As charming and quirky as Gail Carriger's
Soulless series, CURTSIES & CONSPIRACIES delves back into all the ways that society, science, and magic can collide. As interesting for the social dynamics as for the dirigibles and mechanimals, Sophronia's perspective on manners and intelligence gathering is a fantastic window into this world.
From the outside, placing a spy training facility inside a Victorian finishing school would seem like an odd juxtaposition, but even new readers will quickly orient themselves to this mix of familiar historical setting and completely original worldbuilding. Sophronoia not only reads as a young adult, but her youth is a key element of what makes her compelling as a heroine. The choices that face her are relateable, from budding love to jealous rivals, and each one of these challenges foreshadows larger life challenges she will face. As a lady intelligencer, Sophronia is learning how to blend with society, but will she also internalize those limitations and boundaries?
While the intricacies of the mystery in CURTSIES & CONSPIRACIES kept me glued to the page, it will be that larger question of Sophronia's fate that will keep me coming back for more. Witty, charming, and brimming with potential, I can wait to see the woman Sophronia is growing into.
Full review to follow.
Sexual Content: Kissing.