Parents' Guide to

Waistcoats & Weaponry: Finishing School, Book 3

By Julie A. Carlson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Fast-paced thrill ride with werewolves and steampunk fun.

Book Gail Carriger Fantasy 2014
Waistcoats & Weaponry: Finishing School, Book 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

mlkmnsgrl
mlkmnsgrl Adult
March 7, 2019
age 18+

Innuendos increasing through the series

While the first book didn’t have anything too terrible, this series grows increasingly inappropriate. Sexual tension and curiousity, references to male anatomy, and so on. The fourth book isn’t on here, but *spoiler* in the end, the teen and her love interest decide to “live happily in sin for a good long time”. There are many instances of naked men described in the final books, too. Honestly, these books seem clearly adult-only to me. The story is entertaining and I don’t doubt many teens enjoy it.

This title has:

Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
Jeanne W.
Jeanne W. Parent of 10 and 12-year-old
May 18, 2021
age 10+

Smart girls save the day

My daughter and I are both huge fans of this series. She started reading them when she was 10. I love the clever characters, wonderfully absurd plots and strong female role models. The books do have age appropriate curiosity about bodies, but it is not rude. I am completely comfortable with my kids reading this series at 10 years old.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Sophronia and her friends Dimity and Sidheag are in their second year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. The hijinks continue, and so do the etiquette classes. Sidheag goes missing but quickly returns, concerned about a werewolf uprising among the packs. Sophronia and her friends worry that something darker is afoot, and she gains a new weapon: a deadly steel-tipped fan. The girls attend a luxurious masked ball and board a runaway train to return Sidheag to her werewolf pack. There are adventures at every turn and romance between Sophronia's two love interests: the dashing Lord Felix Mersey and her adorable, sooty friend, Soap.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

WAISTCOATS & WEAPONRY is top-notch good fun that builds on the previous two novels in the delightful Finishing School series. Fans of Gail Carriger's adult steampunk books will enjoy this YA series. It's daring and bold yet doesn't have as much sex and violence as many YA novels. There are enough quirky personalities and strong growth among the characters to keep readers intrigued and entertained. Sophronia's a terrific heroine any teen would love to have as a friend.

Waistcoats & Weaponry doesn't disappoint, especially when it comes to the budding romance of Sophronia and Soap. And the cliffhanger ending assures readers will be eager for the next installment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why the genre is called steampunk. What role did steam play in Victorian society and technology?

  • There's mention of the English not liking the Scots and vice versa. How far back in history do these feelings go? Are they reflected in political clashes in the United Kingdom today?

  • If you had the opportunity to attend a finishing school, would you? What would you want to learn?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate