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Kat, Incorrigible #3
A Reckless Magick
This is the third adventure for Kat Stephenson as she faces smugglers, sabotage, tangled romance and plenty of magic activity at work. This is girly adventure meets Jane Austin.
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
About the author
Stephanie Burgis
77 books1,126 followersI grew up in America, but now I live in Wales with my husband, fellow writer Patrick Samphire, our two sons, and our sweet (and extremely vocal) tabby cat, Pebbles. I write fantasy rom-coms for adults (most recently Claws and Contrivances and Good Neighbors) and fun MG fantasy adventure novels, too (most recently The Raven Crown duology). My next series will be the adult romantasy trilogy The Queens of Villainy, published by Tor Bramble, starting in 2025 with Wooing the Witch Queen.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
April 18, 2021
A delightful closing book to the trilogy. Kat continues to save the day with her persistence, wits, and courage. I loved Charles' development in this book, and the threads woven throughout around being willing to accept help, i.e. not being the lone hero against the world. The stakes are ever higher in this book, as accidents and attacks mount up, targeting Kat and her beloved family. And Kat, despite the occasional misgiving or mistake, rises to the challenge admirably.
April 14, 2013
Originally reviewed on The Book Smugglers
**WARNING: This review contains slight, but unavoidable, spoilers for the first two books in this series. If you haven't read the first two books in the series and want to remain unspoiled, look away.**
Review:
After the dramatic turn of events at Bath, Kat Stephenson has managed to save her elder siblings from disaster and earn back the respect of her fellow Guardians - having stopped the traitorous machinations of the former head of the order. Now, just a few days away from Angeline's marriage to Lord Frederick Carlyle, Kat faces one of her most daunting challenges yet: preparing for her upcoming Guardian initiation test while trying to keep the peace between her family and the less-than-enthused Carlyles. To make things even worse, it seems that someone is out to seriously injure Kat and her family, as a mysterious saboteur follows the Stephensons across the countryside. And Kat has a sinking suspicion that the very same saboteur is the person behind the Guardians' stolen cache of magical Portals. With her sister's marriage, her family's lives, and the future of England at stake, Kat is up against her biggest challenge yet.
Well. Excuse me while I take this opportunity to gush because OH MY GOODNESS, I absolutely adored this third (and hopefully not final) Kat Stephenson adventure from hilarious start to heartwarming finish. I can safely say that Kat is one of my very favorite middle grade heroines ever - not just because she's smart, headstrong, and impetuous, but because she's got a great burning curiosity and an equally fiery temper, and at the heart of everything she is and does, Kat is a young woman with a deep sense of justice and love. Love for her family and for the new friends she makes along the way, and love for her position and magical abilities as a Guardian. This, dear readers, is freaking AMAZING.
What's extra-special and compelling about this newest Kat adventure, however, is more than just the sum of these different attributes (which Kat has had since the beginning). No, Stolen Magic is so wonderful and in a way bittersweet, because it's the book where Kat starts to grow up. She manages on several occasions to bite her tongue and control her temper. She takes responsibility for her actions and for those around her by not just rushing into action willy nilly (ok, she does still run headlong into danger, but there's more of a thoughtful reasoning process to it all), but by thinking and then acting. It's also the book where Kat turns thirteen, where her second older sister gets married, and her brother reforms his ways and finds romance. (And so too, in a subtle and believable way, does Kat.)
And this character growth isn't just limited to Kat, either. As I mentioned, Charles, Kat's older brother, renounces drinking and gambling after the sobering experience of nearly being sacrificed to the wild, pagan magic of Bath in Renegade Magic. Angeline, the second eldest Stephenson sister, finds a way to trust others (including her fiancee) after a few misguided attempts to taking on the world by herself and her witchcraft. And, most intriguingly, we finally learn more about Kat's father, the quiet, bookish, withdrawn Mr. Stephenson - we know he has been harboring secrets about his past, and most importantly, his late wife. We are also introduced to new characters in this book, with the sophisticated and elusive Marquise de Valmont (who also plays a role in the Stephenson family past) and the sweet-tempered Jane Carlyle among my favorites.
Beyond the phenomenal character building, Stolen Magic is also a mystery with a few good twists. There's the mystery of the stolen Guardian portals to contend with, compounded by the mystery of Kat's mysterious stalker with a vendetta, and the mounting, frightening threats against the Stephenson family (from a sawed carriage axle to an honest-to-goodness assassination attempt). And, of course, there's plenty of magic and daring-do - even a little bit of treason! - thrown into the mix. Oh yes, and let's not forget about the romantic shenanigans and comedy of errors type storytelling also happening simultaneously.
Needless to say, there is PLENTY going on in Stolen Magic - and it all boils down to one truth that should be universally acknowledged. That is, Kat Stephenson is the Real Deal. I absolutely, wholeheartedly loved this book, and I dearly hope to see more of Kat in the future. Absolutely recommended, and in the running for one of my favorite, notable reads of 2013.
**WARNING: This review contains slight, but unavoidable, spoilers for the first two books in this series. If you haven't read the first two books in the series and want to remain unspoiled, look away.**
Review:
After the dramatic turn of events at Bath, Kat Stephenson has managed to save her elder siblings from disaster and earn back the respect of her fellow Guardians - having stopped the traitorous machinations of the former head of the order. Now, just a few days away from Angeline's marriage to Lord Frederick Carlyle, Kat faces one of her most daunting challenges yet: preparing for her upcoming Guardian initiation test while trying to keep the peace between her family and the less-than-enthused Carlyles. To make things even worse, it seems that someone is out to seriously injure Kat and her family, as a mysterious saboteur follows the Stephensons across the countryside. And Kat has a sinking suspicion that the very same saboteur is the person behind the Guardians' stolen cache of magical Portals. With her sister's marriage, her family's lives, and the future of England at stake, Kat is up against her biggest challenge yet.
Well. Excuse me while I take this opportunity to gush because OH MY GOODNESS, I absolutely adored this third (and hopefully not final) Kat Stephenson adventure from hilarious start to heartwarming finish. I can safely say that Kat is one of my very favorite middle grade heroines ever - not just because she's smart, headstrong, and impetuous, but because she's got a great burning curiosity and an equally fiery temper, and at the heart of everything she is and does, Kat is a young woman with a deep sense of justice and love. Love for her family and for the new friends she makes along the way, and love for her position and magical abilities as a Guardian. This, dear readers, is freaking AMAZING.
What's extra-special and compelling about this newest Kat adventure, however, is more than just the sum of these different attributes (which Kat has had since the beginning). No, Stolen Magic is so wonderful and in a way bittersweet, because it's the book where Kat starts to grow up. She manages on several occasions to bite her tongue and control her temper. She takes responsibility for her actions and for those around her by not just rushing into action willy nilly (ok, she does still run headlong into danger, but there's more of a thoughtful reasoning process to it all), but by thinking and then acting. It's also the book where Kat turns thirteen, where her second older sister gets married, and her brother reforms his ways and finds romance. (And so too, in a subtle and believable way, does Kat.)
And this character growth isn't just limited to Kat, either. As I mentioned, Charles, Kat's older brother, renounces drinking and gambling after the sobering experience of nearly being sacrificed to the wild, pagan magic of Bath in Renegade Magic. Angeline, the second eldest Stephenson sister, finds a way to trust others (including her fiancee) after a few misguided attempts to taking on the world by herself and her witchcraft. And, most intriguingly, we finally learn more about Kat's father, the quiet, bookish, withdrawn Mr. Stephenson - we know he has been harboring secrets about his past, and most importantly, his late wife. We are also introduced to new characters in this book, with the sophisticated and elusive Marquise de Valmont (who also plays a role in the Stephenson family past) and the sweet-tempered Jane Carlyle among my favorites.
Beyond the phenomenal character building, Stolen Magic is also a mystery with a few good twists. There's the mystery of the stolen Guardian portals to contend with, compounded by the mystery of Kat's mysterious stalker with a vendetta, and the mounting, frightening threats against the Stephenson family (from a sawed carriage axle to an honest-to-goodness assassination attempt). And, of course, there's plenty of magic and daring-do - even a little bit of treason! - thrown into the mix. Oh yes, and let's not forget about the romantic shenanigans and comedy of errors type storytelling also happening simultaneously.
Needless to say, there is PLENTY going on in Stolen Magic - and it all boils down to one truth that should be universally acknowledged. That is, Kat Stephenson is the Real Deal. I absolutely, wholeheartedly loved this book, and I dearly hope to see more of Kat in the future. Absolutely recommended, and in the running for one of my favorite, notable reads of 2013.
July 22, 2016
Wow, wow, WOW, this book completely took my breath away. Countless funny scenarios, so many cool character moments, a ton of gasp-worthy plot reveals, all leading up to an outstandingly tense ending - I was an emotional wreck reading this. The character development (mainly Stepmama and OHMYGOSH CHARLES) was so believable yet also new and exciting. Even the characters who haven't really changed as people since the beginning of the series have had their situations change and stuff happen to them, and the detail Burgis put into that for every single character is something I really admire. Then of course there's Kat, who is one of my favourite protagonists I've ever come across and I so enjoy reading from her witty, determined and calculating perspective.
This book had so many intriguing storylines which I had great fun trying to guess the endings to, and there so much depth to it, yet it was still such an easy to read story - a very addictive one, in fact! Every time I told myself it was time to stop reading, another cool development cropped up and I had to keep going, so I ended up reading much of the book in large chunks, and the last quarter or so in one go. Everything was so well thought out to bring out its entertainment value to the fullest, and so intricately placed in the story that I don't know how Burgis even started to come up with this thing.
Basically, I think this book totally rocked. Definitely my favourite of the trilogy (which is really saying something because the first two were absolutely excellent) - which overall I think is an outstanding little gem and certainly worth the read. This has got to be my favourite book of this year so far and one I will not be forgetting in a hurry.
This book had so many intriguing storylines which I had great fun trying to guess the endings to, and there so much depth to it, yet it was still such an easy to read story - a very addictive one, in fact! Every time I told myself it was time to stop reading, another cool development cropped up and I had to keep going, so I ended up reading much of the book in large chunks, and the last quarter or so in one go. Everything was so well thought out to bring out its entertainment value to the fullest, and so intricately placed in the story that I don't know how Burgis even started to come up with this thing.
Basically, I think this book totally rocked. Definitely my favourite of the trilogy (which is really saying something because the first two were absolutely excellent) - which overall I think is an outstanding little gem and certainly worth the read. This has got to be my favourite book of this year so far and one I will not be forgetting in a hurry.
December 29, 2019
Magic is indeed stolen in the third installment of the series where our beloved characters become even less interesting in their quest for romance, magic, and family affection.
The "baddies" are so over the top, the "mystery" so uninteresting, and the drama so dour the only thing saving this book from one star fate are glimpses of charm that the first book had in spades.
Hoe disappointing.
The "baddies" are so over the top, the "mystery" so uninteresting, and the drama so dour the only thing saving this book from one star fate are glimpses of charm that the first book had in spades.
Hoe disappointing.
August 2, 2020
The Kat, Incorrigible series continues to be a favorite. Proper Regency setting and hilarious dialog between Kat and her charismatic older siblings, recently married Elissa, soon-to-be-married Angeline (a witch), and reformed reprobate brother Charles, adds to the madcap magical adventures as Kat tries to practice her magic and finally be initiated into the secret magical society the Order of the Guardians, her birthright from her dead mother. Oh, there are dastardly forces at play, Lady Frotherington's barely-kept-in-check hatred for both Kat and her late mother, the grasping, malice-filled Mrs. Carlyle, Angeline's future mama-in-law and current mistress of the magnificent Hepworth Park who is desperate to end her son and heir's engagement, and the mysterious appearance of the glamorous Marquise de Valmont, outranking every aristocrat at Hepworth and who Kat swears looks like her dead mother. Meanwhile, a store of portals to the secret lair of the Order of the Guardians have been stolen and someone is trying to frame Kat as the thief and traitor, once and for all ruining her chances of joining the order, learning more about her magical abilities, and ruining her family forever. Excellent fun, highly recommended, but don't read this third tale without reading the first two Kat, Incorrigible and Renegade Magic. Myself, I am beyond happy to see that there is indeed a fourth adventure, jumping ahead to when Kat is 18 Courting Magic, that I am immediately ordering!
December 18, 2015
maybe it's because i read through this series so quickly, but what i found charming and endearing in the first book became irritating by the third. the author needs to learn that if something is annoying to the protagonist, it is doubly so for the reader, who has no choice but to grit her teeth and wade through all the tedious descriptions of people gritting their teeth. i'm not joking. i actually counted: the phrase "I gritted my teeth" (or some variation thereof) appears in this book TWENTY-THREE TIMES. that is not counting the number of times the protagonist clenches her teeth (2) or has her teeth "set on edge" (3) or confronts other characters, who then grind their teeth (4). somebody get these people a dentist!!
incidentally, it's not just teeth gritting. characters cross their arms (in defiance/annoyance) sixteen times; lift their chins (in defiance/annoyance) thirteen times; and glare at each other (often while simultaneously crossing their arms or lifting their chins, in defiance/annoyance) FOURTY-FOUR TIMES. the characters in the novel may love each other, but they sure don't like each other or their lives very much - which rather made me disinclined to like them (or their story), too.
incidentally, it's not just teeth gritting. characters cross their arms (in defiance/annoyance) sixteen times; lift their chins (in defiance/annoyance) thirteen times; and glare at each other (often while simultaneously crossing their arms or lifting their chins, in defiance/annoyance) FOURTY-FOUR TIMES. the characters in the novel may love each other, but they sure don't like each other or their lives very much - which rather made me disinclined to like them (or their story), too.
June 11, 2017
The third book in the Kat trilogy. More magic and adventure in a semi-Regency setting.
Kat and her family are en route to her second sister's wedding, and even on the way, there is someone lurking about, a carriage accident, and a marquise -- a woman who married a French nobleman, and who is known to Kat's father.
And so to arrival, where Mrs. Carlyle still has not reconciled herself with the marriage, and the Order tells Kat there may be problems with her initiation, since the portals were stolen.
The tale involves secret passageways, discussions of gambling and drink, secret passageways, Kat's brother taking in a woman to dinner because of Kat's craftiness, a resentful son, smuggling, and threads from the prior two books being tied up -- among other things.
Kat and her family are en route to her second sister's wedding, and even on the way, there is someone lurking about, a carriage accident, and a marquise -- a woman who married a French nobleman, and who is known to Kat's father.
And so to arrival, where Mrs. Carlyle still has not reconciled herself with the marriage, and the Order tells Kat there may be problems with her initiation, since the portals were stolen.
The tale involves secret passageways, discussions of gambling and drink, secret passageways, Kat's brother taking in a woman to dinner because of Kat's craftiness, a resentful son, smuggling, and threads from the prior two books being tied up -- among other things.
January 20, 2015
This cannot be the finalbook in the series! What about Kat's adventures as a Guardian? What about Alexander? What about seeing Charles and Jane marry, Elissa have her baby, and Kat become an adult?
Just like the other two in the series, this book builds up to a mighty climax and finishes with a bang. It's the perfect combination of interesting and diverse characters (I especially love the perfectly imperfect sibling relationships), unpredictable but coherent plot, perfectly feasible but highly imaginative fantasy and the Austenian historical charm. It's far too soon to say goodbye to such a delightful world.
www.GoodReadingGuide.com
Just like the other two in the series, this book builds up to a mighty climax and finishes with a bang. It's the perfect combination of interesting and diverse characters (I especially love the perfectly imperfect sibling relationships), unpredictable but coherent plot, perfectly feasible but highly imaginative fantasy and the Austenian historical charm. It's far too soon to say goodbye to such a delightful world.
www.GoodReadingGuide.com
June 6, 2013
Brilliant :D
Another please?
Another please?
July 3, 2015
Absolutely perfect! I wish this wasn't the end of the series. Full review to come.
July 25, 2017
Probably one of my favorite in the series. Definitely better than the second.
May 16, 2016
3.5 - 4 stars
FAMILY! Oh, the heart of this series - but this one especially - is family and I am so glad!
Kat has matured and learned so much since we first met her. Her fierce love of her family and her desire to make the mother she never got the chance to know proud and to restore her good reputation are as strong as ever, but she has reigned in her impulsive temper. And then there was her forgiveness of, and, yes, magnamity toward Alexander. All is forgiven... his attacking her, choking her, threatening her, and trying to have her mind broken. Yes, there were extenuating circumstances, he had lost his own family and was being manipulated. I still should not have been so forgiving.
Excellent character development. Charles in particular has so much growth at long last and some great interaction with Kat and his other sisters. Charles is now quite reformed after Kat had to save his last year and he falls in love with Jane Carlyle, Frederick's cousin (and potentially the only other worthwhile Carlyle?) and decides to become a clergyman like his father. Angeline is joyously married to Frederick after surviving a murder attempt. Elissa and Collingwood are expecting their first child. And Kat's heretofore unknown aunt and godmother, her mama's only sister, invites her to come and live with her. Even better, she offers her the chance to hone all her inherited powers, Guardian and witch.
And Alexander and this mysterious other "Order"? I expect that they will make an appearance in Courting Magic which I look forward to reading soon!
FAMILY! Oh, the heart of this series - but this one especially - is family and I am so glad!
Kat has matured and learned so much since we first met her. Her fierce love of her family and her desire to make the mother she never got the chance to know proud and to restore her good reputation are as strong as ever, but she has reigned in her impulsive temper. And then there was her forgiveness of, and, yes, magnamity toward Alexander. All is forgiven... his attacking her, choking her, threatening her, and trying to have her mind broken. Yes, there were extenuating circumstances, he had lost his own family and was being manipulated. I still should not have been so forgiving.
"You're wrong," I said. I pushed myself between Alexander and the cold, white illusion of his father. I stood on my tiptoes and grabbed Alexander's head to force him to look down and meet my gaze.
"He did have something to lose," I said. "His honor. He gave that up in the end... but you didn't. And that makes you a better man than your father."
Alexander's eyes widened. He opened his mouth, but he didn't speak. So even as Lord Ravenscroft's contemptuous, sneering voice rose higher and higher in outrage behind me, I kept going.
"You," I said, "are not your father. And you are not going to let him stop you from doing the right thing now." I shook him by his broad shoulders. "Are you?"
As Alexander looked down at me, his face slowly transformed from a mask of pain and bewilderment to a look of bemused wonder. He shook his head. "I think Moreau was right about you, after all," he said. "You are dangerous."
"Thank you," I said.
Excellent character development. Charles in particular has so much growth at long last and some great interaction with Kat and his other sisters. Charles is now quite reformed after Kat had to save his last year and he falls in love with Jane Carlyle, Frederick's cousin (and potentially the only other worthwhile Carlyle?) and decides to become a clergyman like his father. Angeline is joyously married to Frederick after surviving a murder attempt. Elissa and Collingwood are expecting their first child. And Kat's heretofore unknown aunt and godmother, her mama's only sister, invites her to come and live with her. Even better, she offers her the chance to hone all her inherited powers, Guardian and witch.
And Alexander and this mysterious other "Order"? I expect that they will make an appearance in Courting Magic which I look forward to reading soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2013
STOLEN MAGIC was a very satisfying conclusion to a very entertaining trilogy. This middle grade historical fantasy has it all--excitement, danger, exquisite manners, and a young heroine easy to fall in love with.
Miss Katherine Stevenson is the youngest of four children. In this episode, Kat is traveling with her father, stepmama, older brother and older sister to her sister's fiance's home for her wedding. Her fiance's mother is one of the most unpleasant characters in the story. Mrs. Carlyle is determined that her son Frederick is marrying beneath him and that Kat's sister Angeline is the worst possible daughter-in-law. She uses emotional blackmail on her son and is constantly looking for ways to discredit Angeline. She is also continually throwing her own candidate for bride at Frederick&mash;Frederick's cousin Jane.
Kat also has to deal with some missing objects that were stolen from the Guardians, her own personal nemesis Lady Fotherington, and a mysterious character who is stalking her and who is blaming her for events that happened in book 2 of this series.
Worst of all for Kat is that her usually negligent older brother Charles has turned over a new leaf and is determined to keep a careful watch on Kat. He is a bit side-tracked however by his sudden infatuation for Jane though.
I loved the dialog in this story. Kat is a very engaging character who is full of determination and who is really chafing under the handicaps of her age and the social requirements of her position in society. She is intrepid, adventurous, and ever-willing to rush headlong into dangerous situations.
I thought that the world building was well-done and the magic introduced in a realistic way. This book trilogy was similar to MJ Putney's Magic Mirror trilogy except this one is more suited to middle graders. I also saw some resemblance to Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series which is written for adults. If you liked either of those series, this series will be right up your alley. I heartily recommend this series to anyone who likes spunky main characters, humor, and magic.
Miss Katherine Stevenson is the youngest of four children. In this episode, Kat is traveling with her father, stepmama, older brother and older sister to her sister's fiance's home for her wedding. Her fiance's mother is one of the most unpleasant characters in the story. Mrs. Carlyle is determined that her son Frederick is marrying beneath him and that Kat's sister Angeline is the worst possible daughter-in-law. She uses emotional blackmail on her son and is constantly looking for ways to discredit Angeline. She is also continually throwing her own candidate for bride at Frederick&mash;Frederick's cousin Jane.
Kat also has to deal with some missing objects that were stolen from the Guardians, her own personal nemesis Lady Fotherington, and a mysterious character who is stalking her and who is blaming her for events that happened in book 2 of this series.
Worst of all for Kat is that her usually negligent older brother Charles has turned over a new leaf and is determined to keep a careful watch on Kat. He is a bit side-tracked however by his sudden infatuation for Jane though.
I loved the dialog in this story. Kat is a very engaging character who is full of determination and who is really chafing under the handicaps of her age and the social requirements of her position in society. She is intrepid, adventurous, and ever-willing to rush headlong into dangerous situations.
I thought that the world building was well-done and the magic introduced in a realistic way. This book trilogy was similar to MJ Putney's Magic Mirror trilogy except this one is more suited to middle graders. I also saw some resemblance to Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series which is written for adults. If you liked either of those series, this series will be right up your alley. I heartily recommend this series to anyone who likes spunky main characters, humor, and magic.
May 21, 2013
My tastes in book varies from time to time. I could be very bias in the books I choose. At least, that's what my ratings on goodreads show. It doesn't matter what kind of books they are; whether they are deep and thoughtful, light-hearted and fluffy or simply a ponderous read (by most standards). I could like the most verbose story ever written and also equally like a light-hearted and more generic book. It makes no difference to me as long as I find it enjoyable-and such is the case with the Kat, incorrigible trilogy.
It's true that it isn't the most exciting book in the world; neither it is thought-provoking or suspenseful. But it sure is fun! I don't mean to say it is inferior to the other books out there. On the contrary, I believe such books are necessary when we're in want of a relaxing read.
Book 3 opens with the family moving to Devon for Angeline's wedding. Of course, things don't always go well when it concerns Kat. For one, Angeline's future mother-in-law is still a pain in the arse. The obnoxious Ms. Fotherington is back to annoy and foil Kat's schemes. In this book, we also get to meet the mysterious and worldly Marquise who knows more than she lets on. Added to the equation, is a boy who seeks to hurt Kat.
Just when Kat thinks she's free of her 2 sisters' irritating protectiveness, her brother who has recently turned over a new leaf decides to take it upon himself to become Kat's bodyguard - much to her chagrin.
So, will Kat muster enough wit and magic this time to save her family, country and most importantly, herself? Find out for yourself! You're in for a ride...
It's true that it isn't the most exciting book in the world; neither it is thought-provoking or suspenseful. But it sure is fun! I don't mean to say it is inferior to the other books out there. On the contrary, I believe such books are necessary when we're in want of a relaxing read.
Book 3 opens with the family moving to Devon for Angeline's wedding. Of course, things don't always go well when it concerns Kat. For one, Angeline's future mother-in-law is still a pain in the arse. The obnoxious Ms. Fotherington is back to annoy and foil Kat's schemes. In this book, we also get to meet the mysterious and worldly Marquise who knows more than she lets on. Added to the equation, is a boy who seeks to hurt Kat.
Just when Kat thinks she's free of her 2 sisters' irritating protectiveness, her brother who has recently turned over a new leaf decides to take it upon himself to become Kat's bodyguard - much to her chagrin.
So, will Kat muster enough wit and magic this time to save her family, country and most importantly, herself? Find out for yourself! You're in for a ride...
March 1, 2014
The final book of the Kat, Incorrigible trilogy takes us out with a bang.
A few days before Angeline's wedding and Kat's initiation into the Order, but everything is going wrong as Kat as to try and navigate Society, keep her temper and her manners (never an easy thing), and solve the mystery of the stolen Portals.
But with Frederick's mother and Lady Fotherington doing everything in their powers to be difficult - and oh so very annoying - not to mention a reformed Charles dogging Kat's every step, it's not going to be easy.
I really liked this book. Everyone does a bit of growing up throughout the series, and Kat even manages to keep her temper and hold her tongue now and again. (And, honestly, I wanted to lash out at Fotherington myself!)
There's mystery and suspense and romance - even some of it - and, most of all, there's family.
This is a charming series, and very enjoyable for a light, fun read.
A few days before Angeline's wedding and Kat's initiation into the Order, but everything is going wrong as Kat as to try and navigate Society, keep her temper and her manners (never an easy thing), and solve the mystery of the stolen Portals.
But with Frederick's mother and Lady Fotherington doing everything in their powers to be difficult - and oh so very annoying - not to mention a reformed Charles dogging Kat's every step, it's not going to be easy.
I really liked this book. Everyone does a bit of growing up throughout the series, and Kat even manages to keep her temper and hold her tongue now and again. (And, honestly, I wanted to lash out at Fotherington myself!)
There's mystery and suspense and romance - even some of it - and, most of all, there's family.
This is a charming series, and very enjoyable for a light, fun read.
November 19, 2013
Ultimo volume dedicato alle avventure della piccola Kat Stephenson e la sua scoppiettante famiglia. In questa trilogia la Burgis mischia la classica storia MG di maghi e streghette ad atmosfere vagamente austeniane. Non c’è nulla di esattamente nuovo all’orizzonte, nondimeno sono romanzi ben scritti e assolutamente godibili. L’autrice chiude bene i vari filoni narrativi, ma ci sono tutti gli elementi per un avvincente quarto volume. Speriamo bene!
And now? What about Kat and Alexander? And Charles and Jane? Please Mrs Burgis, let us know about them and write a fourth book!
And now? What about Kat and Alexander? And Charles and Jane? Please Mrs Burgis, let us know about them and write a fourth book!
October 21, 2020
These books have been truly delightful. Kat is marvelous in her imperfections. The bitterness and prejudice of some of the characters and the almost constant fighting even among the family made this not quite a five star read, but still very enjoyable.
reread 2020: I found myself disappointed that the growth I had seen in the last book seemed to have disappeared at least at the beginning of this one. I like Charles in this book, he becomes a real person for the first time in the series, and I like the conclusion.
reread 2020: I found myself disappointed that the growth I had seen in the last book seemed to have disappeared at least at the beginning of this one. I like Charles in this book, he becomes a real person for the first time in the series, and I like the conclusion.
October 18, 2016
A wonderful end to the series. Highly recommended for middle-graders...and adults who like to read middle-grade books but are not creepers, honest, we're not.
November 21, 2023
How is it possible that this trilogy is not more widely read, known, and beloved? Every book is perfection and the last is no exception, bringing the series and Kat’s adventures with her family to a very fulfilling conclusion. Burgis’s writing is superb! Easy to read books are often deceptively so, which belies the effort and supreme skill that goes into the plotting, pacing, basic sentence structure, witty dialogue, the tone, and the impressive characterization, even of more minor characters like the butler (who gets a great final scene).
In this installment Kat’s family is on the way to Devon to the Carlyle home at Hepworth Park. Angeline has not seen her fiancé Frederick in months due to Mrs. Carlyle’s devious schemes to keep them apart but at last a date for the wedding has finally been set and it’s just days away. On the way, the Stephensons carriage almost goes over a cliff - and it’s discovered one of the wheel axles was intentionally sawed in half, just awaiting the conditions of the terrible and treacherous road to finish the job and send the family hurtling to their deaths over the steep curves.
Luckily there’s an unexpected rescue in the form of the mysterious Marquise de Valmont. She’s knows their father, but no one is saying how, and she looks remarkably like Angeline and their long lost mother…
To further complicate matters, Kat is being followed and watched. She still hasn’t been formally initiated into the Guardians though her training has begun. This is in part because she had to sacrifice her portal to the Golden Hall of the Guardians in the last book to save her brother and friend and to defeat a vicious and power hungry enemy. But Kat’s wait just got prolonged, as she learns ALL the portals have been stolen and NONE of the Guardians can access the Golden Hall. They have traced the thief to Devon. What a coincidence… or is it?
Meanwhile Angeline is tempted to use witchcraft when her soon to be mother-in-law announces she will NOT be moving to the dower estate on the grounds as is customary but will be remaining in residence to control the affairs of Hepworth Park, not so subtly implying that Angeline is such a country bumpkin that the whole estate would be doomed if she were left in charge. Frederick cannot even defend Angeline as he’s not there to greet her - mama Carlyle has demanded him to go pick up his cousin Jane, his intended fiancé from birth essentially, and of course Mrs Carlyle spends almost as much time glowing about Jane as she does taking digs at Angeline in front of all her relatives.
Kat tries to keep the peace but her brother Charles keeps interfering- he’s trying to reform his ways after the debacle at Bath. He’s quit drinking and gambling (because once he stopped drinking he started winning all the time at gambling, which took all the fun out of it for him!) and now with an excess of conscience and time and energy he’s decided to devote all his attention and effort to “protecting” young Kat and making sure she behaves as a proper young lady. Abomination!
And of course Lady Fotherington arrives on the scene to lead the Guardian investigation under the pretense of being in town as Kat’s godmother to enjoy the wedding festivities- a painful ruse for both ladies as they despise one another.
The plot just thickens from there as Frederick arrives home with the lovely Jane in tow, and of course Charles is immediately besotted. Mystery abounds and the comedy of manners is perfection, along with sibling rivalry moments that achieve the lifelike blend of vigorous disagreements and annoyances sprinkled with humor and a deep through line of love and loyalty. The new characters of Jane and the marquise liven things up and we learn more about both the Stephenson and Carlyle families as a result.
This whole series is a new favorite I will eagerly return to in future years.
In this installment Kat’s family is on the way to Devon to the Carlyle home at Hepworth Park. Angeline has not seen her fiancé Frederick in months due to Mrs. Carlyle’s devious schemes to keep them apart but at last a date for the wedding has finally been set and it’s just days away. On the way, the Stephensons carriage almost goes over a cliff - and it’s discovered one of the wheel axles was intentionally sawed in half, just awaiting the conditions of the terrible and treacherous road to finish the job and send the family hurtling to their deaths over the steep curves.
Luckily there’s an unexpected rescue in the form of the mysterious Marquise de Valmont. She’s knows their father, but no one is saying how, and she looks remarkably like Angeline and their long lost mother…
To further complicate matters, Kat is being followed and watched. She still hasn’t been formally initiated into the Guardians though her training has begun. This is in part because she had to sacrifice her portal to the Golden Hall of the Guardians in the last book to save her brother and friend and to defeat a vicious and power hungry enemy. But Kat’s wait just got prolonged, as she learns ALL the portals have been stolen and NONE of the Guardians can access the Golden Hall. They have traced the thief to Devon. What a coincidence… or is it?
Meanwhile Angeline is tempted to use witchcraft when her soon to be mother-in-law announces she will NOT be moving to the dower estate on the grounds as is customary but will be remaining in residence to control the affairs of Hepworth Park, not so subtly implying that Angeline is such a country bumpkin that the whole estate would be doomed if she were left in charge. Frederick cannot even defend Angeline as he’s not there to greet her - mama Carlyle has demanded him to go pick up his cousin Jane, his intended fiancé from birth essentially, and of course Mrs Carlyle spends almost as much time glowing about Jane as she does taking digs at Angeline in front of all her relatives.
Kat tries to keep the peace but her brother Charles keeps interfering- he’s trying to reform his ways after the debacle at Bath. He’s quit drinking and gambling (because once he stopped drinking he started winning all the time at gambling, which took all the fun out of it for him!) and now with an excess of conscience and time and energy he’s decided to devote all his attention and effort to “protecting” young Kat and making sure she behaves as a proper young lady. Abomination!
And of course Lady Fotherington arrives on the scene to lead the Guardian investigation under the pretense of being in town as Kat’s godmother to enjoy the wedding festivities- a painful ruse for both ladies as they despise one another.
The plot just thickens from there as Frederick arrives home with the lovely Jane in tow, and of course Charles is immediately besotted. Mystery abounds and the comedy of manners is perfection, along with sibling rivalry moments that achieve the lifelike blend of vigorous disagreements and annoyances sprinkled with humor and a deep through line of love and loyalty. The new characters of Jane and the marquise liven things up and we learn more about both the Stephenson and Carlyle families as a result.
This whole series is a new favorite I will eagerly return to in future years.
April 9, 2018
This book was... fine. I don't know what it is with these books, but I just can't get into them. The premise is so intriguing, it's such a shame they didn't live up to my expectations. It took me months just to get past the first few chapters of this book. In this third book, Angeline is at last getting married, so the Stephensons travel to her in-laws house, but the in-laws are still trying to break up Angeline and her fiance. Furthermore, all the guardian portals have been stolen, and the Order needs to track them down. Once again Kat is always at the center of the action and since no one believes anything she says, ever, it's up to her to save the day.
If you liked the previous two books, this is more of the same and you'll like this one just fine. Personally, I have issues with the series as a whole, and thought the second book was the high point. The third book is a return to all the problems I had with the first. Nonetheless, it's not a particularly terrible book, in that there are no terrible morals or anything here, hence the 3 star rating. I got into it enough to finish and to be mildly interested in the kindle-only follow-up Courting Magic . I still think Burgis is a talented writer, and I loved The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart , so I plan to keep reading her works.
My issues with the book:
One of the problems I have with this book is that all the characters are so mean to each other all the time. We are told that the Stephensons all love each other, but since we mostly just see them yelling at each other, it's hard to believe. Most of the side characters hate the Stephensons too. It's just an unpleasant world most of the time.
Even worse is that none of the characters have learned anything from the previous books. Most of the drama of the previous two books was about no one believing Kat when she tells them something because she "always makes up stories." Ignoring the fact that she almost always tells the truth so I don't know how she got this reputation, the entire climax of the previous book revolved around the fact that everything almost went to shit because no one believed Kat, and that in the end everyone realizes she was right all along. Despite this, once again no one believes anything Kat says in this book. On top of this, her supposed tutor, Mr. Gregson, for some reason still thinks it's a good idea to pair Kat with someone who hates her, Lady Fotherington, for work. Why? Why couldn't Mr. Gregson take the assignment? For all he is her tutor, we hardly ever see him interact with Kat. It would have been nice to see Lady Fotherington overcome her hatred for Kat and Kat's mother and learn to work with her, but alas, there is none of that.
Last, but not least, there is very little actual magic in this book. The only magic Kat uses is to make herself float and turn invisible. After 3 books this is really all she learned? The whole controversy with witchcraft is also somewhat hard to take seriously. Why is guardian magic ok, but not witchcraft? The best defense the book gives is just that... it's improper. I guess.
If you liked the previous two books, this is more of the same and you'll like this one just fine. Personally, I have issues with the series as a whole, and thought the second book was the high point. The third book is a return to all the problems I had with the first. Nonetheless, it's not a particularly terrible book, in that there are no terrible morals or anything here, hence the 3 star rating. I got into it enough to finish and to be mildly interested in the kindle-only follow-up Courting Magic . I still think Burgis is a talented writer, and I loved The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart , so I plan to keep reading her works.
My issues with the book:
One of the problems I have with this book is that all the characters are so mean to each other all the time. We are told that the Stephensons all love each other, but since we mostly just see them yelling at each other, it's hard to believe. Most of the side characters hate the Stephensons too. It's just an unpleasant world most of the time.
Even worse is that none of the characters have learned anything from the previous books. Most of the drama of the previous two books was about no one believing Kat when she tells them something because she "always makes up stories." Ignoring the fact that she almost always tells the truth so I don't know how she got this reputation, the entire climax of the previous book revolved around the fact that everything almost went to shit because no one believed Kat, and that in the end everyone realizes she was right all along. Despite this, once again no one believes anything Kat says in this book. On top of this, her supposed tutor, Mr. Gregson, for some reason still thinks it's a good idea to pair Kat with someone who hates her, Lady Fotherington, for work. Why? Why couldn't Mr. Gregson take the assignment? For all he is her tutor, we hardly ever see him interact with Kat. It would have been nice to see Lady Fotherington overcome her hatred for Kat and Kat's mother and learn to work with her, but alas, there is none of that.
Last, but not least, there is very little actual magic in this book. The only magic Kat uses is to make herself float and turn invisible. After 3 books this is really all she learned? The whole controversy with witchcraft is also somewhat hard to take seriously. Why is guardian magic ok, but not witchcraft? The best defense the book gives is just that... it's improper. I guess.
March 1, 2019
Stolen Magic is a book I picked up at my local library during a book sale. It is the third book in the Incorrigible series (I haven't read the first two). I'll assign a grade at the end.
The first thing I noticed about this book is its fantastic opening. I don't normally like first person narratives (that lack framing devices) for a number of reasons. This one here uses its strengths of personality. The very first sentence perfectly describes Katherine Stephenson's personality. It also provides an excellent lead into opening action. This then leads into the initial conflict while providing information about her location and family in a non-intrusive fashion.
Everything after that builds on this fantastic opening. The especially high need for propriety (and maturity!) from our "Incorrigible" heroine due to her elder sister's wedding, her initiation into the Order of the Guardians, the mysterious follower, and even a subplot like her brother's newfound protectiveness; all of these threads build on this opening. This makes for a solid storyline that builds organically (nothing artificial).
Another thing that I like about this story, and the setting in general, is how the stigma against magic is treated. Other books have witches/wizards/etc. hiding their magic because they're afraid of angry mobs or they have to follow the ancient rules of their secret society or some other handwave to create artificial conflict. In this setting, no one thinks magic is evil. They think it is scandalous. It is just not something that well-bred ladies and gentlemen do. This is woven into the society, the backstory, and the character's mindsets; a well integrated element. So while Kat could certainly magic her brother invisible to give him a decisive edge in a brawl, the resulting gossip would ruin him.
Thus, it is clear that hiding one's use of magic is essential to using it to one's benefit. Kat makes sure that no one can see her turn invisible and seeks out an ill-advised spell that her elder sister cast so she can break it before anyone else notices. Indeed, the social conflict, of this book at least, clearly has priority over the magical conflict. However, they twist around each other in interesting ways.
Character-wise it is also a skillful book. Each character is well defined around a cardinal trait and several lesser traits. Those traits are elaborated upon and used to display related traits.
For instance!
Kat's father (who is only referred to as "Papa") is defined by his academia. This means he likes to read and lecture (or rather, sermon) which leads to his inability at practical things like fixing a wagon wheel and great ability in evading social events by escaping to a library. It also informs his parenting style; when he sees his youngest child crying, his first response is to hug and then read a novel to her. He is not two dimensional.
It has a great ending. It is no small feat to develop several plot threads of varying kinds and severity and then tie them all off. In fact, this is done to the entire trilogy of books. Yet there is still plenty of room for future stories, both magically and romantically, if Stephanie Burgis felt like writing another book.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Stolen Magic" an A+
The first thing I noticed about this book is its fantastic opening. I don't normally like first person narratives (that lack framing devices) for a number of reasons. This one here uses its strengths of personality. The very first sentence perfectly describes Katherine Stephenson's personality. It also provides an excellent lead into opening action. This then leads into the initial conflict while providing information about her location and family in a non-intrusive fashion.
Everything after that builds on this fantastic opening. The especially high need for propriety (and maturity!) from our "Incorrigible" heroine due to her elder sister's wedding, her initiation into the Order of the Guardians, the mysterious follower, and even a subplot like her brother's newfound protectiveness; all of these threads build on this opening. This makes for a solid storyline that builds organically (nothing artificial).
Another thing that I like about this story, and the setting in general, is how the stigma against magic is treated. Other books have witches/wizards/etc. hiding their magic because they're afraid of angry mobs or they have to follow the ancient rules of their secret society or some other handwave to create artificial conflict. In this setting, no one thinks magic is evil. They think it is scandalous. It is just not something that well-bred ladies and gentlemen do. This is woven into the society, the backstory, and the character's mindsets; a well integrated element. So while Kat could certainly magic her brother invisible to give him a decisive edge in a brawl, the resulting gossip would ruin him.
Thus, it is clear that hiding one's use of magic is essential to using it to one's benefit. Kat makes sure that no one can see her turn invisible and seeks out an ill-advised spell that her elder sister cast so she can break it before anyone else notices. Indeed, the social conflict, of this book at least, clearly has priority over the magical conflict. However, they twist around each other in interesting ways.
Character-wise it is also a skillful book. Each character is well defined around a cardinal trait and several lesser traits. Those traits are elaborated upon and used to display related traits.
For instance!
Kat's father (who is only referred to as "Papa") is defined by his academia. This means he likes to read and lecture (or rather, sermon) which leads to his inability at practical things like fixing a wagon wheel and great ability in evading social events by escaping to a library. It also informs his parenting style; when he sees his youngest child crying, his first response is to hug and then read a novel to her. He is not two dimensional.
It has a great ending. It is no small feat to develop several plot threads of varying kinds and severity and then tie them all off. In fact, this is done to the entire trilogy of books. Yet there is still plenty of room for future stories, both magically and romantically, if Stephanie Burgis felt like writing another book.
Trickster Eric Novels gives "Stolen Magic" an A+
March 5, 2015
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during Regency Magic (March & April 2015)
Kat Stephenson and her family are off to Devon to the Carlyle's great estate on the coast for the long delayed marriage of Kat's sister Angeline to Fredrick Carlyle, her true love. Why the delay? Because Fredrick's mother was none too keen on the match, hoping to marry Fredrick to her niece Jane; besides being against the whole Angeline's a witch thing. One thing is clear, Mrs. Carlyle is going to put Angeline through the ringer in a final effort to see the back of her. But would Fredrick's mother resort to attempted murder to get her way? Because the Stephenson's have had a perilous journey, their coach almost rolling off a cliff to the ocean far below, and it was no accident. But who was behind the accident? Unbeknownst to most of the family they have not been travelling to Devon alone. There is a mysterious and magical person shadowing Kat, and she's not sure of their motivation.
Much like the hurtles Angeline has faced to reach her wedding day, Kat has had many obstacles in her induction to the Order of the Guardians. The induction is finally approaching when yet another delay happens. Kat sacrificed her magical portal to save England and her need for a new one has caused much consternation in the Order. You would think it would be easy to get a new one, but all the replacement portals have disappeared and the lovely Lady Fortherington is gleeful to point her finger at Kat once again, especially when it looks like the portals are somewhere in Devon. So not only does Kat have to prove her innocence, yet again, she has to work with her nemesis Lady Fortherington, prepare for the wedding, keep everyone alive and safe, and hope that all the delays end happily for all involved.
What I most loved about this "final" installment in Kat's magical journey is that while still channelling Jane Austen, Stephanie Burgis has decided to throw a little Daphne Du Maurier into the mix. Devon, being so close to Cornwall, has had it's fair share of wreckers and smugglers, and spies! The cliffs are honeycombs, hiding secrets that could imperil our erstwhile heroine. Not to mention you can get some damn good spirits down the local pub. The environment permeated the book with it's sea air and wind swept clifftops making me think longingly of Jamaica Inn. Burgis has been able to fuse the feeling of propriety that is Austen with this wildness that belongs to Du Maurier as she emulates the Brontes for yet another strong middle grade book that shows that there are great books for this age group.
Despite the fact that Kat is the youngest sibling in her family it just struck me how unique this is if we compare it to other literature set during this time, versus other middle grade books. The younger children, if mentioned at all, rarely figure into the narrative other then just part and parcel of the chaos of everyday life. We will excuse Lydia Bennet because she doesn't play by anyone's rules. Look at Sense and Sensibility, the youngest daughter, Margaret Dashwood, she's just there doing whatever and is hardly mentioned, in some adaptations they even just drop her all together. What I'm saying is that usually we get the older, "wiser" POV, but here there's something magical about seeing it through the eyes of a rambunctious youngster. Kat has an advantage being the youngest, because not only has she observed her older siblings all their lives, but being the youngest, there's a little leeway. She does love to cause trouble and there seems to be an indulgence in this, even if she's frowned upon at the same time.
Also by being the youngest she is allowed a certain excess of emotion. She is allowed to cry without it being viewed as indulgent. Yet what I love in the way Burgis writes Kat is that Kat is allowed to be vulnerable, she's allowed several times to break down and cry because of the emotional drain and chaos that surrounds her. She is allowed to give way to her emotions but at the same time she is strong. I always hate, what I will call the "There's No Crying in Baseball" rule. That you must be strong or vulnerable, there is no middle ground. This isn't how humans work. We aren't just strong and we aren't just weepy, we are a combination of the two. The strongest amongst us can also be the easiest to cry. By showing this complicated nature that is humanity, Burgis is showing young girls and boys that you don't always have to be strong, you can be a hero or a heroine and still cry. I love that this is such a positive message, such a true message.
And Kat is able to have periods of vulnerability because she is surrounded by people who love her. Kat has always been a little rebellious and more the a little self sufficient. Over time though, while she can still handle all these hurtles thrown in her path, she has realized the strength of family. The hardest thing for any headstrong girl, yes, here I'm pointing the finger at myself, is when to acknowledge you can't do something on your own and when you realize it's not a weakness to ask for help. Here Kat's family knows her so well that she doesn't even need to ask for the help, it's just there. I love that Charles has really stepped up. In the first book he was little more then a lump in bed that caused the family untold troubles. By the second volume he was central, but as a source of consternation and also in need of rescue. By this volume we see that he has mended his ways and is taking on the role of protector of the family, even if this mainly means protecting Kat from herself. I kind of fell in love with Charles a little for how he's matured.
As for the magic? I like that there appears to be an entente brewing between the warring factions of Guardian magic and witchcraft. To me it seemed silly that they should hate each other just because they are different forms of the same thing. They are both reviled by society so it makes sense that uniting their powers together to form a united front is a logical step. But far be it from people of any kind to be logical. They latched onto their differences instead of embracing their similarities. Of course the French had no such compunction when it comes to this missishness. All for victory and that. So I'm glad that the prejudices will hopefully start to break down if only out of necessity. But I'm even more excited for Kat who has vindicated her mother's opinions all these years later.
Kat Stephenson and her family are off to Devon to the Carlyle's great estate on the coast for the long delayed marriage of Kat's sister Angeline to Fredrick Carlyle, her true love. Why the delay? Because Fredrick's mother was none too keen on the match, hoping to marry Fredrick to her niece Jane; besides being against the whole Angeline's a witch thing. One thing is clear, Mrs. Carlyle is going to put Angeline through the ringer in a final effort to see the back of her. But would Fredrick's mother resort to attempted murder to get her way? Because the Stephenson's have had a perilous journey, their coach almost rolling off a cliff to the ocean far below, and it was no accident. But who was behind the accident? Unbeknownst to most of the family they have not been travelling to Devon alone. There is a mysterious and magical person shadowing Kat, and she's not sure of their motivation.
Much like the hurtles Angeline has faced to reach her wedding day, Kat has had many obstacles in her induction to the Order of the Guardians. The induction is finally approaching when yet another delay happens. Kat sacrificed her magical portal to save England and her need for a new one has caused much consternation in the Order. You would think it would be easy to get a new one, but all the replacement portals have disappeared and the lovely Lady Fortherington is gleeful to point her finger at Kat once again, especially when it looks like the portals are somewhere in Devon. So not only does Kat have to prove her innocence, yet again, she has to work with her nemesis Lady Fortherington, prepare for the wedding, keep everyone alive and safe, and hope that all the delays end happily for all involved.
What I most loved about this "final" installment in Kat's magical journey is that while still channelling Jane Austen, Stephanie Burgis has decided to throw a little Daphne Du Maurier into the mix. Devon, being so close to Cornwall, has had it's fair share of wreckers and smugglers, and spies! The cliffs are honeycombs, hiding secrets that could imperil our erstwhile heroine. Not to mention you can get some damn good spirits down the local pub. The environment permeated the book with it's sea air and wind swept clifftops making me think longingly of Jamaica Inn. Burgis has been able to fuse the feeling of propriety that is Austen with this wildness that belongs to Du Maurier as she emulates the Brontes for yet another strong middle grade book that shows that there are great books for this age group.
Despite the fact that Kat is the youngest sibling in her family it just struck me how unique this is if we compare it to other literature set during this time, versus other middle grade books. The younger children, if mentioned at all, rarely figure into the narrative other then just part and parcel of the chaos of everyday life. We will excuse Lydia Bennet because she doesn't play by anyone's rules. Look at Sense and Sensibility, the youngest daughter, Margaret Dashwood, she's just there doing whatever and is hardly mentioned, in some adaptations they even just drop her all together. What I'm saying is that usually we get the older, "wiser" POV, but here there's something magical about seeing it through the eyes of a rambunctious youngster. Kat has an advantage being the youngest, because not only has she observed her older siblings all their lives, but being the youngest, there's a little leeway. She does love to cause trouble and there seems to be an indulgence in this, even if she's frowned upon at the same time.
Also by being the youngest she is allowed a certain excess of emotion. She is allowed to cry without it being viewed as indulgent. Yet what I love in the way Burgis writes Kat is that Kat is allowed to be vulnerable, she's allowed several times to break down and cry because of the emotional drain and chaos that surrounds her. She is allowed to give way to her emotions but at the same time she is strong. I always hate, what I will call the "There's No Crying in Baseball" rule. That you must be strong or vulnerable, there is no middle ground. This isn't how humans work. We aren't just strong and we aren't just weepy, we are a combination of the two. The strongest amongst us can also be the easiest to cry. By showing this complicated nature that is humanity, Burgis is showing young girls and boys that you don't always have to be strong, you can be a hero or a heroine and still cry. I love that this is such a positive message, such a true message.
And Kat is able to have periods of vulnerability because she is surrounded by people who love her. Kat has always been a little rebellious and more the a little self sufficient. Over time though, while she can still handle all these hurtles thrown in her path, she has realized the strength of family. The hardest thing for any headstrong girl, yes, here I'm pointing the finger at myself, is when to acknowledge you can't do something on your own and when you realize it's not a weakness to ask for help. Here Kat's family knows her so well that she doesn't even need to ask for the help, it's just there. I love that Charles has really stepped up. In the first book he was little more then a lump in bed that caused the family untold troubles. By the second volume he was central, but as a source of consternation and also in need of rescue. By this volume we see that he has mended his ways and is taking on the role of protector of the family, even if this mainly means protecting Kat from herself. I kind of fell in love with Charles a little for how he's matured.
As for the magic? I like that there appears to be an entente brewing between the warring factions of Guardian magic and witchcraft. To me it seemed silly that they should hate each other just because they are different forms of the same thing. They are both reviled by society so it makes sense that uniting their powers together to form a united front is a logical step. But far be it from people of any kind to be logical. They latched onto their differences instead of embracing their similarities. Of course the French had no such compunction when it comes to this missishness. All for victory and that. So I'm glad that the prejudices will hopefully start to break down if only out of necessity. But I'm even more excited for Kat who has vindicated her mother's opinions all these years later.
July 13, 2017
Kat is finally able to start preparing for her test to become a full-fledged Guardian, but she has to do it in secrecy and avoid causing any problems for Angeline and her marriage to Lord Frederick Carlyle. Not too long into the trip to the Carlyle estate, it becomes apparent that someone intends to hurt Kat or someone in her family--possibly the same person who stole the Guardians’ collection of magic portals. As Kat works to practice her magic and avoid the person who keeps threatening her and her sisters, she solves the mysteries about her family’s past and helps create a better world for magic in the future through the discoveries she makes.
The whole Stephenson family is back in this book, and the characters are just as fun as ever. One of the most fun aspects of this book is that finally Kat’s older brother, Charles, is trying to be involved in the family. The development of his concern for the family and his new romance is a nice addition to the character. Kat is starting to grow up in this book, but she’s still the Kat that shines in the first two books of the series. It is frustrating sometimes that her family doesn’t allow her to change and grow up, but Kat still finds a way to do the things she feels are best to protect her family. The mysteries of Kat’s father, her mother, and who is threatening the family are blended together well and keep the suspense going until the end of the book. This book is a little bit darker than the first two, but fans of the series will be satisfied with the ending and left wanting to hear more about Kat and her adventures.
The whole Stephenson family is back in this book, and the characters are just as fun as ever. One of the most fun aspects of this book is that finally Kat’s older brother, Charles, is trying to be involved in the family. The development of his concern for the family and his new romance is a nice addition to the character. Kat is starting to grow up in this book, but she’s still the Kat that shines in the first two books of the series. It is frustrating sometimes that her family doesn’t allow her to change and grow up, but Kat still finds a way to do the things she feels are best to protect her family. The mysteries of Kat’s father, her mother, and who is threatening the family are blended together well and keep the suspense going until the end of the book. This book is a little bit darker than the first two, but fans of the series will be satisfied with the ending and left wanting to hear more about Kat and her adventures.
November 2, 2017
This is a fun little regency series- magic with rules of propriety and spies from France makes for a nice setting for our spunky and not particularly rule-following Katherine, known as Kat.
In this one, her sister is abt to be married but all sorts of people are trying to stop the marriage or torture Kat by having her fail her family or all of the above- Kat has to figure it out before it's too late or at least in time to have her sister marry into a fortune for love while convincing the Guardians of the Order, Protectors of Great Britain, that YES she can join them dem it!
But the strange magician who is following is stronger than she thought, her "allies" are also her greatest enemies and mysterious almost strangers, her sister's mother-in-law to be is as cutting as possible to the family, and she's only 13 as her family keeps reminding her.
Enjoy!
In this one, her sister is abt to be married but all sorts of people are trying to stop the marriage or torture Kat by having her fail her family or all of the above- Kat has to figure it out before it's too late or at least in time to have her sister marry into a fortune for love while convincing the Guardians of the Order, Protectors of Great Britain, that YES she can join them dem it!
But the strange magician who is following is stronger than she thought, her "allies" are also her greatest enemies and mysterious almost strangers, her sister's mother-in-law to be is as cutting as possible to the family, and she's only 13 as her family keeps reminding her.
Enjoy!
August 18, 2023
Finally, Angeline gets to marry her preferred man. But magical shenanigans are in the way. I like the description of the Carlyle high society family. There seemed to be less magic in this one, except for the ending, but this series has a tendency to keep the good magic for the climax, anyway. I think that the author was trying to make an epic series finale. In some ways she succeeded, and in others, she failed.
My biggest problem is that Kat has a hint of a crush towards a boy in the end that she had no sense of romantic connection with earlier in the story. It just seems out of character. This book has a very good plot, but this was really annoying to me. This book has a lot of flaws and good points. Just like the rest of the series. It also has the best cover in this series, but that is unrelated to how much I enjoyed the book.
My biggest problem is that Kat has a hint of a crush towards a boy in the end that she had no sense of romantic connection with earlier in the story. It just seems out of character. This book has a very good plot, but this was really annoying to me. This book has a lot of flaws and good points. Just like the rest of the series. It also has the best cover in this series, but that is unrelated to how much I enjoyed the book.
July 14, 2017
This book was the most exciting as far as drama, danger, and secrets. While Kat usually works alone to keep others safe and defend the magical realm, this time her family gets involved and is by her side. There is definite character growth on a few characters, including Kat. There is still too much language and this one is probably the most violent of the three (at one point, a character hits his child), so I would recommend this for an older audience. Stephanie Burgis could explore further the magical adventures of Kat and the Order, but it seems like this is the last one. This is a fun, easy-to-read series for those who like magic and early 19th century England society.
February 11, 2018
A lot more of the silly fake tension that comes from people not talking properly, not believing people, and just behaving in a way that people do not behave in in real life. On the other hand, some other tension that was good, interesting and fun. Disappointingly, this author does not seem to believe in diversity. No people of colour, no disabled people, no NNT people, no queer people; not even any fat people. Yes, it's nice to see some strong female characters but I guess she hasn't really heard of intersectionality. It's disappointing.
September 27, 2018
Better
As nice as the previous books in this series were, I liked this one best. Kat is finally maturing, somewhat, and realizing that acting like a wild animal shouldn't be her first instinctive response, no matter how compelling it may feel.
Still, this book follows the pattern of the last two - one of Kat's sisters has romantic issues, while some nefarious magical plot takes place around them.
The setting always gets to me - Victorian (or whatever period) English proper society, with secret magic going on in the background. It was a good enjoyable read.
As nice as the previous books in this series were, I liked this one best. Kat is finally maturing, somewhat, and realizing that acting like a wild animal shouldn't be her first instinctive response, no matter how compelling it may feel.
Still, this book follows the pattern of the last two - one of Kat's sisters has romantic issues, while some nefarious magical plot takes place around them.
The setting always gets to me - Victorian (or whatever period) English proper society, with secret magic going on in the background. It was a good enjoyable read.
January 19, 2022
The conclusion of the Kat, Incorrigible trilogy ended with still a number of loose plot threads (that are mostly wrapped up in the follow-up novella). It was amusing to see Kat struggle with behaving properly and attempting to make a good impression on the Carlyles, while still on secret Order business. The plot is satisfyingly twisty on multiple fronts I did find the continued posturing, dramatics, and constant dismissal of Kat to be irritating. Between Lady Forthington, Mrs. Carlyle, Stepmama, and Angeline, I'm surprised Kat didn't just snap and blow up the house.
I hope we get a future story of Kat and the marquise. I adore her, and want more of her.
I hope we get a future story of Kat and the marquise. I adore her, and want more of her.
September 1, 2023
I'll say the same thing about all three books in this series. They're fast reads, highly entertaining and connect so smoothly. Kat might seem a tad irritating at times, but her sharp mind, curiosity and perseverance combine to make her a formidable force. Her sisters are quite interesting as well, but both with completely different and distinct personalities. All three a joy to read.
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