age 12+ Spectacular steampunk sequel has hijinks, gadgets, vampires. Parents need to know that Curtsies & Conspiracies is the second book in Gail Carriger's bestselling Finishing School series about girls at a floating airship of a training school for assassins that operates under the guise of a finishing school for young ladies. As in the first book, Etiquette & Espionage, it's fun, entertaining, and thrilling and set in an alternate 1800s steampunk world filled with cool gadgets.