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Curtsies and Conspiracies

(Finishing School #2)

Gail Carriger (Goodreads Author)

4.12 · Rating details · 23,949 ratings · 2,502 reviews

Sophronias first year at Mademoiselle Geraldines Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing. For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy. Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ships boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a school tr ...more

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Jan 04, 2014 Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: victorian, siblings, ya, romance, steampunk, uk, mystery, cozy-mystery, boarding-school, mary-sue

“What’s a man like down there?”
“Oh.” Sidheag wrinkled her nose. “Unimpressive. They have,” she gestured toward her own nether regions with one hand, “a sort of dangly sausage—lacks tailoring.”

Brilliant description, brilliant!

If ever there was an enjoyable book featuring a Mary Sue of a heroine, this is it. Despite my rating, I liked reading this book, because it was a funny, quick, fast, very light read. My main problem: that's just it. There is absolutely zero complexity in the book, it was funny, but there was absolutely nothing more to it. It is completely devoid of substance with an utterly convoluted plot. And really, was there a need to include a love triangle when the main character in the book is all of 15 years old. Was it necessary to make her so completely perfect, so utterly capable, so tremendously intelligent, so flawlessly absorbing, particularly to the male sex?

[Sophronia] had not yet received lessons in seduction, or she might have understood the appeal of sharp confidence, a topping figure, and green eyes. All Sophronia’s intellect was directed at something other than attracting male companionship. These things combined to make her particularly appealing to gentlemen.

Fifteen years old, ladies and gentlemen. Our main character is fifteen years old, with the unconscious seduction of a young Lolita. With the brilliant analytical skills of a young Holmes. With the philosophical brain of Archimedes.

I liked Sophronia, despite her blind perfection, but she could have been so much more. My enjoyment of the book is impeded partially by the lack of complexity and the absence of any sort of depth within this book's characters, be they main characters or part of the side cast.

I can't give you a summary for this book because I'm not quite sure what I just read. There will be no detailed plot/character analysis because the characters are so utterly tongue-in-cheek that it's impossible to provide a criticism of them without realizing "well, she's SUPPOSED to be so completely trite and superlatively annoying because she is meant to be a satire of an YA fiction trope." I'm sure there is a way to critically analyze literary satire. My brain's just not quite that far-reaching yet.

No summary. Why? Half an hour after reading it, I remember absolutely nothing about it, and I can't even tell you what the hell the main plot was. I don't know what the mystery is, neither do I know how the plot was resolved. I had a lot of fun reading it, it was tremendously humorous. But that's it. I don't know what I just read beyond the humor, beyond the whimsical characters and the funny little steampunk world in which our book is set.

I can't tell you what the book is about, what the big spy-related plot is, but I can tell you that Monique is a bitch. That Dimity is in love with Lord Dingleproops. That Vieve is a 10-year old girl who likes to dress as a boy. That there is a love triangle, in which the sootie Soap and the supercilious Lord Felix are both in love with our Queen of the Mary Sues (I like her, but there is absolutely no denying that she is a Mary Sue) Sophronia. I can tell you that Sophronia carries around a little dog-thing (Bumbersnoot) as a purse. Those minute details, I can tell you.

Those minute details, I remember. Just not the central plot itself. I'm dead fucking serious.

There are a lot of good things about this book. I said it was a quick read and a very amusing one, and it really was. The writing is awesome; it is funny, it is flippant, it doesn't take itself seriously at all. I laughed more than once.

Dimity was so pretty and chattery, she quite overpowered the average male. Many gentlemen were unable to cope with abundant chatter, which is why they so often married it.

It is absolutely amusing, the book is rampant with silliness. The characters are a parody of British high society, complete with utterly ludicrous names, like the previously mentioned Lord Dingleproops, Professor Shrimpdittle, or else absurdly apostrophed names, like Miss Plumleigh-Teignmott.

The steampunk setting can best be described as "twee." We have gidgets and gadgets aplenty. We have whoozits and whatzits galore. Odd little thingamabobs, a steam-powered toy puppy. An "electrosplit goopslimer port." A "Thrushbotham pip-monger swizzle sprocket." There are mechanical maids---clangermaids, mechanical footmen---or rather, footmechs. Airships and dirigibles. Steam-puffing mechanical objects. Oddgobs. It is all terrifyingly, delightfully cute.

The school setting itself was pretty awesome, and I wished there were more insights and lessons for me to learn within the incredibly interesting-sounding classes. Seriously, where were these classes when I was still in school. We have classes on "drawing room music and subversive petit fours," "Hive and pack dynamics as part of the modern aristocratic system," "rapid walking in full skirts," "tea and delusions," "portion allotment, puddings, and preemptive poisonings."

The discussions in classes were the best part of the book, for example, during a lesson in "distribution, use, and application of stealth spy rocks," the class had this amazing discussion on men's facial hair.

The discussion evolved to the interesting question of whether a gentleman could tattoo a secret message upon his chin, then grow out his beard, thus transporting said message into enemy territory with no one the wiser. Would a man want a message permanently upon his chin? That was the quandary. And could one legitimately ascribe nefarious intent to any many with a full beard as a result?
“I’ve always thought beards suspicious,” said Dimity with conviction.

Me too, Dimity. Me, too. ...more

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Feb 08, 2013 God's Eye rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: steampunk

UPDATE REVIEW

OLD: I'll probably be ambushed and hanged for saying this, but... I kinda liked the "rake-in-training" from the other school. He was an intriguing character and I don't know why, it looked to me like Sophronia wasn't too oblivious to his charms (the descriptions from her point of view kinda imply that she thought he wasn't too bad (big underestimation here, girls)). In comparison with Soap it’s just... dunno… like they are just plain friends, with no romantic feelings involved betwe UPDATE REVIEW

OLD: I'll probably be ambushed and hanged for saying this, but... I kinda liked the "rake-in-training" from the other school. He was an intriguing character and I don't know why, it looked to me like Sophronia wasn't too oblivious to his charms (the descriptions from her point of view kinda imply that she thought he wasn't too bad (big underestimation here, girls)). In comparison with Soap it’s just... dunno… like they are just plain friends, with no romantic feelings involved between them. Hopefully we'll see in this book how it goes. And besides, I don't think anybody would be too happy if Sophronia ends up with Soap. Her family is obviously rich, the school she attends obviously has different marriage plans for its students - all who graduated apparently married rich or important people - and it would obviously be hard for them to be together (we are considering the era here) since (again) obviously the differences between classes is very important (as it usually is with epic steampunk books). So um… I’m siding with the rake on this one. You have to admit he’s a keeper (>w<)

NEW, WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD: Put my paws on it the moment my computer clocked said 5th of November and finished the book in two hours O.O verdict:loved it! oh boy, where to start. it was witty, fast paced, awesome, soul engaging and every other adj you can think of. it's no secret that i adore steampunk, but this one rocked, especially for a young adult book. And we find out the rake-in-training's name! FINALLY! hes name is Felix. *swoons* and he is a viscount *swoons again* but only because his father is the duke and we know how these things go. he can't have the duchy title until his old man is six feet under, if you'll excuse my language. and he's a viscount *swoons once again then quickly gets up when she realizes that he is most certainly under aged which would make yours truly a pedophile*. ahem, moving on. did i say his name is Felix? yes, yes i did. Gosh, i love the name. They finally spend some time together in this book, but not nearly as much as i would have liked. since i would have liked them to spend every moment of this books together, you can just ignore me. A new conspiracy pops up and of course it's up to Sophronia to make everything work and save the day ( and her friends, while she's at it), while of course being careful with her petticoats and not being found out by the teachers. Vampires are involved, kidnapping too, a flash meeting with a charming blond vampire, more of the handsome werewolf teacher and some flashy experiments. Long thing short, anything you would want from a steampunk novel. Plus a few lessons in espionage. So 5 stars from me since it was worth the wait. the one thing i did not like though, was that our charming Sophronia seemed to be stalling in the love department. Now, i do get it this is kind of young adult, but i wasn't expecting a full on ten page sex scene in a flying school. Ahem. pardon my speech. But Felix is more than interested in her; the poor boy - devilish rake with a charming smile - even asked to court her. He is obviously so into her he would need help to snap out of his fascination. Another slightly annoying thing was that towards the end of the book, Sophronia's feelings towards Soap had slightly slid from pure friendship to ... something more, no matter what she tried to say to herself and deny. so, yes it's a love triangle, or at least the beginning of one, but um i don't think there's much competition, really. i mean, Sophronia isn't a nobody. her family, although not titled, does have some means and a future duke, well, that is the highest a girl can get. I loved everything about this book, except perhaps for Sophronia's hesitation regarding Felix and Soap. One moment she was trying to discourage Felix by invoking reasons even she didn't believe, the next she was flirting with him and liking it while at the same time scrounging up reasons why this was not good. Mixed feelings, girl, i get it, but not this mixed. Cut the poor boy some slack. And Soap? Soap is nice and reliable and funny, but i can't seem to imagine him anything more than a very good friend, despite his spontaneous bouts of jealousy concerning Felix and his attachment to Sophronia. Even she admitted Soap was nothing more than a friend despite some spontaneous thought about how nice he is... in a completely non-friendly way and more like love interest way. Well, fun ending with Monique. i know you all wanted to see that viper on the bottom of the Thames, i know you did, you rascals. Well, she doesn't get that ending, but at least she might be out of the picture. Oh boy, i think that's enough spoiler material for now. My advice? Go get the book, fellow readers and steampunk fans especially if you read the first novel of the series:D it's well worth the money and the time. ...more

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Aug 18, 2020 Madison Warner Fairbanks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: cmcon21-reading-challenge, series, fantasy-worlds, humorous, hoopla-library, young-adult, steampunk

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

2nd book in the Finishing School series. Best read with knowledge of the series. Steampunk YA fantasy.

Lessons in boys, friendships and espionage. Just to name a few of the things to learn.

Fantastic fantasy and adventure. Throughly enjoyed. Can’t wait for the next year’s education. The heroine is delightfully curious and adventure driven. Loved the robotic dog and his waging tail.

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Apr 18, 2015 Ashley Marie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: absurdist-whimsy-escapism, audiobook-would-recommend, fantasy-paranormal, steampunk, histfic-alt-history

This remains a bizarrely entertaining series. Sidheag has become my favorite character, besides Soap and Bumbersnoot. Quite a bit more action in this installment, and it's nice to know that (view spoiler). I got a bit lost near the end, when Sophronia and Sidheag went to retrieve Dimity and Pillover, but things got back on track without too much trouble. Who knew vampires + werewolves + technology could be so confusing? ME. Still a ...more

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Sep 10, 2014 Cora Tea Party Princess rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

5 Words: Science, fantasy, plotting, school, tea.

There's something about Gail Carriger's steampunk world that I can't get enough of. In fact, it's not just something. It's everything. I freaking love it all.

With each book I fall even more in love.

I loved finding out even more about the characters I love. And that was a fantastic introduction to Lord Akeldama, the only thing this serious had been missing was that crazy teapot. ...more

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Feb 16, 2015 Lindsey Rey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, fantasy, young-adult

[4.5 Stars]

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May 08, 2013 Maja (The Nocturnal Library) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: all-the-right-choices, best-of-2013, arc-2013, cover-lust, favorites, atom, historical-fiction, own-a-dtb, reviewed-in-2013, role-models

It would appear that Gail Carriger gets even more bold and hilarious with each new book she writes. Curtsies & Conspiracies is her most enjoyable work since Soulless, her debut, and it is by far the most outrageous and ridiculous thing I’ve read in a very long time.

By far the best thing about Carriger’s books is the language. As a non native speaker, I get to learn so many phrases and expressions, most of them outdated, but endlessly entertaining. In terms of language use in steampunk, Gail Car It would appear that Gail Carriger gets even more bold and hilarious with each new book she writes. Curtsies & Conspiracies is her most enjoyable work since Soulless, her debut, and it is by far the most outrageous and ridiculous thing I’ve read in a very long time.

By far the best thing about Carriger’s books is the language. As a non native speaker, I get to learn so many phrases and expressions, most of them outdated, but endlessly entertaining. In terms of language use in steampunk, Gail Carriger is, I dare say, the best.

It is impossible not to admire Sophronia for her ability to keep a tight rein on so many things at once. I wasn’t particularly fond of her the last time around, but this time she proved to be quite admirable. She was always a step ahead of everyone else, even when her peers resented her for it. If there’s one thing I appreciate above all, it’s an intelligent, self-assured heroine, and Gail Carriger’s always are.

A slight love triangle is forming around Sophronia. The unsuitable boy we all know and love is still very much a part of her everyday life, but another boy has entered the picture as well, one of much higher social standing. However, Sophronia is so focused on various conspiracies and blissfully unaware of it all that it’s impossible to blame her for putting herself in such a potentially painful situation. I, of course, am rooting for the underdog, but I don’t see how that could possibly work out.

Sophronia had no idea why Felix was so intent upon her. She had not yet received lessons in seduction, or she might have understood the appeal of sharp confidence, a topping figure, and green eyes. All Sophronia’s intellect was directed at something other than attracting male companionship. These things combined to make her particularly appealing to gentlemen. Soap could have told her that.

Carriger continues to ridicule high society, their endless rules and norms, things they find offensive and embarrassing. It is a constant source of humor with sharp and intelligent criticism underneath. In this too, she is unparalleled.

Revisiting Miss Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality in Curtsies & Conspiracies was such an enormous delight, I find myself impatient to meet with everyone again. The third book is titled Waistcoats and Weaponry and scheduled for release in 2014.

...more

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Oct 11, 2014 Hayat rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, humour, pnr-uf, audiobooks, ya, steampunk, heroine-i-adore, coverlicious-books

Curtsies & Conspiracies is an excellent sequel to Etiquette & Espionage and the Finishing School series is quickly becoming one of my favourite fun YA series to read and Gail Carriger is now my favourite steampunk writer. I Can't wait to read more about Sophronia's madcap adventure and mischief at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. ...more

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Apr 22, 2018 Faye* rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Another fun instalment of the Finishing School series by Gail Carriger! I’m enjoying these a lot and flying through them in no time. I actually think I should slow down a little, I have been a bit distracted during the last one and I’m sure I’ve missed several details 🙈😬
Again, I have to say, these books aren't perfect, the story and resolutions are far too convenient at times and I guess they are targeted at a far (far!) younger audience than myself. I don't care, though, they are just so fun to ...more

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Oct 10, 2020 Zoe Stewart (Zoe's All Booked) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A perfect follow up to Etiquette & Espionage! I swear I love this series more and more with every reread.

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Jul 01, 2013 K. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, 2016, audience-young-adult, own-it-kindle, alternate-history, setting-uk, 2019, favourites, own-it-hard-copy, 2013

Trigger warnings: blood, violence, blackmail.

4/6/2019
I stand by everything I said last time. Soap is too pure for this world and I want to wrap him in blankets and protect him forever.

13/8/2016
Gosh, this series is fun. It took me a while to get back into the world and the characters, but goodness I love them so much. Sophronia is adorably naive about her two love interests while also being incredibly savvy about everything else that's going on. Soap is a complete cinnamon roll and I ship the he ...more

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Oct 26, 2014 Maria V. Snyder rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Book 2 of a new series by Gail Carriger. I've downloaded the audio book and listened to this on my road trip to North Carolina. I love Gail's books - they are funny and smart and quirky, and the characters are proactive and intelligent and willing to do what it takes to help their friends. I loved the inclusion of a few characters from her Parasol Protectorate series, who I miss! The actress who reads these books is perfect. I can't read one of Gail's books because I'm not as good as the reader ...more

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May 14, 2015 Nicky rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, children-s-and-ya, steampunk

Like the first book, this YA book set in the world of the Parasol Protectorate is a fun romp with slightly less sex talk than the Parasol Protectorate books. It still has a bit of romance, but it’s mostly banter in keeping with the age of the girls, with a touch of teenage confusion and angst as regards having feelings for anyone. They’re not books with great depth: the perfect description is a ‘romp’, as many people have said before me.

It annoys me that people complain about Sophronia being a ‘ ...more

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Oct 29, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-michelle

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: Carriger knows how to write paranormal, for all ages. A wonderful and riveting sequel.

Opening Sentence: “Miss Temminnick.”

The Review:

Gail Carriger has done it again with Curtsies & Conspiracies, the second book in the Finishing School series. From vampires, to aether technology, and a conspiracy well worth conspiring about, Carriger has hooked me again. This book has captivated me from the first few pages until the very end. Carriger has left m ...more

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Jun 08, 2016 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, sci-fi-fantasy, read2016, ya

This series is just a lot of fun, and even better in audio, performed by Moira Quirk. She handles the silly names and bizarre situations with the formality required for any proper lady. I was reminded of this series and the rest of Gail Carriger's series that I've started and not finished when I talked to Rose Davis on the Reading Envy Podcast - she had just listened to the first book of the newest series, Prudence, and when I knew I was going to spend half the day in the car driving to and from ...more

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Dec 21, 2015 Hailey (Hailey in Bookland) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, owned

This series is so much fun!

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Oct 03, 2018 Simon Brading rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very good fun, it's just unfortunate that we can always work out what's actually going on before the main character does; sometimes it makes her seem a bit thick ;-) ...more

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Mar 14, 2019 Lauren Stoolfire rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: vampires, young-adult, paranormal, humor, fantasy, werewolves, steampunk

Within the last year or so Gail Carriger has become one of my favorite authors. Now that I've completed The Parasol Protectorate, I'm glad I can go back through this YA prequel series. It's awesome seeing characters younger versions of some of that series appear here, like Lord Akeldama, Sidheag Maccon, and Genevieve Lefoux. As for Sophronia, our lead in this series, she's one of my favorites. I can certainly appreciate just how resourceful, smart, and loyal she is. I'm looking forward to readin ...more

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Aug 06, 2016 Kaitlin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This series is shaping up to be super fun and I definitely think it's growing on me much like the Parasol Protectorate series did. I really enjoy the adventures on board Miss Geraldine's dirigible and seeing our characters start to grow a little more with each adventure they embark on is great.

Sophronia is once more our main character and she's an amusing one to follow. Her constant inquisitive nature means that she's always involving herself in whatever is happening, but usually she's trying t ...more

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Nov 16, 2013 Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: High Fantasy fans, Urban Fantasy fans, Romance fans

Recommended to Samantha wickedshizuku by: previous book

Shelves: can-i-live-in-this-book, not-manga, title-c, paranormal, favorites, reviewed, 4-stars, 2014, female-lead

To the lovely people out there,
I love this author, her work makes me giggle.
This book's plot is positively delightful while the dialouge keeps readers coming back for more.

photo 1250270182_eve_giggle_zpsa2aaae29.gif

Carriger is making manners cool again. Huzzah! Carry on, and the masses will follow.
Cheers Pretties!
shizuku ...more

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Dec 17, 2016 Anne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very good 2nd book in the series.
Enjoyed it a lot!

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Sep 22, 2017 R Z rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: z4-rated-2017, borrowed

I mean, this series is just really cute, okay? And this book made me laugh out loud quite a few times. I had fun reading it, and that's what matters. ...more

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Nov 26, 2020 Narilka rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020, ebook

Gail Carriger has done it again. Curtsies & Conspiracies, the second book in the Finishing School series, is an absolute delight. I enjoyed this one even more than the first. The story opens with the girls returning to Madame Geraldine's just in time for the strangest mid-term exam ever, which Sophronia passes with flying colors. Making top marks isn't all it's cracked up to be as Sophronia's friends turn against her in apparent jealousy. Or is it? Is everything at this school a test? Before the Gail Carriger has done it again. Curtsies & Conspiracies, the second book in the Finishing School series, is an absolute delight. I enjoyed this one even more than the first. The story opens with the girls returning to Madame Geraldine's just in time for the strangest mid-term exam ever, which Sophronia passes with flying colors. Making top marks isn't all it's cracked up to be as Sophronia's friends turn against her in apparent jealousy. Or is it? Is everything at this school a test? Before they know it, the School is heading to London for the season... and for a covert mission that has implications the supernatural and humans alike. With boys!

Hanging out with Sophronia and friends at Madame Geraldine's School is so much fun! Carriger's signature wit and clever dialogue are on full display, reminding me of my favorite parts of Parasol Protectorate though aimed at the YA crowd. With this trip to London Carriger is able to work in even more cameos by Parasol characters. (view spoiler) does not disappoint.

Life is definitely difficult for Sophronia with everyone, even Dimity, turned against her. She has finally realized the full value of her friendships. That doesn't stop Sophronia in the slightest from being up to her usual tricks and intelligencer activities. While I wasn't crazy about the start of a possible love triangle, parts of it are relevant to both Sophronia's training and the plot so it doesn't detract from the story too much. I love that even Bumbersnoot has an important role to play. I wish I could have my own Bumbersnoot.

Speaking of plot, there is one! It leans towards the political side and it's great to gain insight into Vampire society and hierarchy. There is a lot for Sophronia to figure out, all of which leads up to one of the best endings I could have hoped for. It's a good thing Countess Nadasdy is already (un)dead or the extreme excitement in her Hive might have been fatal due to the bad manners of it all. And best of all, (view spoiler). Which does make me wonder who the new antagonist will be. I'm looking forward to seeing how Sophronia's education continues in the third book. ...more

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Jul 18, 2014 gio rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"Our biggest concern is what you get up to when we are not watching. Because, if nothing else, this test has told us you are probably spying on us, as well as everyone around you."

Ah Gail Carriger has done it again! I like this series even more that The Parasol protectorate; it's so funny and clever...and I must admit, quite refreshing. Also I have the cutest ship ever *cough* Soap *cough*

After her first tests at finishing school Sophronia, since her friends are acting weird, decides to take mat "Our biggest concern is what you get up to when we are not watching. Because, if nothing else, this test has told us you are probably spying on us, as well as everyone around you."

Ah Gail Carriger has done it again! I like this series even more that The Parasol protectorate; it's so funny and clever...and I must admit, quite refreshing. Also I have the cutest ship ever *cough* Soap *cough*

After her first tests at finishing school Sophronia, since her friends are acting weird, decides to take matter in her own hands and sneaks around the school, trying to discover useful information. That's how she comes across a useful and interesting piece of information: there may be a trip to London, that also might hide something much more interesting than a simple school trip.

I read The Parasol Protectorate series this summer and, while I was really pleased with the story and the witty banter, there were things that weren't, in my opinion, "complete". This series is much more polished. The world-building is well-done, the character are well-developed and the plot is always interesting. Also since this series is set years before The Parasol Protectorate some characters that I had come to know and love appear. I loved Madame Lefoux and here I loved Vieve; she's just as funny as a ten-year old girl as she was when met Alexia. (Uhm using the past tense is so strange, since, well, The Parasol Protectorate series is set after this series...)
But in my opinion the characters are the best thing Finishing School has. They are 14/16, which is quite refreshing because they don't behave like ya characters (----> no idiocy), and they are quite fun and witty. I love Sophronia and her friends and while I see the similarities with the "old" characters, these are much better. Alexia sometimes felt forced to me and with Sophronia that never happened. The romance is really subtle and cute, because so far there's very little of it, since our dear main protagonist has just realised that there might be someone who wants to attract her attention.

“So, did you hold back during that test?"
"Maybe a little," Sophronia admitted.
Soap grinned. "That's my girl."
Sophronia glared at him. He was getting familiar.
"You are, miss." He continued to grin.
"I'm my own girl, thank you very much.”

“No, what's a man like down there?"
"Oh." Sidheag wrinkled her nose. "Unimpressive. They have - "she gestured towards her own nether regions with one hand - "a sort of dangly sausage - lacks tailoring"

A refreshing and funny ya series, I can't wait to read Waistcoats & Weaponry. ...more

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Oct 25, 2014 Agnė rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: everyone who enjoyed the first book

Shelves: romance, fiction, young-adult, fantasy, historical-fiction, paranormal, humor, series, science-fiction, steampunk

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Gail Carriger’s “Curtsies & Conspiracies” is the second book in the young adult fantasy series Finishing School. It’s Sophronia’s second semester at Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality where she is being trained on etiquette, style and… espionage. The 19th century is an era of inventions, and thus the dirigible school is heading towards London to witness a history-changing experiment. But the young ladies at Mademoiselle Geraldine’s are more ex WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Gail Carriger’s “Curtsies & Conspiracies” is the second book in the young adult fantasy series Finishing School. It’s Sophronia’s second semester at Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality where she is being trained on etiquette, style and… espionage. The 19th century is an era of inventions, and thus the dirigible school is heading towards London to witness a history-changing experiment. But the young ladies at Mademoiselle Geraldine’s are more excited about their traveling companions, a number of evil geniuses-in-training from Bunson and Lacroix's Boys' Polytechnique. After attempted kidnapping of her best friend Dimity, however, Sophronia realizes that there is a conspiracy being plotted in London and they are heading straight into it! Sophronia has no choice but to put her training in use in order to reveal the scheme and to protect her friend.

THUMBS UP:

1) At least as good as the first book.
I really liked “Etiquette & Espionage,” the first installment in the Finishing School series (I reviewed it here !), but the second book was even better. Or maybe it’s just me getting hooked. In any way, Carriger’s writing didn’t seize to be both super stylish and hysterically funny and thus “Curtsies & Conspiracies” turned out to be another hilarious, sophisticated, ridiculously creative yet realistic Victorian-era steampunk adventure with lovable characters, supernatural creatures, mechanicals and mechanimals, and LOTS OF STYLE!

2) Romance.
The first book had no romance and I was actually glad it didn’t. If used amateurishly, romance can bury a great story under multiple layers of cheesiness and thus ruin the whole book. However, the second book has some romance and I am really glad it does. It’s truly the best of a kind romance - it’s cute, innocent and very stylish. And the dosage is perfect too as there is just enough romance to cause that warm tingly excitement and leave you wanting more!

VERDICT: 4 out of 5

If you liked the first book in series, definitely read this one as well. “Curtsies & Conspiracies” is at least as good as “Etiquette & Espionage.” I personally prefer the second book, but it’s most likely due to addition of some innocently cute and stylish romance :) ...more

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Aug 30, 2013 Megs rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I absolutely love the world Gail Carriger has created. The mixture of Victorian manners with paranormal creatures, not to mention a dash of steampunk, completely sucked me in.

In Curtsies and Conspiracies, we reunite with Sophronia, who I fell in love with in Etiquette and Espionage. The secondary characters are also awesome, especially Soap, who I'm a little bit totally in love with. We get a new secondary character (well we met him briefly in book one) in Lord Felix Mercer. While I can't say I ...more

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Aug 04, 2016 Primrose Jess rated it really liked it

Again- stellar narration by Moira Quirk. I wish I could hear her voice narrating my life as I go about my day to day business. I can say with certainty, her narration style causes me to enjoy this series far more than if I read them.

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Feb 09, 2013 Eden rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Probably the most disappointing aspect of Curtsies & Conspiracies is the writing. Gail Carriger is the author of an adult steampunk series and the first book in this series, Etiquette & Espionage, suffered from no such problems (or diminished ones, at any rate). Therefore, the jarring leaps between limited 3rd-person POV and omniscient, the awkward dialogue tags and the telling rather than showing make for an unsatisfactory, bumpy read.

This is especially evident in contrast with the voice. At ti Probably the most disappointing aspect of Curtsies & Conspiracies is the writing. Gail Carriger is the author of an adult steampunk series and the first book in this series, Etiquette & Espionage, suffered from no such problems (or diminished ones, at any rate). Therefore, the jarring leaps between limited 3rd-person POV and omniscient, the awkward dialogue tags and the telling rather than showing make for an unsatisfactory, bumpy read.

This is especially evident in contrast with the voice. At times, Sophronia’s 3rd-person thoughts add delightful humour and panache in a style perfectly befitting the time period. Then you encounter one of the aforementioned road bumps, and much of the steam leaves your reading experience.

The large cast of characters is used effectively to keep the narrative’s tension taut at all times—sometimes too effectively. While Sophronia’s bevy of girlfriends, love interests and professorly acquaintances add texture and variation in her interactions, there are so many of them that some begin to feel like deus ex machine, only becoming involved when Sophronia needs them.

In addition, the love triangle between Sophronia, Soap and Lord Mercer is established firmly, but it remains to be seen whether any meaningful depth will be attributed to the choice between the two. This, in fact, is symptomatic of another problem: the lack of growth in Sophronia. She struggles overtly with one major decision, but it doesn’t seem to have any impact on her actions or even thought processes, making her seem rather flat.

In regards to the plot, the larger picture is effectively set up for a conclusive resolution in book 3, but at times I found myself simply lost in the muddle of conspiracies Sophronia was ferreting out. Conclusions seem to be jumped to, and connections that seem too obscure are in fact made. The climax is a chaotically fun bright spot at the end of the novel, just like the previous book, that brings to a head all of the various plot threads tangled throughout the book.

Curtsies & Conspiracies retains the distinct steampunk flair that was the trademark of the first book in this series, but problems spot the book from storyline to depth. This novel may be enjoyable if you don’t look too hard, but to follow the plotlines, you’ll have to. ...more

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May 24, 2013 Dylan Benito rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Rereading in January 2017, and very happy about this decision.

Sophronia is back! I loved watching her, and her friends evolve into older, more finished people. Having loved the Parasol Protectorate, it is wonderful being able to get the background on some of my favorite characters. It was incredibly easy to give this book five stars. The only thing I'm sad about is having to wait for the next book to come out. We need to clone Gail Carriger so we can read more about the delightful world she has ...more

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Dec 16, 2014 Sara (Freadom Library) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, poc, steampunk, historical-fiction, read-2016

Actual rating 4.5 stars

This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/

Critically
Plot – 4.5 out 5 stars
This book was entertaining and hilarious. It’s full of action and fun. Though it had it’s slow parts, it was mysterious and incorporated a lot more steampunk elements. There’s an essence of conspiracies through the plot (as I’m sure you’re not surprised because of the title) but there’s also a little bit more romance than the first. I had a great time reading it.

Writin Actual rating 4.5 stars

This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/

Critically
Plot – 4.5 out 5 stars
This book was entertaining and hilarious. It’s full of action and fun. Though it had it’s slow parts, it was mysterious and incorporated a lot more steampunk elements. There’s an essence of conspiracies through the plot (as I’m sure you’re not surprised because of the title) but there’s also a little bit more romance than the first. I had a great time reading it.

Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
Honestly, this author’s writing is one of my favorites in the whole world. It’s funny yet simple to read. It’s quirky and cute with lots of detail and description. It flows at a medium pace which really compliments the story. It’s imaginative while still being historically accurate which I need in my historical fiction. Just a grand time.

Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
Slowly but surely, this cast is worming themselves into my heart and settling there. Sophronia is great. I love her confidence. She grows a lot because of the events in the second book so in this one, her narration sounds more mature. She’s still witty and too curious for her own good which I liked. She’s super intuitive about what’s going on in her surrounding which makes her adventurous side come out. She’s determined about some things, torn over others but all in all, she’s definitely grown from the first book and I loved that! The side characters are also winning me over. They are all complex, interesting and DIVERSE which is awesome as heck. Each one has had a lot of growth from book one to book two, not only individually but in their relationships with each other. I really hope that trend continues in the next books because there’s so much potential for this cast. I’m really excited to see how time is handled for them in this series. Also, more love from Parasol Protectorate which just makes me fangirl so hard every time I see a character cross over!

Emotionally
(view spoiler)[While this book had slower moments, it was much more fun and entertaining than the first one was.

The plot is mysterious. Sophronia is back at the Finishing School after some time away and she’s ready to fine tune her intelligencer skills. But curious things are happening aboard the school and she’ll do everything she can to find out what they are. This book was more about the investigative and sneaking around kind of espionage than the kind that is more action packed and mission centered, so this book had it’s slow parts, quite a few of them actually. However, there were sections full action that pushed the momentum of the book forward as it went along and specially some sections toward the end of the book. Those last few chapters and scenes drove me completely crazy and were amazingly intense and full of action. It made me enjoy the story so much more than I first thought I was going to. One of my favorite things about this series and this book is how slowly but surely, the characters from Parasol Protectorate are appearing more and more. It’s really nice to see them in their early years and to see how both series are becoming intertwined even though they are years and years apart from each other. It’s intriguing to see how each individual book plot is starting to connect with the previous one to create a bigger and more complex story. I wasn’t very sure that it was something that could be done, specially when I first started reading this second book but once I reached the end, I found the common theme or denominator between the first two and I’m looking forward to seeing how this particular conflict is resolved in the next two books.

Sophronia is a badass. I officially love her to death. She’s really smart and intuitive. She’s always the first to figure out when things are going wrong and always manages to have a crazy theory and or plan to get things fixed. However, it’s also a bit repetitive and slightly annoying when she always saves the day and I think that’s a particular character flaw of hers. She’s so independent that she starts to take her friends for granted when really, she couldn’t pull half of her crazy stunts off if she didn’t have their support. I hope that’s a realization that she comes to soon because I think that would really help develop her personality and character.

I love the side characters in this series, I don’t know which cast I love more to be honest. Dimity has slowly become Sophronia’s best friend and confidant and I love her personality. She’s sweet and smart, even though she underestimates herself and the things she can do with her training. I hope she continues to grow and develop into her abilities and becomes more confident in herself. Soap is one of my favorite characters. I want to talk about him for hours but I don’t want to give away his role in this book. He’s freaking adorable and I love his personality and the way he interacts Sophronia. There’s a new character that’s focused on a bit more in this book and that is Felix. He annoyed the heck out of me. I did not want to know more about him and I feel like I instantly knew that he was going to cause trouble for my favorite characters. I’m not sure how much damage he’s gonna cause yet but I’m not looking forward to it.

Overall, I enjoyed this second installment much more than the first book. While this plot has a lot more slower sections, the action parts were amazing and entertaining and I started to be able to see the connection between the books. Sophronia and her pals are winning me over with their quirks and eccentricities and I hope to see them develop much more in the upcoming books. (hide spoiler)] ...more

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About Gail Carriger

Gail Carriger

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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 gigg ...more

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Simply put, it was the book I kept looking for and really wanted to read but no one was writing, so I figured I'd better do it myself.

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“All the best geniuses are evil,” — 43 likes

“Miss Temminnick, you are in receipt of the highest marks we have ever given in a six-month review. Your mind seems designed for espionage.

Nevertheless, you veer away from perfect in matters of etiquette. Do not let these marks go to your head; there are many girls at this school who are better than you.

Our biggest concern is what you get up to when we are not watching. Because, if nothing else, this test has told us you are probably spying on us, as well as everyone around you.” — 33 likes

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