All right, I liked this one quite a bit. I’m invested in the series now. But I’m still only giving this 3.5 stars, rounded up, because it shouldn’t take you two books to be emotionally invested. I should have been in like Flynn after book one. Anyway, I finished this book in a frenzy and immediately wanted the next one (which I’m not getting to until next month, sadface), so that’s a great sign.
Sophronia and Co. are halfway through their second year at Madame Geraldine’s Finishing School. Sidheag receives notice that something is wrong with her pack (werewolf) and leaves school mysteriously with their werewolf teacher, Captain Niall. Sophronia, Dimity, Pillover, Felix (there as Sophronia’s date), and Soap (who has tagged along to spy on Sophronia and Felix, I think?) travel to London for Sophronia’s brother’s engagement party and end up meeting with Sidheag and helping her steal a train so that she can get to Scotland. Of course the nefarious Picklemen also get involved, as do the vampires.
What was really fun about this book was that all the characters were together in one place for a really long period of time. Usually it’s just Sophronia interacting with a couple of them at a time. The train stealing was also great, because we got to see characters in action, and the tension in the close quarters did good things for the narrative. It finally forces Sophronia to see Soap and Felix for who they really are. Of course, the books continue to be very full of silly things as well, and characters named Dingleproops and Barnaclegoose, as well as an appreciation for very poofy skirts and tea.
The ending shakes up the status quo of this series pretty hard, which I appreciated, and now I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.
[3.5 stars]
