A review by missbryden
Poison or Protect by Gail Carriger

3.0

Lovely to hear from the Finishing School girls again, especially Preshea. Her fleshing out in this story made me realize that we see her very one-sided in Finishing School, because she wasn't one of Sophronia's gang and she was just one of the "mean girls". It was sad and painful to learn what her background was and what she went on to experience after school with her husbands (and all by the age of 24!). It also reminded me that the mean, cold, unfriendly people like her are often (usually) so because of mistreatment and they don't know how else to act or what to expect, and they are all the more in need of love for how hard to love they are.
It was refreshing to see a male lead be so gentle and selfless towards the female lead (especially when he was supposed to be massive and could be overpowering), but especially him being able to read Preshea's needs, and also his kind and friendly behaviour to all other characters.
I appreciate that the rest of the story wasn't filler between the romance scenes. We get to see how Preseha is, and progresses, in multiple types of relationships and interactions. Having her learn about friendship (and for herself, not just observing others) with the two girls was very sweet.
I'm looking forward to hearing what happens with other Finishing School girls - maybe Agatha? She was the only other mentioned by name, I think.

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