In this final installment, New Year’s Eve 1853 is fast approaching. And the Pickleman are up to something. When the school is shot out of the sky Sophronia is determined to find out why. Things go from bad to worse when the school is hijacked by the Pickleman with Mademoiselle Geraldine, Professor Braithwope, Sophronia, and the Sooties still aboard. It’s up to Sophronia to to help the professors retake the ship while her stranded friends mount a rescue with some unlikely help. Will the survive long enough to Finish?
I love that the titles of this series slightly hint at what’s afoot. The first indicated a spy plot, the second a conspiracy, the third that someone was up to something with a possible weapon, and now that there’s a mutiny. All why maintaining the duality of the school’s functions.
There just as much humor and ridiculousness here as before, complete with the girls London shopping and what they do to take back the school.
I figured Mademoiselle Geraldine wasn’t as in the dark as it appeared. Of course it was all and act and a lesson. I mean this is a school for espionage. Poor Professor Braithwope though, I’m not sure I like how his story ended. But the rest of the professor’s and side characters got satisfactory enough endings. I like to think the girls’ stories are quite done yet. I believe a few of them pop up later in the Parasol Protectorate and the off shoot nevellas.
As for the love triangle, I wasn’t really feeling it in this series. I applaud the inclusion of a cross class and race romance, but I’m not sure if I like Soap as a long term romantic prospect for Sophronia. They made great friends, and will make great spy partners, but I don’t like that he got possessive and angry as a werewolf. Possessiveness is not a good quality in a partner, regardless of supernatural nature, and I don’t think it’s a good example for young readers. It’s clear they were end game from the start, but he went from believing he wasn’t good enough, to wanting to be a werewolf so he could obtain a station to make himself worthy, and that’s not a good look. Sophronia never cared that he was beneath her station when she befriended him after all.
As for Felix, he wasn’t fully right either. I loved his sense of humor though and how he used words to flirt, because that’s appealing to me. He was above Sophronia in station, but if he didn’t care she was beneath him, than I say that’s a mark in his favor. However, there was his father to deal with. It’s revealed that, spoiler here, he’s a drone for the Westminster Hive, but it’s not said how long he’s been a drone. If it’s been a while, then his behavior in the last book can be chalked up to maintaining his cover. But if it was, I think he should have found a better way to explain and let the group know he was actually on their side. Felix blames Soap for “stealing” her, which is another bit of possessiveness I don’t like – but this time attributed to his upbringing – but if he’d told her the truth, then things could have worked out differently since she discounted him solely on his father’s politics and her perceived notions of his. If he was secretly an intelligencer the whole time, than he’s a match for Sophronia and would make the perfect partner since no one would ever suspect him or his wife of spying. Plus, he’s still human and will age naturally like her. If the incident on the train made him rethink things and join the hive as a drone, then she did sway him. Alas, this is unanswered. I still don’t think he’s right for her in the long run anyway. They all met so young, especially since Sophronia was only 14 at the start, that I don’t think it’s feasible for her to live happily ever after with either Soap or Felix.
However, all that being said, this is a great boarding school series with a twist, and a great series for younger YA readers and MG readers ready to break into YA. They younger age of the characters at the start and, the shorter books, and the lack of anything beyond awkward flirting and first kisses make it perfect for the younger set. Four Lightsabers.
The Ramblings of a Jedi Librarian 