Title: The Friday Society
Author: Adrienne Kress
Release Date: June 11, 2012 (hardcover)
Publisher: Dial
Pages: 448
Source: ARC provided by publisher

Overall: 5 Stars

Summary:

An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns–and the heroines who use them all

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder–and the crimes they believe may be connected to it–without calling too much attention to themselves.

Set in the past but with a modern irreverent flare, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike–well, relatively ladylike–heroines poised for more dangerous adventures. 

My Thoughts:  
Adrienne Kress' debut YA novel, The Friday Society, is a steampunk adventure you don't want to miss! It was a fun and entertaining read from beginning to end. There's a touch of romance in the novel, but it really wasn't the central focus of the storyline. I loved its emphasis on friendship, teamwork, and the empowering of women. 

There's definitely a feminist edge to The Friday Society. Nellie, Cora, and Michiko are strong heroines in their own rights, but many men would dismiss them as pretty faces and girls to be protected. It's a foolish notion on their part, and these three young women were all too ready to prove just how mistaken these men could be in underestimating their abilities and intellect.

Nellie is a magician's assistant, skilled at picking locks and acrobatics, and capable of unbinding herself from the trickiest of knots. Cora is a lab assistant working for the influential Lord White, whose secret hobby is creating mechanical inventions. She shares his passion for inventing and is always open to tackling a new challenge.

Originally from Japan, Michiko ran away from home and persistently worked hard to learn the forbidden ways of a samurai. She later accepted an offer to become a fight assistant in London, a decision she now regrets because she longs to be free and a true warrior. There's a nefarious plot afoot in the city and it will take the inquisitive minds of Cora, Nellie, and Michiko to discover the villain.

While The Friday Society is a standalone novel for now, I can definitely see the potential for a sequel! I have my fingers-crossed that I'll be seeing Cora, Nellie, and Michiko solving another mystery together! 

Thanks so much to Penguin Canada for providing this review copy and organizing the Canadian blog tour for The Friday Society!