This novel had me grinning from ear to ear and I haven’t felt this way about a book in a long time. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton is an absolute gem of a find and I am so glad I picked it up because it is hilarious. Flying houses captained by high society pirate women, said women sending assassins to try and kill others who have been inconveniences and then taking tea with said target the following day, and Bronte connections and references for days.

This is an idea I would never have thought up but it works beautifully and keeps the reader is such a state of bliss throughout the whole novel. The quirkiness of chapter plot summaries at the beginning of each chapter, the characters and their bizarre interactions and dynamics, the ridiculousness of the plot and how it never bores for a second. It’s exactly the kind of juxtaposed action and character ensemble that sounds like a parody or satire but follows a very serious path of etiquette and social norms while weaving just the right loops to make piracy and blackmail appropriate.

The pacing is well plotted and the tension is there, it may be wriggling through all the humour and hilarity of circumstances but it is there. This is very much so a light-hearted read intended to draw out some laughs and keep you engaged (which you will be) and I quite frankly don’t think I’ve read something so positively ridiculous that has made me want to pick up the next in the series a much as The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels. It is a one of a kind and I will be recommending this for years to come.

The character establishment and development is great. Cecelia (the main one in this tale) is both strong and flawed, a lady of great skill and yet so sheltered and uncertain of her future. She is steadfast and loyal and more than up for some over-the-top act in order to blend in (and maybe should stay away from the alcohol). I love her instinct to follow through, to act and not fuss around with arguments or petty discussions. She’s hands-on and she gets stuff done. I also love Ned Lightbourne and his characterisation. He is the epitome of whipped yet will act out the task he needs to complete. These two and their various run-ins with each other where some deadly weapon is being wielded made me laugh more than once per engagement and I couldn’t help but enjoy the slow shift in Cecelia’s attitude internally even though physically she kept up a lot of the same intentions (if a little dimmed and redundant).

The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is a must-read, if not for your diversity of reading than for the sheer fact that you will be giggling at every page and fawning over these two and the story world in general. India Holton is a genius and I cannot wait to read the rest of her work!