The Custard Protocol, Book 2

Synopsis: London is in chaos.

Rue and the crew of The Spotted Custard returned from India with revelations that shook the foundations of the scientific community. There is mass political upheaval, the vampires are tetchy, and something is seriously wrong with the local werewolf pack. To top it all off, Rue’s best friend Primrose keeps getting engaged to the most inappropriate military types.

Rue has got personal problems as well. Her vampire father is angry, her werewolf father is crazy, and her obstreperous mother is both. Worst of all, Rue’s beginning to suspect what they all really are… is frightened.

When the Custard is ordered to Egypt, transporting some highly unusual passengers, Rue’s problems go from personal to impossible. Can she get Percy to stop sulking? Will she find the true cause of Primrose’s lovesickness? And what is Quesnel hiding in the boiler room?

Review: I liked the first volume without really loving it as I loved the Parasol Protectorate series. It was very nice to find all the children of the characters that we had the opportunity to discover through the volumes. Also, I was curious to find them in the continuation of their adventures.

Lord Maccon is suffering and it seems that the only way to help him is to make him human, but this is only possible in Egypt. Together, they take Rue’s ship to get there. After having somewhat attended the consequences of this new madness, we find with pleasure Alexia. I really like her very much and it’s always nice to see her present in the story. It is sad, however, to see the characters leave and to see Rue realize that she will not have them at hand as she used to. Fortunately for her, Dama is always present to help her. In addition to this, Rue must manage her crew and the jealousies of everyone who will not fail to attract an attention that they would have preferred to avoid. But Rue also has her attention focused on Percy and their games. It is very cute to see them together but I am curious to see how it will end up.

It was an action-packed reading and I really hope that we will see Alexia, Lord Maccon and that the other old characters again other than just by mention in the conversations. It’s always interesting to see Rue discover the world and the things she did not suspect about her family. A nice novel to read!

The Custard Protocol, Book 1

Synopsis: 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?

Review: I loved the Parasol Protectorate series although I admit that I still need to read the last book… Yes, I really need to do that! I tried the YA spin off series but I admit that I could not hang on the first volume so I never continued. But now, a new series is here and I admit that once more I was intrigued by the world, particularly when we know that we follow this time the daughter of Alexia Maccon. Yes that means that we can see the previous heroes and see what they have become!

You will not be surprised to know that our dear Prudence does not follow the rules and has trouble getting a line mainly in society. And after her latest blunder, Rue knows that she is going to have to be discreet and she has the perfect solution when her adoptive father Dama offers her a mission to India to bring back a new variety of tea. But for that, she needs to organize a small team to navigate without problems in her new airship and who better than the children of all Alexia’s allies, the Lefoux or even the children of Ivy! Yes, some colorful characters that have nothing to envy from their relatives and I loved to discover them! What about Primrose or Percy, the children of our dear vampire which are full of hidden resources or Quesnel the son of our inventor and who is also an exceptional engineer. Yes, it was nice getting to know them and to follow them throughout the story. You can imagine that a simple tea history will quickly become more complicated when a young woman disappears, and a new species of werewolves appears. Rue has to use a variety of skills to try to cope in all situations in which she finds herself and, her gift, allowing her to steal the skin of all creatures, will be a great help.

It was a good first book, maybe not as much as the first series that has a special place for me but I loved discovering Rue and her adventures! We are easily taken by the story and I let myself be carried by the chapters. It was a nice discovery full of originality and how not to be happy to see the heroes I loved! Yes, I had a great time and I’m curious about the result and to find Rue and her friends again!