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Discussion thread for the first BOTM for June 2022. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions.)


The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton


Synopsis:

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.

I really enjoyed this read! Witches, pirates, and flying houses (armed with cannons) oh my!

I loved how the ladies want to appear being proper by everyone but they aren't afraid to fly their houses into battle and act as a scoundrel when necessary.

Ned and Cecilia are adorable together and have great chemistry!

Not sure if anyone one else is doing this read-a-long, but I've had this on my TBR for an age. So I went ahead and started it.
Am I missing an explanation, maybe from another story, do pirates fly houses??

I have a hold on the book at the library.

I plan to read it but haven’t started. Super curious now.

Lorien wrote: "Not sure if anyone one else is doing this read-a-long, but I've had this on my TBR for an age. So I went ahead and started it.
Am I missing an explanation, maybe from another story, do pirates fly..."

Yes, Lorien. This is a steampunk-type, fantasy romance, historical, rom-com. You name it and you might find it here. 😂

I think I gave this three stars when I read it last year. For me, there were some strong points, but I began tiring of the Blackadder-esque humor. Which can also be viewed as a compliment. It just depends on your sense of humor.

I have just collected it from the library. I am also intrigued. It doesn't sound like the type of book I would usually read, but this is why Iike book clubs...they take me out of my comfort zone

This looks like a fun book. I'm going to try and get it from the library.

Well....I am not really sure what to say about this one. I think 'T' above summarised it quite well.

I think this is more of a young adult fantasy novel than an historical romance. The word 'silly' came to mind a number of times. For the first 100 pages I hated it - but I pushed through. I actually enjoyed the middle section (view spoiler)[if ignored the flyinghouses and Queen Victoria (hide spoiler)]. However I found the ending a bit flat. Also - I found it hard to like a society of women who love nobody but themselves, steal from others, kill without remorse, hire assassins to kill their friends and hate men

What did I like? I loved Ned - he was divine. Alex Riley his friend was intriguing (and god forbid I am considering the next book because it is about him). I think that India Holton did a good job of developing Cecilia's character; I really felt her vulnerability. However I did not particularly like her character; she was too harsh.

I imagine that over the next few days I will think of more to say. It was a hectic book

Susan wrote: "Well....I am not really sure what to say about this one. I think 'T' above summarised it quite well.

I think this is more of a young adult fantasy novel than an historical romance. The word 'silly..."

I agree, Susan. It was all a bit convoluted. I felt you had to pay close attention in order to stay connected to the story and all of the various characters being introduced. And there were MANY. I rather enjoyed the first few chapters, but it veered wildly for most of the middle. The ending was a convolution of craziness, but I rather enjoyed the romance. The women were radical feminists who hated men. I never like that kind of message. It does a disservice to feminism. I prefer balance and while the author tried to eventually show that with Cecelia’s character, I was never convinced. Ned was the catalyst for my enjoyment. If not for him, the book wouldn’t have done anything for me.

T. wrote: "Susan wrote: "Well....I am not really sure what to say about this one. I think 'T' above summarised it quite well.

I think this is more of a young adult fantasy novel than an historical romance. T..."

Your comment about feminism led me to look for any interviews that India Holton may have done to try and understand why she went down this path. I found this article she had written which was really interesting:

I also found an interview where she was asked what she would like to talk about in interviews but never gets asked - she said she was looking forward to the day she gets asked about" literary analysis, the Brontes, and all the classic literature Easter eggs sprinkled through the book." I actually enjoyed the literary references and found the Bramwell Bronte angle quite fascinating. That is possibly another reason why I am probably (god forbid) going to read the next book - as it is her take of Pride and Prejudice and I am a sucker for P&P adaptations.

I got it in from the library and hope to read next week.

Susan wrote: "T. wrote: "Susan wrote: "Well....I am not really sure what to say about this one. I think 'T' above summarised it quite well.

I think this is more of a young adult fantasy novel than an historical..."

Thanks for finding that, Susan. It was very interesting.

I'm not so sure about the second book. P&P is the first romance I ever read and therefore, nostalgically special. I tend to avoid reimaginings. Never say never, though.

T. wrote: "radical feminists who hated men."
I'm about halfway through, so far I'm enjoying this. But I do agree about it feeling a bit like a YA novel.
The author really does just drop you into a moving stolen carriage though and it is a bit of a struggle to catch up.
I do not however get the the vibe that the ladies hate men. Several of them are married even. They just seem to view them as lessor and something that tends to get in the way more than helping.
Which is really just a twist on how men often seemed to view women in historical novels. So it's not bothering me at all. But I have been accused of being a bit of a man hater, so maybe I'm biased.

Finally got my hold copy from the library. I'm really intrigued by the discussion here. Going to dive in tonight.

I just started listening to it. It took me a couple relistens of the first bit to understand the setting but I am going now. I like the tone, seems fun. Might not get much depth of feeling to it.

Lorien wrote: "T. wrote: "radical feminists who hated men."
I'm about halfway through, so far I'm enjoying this. But I do agree about it feeling a bit like a YA novel.
The author really does just drop you into a..."

You made me laugh, Lorien. I've had my moments, too. Lol.

I'm getting in late but starting this book today. I've never read this author before. Is this her debut?

Susan wrote: "Well....I am not really sure what to say about this one. I think 'T' above summarised it quite well.

I think this is more of a young adult fantasy novel than an historical romance. The word 'silly..."

I've only read the first couple chapters. I may be with you on your feelings of the first 100 pages. I think this may be too absurd for my taste, but I plan to press on.

I'm at the same spot. It is strange and absurd, but I'm curious to see where it goes. I hope there is more character detail coming.

Oleander wrote: "I'm at the same spot. It is strange and absurd, but I'm curious to see where it goes. I hope there is more character detail coming."

Me too. I need some backstory. This almost feels like it should be a spinoff, but I don't think it is.

It's like reading a spoof movie. The scene Ned and Cecilia were arguing while Tom and Oppie were sword fighting all around them was just straight out of a comedy movie.

Oleander wrote: "It's like reading a spoof movie. The scene Ned and Cecilia were arguing while Tom and Oppie were sword fighting all around them was just straight out of a comedy movie."

I actually think it would work quite well as a movie - probably better than the book perhaps

I totally agree.

Susan wrote: "I actually think it would work quite well as a movie - probably better than the book perhaps."

That is a fair assessment.
"the Netflix adaption was better"

Did I read flying houses in the blurb? Sorry. Bowing out!

They just seem to view them as lessor and something that tends to get in the way more than helping.

I read this last year and enjoyed it although I would have classified it as an adventure story rather straight romance. (I am always on the hunt for good steampunks - just so hard to get the elements right.)

But I don't really remember a man-hating vibe either, I agree with Lorien (above). It was a just turn about on the underestimating and stereotyping that everyone does. I haven't read the next one yet, but I haven't ruled it out either.

I don't really see this as a man hating society, just more of a mixed, modern type society where a man could have a job or be a house-husband. It appears to be the same with women. Women as pirates isn't shocking to them at all. Because the society is so different, I have a hard time thinking of this book as historical. It's much more of a fantasy. Steampunk doesn't really work either for me as the only technological difference seems to be the flying houses; although I admit I am imagining the characters in steampunk costumes.

I really enjoyed Queen Victoria. Well done. Overall, I really liked the book.

Queen Victoria? I'm not there yet.

I generally enjoyed this book, though I wouldn't say I loved it. It was fun and whimsical and unlike other books I've read.

Interesting reading all your comments. I was prepared not to like this book much, I thought it might be a little silly. Happy to report I really enjoyed it. I felt it was very much tongue in cheek, an adventurous romp and not to be taken too seriously. (Although there was a serious sub text with the turning of the male/female power dynamics of the time upside down. ) There was a lot of humour in it. And I absolutely loved the flying houses... I want one, LOL. Queen Victoria was a hoot. I'll be reading the next book.