Etiquette & Espionage

Finishing School, Book 1

By: Gail Carriger

Narrated by: Moira Quirk

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

This young adult steampunk series debut set in the same world as the New York Times best-selling Parasol Protectorate is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail Carriger's legions of fans have come to adore.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners - and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage - in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

©2013 Gail Carriger (P)2013 Hachette Audio

This narrator ROCKS!!

The book is whimsical, surprising, fun and feminist. I loved the blend of Victorian polite society with down and dirty spying!

What I loved even more is the person who read it. Her narration truly brought the story to life and her characterizations were just perfect!! I started to read the second title in the series in printed form and realized I longed to hear her fabulous storytelling again so I bought that one on Audible too.

As Professor Braithwope would say, BRAVO!

Perfect Pre-teen/YA Stemapunk! Wicked Good Fun!

How was this book so good?

Okay, this was another read outside my wheelhouse on purpose. Come on? A 19th century steampunk story about a group of girls shipped off to boarding school to (auspiciously) perfect their manners and fashion sense. When, in fact, they are learning deception, assassination, theft, poison, etc. . . how could this be bad?! Well, it wasn't. It was wicked good fun.

The principle character is a 14-year-old girl with more to offer than even she knows. The setting and plot were entirely age appropriate. The fact that it's set in the late 1800's only adds to the skillful layer of censorship the author achieves for the audience. The most offensive term I heard was "cleavage" and it was only used once or twice. Typically, the euphamism of choice was "decolletage." That lind of thing happened all the time and was totally impressive.

I would recommend this widely. Especially to the YA/Pre-teen female reader who wants a classy, fun, and strong female lead experience.

I should also be clear that the narrator was AWESOME! Even when she needed a (purposefully) terrible French accent she nailed it. That happens early, so don't abandon this if it pains you to hear bad French accents, it's worth it!

Good steam-powered fun

What did you love best about Etiquette & Espionage?

Whimsy, and the relish with which it dives into it genre.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was delighted.

Any additional comments?

The narration was delightful. Moira Quirk does excellent characters, and her voice suits the story very well.

It's Aborable!!!

It's 1850's steam punk teenage Indiana Jones. I love it, unpolished 14 year girl gets recruited to a secret spy "finishing school" to learn etiquette and espionage. Very fun and enjoyable listen. Definitely getting the next one.

Wow. I usually abhor steampunk,

I usually abhor steampunk, it's overused and rarely adds to the story. This time the use of genre breathed new life and adventure into an already intriguing story idea.
Bravo. I cannot wait to introduce this series to my nieces.

Wonderful!

Loved it!!!!
This book is great and it's still great the second time through!
Couldn't stop listening.
So good.
Must listen.

Book the first

Sophronia’s beginning. From quirky girl who had too many unusual hobby’s found her belonging when she is “drafted” into a Finishing School... not the finishing school her mom thought, but where she surely belongs! A delightful beginning and the first audiobook I have really listened to, and have fallen in love. This particular series is my favorite, but I have read several others of Gail’s and find her writing delightful!

A fun romp

I really enjoy all the books in the parasol protectorate series. I have actually listened to them more than once. The finishing school series has a fun storyline but manages to deal with some serious stuff without being heavy. The narrator does a pretty good job as well. Right now many authors are writing apocalyptic books about some sort of war and Saving the world and I find them too gritty and grim. These books are the antidote. I highly recommend them.

Lovely

I had read this on Kindle before listening with my family on a road trip. They enjoyed it just as much as me. The characters are great!

a fun story.

this book kept me interested the whole way through. it's a good combination of the times with the steam punk addition.