessly that it feels so natural, even when the characters start talking about things that are out of the ordinary. Thus far, I have found myself really enjoying my foray into the world and politics of this series.

• Which leads me to the writing. Gail Carriger is nailing the witty banter!! The Finishing School series is turning into one of my favorite reads this year! Simply because I am getting immense satisfaction from the story, writing and characters. I'm actually excited to delve into the rest of the series...and maybe even finishing it in the next couple weeks.

Final Verdict: Curtsies and Conspiracies- Every bit as entertaining as the first installment...just with more witty barbs!!

Curtsies and Conspiracies earns

A copy of this book was borrowed from the library. All thoughts are my own.