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.

As we all should remember, I was a huge fan of Gail Carriger’s first Finish School novel, and the sequel definitely didn’t disappoint.

Full of just as much magic, and steampunk flare as the previous novel, Curtsies and Conspiracies was had some new aspects that made me love it even more. It added a bit of romance, all while continue the child like innocence that made the series so appealing to me in the beginning. I love that it can be such an amazing YA series, all while being completely appropriate for younger readers. It really gives me more respect for Ms. Gail Carriger. I also loved the plot itself, with a continuation of Sophrina’s training that was really captivating. This boarding school is definitely one of my favorites, right up there with Hogwarts.

I give Curtsies and Conspiracies 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Maddie