I must preface this review by saying I'm a big fan of Gail Carriger's Soulless series, so I came to the Finishing School series in two minds. While I know it's becoming more and more popular for authors to set both grown-up stories and YA stories in the same fictional universe, I tend to prefer an author to make a decision one way or the other. I don't have a good reason for that other than sometimes I think a story better fits a particular genre/setting or the author is "milking it" by trying to get so many stories out of one setting. I can't raise either of those objections to Etiquette and Espionage. It's an extremely fun and enjoyable read. However, it didn't have the novelty value it would have had if I hadn't already read the Soulless series. Many of the situations and jokes feel a little recycled, although they play out differently in the finishing school context.
One thing I enjoyed very much about the Soulless series is how romance is handled in the steampunk world with wild and crazy inventions and schemes alongside Victorian manners. That's missing in the YA series because it's for younger readers and, in the first book at least, there isn't much in the way of romance. So that felt like a missing piece, although it may be developed in later books in the series. In both series I like the way Carriger balances the mannered society against the need for werewolves to be naked and for vampires to drink blood. And the fact that fashion sense seems to top everything else in terms of priorities.
Overall this is a highly enjoyable read, particularly for lovers of steampunk and those who are new to Carriger's work. If you like the genre and don't like YA, though, perhaps turn to Soulless first.
One thing I enjoyed very much about the Soulless series is how romance is handled in the steampunk world with wild and crazy inventions and schemes alongside Victorian manners. That's missing in the YA series because it's for younger readers and, in the first book at least, there isn't much in the way of romance. So that felt like a missing piece, although it may be developed in later books in the series. In both series I like the way Carriger balances the mannered society against the need for werewolves to be naked and for vampires to drink blood. And the fact that fashion sense seems to top everything else in terms of priorities.
Overall this is a highly enjoyable read, particularly for lovers of steampunk and those who are new to Carriger's work. If you like the genre and don't like YA, though, perhaps turn to Soulless first.
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