Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Manners & Mutiny (Finishing School, Bk 4) on + 2527 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was a great conclusion to this humorous and fun young adult steampunk series. I really enjoyed it. I have read both Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series and her Custard Protocol series. While I probably like this series the least out of those three, it is still a fun and entertaining read.
Sephronia is finishing up her final year on Mademoiselle Geraldine's floating dirigible. She has pledged to work for the werewolf dewan and is sorely missing the sootie Soap. However more dastardly plots are afoot; the Picklemen have not given up and it seems they have another plot in the works. Sephronia and her friends must unravel the Pickleman's plot while still completing their finishing.
For some reason I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as previous books in the series; but it still did a good job of wrapping everything up. The dialogue was witty and well written and fun to read.
We don't see quite as much of Sephronia's friends in this story. This book also wasn't quite as humorous as previous books; things are just more serious in this story. I think both of those things detracted a bit from the story for me.
However, there were a few things I loved about the story. I love how Soap develops as a character and how he really comes into his own in this book. I also loved the interactions with Lord Akeldama. Additionally Mademoiselle Geraldine has some fascinating secrets of her own.
Things are wrapped up nicely. I have enjoyed all the books set in this entertaining Victorian steampunk world full of vampires and werewolves.
Overall an entertaining and well done conclusion to the Finishing School series. I would recommend to those who enjoy humorous steampunk reads. While this is not my favorite Carriger series (the Custard Protocol holds that honor right now) it is still a very fun read and I enjoyed the series as a whole.
Sephronia is finishing up her final year on Mademoiselle Geraldine's floating dirigible. She has pledged to work for the werewolf dewan and is sorely missing the sootie Soap. However more dastardly plots are afoot; the Picklemen have not given up and it seems they have another plot in the works. Sephronia and her friends must unravel the Pickleman's plot while still completing their finishing.
For some reason I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as previous books in the series; but it still did a good job of wrapping everything up. The dialogue was witty and well written and fun to read.
We don't see quite as much of Sephronia's friends in this story. This book also wasn't quite as humorous as previous books; things are just more serious in this story. I think both of those things detracted a bit from the story for me.
However, there were a few things I loved about the story. I love how Soap develops as a character and how he really comes into his own in this book. I also loved the interactions with Lord Akeldama. Additionally Mademoiselle Geraldine has some fascinating secrets of her own.
Things are wrapped up nicely. I have enjoyed all the books set in this entertaining Victorian steampunk world full of vampires and werewolves.
Overall an entertaining and well done conclusion to the Finishing School series. I would recommend to those who enjoy humorous steampunk reads. While this is not my favorite Carriger series (the Custard Protocol holds that honor right now) it is still a very fun read and I enjoyed the series as a whole.
Bridget O. (sixteendays) -
I have had such a semi-interested/semi-meh relationship with the whole Finishing School series, that it's not at all a surprise that end has left me with an overwhelming case of the shrugs.
If anyone had bothered to ask me back in book two how I thought it would all end, well I suppose I could have called it, as literally nothing was a surprise and no real chances were taken whatsoever.
The best part of this book was Agatha, who had some surprising secrets to spill, but the absence of Sighead was felt all too strongly. Bumbersnoot was the only character who had a surprising afterwards, even though it is quite unbelievable that Sophronia would give him up after all they'd been through, even to the Queen.
Like with every book in the series, I felt there was potential in the school and it's history that was not lived up to. Sophronia should have been the vehicle to tell the school's story, not the other way around.
If I had to recommend the Finishing School series to anyone, it would only be to people that read the Parasol Protectorate and are deeply desperate for more of the world.
If anyone had bothered to ask me back in book two how I thought it would all end, well I suppose I could have called it, as literally nothing was a surprise and no real chances were taken whatsoever.
The best part of this book was Agatha, who had some surprising secrets to spill, but the absence of Sighead was felt all too strongly. Bumbersnoot was the only character who had a surprising afterwards, even though it is quite unbelievable that Sophronia would give him up after all they'd been through, even to the Queen.
Like with every book in the series, I felt there was potential in the school and it's history that was not lived up to. Sophronia should have been the vehicle to tell the school's story, not the other way around.
If I had to recommend the Finishing School series to anyone, it would only be to people that read the Parasol Protectorate and are deeply desperate for more of the world.
