Review: The Friday Society by by Adrienne Kress

OUCH this cover hurts my pride

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 (GoodReads).

STEAMPUNK super-heroines. I loved the idea of the "smart chicks" behind the powerful men, but this story fell flat for me after 250 pages.

• Absurdity: 10. It is steampunk! Corsets and goggles and hovercraft. I just cannot get my mind around it. I should probably give up.
• Originality: 10. That being said, you have to have an imagination to meld this all together.
• Level of Paranormal Romance: 2. The romance for Cora was the beginning of the end for me. People do not just make-out with basic strangers they dislike. Just stop. Oh, and then the truth at the end of the novel about the love interest?.. I basically said "you get what you deserve! at my book.
• Level of Harry Potterness: 3. These characters had potential. Smart and confident with a silly side. They all need each other, and will be less lonely as friends. But I thought they were too fluffy for this 400+ story. They would have been better served in something short and sweet.