Imprudence (The Custard Protocol, 2)

So much of this book didn't make sense and was inconsistent with the series that it makes me seriously consider not going forward with any future books of this series. There will be spoilers ahead but I couldn't see how to write an honest review without doing so.

First is the idea that Prudence would be insecure that anyone would want to marry her is so out of character that is comes off as a forced plot device, it is beyond lame. Here is a woman who has been raised by those who have defeated all the odds and come out on top--why would she think she could not do the same? Her mother was a spinster who married one of the most powerful men in the kingdom. Her 'aunt' and mother's best friend was also destined for spinsterhood, defied all social norms to marry an actor and wound up becoming a vampire queen. Her niece survived a werewolf bite against almost impossible odds to become an alpha female. Her love's mother lived her life on her own terms 'as a man' and has become one of the most successful inventors on the planet. Prudence, unlike her mother, was surrounded by love, dedication, and happiness. To portray her as emotionally scarred and a victim that can trust no one to truly want to marry her without motive other than love just didn't make sense.

*****SPOILERS BEGIN******
Second problem is how she become isolated from her protections was ***SO**** contrived. To say that Queen Victoria...a monarch in this series who has been portrayed as strict, but highly loyal...would throw Prudence out with no legal protections to the point she might not even be legally human just doesn't make sense. For what? A botched treaty? Prudence didn't even have the proper authority to negotiate a treaty. The Queen or Parliament could have just declared it invalid. But to put the world's only known meta-human into danger for a hissy fit doesn't fit the personality of one of England's most successful queens (as she has been shown to be in this story). Would she really risk such a potential resource? Not likely. And what? Queen Victoria is going to ignore the fact that her parents have worked for the good of the Empire for decades and saved it multiple times? Her statement of disgust at Prudence's parents certainly makes no sense. Then the fact that the London pact would throw her out with no protection equally does not make sense. Yes, there is a change of leaders, but come on! Biffy has always been on top of things politically, so for him not to know that he was putting her life in great jeopardy is not true to his character. He has been devoted to Prudence parents and has helped raised her...so again for him to put her life in such grave danger, is a violation of that trust and again a violation of his character. He's not Professor Lyle who would throw anyone under the bus if he thought honor dictated it no matter who it harms (ie his treatment of the Scottish Pact). He was always written as warm, caring person so to throw Prudence to the mercy of her many enemies again doesn't make sense.

Thirdly, though a minor plot point, it was terrible--is Ms. Carriger's treatment of one of the great love stories of the original was just plain stupid. Carriger has been the Great Mistress of Happy Endings. A spinster with no soul who has been put on the shelf finds true love with a rich and powerful noble. Another spinster who's family is too poor for her to make a real match, finds love by defying social constructs. A landed gentry falls in love with and makes a future with a sooty. And how does she treat one of her happy endings? Death by choking? Really? It is terrible when a beloved character get run-over by the plot (disposed of in a lame way), but this is worse than that. This is more of throwing out a tissue. So lame. No changing into something more? No rebirth? Not even a ghost? Come on! You can bring back another favorite character in a creative way, but you end this one by a useless choking? A death that meant nothing? Beyond lame to really bad writing.

One of Ms. Carriger's previous brilliance has been to know when to end a story line and start of new and fresh in her play-box of a world. It was one of the main reasons why her assassin school series was so incredible. It was a fresh, amazing look at this alternate universe. I thought this is where she was going with this new series, but she tried so hard to make Prudence into Alexia as she was in the beginning of the first series that it comes of contrived, forced, and boring. Alexia was isolated, rejected, and raised to think she was of little value and more of a burden than anything else. Prudence was raised surrounded by loving family and friends. The author's trying to repeat Alexia's journey through Prudence is a boring, rehash of the first series. Even the new bad guy is an echo of Alexia's evil sister...another bad apple on the family tree. We've been there, done that. Too much in this book was 'been there, done that', I expected better

I liked Imprudence much more than Prudence, actually. I have not rated Prudence but I would have given that 4 stars compared to this one. Both books were more suspenseful than her previous novels in my opinion and loaded with action. The second book reintroduces a character not heard from in awhile and I was very excited to hear that and it SEEMS like we may be seeing more of said character, maybe? I just hope Gail never burns out, I don't know what I would do without my "fixes". And yes, I am a fan and may be biased... but her writing is so fluid, if you have not tried one of her books, I would recommend going back to the start and pick up the first Parasol Protectorate or the first Finishing School book and give it a try.

I have read six books by Gail Carriger so far, all four in the Finishing School Series and now two in The Custard Protocol. Up until this point I have consistently rated them four stars for their fun and inventiveness, but I’m reluctantly dropping a star on this one. There are not one, not two, not three, not four, but five airship skirmishes here (by my memory’s count), which was about three too many for me. They are not all the same, but there’s only so much variety you can apply to small airship battles—a bit tedious. Rue and Quesnel’s relationship is developing, but I’m hoping they’ll have more time off the Spotted Custard next time.

This book is fantastic, a wonderful continuation of the most original steampunk and supernatural universe I have ever read. Carriger has done a masterful job of weaving together threads from several other books and short stories in this universe and and seamlessly melding it with Prudence's story. This stiry universe is constantly growing and evolving but still stays true to the magic that drew me to the first book.

I feverently hope Cattiger gets to continue Rue's story! I want so much to know what happens next!

I have long been looking for a fun Steampunk story and I was excited when I stumbled onto Gail Carriger's work. There are a lot of reasons why her work is engaging and fun, (her research, her academic background, her sense of humor, her very in depth world building) but best of all she takes a Genre (Steampunk) and goes beyond the easy tropes into a fuller world. If you have wanted to try Steampunk and want to ease into it, any of her series are a good way to do it.

As for this book, and really all her books I have read, have a much more rainbow colored world than most.

Love these books

This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.

Synopsis:

Rue (Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama) and the crew of the Spotted Custard are back from India. The revelations of weremonkeys have shaken the scientific community of the steampunk alternative world of Victorian London to its core. Queen Victoria is not amused that Rue has made a treaty with them. Worse, it cost the empire a source of tea. But, Rue has other problems. Her father is suffering from the Alpha Curse and will have to be replaced as pack Alpha. Rue’s best friend Primrose keeps getting engaged to unsuitable men. Prim’s brother Percy is angry that Rue’s engineer, Quesnel, published a paper on the weremonkeys before him.

Rue decides to take her parents to Egypt where a plague—oddly enough—may keep her father sane for what’s left of his life. However, someone attacks the Custard. Since Percy published a paper on werelions, the Custard’s security officer, Miss Sekhmet, may be in danger. Rue’s skill as an airship captain will be put to the test as will the skill and dedication of her crew. She needs a cup of tea.

Review:

The second book of the Custard Protocol picks up on Rue’s return to London. She has upset the queen by making a treaty with the weremonkeys she found in India. As a result, she is stripped of the queen’s protection. She must fend for herself, and there are people who wish her harm. Her family is in turmoil due to her father’s illness. She’s having an affair with her chief engineer, which isn’t going well. Now her werelion security officer is being hunted.

This was another fun story. Character development is witty. The science of steam and airship travel is interesting. The characters are engaging, from the various supernatural and metanatural creatures to the young deckhands. Like the original book, much of the adventure is tongue-in-cheek. It is a little less episodic than Prudence. I’m looking forward to the third book.

Not Carriger's best, but still fun.

Imprudence did improve in several areas where I found Prudence lacking, but still had its own flaws: the ending was unsatisfying and one part of the plot that seemed like it would be important and impactful was handled very carelessly and barely got any attention, which disappointed me as I was looking forward to it.

A thing that did improve was the romance subplot - I still think that the love interest is a super boring character who makes very little sense to me, but at least the dynamic between them was entertaining, mostly because Rue's take on "learning french" is refreshing and made me smile a lot. I generally enjoy her (and her friends) approach to sexuality, in both identity and activity ways.

As always I enjoyed the side characters a background happenings a lot as they affect many other books before and after this one, which makes Imprudence another great addition to the Parasolverse as we learn more about the universe in general and some important dynamics shift.

Another amazing book by my favorite author. I completely recommend this to everyone.