A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received an ARC of this book but it doesn't in any way influence my opinion on it.



Fashion is a setting that hasn't been too explored in Young Adult Fantasy and I am glad that it's been broached through amazing books such as A Dress for the Wicked.
I had such high expectations getting into this and it surpassed every single one, I finished it in a matter of hours. I gave up dinner to devour this gem and those who know me knows I love my food.
A Dress for the Wicked chronicles the journey of Emmaline Watkins who is a country girl with big dreams of storming the fashion scene with her grand designs, but the limitations of her background is quite much.
Her golden opportunity comes when the most prestigious fashion house in Europe, the Avon-upon-Kynt Fashion House throws a competition to allow for the first time a country girl into their prestigious ranks to further compete for a more permanent post in the House.
Emmy sneaks from her disapproving mother and seizes this opportunity, despite a few hurdles, She gets in due to the force of her sheer will and her obvious talent.
This being just the beginning of her journey, Emmy has to join five other noble girls with positions in Society to compete for the honor to learn from the infamous Head of the House, Madam Jolène as the main design apprentice.
Not only is this life changing but it's everything Emmy has ever wanted
They will partake in challenges and be ranked based on their designs and results.
It begins as you might imagine, with the girls drawing lines of battle, betrayal and sabotage ensuing and tentative alliances formed. But one thing I love about this book is how it then comes to subvert cliche and everything you think will happen changes, I loved the twists that happens as it totally changes everything for these characters while letting them emerge free and come into their own. A very good underlying theme in this book is the strength of women and just how much they can achieve if they band together to shatter the glass ceiling.
Emmaline is pushed to her very limits as everything seems to be against her even the reason for being at the House.
Going on in the back ground is a war between basically the more Practical (those who wish to be done with what they think of as frivolities) and the Revelers (those who revel in the beauty of life and the resplendence Fashion offers).
The worldbuilding is pretty good as it painted such a vivid picture and was the perfect setting for the story.
It's a nice blend of the Victorian Era with a Fashion oriented trend.
With all the craziness in her life, Emmy manages to find love and gets attracted to an up and coming reporter Tristan Grayson who is sweet, charming, roguish and beguiling in ways the country boys aren't. He is one of the few people to have Emmy's back, and while their romance is not the main plot, I do like how it's sweet and adorable.
There's also many secrets hidden, some that even connects Emmaline's past to the Fashion House.
So much happens but I really love how the book ended, whetting the appetite yet leaving room for more as these characters have more stories to tell.
A Dress for the Wicked is a love letter to fashion, it's evident in every single word, in every description and in every single design. This book will endear you and suck you in. It aptly comes to life in the mind.
I thank Autumn Krause for this glorious masterpiece, I will cherish this book
I happily recommend this book, It should adorn readers shelves everywhere.

P.S: The cover designee deserves a standing ovation, that cover represents everything good about this book and is so appealing, I can't wait to have the hardcover in my grabby hands.



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