What do you think?
Rate this book
Delightfully Deadly #1
Poison or Protect
London’s most scandalous lady assassin versus one very hot Highlander.
Lady Preshea Villentia, the Mourning Star, has four dead husbands and a nasty reputation. Fortunately, she looks fabulous in black.
What society doesn’t know is that all her husbands were marked for death by Preshea’s employer. And Preshea has one final assignment.
It was supposed to be easy, a house party with minimal bloodshed. Preshea hadn’t anticipated Captain Gavin Ruthven – massive, Scottish, quietly irresistible, and… working for the enemy.
In a battle of wits, Preshea may risk her own heart – a terrifying prospect, as she never knew she had one.
New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger presents a charming love story set in her popular steampunk Parasolverse. May contain plaid, appearances from favorite characters, and the strategic application of leather gloves.
The Delightfully Deadly novellas stand alone and may be read in any order.
Delicate Sensibilities?
Contains men pleasing women, and ladies who know what they want and ask for it, sometimes in detail.
Lady Preshea Villentia, the Mourning Star, has four dead husbands and a nasty reputation. Fortunately, she looks fabulous in black.
What society doesn’t know is that all her husbands were marked for death by Preshea’s employer. And Preshea has one final assignment.
It was supposed to be easy, a house party with minimal bloodshed. Preshea hadn’t anticipated Captain Gavin Ruthven – massive, Scottish, quietly irresistible, and… working for the enemy.
In a battle of wits, Preshea may risk her own heart – a terrifying prospect, as she never knew she had one.
New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger presents a charming love story set in her popular steampunk Parasolverse. May contain plaid, appearances from favorite characters, and the strategic application of leather gloves.
The Delightfully Deadly novellas stand alone and may be read in any order.
Delicate Sensibilities?
Contains men pleasing women, and ladies who know what they want and ask for it, sometimes in detail.
147 pages, ebook
First published June 21, 2016
About the author
Gail Carriger
59 books15.2k followersGail Carriger writes comedies of manners mixed with paranormal romance (and the sexy San Andreas Shifter series as G L Carriger). Her books include the Parasol Protectorate and the Finishing School series. She is published in many languages and has over a dozen NYT bestsellers. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea. Join the Chirrup for sneak peaks of upcoming giggles: http://gailcarriger.com/chirrup
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 723 reviews
November 8, 2020
Poison or Protect by Gail Carriger
Delightfully Deadly book 1. Best read after the Finishing School series. Historical steampunk romance.
Preshea is an undercover assassin. Sure, she has buried four husbands, but society in general is not aware that those four were targeted specifically by her employer. Her current mission should be easy but meeting Gavin has her questioning her own feelings. Who knew she had feelings?
This story is ten years after the Finishing school series where Preshea wasn’t a likable character. Learning about her past and how she was forced into her situation gives her some sympathy. Gavin is a surprise and novelty to Preshea and as their relationship progresses, we cheer them both on to a hea.
Entertaining, engaging and precious.
I listened to an audiobook narrated by Suzanne Lavington who did a fantastic job with voice variations and emotional inflection.
Delightfully Deadly book 1. Best read after the Finishing School series. Historical steampunk romance.
Preshea is an undercover assassin. Sure, she has buried four husbands, but society in general is not aware that those four were targeted specifically by her employer. Her current mission should be easy but meeting Gavin has her questioning her own feelings. Who knew she had feelings?
This story is ten years after the Finishing school series where Preshea wasn’t a likable character. Learning about her past and how she was forced into her situation gives her some sympathy. Gavin is a surprise and novelty to Preshea and as their relationship progresses, we cheer them both on to a hea.
Entertaining, engaging and precious.
I listened to an audiobook narrated by Suzanne Lavington who did a fantastic job with voice variations and emotional inflection.
May 30, 2019
Another novella in the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. I enjoyed it as I've enjoyed all the others! The narrator does a wonderful job - her voice has a liquid cadence - very smooth and matched well with the story. I didn't think I would like the main character as she's in the Finishing School series and is one of the "mean girls." But it was interesting to get to know her better and understand her history and backstory.
July 23, 2016
This was a lot a lot a lot of fun. I'm definitely going to need to look into this series or whatever this is.
June 25, 2016
Poison or Protect is a stand alone romance set in the Parasol Protectorate world and although you can pick this book up even if you've not read anything else by Gail Carriger fans of the series will love the chance to spot a few familiar faces. Who would have guessed that I'd come to like Preshea considering she was one of the bullies in the Finishing School books? I have to admit I was a little nervous when I realised that she was going to be the heroine but I ended up really enjoying seeing a different side to her character.
Preshea is kind of like a black widow, she's certainly put her finishing school training to good use since she's killed all of her previous husbands, but now she's nearly finished her time working for Lord Akeldama she has no intention of marrying again. If she can just carry out one final assignment then she'll finally be free to live life on her own terms and it's something she's really looking forward to. All she has to do is protect one Lord from assassination while also convincing his impressionable young daughter not to marry a fortune hunter. What she hadn't counted on was the fortune hunter's best friend and the rather shocking attraction she feels towards him.
I loved Gavin's character, he's the perfect kind of hero who is capable of fighting alongside his woman not just wrapping her in a protective bubble. He's also brilliant at taking things slow and encouraging Preshea to open up to him and he loves nothing more than making her smile. Preshea initially comes across just as cold hearted as you might expect an assassin to be but once you get to know her you'll start to see a softer side that she usually keeps very well hidden. She's never really had anyone care for her before so it takes her time to learn to let Gavin in but even though their relationship develops quite quickly it never feels rushed or forced.
Poison or Protect was everything I've come to expect from one of this Gail Carriger's stories, it had great characters, a brilliant setting, plenty of humour and a wonderful (and surprisingly steamy!) romance and I can't wait to read more of these Delightfully Deadly novellas.
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review
Preshea is kind of like a black widow, she's certainly put her finishing school training to good use since she's killed all of her previous husbands, but now she's nearly finished her time working for Lord Akeldama she has no intention of marrying again. If she can just carry out one final assignment then she'll finally be free to live life on her own terms and it's something she's really looking forward to. All she has to do is protect one Lord from assassination while also convincing his impressionable young daughter not to marry a fortune hunter. What she hadn't counted on was the fortune hunter's best friend and the rather shocking attraction she feels towards him.
I loved Gavin's character, he's the perfect kind of hero who is capable of fighting alongside his woman not just wrapping her in a protective bubble. He's also brilliant at taking things slow and encouraging Preshea to open up to him and he loves nothing more than making her smile. Preshea initially comes across just as cold hearted as you might expect an assassin to be but once you get to know her you'll start to see a softer side that she usually keeps very well hidden. She's never really had anyone care for her before so it takes her time to learn to let Gavin in but even though their relationship develops quite quickly it never feels rushed or forced.
Poison or Protect was everything I've come to expect from one of this Gail Carriger's stories, it had great characters, a brilliant setting, plenty of humour and a wonderful (and surprisingly steamy!) romance and I can't wait to read more of these Delightfully Deadly novellas.
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review
May 10, 2017
Steampunk is the shit❤️
-----------
I don’t think anyone was much of a fan of Preshea in the Finishing School books. However, here, readers are able to sympathize with a grown-up Preshea. I love how Gail Carriger has crafted her character in this short book. Preshea is still true to her characterization from the previous series – mean and manipulative and seemingly to not like anyone. However, we also learn that she is lost and lonely and cynical of people (for good reasons, too).
Does it give her an excuse to be such a bully back then? No, not really, but it does make sense now why she is the way she is. Also, in this book, we see that even though her default is to be mean to other people, she is not actually a cruel person. She has shown here and there that she does indeed have a compassionate heart.
Overall, Preshea is a mixed bag, and I appreciate that. Is anyone ever really just one thing? I like seeing her complex nature and the way she thinks. Great character development.
In addition, the romance is sweet and I definitely see how well Preshea and Gavin fit together. No complaints here.
Poison or Protect has bits of humor, romance, espionage, sad and thoughtful moments, and strong characterization. I give it 3.5 stars because it has been thoroughly enjoyable.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Is there a happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
What age level would be appropriate?
-----------
I don’t think anyone was much of a fan of Preshea in the Finishing School books. However, here, readers are able to sympathize with a grown-up Preshea. I love how Gail Carriger has crafted her character in this short book. Preshea is still true to her characterization from the previous series – mean and manipulative and seemingly to not like anyone. However, we also learn that she is lost and lonely and cynical of people (for good reasons, too).
Does it give her an excuse to be such a bully back then? No, not really, but it does make sense now why she is the way she is. Also, in this book, we see that even though her default is to be mean to other people, she is not actually a cruel person. She has shown here and there that she does indeed have a compassionate heart.
Overall, Preshea is a mixed bag, and I appreciate that. Is anyone ever really just one thing? I like seeing her complex nature and the way she thinks. Great character development.
In addition, the romance is sweet and I definitely see how well Preshea and Gavin fit together. No complaints here.
Poison or Protect has bits of humor, romance, espionage, sad and thoughtful moments, and strong characterization. I give it 3.5 stars because it has been thoroughly enjoyable.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Is there a happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
What age level would be appropriate?
September 15, 2017
Favorite Quote: "Listen to me, my deadly little pearl. Choose love. Always choose love. If the decision is between love and anything else, choose love."
I haven't read Gail Carriger in so long - fail on my part! I really enjoyed the first few Parasol Protectorate books, and then unfortunately, she fell off my radar. Shame on me. Poison or Protect is an adorable novella, that works well as a stand-alone. It falls in the paranormal/steampunk/historical genre and while it took me a few pages to settle into the prose of this book, it is a fast and adorable read.
Lady Preshea Villentia is known as "The Mourning Star" as she has four dead husbands in the grave. Rumors swirl that she poisoned them all, and Preshea is content to let that rumor go - and is also pretty proud of her title.
Preshea was proud of Mourning Star. It took two dead husbands before they called her anything special at all, and when it stuck through the next two, she knew herself to be infamous. It could have been worse; some of her American counterparts got monikers like Black Widow. Absolutely ghastly.
But as the blurb states, "What society doesn’t know is that all her husbands were marked for death by Preshea’s employer." Oooooh. And her final assignment might look boring on paper, but things turn very interesting. Preshea is a trained assassin, and this employer mentioned, a vampire, sends her to a house party out in the country with two goals: One, to keep the duke, who has passionate political views, and who resides at this house, safe from an assassination attempt. And two, to help the duke remove his daughter's suitor, who he deems to be....unsuitable. Preshea agrees, and off she goes.
Our hero is a huge, growly scottish werewolf. Is there anything better than a growly, scottish werewolf? I think not! He is so cute. He ends up at the same house party for two reasons as well: One, his good friend is the unsuitable suitor, who is a little loud, and talks about topics that aren't really proper, and Gavin goes to help keep his friend, Mr. Jackson in check. It's a hard job:
“My pearl of the sea,” he declared at one point, “I will find for you all the delectables of the briny deep. Have you ever had winkles?”
“Pardon me?” Lady Violet was taken aback.
“Winkles!” said Mr Jackson loudly. “Sea snails, don’t ya know? Like whelks, only smaller. Very tasty. You must try them. Next time I visit the seaside, I shall return with a bouquet of the little creatures.”
“Oh, dear.” Lady Violet was coming over faint.
When they all arrive, witty banter ensues. Preshea has a reputation, and she knows it, and uses it to mingle innocently with the guests, all the while keeping an eye on the duke and try to figure out how to breakup a courtship. As the days progress, Gavin and Preshea start this adorable romance. Preshea has had four husbands who have treated her badly. She considers herself a virgin, because she has never wanted their kisses or sexual advances. Gavin is this huge guy, and she can't help but think the worst of him at first.
He would be no different from the others. His tenderness was a front to hide angry force. He was a soldier and he had killed, like her. Once bare of society's trappings, he would be as demanding as any man, as ignorant of her needs, as cruel in his desire. How dare she want? To forget the past so easily?
But he is so sweet, and so gentle, and when their first kiss does come, it's exactly what Preshea needs:
“Will you be kissing me now?” he wondered.
“Should you like it if I did?”
“Verra much.”
She stood on her tiptoes and braced one hand on his shoulder, the other on his wide chest.
He bent down. He had to; even on her toes she wasn’t tall enough. He waited, though, for her to begin. How did he know how much she needed that patience? How important it was for him not to be just another man who wanted to consume her.
Someone find me a werewolf to kiss, immediately!
Great pacing, great sexual tension, great banter - for a quirky, quick read, pick this one up.
Grade: B+
I haven't read Gail Carriger in so long - fail on my part! I really enjoyed the first few Parasol Protectorate books, and then unfortunately, she fell off my radar. Shame on me. Poison or Protect is an adorable novella, that works well as a stand-alone. It falls in the paranormal/steampunk/historical genre and while it took me a few pages to settle into the prose of this book, it is a fast and adorable read.
Lady Preshea Villentia is known as "The Mourning Star" as she has four dead husbands in the grave. Rumors swirl that she poisoned them all, and Preshea is content to let that rumor go - and is also pretty proud of her title.
Preshea was proud of Mourning Star. It took two dead husbands before they called her anything special at all, and when it stuck through the next two, she knew herself to be infamous. It could have been worse; some of her American counterparts got monikers like Black Widow. Absolutely ghastly.
But as the blurb states, "What society doesn’t know is that all her husbands were marked for death by Preshea’s employer." Oooooh. And her final assignment might look boring on paper, but things turn very interesting. Preshea is a trained assassin, and this employer mentioned, a vampire, sends her to a house party out in the country with two goals: One, to keep the duke, who has passionate political views, and who resides at this house, safe from an assassination attempt. And two, to help the duke remove his daughter's suitor, who he deems to be....unsuitable. Preshea agrees, and off she goes.
Our hero is a huge, growly scottish werewolf. Is there anything better than a growly, scottish werewolf? I think not! He is so cute. He ends up at the same house party for two reasons as well: One, his good friend is the unsuitable suitor, who is a little loud, and talks about topics that aren't really proper, and Gavin goes to help keep his friend, Mr. Jackson in check. It's a hard job:
“My pearl of the sea,” he declared at one point, “I will find for you all the delectables of the briny deep. Have you ever had winkles?”
“Pardon me?” Lady Violet was taken aback.
“Winkles!” said Mr Jackson loudly. “Sea snails, don’t ya know? Like whelks, only smaller. Very tasty. You must try them. Next time I visit the seaside, I shall return with a bouquet of the little creatures.”
“Oh, dear.” Lady Violet was coming over faint.
When they all arrive, witty banter ensues. Preshea has a reputation, and she knows it, and uses it to mingle innocently with the guests, all the while keeping an eye on the duke and try to figure out how to breakup a courtship. As the days progress, Gavin and Preshea start this adorable romance. Preshea has had four husbands who have treated her badly. She considers herself a virgin, because she has never wanted their kisses or sexual advances. Gavin is this huge guy, and she can't help but think the worst of him at first.
He would be no different from the others. His tenderness was a front to hide angry force. He was a soldier and he had killed, like her. Once bare of society's trappings, he would be as demanding as any man, as ignorant of her needs, as cruel in his desire. How dare she want? To forget the past so easily?
But he is so sweet, and so gentle, and when their first kiss does come, it's exactly what Preshea needs:
“Will you be kissing me now?” he wondered.
“Should you like it if I did?”
“Verra much.”
She stood on her tiptoes and braced one hand on his shoulder, the other on his wide chest.
He bent down. He had to; even on her toes she wasn’t tall enough. He waited, though, for her to begin. How did he know how much she needed that patience? How important it was for him not to be just another man who wanted to consume her.
Someone find me a werewolf to kiss, immediately!
Great pacing, great sexual tension, great banter - for a quirky, quick read, pick this one up.
Grade: B+
September 27, 2024
Halloween Bingo 2024
This little novella is the story of two operatives, sent by the vampires and the werewolves, who are to unobtrusively protect their host, the Duke of Snodgrove. Preshea Villentia has outlived four husbands and has a reputation as a skilled poisoner. Captain Gavin Ruthven is a massive Scotsman, retired from the military. They immediately recognize each other as potential assistance or obstacles and the dance begins.
They do manage to prevent the Duke's assassination and to ruin the courtship of his daughter by an unsuitable young man, Gavin's companion Jack. As usual with Carriger, there are ridiculous situations (a live lobster scurrying around the daughter's bedroom, for instance). But these are just the framework the author uses to display the developing romance between Preshea and Gavin.
It turns out that Preshea's marriages were arranged by her employer and the men were marked for death. But before they died, their behaviour towards Preshea has confirmed her opinion that men are brutal and that she is incapable of love. Gavin approaches her gently, treating her like a skittish horse. Can he convince her that she is completely safe with him, that he will never overpower her or take away her options? His careful courtship and Preshea's sexual awakening are the true point of the story.
I read this for the Punk'd square on my Bingo Card. The steampunk details are few, but present.
This little novella is the story of two operatives, sent by the vampires and the werewolves, who are to unobtrusively protect their host, the Duke of Snodgrove. Preshea Villentia has outlived four husbands and has a reputation as a skilled poisoner. Captain Gavin Ruthven is a massive Scotsman, retired from the military. They immediately recognize each other as potential assistance or obstacles and the dance begins.
They do manage to prevent the Duke's assassination and to ruin the courtship of his daughter by an unsuitable young man, Gavin's companion Jack. As usual with Carriger, there are ridiculous situations (a live lobster scurrying around the daughter's bedroom, for instance). But these are just the framework the author uses to display the developing romance between Preshea and Gavin.
It turns out that Preshea's marriages were arranged by her employer and the men were marked for death. But before they died, their behaviour towards Preshea has confirmed her opinion that men are brutal and that she is incapable of love. Gavin approaches her gently, treating her like a skittish horse. Can he convince her that she is completely safe with him, that he will never overpower her or take away her options? His careful courtship and Preshea's sexual awakening are the true point of the story.
I read this for the Punk'd square on my Bingo Card. The steampunk details are few, but present.
November 1, 2021
“Listen to me, my deadly little pearl. Choose love. Always choose love. If the decision is between love and anything else, choose love.”
This was an extremely enjoyable and catchy novel, with a strong and spirited female MC, romance, a bit of spice and some paranormal touches. It's the first book I've tried from Gail Carriger and it most definitely didn't disappoint.
From what I was able to gather, this book belongs to her Parasol Protectorate universe and, before starting Poison or Protect, the first book in the The Delightfully Deadly series (stand-alone romance novellas), it is advisable to read The Finishing School series, as it takes place beforehand and describes the world better. However, I enjoyed this one without having read the prequel, since Poison or Protect can be viewed as a stand-alone.
"Always inspire ardor or terror – it matters not which, for in society, they share the same sauce."
》》The Plot《《
The notorious lady Preshea Villentia is invited to a house party in the countryside, outside of London, and hired for two jobs: protect the Duke and prevent his first-born daughter from marrying Mr Jackson.
Captain Gavin Ruthven, accompanying the upmentioned Mr Jackson, finds himself at the same house party with one mission: stop any assassination attempts on the Duke's life. Unfortunately, his main suspect is the unreasonably beautiful lady Villentia whose reputation precedes her.
“Are all the stories about you true, Lady Villentia?”
She frowned. “All the ones that matter, I suppose. Why? Are you curious about anything in particular? Like most ladies, I dearly love to talk about myself.”
“They say you’ve a poison you spread on your lips. That to kiss you would be deadly.”
“What rot – how could I keep from poisoning myself?”
“I would take the risk, even if it were true.”
》》Characters and Relationships 《《
The characters here reminded me a bit of Amanda Quick's novels: also historical steampunk romances, with females who knew what they wanted and refused to bow to the rules of society. I used to devour those in high-school, long before I've discovered GoodReads and I'm happy to see I can still enjoy this sort of writing.
▪️Lady Preshea Villentia
"Lady Preshea Villentia. The Mourning Star. Widowed too many times under suspicious circumstances, too smart to be caught, and too beautiful to be ostracized. She was like opiates – expensive, intoxicating, and deadly in large doses."
Trained as an assassin, extremely beautiful and definitely deadly, Preshea proved a very enjoyable MC.
▪️Captain Gavin Ruthven
"He smells like Christmas – fresh pine boughs and spices. What right has a man to smell so good?"
I swear he's a Hufflepuff. He's a huge Scottish cinnamonroll, tender but also a very well trained soldier.
▪️Captain Gavin Ruthven and Lady Preshea Villentia
“Lass, I want this clear – I’d apply for the position of fifth husband, if you’d permit.”
“Oh, yes? Here I thought you desired a long and happy life.”
“Aye, lass, but I’d as soon a shorter one with you than a longer one without.”
I enjoyed their banter a lot, as well as the way they were completing each other. Clearly a good match, a relationship that was very easy to follow and even easier to get fond of. One of my favorite moments with them was definitely their teasing the first time they were shown their rooms, on opposite sides of the same hallway, closely followed by them being interrupted by the ghost of Connie.
“You are very beautiful.”
“I know.”
“But, I’m thinking, damaged?”
Preshea smiled. “Better to say deadly.”
While I didn't really hold my breath while reading it, there was little to none character development and I can't say it's one of those really great love stories that inspire hope, it's definitely worth reading when you're looking for some historical steampunk romance with quick wits, enjoyable figures and a happy ending. I'm not in love with it, but I did like it and, therefore, encourage you to give it a shot.
“You are so verra bonnie.” His voice was roughened by need.
She opened her mouth to say something flippant, but…
“Aye, you know it weel. But you dinna know it from me.”
This was an extremely enjoyable and catchy novel, with a strong and spirited female MC, romance, a bit of spice and some paranormal touches. It's the first book I've tried from Gail Carriger and it most definitely didn't disappoint.
From what I was able to gather, this book belongs to her Parasol Protectorate universe and, before starting Poison or Protect, the first book in the The Delightfully Deadly series (stand-alone romance novellas), it is advisable to read The Finishing School series, as it takes place beforehand and describes the world better. However, I enjoyed this one without having read the prequel, since Poison or Protect can be viewed as a stand-alone.
"Always inspire ardor or terror – it matters not which, for in society, they share the same sauce."
》》The Plot《《
The notorious lady Preshea Villentia is invited to a house party in the countryside, outside of London, and hired for two jobs: protect the Duke and prevent his first-born daughter from marrying Mr Jackson.
Captain Gavin Ruthven, accompanying the upmentioned Mr Jackson, finds himself at the same house party with one mission: stop any assassination attempts on the Duke's life. Unfortunately, his main suspect is the unreasonably beautiful lady Villentia whose reputation precedes her.
“Are all the stories about you true, Lady Villentia?”
She frowned. “All the ones that matter, I suppose. Why? Are you curious about anything in particular? Like most ladies, I dearly love to talk about myself.”
“They say you’ve a poison you spread on your lips. That to kiss you would be deadly.”
“What rot – how could I keep from poisoning myself?”
“I would take the risk, even if it were true.”
》》Characters and Relationships 《《
The characters here reminded me a bit of Amanda Quick's novels: also historical steampunk romances, with females who knew what they wanted and refused to bow to the rules of society. I used to devour those in high-school, long before I've discovered GoodReads and I'm happy to see I can still enjoy this sort of writing.
▪️Lady Preshea Villentia
"Lady Preshea Villentia. The Mourning Star. Widowed too many times under suspicious circumstances, too smart to be caught, and too beautiful to be ostracized. She was like opiates – expensive, intoxicating, and deadly in large doses."
Trained as an assassin, extremely beautiful and definitely deadly, Preshea proved a very enjoyable MC.
▪️Captain Gavin Ruthven
"He smells like Christmas – fresh pine boughs and spices. What right has a man to smell so good?"
I swear he's a Hufflepuff. He's a huge Scottish cinnamonroll, tender but also a very well trained soldier.
▪️Captain Gavin Ruthven and Lady Preshea Villentia
“Lass, I want this clear – I’d apply for the position of fifth husband, if you’d permit.”
“Oh, yes? Here I thought you desired a long and happy life.”
“Aye, lass, but I’d as soon a shorter one with you than a longer one without.”
I enjoyed their banter a lot, as well as the way they were completing each other. Clearly a good match, a relationship that was very easy to follow and even easier to get fond of. One of my favorite moments with them was definitely their teasing the first time they were shown their rooms, on opposite sides of the same hallway, closely followed by them being interrupted by the ghost of Connie.
“You are very beautiful.”
“I know.”
“But, I’m thinking, damaged?”
Preshea smiled. “Better to say deadly.”
While I didn't really hold my breath while reading it, there was little to none character development and I can't say it's one of those really great love stories that inspire hope, it's definitely worth reading when you're looking for some historical steampunk romance with quick wits, enjoyable figures and a happy ending. I'm not in love with it, but I did like it and, therefore, encourage you to give it a shot.
“You are so verra bonnie.” His voice was roughened by need.
She opened her mouth to say something flippant, but…
“Aye, you know it weel. But you dinna know it from me.”
June 20, 2019
Trigger warnings: gun violence, death (in the past), abusive relationships (in the past).
20/6/2019
Let's all just stop and laugh hysterically at Past!Me saying "romance books aren't really my thing" because GIRL. YOU'RE A DUMB DUMB. THEY ARE DEFINITELY YOUR THING.
This is super cute and really fun and I loved the dynamic between Preshea and Gavin. I just wish Carriger would continue writing these novellas because I WANT MORE OF THEM PLS.
21/6/2016
This is the beginning of a new series of romance novellas set in between the Finishing School series and the Parasol Protectorate series. I was a little hesitant going into this one, because romance books aren't really my thing, and Preshea wasn't one of my favourite characters in the Finishing School series. But it was a hell of a lot of fun, and lets us see a new period of the same world we know and love.
It's less paranormal than Carriger's other works, but it was so damned fun that I didn't really care.
20/6/2019
Let's all just stop and laugh hysterically at Past!Me saying "romance books aren't really my thing" because GIRL. YOU'RE A DUMB DUMB. THEY ARE DEFINITELY YOUR THING.
This is super cute and really fun and I loved the dynamic between Preshea and Gavin. I just wish Carriger would continue writing these novellas because I WANT MORE OF THEM PLS.
21/6/2016
This is the beginning of a new series of romance novellas set in between the Finishing School series and the Parasol Protectorate series. I was a little hesitant going into this one, because romance books aren't really my thing, and Preshea wasn't one of my favourite characters in the Finishing School series. But it was a hell of a lot of fun, and lets us see a new period of the same world we know and love.
It's less paranormal than Carriger's other works, but it was so damned fun that I didn't really care.
April 18, 2018
It hurts to say it, but I was not at all jazzed about this book. I enjoy Carriger, and she's so incredibly skilled at world-building and has quite the wit, but boy, I don't know what this novella was intending to be.
*You'd only know it was steampunk if you were familiar with her previous books. This is missing the Carriger world that makes her books so enjoyable. As a result, it feels flat and two-dimensional.
*The mystery (who is after the duke? What do they intend to do?) seemed quite interesting. Too bad it dropped off the map. To be fair, the actual mystery is always Carriger's weakness, but it's usually like watching a Hitchcock movie--you're so wrapped up in the drama, it isn't until later that you realize the actual mystery or mission wasn't really that important. There's so little meat to this novella though, that this weakness sticks out pretty badly.
So it's not really steampunk, and it's not really a mystery. That leaves romance. Which I read quite often, and I enjoy, but not here. There were too many hangups on Preshea's part to work out in the length of a novella without it seeming rushed. I was not digging Gavin. He was waaaay too beta. In fact, I can't even call him beta. It's...well, I don't know what it is, but I was not into him. His "proclivities" were written in a way that conjured up an earnest non-writer's first attempt at conveying a feminist romance. It was all, "I love strong women. Use me for your pleasure, and I will help erase the hurts of all those other horrible men, for I am strong, yet sensitive." Blergh. And don't even get me started on the role of Jack in all of this nonsense.
Carriger could've gone somewhere with the daddy storyline, but that interesting avenue gets wrapped up in a vague bow at the end of the book. You're told what Preshea does to him, but there's not enough development from earlier for you to really care.
The final grumpy straw on the camel's grumpy back was Preshea's "flirting" in response to Gavin saying he hadn't seen hair as dark as hers outside of the West Indies. Her response? "Are you likening my hair to that of a heathen?" Scrrrrtchh. Record scratch. Now, I get that this is during the time of the Empire, but when writing for a 21st century audience, that's a line you give to an unlikable character, *not* your main heroine.
Overall, it's a novella that fails at being a novella. Either it should've been expanded out to a full novel, or it should've been tightened up considerably. The neither fish nor fowl aspect keeps it from being a winner. So why two stars instead of one? Why, for Lord Akeldama of course. I enjoyed seeing him, however briefly.
*You'd only know it was steampunk if you were familiar with her previous books. This is missing the Carriger world that makes her books so enjoyable. As a result, it feels flat and two-dimensional.
*The mystery (who is after the duke? What do they intend to do?) seemed quite interesting. Too bad it dropped off the map. To be fair, the actual mystery is always Carriger's weakness, but it's usually like watching a Hitchcock movie--you're so wrapped up in the drama, it isn't until later that you realize the actual mystery or mission wasn't really that important. There's so little meat to this novella though, that this weakness sticks out pretty badly.
So it's not really steampunk, and it's not really a mystery. That leaves romance. Which I read quite often, and I enjoy, but not here. There were too many hangups on Preshea's part to work out in the length of a novella without it seeming rushed. I was not digging Gavin. He was waaaay too beta. In fact, I can't even call him beta. It's...well, I don't know what it is, but I was not into him. His "proclivities" were written in a way that conjured up an earnest non-writer's first attempt at conveying a feminist romance. It was all, "I love strong women. Use me for your pleasure, and I will help erase the hurts of all those other horrible men, for I am strong, yet sensitive." Blergh. And don't even get me started on the role of Jack in all of this nonsense.
Carriger could've gone somewhere with the daddy storyline, but that interesting avenue gets wrapped up in a vague bow at the end of the book. You're told what Preshea does to him, but there's not enough development from earlier for you to really care.
The final grumpy straw on the camel's grumpy back was Preshea's "flirting" in response to Gavin saying he hadn't seen hair as dark as hers outside of the West Indies. Her response? "Are you likening my hair to that of a heathen?" Scrrrrtchh. Record scratch. Now, I get that this is during the time of the Empire, but when writing for a 21st century audience, that's a line you give to an unlikable character, *not* your main heroine.
Overall, it's a novella that fails at being a novella. Either it should've been expanded out to a full novel, or it should've been tightened up considerably. The neither fish nor fowl aspect keeps it from being a winner. So why two stars instead of one? Why, for Lord Akeldama of course. I enjoyed seeing him, however briefly.
June 6, 2016
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up LIKING Preshea. After getting to know her in the Finishing School series (of which I've only read the first three, so things might have turned around in the final book), I simply didn't expect to be rooting so fiercely for her and Gavin to work things out.
Let's face it, a woman who is known for her dead husbands isn't necessarily the type you'd expect would fit so perfectly with a big, brawny Scotsman with an unexpectedly gentle side. But they do. SO WELL!
Annnnd, I'm just going to throw in that I'm smitten with Gavin. The guy knows how to hold his own in a fight and yet he's willing to go slow and easy when Preshea needs him to. *heart eyes* These big, brawny Scotsmen are favorites of mine in this series. Whether they're werewolves or not.
I'm very excited by this series of books. Steamy romance chock full of both old faces and new. *slow thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Let's face it, a woman who is known for her dead husbands isn't necessarily the type you'd expect would fit so perfectly with a big, brawny Scotsman with an unexpectedly gentle side. But they do. SO WELL!
Annnnd, I'm just going to throw in that I'm smitten with Gavin. The guy knows how to hold his own in a fight and yet he's willing to go slow and easy when Preshea needs him to. *heart eyes* These big, brawny Scotsmen are favorites of mine in this series. Whether they're werewolves or not.
I'm very excited by this series of books. Steamy romance chock full of both old faces and new. *slow thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
June 27, 2016
*4.5 stars*
Utterly delicious paranormal romance for adults, with lots of humor and fun and real heart underneath the witty, sparkling surface. You could certainly read it without having read any of her other books; on the other hand, having loathed Preshea as a side-character in Carriger's YA books, it was actually really, really fun to see her all grown-up and to shock myself by truly loving her as the heroine in this book. I'm so glad Carriger's writing these novellas, and I can't wait to read the next one.
Utterly delicious paranormal romance for adults, with lots of humor and fun and real heart underneath the witty, sparkling surface. You could certainly read it without having read any of her other books; on the other hand, having loathed Preshea as a side-character in Carriger's YA books, it was actually really, really fun to see her all grown-up and to shock myself by truly loving her as the heroine in this book. I'm so glad Carriger's writing these novellas, and I can't wait to read the next one.
January 23, 2022
What a disappointment. Personally I prefer a book with a plot. Maybe some humor could have helped. The 'plot' of this book: big, good looking Scot and small, exquisitely beautiful lady experience mutual lust at first sight, followed by flirtation and long drawn out sex scene. Presumably the sex scene ended and some kind of story resumed. I don't know, I threw in the towel, returned the audiobook, and got my money back. The main characters were just cardboard cutouts, the world-building was nonexistent. This felt phoned in.
August 25, 2017
4 "Black Widow" Stars for the story and narration.
I'm a fan of the romance subgenre of steampunk and had been wanting to try Gail Carriger's works for some time now. So when I got the chance to review Poison or Protect, the debut of her new series, Delightfully Deadly, I jumped at the chance.
Set in the Spring of 1867 between Ms. Carriger's previous two well known series: about 10 years after the Finishing School Series (a YA age romance) and 10 years before Parisol Protectorates Series (an adult age romance); there is an author's note that the Delightfully Deadly Series can be read or listened to as a standalone in any order. Having not previously listened to these other series, I can vouch that I had no trouble following the plot or romance.
Lady Preshea Villentia, also known as the "Mourning Star," has a deadly reputation as a wife. Trained at the famous finishing school (from the previous YA series), and leaving a trail of dead husbands in her wake, all four of her previous husbands have turned up dead lending fuel to the rumor that she is an assassin who carries forth her profession in a most personal way. Her beauty, however, is entrancing--a trait that her vampire "employer" counts on--which means that men continue to put themselves in the line of danger for a chance at being her one true love.
There is one Scottish Captain, Gavin Ruthven, however, who is not oblivious to the true nature of her charms though he too is attracted to her. Unfortunately for him it appears that Preshea's next assignment is focused on his friend--an assignment he is determined to make fail. But when Preshea's mission appears to take a less deadly turn, Gavin and Preshea end up being together long enough to feel their mutual attraction. Could there ever be a HEA between such good and evil opposites? Particularly given that Preshea has never ever been loved by anyone before, and therefore believes she lacks the ability to do so, could a HEA ever be in the cards for Preshea even for the right man?
Suzanne Lavington narrated Poison or Protect. This was my first experience with Ms. Lavington and I generally enjoyed her pleasing voice. She also did a good job with varying her pitch to provide differentiation among the characters, including by producing deep enough sounding voices to convincingly sound male, a trait which can be a difficult feat for some female narrators. Ms. Lavington also did a good job with creating accents as both British and Scottish sounding accents are necessary for this story.
There was one effect of the narration, however, which I had never heard before, and which I'm still pondering. Throughout the book there were occasional passages that were differentiated from the rest of the narration with an echo like effect. I believe these passages highlight when a character is thinking out loud (in their own head). While it definitely differentiated these thoughts, it also had the effect of bringing the listener out of the audiobook flow at times. It may just be that I had never heard this effect before though. By the end of the book it was definitely less noticeable.
All in all, Delightfully Deadly was a decent debut to a new series. I enjoyed the steampunk setting and blending of vampires with a historical romance feel. I can certainly see how the world building in this series (which is the same as Ms. Carriger's other two series could make for a fascinating storyline). The one area, however, where I felt the plot was a little more rushed was in the romance department. However, as this book was a novella length novel, this is frequently an effect of the shortened nature of this stories and therefore is somewhat to be expected.
My curiosity has definitely been piqued. My plan now is to go back to some of Ms. Carriger's backlist titles from the Finishing School or Parasol Protectorate Series to further explore this promising world.
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
I'm a fan of the romance subgenre of steampunk and had been wanting to try Gail Carriger's works for some time now. So when I got the chance to review Poison or Protect, the debut of her new series, Delightfully Deadly, I jumped at the chance.
Set in the Spring of 1867 between Ms. Carriger's previous two well known series: about 10 years after the Finishing School Series (a YA age romance) and 10 years before Parisol Protectorates Series (an adult age romance); there is an author's note that the Delightfully Deadly Series can be read or listened to as a standalone in any order. Having not previously listened to these other series, I can vouch that I had no trouble following the plot or romance.
Lady Preshea Villentia, also known as the "Mourning Star," has a deadly reputation as a wife. Trained at the famous finishing school (from the previous YA series), and leaving a trail of dead husbands in her wake, all four of her previous husbands have turned up dead lending fuel to the rumor that she is an assassin who carries forth her profession in a most personal way. Her beauty, however, is entrancing--a trait that her vampire "employer" counts on--which means that men continue to put themselves in the line of danger for a chance at being her one true love.
There is one Scottish Captain, Gavin Ruthven, however, who is not oblivious to the true nature of her charms though he too is attracted to her. Unfortunately for him it appears that Preshea's next assignment is focused on his friend--an assignment he is determined to make fail. But when Preshea's mission appears to take a less deadly turn, Gavin and Preshea end up being together long enough to feel their mutual attraction. Could there ever be a HEA between such good and evil opposites? Particularly given that Preshea has never ever been loved by anyone before, and therefore believes she lacks the ability to do so, could a HEA ever be in the cards for Preshea even for the right man?
Suzanne Lavington narrated Poison or Protect. This was my first experience with Ms. Lavington and I generally enjoyed her pleasing voice. She also did a good job with varying her pitch to provide differentiation among the characters, including by producing deep enough sounding voices to convincingly sound male, a trait which can be a difficult feat for some female narrators. Ms. Lavington also did a good job with creating accents as both British and Scottish sounding accents are necessary for this story.
There was one effect of the narration, however, which I had never heard before, and which I'm still pondering. Throughout the book there were occasional passages that were differentiated from the rest of the narration with an echo like effect. I believe these passages highlight when a character is thinking out loud (in their own head). While it definitely differentiated these thoughts, it also had the effect of bringing the listener out of the audiobook flow at times. It may just be that I had never heard this effect before though. By the end of the book it was definitely less noticeable.
All in all, Delightfully Deadly was a decent debut to a new series. I enjoyed the steampunk setting and blending of vampires with a historical romance feel. I can certainly see how the world building in this series (which is the same as Ms. Carriger's other two series could make for a fascinating storyline). The one area, however, where I felt the plot was a little more rushed was in the romance department. However, as this book was a novella length novel, this is frequently an effect of the shortened nature of this stories and therefore is somewhat to be expected.
My curiosity has definitely been piqued. My plan now is to go back to some of Ms. Carriger's backlist titles from the Finishing School or Parasol Protectorate Series to further explore this promising world.
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
August 26, 2019
A beautiful young widow with 4 dead husbands and a reputation meets incredibly handsome Scotsman at a stately home. She is there on order of the vampires to guard a politician from an assassination attempt - he is there to do the same task, only by order of the werewolves. Throw into the mix a bumbling suitor, a ghost and a frightened lobster and you have a typical Carriger adventure.
Not my favourite of her stories - but certainly the appearance of a favourite character from her other books cheered me up.
A nice little historical steampunk romance.
Not my favourite of her stories - but certainly the appearance of a favourite character from her other books cheered me up.
A nice little historical steampunk romance.
June 27, 2016
Well, goodness. THAT was fun! Delicious, a little pain (Preshea is very unhappy), but steamy and a lovely end. I'm not usually one to read, er, more erotic romances but it's Carriger! Always choose love, Preshea! And good lord, consent and mutual pleasure in sexual situations is, shall we say... very, very nicely handled to sensual effect!
April 20, 2018
Non malaccio, ma non una lettura gradevole come gli altri cicli.
Spero che i prossimi romanzi siano meglio.
Spero che i prossimi romanzi siano meglio.
July 15, 2016
4.5 stars
I have been a huge fan of Gail Carriger since reading Soulless way back in 2011! Carriger has a wonderful whit that translates so well onto the pages of her stories.
When this short story came across my desk for review, I was thrilled to read another book set in the same world that Carriger has crafted so well!
Over the years she has written the Parasol Protectorate series which is more of an adult read, and then the Finishing School series which is more of a YA read but both are set in the same world that the PP series begins.
This novella is more of an adult romance with a little intrigue mixed in. I thought both of the main characters had chemistry and Carriger wrote tasteful love scenes that were erotic as well as tender. I felt invested in their relationship and enjoyed watching Preshea overcome her own reservations about love. Preshea obviously came with baggage and had issues she needed to work out but Gavin never ‘forced’ her to love him nor did he try to change or rescue her which I liked. He respected just as she was and that alone made me love him as the hero of the romance.
The intrigue part of the story was a little bland for me. With short stories or novellas sometimes it’s difficult to develop a meaningful backstory. In this book, Preshea and Gavin meet because they are both on an assignment to protect the Duke Snodgrove who is their host for a country party. They are to protect him from an assassination attempt…..an attempt is made but that’s basically it. After that it’s all romance and happy endings without any resolution to the intrigue story line.
Had this been a full length book that story line would have to be tied up and explained more but because this was a novella, I wasn’t that bothered by the unfinished plot line but I would have liked to see more of an explanation for it beyond just being a catalyst for the two main characters ‘meeting’…..if that makes sense.
The focus of this novella was clearly the romance, which I was fine with. Carriger writes so beautifully, her wit and charm echo on the pages of all her books. I see this novella is part of a new series set in the same world as the PP series and the Finishing School books, with the Finishing School characters being all grown up…..I wonder if they will all follow a similar format as this one? I love the world that Carriger has constructed so much that on one hand I don’t care if the stories are shorter but at the same time I am craving more lengthy, developed books and stories.
All that said, I loved this book! It was a quick read (147 ish pages) and the romance was satisfying and I loved the supernatural and steampunk elements casually mixed in. Another hit for Carriger! Now I’m going to pour myself a cup of tea and wait for the next installment to this new series!
See my full review here
I have been a huge fan of Gail Carriger since reading Soulless way back in 2011! Carriger has a wonderful whit that translates so well onto the pages of her stories.
When this short story came across my desk for review, I was thrilled to read another book set in the same world that Carriger has crafted so well!
Over the years she has written the Parasol Protectorate series which is more of an adult read, and then the Finishing School series which is more of a YA read but both are set in the same world that the PP series begins.
This novella is more of an adult romance with a little intrigue mixed in. I thought both of the main characters had chemistry and Carriger wrote tasteful love scenes that were erotic as well as tender. I felt invested in their relationship and enjoyed watching Preshea overcome her own reservations about love. Preshea obviously came with baggage and had issues she needed to work out but Gavin never ‘forced’ her to love him nor did he try to change or rescue her which I liked. He respected just as she was and that alone made me love him as the hero of the romance.
The intrigue part of the story was a little bland for me. With short stories or novellas sometimes it’s difficult to develop a meaningful backstory. In this book, Preshea and Gavin meet because they are both on an assignment to protect the Duke Snodgrove who is their host for a country party. They are to protect him from an assassination attempt…..an attempt is made but that’s basically it. After that it’s all romance and happy endings without any resolution to the intrigue story line.
Had this been a full length book that story line would have to be tied up and explained more but because this was a novella, I wasn’t that bothered by the unfinished plot line but I would have liked to see more of an explanation for it beyond just being a catalyst for the two main characters ‘meeting’…..if that makes sense.
The focus of this novella was clearly the romance, which I was fine with. Carriger writes so beautifully, her wit and charm echo on the pages of all her books. I see this novella is part of a new series set in the same world as the PP series and the Finishing School books, with the Finishing School characters being all grown up…..I wonder if they will all follow a similar format as this one? I love the world that Carriger has constructed so much that on one hand I don’t care if the stories are shorter but at the same time I am craving more lengthy, developed books and stories.
All that said, I loved this book! It was a quick read (147 ish pages) and the romance was satisfying and I loved the supernatural and steampunk elements casually mixed in. Another hit for Carriger! Now I’m going to pour myself a cup of tea and wait for the next installment to this new series!
See my full review here
June 24, 2016
4.5 stars
Source: e-arc provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Review:
I’ve always enjoyed Carriger’s books. They’re whip smart and a witty blend of historical/urban fantasy, steampunk and high tea.
Poison or Protect kicks off anew spinoff series set in the spring of 1867. 10 years after the Finishing School series (YA) and 10 years before the Parasol Protectorate series (adult). There is more emphasis on the romance but it still has everything you love about her previous works.
Preshea Villentia is a very stand off-ish but wonderful heroine. She is confident in her beauty and skills as an assassin. She’s known in social circles as the Mourning Star because of her 4 dead husbands. While she’s invited to parties and mingles with her peers, there’s a polite distance. People are afraid of her and Preshea likes to maintain a cold veneer and not form any relationships, finding it very difficult, for good reason, to trust others.
On her last assignment for Lord Akeldama, Preshea has a dual purpose – stop a blossoming courtship and protect her host from an assassination attempt.
This puts her squarely in the path of the very physically intimidating Scotsman, Captain Gavin Ruthvan. Preshea finds him quite attractive and intelligent but is he the assassin she’s been assigned to take out? And can Preshea ever fully trust a man with her body and heart?
Preshea and Gavin are evenly matched. Both experts in their professions, willing to take out the other if need be – but doing the verbal dance that brings them closer together. This novella is a bit sexier than Carriger’s previous works and the romance has everything I love. A nice guy and genuine intimacy.
Originally posted at For What It's Worth on 6/21/16 http://www.fwiwreviews.net/2016/06/re...
Preshea doesn’t make it easy on Gavin because of her trust issues but he is so kind and patient, always letting her make the first move. He appreciates her for who she is, never trying to make her conform and is always willing to listen, and more importantly believe, the truth about her past.
Add in several delightful female friendships, a bit of drama and this is another delightful story from this world. All in all a rollicking fun time!
*Just a quick note – you don’t need to have read any of the previous books from either series. I have read several, but not all, from both and had no problems following along. In fact, this novella would be a nice one to try if you've wanted to sample Carriger's writing style. If you have read all her books, then there are fun cameos that will add to your enjoyment.
Source: e-arc provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Review:
I’ve always enjoyed Carriger’s books. They’re whip smart and a witty blend of historical/urban fantasy, steampunk and high tea.
Poison or Protect kicks off anew spinoff series set in the spring of 1867. 10 years after the Finishing School series (YA) and 10 years before the Parasol Protectorate series (adult). There is more emphasis on the romance but it still has everything you love about her previous works.
Preshea Villentia is a very stand off-ish but wonderful heroine. She is confident in her beauty and skills as an assassin. She’s known in social circles as the Mourning Star because of her 4 dead husbands. While she’s invited to parties and mingles with her peers, there’s a polite distance. People are afraid of her and Preshea likes to maintain a cold veneer and not form any relationships, finding it very difficult, for good reason, to trust others.
On her last assignment for Lord Akeldama, Preshea has a dual purpose – stop a blossoming courtship and protect her host from an assassination attempt.
This puts her squarely in the path of the very physically intimidating Scotsman, Captain Gavin Ruthvan. Preshea finds him quite attractive and intelligent but is he the assassin she’s been assigned to take out? And can Preshea ever fully trust a man with her body and heart?
Preshea and Gavin are evenly matched. Both experts in their professions, willing to take out the other if need be – but doing the verbal dance that brings them closer together. This novella is a bit sexier than Carriger’s previous works and the romance has everything I love. A nice guy and genuine intimacy.
Originally posted at For What It's Worth on 6/21/16 http://www.fwiwreviews.net/2016/06/re...
Preshea doesn’t make it easy on Gavin because of her trust issues but he is so kind and patient, always letting her make the first move. He appreciates her for who she is, never trying to make her conform and is always willing to listen, and more importantly believe, the truth about her past.
Add in several delightful female friendships, a bit of drama and this is another delightful story from this world. All in all a rollicking fun time!
*Just a quick note – you don’t need to have read any of the previous books from either series. I have read several, but not all, from both and had no problems following along. In fact, this novella would be a nice one to try if you've wanted to sample Carriger's writing style. If you have read all her books, then there are fun cameos that will add to your enjoyment.
June 23, 2016
I have said before that I think Gail Carriger's writing could not fully shine in her YA series, the more happy I am to say that revisiting the characters when they are older works perfectly.
I would never have thought I'd like Preshea this much.
This little novella was pure pleasure to read. The main story is solid and round in its plot and characters. It also leaves enough room for a steaming romance, which doesn't feel rushed or unbelievable (as much as that is possible in the confines of 150 pages in a Victorian England with vampires, ghosts and werewolfs).
Despite myself I enjoyed reading the long and explicit make out sessions, and you should be aware of such content before reading this. Especially if you have problems reading about sex, or aren't mature enough or ready for such content. (I refuse to say old enough, as it's hard to define this by age alone)
But if you enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate series and want more of Carriger's adult writing, just jump into this. You don't need to have read the Finishing School series to understand the story.
I would never have thought I'd like Preshea this much.
This little novella was pure pleasure to read. The main story is solid and round in its plot and characters. It also leaves enough room for a steaming romance, which doesn't feel rushed or unbelievable (as much as that is possible in the confines of 150 pages in a Victorian England with vampires, ghosts and werewolfs).
Despite myself I enjoyed reading the long and explicit make out sessions, and you should be aware of such content before reading this. Especially if you have problems reading about sex, or aren't mature enough or ready for such content. (I refuse to say old enough, as it's hard to define this by age alone)
But if you enjoyed the Parasol Protectorate series and want more of Carriger's adult writing, just jump into this. You don't need to have read the Finishing School series to understand the story.
December 28, 2016
review to come.
July 23, 2022
2.5 stars
Read
October 24, 20175 Words: Assassin, attraction, society, protection, lust.
Review to come.
Review to come.
July 2, 2016
You can also find these and other reviews on our blog, Quest Reviews: www.questreviews.com
Hooray for my first 2016-release read!
I am officially a die-hard fan of Gail Carriger’s. I started off this year by reading her Parasol Protectorate series, and followed up with her Finishing School series. And I plan on reading her Custard Protocol series in July, which is when the second book Imprudence releases. I will read ANYTHING this woman writes. Also, not to toot my own horn, but she does follow me on Twitter and Instagram which made me squeal in delight when I saw my notifications.
I just adore her. And her cat is gorgeous, not that that’s relevant to her writing…
Poison or Protect (a stand-alone romance) is the first installment in the Delightfully Deadly series which will feature the graduates of Mademoiselle Geraldine’s. Our first heroine is Preshea Buss, who was initially introduced in the Finishing School series. She was a catty, spiteful, unlike-able girl who has grown into a dangerous and wealthy woman. On her mission, she meets an attractive Scottish soldier named Gavin Ruthven.
Even though I knew I would enjoy the book because of the familiar world it was set in and the appearance of some of my favorite characters, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually LIKED Preshea. She is very self-aware, intelligent, and skilled at her chosen profession. She knows her flaws, and she makes no excuses for them. Her maturity and evolution throughout the novella was not reserved simply for Gavin, but allowed her the ability to form healthier relationships with others.
“Always, there was a tiny part of her that wanted to kill any man she knew. On principle.”
Gavin was just a kind, gentle, and swoon-worthy character that complemented Preshea perfectly. Once I started reading the book and realized it was more romance-focused, I was briefly disillusioned. I expected a rake, or one of those regency romance rugged alpha Scotsman tropes that I had left far behind. But that’s not who Gavin was at all, and I found it extremely refreshing.
Note: Not that there is anything wrong with the rugged alpha-man stories! I do enjoy a good bodice-ripper romance once in a while. It’s just that as I’ve grown older and figured out my personal wants and desires in a partner, I realize that I actually don’t find those kinds of men attractive in real life. And the feminist in me occasionally rages against their behavior.
“He liked knowing she could kill him.”
The romantic/sexual scenes were well-written and enjoyable. And honestly, I don’t really know what to say beyond that. It’s a sex-scene guys… fill in the blanks :P. I guess what I’m saying is, if I had the opportunity to have a little fun with Gavin, I would not turn it down. Every woman should be lucky enough to have a little Gavin in their lives. *swoons*
The espionage/mystery element of the book was not fully explored to my satisfaction. But I understand that with this being a novella, the author had to narrow her focus and not bite off more than she could chew. I encourage everyone to download a copy of this ebook. At the very least, it would give you an idea if this author is worth adding to your TBRs.
Hooray for my first 2016-release read!
I am officially a die-hard fan of Gail Carriger’s. I started off this year by reading her Parasol Protectorate series, and followed up with her Finishing School series. And I plan on reading her Custard Protocol series in July, which is when the second book Imprudence releases. I will read ANYTHING this woman writes. Also, not to toot my own horn, but she does follow me on Twitter and Instagram which made me squeal in delight when I saw my notifications.
I just adore her. And her cat is gorgeous, not that that’s relevant to her writing…
Poison or Protect (a stand-alone romance) is the first installment in the Delightfully Deadly series which will feature the graduates of Mademoiselle Geraldine’s. Our first heroine is Preshea Buss, who was initially introduced in the Finishing School series. She was a catty, spiteful, unlike-able girl who has grown into a dangerous and wealthy woman. On her mission, she meets an attractive Scottish soldier named Gavin Ruthven.
Even though I knew I would enjoy the book because of the familiar world it was set in and the appearance of some of my favorite characters, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually LIKED Preshea. She is very self-aware, intelligent, and skilled at her chosen profession. She knows her flaws, and she makes no excuses for them. Her maturity and evolution throughout the novella was not reserved simply for Gavin, but allowed her the ability to form healthier relationships with others.
“Always, there was a tiny part of her that wanted to kill any man she knew. On principle.”
Gavin was just a kind, gentle, and swoon-worthy character that complemented Preshea perfectly. Once I started reading the book and realized it was more romance-focused, I was briefly disillusioned. I expected a rake, or one of those regency romance rugged alpha Scotsman tropes that I had left far behind. But that’s not who Gavin was at all, and I found it extremely refreshing.
Note: Not that there is anything wrong with the rugged alpha-man stories! I do enjoy a good bodice-ripper romance once in a while. It’s just that as I’ve grown older and figured out my personal wants and desires in a partner, I realize that I actually don’t find those kinds of men attractive in real life. And the feminist in me occasionally rages against their behavior.
“He liked knowing she could kill him.”
The romantic/sexual scenes were well-written and enjoyable. And honestly, I don’t really know what to say beyond that. It’s a sex-scene guys… fill in the blanks :P. I guess what I’m saying is, if I had the opportunity to have a little fun with Gavin, I would not turn it down. Every woman should be lucky enough to have a little Gavin in their lives. *swoons*
The espionage/mystery element of the book was not fully explored to my satisfaction. But I understand that with this being a novella, the author had to narrow her focus and not bite off more than she could chew. I encourage everyone to download a copy of this ebook. At the very least, it would give you an idea if this author is worth adding to your TBRs.
July 11, 2016
She would not run if he offered her his body; she would if he offered his heart.
Well, wasn’t this a romp! I confess I was a little disappointed in the tamer nature of Gail Carriger’s last completed series, the Finishing School books – but as they were for a YA audience I understood it and thought she handled the romance aspects of that series with aplomb. This little piece brought back all the spice and sizzle of Soulless, with an intriguing flair for readers of the Finishing School series, as we’re already acquainted with the main character! This is quite a different look at Preshea, as you might expect. Not a book for the middle-school readers, ou-la-la. You d0n’t, however, have to have read any of the prior books to enjoy this one.
Poison or Protect is a novella, so the plot, while there, isn’t terribly exciting, and after all it’s a romance, straight-up. In fact, this might qualify for the “bodice-ripper” category of one of my reading challenges this year…not my usual cup of tea at all, but this is Gail we’re talking about. The prose is what I’ve come to expect from her – by turns sharp, witty, heart-melting, and hysterical.
“He smells like Christmas – fresh pine boughs and spices. What right has a man to smell so good?”
Knife-edged Preshea makes an appearance in usual form, but we get to see that flawless exterior crack (creek episodes not withstanding) here, despite her better judgment. And with a burly Scottish captain, no less. Scottish is definitely not what I would have pictured her with, but it definitely works. Works very well. I needed a glass of cold water after completing the read! The supporting cast is just as entertaining as can be and provide a wonderfully colorful background for the two main characters.
Preshea, unflappable though she might be, was flapped.
I am eagerly awaiting the next installment in this little side series, which I’m delighted will also be in a print version at some point. For what it is, it gets 4/5 stars. It doesn’t have the pretense of being anything other than a romance set in an already established world, and for that it does very, very well.
Then there’s the impending release of Imprudence, which I’ve also had pre-ordered for oh, what, a year? It feels that long, at any rate!
February 7, 2022
I always waver between three stars and five when I read these flippant books that are certainly not examples of literary genius, but leave me completely happy and satiated.
Carriger is so good at creating characters that I alternately like and dislike. That I root for and root against. The world she has created has become something of a reality for me and reading one of her tales set in that world is like slipping into a comfortable community. Not one where I want to live, but one I will always be happy to visit!
This is set past the Finishing School series and focuses on one of the bitchy girls we knew there. Here, she has become a sympathetic character to an extent and as I said before, Carriger brilliantly has me rooting for her happiness by the end.
I recently saw Carriger speak for the third time. She is, in addition to charming, so sweet and sarcastic at the same time that I just long to know her. These books are as close as I will get, but I am so glad they are here! I will always read everything she writes, because a disappointment from her is better than some triumphs from others.
Carriger is so good at creating characters that I alternately like and dislike. That I root for and root against. The world she has created has become something of a reality for me and reading one of her tales set in that world is like slipping into a comfortable community. Not one where I want to live, but one I will always be happy to visit!
This is set past the Finishing School series and focuses on one of the bitchy girls we knew there. Here, she has become a sympathetic character to an extent and as I said before, Carriger brilliantly has me rooting for her happiness by the end.
I recently saw Carriger speak for the third time. She is, in addition to charming, so sweet and sarcastic at the same time that I just long to know her. These books are as close as I will get, but I am so glad they are here! I will always read everything she writes, because a disappointment from her is better than some triumphs from others.
December 13, 2018
These novellas are so wonderful. Sure, they're a little predictable because you know that in each one the MC and the love interest will end up together, but that really doesn't make it less joyful to read them.
There's something very comforting about Gail Carriger's books; they always manage to fill my heart with warmth. They have a perfect combination of romance and comedy, with some darker undertones at times. I love the Victorian fashion, food and strange social rules.
I never thought I'd like Preshea, and I'm not entirely sure if I do now, but I did love reading from her perspective. She's a very interesting character and not your usual main character. The plot was also very compelling. It's more in the background in these novellas, but Preshea having to protect a duke and trying to break up two people was very fun to read about. I really hope another novella is going to come out soon.
There's something very comforting about Gail Carriger's books; they always manage to fill my heart with warmth. They have a perfect combination of romance and comedy, with some darker undertones at times. I love the Victorian fashion, food and strange social rules.
I never thought I'd like Preshea, and I'm not entirely sure if I do now, but I did love reading from her perspective. She's a very interesting character and not your usual main character. The plot was also very compelling. It's more in the background in these novellas, but Preshea having to protect a duke and trying to break up two people was very fun to read about. I really hope another novella is going to come out soon.
February 5, 2017
I read the first twenty percent or so in a happy rush--it was fresh! Fun! Exciting! Mysterious! But all that wore off.
It's repetitive. Falling flat. Like a soufflé. Annoying. Unexpectedly, shockingly disappointing.
I determinedly kept picking it back up, reading a couple chapters, setting it down again. I should like this, I thought. Everyone likes Carriger's quirky tales. Well, I don't. (I've tried two of her books thus far.)
It's just... dry. Dull. Ugh. I eventually became so disenchanted with the perfect... perfectly cold... heroine, I was rooting against her! Not where you want to be with your romance heroine. And the hero? Big is sexy, but you can't hang your whole love on that. He just stood around. Being passive. And big.
Abandoned around 70 percent.
It's repetitive. Falling flat. Like a soufflé. Annoying. Unexpectedly, shockingly disappointing.
I determinedly kept picking it back up, reading a couple chapters, setting it down again. I should like this, I thought. Everyone likes Carriger's quirky tales. Well, I don't. (I've tried two of her books thus far.)
It's just... dry. Dull. Ugh. I eventually became so disenchanted with the perfect... perfectly cold... heroine, I was rooting against her! Not where you want to be with your romance heroine. And the hero? Big is sexy, but you can't hang your whole love on that. He just stood around. Being passive. And big.
Abandoned around 70 percent.
August 1, 2016
This is the authors first venture into erotic romance and as such is a bit unlike her previous works. This book tries to straddle genres in that more than the first half reads like many of the authors previous works and in the second half we get a steamy romance. The two parts of the book feel like they were separately written almost as if each were intended to be their own books but then at the last minute were cobbled together into a longer work.
December 28, 2019
A really engaging, fun read.
I loved reading Carriger again, she's witty, her characters are great and I wish I could follow them in other stories. It's nice to discover more of her universe and I'll certainly read the other novellas.
I loved reading Carriger again, she's witty, her characters are great and I wish I could follow them in other stories. It's nice to discover more of her universe and I'll certainly read the other novellas.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 723 reviews