Waiscoats and Weaponry

Carriger, Gail. Waiscoats and Weaponry. Book 3 of the Finishing School series. 2014. 298p. ISBN 978-0-316-19027-5. Available at FIC CAR on the library shelves.

Still enrolled at Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality, Sophronia Temminnick continues her spy and assassin studies with the faculty. Spending time with her best friends Dimity, Sidheag, and Agatha, they are getting ready to attend the bethrothal of Sophronia’s eldest brother. This will be the perfect time to practice their new seduction skills.

When an emergency letter arrives for Lady Kingair, everything changes. Sidheag flees the flying school with Captain Niall, leaving Sophronia behind to cover her tracks. Meanwhile, things are heating up with Soap and with Lord Felix, and the two of them end up rivals for Sophronia’s affection as they both attend the party at the Teminnick’s estate. The mechanicals suddenly begin singing before being knocked out of commission. Sidhead and two werewolves show up at the estate and report that the Kingair alpha is no more and the pack must be protected at all costs. She must head to Scotland right away.

Accompanied by Soap, Lord Felix, Sidhead and Dimity, Sophronia uses her small air dirigeable and lands on a moving train, hoping to reach Scotland. But then, her old nemesis Monique, now in the service of the vampires, is on board for some nefarious purpose. And the train seem to be following a flywayman airship allied with the Picklemen. What is going on here? Soon, Sophronia and her friends uncover a conspiracy that could destroy the British Empire. Finally, Sophronia will have to make difficult decisions: To whom should she give her heart? Where does her loyalty lie? And, most importantly, can she protect all of her friends?

The story concludes in Manners and Mutiny.