Miss Charlotte Pettifer belongs to a secret league of women skilled in the subtle arts. That is to say-although it must never be said-witchcraft. The Wicken League strives to improve the world in small ways. Using magic, they tidy, correct, and manipulate according to their notions of what is proper, entirely unlike those reprobates in the Wisteria Society. When the long-lost amulet of Black Beryl is discovered, it is up to Charlotte, as the future leader of the League, to make sure the powerful talisman does not fall into the wrong hands.
Holton takes readers on a wild ride through a fun, limitless world, where frivolity and whimsy reign supreme and skilled swordwork and grand displays of magic abound. It’s all a hodgepodge of delightful silliness, with over-the-top action, exaggerated villainy and the fact that it’s possible to fall in love with your sworn enemy while recovering an ancient amulet. Think Mel Brooks meets The Princess Bride with a dash of Austen-esque comedy of manners. And then crank that all up to 11 ... readers will be completely on board for more of Holton’s imaginative, rollicking romances.
Nearly every sentence is a metaphor or simile, which may frustrate some. Readers who are fans of Gail Carriger’s The Parasol Protectorate series, or tongue-in-cheek humor more generally, will find great enjoyment in this solid choice.
