Etiquette & Espionage - FREE PREVIEW

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.


Fourteen-year-old 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 the 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.


Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail's legions of fans have come to adore.

Genres: Steampunk, Young Adult, Fantasy, Victorian, Science Fiction, Fiction

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2013

About the author

Gail Carriger writes comedies of manners mixed with paranormal romance (and the sexy San Andreas Shifter series as G L Carriger). Her books include the Parasol Protectorate and the Finishing School series. She is published in many languages and has over a dozen NYT bestsellers. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea. Join the Chirrup for sneak peaks of upcoming giggles: http://gailcarriger.com/chirrup

Reviews

[First Second Books]

This book was a lot of fun – it read like an Edwardian steampunk version of Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls books – except without the romance, and that was nice too! It was great to read a teen paranormal-esque book where the protagonist was not like, ‘really, it’s all about this dark and mysterious werewolf/magician/vampire – everything that I’d want out of my own life is secondary to him.’

[Alanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gail Carriger is back with a fabulous new series! Can't wait!!!

[Sunshine Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for all ages !!! Absolutely love this series

[Danielle]

Typical Carriger, charming and engaging. Hooks you on the first page! I love this series - I would LOVE to go to this school...

[Min · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm. I liked the plotting in this book, even though it's just a bit flimsy... like Carriger is setting up the next book rather than allowing this book to be its own fully fleshed out storyline. I think what really draws me in, time after time to Carriger's novels is the world she's created. The idea of a young girl going off to this Finishing School, is fun and interesting. She did a lot of hard work developing the school and what goes one there. The downer was the progag, fourteen-year-old Sophronia. She may as well be Alexia for how similar their voices are and how underdeveloped of a character she is. Sure, you can say it's the same author, and that's just her style. But Sophronia's voice is not that of a realistic fourteen-year-old. It's like she's Alexia without the dirty thoughts and in a fourteen-year-old body. I think the other thing that caught me is this is billed as a YA, but the plot and characters read much more like a MG book.

And then the final thing that makes me actually want to throw the book across the room, is the insane amounts of exclamation points. To me, an exclamation point is lazy writing. And an overuse of them (we're talking at least one per page) is nearly unreadable. Basically, I tried to ignore them. If it weren't for the amazing world building, and a hope that Sophronia will be more fleshed out and develop a voice of her own, I wouldn't be reading the next book, and this would be a one-star review. So here's to hoping.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophronia's penchant for trouble causes her mother to ship her off to finishing school. Sophronia quickly discovers this school teaches much more than how to execute a perfect curtsey. With ball gowns, poison, espionage, and Picklemen, this book has it all.

I did not anticipate enjoying this book as much as I did. Steampunk fiction is not my usual or preferred genre. However, I decided to listen to this audiobook because this series had been nominated for a 2015 Audie award. Commuting multiple hours a day gives a person many hours to listen to audiobooks, an experience which can be made miserable if the narrator is terrible. The narrator of this series does a wonderful job and the fantastical tale that Gail Carriger weaves immediately drew me in. I finished the first 3 books in a week. Now I am waiting on pins and needles for the 4th book to come out in November.

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually read the whole book, but for some reason couldn't find the full version on goodreads to rate. Anyway, this is a YA book and wanted to read it before Rowan did. I liked the message....strong, independent woman (in this case 14 years old) who is curious and likes adventure. All good qualities for my young girl.

[Chryslin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect reading for those who appreciate a comedy of manners with a dollop of steampunk. As in the "Timeless" series, you will find werewolves, vampires, and a cast of eccentric characters that are well drawn and easy to like. Carriger's finishing school setting is whimsical and perfect background for adventures. I would recommend this to adult fans as well as YA readers.

[Mark And Lorenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one of a new series, set in the same steampunk England as The Parasol Protectorate series. Learn etiquette and espionage at a finishing school with an unexpected twist, just what a proper young lady neads to know. Great book, can't wait for the next one.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun! A finishing school that includes diversion, and espionage. Same world as the Parasol Protectorate, with adventure and humor in fine form. Could be read alone, but also fun to recognize characters in their younger lives.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again Gail Carriger puts put another fantastically wonderful book. Her humor and ability of putting her characters in situations that have you laughing as well as wondering what could happen next.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great to get a look behind the character of Madame Lefoux's even if she isn't the main character and I hope to see a series just about her. These are still very good books and I will always love this worls.

[Karryn Nagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great work continuing the series! I loved the Finishing School idea. Though I wonder whether the author only wrote this book so she could continue her legacy of using silly names. :)

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited for the full book!

[Jennifer Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking forward to the rest of the book!!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

First three chapters are delightful. Looking forward to reading the rest of the story.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun storyline. I loved the characters, the school, Bumbersnoot the macchanimal dog and the vampire teacher. Look forwars
D to more.

[Adrianebritbibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

delightful!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't really get much into the story, but really dug the writing + the witty word play.

[Donna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steampunk may not be my favorite, but without a doubt, this book has winning elements that some teens will find engaging.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and well-written.