A review by raynorn
The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

5.0

My first interest in these characters came from hearing of this second novel being published last year. On its own, even the title seemed interesting and historical setting was the main reason I decided to pick up the first in this series, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue. After reading that and falling in love with Monty, Percy and Felicity, I was ready to move onto this and find out more of Felicity. Her narrative is exciting and fresh, and shows the way she attempts to break out of the expectations she is given as a woman in the 18th century. Lee often has her affirm herself telling herself, "I am Felicity Montague" and even after the trials she faces of the medical juries she ultimately is rejected from, she comes out still fierce and strong. I loved this about Felicity, and that the historical writing of her character doesn't paint her as compliant to her surroundings and proves that it is the power of one that creates change in the world. Felicity is an empowering character and Mackenzi Lee writing her as asexual and managing to portray this in a 18th century setting was written as brilliantly as she managed Monty and Percy's relationship in the first novel. From Monty's Grand Tour in the first, to the medical knowledge and treatises that Felicity reads mentioned in the second, this is the single best piece of historical YA I have read.