Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
this book is so fun and cute and did i mention fun?? sophronia (what kind of name is that actually like i kept expecting her to get some kind of nickname but she DIDNT) is such a cute chara my curious baby always involving herself in things she probably shouldnt. the plot is a bit weak but i think the banter and just how FUN it is make up for it. i honestly just really enjoy the victorian era steampunk setting and the concept of girls learning how to be "ladies" and spies at the same time.
It is not profound, earth-shaking fiction. It's just fun. Go into it with that kind of mindset and you'll really enjoy it.
lighthearted
medium-paced
This was a fun little read! One thing I didn’t realize going into this one was that it’s actually a steampunk novel with some supernatural thrown in. So it was something new for me, but I really enjoyed it. Apparently this world has already been used in Gail Carriger’s “Parasol Protectorate” adult series that I’m going to have to check out.
The book is full of silly fun and adventure in a floating finishing school as Sophronia enters a strange new world as the “covert recruit”, but she quickly takes a liking to the “espionage” side of the school.
The main plot of the device that Sophornia finds herself investigating is a little loose, but still fun nonetheless. While I think this is marketed as young adult, it’s easily a middle grade read as well as it’s very light and easy. It’s a fun little romp if you’re looking for something quick and easy to read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The book is full of silly fun and adventure in a floating finishing school as Sophronia enters a strange new world as the “covert recruit”, but she quickly takes a liking to the “espionage” side of the school.
The main plot of the device that Sophornia finds herself investigating is a little loose, but still fun nonetheless. While I think this is marketed as young adult, it’s easily a middle grade read as well as it’s very light and easy. It’s a fun little romp if you’re looking for something quick and easy to read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Loved it! I'm such a steampunk fan and I can't wait for the next edition. Read the Soulless series first though!
This book.....was not good. I didn't think so, anyway. I find it so odd this is marketed as "young adult" because it felt like it was written for a seven year old. The blurbs say it's funny, but, any jokes in this book came across like they were desperately trying to be funny without succeeding. I hate when I don't enjoy books but.. it happens. I felt like this book tired way too hard to be quirky, and it had basically no clear plot. Just a bunch of 14 year olds running around being told to act lady like and also learn how to be assassins (even though they never do ANY type of cool assassin mission at any point in the entire novel.) Sigh. Thumbs down for me :(
Enjoyable
I did like the story and they mystery of the prototype. The language was difficult to get immersed in which made me have to put the book down for a while. The world it's fun. If I had to go to a finishing school I would want it to be an air ship.
I did like the story and they mystery of the prototype. The language was difficult to get immersed in which made me have to put the book down for a while. The world it's fun. If I had to go to a finishing school I would want it to be an air ship.
Loved this book. Yes, it is for youth. I don't care. I thought it imaginative and fun. A steampunk romp that actually made a bit of sense as opposed to just popping in a blimp here and there and calling it steampunk. Looking forward to the second book. Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate books are the "adult" version of these. I think I like the kids better!
While a great plot in theory, the execution left more to be desired. There was too much focus on the typical middle school girl drama than on espionage. From the characters to the storyline, little left me hungry to pick up the next novel.
Maybe Gail Carringer's books just aren't for me. I didn't love her adult series, but I thought I'd give this one a try. It's set in the same basic universe as her adult books, so if you've read those you won't be lost.
Unfortunately, if you haven't read them (as I'd imagine most teens haven't) then you will be lost, because she doesn't really explain the world all that well. Of course, I'm not sure that I understand it all that well, even after reading the first few books of her adult series. There are werewolves and vampires and... dirigibles. I've decided that the mentioning of a dirigible within the first 10 pages of a novel is going to be my clue that a novel is trying really hard to be steampunk, and this one definitely does it! Other than that, this is a pretty standard Victorian era paranormal. The Victorian voice seems a little forced to me, but that might be because I read so many Victorian novels.
I would have really liked more information on how the finishing school functioned. It might be like Harry Potter, but to be honest that's what I liked about Harry Potter - the day to day workings of the school (I didn't like the last book, as it abandoned that setting!)
The book seemed rather young to me for young adult. I would recommend it to my middle school students, but I suspect that high schoolers would have issues with the age of the heroine and the need of the book to over explain everything. I'm giving 3 stars because I truly like the world that Carringer has created - I just wish that it was all more fleshed out.
Unfortunately, if you haven't read them (as I'd imagine most teens haven't) then you will be lost, because she doesn't really explain the world all that well. Of course, I'm not sure that I understand it all that well, even after reading the first few books of her adult series. There are werewolves and vampires and... dirigibles. I've decided that the mentioning of a dirigible within the first 10 pages of a novel is going to be my clue that a novel is trying really hard to be steampunk, and this one definitely does it! Other than that, this is a pretty standard Victorian era paranormal. The Victorian voice seems a little forced to me, but that might be because I read so many Victorian novels.
I would have really liked more information on how the finishing school functioned. It might be like Harry Potter, but to be honest that's what I liked about Harry Potter - the day to day workings of the school (I didn't like the last book, as it abandoned that setting!)
The book seemed rather young to me for young adult. I would recommend it to my middle school students, but I suspect that high schoolers would have issues with the age of the heroine and the need of the book to over explain everything. I'm giving 3 stars because I truly like the world that Carringer has created - I just wish that it was all more fleshed out.