Kindle
$6.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$19.98
Paperback
$10.99
Buy new:
-8% $10.99
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$10.99 with 8 percent savings
List Price: $11.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 12 hrs 1 min
In Stock
$$10.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$10.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.22
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
This item shows wear including moderate wear to edges and cover. This item shows wear including moderate wear to edges and cover. See less
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 12 hrs 1 min
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$10.99 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$10.99
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

G. L. Carriger
+ Follow
Gail Carriger
+ Follow
See all
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, 1) Paperback – October 8, 2013

by Gail Carriger (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,819 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award nominee
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$10.99","priceAmount":10.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"d7Ka0HzoPwK4Rzb07fGasr9uLQKF3U6R3mP5ljA55tl33%2FAzJ6xnyb%2FdDjQxni9ihbeQYVTVjNSBxi6GYa2d0TVsRH7bYcy916QT%2BjWwaYLEvYS5ixL7oW1%2FnMbfFIOiagubQvCVXfExA7uPQ%2Bmi3A%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.22","priceAmount":8.22,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"22","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"d7Ka0HzoPwK4Rzb07fGasr9uLQKF3U6RrPpUra1KwNx2bvqof%2FJxd1%2Fs07wr2QEsZ3PZ4j1t7coTan0FK9jm5NwHiq%2FpKwHUXeOxfPJ8Ig3hhZjTwypn6Df2GCCuQuKcEPeTxwRLJluddMHrdR0gwJ72EUaBNBtE10M2tDwjVo8Gh5Ac59hUv6Iqv%2FvSy7D9","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

This steampunk series debut set in the same world as the New York Times bestselling 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 in 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.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 - 13 years, from customers
  2. Book 1 of 4
    Finishing School Series
  3. Print length
    336 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    7 and up
  6. Dimensions
    5.38 x 0.88 x 8.25 inches
  7. Publisher
    Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
  8. Publication date
    October 8, 2013
  9. ISBN-10
    0316190101
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0316190107
  11. See all details
Next page
Teachers' picks | Explore children's books by grade

Frequently bought together

Etiquette & Espionage (Finishing School, 1)
$10.99
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Curtsies & Conspiracies (Finishing School, 2)
$9.69
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School, 3)
$13.29
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
Only 17 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the New York Times bestselling Etiquette & Espionage:
An ALSC Notable Book for Children

A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
A YALSA Popular Paperbacks Pick


A Horn Book Summer Reading List Selection




* "Carriger's YA debut brings her mix of Victorian paranormal steampunk and winning heroines to a whole new audience...with cleverly Victorian methods of espionage, witty banter, lighthearted silliness, and a ship full of intriguingly quirky people."
―Booklist, starred review

* "[A] delightfully madcap espionage adventure..."―Kirkus Reviews, 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

* "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

"Blending intrigue and elements of the school story, Carriger introduces teen readers to a supernatural-meets-steampunk world full of action and wit."―Horn Book

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

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She resides in the Colonies, surrounded by fantastic shoes, where she insists on tea imported from London.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (October 8, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316190101
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316190107
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 13 years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.38 x 0.88 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 2,819 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Previous page
  1. G. L. Carriger

    G. L. Carriger

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Gail Carriger writes comedies of manners mixed with paranormal romance (and sexy urban fantasy as G.L. Carriger). Her steampunk books include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Supernatural Society, and Delightfully Deadly series for adults, and the Finishing School series for young adults. She is published in many languages and has over a dozen NYT bestsellers. She was once an archaeologist and is overly fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Gail Carriger

    Gail Carriger

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Gail Carriger writes comedies of manners mixed with paranormal romance (and sexy urban fantasy as G. L. Carriger). Her steampunk books include the Parasol Protectorate, Custard Protocol, Supernatural Society, and Delightfully Deadly series for adults, and the Finishing School series for young adults. She is published in many languages and has over a dozen NYT bestsellers. She was once an archaeologist and is overly fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea. gailcarriger.com

    Subscribe to Gail's newsletter ~ The Chirrup! http://gailcarriger.com/chirrup

    See more on the author's page
Next page

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
2,819 global ratings
Great condition
5 Stars
Great condition
The book was in great condition. No major scratches or damage.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Brittany
5.0 out of 5 stars A warm, lovely read
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Fantastic characters you can't help but love (except the ones you're not supposed to). Amusing escapades, ridiculous siliness, and everything you could want for an enjoyable read. Acceptance and friendship abound. Something the world needs more of.
Helpful
 Report
Sally M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Clever and intriguing foray into YA fiction for Ms Carriger
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
I was super-excited to get my hands on Ms. Carriger's latest novel, her first foray into YA fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed her Parasol Protectorate series, and I'm so glad that she's decided to continue on in this world even though she wrapped that series up. 'Etiquette & Espionage' did not disappoint me.

Sophronia, a fourteen-year-old youngest daughter in the 1850s, is unusual. She climbs dumbwaiters and gets herself into terrible fixes and is generally an embarrassment to her family, a socially-aspirant gentry . Little does her mother know that when she packs Sophronia off to finishing school, she's actually giving the girl just what she needs. Her unusual new circumstances first become apparent when she chats with Dimity, also headed to Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality, and her brother Pillover, destined for Bunson and Lacroix's Boys' Polytechnique. As Dimity chatters cheerfully about evil geniuses, covert recruits, Picklemen, and Custard Pots of Iniquity, Sophronia begins to suspect something is odd. When her carriage is attacked by flywaymen, their escort goes into unconvincing hysterics, and Sophronia has to take command of the horses and rescue them all, her suspicions are rather confirmed.

It turns out that Sophronia has landed at a school designed not only to turn her into a lady but to turn her lethal as well. Or, rather, the Academy has landed at her -- for it's a floating school, suspended from enormous balloons. A werewolf named Captain Niall (!) serves as ship-to-ground transport and teaches combat, a vampire covers history and deportment, mechanical staff patrol the hallways as prefects, the students learn poisons and manipulation alongside powders and manners, and the headmistress has no idea that any of it is going on. Sophronia begins to settle in at the Academy and into an easy friendship with Dimity, though she has more trouble with the others in her dormitory. Sidhaeg (!) is prickly and recalcitrant, Agatha a shy wallflower, Preshea a snob, and Monique is none other than their escort, demoted back to debut rank for refusing to give up the whereabouts of the mysterious "prototype" which the flywaymen were after. Sophronia and Monique do not get on at all, and their rivalry drives much of the action in the book. Sophronia also uses her climbing abilities to sneak into the restricted areas, where she makes friends with the sooties who keep the ship running, including Soap, a London-born boy of African descent (and props to Carriger for including a non-white character in an English historical novel!). Sophronia, never having seen a black person before, is startled by him at first but gets over it quickly. The two become friends, and Soap introduced her to Vieve (!), niece to Professor Beatrice Lefoux (!) and a budding inventor. As the plot progresses, Sophronia finds them tremendously useful in her various schemes and maneuvers.

I felt as though the story bobbled a bit at the end of the first act and the beginning of the second. There's a stretch where the sense of character isn't particularly strong. It is interesting to have a leading character who is so introverted and private, but it also damages the narrative a bit, at least for me. When the POV character is not particularly reflective or emotive, I (a consummate extrovert) find it harder to engage with her. It was hard to feel emotionally connected to Sophronia, and sometimes her actions seemed very abrupt because there had been little build-up to them. I admire that Sophronia is such a practical and plain-dealing heroine, but I could've used a larger window into her soul.

There are still a lot of questions left unanswered, and I'm hoping we'll get more information on them in future installments -- I want to know why this extraordinary pair of schools exists. Right now, the answer seems to be "just because." I find that unsatisfying. What need does England have for an elite cadre of female assassins and a coterie of admittedly evil geniuses? What role in society are they fulfilling? For what purpose? If the Headmistress has no idea what's going on, who does? Who drives this whole thing? Who founded it? For what reasons? I love Carriger's world-building, but I wish we'd gotten just a little bit more on this front at the outset.

I did think, though, that I saw a glimmer of potential for change in the school's directives, one that I hope we'll see expanded in future books in the series. Right now, the school seems quite competitive, designed to set these ladies against each other. Sophronia, though, sees more benefit in bringing her cohorts together, drawing on their disparate skills to achieve a communal goal. I would like to see that theme develop further. So much popular opinion, especially when it comes to teenage girls, likes to promote their potential for cattiness, sniping, and backstabbing; I would love to see more YA fiction promoting healthier ideas on what they're capable of.

The second half of the book improves greatly, though, as a few things do finally get explained and as more action enters the narrative in the final act. Sophronia deduces that Monique must have hidden the prototype at Sophronia's family home while collecting her, and so she determines to retrieve it with the help of her friends (and new pet, mechanimal dog Bumbersnoot). Sophronia's skills really get to shine here, and the sense of action and excitement is wonderful fun.

For anyone who wondered why I (!)ed a few times in this review, it's because there are several connections in 'Etiquette & Espionage' to the Parasol Protectorate series. This book is set some twenty-odd years before that series begins, so there's a lot of potential for crossover cameos. Even the MacGuffin of the book, the prototype, is a component of technology that becomes crucial by the time of the Protectorate series. Carriger also takes a few moments to poke fun at the steampunk world in general, through a clique of boys at Pillover's school, the Pistons, who sew gears to their clothing for no reason but fashion, smudge their eyes with kohl, and like to crash parties and spike the punch. It's a good-natured and, let's face it, well-deserved ribbing.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with 'Etiquette & Espionage'. There were a few bumps that kept it from perfection, in my opinion, but -- that's true of the first couple Harry Potter books as well. For a first foray into YA fiction, Carriger's done a lovely job. I absolutely devoured this first installment, and I'm excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Just read it already
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious fun
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2013
Verified Purchase
Fourteen-year-old Saphronia Temminick is precocious and a bit rambunctious to say the least. She is more interested in dismantling gadgets to find out how they work than behaving properly which is exactly why her mother agrees to enroll her in finishing school. She wants nothing more than for Saphronia to behave like a proper young lady. While traveling from her home to the finishing school, Saphronia's carriage is ambushed by dreaded Flywaymen (like highwaymen but they fly in the sky -- this is a steampunk novel after all). It appears that the Flymaymen believe the school is in possession of something they desperately want. With her quick wit, Saphronia is able to take charge and evade the Flywaymen. What could they possibly want from the headmistress of a finishing school?

Saphronia soon realizes that Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality is not your average finishing school. First of all it's guarded by a very handsome werewolf. Secondly, the school is a "traveling school" flying high above the fog and clouds of England and third, one of the teachers is a vampire! To top it all off, the girls are not only schooled in proper manners, but in the finest (and ladylike) techniques of espionage. These new skills will come in handy when they Flywaymen come back. It may be up to Saphronia and her new friends to save the school.

This book was so much fun, and a lot of that had to do with the wonderful cast of characters. Saphronia is hysterical. She's so not a young lady of her time. She's very independent and determined to do things her way. She knows there's the proper way to handle things, but when your mind is as curious as hers, the only way to sate said curiosity is to get right into the middle of the action.

The rest of the characters are just as wonderful. Dimity, Saphronia's first friend at the school is a little more girly in that she's all about the latest fashions. She often gets pulled into Saphronia's shenanigans simply by being present. Dimity's brother, Pillover, is another one that made me laugh. He's not in the book much (he goes to another school -- he hopes to become an evil genious), but when he is, he always has his nose in a book, even when there is a lot of action going on around him.

There are so many wonderfully well-drawn characters in the book. I can't possibly name them all. Each of them served a purpose, and had distinct personalities.

Ms. Carriger's writing is top-notch. This book has a very dry, English sort of humor (which I love) and I laughed out loud more times than I can count. What most impressed me was how she handled the Steampunk elements. Until this book, I had yet to find a Steampunk novel that was well-balanced. Typically, the novel was mired down in heavy descriptions, or the world took center stage, overshadowing the characters or the action. Not here. Everything is perfectly balanced. The world was clear, the characters well-drawn and the story perfectly paced.

Light, fun and full of action, Etiquette and Espionage is a book I highly recommend. From it's witty writing, hilarious situations and intriguing characters, this is a book I would recommend to teens and adults alike. There's nothing questionable in this book, and I think it would even be appropriate for middle grade readers. If you've tried steampunk, but haven't been able to get into it, I would suggest giving this one a try. You won't be sorry.

On a side note, I enjoyed the book so much, I bought the audiobook version to listen to. The narrator is fabulous. If you're into audiobooks, check it out.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Karen Tucker
5.0 out of 5 stars She’s about to enter a whole new world …
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
When the unladylike hoyden Sophronia is suddenly sent away to finishing school, she expects to be bored and frustrated. But this one is rather out of the ordinary.

A fabulous cast of strange characters and even stranger circumstances sees her making friends, having more fun than she expected, and creating mayhem with intent. A rollicking hood yarn with full steampunk setting and a lot of good, sooty, fun.
Report
Danika
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book.
Reviewed in Canada on June 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
Great story. A little hard to understand at first since it takes place in the UK in the 1800’s, but once you get used to the language it is easy to follow and quite entertaining.
Report
Aline Leal
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
Reviewed in Brazil on June 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
This first book is simply perfect. Very fun an clever, as always. And full of new vocabulary to learn, since English is not my primary language.
Report
2gnomes
5.0 out of 5 stars Très sympathique personnage!
Reviewed in France on November 30, 2015
Verified Purchase
Une bonne introduction au steampunk. Les personnages sont bien croqués, rien de choquant, peut convenir à des ados (déjà bons en anglais tout de même, niveau classe de seconde).

D'excellentes descriptions permettent de se faire un "paysage mental" des lieux évoqués et c'est parfait car visualiser une école dans un dirigeable n'est pas si simple...!
Report
Meine Bücherwürmer
5.0 out of 5 stars Frisch und unterhaltend
Reviewed in Germany on April 15, 2013
Verified Purchase
Die recht wilde und wissbegierige vierzehnjährige Sophronia Angelina Temminnick stellt den Haushalt ihrer Familie völlig auf den Kopf. Da ihre Mutter sie nicht bändigen kann, macht Sophronia eines Tages Bekanntschaft mit Mademoiselle Geraldine. Auf Drängen der Mutter entschließt sich die Direktorin von Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality nicht nur die jüngste Tochter des Hauses zu einer Probezeit in ihrer exklusiven Schule zuzulassen, sie nimmt sie auch gleich mit. In der Kutsche trifft die widerwillige Sophronia auf Dimity Plumleigh-Teignmott, die ebenfalls die Schule von Mademoiselle Geraldine besuchen wird, und ihren jüngeren Bruder Pillover, den sie auf dem Weg zu einer ähnlichen Einrichtung für Schüler des männlichen Geschlechts mitnehmen. Während sich Sophronia sehr über die Kommentare der Geschwister über die Natur ihrer neuen Schule wundert, wird die Kutsche plötzlich von Luftpiraten angegriffen. Sie fordern die Herausgabe eines geheimen Prototyps von Mademoiselle Geraldine und beginnen sogleich die Koffer der Jugendlichen zu durchwühlen. Geistesgegenwärtig übernimmt Sophronia die Kontrolle und leitet eine waghalsige Rettungsaktion ein. Die völlig aufgelöste Mademoiselle Geraldine stellt sich dabei als Monique, eine Schülerin der Akademie bei ihrer Abschlussprüfung heraus. Sie hat die Rolle der Mademoiselle Geraldine nur gespielt und sollte sowohl die neuen Schülerinnen, wie auch den Prototypen in der Schule abliefern.

Die nächste atemberaubende Überraschung erwartet Sophronia, als die Kutsche in den Nebeln von Dartmoor halt macht. Die Akademie hat keinen festen Standort, sondern besteht aus einer gewaltigen Konstruktion getragen von drei Luftschiffen. Um an Bord zu gelangen, müssen die Mädchen sogar auf dem Rücken eines Werwolfs reiten. Bei der Begrüßung durch drei Mitglieder der Fakultät erfindet Monique aus dem Stehgreif eine Lügengeschichte, wie sie selbst für die Rettung der Situation verantwortlich war. Sophronia, die das Prozedere von ihren älteren Schwestern gewöhnt ist, sieht davon ab, ihre Version der Ereignisse zu korrigieren. Als die Lehrer von Monique den Prototypen haben wollen, auf den es die Piraten abgesehen hatten, stellt sich diese jedoch quer und verlangt im Gegenzug ein Abschlusszeugnis. Sophronia und Dimity können sich nicht erklären, welches Ass Monique im Ärmel hat und sind überaus erstaunt, dass sie sich so eine Forderung leisten kann, ohne aus dem Luftschiff geworfen zu werden. Jedoch können weder die Lehrer den Standort des Prototypen in Erfahrung bringen, noch bekommt Monique ihren Abschluss. Stattdessen wird sie zu den Neulingen und damit zu Sophronia und Dimity heruntergestuft, in der Hoffnung, dass sie mit der Zeit klein bei gibt. Als Sophronia anschließend der echten Direktorin vorgestellt wird, kommt es zu einem erneuten Angriff der Luftpiraten, die diesmal in viel größerer Anzahl anreisen. Sie stellen der Akademie ein Ultimatum. In drei Wochen wollen sie den Prototypen ausgehändigt bekommen oder es kommt zu einem massiven Angriff auf die Schule.

Inzwischen hat auch Sophronia verstanden, dass den Mädchen in Mademoiselle Geraldines Lehranstalt nicht nur Etikette, sondern auch alles nur erdenkliche über Spionage und Mord beigebracht wird. Ein Umstand, der für ihre Mitschülerinnen keineswegs verwunderlich zu sein scheint. Deren Familien schicken ihre Nachkommen schon seit Jahren zu Mademoiselle Geraldine, die selbst über die wahre Natur ihrer Schule im Dunkeln gelassen wird. Sophronia und Dimity haben genug davon, nicht zu wissen, worum es sich bei dem mysteriösen Prototypen handelt. So beschließen sie, selbst die Ermittlung aufzunehmen und vielleicht sogar herauszufinden, wo Monique ihn versteckt hat.

Gail Carrigers neue Reihe ist frisch und unterhaltend. Etiquette & Espionage spielt ungefähr zwei Jahrzehnte vor den Parasol Protecectorate / Lady Alexia-Büchern, doch Lesern, die mit diesen vertraut sind, werden einige Personen und Erfindungen bekannt vorkommen. Die neunjährige Genevieve Lefoux ist dabei besonders gut gelungen. Sie ist ein kleiner Racker, den man sofort ins Herz schließen kann. Im Gegensatz zu den Parasol Protecectorate / Lady Alexia-Büchern sind die Hauptcharaktere der Finishing School-Romane jünger und der Inhalt entsprechend auch für eine jüngere Leserschaft geeignet. Es gibt in Etiquette & Espionage keine Toten und die Figuren geben sich deutlich sittsamer. Die fliegende Akademie ist ein ungewöhnlicher Schauplatz. Es ist ein bisschen schade, dass im Buch nur wenige kurze Einblicke in die Unterrichtsmethoden geliefert werden. Viel von dem, was die Mädchen über Spionagemethoden bei gleichzeitiger Wahrung der Etikette lernen, wäre sicher auch für den Leser interessant. Aber es wird ja noch weitere Bücher in der Reihe geben. Der zweite Band soll noch im November 2013 unter dem Titel Curtsies & Conspiracies erscheinen. Es bleibt zu hoffen, dass die weiteren Bände die neue jugendliche Unbeschwertheit beibehalten können, die gerade die späteren Parasol Protecectorate / Lady Alexia-Bücher vermissen lassen.
One person found this helpful
 Report