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midgereads's review
I picked up this book because it’s YA steampunk (which is hard to find) but unfortunately it is clearly a product of its time (2012).
There is pick-me behavior on the first page (one of the main characters literally says she was not like most girls) and the modern writing style against the Victorian/steampunk setting was just not working.
There were also other things that I found problematic like the way racism was vaguely mentioned by saying that a white character was not fond of the “dark races” (like ????), and the implication that a minor (15-16 years old) flirted with older men.
I really wanted to like this book, but I struggled to keep going without cringing so who knows if I’ll give it a second chance. In the meantime, if anyone is looking for YA steampunk, check out The Inventor’s Secret by Andrea Cremer (now Andrea Robertson) and Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger.
There is pick-me behavior on the first page (one of the main characters literally says she was not like most girls) and the modern writing style against the Victorian/steampunk setting was just not working.
There were also other things that I found problematic like the way racism was vaguely mentioned by saying that a white character was not fond of the “dark races” (like ????), and the implication that a minor (15-16 years old) flirted with older men.
I really wanted to like this book, but I struggled to keep going without cringing so who knows if I’ll give it a second chance. In the meantime, if anyone is looking for YA steampunk, check out The Inventor’s Secret by Andrea Cremer (now Andrea Robertson) and Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger.
bookswrotemystory's review
2.0
I really hoped this was going to be a good book. It had sounded like it would be a lot of fun based on the description. But it was just lackluster from beginning to end. The more I read the less I seemed to actually care what was going to happen. And the end was an absolute mess in my opinion.
A bit of a disappointment.
A bit of a disappointment.
lilliangretsinger's review
3.0
the beginning was really good. the middle lost steam. the end was good, hopefully the next book is more consistent.
princessleia4life's review
3.0
I really liked the concept of the book, but the writing at times wasn’t as good.
maestrocp's review
2.0
When you meet these three very different and industrious young ladies, you cannot help but be charmed by the narrative and the roles they play as assistants to very different men. Cora, an inventor. Nellie, a magicians assistant. Michiko, a fighter, lethal with a blade.
But you can only be charmed by Kress's narrative and "AND THERE WAS an explosion" trick for so long. Very quickly the plot dissolves into a campy typical heroes rising to defeat some cartoonish and irrational villain, with a side plot about city murders that is so ill defined, unexplored, and unexplained it comes across not as horrifying and awful--but vain, and only mildly surprising.
While Steampunk is always a treat in and of itself, there is something to be desired of the world building in this work. And more to be said about character development, that is to say, there were times when Cora and Nellie begin to start sounding remarkably alike. MIchiko, the only girl who cannot speak english has the most interesting thought process, but I often found her perspective of the story tedious. This reads in a similar fashion to The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross, only I believe Cross handled her villain construction more effectively--even I was still not enamoured of her style.
Style here too is an issue, often Kress conflates modern day slang with the London slang in a way that is at first amusing and then afterwords a bit daunting, and along the lines of beating you over the head with a shovel obviousness that attempts to be funny. Will I be reading the next one? depends on if I can possibly be intrigued by the blurb, and even then I suspect I might skim much of it.
Overall, The Friday Society is a light, no fuss read, with some charming moments, some absurd, a little adventure, and chemistry. And a hair brained scheme or two.
But you can only be charmed by Kress's narrative and "AND THERE WAS an explosion" trick for so long. Very quickly the plot dissolves into a campy typical heroes rising to defeat some cartoonish and irrational villain, with a side plot about city murders that is so ill defined, unexplored, and unexplained it comes across not as horrifying and awful--but vain, and only mildly surprising.
While Steampunk is always a treat in and of itself, there is something to be desired of the world building in this work. And more to be said about character development, that is to say, there were times when Cora and Nellie begin to start sounding remarkably alike. MIchiko, the only girl who cannot speak english has the most interesting thought process, but I often found her perspective of the story tedious. This reads in a similar fashion to The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross, only I believe Cross handled her villain construction more effectively--even I was still not enamoured of her style.
Style here too is an issue, often Kress conflates modern day slang with the London slang in a way that is at first amusing and then afterwords a bit daunting, and along the lines of beating you over the head with a shovel obviousness that attempts to be funny. Will I be reading the next one? depends on if I can possibly be intrigued by the blurb, and even then I suspect I might skim much of it.
Overall, The Friday Society is a light, no fuss read, with some charming moments, some absurd, a little adventure, and chemistry. And a hair brained scheme or two.
siobhan27's review
4.0
I have been wanting to read this book for a very long time. Adrienne Kress is a local author in my town and I have to say that I am very proud of her leap into the Young Adult genre. Originally she wrote a middle grade book called Alex and the Ironic Gentlemen which was followed by Timothy and the Dragon's Gate.
The Friday Society starts off with introducing each main characters; Nellie, the Magicians Assistant; Cora, the Lab Assistant and Michiko, Japanese fight Assistant. These three girls become the center point for everything that happens within the story.
I loved the way each story interconnected and hoe each girl seamlessly had her own voice, even though the story was written in three different points of view (which can be hard). I also loved that their points of view seemed to merge as the story progressed which gave a very good pace to the novel.
The girls themselves were very entertaining as characters but I found myself liking certain characters over others. For instance, I liked Cora the best, just because she was funny and sarcastic yet extremely independent. While I liked Michiko the least, mostly because I didn't feel any connection to her character. But all three girls possessed everything I loved in a lead female character: strength, drive and independence from men. They are great characters that young girls should be read about.
I do wish that there was more background on the three men that taught these girls. They seemed very interesting in and of themselves and I really hope that we get to see more of them in the books to come.
The writing style is simple yet fun. It allows the characters themselves to shine rather than describe a scene or place. I rather liked that in comparison to the recent books that I have read.
3.5 Stars
The Friday Society starts off with introducing each main characters; Nellie, the Magicians Assistant; Cora, the Lab Assistant and Michiko, Japanese fight Assistant. These three girls become the center point for everything that happens within the story.
I loved the way each story interconnected and hoe each girl seamlessly had her own voice, even though the story was written in three different points of view (which can be hard). I also loved that their points of view seemed to merge as the story progressed which gave a very good pace to the novel.
The girls themselves were very entertaining as characters but I found myself liking certain characters over others. For instance, I liked Cora the best, just because she was funny and sarcastic yet extremely independent. While I liked Michiko the least, mostly because I didn't feel any connection to her character. But all three girls possessed everything I loved in a lead female character: strength, drive and independence from men. They are great characters that young girls should be read about.
I do wish that there was more background on the three men that taught these girls. They seemed very interesting in and of themselves and I really hope that we get to see more of them in the books to come.
The writing style is simple yet fun. It allows the characters themselves to shine rather than describe a scene or place. I rather liked that in comparison to the recent books that I have read.
3.5 Stars
lindacbugg's review
3.0
Fun but fluff and so totally not accurate in any way shape or form with words like WOW and cool. Reads like the first in a series but...
indieandajean's review
3.0
A fun read. The concept is great but often it comes off a little too silly to be taken overly seriously. It's a bit like a steam punk Miss Fisher's for teen girls. Take it for what it is and it'll be an enjoyable experience!
lostinagoodread's review
4.0
This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read
This book definitely has caught the attention of the blogging world and exploded, I love the costumes of the girls on the cover and the steampunkness of it because this book definitely delves into the steampunk world. But the one thing that really brought this book to my attention was that the story is heavily focused on the three girls.
I loved the story of this book, there is a great mystery with murders happening around the city and in some way each of these three girls becomes involved, but the story is about so much more than just the mystery. There is so much about these three girls meeting one night and a growing friendship because of the murders. Each of the girls is unique and the bring something different to the story, but they all bring a fiery attitude and a sense of justice.
This story was such a great adventure of a book but really what this book is about is female empowerment. This book really revolved around the friendship of the three girls, the little romance that was there was far in the background and it was nice to see a book where the women did things for themselves and not relying on men. I really loved the strengths of each of the girls, but my favourite had to be Michiko. She was such an amazing character, and for one who understands and speaks very little English she still had this way of communicating with the other characters. I also really liked that she had this way of trying to do things on her own and yet in the end coming to be part of this strong group.
The ending really ties up the story well, but still leaves it open for Kress to write a sequel if she wants (which I hope she does!) This book was a lot of fun to read, and I really loved how Kress brought out the female empowerment in her story! If you love mystery and action all tied up together in a nice package this is the book for you.
This book definitely has caught the attention of the blogging world and exploded, I love the costumes of the girls on the cover and the steampunkness of it because this book definitely delves into the steampunk world. But the one thing that really brought this book to my attention was that the story is heavily focused on the three girls.
I loved the story of this book, there is a great mystery with murders happening around the city and in some way each of these three girls becomes involved, but the story is about so much more than just the mystery. There is so much about these three girls meeting one night and a growing friendship because of the murders. Each of the girls is unique and the bring something different to the story, but they all bring a fiery attitude and a sense of justice.
This story was such a great adventure of a book but really what this book is about is female empowerment. This book really revolved around the friendship of the three girls, the little romance that was there was far in the background and it was nice to see a book where the women did things for themselves and not relying on men. I really loved the strengths of each of the girls, but my favourite had to be Michiko. She was such an amazing character, and for one who understands and speaks very little English she still had this way of communicating with the other characters. I also really liked that she had this way of trying to do things on her own and yet in the end coming to be part of this strong group.
The ending really ties up the story well, but still leaves it open for Kress to write a sequel if she wants (which I hope she does!) This book was a lot of fun to read, and I really loved how Kress brought out the female empowerment in her story! If you love mystery and action all tied up together in a nice package this is the book for you.
sarahdrops's review
4.0
This book was so much fun to read! It was funny and cheesy and I loved every minute of it.