Competence Audiobook By Gail Carriger cover art

Competence

Custard Protocol, Book 3

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Competence

By: Gail Carriger
Narrated by: Moira Quirk
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About this listen

From New York Times best-selling author Gail Carriger comes the delightful sequel to Imprudence.

Accidentally abandoned!

All alone in Singapore, proper Miss Primrose Tunstell must steal helium to save her airship, the Spotted Custard, in a scheme involving a lovesick werecat and a fake fish tail.

When she uncovers rumors of a new kind of vampire, Prim and the Custard crew embark on a mission to Peru. There, they encounter airship pirates and strange atmospheric phenomena, and are mistaken for representatives of the Spanish Inquisition. Forced into extreme subterfuge (and some rather ridiculous outfits) Prim must also answer three of life's most challenging questions: Can the perfect book club give a man back his soul? Will her brother ever stop wearing his idiotic velvet fez?And can the amount of lard in Christmas pudding save an entire species?

©2018 Gail Carriger (P)2018 Hachette Audio
Classics Fantasy Fiction Gaslamp Historical Paranormal Paranormal & Urban Romance Science Fiction Steampunk Urban Heartfelt Witty Funny Vampires Feel-Good
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Critic reviews

"Carriger excels at wry humor and clever phrasing, and her ensemble cast is thoroughly charming and satisfyingly diverse. There's a genuine sense of whimsy and fun running throughout this story."—Publishers Weekly

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Whimsical Adventures • Character Development • Witty Humor • Inclusive Representation • Stellar Performance
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This is the 3rd book in the Custard Protocol series and was well done. This book focused more on the relationships between the characters than the actual adventure to find new vampires in new lands. However, the story does get to that point eventually. I enjoyed the humor, adventure, and characters. I do wish that the story and plot had made a bit more progress though.

I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was well done. Moira Quick always does an excellent job narrating this series and I would highly recommend listening to on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.

The majority of this book is told from Primrose’s POV; although we do hear some from our werecat, Percy, and Rue. For the most part though this is Primrose’s story and we watch as she tries to resist falling in love with our resident werecat.

I enjoyed the journey to foreign lands and the discovery of a new type of vampire; however the main adventure and storyline definitely takes a backseat to Primrose’s romance in this book. The story is generally well done but I couldn’t help but wish the story and romance had been better balanced.

Overall a decent book in the Custard Protocol series. I always enjoy the witty banter, adventure, and clever humor in these books. This installment was very romance heavy and I wish the romance and adventure had been better balanced (could have used more plot and adventure). I plan on continuing the series because these books are just so much fun to read!

Fun read, more adventure than romance in this one.

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I always look forward to Gail Carriger's books and this one did not disappoint. As expected, the book was full of whimsy, humor, and madcap adventures aboard the Spotted Custard, but the real delight was in hearing Prim's perspective as she came to terms with herself, her desires, and how she fits (or doesn't fit) within societal expectations.

I'm already looking forward to the next installment!

Far More Than Competent

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In this book, Primrose fights her inner turmoil regarding gender, identity, and sexuality. This is what makes this my favorite in the series. The adventure is fun, as one would expect. A fantastic listen.

Excellent

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Love this read!! They are each such separate adventures and yet are so clearly same universe with the same level of fun. And narration is delicious as always!

Absolutely love!

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Another hilarious and heartfelt addition to the parasolverse. Ms. Carriger never disappoints. Excited to see what happens next.

Hilarious and Madcap!

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I love the universe that Gail Carriger created with the Parasol Protectorate and Competence is a wonderful addition. I especially enjoyed having the different perspectives of Percy and Primrose in this installment. The stories are full of fun that makes me giggle out loud. And the respectful inclusion of the diverse personality and body types, genders, romantic attractions, and strengths and weaknesses that make up the world is so comfortably natural, without pretense or self-righteousness. A lovely listen and I look forward to the next, whatever it may be!

Fun story, wonderful characters, and excellent narration.

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While the supernatural creatures are getting odder, this may have been one of my favorite in the Custard Protocol series for character development. Percy became a real person, not just a background, bookish grump and, as he's totally my type, I enjoyed the deeper dive into his character. The change of POV to Primrose was also brilliant. Her internal struggles as she comes to terms with her sexuality were sweet and heartbreaking. The inclusion that runs through all books in this universe is truly wonderful, this particular view of how a proper British woman deals with all aspects of being 'other' in a life that has been neatly ordered to be 'same' is well rounded and poignant. I look forward to the future adventures of our motley crew!

More adventures in my favorite universe

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I love this story. it's perhaps my favorite of Ms. Carriger's so far. There is much happy acceptance of everyone's true soul which warns my heart.
The reader is perhaps a little less good with men's voices than I may prefer, but I like her accent in general.

adorable

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I would have never thought to find a book series so hilarious, heart warming, and so entertaining. I definitely have become a forever fan.

Coming back for more

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This third book in the Custard Protocol series continues to highlight Ms. Carriger's ability to create believable, enjoyable, appealing characters in a world I wouldn't mind living in. She treats the varying sexual proclivities of her protagonists in a sympathetic, tasteful, and refined manner.

I've read or listened to every book that she has written to date, and she is one of the few authors whose books I will buy automatically without hesitation.

I believe she appeals to a broad variety of readers, and as proof, I, myself, am a retired, Conservative, teacher and artist who shoots competitively in several firearm disciplines, and enjoys watching the latest Queer Eye with my girl friend. How's that for busting stereotypes!



Another Delightful Story

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