Take a photo of a barcode or cover
missflyer 's review for:
Competence
by Gail Carriger
For once, I am going to equate a book to a food item. In this case, Competence is an DoubleStuf Oreo cookie. A most delicious Oreo at that: the events the jacket blurb mentions are the cookie portions (yummy), and the plot which is unmentioned in the blurb is the deliciously heavenly DoubleStuf filling inside.* While there’s no doubt I enjoy the chocolately cookie, I live for that sweet, creamy, delicious filling with all its richness. In both the cookie and the book.
The premise of this third Spotted Custard adventure is that following shenanigans in a Singapore wheystation, Rue and Primrose receive letters from Lady Maccon about contacting supernaturals in South America. Naturally, with the promise of new supernaturals to meet and adventures to be had, Rue is all ready to go. It won’t be easy though, as the aether charts over the Pacific are few and outdated, not to mention the Spotted Custard is a pleasure craft, not designed for long-haul travel. It means the officers and crew will have many grey days in the aether and dicey changes between wind currents before reaching their destination. Oh, and have we mentioned that they still have Rue’s preternatural cousin Rodrigo Tarabotti imprisoned in the guest quarters? As a bonus, this book is told from the POVs of Primrose and Percival Tunstell, so we get their alternating takes on events, their perspectives on Rue and the other diverse crew members, and solid looks into their heads and hearts and how they operate.
All of that as well as the events once they get to South America are scintillating, but what happens in the air is what really makes this book 5 stars for me. For lack of a better place to put this, I’m going to interrupt briefly with a very end of book spoiler cut that seriously, don’t open it if you don’t want a MAJOR spoiler. You have been warned. (See what I did there? I did a nested spoiler to make sure you really wanted that spoiler! :) ) I really hope this gets addressed in the next book, somehow – it might work out well then that I suspect the next book will have Percy as a central focus as Prim was here, with his scientific mind. And I also expect the next book will be in part to get him a partner/spouse, too, as there seems to be a tendency to pair people off, and with increasing speed. The book club formed to reform Rodrigo Tarabotti through philosophy is interesting, the love/hate relationship with Percy’s fez, and the various interactions of the crew are all solid. But what I really hooked into was Primrose. Namely, her acknowledgment of her own sexuality. Tasherit, the werelioness, has made it abundantly clear since shortly after she joined the crew that she is most assuredly interested in Prim, but Prim is all about doing things properly, as societal norms and propriety dictate. Hence why she is on number who-knows-what fiancé, how good she is at being the ship’s purser and organizer of everyone and everything, and her excellent skill at reading others to keep everything flying smoothly literally and figuratively, etc. Prim knows what society expects of her, and she wants to deliver it to the best of her skills and ability. So to be confronted by the alluring Tasherit who wants Prim to “be mine” and all the feelings that awakens in Prim naturally has her quite conflicted.
It is a slow, steady, rewarding journey over the ocean as Prim makes her own internal journey, and really, that is the journey that this book became about for me. The adventure was all well and good, but the meat of this book, the heart of it (not to mention literally the bulk of its page count*), is Prim’s heart and her journey to realize who she is and what she actually wants. I found the evolution of her journey nearly flawless in its pacing and crescendo, less the following passage:
But then it gets right back on track to a steady progression, including very confirming and reassuring conversations with those who care most about her: Percy and Rue. While I didn’t mark Percy’s conversation passage though it was quite important and well-executed, I did note Rue’s on page 214-219 where Rue. I thought it was wonderfully well-done. Both of the conversations, with Rue and Percy, were nuanced, affirming, supportive, and perhaps most importantly, loving. Even the conversation with Anitra was very important to Prim and her journey, and offered a considerable support to her. It is one thing to be reassured of things by the person who is courting you, and entirely another to get this acceptance/reassurance/support from those one loves and trusts most. Rue, Percy, and Anitra offered just what Prim needed at each moment, and it was simply wonderful. Have I mentioned that I basically loved every second of it, and it became what this book was about for me?
All in all, I adored this book, and will almost definitely be starting in on the next one this very night. I need more!
*Specifically: the jacket blurb is the first three chapters (the first 66 pages) and chapters 14 through just under halfway through chapter 15 (pages 269-298). As for the questions it asks, the book club and fez are peppered throughout the middle section, and the lard is a drop in the bucket towards the end much like a dessert course.
Favorite quotes:
Why persist in seeing the world in black or white? Isn’t that the whole point of philosophy? - page 82
“Personally, I don’t even believe soulless is the correct way of thinking about a preternatural, nor for a metanatural. I think it’s simply scientists using religion to explain away a thing they do not understand.” Percy tried not to sound as annoyed as he felt. Really, it’s lazy science to go about anything that way. - page 113
A tiny champion in plaits and lace, using vicious cutting words and a well-wielded fan, even at age eight. – page 161 (of Primrose)
Wincing away from that thought, Primrose contemplated Anitra’s revelation about the malleability of the soul as separate from physical form and sexual inclination. She liked the idea. It was comforting to think that it was her very soul that had chosen to love women. That she was born this way. Perhaps it had hurt so hard resisting Tasherit’s easy affection because it was natural to love where one would and not as society dictated. – page 242
“Pride,” Lord Akeldama always said, “only lasts a century or two. It is the first sin to go. Deadly sins don’t last long if you’re already dead.” – page 291
Typos:
In this book, there weren’t so much spelling errors (in fact, I can’t say any jumped out at me), but there were a lot of instances where a comma was used when a semicolon was correct/more appropriate, or sometimes some other punctuation. A LOT. Either Ms. Carriger has a thing against semi-colons (doubtful, as there were a few in the text) or her proofreader/editor does. I even asked one of my British friends if there was a difference in semicolon usage in British English that maybe I wasn’t aware of, providing examples from the text, and she said no, she would’ve used a semicolon instead of a comma, too.
[…] and I’m technically within in the sanctity of my own quarters. - page 50 – While “within in” can be correct, it makes a mouthful, and so would suggest it should only be “within” or “in”, not both.
Really, quite, too much. - page 109 – seems to me that second comma after “quite” is unnecessary. Trying to read the comma pause twice into such a short sentence sounds weird.
Percy wasn’t a hoarder, he liked to share his knowledge. – page 111 - the comma should be a semicolon
He faltered on his phrasing, he was never very good with past tense. – page 114 – again, the comma should be a semicolon at least, or even a colon I think could do the trick, too.
Tasherit looked tired, she always did during daylight.- page 139-140 - the comma should probably be a semicolon, but it’s passable as is
Tash stroked the barrel in a highly suggestive manner. – page 140 – Usually, “Tash” is only used in dialog, not in narration – though this is Prim’s narration, so perhaps it’s meant to be reflective of Prim’s mindset…? (it happened again on page 143: asked Tash.) There were a couple more instances towards the end, I’m pretty sure all during Prim’s narration, so it does seem that the slipping to using “Tash” is indeed indicative of Prim’s changing mindset.
[…] why do you keep picking up the tube that end?” – page 148 – I think it would read just a smidgen better if it was “tube at that end” instead.
It was most welcome, the French were to be trusted on such matters. – page 152 - the comma should be a semicolon
A mostly idle threat, the man was dead after all. – page 166 - the comma should be a semicolon
The question is, What to do with them? – page 175 – I’m not certain the “What” should be capitalized – if it followed a colon, then yes, capitalize it, but after a comma, I think it should still be lowercase
Percy looked like he didn’t agree at all, he’d never settle for less than actual measurements. – page 176 - the comma should probably be a semicolon, but it’s passable as is
Rue was thinking out loud, she did that in times of stress. – page 186 - the comma should probably be a semicolon, but it’s passable as is
He’s saying these pishtaco creatures […] – page 188 – Since it’s soon after the foreign word “pishtaco” was introduced, I think here it should still be italicized, as it was when first introduced.
Primrose retracted her hand and flapped it to dry off, she didn’t want to wipe it on her very nice evening gown. – page 194 - the comma should be a semicolon
That’s why they started screaming about pishtacos. – page 202 – Other than the non-italicized version on page 188, every other instance of pishtaco has been italicized, and given how new the word still is, I would expect it to still be italicized here.
Because of that, Primrose regretted her favourite evening dress, velvet was too thick a fabric. – page 208 - the comma should be a semicolon
Pishtaco, indeed! - page 219 – Now, this is italicized since it’s Percy thinking. But by that rule, then if “pishtaco” is still getting the italics treatment as a foreign word, then it should be Pishtaco, indeed! However, it would also be acceptable if from this point on, “pishtaco” was treated as a non-foreign word, and therefore no longer italicized at all. I will be keeping track of its usage from here on out. POST-READING: Indeed, “pishtaco” was no longer italicized at all after this point, so this marks the first clear change of it from an italicized foreign word to a regular font foreign word.
The net was a good choice, it gave them a bigger margin for error. Percy was pleased, Spotted Custard decklings were smarter than the average deckling. – page 224 – The first comma should definitely be a semicolon, whereas the second I think would be better as a long (em) dash: The net was a good choice; it gave them a bigger margin for error. Percy was pleased—Spotted Custard decklings were smarter than the average deckling.
As Tasherit slept most days, Footnote felt the entire ship was his rightful domain during daylight. – page 232 – Not a typo, but I’m almost certain this information has already been related in this book, in addition to at least once in probably each previous book, too. It doesn’t need any more repeating.
Percy supposed he hadn’t taken much exercise in the last few months, he probably wanted to stretch his legs and arms a bit. – page 246 - the comma should be a semicolon
“Mother only wanted us to save them, they seem to be the last of their kind. – page 246 – I think that comma would be best off as a period instead.
It was large and seemed to be in good condition, it had a fully tiled roof and very few windows. – page 250 - the comma should be a semicolon
We think that’s the hacienda, our vampires are most likely inside. – page 251 - the comma should be a semicolon
Percy was impressed, his valet never moved that fast for him. – page 256 - the comma should be a semicolon
[…] to pause to heal a near mortal blow and then return […] – page 262 – it should probably be “near-mortal”?
Primrose shifted slightly, leaned out as far as she could over the railing, holding her parasol firmly. – page 264 – Okay, so this sentence is correct enough (took me a few read-throughs to get its flow), but I think it could be related in a smoother manner, for example: Primrose shifted slightly and leaned out as far as she could over the railing, holding her parasol firmly.
It’s simply that we live aboard a dirigible, weight is a concern. – page 297 - the comma should probably be a semicolon, or even a long (em) dash, but it’s passable as is
And the ghost wasn’t half bad, he never got chatty. – page 299 - the comma should be a semicolon or even a colon.
“No. It is a most excellent hat, such a nice long tassel.” – page 303 – I’m not sure about that comma. It doesn’t seem quite right for the sentence (or the speaker). I think a long (em) dash would be better suited.
The premise of this third Spotted Custard adventure is that following shenanigans in a Singapore wheystation, Rue and Primrose receive letters from Lady Maccon about contacting supernaturals in South America. Naturally, with the promise of new supernaturals to meet and adventures to be had, Rue is all ready to go. It won’t be easy though, as the aether charts over the Pacific are few and outdated, not to mention the Spotted Custard is a pleasure craft, not designed for long-haul travel. It means the officers and crew will have many grey days in the aether and dicey changes between wind currents before reaching their destination. Oh, and have we mentioned that they still have Rue’s preternatural cousin Rodrigo Tarabotti imprisoned in the guest quarters? As a bonus, this book is told from the POVs of Primrose and Percival Tunstell, so we get their alternating takes on events, their perspectives on Rue and the other diverse crew members, and solid looks into their heads and hearts and how they operate.
All of that as well as the events once they get to South America are scintillating, but what happens in the air is what really makes this book 5 stars for me. For lack of a better place to put this, I’m going to interrupt briefly with a very end of book spoiler cut that seriously, don’t open it if you don’t want a MAJOR spoiler. You have been warned.
Spoiler
Rue reveals at the very end thatSpoiler
she is pregnant, and I just can’t help but wonder and worry how that works when she uses her metanatural ability to become temporarily supernatural – pishtaco can’t be pregnant, being mostly dead, so how would her fetus take to the transformation? Do metanaturals breed true as preternaturals (usually) do, and that means it poses no problem for her unborn child? Versus the alternative, which I fear would be that a transformation would make the fetus unviable/would result in a miscarriage?Spoiler
, acceptance, and eventual embracingIt is a slow, steady, rewarding journey over the ocean as Prim makes her own internal journey, and really, that is the journey that this book became about for me. The adventure was all well and good, but the meat of this book, the heart of it (not to mention literally the bulk of its page count*), is Prim’s heart and her journey to realize who she is and what she actually wants. I found the evolution of her journey nearly flawless in its pacing and crescendo, less the following passage:
Spoiler
A flaw inherent in loving an immortal, Prim supposed. – page 151
At this stage of Prim’s journey, she was not ready yet to admit to loving Tasherit. She was barely able to acknowledge that she has romantic feelings towards her! – unless Prim thinks this in the platonic-love way, or like the way she loves Rue, which given the context I suppose is a possibility, but nevertheless I was jarred by this sentence.
But then it gets right back on track to a steady progression, including very confirming and reassuring conversations with those who care most about her: Percy and Rue. While I didn’t mark Percy’s conversation passage though it was quite important and well-executed, I did note Rue’s on page 214-219 where Rue
Spoiler
talks to Prim about her attraction towards Tasherit, showing her approval and acceptance of Prim and Tasherit and their budding love, and the gifting of the French postcardsAll in all, I adored this book, and will almost definitely be starting in on the next one this very night. I need more!
*Specifically: the jacket blurb is the first three chapters (the first 66 pages) and chapters 14 through just under halfway through chapter 15 (pages 269-298). As for the questions it asks, the book club and fez are peppered throughout the middle section, and the lard is a drop in the bucket towards the end much like a dessert course.
Favorite quotes:
Why persist in seeing the world in black or white? Isn’t that the whole point of philosophy? - page 82
“Personally, I don’t even believe soulless is the correct way of thinking about a preternatural, nor for a metanatural. I think it’s simply scientists using religion to explain away a thing they do not understand.” Percy tried not to sound as annoyed as he felt. Really, it’s lazy science to go about anything that way. - page 113
A tiny champion in plaits and lace, using vicious cutting words and a well-wielded fan, even at age eight. – page 161 (of Primrose)
Spoiler
[Quesnel] adored [Rue], and for him adoration turned into verbal incontinence. – page 215Wincing away from that thought, Primrose contemplated Anitra’s revelation about the malleability of the soul as separate from physical form and sexual inclination. She liked the idea. It was comforting to think that it was her very soul that had chosen to love women. That she was born this way. Perhaps it had hurt so hard resisting Tasherit’s easy affection because it was natural to love where one would and not as society dictated. – page 242
“Pride,” Lord Akeldama always said, “only lasts a century or two. It is the first sin to go. Deadly sins don’t last long if you’re already dead.” – page 291
Typos:
In this book, there weren’t so much spelling errors (in fact, I can’t say any jumped out at me), but there were a lot of instances where a comma was used when a semicolon was correct/more appropriate, or sometimes some other punctuation. A LOT. Either Ms. Carriger has a thing against semi-colons (doubtful, as there were a few in the text) or her proofreader/editor does. I even asked one of my British friends if there was a difference in semicolon usage in British English that maybe I wasn’t aware of, providing examples from the text, and she said no, she would’ve used a semicolon instead of a comma, too.
Spoiler
She wished she had a parasol with her, parasols always helped one look less suspicious. – page 38 – the comma should be a semicolon[…] and I’m technically within in the sanctity of my own quarters. - page 50 – While “within in” can be correct, it makes a mouthful, and so would suggest it should only be “within” or “in”, not both.
Really, quite, too much. - page 109 – seems to me that second comma after “quite” is unnecessary. Trying to read the comma pause twice into such a short sentence sounds weird.
Percy wasn’t a hoarder, he liked to share his knowledge. – page 111 - the comma should be a semicolon
He faltered on his phrasing, he was never very good with past tense. – page 114 – again, the comma should be a semicolon at least, or even a colon I think could do the trick, too.
Tasherit looked tired, she always did during daylight.- page 139-140 - the comma should probably be a semicolon, but it’s passable as is
Tash stroked the barrel in a highly suggestive manner. – page 140 – Usually, “Tash” is only used in dialog, not in narration – though this is Prim’s narration, so perhaps it’s meant to be reflective of Prim’s mindset…? (it happened again on page 143: asked Tash.) There were a couple more instances towards the end, I’m pretty sure all during Prim’s narration, so it does seem that the slipping to using “Tash” is indeed indicative of Prim’s changing mindset.
[…] why do you keep picking up the tube that end?” – page 148 – I think it would read just a smidgen better if it was “tube at that end” instead.
It was most welcome, the French were to be trusted on such matters. – page 152 - the comma should be a semicolon
A mostly idle threat, the man was dead after all. – page 166 - the comma should be a semicolon
The question is, What to do with them? – page 175 – I’m not certain the “What” should be capitalized – if it followed a colon, then yes, capitalize it, but after a comma, I think it should still be lowercase
Percy looked like he didn’t agree at all, he’d never settle for less than actual measurements. – page 176 - the comma should probably be a semicolon, but it’s passable as is
Rue was thinking out loud, she did that in times of stress. – page 186 - the comma should probably be a semicolon, but it’s passable as is
He’s saying these pishtaco creatures […] – page 188 – Since it’s soon after the foreign word “pishtaco” was introduced, I think here it should still be italicized, as it was when first introduced.
Primrose retracted her hand and flapped it to dry off, she didn’t want to wipe it on her very nice evening gown. – page 194 - the comma should be a semicolon
That’s why they started screaming about pishtacos. – page 202 – Other than the non-italicized version on page 188, every other instance of pishtaco has been italicized, and given how new the word still is, I would expect it to still be italicized here.
Because of that, Primrose regretted her favourite evening dress, velvet was too thick a fabric. – page 208 - the comma should be a semicolon
Pishtaco, indeed! - page 219 – Now, this is italicized since it’s Percy thinking. But by that rule, then if “pishtaco” is still getting the italics treatment as a foreign word, then it should be Pishtaco, indeed! However, it would also be acceptable if from this point on, “pishtaco” was treated as a non-foreign word, and therefore no longer italicized at all. I will be keeping track of its usage from here on out. POST-READING: Indeed, “pishtaco” was no longer italicized at all after this point, so this marks the first clear change of it from an italicized foreign word to a regular font foreign word.
The net was a good choice, it gave them a bigger margin for error. Percy was pleased, Spotted Custard decklings were smarter than the average deckling. – page 224 – The first comma should definitely be a semicolon, whereas the second I think would be better as a long (em) dash: The net was a good choice; it gave them a bigger margin for error. Percy was pleased—Spotted Custard decklings were smarter than the average deckling.
As Tasherit slept most days, Footnote felt the entire ship was his rightful domain during daylight. – page 232 – Not a typo, but I’m almost certain this information has already been related in this book, in addition to at least once in probably each previous book, too. It doesn’t need any more repeating.
Percy supposed he hadn’t taken much exercise in the last few months, he probably wanted to stretch his legs and arms a bit. – page 246 - the comma should be a semicolon
“Mother only wanted us to save them, they seem to be the last of their kind. – page 246 – I think that comma would be best off as a period instead.
It was large and seemed to be in good condition, it had a fully tiled roof and very few windows. – page 250 - the comma should be a semicolon
We think that’s the hacienda, our vampires are most likely inside. – page 251 - the comma should be a semicolon
Percy was impressed, his valet never moved that fast for him. – page 256 - the comma should be a semicolon
[…] to pause to heal a near mortal blow and then return […] – page 262 – it should probably be “near-mortal”?
Primrose shifted slightly, leaned out as far as she could over the railing, holding her parasol firmly. – page 264 – Okay, so this sentence is correct enough (took me a few read-throughs to get its flow), but I think it could be related in a smoother manner, for example: Primrose shifted slightly and leaned out as far as she could over the railing, holding her parasol firmly.
It’s simply that we live aboard a dirigible, weight is a concern. – page 297 - the comma should probably be a semicolon, or even a long (em) dash, but it’s passable as is
And the ghost wasn’t half bad, he never got chatty. – page 299 - the comma should be a semicolon or even a colon.
“No. It is a most excellent hat, such a nice long tassel.” – page 303 – I’m not sure about that comma. It doesn’t seem quite right for the sentence (or the speaker). I think a long (em) dash would be better suited.