The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

I expected any old adventure-romance picking up this book but oh my…

What an absurd, funny, delightful read! Absurd doesn’t even cut it… a story about a secret Victorian ladies’ society… who are pirates… with flying houses (not boats, mind you)... properly trained in all facets of etiquette, housekeeping, art and history, but also pickpocketing, armed combat, and ammunition… battling a villain obsessed with the Brontës…  I can keep adding to this! It’s over-the-top, comical, and hair-brained but what makes it a jolly read is that the author just leans into it!

India Holton’s language is very visual, not just when describing flying houses and rogue pirates but also in how feelings and expressions are communicated. She has so much fun with the English language and what we get is extremely witty conversations and observations that surprise and charm, extracting more than a few giggles. Take this for example, at the very beginning, she provides a Table of Significant Characters (in order of appearance, of course), and here are some amusing introductions: 

Cilla… a dolorous memory

Pleasance… a housemaid and several ghosts

Teddy Luxe… a fencing master with provocative hips 

The ghost of Emily Brontë… alleged 

Our heroine, Cecelia Bassingthwaite, is strong, ambitious, and very relatable. Like this little exasperated exchange with her assassin (having your own assassin really establishes you as an up-and-comer in the society so this is a rather big deal), 

“We are exactly that, Signor. Corsairs, robbers, pirates. I, however, am also a bibliophile, and you are impeding my visit to the library. So either assassinate me now and get it over with, or kindly step aside.”

The plethora of characters, especially those who make up the Society, have their own quirks and unique personalities. These Lady Scoundrels who take vengeance as seriously as a cup of tea (yes, that’s the order or priority), follow 3 simple rules,

“No killing civilians. Pour the tea before the milk. And no stealing each other’s houses.”

I am looking forward to reading the next books in the series: The League of Gentlewoman Witches & The Secret Service of Tea and Treason.

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Some of our favorite quotes from the book