Hello All,
I’m taking part in a Read-a-Thon of the “Finishing School Series” by Gail Carriger run by Mary at Sophril Reads. Please go and check out her review as well!
3.5 out of 5 Stars
First, let’s set the Mood… Might I recommend….
Synopsis
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 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.
My Thoughts
Now, this book was a little bit slow. Not in a bad way. I didn’t get bored. It was just definitely the first book in a series gearing up to a lot. It was some amazing world building, really introducing you to the elements of this Victorian Steampunk society,
“Frowbritcher, the butler, appeared in the doorway. He paused on the threshold while his rollers transferred to the parlor tracks. He was the very latest in domestic mechanicals, about the size and shape of a daphne bush. He trundled over and looked down his beaky nasal protuberance at Sophronia. His eyes were jet-colored circles of perpetual disapproval.”
I loved the idea of the flyway men (highwaymen who attack from the sky), and the mixed fantasy elements, introducing werewolves and vampires to the mix.
Sophronia was definitely a very relatable character! I found myself highlighting passages that just said “my kind of girl!”
“I’m at my wit’s end with this one. I really am. When she isn’t reading, she’s taking something apart or flirting with the footman or climbing things—trees, furniture, even other people.””
She is strong, cunning and observant… She definitely isn’t a wilting flower, and she DEFINTITELY enjoys the boys. Ha ha! That may seem like a weird thing to say, but every male she meets in the book she seems to have a crush on. Before she even leaves the house her mother mentions her flirting and then the stable boy is the only one who seemed to be waving her off, the comments she makes about Captain Niall, then Soap has such a nice smile!
The lessons that they are taught at the Finishing School for Young Ladies of Quality made me laugh at times,
“Now, remember, my dears, a separated egg is worth two in the bush.”
““Now, ladies, remember this is for use only when strictly necessary, and you must be absolutely certain not to muss your hair. For the most part, you should delegate physical exertions to a willing, or unwilling, accomplice.”
But, there is definitely something hinky going on at this Finishing School! (yes… I just wanted to throw a Scoody Doo reference in there!), if you’d like to find out what that is… Well, I suggest you get reading!
I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the Harry Potter Series, or the “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Books” by Daniel O’Malley.
Pick up your own Copy HERE!
Etiquette & Espionage is Best Served with Absinthe
For those who made it to the bottom, CONGRATULATIONS! I’s doing things a little bit different because I spent some DAMNED GOOD MONEY on this cos-play, and SOMEONE is going to enjoy it! Ha ha! Time to get our Absinthe ready!
Step 1: Put sugar cube on slotted spoon, Pour Absinthe over sugar.
Step 2: Light it up!
Step 3: Let it Burn
Mood Setter!
Great post and great costume – I ALWAYS look forward to your posts. But…absinthe again?? 😉
Cheers,
Brian
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Ha ha!! I know!! I was hoping everyone forgot the last one. 😉 I just love that bottle, and it went to well with my outfit. 😘😂😂
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I had to come check this post out. It is fab!! The books sounds pretty cool too. Lol. They should totally pay you to market it! 😂😘😄🎉🥂 Everyone needs a Nicole to sort out their bar needs… and for sartorial advice! Love it!
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DAMN STRAIGHT! Well, I tagged the author on my Instagram and Facebook, maybe I’ll wind up in the cover of her next book! 😉😂😂😂😂😂😂
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💥💥🤩🤩😎😎😄
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Look achoo! 🤣🤣🤣 brill!
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Ha ha ha!! Thanks, Fraggle… Nicole has to stop drinking so much.. It makes her think silly things are a great idea! 😂😂😂💡
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I read this one about a year ago. I’d intended to continue reading, i thought the series had potential, but i never did. Maybe, i think, some other book caught my attention and i put the series off to another time.
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Oh, I do that ALL THE TIME! It’s even worse when you take so long to get back to it that you have forgotten everything that happened.
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yes, and no longer feels interested to finish the series.
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Exactly!
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What a fun post! Love it. The book sounds like a hoot — and perfect timing for my current steampunky mindset.
I’ve always wanted to try absinthe. You’re certainly dressed beautifully for the occasion.
I’ve re-begun a spontaneous steampunk serial (or it was when I wrote it in 2015). I’m trying to lighten my workload for a while by re-posting it… in prelude to a new serial in the series. One of the characters whom you would eventually meet is named Absinthe. I think you’ll like him. 😉
Hugs!
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That sounds FANTASTIC!! I’ll be back to blog hopping in about a week, when my second job is finished and I’m definitely going to be checking it out!! 💖💖 😁
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“young ladies learn to finish…everything” Haha XD This sounds as such an awesome book, simply because it combines such suprising elements such as fancyness and murder.
Also Love your outfit and the absinth looks tasty 🙂
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Thank you! I can’t wait to read the next one! I feel like there is so much more to come. 😁
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I have never been a huge Harry Potter fan (please don’t hate me 😅😅) but I am a huge fan of steampunk type movies/books/anime. So…this does sound like one I would enjoy a bit (not sure about all the crushes the main character seems to have…but…hey can’t have it all 😊).
But of course besides this being a great post to read the icing on the cake was ofcourse the amazing cos-play😊 Really looking good, and just brilliant and totally funny pictures (and yes I meant that in a good way!!😂😂😊😊). In short, everything a good post needs! 😊
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Because every girl wants to be told her pictures are “funny” 😂😂😂
P.S. *whisper* I’m not a big Harry Potter fan either… *ducks barrage of bullets *
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You totally know what I meant…and you are not making me feel guilty about saying that 😅😅 (Crap now I am feeling guilty 😂😂).
Lol!! YAY…so glad to hear that last remark (okay puts up a barrier to totally hide behind because of that those cannonballs that seem to somehow be aimed at me now 😅😅).
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Well, that’s fine! You enjoy your barrier! I’ll just stay out here and get shot at! Geez…. I THOUGHT you had more chivalry when a damsel in distress presents herself! 😉😉😂
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Great…..Now I feel guilty for the second time on the same post…that’s SUPER awesome…😓😓😓
Okay: totally building a castle with my robots just to protect you from all the explosions, gunfire, cannonballs, tanks and whatever else will be heading your way. And I will be on the drawbridge in my Medieval Knight Costume to totally protect you. So….better?? 😂😂😂
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…. With your iPad so I can still message you??
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Ofcourse this one didn’t show up in my notifications…Duh…ofcourse, how else would we be able to talk…..😂😂
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Ok. That is acceptable.
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Lol 😂😂
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Nice costume! Love the goggles. Shall we call you Sophronia from now on?
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… Yes. Yes you should. 😂😂
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But there are so many other things to call you!!
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I want a name, lady!! 😂😂😂
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Well, Alice in Steampunk Chains came to mind when I first saw you. 😉
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Oooo… I definitely like that! 🤔
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I love everything about this! Awesome review and cosplay!
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Thanks, Jennifer!! It was fun! 😂😂
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Sophronia? 😓
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… Yes? 😂😂
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lolll xD I just thought it was a strange name
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Oh, it definitely is! But, so is the world she belongs to… So, it’s fitting! 😂😉
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Amaziing costume!! And that book… I need it 😍😂 It’s funny how every time I decide to read your reviews I end up with a new book on my tbr, no matter the genre 😂😂
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Ha ha! YAY!!! My work here is done! *mic drop. Walks out* 🎤😂😂
It really was a great book! A LITTLE heavy on the world building and such, but that just makes me excited for everything to come! I can’t wait to read the next one. 😁😁
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Great Post!!
I love your costume and the Boots!
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Ha ha! Thanks for checking it out! It was fun!!… I’m just a LITTLE obsessed with steampunk.. 😉💖
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I understand that completely
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WHOO you look so good!! I went through a massive steampunk phase in uni and have random bits of waistcoats and frilly skirts in my wardrobe 😀 I should find some excuse to wear them again 😛
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DO IT!! Ha ha!! We’re NEVER too old for steampunk!! (so I keep telling myself! 😉😉)
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