- Soulless by Gail Carriger
Book Review: 1 Treasure Box
The Parasol Protectorate, #1
Publisher: Orbit; Original edition (October 1, 2009), Format: Kindle Edition, File Size: 466 KB, Print Length: 384 pages, ASIN: B002NPCJ3G
Imagine living in Victorian England with vampires and werewolves but with just a touch you could counteract their supernatural abilites. Alexia, a high-born lady has just these capabilities. She is a strong willed spinster of twenty-five but not considered very pretty due to her Italian heritage. She becomes involved in a mystery. Why are rogue vampires and werewolves disappearing? Why was she attacked by a newly made rogue vampire?
Soulless is the first of a projected five books in The Parasol Protectorate series. This series takes place in a world equivalent to ours in Victorian England, but humans live harmoniously with vampires, werewolves, ghosts and preternaturals. The fifth and final book is expected to be released March 2012. This is a steampunk paranormal romance novel by Gail Carriger, (which is the pen name of Tofa Borregaard) and it is the first book she wrote. The story is told in a third person narrative with the voice and thoughts of Alexia Tarabotti, a woman without a soul, who is the main protagonist.
This book is fun to read, I really like the main protagonist and I like that it takes place in the early 1900s and that Alexis is a refined lady, even if she has no soul. Although this is a vampire book, I find that the concept is original, although the book is a bit silly, especially some of the dialogue. This book sets up the stage for this series and introduces the characters and concepts within this world. There is a love connection that gets pretty steamy as well.
This is a standalone book that introduces a mystery and then works through the book resolving the problem. I am not sure if I will read the next book in the series or not, but since this was Ms. Carriger’s first book, there is a good chance that the series will improve and not be quite so silly.
Question to ponder: Did you feel it was silly at times?
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I think these books are hilarious, although if you think she is silly in the first one you may want to stop, it gets sillier. I find her over-the-top characters and parody of Victorian manners funny and enjoyable, and I am glad you wrote a review of the first book. I just passed it on to a friend, and she has taken to it like nobody’s business from the about the author blurb on. I just finished the fourth one recently and grinned my face off while reading.
Thanks for the comments, I never thought about it as being a parody of Victorian manners, but that really hits the nail on the head. I did enjoy the book and I found it fun to read so I probably will read the next book in the series.
Take care,
Linda
https://books-treasureortrash.com
I’ve been seeing this book a lot! It looks interesting! New follower!
Tia @ Falling For Books
Thanks for the comment and the follow. I checked out your site and I really like your reviews, they are well written and informative. I am following you now too!
Linda
https://books-treasureortrash.com