Etiquette and Espionage

By: Gail Carriger

Narrated by: Moira Quirk

Length: 9 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to finishing school.

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 Tofa Borregaard (P)2013 Hachette Audio

loved it

Absolutely loved the story. The characters are fantastic and energetic. well worth a listen to.

Just plain charming.

Where does Etiquette and Espionage rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book has and interesting premise mixed with a great bunch of MC's and put in a surprising time period. This mix adds up to a delightful read that demands you read the rest of the series asap.

Best setting ever for fabulous fun!

Would you consider the audio edition of Etiquette and Espionage to be better than the print version?

I have both and love then equally. The story is a fast paced, fun action orientated journey and the print version allowed me to whip through it! The audio edition let me saviour the vivid descriptions, the sassy comebacks and generally enjoy the story at a more leisurely pace

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Sighead Maccon but probably because she is a character that is part of the Parasol Protectorate. Genevieve is simply delightful and Sophronia is a brilliant lead lady. In essence, I LOVE all of them *blush*

Which character – as performed by Moira Quirk – was your favorite?

Genevieve, definitely Genevieve

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

School has never been such fun!

Any additional comments?

Read this book, it's awesome!

Great story, well read

What did you like most about Etiquette and Espionage?

Etiquette & Espionage is an almost prequel to Gail Carriger's other books & the appearances of some of the characters from that series - in much younger incarnations - is a lot of fun and perhaps the easiest to explain part of what I liked about the book (without giving away any spoilers).

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

This is one of those books where when you have finished it you want to be back in the world so much that you start the book all over again just so that you don't have to go back to reality...I wish I was joking. I must have read & listened to it move than almost any other book.

Any additional comments?

This is one of my mist listened to books on Audible, the narration is excellent & it is very soothing despite being action packed the whole way through.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A great start to a new series

As a fan of the Parasol protectorate books, I was sceptical about a new series by Gail Carriger for younger readers/listeners. It took a little bit of time to get into 'Etiquette and Espionage: Finishing School, Book 1' and a little more to get used to the reader, Moira Quirk. Once I got past the reader and interested in the characters I was hooked. Gail Carriger certainly knows how to tell a story with excitement, humour, colour and most importantly style. This is a great start to a new series and I for one can't wait till 'Curtsies & Conspiracies: Finishing School, Book 2' Roll on November.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Brilliant book

Absolutely loved it. The narrator was perfect. Ms Carriger's books always entertain! Can't wait to listen to the second one now.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Brilliant & enthralling

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the story is well written, great characters and it kept me entertained until the very end.
Off to start the 2nd book in the series

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Excellently written, brilliantly performed and a real laugh!

An excellent book, full of action, adventure, and school antics. With a finishing school on a giant floating airship, a vampire and werewolf teacher, and all sorts of steampunk trimmings (not to mention the spy & assassin training!), this book is a great twist on typical Victorian life at a finishing school, excellently written, brilliantly performed and a real laugh. Can't wait to listen to the rest of the series!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Charming

Unusual reader but after you get used to it I found it very charming, with a desire to know what happens next.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

a revelation well worth listening <br />

as much fun as you would hope for would highly recommend blank blank blank blank

A good education.

A well written and well narrated book, with plenty of laughs and adventures along the way. A super book, I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

Entertaining !

Great fun ! You quickly forget that the characters are so young. The unusual school setting makes for a perfect background. I look forward to reading the next in the series

Nonstop action.

Would you listen to Etiquette and Espionage again? Why?

I would listen to this book again as it a delight to listen to and full of humour and action.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The irrepressable 14 year old Sophronia. who refuses to be type cast as a demure young lady.

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

Faced with pirates and robot cannons waiting for something to move Sophronia says " for 14 years I have never stood still in my life but I think that it would be wise to do as I'm told and stand still now."

Any additional comments?

I will find time to listen again to enjoy this book again.