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christajls's review
4.0
Originally reviewed at More Than Just Magic
And then there was an explosion.
So begins the steampunk adventure, entitled The Friday Society. There’s something to be said for starting a story off with a bang. It grabs demands your attention and you will be only too happy to hand over the next few hours of your life to see what comes next.
It needs to be said. Canadian authors are freakin’ rockstars. This week I compiled a list of the best books I read in 2012 and it was no surprise how many Canadian titles made the cut. The Friday Society is no exception (it took home the award for best steampunk!). Adrienne Kress is a fabulous new voice in YA literature, and her flirty and unique style was a lot of fun to read and explore.
The story centres around three young girls – Cora, Nellie and Michiko. All three were apprentices to powerful men, but they were secondary in job title only. They were independent, free spirited, intelligent. I would be hard pressed to pick a favourite. I really enjoyed that they were given equal weight and importance throughout the story. (Although if I’m really forced to choose I’d have to go with Cora. I love all her inventions!). Their’s was a relationship built on mutual respect and friendship, and it was refreshing to see three female characters interacting in this way. They’re a great role model for what everyone’s friendships should be like (no matter what your age!)
Beyond the emphasis on female camaraderie, the other thing that makes The Friday Society really stand out is that there is no real love story. Sure, there are some potential love interests, but they’re nothing more than subplots – at best – and the true story belongs to Nellie, Cora and Michiko throughout. Not every book needs a love story, and I am glad to see Adrienne Kress agrees with that sentiment.
A lot of books recently seem to be marketed under the “steampunk” title lately, but quite often they’re simply Victorian or Gothic, with a few steampunk elements thrown in. The Friday Society is a true steampunk adventure with all the gadgets, and themes of makerism, idealisum and challenging societal norms, to prove it. It was nice to really get into the genre, and experience all the things that make it truly fascinating. I hope that this is a novel that will encourage to seek out more steampunk as well.
All these fantastic elements were built around a pretty surprising mystery. I wasn’t totally surprised by the outcome, but I enjoyed the ride just the same. If I had once criticism of The Friday Society it’s that at times it felt a bit modern. I would have preferred a more Victorian feel to the language and dialogue, but I have read other reviews that enjoyed this modern take. So it’s really a matter of personal preference.
Recommendation: A fun and feisty adventure story that I recommend to those who are curious about steampunk or who like stories about strong women and strong friendships, rather than relationships.
And then there was an explosion.
So begins the steampunk adventure, entitled The Friday Society. There’s something to be said for starting a story off with a bang. It grabs demands your attention and you will be only too happy to hand over the next few hours of your life to see what comes next.
It needs to be said. Canadian authors are freakin’ rockstars. This week I compiled a list of the best books I read in 2012 and it was no surprise how many Canadian titles made the cut. The Friday Society is no exception (it took home the award for best steampunk!). Adrienne Kress is a fabulous new voice in YA literature, and her flirty and unique style was a lot of fun to read and explore.
The story centres around three young girls – Cora, Nellie and Michiko. All three were apprentices to powerful men, but they were secondary in job title only. They were independent, free spirited, intelligent. I would be hard pressed to pick a favourite. I really enjoyed that they were given equal weight and importance throughout the story. (Although if I’m really forced to choose I’d have to go with Cora. I love all her inventions!). Their’s was a relationship built on mutual respect and friendship, and it was refreshing to see three female characters interacting in this way. They’re a great role model for what everyone’s friendships should be like (no matter what your age!)
Beyond the emphasis on female camaraderie, the other thing that makes The Friday Society really stand out is that there is no real love story. Sure, there are some potential love interests, but they’re nothing more than subplots – at best – and the true story belongs to Nellie, Cora and Michiko throughout. Not every book needs a love story, and I am glad to see Adrienne Kress agrees with that sentiment.
A lot of books recently seem to be marketed under the “steampunk” title lately, but quite often they’re simply Victorian or Gothic, with a few steampunk elements thrown in. The Friday Society is a true steampunk adventure with all the gadgets, and themes of makerism, idealisum and challenging societal norms, to prove it. It was nice to really get into the genre, and experience all the things that make it truly fascinating. I hope that this is a novel that will encourage to seek out more steampunk as well.
All these fantastic elements were built around a pretty surprising mystery. I wasn’t totally surprised by the outcome, but I enjoyed the ride just the same. If I had once criticism of The Friday Society it’s that at times it felt a bit modern. I would have preferred a more Victorian feel to the language and dialogue, but I have read other reviews that enjoyed this modern take. So it’s really a matter of personal preference.
Recommendation: A fun and feisty adventure story that I recommend to those who are curious about steampunk or who like stories about strong women and strong friendships, rather than relationships.
postitsandpens's review
3.0
The Friday Society was a book that had been on my to-read list for ages, so when I saw it available for request on NetGalley I immediately jumped at the chance to read it, and was so excited when my request was granted. Anything that boasts a summary featuring not one but three fabulous female characters was a book I was all over, and I'm happy to say that, for me at least, The Friday Society lived up to my expectations and desires.
This book was interesting because, while it's pretty easy to place the setting and the time period, there are embellishments made here and there (via the steampunk elements and some of the verbage the characters use, which is decidedly anachronistic) that took me a bit of getting used to. The girls are definitely from 1900-London- their gowns, professions, the way that women in general are viewed - is very much appropriate to that time period. But the story is told with such a modern flair that it was kind of easy to forget at times that the book does indeed take place in the past. However, I am glad that The Friday Society was my first real exposure to steampunk; those elements were so interesting and entertaining (particularly when Cora would talk of her experiments) that my interest in the genre is definitely piqued.
The real strength of this book, however, is the girls themselves. All three of them have their own identity and voice, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them and their adventures. The mystery that drives the book was strong enough to keep the story moving forward at a good pace, and I especially liked how the girls met and wound up coming together. I personally loved Nellie the most - she's definitely feminine as all get out with a fabulous personality and wit, and I found her absolutely charming. I love how the author took the time to develop their backgrounds and made them all so completely unique; you would have known which was which simply by their voices, which is not always the easiest thing to do when writing a book with multiple narrators. While Nellie was my favorite, I also really enjoyed Cora's smarts and intelligence and Michiko's quiet strength and personal journey. I also love how the book was left open-ended; I don't know if this is the author's plan, but I wouldn't mind reading more of these ladies adventures!
Full of wit and charm, and not a small amount of fun, The Friday Society was a thoroughly engaging read. There were some things that I figured out plot-wise in advance, but it was definitely not to the detriment of my enjoyment. If you love your female characters more on the kick-ass side, with a ton of intelligence while still being decidedly feminine, then I think you'll enjoy this book. I know that I certainly did!
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
This book was interesting because, while it's pretty easy to place the setting and the time period, there are embellishments made here and there (via the steampunk elements and some of the verbage the characters use, which is decidedly anachronistic) that took me a bit of getting used to. The girls are definitely from 1900-London- their gowns, professions, the way that women in general are viewed - is very much appropriate to that time period. But the story is told with such a modern flair that it was kind of easy to forget at times that the book does indeed take place in the past. However, I am glad that The Friday Society was my first real exposure to steampunk; those elements were so interesting and entertaining (particularly when Cora would talk of her experiments) that my interest in the genre is definitely piqued.
The real strength of this book, however, is the girls themselves. All three of them have their own identity and voice, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them and their adventures. The mystery that drives the book was strong enough to keep the story moving forward at a good pace, and I especially liked how the girls met and wound up coming together. I personally loved Nellie the most - she's definitely feminine as all get out with a fabulous personality and wit, and I found her absolutely charming. I love how the author took the time to develop their backgrounds and made them all so completely unique; you would have known which was which simply by their voices, which is not always the easiest thing to do when writing a book with multiple narrators. While Nellie was my favorite, I also really enjoyed Cora's smarts and intelligence and Michiko's quiet strength and personal journey. I also love how the book was left open-ended; I don't know if this is the author's plan, but I wouldn't mind reading more of these ladies adventures!
Full of wit and charm, and not a small amount of fun, The Friday Society was a thoroughly engaging read. There were some things that I figured out plot-wise in advance, but it was definitely not to the detriment of my enjoyment. If you love your female characters more on the kick-ass side, with a ton of intelligence while still being decidedly feminine, then I think you'll enjoy this book. I know that I certainly did!
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
***
To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!
amandahart's review
4.0
A surprisingly good read. A couple of parts were more mature than I was expecting, and the end was partially expectable, but the main ending was a surprise (I know that makes no sense, but you will get it if you read the book!) I would recommend this book for anyone who likes steampunk with a girly take, and is expecting a teeny-boper book, but it was fun!
_camk_'s review
3.0
What kept me most entertained about The Friday Society was the writing - it was witty and colloquial.
However, I felt the story dragged and it took me a long time to want to finish it.
There was one very evident plot twist in the book and one not so much.
However, I felt the story dragged and it took me a long time to want to finish it.
There was one very evident plot twist in the book and one not so much.
atinydisaster's review
5.0
I LOVED this book! It wasn’t quite can’t-put-it-down, but it was a great story that I will absolutely be revisiting once my TBR pile can stand the detour. I wouldn’t count myself a steampunk fan yet, but if there are more stories like this tucked away in the genre, then you can count me in!
The Friday Society follows three young female characters, each wonderfully well rounded and realistic. Cora is an inventor’s assistant and absolutely someone you can look up to. She’s clever and unwilling to let her life be run by the men in it. She consistently makes smart decisions that don’t make you want to smack your head into a wall. Big points for that. Nellie is a magician’s assistant fun, a little hyper and immensely loyal. She also has a rather snarky parrot that follows her around. Love! Then there’s Michiko who is quiet, cautious and a fantastic fighter. The book alternates chapters between the three girls and each has a distinct voice. Absolutely no complaints here!
The story itself is a great mystery, but occasionally written like an action flick. The scenes come to life as you’re reading, and the steampunk elements only enhance the book. There’s no question that Adrienne Kress is a great writer who knows how to craft a great YA novel without indulging in some of the more frustrating tropes of the genre. She alsomanges to infuse the book with just enough humor and romance to keep things interesting without detracting from the story she’s trying to tell.
There’s no word yet on whether this book will be picked up for further books, but I’ve got my fingers crossed. I’d love to see what happens next as the girls become more comfortable with their individual kick-ass talents. So, if you haven’t picked this one up yet, you definitely should so I can read more about these awesome characters. Don’t worry thought, even if there aren’t any further books, this one wraps up nicely leaving you feeling all kinds of happy girl-power feelings.
When I saw that Adrienne Kress is a fellow Torontonian, I just had to send her an email telling her how much I loved this book! As a bonus, I got to send her a few questions, picking her brain about all things The Friday Society. Be sure to check back in on Monday for Snarky Bird’s interview with this fabulous Canadian author.
The Friday Society follows three young female characters, each wonderfully well rounded and realistic. Cora is an inventor’s assistant and absolutely someone you can look up to. She’s clever and unwilling to let her life be run by the men in it. She consistently makes smart decisions that don’t make you want to smack your head into a wall. Big points for that. Nellie is a magician’s assistant fun, a little hyper and immensely loyal. She also has a rather snarky parrot that follows her around. Love! Then there’s Michiko who is quiet, cautious and a fantastic fighter. The book alternates chapters between the three girls and each has a distinct voice. Absolutely no complaints here!
The story itself is a great mystery, but occasionally written like an action flick. The scenes come to life as you’re reading, and the steampunk elements only enhance the book. There’s no question that Adrienne Kress is a great writer who knows how to craft a great YA novel without indulging in some of the more frustrating tropes of the genre. She alsomanges to infuse the book with just enough humor and romance to keep things interesting without detracting from the story she’s trying to tell.
There’s no word yet on whether this book will be picked up for further books, but I’ve got my fingers crossed. I’d love to see what happens next as the girls become more comfortable with their individual kick-ass talents. So, if you haven’t picked this one up yet, you definitely should so I can read more about these awesome characters. Don’t worry thought, even if there aren’t any further books, this one wraps up nicely leaving you feeling all kinds of happy girl-power feelings.
When I saw that Adrienne Kress is a fellow Torontonian, I just had to send her an email telling her how much I loved this book! As a bonus, I got to send her a few questions, picking her brain about all things The Friday Society. Be sure to check back in on Monday for Snarky Bird’s interview with this fabulous Canadian author.
madydoodle53's review
4.0
It was amazing! I would definitely read it again it had romance, excitement and a twist at the end :) everything a good book should have.
lmthompson's review
3.0
This was a gripping story with amazing weapons. Each of the three heroines have their own skills and personality, which results in very different ways of dealing with obstacles. Over all it was well written and enjoyable, but the story line that has a certain Mr. Harris in it is felt a little rough at the end.
jennifermreads's review
3.0
“And then there was an explosion.” Any book that introduces all three of its main characters using that line is sure to pack a punch and this book definitely packed some punches: figuratively and literally.
Overall, the book was enjoyable. The murder mystery kept me guessing, the steampunk bits had me wishing for illustrations, the main characters had lots of spunk & depth, and the resolution was satisfying. I was disappointed with the at the end as it seemed unnecessary to me and it felt forced rather than flowing naturally from the story.
Will I read the sequel? (As far as I know a sequel hasn't been announced but the ending left open the possibility.) Probably as I really liked Cora, Nellie & Michiko … but if those resurface, I will be sorely disappointed.
Overall, the book was enjoyable. The murder mystery kept me guessing, the steampunk bits had me wishing for illustrations, the main characters had lots of spunk & depth, and the resolution was satisfying. I was disappointed with the
Spoiler
super hero bitsWill I read the sequel? (As far as I know a sequel hasn't been announced but the ending left open the possibility.) Probably as I really liked Cora, Nellie & Michiko … but if those