“The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels” - India Holton

(Dangerous Damsels book 1)

🏴‍☠️ This is *definitely* not my usual type of book. I’d recommend it IF you’re in the right headspace for it. It’s a whimsical, irreverent, occasionally spicy novel laced with lighthearted innuendo. Between the flying house incantations, the lady pirates’ flying battleship-houses, and witchy pirates (don’t tell them I said that!), there is nothing whatever serious about this novel.

🏴‍☠️ Set in Victorian England, this wild tale features an extremely ladylike society of lady pirates doing battle against the goofiest of wannabe super villains - a Captain Morvath, who carries a murderous chip on his shoulder directed at powerful women generally (the Captain feels his personal hero, Branwell Brontë was unfairly overshadowed by his sisters).

🏴‍☠️ The quest, the obstacles, the enemies-to-lovers theme, the long-held grudges, penchant for vengeance, and snappy dialogue give major “Princess Bride” vibes. I think the OTT magic and madcap humor pulled me in because I’m not usually a fan of romances. This one is far more the comedy in the rom-com category. 

🏴‍☠️ I enjoyed Holton’s fearsome villainesses who play a sharper game than their male contemporaries. “No one bested that grand lady in the deadly martial art of polite conversation.”

Tally ho!