June 15, 2017
"Women's work" is a weapon in this female-centric spy novel set in the Regency era.Annis Whitworth's father has died, leaving the white English teen and her aunt--her only living relative--penniless. What is a destitute lady of quality and intelligence to do? Serving as governess to small children will not do, nor will being a lady's companion. And marriage is out of the question. While altering a dreadful pre-made mourning gown, Annis discovers she's a glamour artist. She can transform any article of clothing into a disguise, a talent fit for a spy. Annis' father was a spy, so why shouldn't she be one as well? She heads to the War Office to offer her services, but she's dismissed as a silly girl. With mounting debts, Annis, Aunt Cassia, and their maid Millie move to Flittingsworth, where Annis sets up shop as Madame Martine, glamour modiste. When a real threat looms, Annis hopes she can convince the War Office to hire Madame Martine to wield her powers for England. Annis and Cassia and their unmarried female associates (all evidently white) defy 19th-century gender conventions with their independence, intellect, and daring. Tongue-in-cheek commentary on the state of womanhood dominates the narrative, and the story's most meaningful relationships are those among the women of the story. Cameos from history, classic literature, and modern Regency novels for young readers add fizz for those in the know. A great deal of fun, one stitch at a time. (author's note) (Historical fantasy. 12-18)
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Starred review from July 1, 2017
Gr 9 Up-A cross between Jane Austen dramas and Harriet the Spy, this delightful strong female-led title mixes historical fiction and spy mystery with a touch of magic to produce a story filled with adventure. Sixteen-year-old Annis Whitworth leads a privileged existence in 19th-century London when she learns about her father's tragic death. Suspecting foul play, she sets out to discover the truth behind his mysterious accident and his peripatetic lifestyle. Placing herself on a dangerous path that reveals secrets she may not be prepared to hear, Annis, along with her daring maid, Millie, sets herself up as a disguised dressmaker in a suburb of London. Using her newfound talent to sew magical glamours, which create alternative identities, Annis goes to extremes to get the answers she wants. Though her aunt and guardian, Cassia, appears to be unaware of Annis's exploits, she reveals herself to be a larger part of the puzzle than Annis could ever have imagined. Rejecting conventions of the time period, Jones infuses her female characters with boldness, intelligence, and wit. The heroine is not shy about devouring food and has aspirations that do not involve marrying a rich man, making this a refreshing take on women in the 1800s. The quirky humor further enhances the book. VERDICT Teens will find this a perfect, modern introduction to Regency novels that portrays confident female role models. An excellent addition to high school libraries.-Karin Greenberg, Queens College, NY
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2018
Orphaned and homeless in fashionable London after her father's death, Annis's eye for fashion and newly discovered magical talent for sewing "glamours" into cloth lead to her setting up a dressmaker's shop in the country. There she must navigate the polite hazards of society--as well as a perilous world of spies and double agents. Touches of magic and plenty of girl power make for a jauntily entertaining Regency-era adventure.
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
November 1, 2017
Secret messages, disguises, code names, and knife fights flit in and out of ballrooms and dressmakers' shops in this Regency-era adventure. After Annis Whitworth's father dies unexpectedly, leaving her orphaned and homeless in fashionable London, her curiosity about his life as a spy draws her into a world of peril and bravery. Annis's eye for fashion and newly discovered magical talent for sewing glamours into cloth lead to her setting up a shop in the country. There, Annis, with her indomitable aunt Cassia and trusty maid Millie, must navigate the polite hazards of Flittingsworth society as well as more deadly threats from mysterious double agents. Between sewing gowns and experimenting with magic, Annis tries to find time to convince the War Office that it could use the services of a young lady, especially since the very imprisonment of Napoleon is at stake. While touches of magic make disguises more convincing and transformations more beautiful, the story itself is less fantasy than it is historical fiction. The details of Regency life keep Annis's adventure jauntily entertaining even when badly behaved gentlemen and sinister thieves thicken the plot. With only a sprinkling of romance and plenty of girl power, the heroine's interests prove that bravery and style can go comfortably hand-in-hand. sarah berman
(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)