Author: India Holton
Genre: Historical Fantasy / Romantic Comedy / Adventure
Ideal For: Readers who love irreverent heroines, sharp banter, magical mayhem, and Jane Austen meets Monty Python vibes
If your ideal weekend involves sipping tea while plotting mild acts of piracy and exchanging barbs with a dangerously charming assassin—The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is the book for you.
India Holton’s debut novel is gloriously absurd in the best way possible. It’s equal parts Bridgerton, The Princess Bride, and Howl’s Moving Castle, with a side of airborne manor houses and polite lady criminals. With laugh-out-loud dialogue, swoony slow-burn romance, and a plot that defies both gravity and genre, this is one of the most original and entertaining reads you’ll encounter this year.
Why I Picked It Up
Truthfully? The title. How could you not be intrigued by a “Wisteria Society” of lady scoundrels? I went in expecting cozy historical fiction with a twist, but what I got was a riotously funny, wildly imaginative story that doesn’t take itself too seriously—and yet still manages to be deeply satisfying. I devoured it in two sittings and immediately added Holton to my auto-buy list.
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Our heroine, Cecilia Bassingwaite, is a proper Victorian lady with excellent manners, impeccable fashion sense, and a penchant for light piracy. As a member-in-training of the Wisteria Society—a secret league of lady criminals who pilot flying mansions and practice refined thievery—Cecilia is eager to prove herself.
Enter Ned Lightbourne: part assassin, part romantic hero, and completely under Cecilia’s skin. He’s been hired to kill her (minor detail), but somehow keeps getting distracted by her sparkling wit and tendency to stab first, flirt later.
Their paths collide in a whirlwind of aerial battles, villainous fathers, explosive teacups, and one of the wittiest romances I’ve read in ages.
Why It Works So Well
1. Utterly Bonkers World-Building That Just… Works
Flying houses. Assassin librarians. Exploding teapots. The premise sounds like a fever dream—but Holton sells it with absolute confidence. The world is absurd, but richly consistent, allowing you to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the chaos.
And that’s the genius of it: it’s not just fantasy for fantasy’s sake. The whimsy amplifies the themes—freedom, feminism, legacy, and the idea that women can be both deadly and delightfully proper.
2. A Heroine Worthy of Her Own Legend
Cecilia is exactly the kind of protagonist you want to follow into battle (and brunch). She’s smart, composed, and unapologetically ambitious. Her journey isn’t about discovering her strength—it’s about wielding it, with flair and floral hats. She’s also hilariously self-aware and completely immune to typical romance tropes, which makes her inevitable falling-in-love arc even more fun to watch.
3. Bantery, Bickery, Brilliant Romance
Ned and Cecilia’s chemistry? Off the charts. Their banter is whip-smart, full of literary references and flirtatious threats. Think Mr. Darcy meets Westley from The Princess Bride, but with more knife throwing and emotional sabotage.
Their dynamic is less “enemies to lovers” and more “enemies, but make it sexy and slightly deranged.” It’s delicious.
4. Feminist and Fierce Without Preaching
The Wisteria Society itself is a joy: a group of older women who break the law, take no nonsense, and still insist on proper tea etiquette. It’s both a satire of Victorian gender roles and a celebration of female power—proving you can be rebellious and refined at the same time.
You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy…
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman – for its absurd humour and iconic romance
- Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson – for magical mayhem and literary chaos
- Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson – for charming heroines in over-the-top situations
- Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones – for dreamy chaos and flying architecture
Final Thoughts: A Whimsical, Witty, and Wildly Original Delight
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is pure fun. India Holton has created a singular world where danger is met with dry wit, where love feels like a duel, and where the rules of society exist solely to be stylishly broken.
It’s escapism at its finest—with teeth, sass, and a flying manor or two. If you’re looking for something truly unique to lift you out of a reading slump, this is the high-flying, high-fashion, high-society romp you didn’t know you needed.
