Etiquette and Espionage

Steampunk as a genre has been growing in popularity in recent years, as well as the supernatural character types of werewolves and vampires. Gail Carriger's novels fit neatly into both of these categories, but in her books the vampires certainly do not sparkle, unless it is of course in their mode of dress.

Set in Victorian England, the debut novel of the Finishing School series, Etiquette and Espionage, is a new foray into young adult books for Ms. Carriger. It is set in the same world as her previous series, the Parasol Protectorate (first novel: Soulless) and focuses on Sophronia, a young troublemaking girl sent away to finishing school by her exasperated mother. What her mother does not know is that the school teaches etiquette and fine dress as well as espionage and assassination.

As always, Carriger has a unique talent for combining the serious and absurd. In her world, learning the proper way to pretend to faint while fluttering one's eyelashes in the correct manner for the class of gentleman you are trying to attract is just as important as methods of poisoning and information gathering. The exotic setting, atop a dirigible floating over a moor, sets the tone nicely for a tale of mystery and intrigue. Sophronia, not confined by the rigid gender roles of her time, learns to appreciate the feminine arts as well as the masculine ones. The book explores traditional themes such as friendship but also allows curious, spunky Sophronia get into quite a bit of trouble. I will definitely be looking forward to the next novels in the Finishing School series.