The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

Y’all lied to me about the spice level. I was UTTERLY jump-scared. And so late into the book too.

Tsk tsk tsk.

OK, OK, but in all seriousness, this was DELIGHTFUL. I cannot stop thinking about the pure magic that is this book.

In sum, this is about a bunch of menopausal Victorian pirate Barbies with cannons and teacups and impeccable manners.

I love nonsense. This was nothing but that. One reviewer mentioned it’s essentially “Jane Austen on shrooms.” I couldn’t agree more.

Please read. Just…. Be aware should you not desire to be jump-scared as I was.

Knowelden’s plummy accent, wry tone, and comedic timing perfectly match the language and style of Holton’s delightfully playful romance series debut. The Wisteria Society are a genteel group of Victorian ladies – who dabble in piracy, proper tea, and polite assassination – all while observing the rules of etiquette. Following the discovery of an ancient flight incantation for houses, the Society ladies prove to be better pilots and pirates than the Royal Army and Navy. Cecilia Bassingthwaite and her Society aunt’s quiet afternoon is interrupted by the arrival of an Italian assassin. Or is he a Queen’s spy? Or is he a hireling of Cecilia’s murderous father? Regardless, Ned Lightbourne’s arrival launches the over-the-top show more caper of manners and immorality. Knowelden deftly balances the serious tone of the intrigue, flirty word play, and outrageous situations. Each scene reveals sly humour which both parodies and respects Victorian romances stylings. Cecilia, Ned, and the Wisteria ladies dance on the edge of decorous conversation with wit as sharp as their rapiers. Knowleden drips villainy with every syllable spoken by Captain Morvath, whose terrible poetry is matched only by is misogyny. To save the Society, Queen Victoria, and all of England, Cecilia and Ned prove their scoundrelry. Fans of The Parasol Protectorate, The Princess Bride, and other rollicking romantic comedies will find themselves crying, Tally ho!, and begging for a sequel.

The improved review was published in Booklist on October 1, 2021. show less

This book was delightful. I saw Kate Storhoff describe it as "if Terry Pratchett wrote a romance novel," and I think that description holds up. It also seems an effective mix of satire + societal commentary as in William Goldman's editorial notes of S. Morgenstern's The Princess Bride, tongue-in-cheek clinging to notions of prim and proper decorum as in the spunky heroines of L.M. Montgomery (sidenote: I am fairly sure Cecilia's aunt must have been inspired by Oscar Wilde's Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest), coming-of-age and coming-into-one's own, and a lovely romance of two utterly complementary persons.

I wanted to inhale the book as soon as my library delivered it to my digital holds on its release date, but made show more myself savor it as much as I could (and immediately procured myself my own print copy as soon as I finished it). I believe the writing style, story, and characters will stand up well to re-readings. I intend to reread works by the Bronte sisters and see if I find more easter egg references than were already obviously alluded to in the text, and then I shall reread it. show less

I can't recall when this book first crossed my bow, so to speak, since we're into pirates here. I don't usually do romance. The title got me, followed closely by "delightfully bonkers" as the review splashed on the adorable cover plus "Victorian", "lady scoundrel", "assassins."
It's Princess Bride on steroids. Lisa Lutz goes fantasy. Monty Python with pistols, daggers and corsets. I enjoyed this so much that a) I hope that someone is filming a movie of it and b) I'm not sure if I'm elated or saddened to know that Holton has written more books like this. Could they possibly be this good and as enjoyable, once you've lost your um, virtue, to this sort of thing?
Pirates who sail homes and castles instead of ships. Pirates who wear all show more manner of weapons but fret about decorum and exposure to sunlight for fear of -- don't say it! Freckles. Pirates who will enjoy a fine Darjeeling even as the cannons are firing, and the house is being boarded and stolen.
Thank you, India Holton, I needed this frothy confection to uplift my um, skirts, no, um, mood, yes, that's it. Mood. Great fun. show less

Members of a ladies’ society who are scandalous pirates, sticklers for etiquette, and have no patience for patriarchy; flying houses; a love interest who is very Flynn Rider-like; and the wittiest banter this side of The Princess Bride. In other words, a completely fabulous read.

Cecilia Bassingthwaite is the very definition of proper. And she's also a thief with a dark past. Being raised by her aunt, Cecelia longs for the day she'll be accepted into The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. She thinks she has a good chance at getting in now that an assassin has been sent to kill her (a mark of a true pirate).

Besides being hired to kill Cecilia, Ned Lightbourne is immediately captivated by her. But he won't let that stand in the way of his job as hired by the dread Captain Morvath who plans to rid England of the Wisteria Society one bad poem at a time.

But Cecilia and the other women of the Society will not go quietly. If they go out it'll be with guns a-blazing.

Honestly, I cannot even begin to formulate how show more surprised I was by this book. I went in obviously knowing I was interested in reading the story, but I was not prepared for how much fun this book was! From the very first page when Cecilia first thwarts Ned's assassination plans, I was hooked. The banter and back-and-forth between all that characters was whip-smart and on point. It's one of those books that you have to get into the flow of the dialogue in order to really appreciate the subtleties and nuances of all that's taking place. Plus, the image in my mind of these Victorian houses flying around with their canon's firing is not something I'll soon forget.

Of course I loved every interaction between Cecilia and Ned. They are the perfect definition of enemies to well...maybe enemies who love each other? I love the fact that they are on such opposite sides from one another and don't stray from those sides, but still fall for one another. It's interesting and dare I say very piratical. Very full of delightful contradictions much like everything in the book including the ladies of the Wisteria Society themselves.

It's almost difficult to form a coherent review of this book because it was just so much fun, but at times it was bonkers as well - in a good way mind you. If you are looking for something on the lighter side, that's fast paced, and quick witted you will be extremely satisfied with this book.

I'm now waiting with bated breath for the next installment! show less

This book did not steal my heart, no. I simply left it unattended and begging for a new home, which this read so graciously provided. How kind, indeed!

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels was fantastical, fun, and hilarious— er, that is to say, ridiculous.

It’s a lighthearted read, albeit a bit confusing at first. But, as you read and familiarize yourself with the writing style, it is easy to lose yourself in its trance!!

The biggest rule when reading this is to take nothing seriously. It’s sarcastic and satirical with the type of dry humor you either love or hate. It might be like if The Princess Bride was more risqué. There is a list of characters at the beginning that seems long and daunting, but many characters are one (this show more confused me greatly at first). Our Ned is a man of many names, after all!

The romance in this is super fun. Assassin (and various other masks) x target, Ned and Cecelia offer a lighthearted take on “enemies” to lovers. Their chemistry is insane and their banter amusing, I loved reading about their relationship. And, yes! There was yearning! So. Much. Yearning. It was glorious.

I really enjoyed this book! I will definitely read the companion books that follow. show less