Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Title: Soulless

Author: Gail Carriger

Series: The Parasol Protectorate

Book #: 1

Pages: 357

Publisher: Orbit

Reading Level: Adult

Spotlight: Characters

Rating: .5

"I am a preternatural"

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

Taschima:

I wasn't really expecting much, well besides vampires and werewolves, when I picked up this book, but I gotta say it was highly entertaining and it totally changed my mind about werewolves.

Alexia Tarabotti is what every girl in 19 century England wishes not to be. She is Italian thus has tanned skin color, a spinster, and a preternatural. Which means she does not have a soul. But she doesn't really mind the whole soulless thing. Her life is on normal route until a vampire rudely attacks her. Like really, he could just get a willing donor but no he went after Alexia. Ugh, then she goes and kills the vampire. By accident of course, still he is dead as a doornail. She is then dragged into a full on investigation with gorgeous, though slightly messy and loud, werewolf Lord Maccon. And here is where our story begins.

Gail Carriger managed to entertain me from beginning to end. Alexia is a strong female character who is way ahead of her time. She is independent and what some would call an Alpha. Which goes amazingly with the real werewolf Alpha Lord Maccon. Maccon is Alexia turned male, only more messy. He is a smexy werewolf. I sometimes had my doubts if this would be yet another threesome love because some other vampire came into view, but he is just a good (and I think gay) friend.

This book though it is fantasy/horror is dangerously close to being a romance novel. Some scenes with Alexia and the lord are quite foxy. But the blood and gore of the last scenes save the book.

The plot was good, it kept you guessing, but it wasn't what really kept you flipping the pages. The characters did. And the language. Oh let me not forget the bickering between the werewolf and Alexia; is something that should not be missed.

You will find werewolves, vampires, and ghosts (along with some other weird things in between). You know how some books are more concentrated on how the supernatural are and were they come from? Well this book is more concentrated on integrating the supernatural in society and how they have worked to improve or change things in society.

My favorite part of the book would have to be the exchange of Lord Akeldama and Alexia close to the end. Where they watch the sunset together. So sweet.

Anyways I can't wait for the next book. Ugh I have to wait till March... WHY?!?!

PS; What's with all the octopuses on the book? Never got that.