Is it possible to rate this book higher than five stars? The synopsis piqued my interest, but I don't think it fully prepared me for the wonderful weirdness that is The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. Filled with flying houses (yes, you read that right), failed assassination attempts, and a fiery romance, this book was everything I hoped it would be and more. Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever laughed so much while reading a book. The running gag of Ned and Cecilia stealing each others belongings and calmly asking for them back, the nonchalance with which Cecilia deals with danger, and the fast-paced witty dialogue made this book a delight from start to finish. It's safe to say that I am highly, highly anticipating the next book in the Dangerous Damsels series (March 2022 can't come quickly enough!).

Highly recommend! From page one, I could not stop smiling. This has to be one of the most fun reads I've had - I think - ever. India Holton knocked it out of the park in this steampunk through so much of the impossible, witty banter, humor, and chemistry.
The Lady Scoundrels are properly improper. A cup of tea will solve most problems and if that doesn't work, there's always a knife or pistol on hand. Cecilia wants nothing more than to be seated at the table with the elders in the society but she can't seem to burgle her way there. When the horrible Captain Morvath threatens the lives of all she holds dear, she teams up with Ned (or is it Captain Smith? Mr. Lightbourne? Who knows, really) to save them all.
If you at all enjoy The Princess Bride, Gail Carriger, Pirates of the Caribbean, or the Lady Janes, I feel like it's in your best interest to pick this up immediately. India recently announced the next book in the series and I cannot wait for it!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is a book I wanted to pick up for its title and the pretty pastel cover. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect going into the story because I hadn’t read the book summary. So imagine my complete delight when I discovered that the book was a historical romance with light paranormal/fantasy elements! I’m a big fan of books with light magical elements so this made for a fun read!

AN ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS ROMANCE
I was recently complaining with some friends about how books described as “enemies-to-lovers” are hardly that because the couple usually gets over the enemies phase pretty quickly. Ned and Cecilia, on the other hand, seemed to remain enemies for a longer time despite their growing proximity to each other. It was so fun to watch them dance around each other and outwit each other at every step of the way. India Holton writes clever banter between the two, which kept me charmed and invested in the two as a couple. I wanted to see how they would go from assassin/pirate trying to assassinate his target to being lovebirds. The progression is slow, but the end result is rewarding. That being said, I would maybe have liked a bit more romantic scenes between them because I’m selfish like that and I never don’t want more romance. I think it would have balanced out some of the more plot-driven aspects of the story better.

A SWASHBUCKLING DUO
The writing in The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels has a whimsical and magical feel to it and it really lends itself to this story. Even the characters are penned in a way that makes reading about them very enjoyable. I can’t quite explain it – you’ll have to read the book to understand what I’m trying to say. Ned and Cecilia are delightful as protagonists of this story and they carry this story well. They are both headstrong and this leads to them butting heads from time to time. What I loved about them was their respective senses of humor. Cecilia had almost of a dry sense of humor, while Ned was more silly funny. As I said, they made for a great duo to lead this story.

If you like adventurous romance novels, you might be interested in A Rogue To Remember by Emily Sullivan.

FLYING HOUSES, MAGIC, & SO MANY SHENANIGANS
The plot in The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is creative, action-packed, and just full of adventure. I think not knowing what I was getting myself into helped me enjoy the story even more than I would have had I read it. I wouldn’t go into the story expecting tons of world-building – this isn’t a high fantasy novel – but the descriptions of flying houses, magical spells, and villainous characters will keep you entertained. There’s a lot that happens in this book and it can feel a bit overwhelming if you’re just here for the romance. My favorite scenes involved all of the other lady scoundrels a.k.a the pirates and all their drama with each other. OH. MY. GOSH. They added to the comedic factor of the book and were never not scene-stealers. I imagine some of the side characters will have their own romantic arcs and I look forward to it!

READ THIS FOR A DIFFERENT HISTORICAL ROMANCE EXPERIENCE
I really enjoyed this unique world that India Holton has crafted. This book is so playful and reading it was a joyous experience. I would recommend it if you’re looking for a different Victorian historical romance.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

This book is a glorious send-up of Victorian manners, featuring a clan of lady pirates/thieves with flying manor houses, snub via assassination attempts, and evil relatives. Expect extreme tongue-in-cheek banter and at least one laugh per page.

Trigger warning: murder of a parent

My first impression of this book was that the writing style is delightful. The author writes as if you are reading an account from a confidante or are a part of their story. This immediately sucks you into the action and makes the reading experience incredible. The chapter titles are long sometimes humorous snippets of events contained therein without giving too much away.

The world the characters inhabit is an England filled with pirates and assassins, where houses of the pirates can fly to different locations like ships in the air. The titular Wisteria Society is a gang of pirates who have very few rules. Assassination attempts between the ladies abound, and the Queen herself is the head of a pirate clan.

Our main protagonist, Cecilia Bassingthwaite, is a nineteen-year-old pirate in training who is ready to join the Wisteria Society as a full member, rather than remaining an unimportant junior member. When an assassin is hired to kill her, she takes this as a sign that she has arrived and is miffed when the Society doesn't immediately admit her.

Cecilia lives with her overbearing aunt who cautions her against things like the Great Peril (freckles) while training her in both piracy and ladylike behavior. Her mother (also Cecilia, called Cilla) died in mysterious circumstances that are revealed later in the novel.

Cecilia's father is an evil pirate and the main villain of the story. Shockingly, her assassin isn't a villain at all, but her love interest. She's thrust into an adventure with her would-be assassin when the ladies of the Wisteria Society and their battlehouses are taken by her deranged father.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction, adventure stories, pirates, and the Victorian era. Readers of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters will find this modern update charming.

4.5 stars = I loved it! Would read again.

This was quirky and funny and clever. I wasn't expecting the fantasy elements to this, but they really made the story extra fun. The writing is so sharp it's almost distracting from the story, and I loved it. Will definitely be keeping an eye on this author in the future. (Language, sex)

This book was EVERYTHING I needed! It’s a lovely historical romance disguised as a whimsical fantasy adventure à la The Princess Bride with a good amount of puns. The main character, Cecilia, is a pirate and first-rate scoundrel. Cecilia comes from a long line of cunning lady pirates. She hopes to build a reputation as a swashbuckling pirate and ultimately earn membership into the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. After interning under another pirate, Cecilia has not made much progress towards her goal. While Cecilia aspires to carry on her family’s legacy, she is also the epitome of a proper Victorian lady with a moral code. This duality of Cecilia’s character serves as a plot device that confounds Ned Lightbourne, a Victorian-era James Bond, who falls in love with Cecilia. Ned is an interesting character. He’s a jack of all trades. He’s a pirate, sometimes assassin, and courier to the Queen. Ned is under orders to kill Cecilia, but ends up falling in love with her. This certainly puts a damper on their budding romance. For me, romances with “instant love” plotlines have lost their appeal, but for this book, I stuck it out and was glad I did. Captain Morvath, one of Ned's employers, has a vendetta to settle with the ladies of the Wisteria Society. After members of the Wisteria Society are kidnapped, Cecilia teams up with Ned to rescue them. Overall, the writing flows well, the characters are interesting, and the pace was perfect for this madcap romp.

Cecelia Bassingwaite lives a comfortable life with her aunt. Sure her aunt is part of a secret society of ladies who are also pirates (and sometimes thieves), but they still watch out for one another. When Cecelia's life is threatened by a dazzling pirate named Ned - she's not quite what to make of it. Ned is under strict orders to bring Cecelia back to his employer. But not everything is what it seems on the surface of this fantastical historical romance! Will the pirate/assassin who starts to fall for witty Cecelia end up killing her or falling for her?

When I started The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. But soon enough I caught on with the storyline and truly enjoyed this wonderful story! Flying houses, spells, pirates and would be assassins are all bits and pieces that make up this hilariously and often sweet book.

Not only did I enjoy the hilarious humor between the lady scoundrels, but Ned and Cecelia were so perfect together. From the very first time these two shared a page together their banter and chemistry kept me coming back for more of them! The slow burn, sweet and funny romance was so perfect amongst the suspense and drama that was unfolding!

Although on the surface The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels may come across as playful or funny, I truly did enjoy the backstory of Cecelia and Ned. Both of them had such raw vulnerabilities that they were able to share with one another. I loved watching them peel back their layers with one another.

I can't wait for the next book in the series!!

So I was not expected this book at all as how it turned out to be.
Historical romance AND fantasy?!
We are taking pirates - pirates everywhere and nope, they do not sail ships but houses instead! Both ladies and gentlemen are kick butt pirates slash spies, and while there was humor, I felt it was a bit too much ??? I did want a more serious love story instead of an adventure.
I have to say it's a very unique book and it will sure to grow on me.

From the publisher: A prim and proper lady thief must save her aunt from a crazed pirate and his dangerously charming henchman in this fantastical historical romance.

This book is bonkers. It contains every crazy thing you can imagine in an adventure story – pirates, flying houses, assassination attempts, gothic abbeys, kidnappings, tea parties. Somewhat like The Princess Bride on steroids.

As such, The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels will not be to everyone’s taste. It is full of nonstop nonsense. The author is in love with her own cleverness, which doesn’t necessarily aid the story. People used to listen breathlessly while the latest installment of a new tale was read to them; I think this book would have worked well in that setting. All at once, the craziness is overwhelming.

There is a cute romance buried under the silliness, and one wants to root for the strong heroine and her worthy suitor. The idea of pirates flying their manor houses instead of sailing ships is amusing.

There are some nice turns of phrase, like these passages:
“He said nothing in quite the most disturbing manner” (p. 26)
“Cecilia had seen the houses rising like hot-air balloons over the trees – albeit rectangular, rigid, and less colorful, without flames underneath, so in fact nothing like hot-air balloons, but a failure of simile was the least of her problems at this moment.” (p. 85)

Grown-up fans of Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events and Catherynne M. Valente’s Girl Who books may thoroughly enjoy The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. For me, I’m glad I read book one but won’t be eagerly anticipating book two.

I read an advance reader copy of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels from Netgalley. It was published on June 15 and will be available at the Galesburg Public Library.

This is one of the most unique romances I’ve ever read in the best way! Holton was able to mix the classic historical romance vibes of a Sarah MacLean or Tessa Dare novel with the fun and whimsy of The Princess Bride. Holton’s writing is so artful and clever, I kept going back to reread jokes and dialogue. I loved Cecilia and Ned and how she was just as involved in the saving of the society ladies as he was, and of course their hilarious romance. I truly can’t wait for the next installment in this series and to follow more adventures of the lady scoundrels!

I was looking for something a bit lighter than my usual fare, and The Wisteria Society was EXACTLY what I needed right now! This is such a fun little novel, I couldn't put it down and I found myself laughing out loud at least every chapter or two. I loved the whimsy and magic of this alternative version of Victorian England, and Cecilia is a delightful character to follow. The romance is sweet, the magic is original, and did I mention yet just how FUN this book is?!

Definitely a perfect summer read if you're looking for something a bit different from your typical romance.

I really really adored this book! Every other page had me laughing so much. I appreciated the fact that this book had a bit of a fantastical element (I really want a flying house right now). I adored all of the characters, they each brought so much extra to the story. I will highly recommend this book to anyone who is a romance reader, or even someone who wants to try out the romance genre. There is something in this book for everyone, and I think a wide variety of readers can enjoy this story.

Was this the smartest, most clever, sweetly romantic, but fiercely independent book, I've read in a long time? Yes. A resounding yes. A little bit magic, a lot of history, some romance thrown in and India Holton created the most interesting and creative backdrop for a 'romance' that I've ever encountered. I can't recommend The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels enough and I honestly cannot wait for whatever else she has up her sleeve. It's not often I find myself laughing out loud while reading, or marveling at an author's witticisms but this brought me both on nearly every page. I think the New York Times described it as 'rollicking' and I can't think of a better description than that!

A rollicking, whimsical, riotously funny historical/fantasy romance, in which lady pirates belong to a secret society and frequently try to off each other for silly slights but also all have the ability to fly their houses like ships (with cannons in the windows and all!). I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting the fantasy element when I cracked into it (maybe I missed it in the blurb), but this book was phenomenally entertaining and full of so many things I love: sparkling dialogue, witty repartee between the two leads, fighting/sparring WHILE bantering, only one bed, enemies to lovers, and the list goes on. It’s genuinely one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I can’t say enough good things about it. I wanted to live in Holton’s incredible magical world forever and was genuinely sad to leave it by the end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A historical romance with pirates, sassy ladies, dashing heroes, assassins, and all the tea? Ummm yes yes yes please! I needed little persuading when it came to reviewing this one. I was so excited for this hot new historical romance and I cracked my ARC open instantly! This one has been on so many top anticipated lists this summer and clearly it was also on mine!

I am always looking for historical romances that have funny plots and snappy dialogues, not to mention charming heroes so this one sounded like a great place to start. But truth be told, I have been in a reading funk lately and I was hoping this would be the book that would pull me out of the funk. But as with many big hype books, there is always that fear that the book won’t live up to the hype. So I went into this one hoping it would live up to the hype, but also aware that it might not.

When I started this one, I was drawn in but also admittedly—–lost. Ok you ask—-lost in a good way or in a bad way? Well friends, that’s a complicated question.

Summary
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. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This book was billed as a historical romance with pirates and assassins. Well it did have all those things so how in the world was I lost in this one? Well, what wasn’t mentioned was that they were pirates of flying houses. I had no idea I had signed on the read a fantasy historical fiction pirate romance mashup. But my response—-F*^%k YES! This was the mashup I didn’t know I needed until I had it in my hands. I was admittedly a little confused at the beginning and trying to navigate the world, but once it was clear that there was a fantasy element to the story, I felt like I finally had my bearings.

I think it’s important for readers to be aware that this book isn’t a conventional historical romance, would I still have read this book had I known it was this unique fantasy historical romance mash up—-yes. In fact I wish I had known that before hand because I spent the first 15% of the book wondering what in the world I was reading. That’s not to say that it wasn’t entertaining—because it was! The characters distinguished themselves right away and I found myself laughing multiple times with the charming dialogue between Cecilia and Ned. It was a great meet cute and I adored their chemistry. I just couldn’t understand why houses were flying. Eventually I just has to go with it and keep reading.

The story was a little odd-bally and weird but I did find it unique and entertaining and that’s what made this one standout—-it’s weirdness. I thought Cecilia as a main character was exciting and she brought a lot of strength and wit to the story. Then having Ned as the hero was sweet and comical. I loved his character the most I think. His charm won me over and I really enjoyed how he stole the show in just about every scene. If you love rom-coms and the enemies to lovers troupe but want something different than your standard historical romance, then you need this book. Its quirky and weird and everything you never knew you needed in a story.

But that said, I think it needs to be marketed a little differently. It is put out as more historical romance than what it really is and while it is that, it’s more like Princess Bride than standard Victorian romance.

Book Info and Rating
Format 336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 15, 2021 by Berkley Books

ISBN9780593200162 (ISBN10: 0593200160)

Free review copy provided by publisher, Berkley Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: historical romance, fantasy

Historical romance? Really?!! ______2.5

So I’m ok with Steampunk Victorian novels but I realize I’m not fully relating to this quasi-quirky Pirate Victorian romance more in the mode of a Lemony Snicket title, or maybe of Road Dahl gone rogue and let loose in Victorian England, with Quentin Blake illustrations naturally.
Is this a Victorian fantasy or something else? We have lady pirates trying to kill each other off, a would be assassin who’d rather write poetry, and escapades involving flying houses.
Have I strayed into a Baba Yaga alternate world, or is this simply a humorous alternative Victorian fantasy romance?
Celia Bassingwaite belongs to the Wisteria Society crime sorority. A thief who takes delight in seeking out treasures and obtaining them in less than approved ways.
Ned Lightbourne is an assassin working for the deranged Captain Morvath who’s decided to rid the land of forward thinking women, starting with the Wisteria ladies.
Not what I’d envisaged when I settled down to read a historical romance. No, this is somewhat more of a satirical /paradoxical romp—maybe!
I’m just going to have to do a re-read of this to really come to grips with it’s unorthodox departure from my expectations. At the moment I’m sitting just below the fence.

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley

2.5 Not a good match stars

I decided to give this new series a try. Love, love the whimsical cover.

It appealed to me because of the added whimsy and humor, but it really wasn't a good match. I appreciate the "outside the box" approach of creative fantasy. It is chock full of things such as flying houses, pirates and other elements of magic and fantasy.

I'm still asking myself, "What did I just read?" It was certainly a trip, but not one I would venture on in the future.

Read all the reviews raving about it if fantastical adventures are your thing! Wrong reader here.

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is an alternate reality of England during the reign of Queen Victoria. There are lady pirates that don't sail the high seas, but fly around in some rather grand homes robbing and plundering. They are all in the same society, but often try to kill one another for various reasons. Cecelia is the ward of Jemima Darlington, a well respected pirate. This is the first time that an assassin has been hired to kill her. Thus starts this story of adventure, piracy, secrets, flying houses, battles, kidnapping, traitors and romance.

I didn't know what to expect from this book and it is hard to review. I enjoyed a lot about this story, especially the romance between Ned and Cecelia. I also enjoy a good farce and this one surely was that, but there were times that is was quite ridiculous. The dialogue is wonderful, full of literary references, puns, and witty banter. If you enjoyed The Princess Bride, you will love this story. Cecilia, our heroine, is a first-rate scoundrel and pirate who wants more than anything to take her place alongside the great scoundrel pirate ladies who have a seat at the table of the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. She is also an upright, Victorian Lady who follows all the rules that have been taught to her. Ned Lightbourne (one of his many aliases) is a skilled pirate as well, in addition to being a courtier under Queen Victoria, a member of the secret service, an orphan, an Italian assassin, and a swoon worthy hero. They meet when he come to her home to let her know he has been hired to kill her. After this introduction, he constantly shows up and their relationship is a true enemies to lovers trope. I don't want to say much more about this story because if this is your cup of tea you just need to read and enjoy it. You might not want to read it in public though, because people will wonder what you are laughing and snickering about.

Hands down one of the most unique historical romances I've ever read! This book is quirky, strange, and laugh out loud funny. I honestly loved every moment reading this.

I love romance and all of it's sub-generes. But I've read a lot of it, so it is hard to surprise me. But boy did this book surprise me! This mixes low fantasy elements - magic and pirates - with Victorian London and a sassy, slow-burn romance. [Just a side-note for you high fantasy fans, this is loose magic. So there is little to no explanation on what it is or how it works.]

I was pretty skeptical after chapter 1, I thought there was just no way I could get on board with flying houses. But India Holton proved me SO wrong. It was the perfect level of obscure to make it feel unique yet familiar. The characters read like the pirates we all know and love, just with a twist. And adding in the matriarchal element to the pirates, gave the characters a freedom otherwise unachievable for this time period. And it was brilliant.

The juxtaposition of the polite Victorian ladies and pirate culture added an easy humor to the entire book. You can't help but smile picturing a matron in a Victorian gown drinking tea while discussing assassination by canon ball.

And on top of all that, the romance elements were wonderful. The characters had loads of chemistry and witty banter. And the slow burn of their romance added a layer of tension to all of their interactions. There's forced proximity, captor/(willing) captive, rivals to lovers, and I'm sure couple of other top-tier tropes I'm currently forgetting.

Overall this book just did it all. It's a witty and fresh addition to the genre, all romance readers should have on their radar! I can't wait to read more in this series (I need a book about Alex!!) and more from India Holton in the future!

This review is live on Goodreads and will be posted to my blog on 6/19 @ 9am