Review: Timeless by Gail Carriger

Series: Parasol Protectorate Book #1
Format: Paper back
Pages: 409
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Gift
Genre: Historical, Steampunk, Paranormal
Publisher: Orbit

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a dampener on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

Review

I can't believe this is over. I really enjoyed spending time with Alexia and her gang. And I enjoyed the introduction of Prudence and I am excited to read more about her. This was a nice conclusion to the series and satisfied me.

Honestly, I don't have much to say and what I want to talk about is spoilery.

You've been warned.

I love that a couple years have past and Prudence isn't just a baby. And Ivy had twins. The next series better feature them.

Then, there's Biffy and Professor Lyall. There story was done so beautifully. I've liked them as individuals so of course they are great as a couple. This is probably the only thing that kind of left me wanting. But they are immortal so there is always time.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Heartless by Gail Carriger

Series: Parasol Protectorate Book #4

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 374

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from the Library

Genre: Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Orbit

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.

Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?

 

Review

It took me awhile to get into this one. I think it was half the book and half that I wasn’t in the mood for this kind of book.

Alexia is still great. I actually think the pregnancy makes her even funnier. And this one was really easy to picture in my head. Basically, the whole thing is Alexia getting herself into crazy situations while waddling around super pregnant. Sometimes I would get a little angry about how she didn’t stop to think about the baby.

There was some information revealed especially about Alexia’s father. Other characters also got more development. But some things didn’t really make sense to me-especially the big reveal around the mystery of this book. I hope that makes sense. I’m trying to explain my thoughts without spoiling anything.

The biggest disappointment was the lack of Ivy and Floote. Ivy basically had one scene-it was a great one, but still only one scene. She’s a great friend for Alexia along with being funny. Floote was around and was amazing, but I want more.

I really don’t know where this series is going or how it will wrap up. I am a little worried that I won’t get enough resolution. But I’m sure I will enjoy the last book because I do love this world, the characters, and Alexia’s general awesomeness.

Thanks for reading!

Review: Blameless by Gail Carriger

Series: The Parasol Protectorate Book #3

Format: Paperback

Pages: 356

Rating: 4.5

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Romance

Publisher: Orbit

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season.

Queen Victoria dismisses her from the Shadow Council, and the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs, indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London's vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.

While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires -- and they're armed with pesto.

BLAMELESS is the third book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Review

This one was definitely a (little) step down for me. I liked getting more information about the world and the players but one of my least favorite relationship story lines happened. It was definitely an enjoyable and fast-paced read but I liked the previous book more.

I think my favorite thing was Floote. I really liked him in the first book but he didn't have much of a presence in the second. It's like he and Ivy can't be in the same story because she had less of a role in this one. Floote is just so funny and I want more of him. I believe their is a prequel novella about Alexia's dad and I assume Floote is in that so hopefully I'll get more then.

And I think I've made a decision on how I feel about Madame Lefoux. I don't think I mentioned this in my previous review but I wasn't sure if I liked her or not. She's definitely an enigma and her motives are slightly questionable but I think I like her. And maybe I trust her.

Alexia is still herself. She's very funny and I love the way she talks either to herself or the people around her. It's very biting and she doesn't suffer fools...except maybe Ivy. Along with that, Ms. Carriger's writing is the same funny and engaging style as the previous books. I'm definitely going to buy her other books when I finish this series.

Like I said before I liked that more of the world was explored. Both physically and with people. Both physically and with actual people. Lord Akeldama and Lyell become more flushed out by being separated from Alexia and Lord Maccon. And since Alexia travels to France and Italy there are more scientists and views on supernatural creatures. Like Alexia I took it for granted that England was so open but other countries treat vampires and werewolves differently. It definitely makes the world feel more real. I would like more on the Order of the Brass Octopus but I'm starting to wonder if they will ever be anything other than a secret organization.

I'm glad this one ended on less of a cliffhanger. I want to keep reading because I love the characters and writing so much but I have other books I need to read first. We'll see if that actually happens.

Thanks for reading!

Review: Changeless by Gail Carriger

Series: The Parasol Protectorate Book #2

Format: Paperback

Pages: 374

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from the library

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Romance,

Publisher: Orbit

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Alexia Maccon, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears; leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. So even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can. She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

CHANGLESS is the second book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Review

I’m a little heart-broken right now with that ending. Objectively, it was a great ending, but I wasn’t expecting it. Plus, I finished this on my break at work so I couldn’t pick up the next one.

It actually took me a little while to get into this one so I was a little worried. Looking back on it, I think I just needed to take a break from reading instead of forcing myself to read. Once I got over that I flew through it.

Gail Carriger has such a unique and funny voice. Her writing has some of the subtle sarcasm I’ve read in classics, but somehow it’s got a modern flavor. It’s just so freaking beautiful.

And Alexia. I’m not surprised, but I’m glad she’s still herself even though she’s married. She is an alpha female without being a bitch. Although, considering the wolf dynamics she could be…technically. And she’s such a well-rounded and thoughtful character.

The Alexia and Connall relationship is becoming one of my favorites now. They are a supportive couple but aren’t afraid to challenge each other when it’s needed. And even though they are now a couple and work together they don’t lose themselves by being married. Plus, their banter. It’s one of my favorite things. Even when they are arguing you can tell they love each other. Ms. Carriger does an excellent job of writing their physicality with each other which shows how close they are.

Ivy stole the show for me. She’s so unintentionally funny and I hope she continues showing up. And I really like her relationship with Alexia.

I did like the mystery and paranormal part of the plot. It was interesting and I wanted to know what was going on but I don’t have much to say about it.

Thanks for reading!