Steampunk Thursday: The Girl in the Steel Corset / Prudence

This edition: BONUS BOOK INCLUDED, The Strange Case of Finley Jayne 

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne -98 pages

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one... except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch.

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her and says she's special, says she's one of them . The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets, against the wises of his band of misfits. And Finley thinks she might finally be a part of something, finally fit in-until a criminal mastermind known as Machinist threatens to tear the group apart... 

My thoughts:

This one included the prequel novella The Strange Case of Finley Jayne -98 pages. I liked that one, it gave me a better look at Finley, and it stood well on its own. I actually liked it more than the actual book.

On the strengths and weaknesses of the actual book, I would say that read the prequel. Without I doubt I would have liked Finley like I did. And I do hate that. This novella could have been in the actual book, do not make us read it later or before. I hate that. Cos if you do not know about it you miss out. Not cool.

Finley is a strange girl, we find out why later on. She meets a strange bunch of youngsters and befriends them. They are hunting for someone, she does not join in. She is just around.

And then boom! Love triangle. WHy oh why! The first guy is such a boring loser. The other guy, oh whatever, yes he is a bad boy but he has so much character, while the first has no personality.

But love triangle aside, it was a good book. I did like the novella the most, so that was a shame. I would read more if the library had them, but to buy...one word, love triangle. Recommend...sure, why not. But be warned, love triangle! Really, why did there have to be a love triangle!? I liked it so much until then. I still recommend it to YA steampunk lovers though.

Cover

Nice

Paperback, 476 pages
Published April 17th 2012 by Harlequin Teen
Steampunk Chronicles #1
Steampunk romance YA
Library

When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (Rue to her friends) is given an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female would under similar circumstances - names it the Spotted Crumpet and floats to India in pursuit of the perfect cup of tea.

But India has more than just tea on offer. Rue stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier's wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a dire crisis and an embarrassing lack of bloomers, what else is a young lady of good breeding to do but turn metanatural and find out everyone's secrets, even thousand-year-old fuzzy ones? 

My thoughts:

I was thinking of giving this one an ok rating, but, did I think it as ok? Did I like a single thing about it?

Not really.

Every single character was an idiot. So freaking annoying. I would not want to be friends with any of them. I would not even want to be in the room with any of them. I did meet 3 previous characters, but even they had changed.

The book tried WAY too hard. WAAAAAAY! No, that is not funny. No, that is not cute. That is pushing it beyond. It was trying. It was exhausting to read.

There was no plot. Suddenly there was one. And I was all, this makes no sense. I do not like this. I would have DNFed if I had not loved Soulless, but even that series turned sour at the end. 

I do not recommend reading this series.

Cover

The only good thing about the book

Paperback, 343 pages
Published March 19th 2015 by Orbit
The Custard Protocol #1
Steampunk
Own

Review: Etiquette and Espionage - Gail Carriger

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners—and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage—in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail Carriger's legions of fans have come to adore.

My thoughts:

I do not know what to write! I am really conflicted when it comes to this book. It was good, but at the same time that I liked it, I was bored.

Oh this is so sad. But I did not connect at all with this book. I was standing on the outside looking in. It looked fun, but I was not there.

I can't say what went wrong. It was funny, well-written, but at the same time maybe it tried to be too funny. Too witty, quirky, cool. Just too much. Or maybe it was that it was YA, and I either love it or feel disappointed. Never the middle way like with so many other books. 

By giving this a 2, well maybe it does not deserve it. I have given 3s to books that were not as good. But at the same time there was that not connecting thing. I just could not even if I tried.

Conclusion:

It should have been awesome, but sometimes a book does not work. And I do not know why when it still is a good book.

Cover Thoughts
Once again I forgot and Chris made me remember so ok..looks good but head please. Then again I saw the head and it did not look like a young girl

Series: Finishing School #1
Genre: YA / steampunk
Pages: 312
Published: Feb 5 2013 by Atom
Source: Own

Review: Timeless - Gail Carriger

Series: The Parasol protectorate #5
Genre: Historical paranormal steampunk light funny romance
Pages: 386
Published: March 1, 2012
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Bday
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 damper 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?

My thoughts:

This is the end then, it has been a fun ride, I loved the manners and the witty mind of our dear Alexia. But all good things must come to and end, and I am happy the series ended. Because too many go on and on, and then only get worse and worse. Stop when you are on top is my motto.

What to say that I haven't said before. Perfect manners, I mean how dreadful would it not be if your hair was out of order? Shameful. Witty speech, the cute nicknames that Lord Akeldama uses, Ivy and her hats, Lyall being his usual beta, Biffy working in the hat shop, sexy Conall taking off his clothes here and there to turn into a wolf. Lovely as always. The book is cute and funny, if you have read it then you know what I mean, if not then start at book 1. This is not a series to read out of order.

What else then, well Alexia goes to Egypt to get to the bottom of things. The usual people are around. There are parasol fights, fainting, and a werewolf cub on the loose. This is a family that creates havoc wherever they go.

Conclusion.

I made it short, I just feel that I have said everything better before. I will miss Alexia and Conall.

Cover:

Ugh, I do not like it. Books 1-3 where soooo much better

Book Review: Heartless - Gail Carriger

Series: Parasol Protectorate #4
Genre: Steampunk
Pages: 374
Published: June 2011

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?

My thoughts:

What is it that I love most about these books? Oh I will tell you, it is because the characters are all so witty and their manners are impeccable. I love the horror when someone does something wrong, like coming to a party in a visiting gown *gasp of horror*. That is why these books rock.

And yes yes it is because of Alexia too. She is the perfect heroine. No soul, all etiquette and how she calls her unborn child the infant-inconvenience. I also love how she adores her oh so sexy werewolf husband Lord Maccon.

And the secondary characters, I love those. Lord Akeldama has become more and more my favourite. I had to warm up to him and he is just the best, lol. And poor Biffy! Ivy is her usual self, not a fan of Madame Lefoux, and who else, oh yes Alexia's sister joins the suffragette movement. I know, shocking! Sit down and have some tea while the shock wears off.

The book has a plot to kill the queen and Alexia is on the case. You will see evil porcupines, learn a tiny bit more about her dad, be invited to tea and see Alexia fight evil with her parasol. All good times.

Conclusion:
I finished this book in a day (much thanks to internet disappearing to my horror, and thunder rolling over the house all day long). But even without all that it is a bit you just read at once. It is funny and a series that should be read.

I need a quote!
".., he actually went around in their room barefoot! Once - and only once, mind you - he even attempted to join her for tea in such a state. Impossible man. Alexia put a stop to that posthaste."

Rating:
Read the series

Cover
I hate it :/

........................................

My last post for Stella over @Ex Libris. This time a joint review of the graphic novel Secrets, Monsters and magic Mirrors

Review: Blameless - Gail Carriger

The Parasol Protectorate book 3

Genre: Steampunk romance
Published: September 2010
Pages: 355

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.

I have been waiting for this book since that evil cliffhanger in book 2, the one that had me craving this book. It may not have been an evil cliffhanger in this book, but I still want book 4. But the wait, oh so long.

Spoilers from previous books will follow.

Alexia has moved in with her horrible family after Conall threw her out, that wicked beast, but then he is dead, and she is pregnant. To get to bottom of this she heads to Italy and to try to get some answers from The Templars, who hunts all paranormal things, and thinks she is an abomination. She is also hunted by vampires who wants her dead.

Alexia is as fun as ever, she barely escapes an attempt on her life, and what does she do, well duh, she goes to drink tea to calm her nerves. In this book she spends most of her time of Madam Lefroux, who flirts with her, and loyal servant Floote who has some hidden talents. Sadly not much of the book is between Lord Maccon and Alexia for obvious reasons, though it is fun to see him drunk and upset. And to my uttermost sorrow, almost no Lord Akeldama! He is missed for sure.

The Templars, those Italians, tsk. Not the nicest of people.

It is a fun book as always, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Miss Carriger is sitting there giggling while writing. How could she not. She is so witty.

There is adventure, there is teadrinking, and manners. A lady cannot forget her manners even if attacked. I do love this series, and it was a good book that kept me reading, but I did miss Akeldama. And Conall and Alexia meeting again was in my head as it should be, because those two are not normal.

Favorite quote:

"He wore no cravat, to Floote's obvious dismay. Alexia was, perhaps less shocked by the missing cravat than she should have been."

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner : Love

Reason for reading: Won a pick your book at Janna's Blog, yay. She made my day

Final thoughts; If you haven't started this series then do.

"A Novel of vampires, werewolves and afternoon tea"

Review: Changeless - Gail Carriger

 Changeless by Gail Carriger

The parasol protectorate, book 2

Genre: Historical, romance, steampunk, paranormal
Pages: 374
Published: 2010

Alexia Tarabotti, now Lady Maccon, 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. Even when her investigations take her into the backwaters of ugly waistcoats, Scotland, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only a soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it. 

First oh oh oh, the end! But ok I will not start there, so re-wind.

Alexia is happily married with her husband, well as happy as those two can be, because they love to tease each other for sure. She is now quite fashionable, and people actually do speak about her. Not to mention that she is secretly the mujah in the city. But then the book starts with a bang, a missing husband, a city with no paranormals, well except those camped on her lawn, and Ivy with big news. Soon she puts her foot down and gets to the bottom of things.

I kept marking pages where I found good quotes and then I gave up cos good and funny quotes were just everywhere.

Everyone else was outraged, imagine the wife of an earl appearing at dinner with frizzy hair. Even in Scotland such things were simply not done.

This is one of the reasons why I love this book and series. The proper manners. I kept giggling everywhere when people gasped because someone mentioned shaving or things like that. These things are one of the highlights with this book.

Another reason is the witty language, that combined with my first love and the mix is just simply wonderful.

Of course I do love Alexia too, she is very logical, might be the soulless part, and she loves her manners too. Even if I think she was somewhat changed now. Must be the constant nudity she sees around werewolves ;) And Conall is still mmmmm, what a werewolf!

Lord Akeldama not to be forgotten, I have to love him. And he calls her the strangest things. I have fallen for Ivy, she was so much fun, and she has her romance in this book too. I wonder what happens in book 3? Carriger always has got some great side charcters.

Now where was I? The book is funny, giggles promised! The language is witty, the manners are excellent. The plot is interesting, I the reader do not know who to trust or what is going on. There is romance, and hot werewolves, with a sprinkle of some very proper vampires.

But then the big OMG! The ending, oh how it left me wanting more. I do confess that Carriger is very evil indeed, she made me wish I could invent a time-machine and go straight to September and buy book 3. I need book 3 this instance to find out what is gonna happen. I do warn you, it is somewhat of a cliffhanger and it will make you drool for book 3, Blameless.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Lovely.

Reason for reading: own copy.

Final thoughts: If you haven't noticed by now that I loved this book then you haven't been paying attention ;)

Guest Post: Gail Carriger, author of Soulless

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Gail Carriger, the author of Soulless. The book is out this week A fantastic mix of historical romance, paranormal, urban fantasy, steampunk and comedy of manners.

Characters

Sometimes, in the days (months, years) of query letters (boy did I write a lot of them) I would worry about how to describe my own writing. It's a fine art, trying to sell yourself, but there was one phrase I never failed to use: character driven.

I adore writing characters, it's my absolutely favourite part of being an author: the invention of new people and the revisiting of old friends. Some authors get annoyed when a story is hijacked by a minor character, I love it. I like caricatures that I can break down or twist suddenly into something unexpected. I like silly quirks and strange mannerisms, sinister aspects and hidden secrets. I draw pictures of my characters. I give them magazine quizzes. I invent elaborate back-stories that never make it onto the page.

This may have to do with the fact that I like people. In fact, I kind of collect them. My house tends to be the party event venue, the sleep over spot, sometimes known as Grand Central Station. Mine is a real life peopled with highly colorful characters, they have leaked into my stories, whether I like it or not.

As a terribly side effect, I have a terrible habit of falling on love with my side characters. I think a lot of writers have this happen. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love the hero and heroine too, but there is something so delightfully comfortable about a minor butler or best friend who slides in, quips something Wilde and witty, and then exits in a plume of verbal sophistication.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you read my book and fall in love with even just one character, I've done my job. You can hate everything else about it, but that character will haunt you. He or she will get to live, for a little, in your mind. As a writer, I can think of no greater thing to have happen.

Ms. Carriger began writing in order to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by a harem of Armenian lovers, where she insists on tea imported directly from London and cats that pee into toilets. She is fond of teeny tiny hats and tropical fruit.

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?
My review
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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.