I remember seeing this YA novel when our library first cataloged it last summer. The cover caught my eye, and I thought, “That book looks interesting!” I kept putting it off; you know how it goes… too many books, too little time. A few months ago, I decided I’d try borrowing it as an audiobook through the Overdrive app, but kept finding it not available. I finally bit the bullet and put it on hold, and was thrilled when it was my turn to listen!
The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is an amazingly fun, rollicking, romp of a tale! As the main character Henry “Monty” Montague says near the end, “We’ve had an adventure instead of a tour.” He’s not kidding. This book is like an exciting, crazy cross between a Diana Gabaldon Lord John novel, The Princess Bride, and Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.
Henry Montague has always been a bit of a wild-child rogue, and he’s hoping the fun will continue on his grand tour of Europe before he’s expected back in England to take over his family’s estate. Monty’s thrilled to be traveling with his best friend and unrequited crush Percy; he less thrilled that his sister Felicity is along for part of the journey before she’s to be dropped off at school. Monty sets the plot in motion by a split second decision during a party at Versailles, and things go off the rails from there. Highwaymen, alchemists, stowaways, pirates, hidden family secrets, sinking islands…and more!
I have to say I’m really glad I chose to listen to the audiobook version of this novel! Narrated by Christian Coulson (who played Tom Riddle in the movie of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) it was named one of the top ten audiboooks of 2017 by the American Library Association. It was a finalist for the 2017 Audible Best Audiobook of the Year, and was Audiofile Magazine’s Best Audiobook of 2017. Coulson’s dashing British accent portrays perfectly Monty’s somewhat flippant, sometimes haughty, always loveable character. If you can get the audiobook I highly recommend it!
If after you read The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue you find yourself hoping for more, never fear! Mackenzi Lee has written a second novel due out this October all about Felicity Montague! The Ladies’ Guide to Petticoats and Piracy is set to be released on October 2. You can bet I’ll be listening to that one as well! I hope Monty and Percy make an appearance!