Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School)

Sophronia is a strong heroine in a vivid world. I enjoyed the pacing and characterization of this whole book. There are many cute devices such as Mechanimals and robotic butlers that make me smile. At times, the tone is definitely YA, and as a person who found Gail Carriger's work through her adult work, I found that distracting. But, E&E is a good book and I would recommend it to a friend and I am planning to read the sequel.

Honestly, nothing I say can give any indication of the brilliance of this book. On paper, werewolves, vampires, mechanical objects and a finishing school for 14 year olds in the 1850s sounds somewhere between bizarre and disconcerting. In reality this is one of the most wholly enjoyable reads I've had since reading harry potter the first time around all those years ago. It is funny in the way of the quietest, most observant person in the room- it's only after they've walked away that you realise their comment completely surpasses any of the rabble that occurred before. Thankfully I've just been paid as I'll be buying every one of her books!

I so enjoyed the previous series and was little disappointed that the new series was about young people, but I finally gave in and read this one. I found it charming, interesting, amusing and altogether written as well as the parasol protectorate. Well done! Now I will read the book rest.

The begining of the novel was a little too similar to the Parasol series. The story grew on me a little later but the main charactor seems a little too much like the Hary Potter character. There are some nice ideas in the story through out here and there, and I hope in future installments of this series, the author will try to focus more on some original delevopments.

Like Harry Potter at Hogwarts, when Sophronia Temminnick enters Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality she is an outsider. The other girls have inherited their placements at the school and have known all their lives they would be attending, but Sophronia never knew a floating academy with instruction in both etiquette and espionage existed until she rode through its doors on the back of one of her new professors, a proper Victorian werewolf who is nonetheless capable of leaping high enough to reach the school's drifting campus. Fortunately, Sophronia's lack of experience in spy-work and intrigue is compensated for by her skill at discovering and making ingenious use of opportunities.

This first book in Gail Carriger's new series is set twenty years earlier than the Parasol Protectorate, but it's in the same paranormally enhanced Victorian England and I'm thrilled that younger versions of some of the characters from those previous books have prominent roles. There are a lot of mechanical descriptions of the steampunk aspects of the story--robotic servants on tracks and the structure of floating academy--which got me off to a little bit of a slow start with the book, but very soon I was captivated by the delights of its charming characters, elaborate plot, and witty banter.

This is the first book in an excellent young adult series. A steampunk with strong young lady characters, humor, and wit. My twelve year old daughter loved this series! A few of the secondary characters show up in the author's other series, the Parasol Protectorate, for adults which is fun.

This book is highly entertaining. It draws the reader into an easy but intriguing steam punk world full of memorable characters and grand design. This is a wonderful way for YA readers to become part of the steam punk genre. I'm much to old to be considered a YA reader, but as a teacher of literature, I find this book quite enjoyable and can't wait for the next.

Love the parasol protectorate series, but was not sure if I would like a series aimed at young adults. I've tried that transition before with other authors and found that young adult level was not appealing to me as a much older reader. This was a happy surprise. I found the characters and situations engaging and imaginative.

This book was a steampunk happiness gateway drug. Frankly, the cover art (understandably) got my attention, but once I picked it up I had to read everything else Gail Carriger had published up to that point and everything since. The main character of this series is one of my favorites.

I really like all of Gail's Finishing School Books, although they will be most appreciated by teen girls.

The Finishing School Books are written in the "Steam Punk" universe. This book is the first in the series and tells how it all started.

Fun read.

I fell in love w Gail Carriger during the parasol protectorate series. I love her sense of humor, character depth, story line interweaving from previous lives/stories, and the steam punk era/mindset. This book is perfect to tide me over until she releases something else. I read the two short stories, not a big fan of those.

Whatever you're expecting, you're wrong. This is a delicious installment into the world of the Parasol Protectorate, but separate at the same time. You're going to be meeting characters that you know and love but not as you know them. Clearly written for a younger audience but loved it nonetheless.

This is fun story about a ladies finishing school which is also a clandestine school for assassins. There are vampires, werewolves, highwaymen or flywaymen, a government agent, a stolen prototype and a robotic animal, and a sweet romance. This is a fun read.

I really enjoyed reading this latest from Gail Carriger. It's got a similar feel to her Parasol Protectorate series (with a few tie-ins), but stands well on its own. Intended for slightly younger readers than PP, it was still enjoyable as a quick read--doesn't read as infantile or less developed. The characters are complex and interesting, and the plot moves well. I'm anticipating the release of the next installment.

For those familiar with the other series by Gail Carriger, this book will be an exceptional treat. There are multiple nods to faithful readers and delights for new readers as well. Even as an adult, I loved this book and can't wait for my friends kids to be old enough to share this with them as well.

Witty and enjoyable, like all of Gail Carriger's books. After reading the first chapter, I stopped my current reading project and put this one on the top of the list. Looking forward to the next one.

Entertaining and whimsical YA steampunk novel. 14-year old tomboy Sophronia discovers that finishing school, at least this finishing school, is not as bad as her sisters made it sound. The curriculum at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality places a greater emphasis on ingenuity than embroidery.

I loved the parrasol protectorate and laughed at loud throughout. I am likewise laughing my head off reading this series.

I turned my wife on to it, just so she could figure out what I found that was keeping her awake at night.

Such a giggle and light hearted story line. Delightfully wicked and victorian with steam.

Just read it.

Carriger did a great job of moving her Parasol Protectorate world into the Young Adult realm. I would let my twelve year old read it, if he would read such a "girls" book. This is a great introduction to Steampunk, and to Carriger for anyone who hasn't read it either before.

This book was great. I really enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate books and was so glad to hear this was being written. It completely lives up to her other work.
The idea of a Victorian era with Vampires, warewolves and ulternate modern techology was astounding. Also it is so well written you feel as if you are there. I can't wait for more

I loved Gail Carringer's other books so eagerly purchased this one. Again, quirky characters who don't quite follow the paths set by the times that they live in. A fun read but I think not quite as good as the Parasol Protectorate

This is a plucky young lady living an improbable life with lots of improbable things happening - yet the story comes off fun, kind of like a kids' cartoon show. Not sure it's a keeper - most likely I'll find a young reader and pass it on.

I have read & enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate & in many ways I missed the series, so I went into this book with a real sense of nostalgia & I really enjoyed it. It is set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate but seperate from the other story line so you wouldn't have to read the other books first.

I liked the characters, they are spunky and well written for the period they are supposed to represent, very oriented around manners etc. I really enjoy the way the author manages to combine the period (think Jane Austen) with the fantasy aspects, there is a bit of intrigue & a lot of fun. Something I've found in most of her books to date is that Carriger creates one of the more realistic steampunk fantasies that I've read. By realistic I mean that the characters reflect the era (sometimes a little tongue in cheek I suspect) and the mechanical aspects are well represented (blimps etc). I have found, with the growth in this genre, a good many books that really don't manage to get both aspects right.

Anyway all in all, lots of fun.

Her mother approves of the etiquette, and never learns of the other lessons. Sophronia suddenly has a use for etiquette, and an interest in espionage. The course of Empire may sway on a school girls choice. Was she correct?

I have enjoyed Carringer's other series set in Victorian England. This is on the same line but the characters are in their teens. She does a good job of giving you a feel for the era as well as a good story line and delivery.

I loved this book! I was informed the beginning was rather dull, but was pleasantly surprised and interested all the way. It definitely benefited to have the book on kindle, as I could look up the more confusing old-fashioned vocabulary. Highly recommended. To middle school and upper elementary.

Coming off of the Parasol Protectorate I was very excited to start the Finishing School series. I wasn't let down. Ms. Carriger really has a talent for building worlds and creating wonderful characters to populate them.

Quite a good young adult story - I look forward to the continuation of the series.
If this was supposed to be a prequel to the Parasol Protectorate, as there are overlapping characters, the storyline for those characters isn't exact. It is still entertaining.

If you haven't read The Parasol Protectorate series (PPS), that's okay! This is the pre-teen version to get you introduced to Gail Carriger's writing before getting into some her somewhat more adult series. It's fun, quirky and just as funny the PPS.

What a stunning start to a wonderful series, SO excited to read the next one. Directed at a much younger market than The Parasol Protectrate, Gail Carriger has managed to balance sass with innocence, delicious!

I loved this book. It was completely different than the Parasol Protectorate series, but still had the jokes, whimsy and overall fantastic writing. I loved how Gail introduced new characters and sprinkled in a few familiar ones. I especially loved Vieve. Can't wait for the next installment!

Gail Carriger has done it once again. As with the Parasol Protectorate books, she has created set of thoroughly believable and enjoyable characters that will have you turning page after page to read more of them. While this series is geared more towards the young adult audience than Ms. Carriger's previous novels, it retains appeal for audiences of all ages.
I am eagerly awaiting the second book in the series! :-)

Return to the steam punk Victorian Genre of Gail Carriger. Witty Humor and entertaining story line. A well written young adult novel. I would recommend this to a young audience as well as Carriger fans of the Parosel Protectorate. Just keep in mind this is a YA novel.