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sabrinz's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
This book is the second book in a series. However, it can be read without knowing book 1 (I didn't know it was part of a series) - and while some small details and callbacks may have been lost on me, it did not have the feeling that I was missing something.
The story is about Charlotte, a mostly law-abiding, young witch in London who dreams of stealing things to help orphans and living a quiet little life in the country side. When she steals a gentleman's bag, however, she has no idea that that man is Captain O'Riley, a pirat. The rivalry between witches and pirates is well-known and must be adhered to at all costs. But there is the little problem of this particular pirat showing up everywhere and Charlotte really has no choice but to "kidnapp" his battlehouse with O'Riley and his butler inside to catch up to the terror of lady pirates, who has just stolen a powerful amulte.
I really enjoyed this book and laughed several time (quoting whole passages to my friends). Sometimes a book just has to be entertaining and fun - which this entertaining spin on Victorian society with witches and pirates certainly does.
The story is about Charlotte, a mostly law-abiding, young witch in London who dreams of stealing things to help orphans and living a quiet little life in the country side. When she steals a gentleman's bag, however, she has no idea that that man is Captain O'Riley, a pirat. The rivalry between witches and pirates is well-known and must be adhered to at all costs. But there is the little problem of this particular pirat showing up everywhere and Charlotte really has no choice but to "kidnapp" his battlehouse with O'Riley and his butler inside to catch up to the terror of lady pirates, who has just stolen a powerful amulte.
I really enjoyed this book and laughed several time (quoting whole passages to my friends). Sometimes a book just has to be entertaining and fun - which this entertaining spin on Victorian society with witches and pirates certainly does.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Blood
wallenne's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
I loved this book so much 😠mostly for the characters, let's be real. A badass witch subverting what is expected of her as the "good and proper girl"? Oof I feel that. Annnddd an Irish rogue pirate with a heart!? I CAN'T. The adventures were fantastic, I loved having characters from Wisteria show up. And there were SO MANY quotes from Austen and Shakespeare that I adored!
This is NOT an Austen retelling for anyone who thinks this BUT there are so many Austen lines reworked to fit this story and it is amazing and so much fun to keep an eye out for them! Plus Charlotte references Austen characters and books throughout which was so much fun!
I'm excited to see if there will be another spinoff!
This is NOT an Austen retelling for anyone who thinks this BUT there are so many Austen lines reworked to fit this story and it is amazing and so much fun to keep an eye out for them! Plus Charlotte references Austen characters and books throughout which was so much fun!
I'm excited to see if there will be another spinoff!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Kidnapping is more mentioned jokingly - as an excuse. It's not a violent or traumatic kidnapping. But the word is thrown around. The child abuse is brief mentions from the past of a character.purplepenning's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
"I beg your pardon," [Bixby] said without the least hint of apology in his voice, "but is this a romance or is it an adventure? For I will remind you, we are missing the ongoing action."
Charlotte and Alex exchanged a smiling glance.
"I think what this is defies definition," Charlotte said.
India Holton is back with another definition-defying historical fantasy romance farce — now with more magic! more derring-do! more iron-spined maiden aunts! more innuendo! more rogues and rakes! more petticoats and pilfering! and (to my great enjoyment) more skillfully bastardized classic prose (mostly Austen, with a bit of the Bard thrown in)!
Charlotte and Alex exchanged a smiling glance.
"I think what this is defies definition," Charlotte said.
India Holton is back with another definition-defying historical fantasy romance farce — now with more magic! more derring-do! more iron-spined maiden aunts! more innuendo! more rogues and rakes! more petticoats and pilfering! and (to my great enjoyment) more skillfully bastardized classic prose (mostly Austen, with a bit of the Bard thrown in)!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual content, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
allisonwonderlandreads's review
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? No
4.0
The League of Gentlewomen Witches follows in the footsteps of its fun predecessor with absurd humor and satire, great one-liners, and an eye for delightful phrasing when calling up relatable hilarities. What most impressed me with this sequel was the way it upped the ante emotionally. The romance was just as cheerful while allowing personal growth, vulnerability, and swoony adoration to still make it onto the page. The enemies-to-lovers trajectory was a delight, shifting from attraction and battle of wills in the first half to something heartwarming in the end without me noticing the transition in progress. I simply went along with it, completely convinced and entranced.
The series relies on a topsy-turvy bit of world-building that transposes a society of pirates (complete with flying houses) and now a league of witches onto historical romance. The witches rely on more subtle methods of magic, carefully aimed passive aggression, and battles of philanthropy to achieve their aims. Natural enemies of the pirates, it's no wonder that sparks fly and battle lines are drawn at the first meeting between pirate Alex O'Riley and witch Charlotte Pettifer. As they race to steal a powerful amulet that once belonged to the founder of both their groups, a reluctant alliance (or potential mutual kidnapping) may lead to something more.
Besides the humor and romance, I enjoyed the message in Charlotte's story. While the entire world is subversive in piratical fashion, Charlotte's rebellion went a step further and brought me a lot of joy. Diminished by years of training as heir apparent, Charlotte is a model witch. Her unscheduled, airborne adventures with a pirate unlock her personal agency and show her the unfettered freedom of loud feelings and life lived expansively. By the end of the book, she is practically unrecognizable after her transformative journey. Hers is a story of finding your own path, even outside the shadow of beloved heroines like Elizabeth Bennet, who it could be argued didn't have enough fun or adventure despite her great romance, anyway.
I had such a good time with this book, and it's truly one of a kind. Thanks to Berkley for my copy to read and review!
The series relies on a topsy-turvy bit of world-building that transposes a society of pirates (complete with flying houses) and now a league of witches onto historical romance. The witches rely on more subtle methods of magic, carefully aimed passive aggression, and battles of philanthropy to achieve their aims. Natural enemies of the pirates, it's no wonder that sparks fly and battle lines are drawn at the first meeting between pirate Alex O'Riley and witch Charlotte Pettifer. As they race to steal a powerful amulet that once belonged to the founder of both their groups, a reluctant alliance (or potential mutual kidnapping) may lead to something more.
Besides the humor and romance, I enjoyed the message in Charlotte's story. While the entire world is subversive in piratical fashion, Charlotte's rebellion went a step further and brought me a lot of joy. Diminished by years of training as heir apparent, Charlotte is a model witch. Her unscheduled, airborne adventures with a pirate unlock her personal agency and show her the unfettered freedom of loud feelings and life lived expansively. By the end of the book, she is practically unrecognizable after her transformative journey. Hers is a story of finding your own path, even outside the shadow of beloved heroines like Elizabeth Bennet, who it could be argued didn't have enough fun or adventure despite her great romance, anyway.
I had such a good time with this book, and it's truly one of a kind. Thanks to Berkley for my copy to read and review!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
cassielaj's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
If India Holton wrote a dozen or a hundred of these books, I would read them (but no pressure 😄). Hers is one of the funniest, most unique voices in fiction today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Violence
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