Prudence (The Custard Protocol, #1) by Gail Carriger Published by Orbit on March 17, 2015
Pages: 357
Goodreads
From New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger comes a new novel in the world of the Parasol Protectorate starring Prudence, the daughter of Alexia Tarabotti.
When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (Rue to her friends) is given an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female would under similar circumstances - names it the Spotted Custard and floats to India in pursuit of the perfect cup of tea. But India has more than just tea on offer. Rue stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier's wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a dire crisis and an embarrassing lack of bloomers, what else is a young lady of good breeding to do but turn metanatural and find out everyone's secrets, even thousand-year-old fuzzy ones?
4 Nuts
Well now, this was different.
After two series and two novellas with Miss Carriger I thought I knew what to expect from her. Until Custard Protocol, that is. It’s a strange feeling after being so in love with a series to have to go back and reacquaint yourself with the same world from a different perspective. I think that’s why I had a hard time loving this one at first.
PRUDENCE follows the character of the same name, who actually goes by Rue, daughter of Alexia and Conall Maccon and adopted child of Lord Akeldama. Yeah, it’s complicated. But you would know all this if you’d read TIMELESS. Rue is a personality, one that clashes with her mother Alexia in a big way.
I had a bit of difficulty with Rue’s perception of her mother at first. She regards her harshly, almost similarly to the way Alexia feels about her mother. I’m assuming that is a side plot in the making, Rue coming to understand Alexia and vice versa. At least I hope it is because Rue POV Alexia is not the character I’ve come to love and I don’t like it.
The funniest part about listening to this book on audio is hearing the characters’ nicknames out loud. Prim and Rue, what is this? The Hunger Games? I should have expected it I suppose, with names like Prudence and Primrose. Still, it’s the first thing I thought when I heard the nicknames. Intentional? Who knows.
The story itself is very much in the vein of TIMELESS and CHANGELESS, most of the book being concerned with the travel to a foreign land, interacting with the locals there, and solving the book’s mystery. However Rue has more than just her best friend along. Prim’s twin Percy and the now infamous Quisnel LeFoux (son of our friend the inventor) are along for the ride. Look’s like Rue’s got a full posse for adventuring.
As the book went along I warmed up to the new tone and characters but it definitely took a little bit to get used to. Now that I am I can’t wait to continue the series with IMPRUDENCE and onward. New generation, new stories, but plenty of our old friends popping in and out (coughcough Sidheag and Lyall, what up. I’ll never say no to more Sidheag).
So, what’s next?
IMPRUDENCE
ROMANCING THE WEREWOLF
HOW TO MARRY A WEREWOLF
COMPETENCE
MARINE BIOLOGY
THE SUMAGE SOLUTION
I might have a problem, lol.
What are you reading right now? Share in the comments below.
From my shelf to yours,
Erin
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