Waistcoats & Weaponry

By: Gail Carriger

Narrated by: Moira Quirk

Class is back in session in this glorious steampunk series from a New York Times bestselling author, as Sophronia and her friends do whatever it takes to stop a dangerous plan from unfolding and reeking havoc on London.

Sophronia continues her second year at finishing school in style—with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown, of course. Such a fashionable choice of weapon comes in handy when Sophronia, her best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and the charming Lord Felix Mersey hijack a suspiciously empty train to return their chum Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. But when Sophronia discovers they are being trailed by a dirigible of Picklemen and flywaymen, she unearths a plot that threatens to throw all of London into chaos. With her friends in mortal danger, Sophronia must sacrifice what she holds most dear—her freedom.

Gather your poison, your steel-tipped quill, and the rest of your school supplies and join Mademoiselle Geraldine's proper young killing machines in the third rousing installment in the New York Times bestselling Finishing School series.

Critic reviews

Praise New York Times bestselling for Curtsies & Conspiracies:* "Carriger's second steampunk adventure exceeds the first... the fun, again, is in watching ever-practical Sophronia sneak and scheme her way into sometimes dangerous, sometimes riotously funny, situations.... We repeat: This witty, light-hearted series is not to be missed."—Booklist (starred review)

* "Teenage and adult fans alike will rejoice that Carriger retains her flair for musical prose, over-the-top names, clever wit, and strange yet helpful mechanical devices of all kinds. Carriger's blend of comically exaggerated characters and madcap action will easily win over readers once again."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

* "[A] world of manners, steampunk, and the supernatural. [Carriger] again manages to blend the rules of etiquette with inventions and creatures effortlessly, creating a diverse world of wonder."—VOYA (starred review)

"The language is every bit as delightful as in Sophronia's first adventure... even in this weightier tale."—Kirkus Reviews

"[Carriger] jumps right into the thick of the action, developing a fast-paced plot that is sure to keep readers' attention...this is a must-have purchase."—School Library Journal

"The strength, wit, charisma, and sheer likeability of Sophronia is a refreshing and welcome change from the typical protagonist of today's young adult novels...Teenage girls will laugh, cheer, and empathize as the girls at the academy experience all of the same emotions they do, but in a Victorian steampunk fashion."—Library Media Connection

Praise for the New York Times bestselling Etiquette & Espionage:An ALSC Notable Book for ChildrenA YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults PickA Horn Book Summer Reading List Selection
* "Carriger's YA debut brings...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)

* "Carriger's leading lady is a strong, independent role model for female readers... Ladies and gentlemen of propriety are combined with dirigibles, robots, werewolves, and vampires, making this story a steampunkmystery and an adventure mash-up that is sure to intrigue readers..." —School Library Journal (starred review)

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

More Adventures

I don't want to say too much since this is the 3rd book in the series. But, I still loved this book, it may be my favorite of the series! Werewolves <3 Excited to reread book 4. but hate the series ending again :( Narrator was fantastic as always.

Fantastic narration!

This series is great fun! Each book is better than the one before. Gail Carriger is one of my favorite authors. She writes character driven books with adventure, mystery a dash of romance and best of all humor.

LOVE the Finishing School series!!

Great character development, well paced writing, excellent use of details, and little clues scattered through like scone crumbs make for another tasty tale!

Another amusing escapade

If you are familiar with this series, this is another strong addition. It wraps up Lady Kingheir's future, which is already mapped out by the "Parasol" series which featured her much older self as well as the main character's love interest, Soap. Much more than this would give away too much, and that would be a a shame.


I am, so far, sad when a book from Gail Carriger ends, because that means an ending to my being ensconced in the wonderful world she brings to life. I do not believe I have EVER given out 5 stars in all three categories audible has listed at the top for a single book let alone two series from the same author but these series deserves it.

A grand romp!

Of all the books in Carriger's various series, this is the one you can read without needing to know any of the back story. It helps, but it's a good romp all on its own with a tidy happy (ish) ending.