End Date: December 29th
Author: Gail Carriger
Published: 2015
Genre: Steampunk
Pages: 368 (hardcover)
Selected By: BillMo
BillMo’s Score:
“When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (“Rue” to her friends) is bequeathed an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female under similar circumstances would do – she christens it the Spotted Custard and floats off to India.
“Soon, she stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier’s wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a dire crisis (and an embarrassing lack of bloomers), Rue must rely on her good breeding – and her metanatural abilities – to get to the bottom of it all.”
BillMo’s Review
She inspired, at even the best balls, a sensation of imminent dread.
“You are too easily amused, Rue. Do try for a tone of disinterested refinement.”
“Both of you smallish, roundish, and sweetly wholesome, like perfectly exquisite dinner rolls.”
“I think it’s your fashion choices.” Dama did not look offended. “My dear, I cannot think of a better reason to dislike a person!”
What else could the aristocracy do with such a travesty in its midst but absorb it entirely?
Apart from the indecorous idea of an aristocrat spitting, she would abhor the waste of tea.
“I don’t like men who won’t listen to my mind over theirs.”
“After all, how can one avoid chili peppers if one doesn’t adequately track their movements and migration patterns?”
“It is a very great thing, my Puggle, not to be taken seriously, he had one said.”
For the first time Rue realised that beauty might also be applied with power, like a particularly stinky but highly desirable cheese.
“I must say, like most daughters, I resent being accused of emulating my mother.”
“How did we go from tea to death so quickly?” wondered Quesnel. “Sometimes,” said Prim darkly, “there is a very fine line between the two.”
“Never liken a lady to a horse.”
“Funny that even in my fantasies I lose arguments with my mother.”
Scientific truth or not, some definitions are a matter of cultural tradition. It all comes down to categorisation in the end.
Clearly the loss of one’s beloved wife was not allowed to interfere with ones enjoyment of supper.
“If only some of the now conquered lands had known naked aristocrats is all it takes.”
It must be said, however, that large hairy men ill-suited pink ruffles. It was like seeing a mastiff in an ostrich feather boa.
BillMo’s Favorite Character(s): Primrose Tunstell and Lord Akeldama.
BillMo read the Amazon Kindle version of this selection.