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A review by daumari
A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee
4.0
3.5/5, rounded up.
This was fun. As mentioned on another 2019 review, I adore historical fiction, though I also agree with the author's own assessment on the backflap that, "The Agency is a totally unrealistic, completely fictitious antidote to the fate that would otherwise swallow a girl like Mary Quinn." The other books seem to be checked out from my library at the moment but I kind of want to binge the rest of the books now.
The author did her PhD work on Victorian literature and culture, so the setting/worldbuilding is decent. I can see where other readers have quibbles that Mary is too modern, headstrong, but, if given the fantasy option of working for a spy agency I'm sure there'd be women in the era who'd be up for it.
I hadn't heard of the Lascars before, and I anticipate them being relevant in future books.
Even though I've read quite a bit of YA this year, I haven't developed more sophisticated thoughts on the tropes like a love interest, etc. I thought James Easton's character fit in well, but was startled when the perspective shifted to him early on.
This was fun. As mentioned on another 2019 review, I adore historical fiction, though I also agree with the author's own assessment on the backflap that, "The Agency is a totally unrealistic, completely fictitious antidote to the fate that would otherwise swallow a girl like Mary Quinn." The other books seem to be checked out from my library at the moment but I kind of want to binge the rest of the books now.
The author did her PhD work on Victorian literature and culture, so the setting/worldbuilding is decent. I can see where other readers have quibbles that Mary is too modern, headstrong, but, if given the fantasy option of working for a spy agency I'm sure there'd be women in the era who'd be up for it.
I hadn't heard of the Lascars before, and I anticipate them being relevant in future books.
Spoiler
I am also quite pleased to see a historical hapa lead character, though for assimilation/survivability she leans hard on being white-passing. Still, minority folks in historical gear I can cosplay as (but never will because costumes take an awful lot of planning) are always a good thing in my book.Even though I've read quite a bit of YA this year, I haven't developed more sophisticated thoughts on the tropes like a love interest, etc. I thought James Easton's character fit in well, but was startled when the perspective shifted to him early on.