Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal prim and proper Victorian lady. She just so happens to also be a pirate and a thief. After a traumatic incident in her childhood, Cecilia was taken in by her overly cautious aunt where she was raised by the Wisteria Society, a league of powerful women crime masters. Here, Cecilia learned from the best when it comes to the arts of blackmailing, using magic to fly their houses around looting unsuspecting people, weaponry, and of course, etiquette. You know you’ve made it in the Society when someone tries to assassinate you, so Cecilia is overjoyed when she learns someone has put a hit out on her. She just wasn’t expecting to like her would-be assassin.

Ned Lightbourne is a man of many names and many talents. Sometimes he’s a secret service agent for the Crown, other times he’s working for the dastardly Captain Morvath who wishes nothing more than to rid England of its free-thinking women. But his most recent job is by far his hardest: trying not to fall for the woman he’s been ordered to kill. The moment Ned looked at Cecilia he knew he was a goner, so when Morvath kidnaps the ladies of the Wisteria Society, he offers her his services. Naturally, Cecilia isn’t one to trust a man paid to kill her, but she knows there’s no other choice if she wishes to save her family and friends. And, if along the way, she’s able to rub her abilities in the faces of all who have underestimated her and prove that she’s just as much of a scoundrel as the rest of them, well, that’ll just be a bonus.

When I finished the first chapter, I thought, ‘Oh this is going to be funny.’ By the time I finished the second, I thought, ‘Oh, I need to harass everyone I know to read this.’ This is hands down one of my favorite reads of the year. Holton’s writing is razor-sharp, hilarious, and incredibly clever. One of my favorite protagonists is Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell, and Cecilia reminded me so much of her. Both are fiercely independent, take-no-prisoners, no-holds-barred characters who approach anyone trying to kill them with a “Yeah, good luck” type of attitude that I live for. I loved the way she and Ned bounced off one another and their constant volleying of verbal jabs had me smiling the whole time. Everything about this, from the world itself to the feisty women brandishing a knife in one hand and a teacup in the other, was so enjoyable. This was such a fun creative mix of action, adventure, and fantasy and I’m dying to see where the series goes from here.

This story centres around The Wisteria Society, a Victorian society of pirate women. They can fly houses, murder, thieve, and plot their way into any dasterdly deed they wish. For some reason I wasn't expecting this book to focus so much on assassination which is why I lost interest in it pretty quickly. There seems to be a trend of kick butt Victorian women which is great, and I thought this story was unique. I have never read a book about pirates before which was a nice change. The flying houses idea was pretty cool and it reminded me of the neighbour to the Banks family from Mary Poppins who had a ship on the roof of his house. I liked the bits of magic in this story and I think the pirates could have easily have been replaced with witches.

3/5 stars for the originality, pacing, and characterization.

"Prepare to die," as Inigo Montoya would say, of amusement and enchantment the moment you step into this madcap Victorian adventure. With well bred lady pirates, assassins, secret societies, flying battlehouses (yes, you read that right), unpublished poet villains who have Bronte-esque fiaxtions, as well as literary allusions and references galore which are infused with absurdist twists nearly everywhere you turn, this book is nothing short of imaginative whimsical fun.

It's charming! It's romantic! It's satirical! It's feminist yet still corseted by the norms of the time period. It's a blend of petticoats, daggers, tea, honor codes, and capers. It borrows familiar tropes or genres from literature only to then give them all a subversive face lift that'll leave you guessing, giggling, gaping, and gushing with delight.

I'm not only impressed by how Holton managed to come up with this concept in the first place, but how well she made it work. It's everything I never knew I was missing in my reading life.

So many different elements are in balance here, it's incredible!

If you took Oscar Wilde's humor and wit, stirred in Austen's social convention and romance, then dumped in some of William Goldman's sword fighting frippery and adventure, you'd only begin to scratch the surface of what's inside. I mean, there's even an enemies to lovers dynamic that'll leave you wondering "who will stab who" rather than "who will kiss who" first.

I loved the paradoxes that were prevalent in all of the characters, too.

For instance, Cecilia was a well-mannered, well-read lady who, if prompted, would not hesitate to stab an enemy "properly" with the knife she had tucked up her sleeve. Ned was a hired henchman, an assassin, a man-of-many-names-and-disguises, with a somewhat blighted heart of gold. Lady Darlington was a spastic, overbearing, "make sure you wear your scarf or you'll catch your death, dear!" aunt whose nerves could rival those of Mrs. Bennet's except for when she's blackmailing, stealing, or plotting her own escape after being kidnapped. Morvath is a Byronic hero wannabe turned villain in possession of a gothic abbey, guns, and appalling original poetry. Pleasance, Constantinopla, Lady Armitage, Queen Victoria, and Frederick are all a hysterical combination of quirks.

As for the lady scoundrels themselves, well, they plan as well as celebrate assassination attempts within their own ranks but will not ignore, tolerate, or abide by any threat that comes from the outside. And they sure as heck won't go down without a rollicking good fight in the skies!

Anyway, this book was outlandish in all the best ways, and I can say with nothing but absolute sincerity that I haven't had such a good time in ages. If you're at all in the mood for fanciful historical nonsense then please pick this up. It's so, so worth it! The snort-to-swoon ratio is on point, I promise!

Without a doubt one of my favorites books of 2021. I'm ready to brand my heart through with a Wisteria Society member's badge as we speak!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

The aura of this book is a magically intoxicating blend of The Princess Bride and Wuthering Heights, from the writers of Shrek 3 with a touch of Up, and of course the pen of India Holton. It’s incredible how this one inspired so many memories in me but is still precisely and fearlessly it’s own beautiful thing.

Inigo and Wesley sword fighting is exactly how Cecilia and Ned talk to (and also fight) each other. A long line of Cecilias (and a Cilla)? Cathy and Catherine love the tribute. Frederick and Captain Morvath are such fun additions because they were over-the-top and just so theatrical. Think Prince Charming trying to act in Shrek 3. The lady scoundrels having a “craft-making session” is both the princesses and the fairy tale villains (in the most lovable way possible). The magical floating houses invoke the whimsy of Up.

Incredible, smart, vivid prose leaps off the page and lands in a battle stance ready to stab you with a fork, where it will then write you a beautiful poem about your demise. The amount of heart and care that went into the characters is as palpable as it is enchanting; the amount of wit and humor is intoxicating. The entire book is just so goddamn clever. The chapter headers are incredible and also incredibly hilarious. The ending is a true storybook love story and inspired so many potential adjectives I can’t even begin to choose the perfect fit.

Ned and Cecilia’s fairytale title would be Beauty and the Blackstocking. Cecilia is gloriously turned on by Ned’s purloining and he’s hopelessly in love with her(s). The romance is slow burn but their chemistry is tantalizing from the beginning. There were little mysteries throughout and the pace never faltered. Overall, I desperately didn’t want this one to end. I’ve already grown roots pining for the next book. I have a good feeling about Alex. I have such a good feeling about the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

Wisteria Society is a run change up from our traditional historical romance. It's packed full of whimsy and adventure, snark and feminism. It is such a unique take on a genre of romance that we all know and love and adds such a new perspective from characters and experiences. I enjoyed the community of women so much. I liked their care and banter and enjoyed the conversations between characters. However, I wished for a little more depth into the relationship between Cecelia and Ned. The suspended reality, fantasy and banter were so great, but did feel like they distracted from really sinking into the romance of the story. Rounded up from 3.5

So this was a DNF for me but I think it was more about the timing of when I started reading this.

The quirkiness of it is a huge selling point, but that was what was not working for me at the time. I had a hard time really getting invested in the characters and the story and so I moved on.

I truly appreciate the opportunity to read early and will revisit some time in the future!

I love this book! I am a full-blown member of the Wisteria Society fanclub! I want my mug and t-shirt!

But seriously, this is one of the most unique books I have ever read, and certainly the most fun I've had reading in a long time. I'm having trouble putting it into words becaue I love it so much. This is like Terry Prachett for feminists, but also like the most devastatingly beautiful romance you can imagine (with pirates, & explosions & floating houses). The author is so sharp witted, every page has a laugh (and the banter is TO DIE FOR), yet there is plenty of tenderness and emotional depth woven throughout. The writing itself is absolutely gorgeous, the language perfectly in tune with the Victorian England setting, and dripping with sarcasm and innuendo. There is truly never a dull moment -- even when the Wisteria ladies pause to take their tea -- and I think you will find there is *always* time to take tea....

This is a slow-burn and the tension of it all is so well done. I'm not sure how the author managed to expand hand touching into a full body experience that had me blushing all over, but she DOES, and the steamy scenes are every bit as good. The chemistry between Cecilia and Ned is palpable on every page, whether they are stealing glances across the room or insulting each other while in the middle of a dual. (Remember that scene in Mr. and Mrs. Smith when Angelina and Brad are fighting? Think THAT but BETTER). Ned is one of my favorite love interests of all time. I am a sucker for the confident scoundrel who is really a softy inside. His backstory is heart-wrenching and comes at the perfect time in the story. Cecilia is an absolute pleasure to follow, and her emotional journey is incredibly satisfying to read. She flips convention on its head and never truly does what you expect her to do -- until she at last gets her HEA.

The true brilliance of this book, though, is the Wisteria Society itself -- a band of lady pirates who, though they cheat and steal and kill, cling to the Victorian etiquette we are all so familiar with. The author allows these scoundrels to also be feminine, to also enjoy wearing gowns, to also appreciate a soft drawing room and a good book, and still be considered an absolute threat by everyone around them. It's SO refreshing to see women written this way (and women of all ages, I should add).

I'm so looking forward to the other books in the series and can't wait to see what the author does in the future. This is definitely a book I will never forget!

This book is a hilarious good time - but it's also kind of exhausting.

Listen: the jokes and the farce and the gags just all keep coming too fast, with no reprieve. Which is FINE, but it means that basically nothing gets any space to breathe, and even the humor doesn't always have time to land properly.

My advice is this: read it for the fun, but take frequent breaks! I think that if I HADN'T read this all in one go, I would've liked it more, if that makes sense? It's like a regency, swashbuckling sitcom that you can only watch, like, one episode at a time!

(Also, am I the only one who wants to know way more about that lady that has tea with her dead husband once a month? Are there ghosts in the Wisteria Society universe? I kind of hope so!)

(This has got to be the start of a series, and I AM totally reading the next one. Just in smaller bites, next time!)

I got a few chapters in and decided to DNF. I really liked the playfulness of the characters and the prose at first but then it got too tricky to follow and a little much for me. Someone else might really fall in love with the prose and the style of writing but it just wasn't for me.

This is a ridiculous, hilarious, super-fun book, and I loved it! This will have you laughing and just having a wonderful time while reading! I would definitely recommend a little boozy drink to go with this one because it's just super fun LOL! I did think the chapter titles were a bit ridiculous. They were extremely long titles, but that's my only complaint! This would make an amazing stage play!

Lady Pirates, lying houses, roguish assassins and tea! Is it fantasy, romance, adventure or humor? Yes, yes, yes and yes! There is danger if both swooning and snorting laughter. It's going on the staff picks shelf as soon as it releases! I can not wait to hand sell this one, great fun and positively delightful, thank you!!

This book is a rollicking good time. I laughed on every page, I fanned myself from the chemistry between Cecilia and Ned, I dove head first into the adventure of it all.

Wisteria Society is unexpected, hilarious, and an absolute gem of a book. I'll definitely be re-reading this beauty.

This book is so much fun! From the Henry Fielding-esque chapter titles, to the mashup of Victorian politesse and piracy, it somehow strikes just the right balance between self-awareness and drama, humor and adventure, with plenty of 19th-century-novel easter eggs strewn about. I would recommend it to Bronte-ites and The Princess Bride fans alike.

Imagine a world with prim and proper Victorian women who happen to be... pirates. Pirates who can fly houses. Who take assassination attempts as a sign they're considered ready to be initiated into the society. Cecelia is one such young Victorian woman, eager to make her mark in the Wisteria Society and very excited that she's attracted an assassin (who just happens to be quite good looking). Said assassin, Ned, it turns out, is double-crossing one employer by working with another to not kill but kidnap Cecelia--dastardly indeed! Fun, somewhat fluffy, and apparently the start of a series.

eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

A cute, humorous turn of the century romantic novel. The characters are entertaining. Cecilia is a classy, tough woman pirate and Ned is a swashbuckler. The dialog is witty and the storyline engaging. Would love to listen to an audio version of this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC. I would consider suggesting to my book club for a discussion. I think others would enjoy this story.

Looking for an alternative history, fantasy romance with lady pirates, witty banter, and sweet romance? Then The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton is for you!

Imagine a Victorian England where lady pirates sail the country in their houses, plundering items that the owners were practically begging them to take (by leaving them unattended and in plain sight). And yet, these are no unmannered, unkempt, uncivilized lady pirates. Oh no, these are LADY pirates. The niceties of society must be observed. Like unmarried ladies need to be chaperoned and even married ladies don’t show their ankles in mixed company.

Cecilia Bassingwaite is the perfect Victorian lady. She just happens to have some amazing fighting skills and deft fingers perfect for picking pockets. She longs to be fully established as a lady pirate, no longer forced to sit at the juniors table when the Wisteria Society gathers.

She gets her hopes up when an assassin knocks on her door, sent by another lady pirate. But soon Cecilia and Ned must team up to defeat a true evil – Morvath, Cecilia’s mad father who’s intent on destroying the Society and marrying Cecilia off to some ninny of a cousin.

This book gave me strong Gail Carriger vibes in the best way possible. Lots of witty banter, a strong tension between the two leads, lots of swashbuckling, empowered women, and some seriously comedic moments.

India Holton has created a fabulous alternative Victorian England and then peopled her world with incredibly delightful characters. The romance between Cecilia and Ned is so charming with incredible sexual tension (but no steamy scenes). Even the villains of the piece are fabulous even if they do sometimes quote appallingly bad poetry.

This first book in the Dangerous Damsels is fast-paced, fun, laugh-out-loud funny, and will utterly and completely charm the pants off of you (you can pretend a lady pirate nicked them)!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began this journey on page one, but I am more than happy to say I am pleasantly surprised with where I ended up! This is SUCH a cleverly written story and I found myself intrigued by the uniqueness of virtually every aspect of it! I would love to see this become a series....please tell me that is in the works? From the writing to the plot, the characters in how they are each uniquely developed, to the delightfulness of the plot's setting--this book is sure to be a hit! Thank you so much for the advanced copy!

This was just not for me - I think it was well written, but I felt like I was making myself read it. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels was about lady pirates - but not like boats pirates, like pirates that can fly houses? I liked the romance between Cecilia and Ned, but that such a small part of this. There was just a lot going on, and I just didn’t care about much of it.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for my ARC!

If you like your romance with a side of spy intrigue, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is for you! It's a truly delight all the way through and a great twist on the traditional Victorian romance. The dichotomy between robberies and tea parties is exquisite and hilarious!

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

How do you write a review for such an utterly unique experience?

There's no way the author could've had comp titles when they pitched this, because I've never read anything like it.

It's Pirates of the Carribbean with houses instead of boats. It's Bridgerton if the Bridgertons replaced their Pall Mall with vicious sword play. These Lady Scoundrels are Badass Wolves in frilly Sheep's clothing, and it made this feminist want to jump to her feet and slow clap.

The book is filled with charming juxtaposition. Cecilia has a blade in her garter, but balks at being seen without a chaperone. Ned steals her keys, while at the same time stealing her heart.

I cannot figure out what my favorite part was because I loved every single word on every page.