I am still disturbed by all the octupuses, however. I loved the marvelous descriptions of glassicals, carriages outfitted with tea kettles and viewing lenses, and the various steam-powered machines and engines. I haven’t read that many steampunk novels yet, but it’s hard to imagine that there could be another one that blends the Victorian era and imaginative paranormal fiction as seamlessly as this one does. If you’re curious about the writer’s style, I would strongly recommend downloading the preview chapter to try or having a look at my status updates, since I quoted a fair number of my favorite lines. I’m quite sure that Gail Carriger has been busily spying my bookshelves to see all of the different kinds of books I enjoy and wrote this just for me, as I jotted notes continuously as I read because I found so much to exclaim over. Meticulously detailed and overflowing with good humor, Soulless is a like a cozy mystery run mad, set in an inventive alternate universe populated with a dizzying array of colorful characters. Not to mention that such attacks are a serious breach of good manners. As a spinster, she’s resigned herself to hovering on the edges of glittering social engagements-that is, until she gets caught up in the mystery surrounding a strange vampire attack that flaunts all the rules of polite society. Alexia is a clever bluestocking with revoltingly independent tendencies and an unfortunate weakness for treacle tarts. The story follows Miss Alexia Tarabotti, a preternatural being who has the ability to remove supernatural powers as long as she is touching the other person. I was positively in ecstasies over the witty language as I was reading this deliciously dotty book, and even as I write this it’s hard to keep from smiling. You will have to forgive my enthusiasm in this review. If the answer is “no,” then clearly there is no romance in your soul this is a book to be most assuredly avoided. If the answer to most of these questions is “yes” then you musn’t hesitate-it’s quite possible that Soulless will thoroughly please your palate and leap right onto your “favorites” shelf. * Do you look discreetly and longingly at other people’s plates? * Have you a penchant for strong, handsome men? * Are you fascinated by the seductive appeal of vampires? * Does the notion of shape-shifters tickle your fancy? * Are you delighted when someone brews a pot of tea? * Have you ever lingered over a bit of lace or wistfully touched a velvet coat? * Does witty prose make you positively giddy with excitement? * Do you chuckle over the animated Gorey titles preceding a PBS “Mystery!” presentation? * Is your bookcase overflowing with strong, decisive heroines? Here is a most edifying (and highly scientific) quiz you may use to ascertain whether this novel is one that you will enjoy. Soulless is the first book of the Parasol Protectorate a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking. 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? With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. 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. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Buffy meets Jane Austen in the first book of this wickedly funny NYT bestselling series about a young woman whose brush with the supernatural leads to a deadly investigation of London's high society.Īlexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations.
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