Set in an approximation of the Victorian era, filled with pirates who stalk the skies in flying houses and witches who can make objects fly across a room with a word, Holton’s second “Dangerous Damsels” book finds the protagonists at odds when they both attempt to steal a long-lost, powerful amulet. Miss Charlotte Pettifer and Captain Alex O’Riley are sworn enemies; Charlotte is a witch, and Alex is a pirate. They each seek the powerful Black Beryl amulet and must work together to find it despite their animosity. Larceny, violence, and even assassination attempts are treated as humorous larks. References to other books, both subtle and otherwise, are peppered throughout; Jane Austen’s and Shakespeare’s works are particular favorites.
VERDICT Nearly every sentence is a metaphor or simile, which may frustrate some. Readers who are fans of Gail Carriger’s “The Parasol Protectorate” series, or tongue-in-cheek humor more generally, will find great enjoyment in this solid choice.
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