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coraldraes's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nikshelby's review against another edition
5.0
Defy and Defend, starring Dimity, is decidedly delightful.
Reading a Gail Carriger book is the equivalent of having a rough day - and so, you take a break by sitting down to nibble on a sweet scone slathered in lemon curd, whilst sipping a cuppa.
Reading a Gail Carriger book is the equivalent of having a rough day - and so, you take a break by sitting down to nibble on a sweet scone slathered in lemon curd, whilst sipping a cuppa.
missbryden's review against another edition
4.0
I loved Dimity in the Finishing School series and liked how, among her school peers, she was the more "normal" in that ultimately she just wanted to settle down and be an excellent hostess, with a tuppenny knight (still not entirely sure what that means, except that he'd have a title, but not necessarily high ranking) for a husband, and that that's just as viable an outcome as being a spy sneaking around the shadows. She still has that desire, but she's spent the last 15ish years (apparently) working (for the War Office) as an agent, with her own special charms and everything she learned at school and from her friends. She's still soft, sweet, jolly, and coming off as silly (using that to her advantage in her work).
What I love about Carriger's Parasolverse is how she brings comedy to the vampire world, yes they can still be blood-sucking monsters, but they can also be melodramatic and funny.
The hero feels similar in multiple ways to the hero in [b:Poison or Protect|30320387|Poison or Protect (Delightfully Deadly, #1)|Gail Carriger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464634071l/30320387._SX50_.jpg|50811315], their physical characteristics and gentle natures are both described as similar to werewolves, and both seem to have problems with floating (which is also similar to werewolves). This is not a bad thing, and they're different enough in their characters otherwise.
The character similarities to [b:Cold Comfort Farm|92780|Cold Comfort Farm|Stella Gibbons|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416161594l/92780._SY75_.jpg|847348] are a delight.
She puts in other cookies for readers who've read everything in her universe.
Carriger mentioned in the description that there would be interpretive dance but how it came and with whom was a delight, plus how she writes the ballet shows she knows what she's talking about.
At 30 or 31 by this point Dimity would usually be considered firmly a spinster, but that's never referenced, I think because she's just so "Dimity" that it's never a consideration. I did appreciate that Dimity was "an innocent", apparently unexperienced beyond flirting, and I think that fact was part of the reason the bed scenes seemed a bit fast.
I didn't care so much for the intimate bed scenes, not to my taste - but I knew something of that nature was coming, Carriger's very clear you're going to get some of that in most of her books, has a warning in the front of the books and everything. However, some of it seemed out of character, out of place with the rest of the story, the emotions/feelings/expressions didn't quite flow for me, into the physical scenes and language describing things. But, they were few, and perhaps less violent and less specific compared to other Carriger books, specifically [b:Poison or Protect|30320387|Poison or Protect (Delightfully Deadly, #1)|Gail Carriger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464634071l/30320387._SX50_.jpg|50811315], which is the same series.
my Pinterest board of references
What I love about Carriger's Parasolverse is how she brings comedy to the vampire world, yes they can still be blood-sucking monsters, but they can also be melodramatic and funny.
The hero feels similar in multiple ways to the hero in [b:Poison or Protect|30320387|Poison or Protect (Delightfully Deadly, #1)|Gail Carriger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464634071l/30320387._SX50_.jpg|50811315], their physical characteristics and gentle natures are both described as similar to werewolves, and both seem to have problems with floating (which is also similar to werewolves). This is not a bad thing, and they're different enough in their characters otherwise.
The character similarities to [b:Cold Comfort Farm|92780|Cold Comfort Farm|Stella Gibbons|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416161594l/92780._SY75_.jpg|847348] are a delight.
Spoiler
Carriger had compared this book to makeover type story of [b:Cold Comfort Farm|92780|Cold Comfort Farm|Stella Gibbons|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416161594l/92780._SY75_.jpg|847348] but she went beyond that, not only referencing that book's fictional book, The Higher Common Sense (see also [b:Reticence|31570843|Reticence (The Custard Protocol, #4)|Gail Carriger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543431908l/31570843._SX50_.jpg|52258739], but bringing that fictional author in as a character.She puts in other cookies for readers who've read everything in her universe.
Carriger mentioned in the description that there would be interpretive dance but how it came and with whom was a delight, plus how she writes the ballet shows she knows what she's talking about.
At 30 or 31 by this point Dimity would usually be considered firmly a spinster, but that's never referenced, I think because she's just so "Dimity" that it's never a consideration. I did appreciate that Dimity was "an innocent", apparently unexperienced beyond flirting, and I think that fact was part of the reason the bed scenes seemed a bit fast.
I didn't care so much for the intimate bed scenes, not to my taste - but I knew something of that nature was coming, Carriger's very clear you're going to get some of that in most of her books, has a warning in the front of the books and everything. However, some of it seemed out of character, out of place with the rest of the story, the emotions/feelings/expressions didn't quite flow for me, into the physical scenes and language describing things. But, they were few, and perhaps less violent and less specific compared to other Carriger books, specifically [b:Poison or Protect|30320387|Poison or Protect (Delightfully Deadly, #1)|Gail Carriger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464634071l/30320387._SX50_.jpg|50811315], which is the same series.
my Pinterest board of references
tinynavajo's review
4.0
*Thanks to the author for providing a digital ARC for review!*
A really sweet small novella where we finally get to see Dimity get her happy ending. We saw some small mentions of what she wanted when she finally got out of the espionage business. But first, she must cure a small vampire hive from going Goth and bring it back to its former glory. She must sparkle in order to save their immortal lives.
A really sweet small novella where we finally get to see Dimity get her happy ending. We saw some small mentions of what she wanted when she finally got out of the espionage business. But first, she must cure a small vampire hive from going Goth and bring it back to its former glory. She must sparkle in order to save their immortal lives.
jmitschke's review against another edition
5.0
Delightful. I loved getting to seeing Dimity’s espionage and romantic life as an adult. Her ability to charm/flatter everyone differently and to tidy up untidy situations felt very Cold Comfort Farm (in the best of ways).
lraven13's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
lisawreading's review against another edition
5.0
Hurray for Gail Carriger, the almighty parasol, and the ongoing legacy of the Finishing School!
In the Finishing School books (which are AMAZING and which you need to read RIGHT NOW), we meet a group of school girls who are trained in the fine arts of flirtation, social niceties, and assassination (among other important skills).
The author treated us to the 2016 novella Poison or Protect, the first in what I hope will be a long continuing series (Delightfully Deadly). Poison or Protect was all about Preshea, one of the Finishing School girls who as an adult has made a career out of her deadly skills.
Now, with Defy or Defend, we get Dimity’s story! Dimity was one of the quieter characters in the Finishing School books, a good and loyal friend, a fan of sparkling jewels and accessories, not entirely sure that a career in espionage was really what she was looking for.
Picking up her story several years later, Dimity is a young lady with a talent for unearthing all sorts of wonderful intelligence by way of her charm and flirting abilities. She’s a star performer when it comes to undercover work, but she doesn’t ordinarily deal with the supernatural set until she’s assigned a special new case.
The Nottingham vampire hive is in disarray, with their queen in seclusion, their drones all departed, the remaining few vampires in grave danger of going Goth — that is, becoming overly morose and tending toward wearing disturbing amounts of black velvet. This won’t do. A hive out of control is a menace, and if they can’t be fixed, the Bureau for Unnatural Registry may have to send an agent to end the hive and its vampires once and for all.
Dimity is on the job, along with Sir Crispin Bontwee, a former military man who works in intelligence as safety — that would be the muscle, basically. He’s assigned to protect Dimity while she does the more delicate work of infiltrating and saving the hive.
I could go on and on and tell you all the clever and adorable ways in which Dimity saves the day. (Wallpaper and bustles are involved, among other things. And lots of tea, of course.) But I won’t — I’ll leave you to discover the joys of this sweet, lovely story!
Defy or Defend is a completely wonderful and welcome addition to the larger world of the Parasol Protectorate. As always, the author gives up quippy dialogue, great fashion, silliness galore, and unexpected treats. (And there just might be a certain muscular man performing ballet in a tight bathing costume…)
The tone is sexy with just a little steam, nothing particularly graphic but certainly some sexual content described in non-explicit terms. Which is fine — the characters are warm and likable and we just want them to be happy!
As a bonus for fans of Carriger’s world, a few other familiar faces show up for fun cameos. I suppose that’s one of the perks of writing about immortal supernatural beings — you can set your story in whatever decade you’d like, and still have a favorite character make an appearance!
Defy or Defend is really a fun read, and will definitely lift your spirits. Here’s hoping for many, many more Delightfully Deadly books ahead!
In the Finishing School books (which are AMAZING and which you need to read RIGHT NOW), we meet a group of school girls who are trained in the fine arts of flirtation, social niceties, and assassination (among other important skills).
The author treated us to the 2016 novella Poison or Protect, the first in what I hope will be a long continuing series (Delightfully Deadly). Poison or Protect was all about Preshea, one of the Finishing School girls who as an adult has made a career out of her deadly skills.
Now, with Defy or Defend, we get Dimity’s story! Dimity was one of the quieter characters in the Finishing School books, a good and loyal friend, a fan of sparkling jewels and accessories, not entirely sure that a career in espionage was really what she was looking for.
Picking up her story several years later, Dimity is a young lady with a talent for unearthing all sorts of wonderful intelligence by way of her charm and flirting abilities. She’s a star performer when it comes to undercover work, but she doesn’t ordinarily deal with the supernatural set until she’s assigned a special new case.
The Nottingham vampire hive is in disarray, with their queen in seclusion, their drones all departed, the remaining few vampires in grave danger of going Goth — that is, becoming overly morose and tending toward wearing disturbing amounts of black velvet. This won’t do. A hive out of control is a menace, and if they can’t be fixed, the Bureau for Unnatural Registry may have to send an agent to end the hive and its vampires once and for all.
Dimity is on the job, along with Sir Crispin Bontwee, a former military man who works in intelligence as safety — that would be the muscle, basically. He’s assigned to protect Dimity while she does the more delicate work of infiltrating and saving the hive.
I could go on and on and tell you all the clever and adorable ways in which Dimity saves the day. (Wallpaper and bustles are involved, among other things. And lots of tea, of course.) But I won’t — I’ll leave you to discover the joys of this sweet, lovely story!
Defy or Defend is a completely wonderful and welcome addition to the larger world of the Parasol Protectorate. As always, the author gives up quippy dialogue, great fashion, silliness galore, and unexpected treats. (And there just might be a certain muscular man performing ballet in a tight bathing costume…)
The tone is sexy with just a little steam, nothing particularly graphic but certainly some sexual content described in non-explicit terms. Which is fine — the characters are warm and likable and we just want them to be happy!
As a bonus for fans of Carriger’s world, a few other familiar faces show up for fun cameos. I suppose that’s one of the perks of writing about immortal supernatural beings — you can set your story in whatever decade you’d like, and still have a favorite character make an appearance!
Defy or Defend is really a fun read, and will definitely lift your spirits. Here’s hoping for many, many more Delightfully Deadly books ahead!
tigerchica418's review against another edition
5.0
This book was absolutely wonderful! It ties in to the larger Parasolverse (Gail Carriger’s other books set in the same universe), yet still works as a stand alone. Since I have read the other books, it was nice to see Dimity as an adult, and I loved the mentions (and cameos) of other characters from her time in finishing school. Like all of Miss Gail’s books, I ended it with a smile and the feeling of a warm hug that only her books bring. There were serious moments...then there were times when I laughed so hard that I woke my husband up. I highly recommend this book, and if you like it, urge you to check out Miss Gail’s other works.