The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

Ahoy, darlings! Have I got a treat for you today! So, sit down, let me pour you a nice cup of tea, and no, don’t take it personally when I lift your valuable trinkets or make not-so-subtle (but always civil) threats to your life. We’re all friends here, and we know this is simply the way of things in The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. Have a biscuit? I pirate-promise, it isn’t poisoned.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now, as you know, I usually write up my own quick plot descriptions for my longer reviews, but there is a lot going on in this book, so to do it justice, I’m just going to share the official description Berkley provided via NetGalley:

“A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance. Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal Victorian lady. She’s also a thief. Like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority, she flies around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure by interesting means. Sure, she has a dark and traumatic past and an overbearing aunt, but all things considered, it’s a pleasant existence. Until the men show up. Ned Lightbourne is a sometimes assassin who is smitten with Cecilia from the moment they meet. Unfortunately, that happens to be while he’s under direct orders to kill her. His employer, Captain Morvath, who possesses a gothic abbey bristling with cannons and an unbridled hate for the world, intends to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with the Wisteria Society. Ned has plans of his own. But both men have made one grave mistake. Never underestimate a woman. When Morvath imperils the Wisteria Society, Cecilia is forced to team up with her handsome would-be assassin to save the women who raised her–hopefully proving, once and for all, that she’s as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them.”

And doesn’t that make you want to run out and buy a copy right this minute? And it’s only the tiniest hint of all that goes on in this madcap book! Wisteria Society has been garnering a lot of hype the past few months – Berkley is definitely hustling for it – and I’m happy to say this is one instance where the hype is deserved. A flirty, quirky adventure that blends the absurd fantasy of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust with the sparkling (im)propriety of Tessa Dare, this is pure swashbuckling, screwball delight. (Also recommended to fans of movies like The Mask of Zorro [1998] and The Mummy [1999].)

The banter between Cecilia and Ned flies fast, filled with threats both veiled and blatant, as well as a strong undercurrent of attraction. This couple is part of that long tradition of enemies (or are they?) who can’t help respecting each other’s skill (well, to be honest, Ned respects Cecilia a little more – but who can blame her? he’s a pirate who doesn’t even have a house!) and for whom flirting and fighting are one and the same. Some writers can’t pull off this dynamic, but Holton has a light touch and a strong sense of humor, so it works.

But the romance isn’t the only highlight, of course. The cast is full of flamboyant characters who could all, I’m sure, carry their own stories, from the delightfully proper and bloodthirsty Wisteria Society matrons to the housemaid who communes with ghosts while preparing dinner. And then, the world itself is so much fun: Here is a story where not only do houses fly but where feminist book clubs turn to piracy and differing opinions on Wordsworth create lifelong enemies. You know I love a world where people take their literature seriously. In that respect, Wisteria Society even reminds me a bit of the “Thursday Next” books, wherein disagreements about Shakespeare’s authorship can erupt into violent riots, with factions operating more like gangs than ordinary literary enthusiasts. (Although now that you mention it, my own book club can get pretty rowdy!)

All in all, this book delivers. If you enjoy shenanigans, shameless flirting, and high adventure (literally – it’s airborne), I do recommend giving this a try. I think you’ll find there’s a reason so many people are talking about it. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to commandeer a house and find a disgraced pirate with whom to parry insults and cross swords!

–b