The Agency: cover reissues and contest

To Y.S. Lee, The Agency is…

A love letter to Victorian London, in all its glory and hypocrisy

A desire to see different kinds of people in historical fiction: the poor, the brown-skinned, the marginal

A teasing homage to the Victorian detective novel

A radical possibility for a poor girl in 1850s England

How I LOVED these books, let me count the ways:

1. Feisty female lead character who is a spy (also a diverse character)

2. Mary's intelligence and resourcefulness

3. The Agency is for women only

4. The romance 

5. Mary discovering her background (reminded me of Sally Lockhart)

6. James isn't going to "make" Mary do anything

7. Victorian London - love this setting

8. The action

9. The danger

10. Being in the Queen's household.

I wish there were more Mary Quinn stories but I'm really glad more people will discover them again. After I read the first one, I begged Candlewick for the ARCs of the rest. I rarely ask publishers for ARCs, but it was too hard to wait for these books to come out! Want to see what I thought of each book, check my reviews here.

Y.S. Lee has a Ph.D. in Victorian literature and culture and says her research inspired her to write Book One of The Agency trilogy. “Women’s choices were grim in those days, even for the clever,” she says. “The Agency is a totally unrealistic, completely fictitious antidote to the fate that would otherwise swallow a girl like Mary Quinn.” Y. S. Lee lives in Ontario, Canada.

http://yslee.com/

https://twitter.com/yinglee - @yinglee

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Y-S-Lee/73653078249

Need more convincing? Read a sample chapter from book #1 or listen to the audio reading.

Have I sold you on these books yet? 

Well, you're in luck! Candlewick is gifting one lucky reader a complete set (all four books). 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Traitor in the Tunnel

I can't WAIT for this book, I adore the series. Look at the gorgeous cover!!!!! It comes out early next year and I need to get my hands on it the day it arrives!!!!

Review: Spy in the House

Mary Quinn used to be a thief. In fact, she was rescued from certain death by hanging and brought secretly to a special school for girls. Here, she worked hard to change her station in life. Now she's a young lady without a job and doesn't know where to turn next. Fortunately, her advisers at the school let her in on a secret. They have a spy agency where she's be a perfect fit. They help out Scotland Yard and others gather information. With her former skills, Mary would be a perfect fit. Plus they have a position in mind for her, after she undergoes training.

Mary Quinn emerges and makes her way as a paid ladies companion to Angelica Thorold, a spoiled girl. Mary's duty, besides her job will be to gather any intelligence upon Miss Thorold's father and his business in regards to smuggling items. Miss Thorold doesn't take to Mary. The two of them attempt to work out their differences in a variety of ways while Mary snoops about the house. When she finds nothing, she goes snooping at Mr Thorold's business when she's caught not by security but by a man with similar concerns. He offers up a partnership where they share information each uncovers. Mary reluctantly agrees. With time running out, will Mary risk too much and find identity discovered?

My Thoughts: I'd been hearing about this book and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I read this mostly in one sitting and then wanted the next book immediately. (It comes out in August). I LOVE spy novels and the Victorian England era and combine = pure magical entertainment. A great feisty heroine, lots of danger, plenty of mysteries to untangle, and a little romance creates a wonderfully perfect first edition to a new series.

The Cover: Cute - I like how it combines Mary's daring attitude with a backdrop of the times.

Source: My Library - I had to put it on hold so I could be sure to snag it first! I couldn't wait any longer.