Curtsies & Conspiracies

By: Gail Carriger

Narrated by: Moira Quirk

Finishing school and spy training go hand in hand in this delightful adventure set in a richly detailed steampunk world.

Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests?

Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy (won't Mumsy be surprised?). Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.

Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a school trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot—one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot—and survive the London Season with a full dance card.

In this sequel to bestselling author Gail Carriger's YA debut Etiquette & Espionage, class is back in session with more petticoats and poison, tea trays and treason. Gail's distinctive voice, signature humor, and lush steampunk setting are sure to be the height of fashion this season.

Critic reviews

Praise for Etiquette & Espionage:
* "Carriger's YA debut brings her mix of Victorian paranormal steampunk and winning heroines to a whole new audience...with cleverly Victorian methods of espionage, witty banter, lighthearted silliness, and a ship full of intriguingly quirky people."—Booklist (starred review)

* "Carriger deploys laugh-out-loud bon mots on nearly every page...Amid all the fun, the author works in commentary on race and class in a sparkling start to the Finishing School series."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

* "[A] delightfully madcap espionage adventure..."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Blending intrigue and elements of the school story, Carriger introduces teen readers to a supernatural-meets-steampunk world full of action and wit."—Horn Book

"If spunky Lady Sybil from Downton Abbey happened onto a steampunk set, she might look a lot like Sophronia Angelina Temminnick."—ShelfAwareness

Curtsies & Conspracies: Finishing School, Book 2

What did you love best about Curtsies & Conspiracies?

What a great book to listen to!!! While I did not read the first book in this series, The Finishing School. I picked up quickly the finishing school for girls taking place on a dirigible (floating boat with all kinds of bells and whistles) and being educated in all things having to do with espionage, spies and etiquette. I howled with laughter at the crazy names of professors, the mechanical dog, Bumbersnoot, and Sophronia's schemes. This was an adventurous romp and I particularly enjoyed Gail Carriger's steampunk--I will definitely read all the others and now I understand why my students LOVED all her books!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sophronia because she was sneaky and brave.

What about Moira Quirk’s performance did you like?

I loved they way she narrated all the voices; I loved listening to her!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

As I listened to this book, I realized why my students enjoyed this book- the mysteries, the steampunk, the technology and descriptions of clothing was key.

I can't help but enjoy this book greatly.

I loved the first book, but now I'm hooked for certain. Clever, funny, serious enough to invoke your mind, and silly enough not to weigh you down. Such great one liners.

cute and fun steampunk story

I liked the story and innocent romances on the side. A fun easy story with good characters.

Fun continuing story

I enjoyed my 3rd or 4th time with this story. The reader did a better job this time with the odd lisp disappearing from a character. Listening gives a while new feel and it is quite fun to hear the voices. Love the story and character growth

Fun

The second in the series may be as good as the first, even if the plot is a bit simpler. It doesn’t solve world hunger but it’s a carnival ride in Victorian skirts. It’s simply fun and a unique way to visit historicals and so-fi at the same time. I loved it.