Scan barcode
seymone's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars
Update: After sitting with my thoughts on this book, I am bumping my rating to a full 4 stars. I am excited to read the next book.
Update: After sitting with my thoughts on this book, I am bumping my rating to a full 4 stars. I am excited to read the next book.
carladay83's review against another edition
5.0
I'm sorry to say I finished this book in two days. I should have paced myself better but I enjoy these books so much that it was hard to put it down.
drlori14's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
magikspells's review against another edition
5.0
I don't think it's possible to dislike anything Gail Carriger writes. Loved this book, I love all the nods and hints toward The Parasol Protectorate series. And I mostly just love that it's a lot of fun to get lost in for a while. Never a dull moment of any of the lead ladies in these stories.
freadomlibrary's review against another edition
5.0
That ending was so bittersweet, good thing there's another book left!
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Critically
Plot – 4.5 out of 5 stars
As always with this amazing author, this book was entertaining though much more action packed than the previous ones. It’s also a lot more serious and intense than the books before it. It’s fun, mysterious and has more elements of romance which I was a huge fan of! It sets a lot of things up for the last book as well as the future of the characters.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
I really love Carriger’s writing. It’s simple yet detailed and descriptive. The narration is incredibly funny, sarcastic and quirky. Though at the same time, it’s historically accurate which makes it an intense yet entertaining combination. It’s medium paced but it’s also a lot more mature now.
Characters – 4.5 out of 5 stars
I love the characters in this series so much! They’re all so interesting and intriguing and entertaining. They work so well together and their dynamic is so great. Sophronia is so awesome! She’s a great narrator and protagonist in my opinion. She’s definitely much more mature in this book, you can see how time and experience has changed her personality toward the better. She’s grown. She is still curious and intuitive, but in this book in particular, her caring nature really shines through. She’s adventurous and confident and incredibly smart. I just really love her. The side characters are so freaking incredible. Sophronia tends to take the spotlight but she’s nothing without her crew. They’re all an integral part of her life and her adventures. And this book is definitely showcasing their relationships with each other as well as their growth and maturity. They’re funny and diverse and complex. I’ve just really enjoyed seeing them grow and I love how they interact with each other. I need more of them!
Emotionally
The plot is action packed. Sophronia and her friends are back to their second year at Finishing School but things in the outside world are in upheaval and Sophronia makes it her mission to get one of her friends to Scotland to be with her family. It still manages to surprise me that this cast of characters is still super young. In this book, the narration has changed a lot as well as the character have grown and you can tell how much older they are, but it’s actually not by that much. They’re also into things a lot more intense than they should be at their age. They tend to throw themselves into dangerous situations though with good reason. It makes for a really entertaining and action packed plot that kept me on my toes the whole time. This is one of those book that manages to keep me guessing so I discover things along with the characters and I never feel like any plot twist or unexpected change was predictable, since ya know, I don’t predict it! While the first two books felt like individual stories that didn’t have anything to do with each other, they do and it’s obvious in this book. The reader starts to see how they all interconnect and I really hope the last book ends it all with a bang! It’s really interesting to see how the stories connect not only within this series but with the previous ones as well. In this book we get a behind the scenes or I guess close up look at one of the bigger happenings mentioned in the Parasol Protectorate series. It’s something that completely changes and shapes the future of this particular world for various reasons so to see it actually happen and to know everything that went into it was so freaking cool! Also I just wanted to say that I’m glad there’s more romance in this book. It’s not needed per say because this series was already awesome without it but I really wanted it to take off and it did and it was glorious! Though definitely not the way I expected it to happen.
Sophronia has officially won me over. Her personality is so distinct, even though she’s grown throughout the series, she still keeps her core straights which make her so totally awesome. She’s really smart and intuitive. Getting her narration and point of view is really entertaining because she doesn’t think about things like I would. She’s always aware of the minute details, things jump out at her seeming strange that I would’ve never picked up on. It makes the reading experience fun because I try to guess what her mind is doing and what conclusions she’s coming up with before she does (though I’ve never pulled it off, she’s that good). I also enjoyed seeing more of her caring side in this book. She was torn between two decisions in the beginning but while she loves investigating, she also loves her friends and it was really great to see her give them the attention they deserved, not only as her crew but as her companions. She’s a great leader and she’s matured which I have loved seeing.
I don’t know what it is about this author but she always manages to make me fall in love with the entire cast of characters, not only the main protagonist. Not only did I enjoy getting to know the new characters in this series but also seeing some of the younger selves of my favorite PP peeps as well! In this book in particular, we get to see a lot more of Sidheag. She’s one of my favorites from PP but I always wanted to know more about her background. I’m glad we got a lot of that in this book. Her whole life changes in this one and while I knew that, it was a entirely different thing to see it unfold and to see how it affects her. She’s always been a family oriented individual but I didn’t realize the lengths she’d go for her family until this book. I love her a lot. Then there’s Dimity who is basically the perfect sidekick. Meaning that she’ll jump into whatever Sophronia has up her sleeve but not because she’s a follower, but because she’s a great friend. She has her own strengths and I’m glad that was highlighted a bit more in this book. And lastly I just want to say that I love Soap. That is all.
Overall, this series has become one of my favorites (big surprise). This book is my favorite because the plot is entertaining, action packed and intense. It tells the story of one of the most iconic scenes in the world and I loved it! The characters are much more mature and they take care of each other. I can’t wait to see how this story wraps up in the last book!
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Critically
Plot – 4.5 out of 5 stars
As always with this amazing author, this book was entertaining though much more action packed than the previous ones. It’s also a lot more serious and intense than the books before it. It’s fun, mysterious and has more elements of romance which I was a huge fan of! It sets a lot of things up for the last book as well as the future of the characters.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
I really love Carriger’s writing. It’s simple yet detailed and descriptive. The narration is incredibly funny, sarcastic and quirky. Though at the same time, it’s historically accurate which makes it an intense yet entertaining combination. It’s medium paced but it’s also a lot more mature now.
Characters – 4.5 out of 5 stars
I love the characters in this series so much! They’re all so interesting and intriguing and entertaining. They work so well together and their dynamic is so great. Sophronia is so awesome! She’s a great narrator and protagonist in my opinion. She’s definitely much more mature in this book, you can see how time and experience has changed her personality toward the better. She’s grown. She is still curious and intuitive, but in this book in particular, her caring nature really shines through. She’s adventurous and confident and incredibly smart. I just really love her. The side characters are so freaking incredible. Sophronia tends to take the spotlight but she’s nothing without her crew. They’re all an integral part of her life and her adventures. And this book is definitely showcasing their relationships with each other as well as their growth and maturity. They’re funny and diverse and complex. I’ve just really enjoyed seeing them grow and I love how they interact with each other. I need more of them!
Emotionally
Spoiler
This is my favorite book in the series so far! There are so many different things going on and happening and changing!The plot is action packed. Sophronia and her friends are back to their second year at Finishing School but things in the outside world are in upheaval and Sophronia makes it her mission to get one of her friends to Scotland to be with her family. It still manages to surprise me that this cast of characters is still super young. In this book, the narration has changed a lot as well as the character have grown and you can tell how much older they are, but it’s actually not by that much. They’re also into things a lot more intense than they should be at their age. They tend to throw themselves into dangerous situations though with good reason. It makes for a really entertaining and action packed plot that kept me on my toes the whole time. This is one of those book that manages to keep me guessing so I discover things along with the characters and I never feel like any plot twist or unexpected change was predictable, since ya know, I don’t predict it! While the first two books felt like individual stories that didn’t have anything to do with each other, they do and it’s obvious in this book. The reader starts to see how they all interconnect and I really hope the last book ends it all with a bang! It’s really interesting to see how the stories connect not only within this series but with the previous ones as well. In this book we get a behind the scenes or I guess close up look at one of the bigger happenings mentioned in the Parasol Protectorate series. It’s something that completely changes and shapes the future of this particular world for various reasons so to see it actually happen and to know everything that went into it was so freaking cool! Also I just wanted to say that I’m glad there’s more romance in this book. It’s not needed per say because this series was already awesome without it but I really wanted it to take off and it did and it was glorious! Though definitely not the way I expected it to happen.
Sophronia has officially won me over. Her personality is so distinct, even though she’s grown throughout the series, she still keeps her core straights which make her so totally awesome. She’s really smart and intuitive. Getting her narration and point of view is really entertaining because she doesn’t think about things like I would. She’s always aware of the minute details, things jump out at her seeming strange that I would’ve never picked up on. It makes the reading experience fun because I try to guess what her mind is doing and what conclusions she’s coming up with before she does (though I’ve never pulled it off, she’s that good). I also enjoyed seeing more of her caring side in this book. She was torn between two decisions in the beginning but while she loves investigating, she also loves her friends and it was really great to see her give them the attention they deserved, not only as her crew but as her companions. She’s a great leader and she’s matured which I have loved seeing.
I don’t know what it is about this author but she always manages to make me fall in love with the entire cast of characters, not only the main protagonist. Not only did I enjoy getting to know the new characters in this series but also seeing some of the younger selves of my favorite PP peeps as well! In this book in particular, we get to see a lot more of Sidheag. She’s one of my favorites from PP but I always wanted to know more about her background. I’m glad we got a lot of that in this book. Her whole life changes in this one and while I knew that, it was a entirely different thing to see it unfold and to see how it affects her. She’s always been a family oriented individual but I didn’t realize the lengths she’d go for her family until this book. I love her a lot. Then there’s Dimity who is basically the perfect sidekick. Meaning that she’ll jump into whatever Sophronia has up her sleeve but not because she’s a follower, but because she’s a great friend. She has her own strengths and I’m glad that was highlighted a bit more in this book. And lastly I just want to say that I love Soap. That is all.
Overall, this series has become one of my favorites (big surprise). This book is my favorite because the plot is entertaining, action packed and intense. It tells the story of one of the most iconic scenes in the world and I loved it! The characters are much more mature and they take care of each other. I can’t wait to see how this story wraps up in the last book!
halynah's review against another edition
3.0
In comparison with the first two books - disappointment. Not even half so hilarious, boring in places. The first and the second installments were beyond brilliant, this one - it's like the author got bored and tired of the characters.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable addition to the series, but nothing to write home about.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Waistcoats & Weaponry, the third of Gail Carriger's delightful "Finishing School" novels, finds Sophronia and friends back in high adventures and high society. These novels, which up to this point have been so light and airy, they could almost fly away like the school they take place on, take a markedly darker turn as we loose three very important characters in a matter of a few pages and by the end of the novel Sophronia makes a life altering decision.
Don't Get me wrong, this is still a fluffy book that would best be read by a pool while on vacation, War and Peace it ain't!! But I see darker days ahead for Miss Sophronia in future novels, and the reality of the dangers and the dark reality of "inteligencia work" is becoming all to real in what before now has basically been a game, with only hints of danger.
I look forward to the next installment, Manners & Mutiny, due out November 2015. Tragically, this appears to be the last novel in the series. Boo.
Don't Get me wrong, this is still a fluffy book that would best be read by a pool while on vacation, War and Peace it ain't!! But I see darker days ahead for Miss Sophronia in future novels, and the reality of the dangers and the dark reality of "inteligencia work" is becoming all to real in what before now has basically been a game, with only hints of danger.
I look forward to the next installment, Manners & Mutiny, due out November 2015. Tragically, this appears to be the last novel in the series. Boo.
a_islandcriptid's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Classism