Since I’m too chicken to see How to Train Your Dragon 3 (more on that next week) I’m going to talk about a few bookish things instead 🙂
When I’m not reading Gotham fanfiction based on Psych episodes, I read books. This month it was The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy. I’ll also talk about Dark Desires, an upcoming dark fantasy short story that mixes faerie and high school. Everything will be spoiler free, except for mild GGTVV spoilers, and maybe the comments section.
The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy (Mackenzi Lee)
I read The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in April last year, and when I heard there was going to be a sequel I awaited it eagerly.
Lady’s Guide follows Monty’s sister Felicity as she tries to become a doctor in a time period where men dominate the medical field. It has dragons (who doesn’t love dragons?), pirates, an aro/ace heroine (who I adored), three very different, strong, sassy female characters, and Monty and Percy (from GGTVV) make an appearance. Everything I love in one neat little package!
The first line had me hooked, and it’s rare I’ll pick up a book and finish it so quickly:
I have just taken an overly large bite of iced bun when Callum slices his finger off.
Felicity is stubborn and excellent at what she does. Joanne has a soft spot for dogs. Sim is an adventurous pirate. They are an awesome team, and the best part? The focus is on friendship, other than Felicity’s brother Monty and love of his life Percy (Who are too adorable for words!).
Lady’s Guide is a whirlwind adventure of friendship, chasing your dreams, and overcoming adversity. I think that’s why I liked it so much. It might not appeal to those who like complicated plots, but if you love great characters it will. (And if a book nearly moves me to tears I know it’s a good book!)
4 stars: Excellent.
Dark Desires (Ronel Janse van Vuuren)
In September last year I beta read a short story for Ronel, and it was an awesome read that kept me guessing. That short story is being released next month 🙂
Hiding in the human realm, in high school no less, Tasha navigates the corridors of teenage life, with the added fear she may be unmasked as otherworldly. When disaster strikes and true selves are revealed, Tasha has to make a choice: Will she save her fellow students from the curse and reveal her true nature, or will she leave them to die and stay safe?
I loved this magical tale. Ronel effortlessly blends the world of the fae with themes any high school student, current or previous, would relate to, from crushes to hiding who you are to fit in. Tasha is, like Felicity from Lady’s Guide, a strong female character with an entertaining inner monologue. If you like folklore and YA short stories, you’ll love this.
4 stars: Excellent.
Check out Ronel’s website for more faerie and folklore, as well as her life as a Rottweiler mum.
Thanks for reading!
Coming soon to the book corner: Dear Evan Hansen, Vicious, and Beyond the Throne!
Next week, my February updates post!
Great reviews–especially Ronels. I definitely must read that. Clicking over…
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Thanks Jacqui, hope you like it 🙂
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Sounds like two good reads, Louise. I’ve heard of The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, and it’s nice to see that there’s a sequel. I’ll have to get reading! Thanks for the recommendations. 🙂
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You’re welcome 🙂
I’m still not sure if I loved Gentleman’s Guide or Lady’s Guide more. Felicity is such a strong willed character, but her brother Monty was so entertaining and adorable!
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I’ve been meaning to read both Mackenzi Lee’s books but…. i never get around to them.
And both books – including the first of Lee’s – are right up my alley.
Great reviews.
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I’m the same with so many books. My list of things to read only seems to get longer! I highly recommend both of Lee’s books, I found them hard to put down 🙂
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ah, the tbr pile…. … it’s so long, sometimes i have nothing to read because i don’t know where to start
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Thanks for the shout out! I’m glad you like Tasha’s story 🙂
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You’re welcome 😀 Have a great weekend!
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You too 🙂
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[…] In January I read daily, but lots of fanfiction. Last month I read mostly book chapters and less fanfiction. I finished the Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, and I loved it. My review here: […]
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Sorry… I have to thank you again for showing me the Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy!! Loved every minute of it 😀
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You’re welcome 😀 Now I need to find something to match it in awesomeness!
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Let me know if you do 🙂
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Will do 😀
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[…] ZOMG… Louise Brady tipped me off on the best book I’ve ever read (more on that in my Reading Things section of […]
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[…] I’ve read two books this year. The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, reviewed here, and Dear Evan Hansen, review to come. I’ve also DNF’d two books: Uprooted and […]
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[…] I adore musicals, and I’ve been waiting since Christmas to read it. I picked it up after Ladies Guide to Petticoats and Piracy and read it in 5 days, despite it not being my usual genre (no dragons, no fantasy, no […]
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[…] enjoying The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, when the option to review Princess of Death landed in my inbox how could I […]
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