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delia's review against another edition
The overall plot was not compelling to me. I'm not sure why. Typically this is my type of story but it just wasn't gripping me. Also the romance was fine as a supplement to the story but wasn't enough to carry.
oh_renard_lit's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I had a hard time getting invested in this book. The premises are promising, but once they've been established in the first few chapters (pirate aristocracy, attempted assassination, flying houses, etc) it doesn't evolve past that. The romance is not spared : it is kind of the same be it at page 30 or at page 300.
Still, I think someone else could totally enjoy this book, if they are receptive to the humor and the spicy love-at-first-sight romance.
Still, I think someone else could totally enjoy this book, if they are receptive to the humor and the spicy love-at-first-sight romance.
helenephoebe's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
alexiasp's review against another edition
I really tried to read this for a book club, but the plot and dialogue make no sense. I thought that it might at least be funny. This is the type of humor you get:
He said nothing in quite the most disturbing manner.
natalia_85's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Let me first start off by saying I was completely blown away by this book. I didn’t do my normal perusing of Goodreads reviews before landing my library copy of this one, and Im not going to lie, I made some pretty lofty assumptions based solely on the cover and the description.
I was pleasantly surprised to be completely wrong! This book was like “The Princess Bride” meets “Stardust” and they maybe have a duel with “Robin Hood Men in Tights”. I love nothing more than satirical humor and this book nailed it. It was cleverly written, and while I dont think it was specifically a parody of the historical romance genre, it definitely reads like one. It was light and funny and overall a charming read.
In this story we meet Miss Cecelia Batthingswaite, a 19 year old pirate (yes I said pirate) who has been taught how to be both a polite lady of London Society and how to pick pocket. While clamoring to earn her place at the table of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, flying houses (yes flying) across London with her Aunt and quietly robbing members of society, she finds herself with the first assassination attempt on her life and is rather excited. With a handsome rouge pirate hired to kill her (Ned Lightborne), her scoundrel of a father after her, flying houses and kidnappings about, you can be sure to be as engrossed in this hilarious action packed adventure as I was. I also really enjoyed the banter between Ned and Cecilia, it was so well done.
‘I shall dismember you,” she said pointedly, and he winced. “You might find that hard,” he replied. “I’m sure it will only feel like a small prick.” “Temptress.” “Libertine.” 😂
Overall a 4🌟 from me, and I cant wait for the second book in the series “League of Gentlewomen Witches”!
I was pleasantly surprised to be completely wrong! This book was like “The Princess Bride” meets “Stardust” and they maybe have a duel with “Robin Hood Men in Tights”. I love nothing more than satirical humor and this book nailed it. It was cleverly written, and while I dont think it was specifically a parody of the historical romance genre, it definitely reads like one. It was light and funny and overall a charming read.
In this story we meet Miss Cecelia Batthingswaite, a 19 year old pirate (yes I said pirate) who has been taught how to be both a polite lady of London Society and how to pick pocket. While clamoring to earn her place at the table of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, flying houses (yes flying) across London with her Aunt and quietly robbing members of society, she finds herself with the first assassination attempt on her life and is rather excited. With a handsome rouge pirate hired to kill her (Ned Lightborne), her scoundrel of a father after her, flying houses and kidnappings about, you can be sure to be as engrossed in this hilarious action packed adventure as I was. I also really enjoyed the banter between Ned and Cecilia, it was so well done.
‘I shall dismember you,” she said pointedly, and he winced. “You might find that hard,” he replied. “I’m sure it will only feel like a small prick.” “Temptress.” “Libertine.” 😂
Overall a 4🌟 from me, and I cant wait for the second book in the series “League of Gentlewomen Witches”!
chaithra's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jz23q's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
carmeldav's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
sophiahntn's review against another edition
4.0
Alright, gather round, children, for I seldom write a serious review.
This book took me an infinity to get through considering it was a romance that normally I finish quickly. There were a couple of problems I had with the book that usually emerge in period romances that I let slide, but this was so well thought out and witty I feel it's worth pointing them out. There were many subtle references to colorism, fatphobia, and imperialism which definitely detracted from my enjoyment of the book. Normally in romantic English period pieces, I suck it up and ignore it for the sake of the romance but this book was so much more than the romance which made it disheartening.
This book is a very "the future is female" type book which is hard to stomach considering the setting is England during its peak of colonialism and genocide and its characters are England's upper class. Also just hard to stomach in general.
So problematic aspects aside, this book was insanely fun. A society of female pirates that do not reside on ships, but rather houses they use magic to levitate. It was a very fun blend of traditional womens' obligations like etiquette, dress, dancing, tea, classical literature, and piratical things like guns, daggers, robberies, betrayal, assassinations, cocaine, et cetera. The romanticism and elitism conveyed within a world of piracy and thievery are so fun. And the wit this book managed to keep until the end of all 300+ pages is quite remarkable.
Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the romance in this one. I love the idea of an enemies-to-lovers arc between an upper-class and capable female pirate and a lower-class charming common pirate and thief hired to assassinate her. I was very upset at the end upon realizing men in real life are truly, in a word, shit, and no hot guy is coming to assassinate me anytime soon but I will cope.
Anyways the book was dense and at times I couldn't tell if I liked it or not but the ending made me happy so I decidedly like it.
This book took me an infinity to get through considering it was a romance that normally I finish quickly. There were a couple of problems I had with the book that usually emerge in period romances that I let slide, but this was so well thought out and witty I feel it's worth pointing them out. There were many subtle references to colorism, fatphobia, and imperialism which definitely detracted from my enjoyment of the book. Normally in romantic English period pieces, I suck it up and ignore it for the sake of the romance but this book was so much more than the romance which made it disheartening.
This book is a very "the future is female" type book which is hard to stomach considering the setting is England during its peak of colonialism and genocide and its characters are England's upper class. Also just hard to stomach in general.
So problematic aspects aside, this book was insanely fun. A society of female pirates that do not reside on ships, but rather houses they use magic to levitate. It was a very fun blend of traditional womens' obligations like etiquette, dress, dancing, tea, classical literature, and piratical things like guns, daggers, robberies, betrayal, assassinations, cocaine, et cetera. The romanticism and elitism conveyed within a world of piracy and thievery are so fun. And the wit this book managed to keep until the end of all 300+ pages is quite remarkable.
Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the romance in this one. I love the idea of an enemies-to-lovers arc between an upper-class and capable female pirate and a lower-class charming common pirate and thief hired to assassinate her. I was very upset at the end upon realizing men in real life are truly, in a word, shit, and no hot guy is coming to assassinate me anytime soon but I will cope.
Anyways the book was dense and at times I couldn't tell if I liked it or not but the ending made me happy so I decidedly like it.