Sunday 16 August 2009

Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger (ARC)


Soulless by Gail Carriger
Parasol Protectorate Series 1

Genre: Steampunk historical urban fantasy romance
Release date: September 29th 2009
Pages: 384

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 is being rudely attacked by a vampire to whom she has not been properly introduced!

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire, and 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? Who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?


This book is a mix of things and I fell head over heels for it. I had heard a lot about steampunk and after reading this I want more. I love a good alternate history/earth kind of book.

And yes I know I put up a lot of genres there, but there is a lot of different things in here, and how to tell what is what. Also I am first now getting the whole steampunk idea. What not to miss is that it's also comedic. It's so witty, and even if it's not laugh out loud haha, it has that witty streak through out the whole book that I often sat there with a smile on my face. I loved the banter between the main characters.

Alexia is a great heroine, witty, smart and not like her half sisters or other women. She is also soulless, a soulsucker as the vampires call her kind. She has been a spinster from once, her mother does not know about her condition, but because of her Italian look she has been on the shelf for 10 years. But she is quite happy there, and she has the freedom to at least try to do what she wants.

But then there is the nasty incident with a rude vampire who does not introduce himself instead he goes straight for her neck. Vampires have more manners than that since they, werewolves and ghosts now are a part of society. She is of course shocked and does what she has to do. here the book starts, and we get to meet Lord Maccon who she has come across now and then. The alpha wolf from Scotland who came and took control over the London pack. Rather rude, and very much a werewolf. Can she figure out things without running in to him all the time?

Lord Maccon, well yes I fell for him. He is all alpha, and the dance between those two is great, she has really succeeded with creating chemistry between them. They are so annoyed by each other, but at the same time there is something more there. Something a soulless really should not feel for a werewolf, because what would others say? How I wanted them together.

Werewolves. vampires and ghosts are a normal sight in England, and the rest of the world these days. In England they are a part of society, and it's a nice twist to it. The setting feels normal.

This is a great and funny book. There is the romance, the comedy of manners, and the insight in how things could perhaps have been. The main characters are lovely, and very rude. The side characters are nice, especially Lord Akeldama, her vampire, and very eccentric friend.

For lovers of paranormal, historical, urban fantasy, steampunk or romance, this is a book that I can recommend. It's a nice read, and I am so happy I was lucky to win it, and discovering yet another great side genre. With likeable characters, a funny story and that little bit of extra this is a good start to a series. The next book will be released in the spring of 2010, and I hope to hear more of this author in the future.



38 comments:

  1. Oh wow, this sounds insteresting! The fact that it's urban fantasy, yet historical seems rather unique. I might have to check this one out!

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  2. Lori,
    It was a great read, and I finally get steampunk, and I find myself enjoying it a lot :)

    Gail,
    I hope you liked my little review :)

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  3. Man, I want this one so bad!

    Thanks for the review =]

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  4. Great review! Sounds like a really interesting read.

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  5. ooo this looks like a great book!!!! I'll have to look this one up. great review

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  6. Great review. Put it on my tbr list. Thanks!

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  7. This book looks awesome--and although I'd seen the cover before, this is the first time I saw an actual review. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. So happy to hear that you enjoyed this one. I have it on my list and can't wait to read it. :)

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  9. Nikola,
    I sure love a great cover too, and this one was nice. It sets the mood.

    Dannie,
    I hope you get the chance to read it cos I did fall for it :)

    Yvonne,
    It sure was, I do like to try new things now and again.

    Okbooklover,
    Do, and if so I sure hope you will enjoy it

    Linda,
    Now I sure feel like reading more from this subgenre after this.

    Anna,
    I hope you will enjoy it, there are some great scenes in there.

    beth,
    yes the cover have been around some, many sure want to read it :)

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  10. "The main characters are lovely, and very rude." lol I love lovely and rude characters ;)

    I read a great review of this book over at Janicu's book blog and now yours so I just HAD to pre-order it from Amazon. I have told myself that I need to have a purchase stop now but I just have to read this book!

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  11. This one looks so good! I'm glad you liked it, makes me much more likely to acquire it in the future!

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  12. Great review..I really can't wait to get my hands on it:)

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  13. Oh!! I am so happy to hear you liked this one. I can't wait to get it :D.

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  14. Ah this looks so good! :)

    She also looks like a creepy Mary Poppins lol

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  15. Ladybug,
    I know, rude characters are just the best ;)
    You pre-ordered, I do hope you will enjoy it too. It was fun and different

    Meghan,
    I sure liked the style, perfect for me

    Mandi,
    I hope you will like it too when you get to read it

    Amy,
    I am sure you will like it too

    brooke,
    Haha, nicely said. No, she was cool, and i do like that pic, it fits the book

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  16. Hi Blodeuedd!

    This book is on the TBR list, I love the way it sounds! I've only dabble in Steampunk, but so far I'm really liking it.

    Great review!

    Dottie :)

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  17. I've added a few (now including this one) steampunk books to my wish list. I can't wait to see what else you find in the genre.

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  18. Hi Dottie,
    This was my first try at steampunk and I sue came out with a good feeling about it. I sure want more

    Janel,
    I sure hope to find more since I now know I like it ;)

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  19. I have yet to read any steampunk. I may have to give this one a try.

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  20. Great Review B!

    I've been hearing so much about "Steampunk", and this one sounds exceptionally good. I like the way you described the way the humour permeates the story.

    I will definitely add it to my list.

    Thanks B!

    L

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  21. Carol,
    It's always fun to try new genres :)

    Lea,
    It was so witty and I love that kind of humour sometimes. Also yay for finally getting to check out steampunk. Amy has sure talked a lot about it

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  22. Congrats on your win! I love trying out new genres that way! :-)

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  23. marie,
    Thanks, oh yes fun and this was such a success that i want more from this genre

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  24. This book looks so totally rockin. so glad you reviewed it, cos I've seen it around :)

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  25. Aimee,
    I do know about that, you see a book around but never find a review. It was good .)

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  26. This sounds hilarious and fun! I've never heard of it, but now I'll put it on my radar. Thanks :-)

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  27. Aarti,
    You're welcome :) I sure remember when i first heard about steampunk, it was truly new to me

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  28. Nice review! I've been wanting to review this book for awhile, I can't until it releases.

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  29. Donna,
    I am so glad i was lucky enough to win in and finally discover steampunk. Also it was such a fun world she had created and I love that

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  30. I've heard so many good things about this book! England is always the place where the supernatural fits right in huh?
    I am def going to look for this one.
    Great review B!

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  31. Jenny,
    Oh yes these things need to take place in England, it fitted so.
    great and funny book. Worth it

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  32. Great Review Blodeuedd..

    I have been following Steampunk for a while now and the best thing I love about it is that it doesn't actually fit into any one genre - you just go with the flow and enjoy...

    E.H>

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  33. EH,
    I can see that, it's a bit of everything and such a cool subgenre. I could really get into it, I have to explore it since I only know about this books and the Rossetti one Amy C had read

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  34. I have not heard of steampunk, but it sure sounds interesting.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  35. Anna,
    I hadn't heard about it either before I started blogging and it sure took me a while after it too to get what it was about, and when I did, well then I loved it :D

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  36. This really made me want to read more steampunk too. It was the first one I ever read.

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