Review: Timeless by Gail Carriger

Timeless by Gail Carriger (Parasol Protectorate #5)
By: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN: B004RD853K

About the book:

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:

Two years have passed since Alexia gave birth to her daughter, Prudence, and she and her husband Conall and their pack relocated to London. The Maccons have enjoyed the relative peace that came with allowing their metanatural daughter to be adopted by Lord Akeldama, the vampire potentate, a compromise that put a stop to the supernatural set's near-constant attempts to assassinate the soulless Alexia and her offspring. Prudence keeps her blended family of vampires and werewolves on their toes, since as a metanatural she can "absorb" either supernatural species' unique abilities and characteristics as will, making the object of her touch immortal -- unless neutralized by her mother's preternatural touch. But this relatively peaceful epoch in Alexia's life is interrupted by an unexpected summons from Matakara, the oldest living vampire and Queen of the Alexandria hive in Egypt. Matakara's invitation coincides with the murder of an old associate of Conall's, newly returned from Egypt and bearing the mark of the God-Breaker Plague. If there's one thing Alexia cannot resist, it is a mystery -- and so she and her family journey to Egypt, accompanied by Ivy and her acting troupe under the guise of an international tour. Once in Egypt Alexia begins to uncover secrets about her father's last days, secrets that someone will do anything to keep -- even if it means threatening Alexia's pack family. With the lives of her family and friends at stake, Alexia will need all her wits to avert a supernatural disaster that threatens to wipe her very way of life from the face of the earth...

Timeless is yet again a marked change of pace for Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, with its two-year time jump and reliance on the arrival of Alexia and Conall's daughter as a potential supernatural game-changer. As such Timeless suffers from a few mis-steps in tone and pacing, but overall it serves as a solid conclusion to Alexia's adventures and paves the way for Carriger's sequel series starring Prudence, making its debut in 2013. As a long-time fan of Agatha Christie's Egyptian-set mysteries and Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody, I love seeing Carriger relocate the bulk of the series' swan song to Egypt's exotic setting. It was fascinating to see Carriger's steampunk vision of the late nineteenth-century play out against a canvas strikingly different from London, with fashion, food, and cultural norms that Alexia relishes the chance to experience. And then there is the God-Breaker Plague, first introduced in Changeless, with its uncanny ability to neutralize supernaturals, leaving them mortal and vulnerable. The history of this "plague" is richly realized, and I loved how Carriger wove Matakara's unexpected history with Alexia's infamous father into the plague's history and dissemination. For a frothy series with an addictive sense of humor, here Carriger proves to be an impressive world-builder with a knack for giving every plot thread, every character some measure of resolution.

My favorite aspect of this novel was seeing the development of Alexia and Conall's relationship, well into their marriage. It is so rare in novels to see a couple weather the storms of life after making a life-long commitment to one another, so it is wholly refreshing to see Conall and Alexia spar and quarrel but always, no matter what stands at the root of their disagreement, remember just how much they love each other. And without giving too much away, Conall's plans for their future brought tears to my eyes, especially given the fact that he is immortal while Alexia, soulless, is most decidedly not. I have mixed feelings about Carriger's treatment of two of my other favorite characters, though -- the Woolsey Beta Professor Lyall and the dandy/spy extraordinaire Biffy. While I loved how Carriger used Biffy's character and gentle disposition to explore the idea that being an alpha is not all brawn and violence, the Biffy/Lyall romance very nearly veered into the realm of too much information for my tastes. That said, between Lyall's penance for past misdeeds and Biffy's rise in esteem in the Woolsey pack, Carriger is setting up an interesting werewolf dynamic for Prudence to work with when she revisits this world in future novels.

Timeless is an ambitious conclusion to this series, and while I appreciate its scope and Carriger's desire to bring Alexia's story full circle, at times it felt like there was just too much going on. After dropping clues for four books about Alexia's father and his questionable loyalties and penchant for scandal, his involvement in the spread of the God-Breaker Plague felt rushed, like a good idea left undeveloped -- and the ever-loyal Floote's involvement? That came completely out of left field. Also, I would've appreciated more time spent exploring Conall's burden for his family's future and his own fate as an Alpha (as if they live too long, they can go really bad). This is an ambitious conclusion to Alexia's story, and while it doesn't flow or unfold quite as well as I would've liked, I appreciate Carriger's commitment to her characters and desire to take a few risks with the format of her stories.

Those issues aside, Timeless still possesses all of the elements that make this series work so well -- laugh-out-loud humor, creativity, lightning-fast dialogue and pacing. The Parasol Protectorate is all frothy, candy-coated fun, laced through with unexpected moments of poignancy and solid character development. Carriger has proven a deft hand at creating and peopling a colorful world that results in an addictive, compulsively readable experience. I look forward to seeing where she takes readers next!

Review: Heartless by Gail Carriger

Heartless (Parasol Protectorate #4)
By: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN: B0047Y0EZQ

About the book:

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:

Roughly six months have passed since Alexia's "disagreement" with her husband, Conall, over their forthcoming child's paternity saw her decamp to the continent, encounter dangerous Templars hoping to control her preternatural ability, and comes ever-closer to understanding her past and what the future holds for the impossible child she carries within her. While the series' preceding volume, Blameless, faltered a bit due to Alexia's lengthy separation from Conall, with the Maccons reconciled Heartless is a fine return to form for Carriger's delightfully quirky realization of Victorian London and its supernatural (and soulless) denizens. With the birth of her child a month away and the impact of a human, albeit preternatural, mother and an immortal werewolf father still uncertain, Alexia learns that in order to guarantee her child's safety she must do the unthinkable and give them up for adoption before they are even born. It is commonly held that Alexia will give birth to a soul-stealer/skin-stalker -- one who can absorb and discard supernatural abilities at will. The Maccons and the lives of their pack are thrown into turmoil preparing for the birth, but an even more pressing matter intrudes -- a ghost, near-poltergeist state, who arrives with the news that there is a plot afoot to assassinate the queen. Ever-practical and never one to let a little thing like eight months' pregnancy stop her, Alexia sets out to uncover the threat and in the process is thrust into a web of conflicting loyalties and painful history. Some secrets are perhaps best kept hidden...

Heartless is perhaps my favorite novel in the Parasol Protectorate series to date, and that is saying something since I've essentially inhaled nothing but this series since I first discovered Soulless. This series is not without its share of issues (stylistically or content-wise), but those are overcome by the spirit of sheer fun Carriger infuses in every aspect of her world-building and her characters. Alexia's adventures are as over-the-top and decadent as Lord Akeldama's best waistcoat, but Carriger's irrepressible sense of humor and genuine affection for even the most light-weight dandy that peoples this world is hard to resist. As such, Heartless is one of the strongest novels in the series, balancing Carriger's trademark humor and sarcasm with just the right amount of peril and fascinating revelations about the history of beloved characters.

Now that all is right in Alexia and Conall's relationship (meaning they are back to their loveably quarrelsome, affectionate selves), Carriger explores the genuine affection the pair feels for each other, the warmth, humor, and -- dare I say it? -- maturity that has come to define their relationship as they've survived everything from constant death threats to trust issues. I loved seeing just how much Conall adores his wife (he has a lot to make up for, considering book #3!), and reciprocally just how much the pragmatic Alexia returns his affection. And when the long-awaited "infant inconvenience" finally debuts? The twist concerning her identity and how that promises to impact Alexia and Conall's lives is, quite simply TO DIE FOR. I have yet to read the fifth and final book in this series, but given that revelation I'm eagerly anticipating Carriger's next Parasol Protectorate series.

Secondary characters who were fun and charming in the first book become stars in their own right here. The enigmatic Woolsey Beta, Professor Lyall, has long been a favorite of mine, and while his buttoned-up exterior apparently masks some questionable predilections, I was blown away by the revelations into his past here. Simply put, he broke my heart, and the way in which his past ties into Alexia's was a thoroughly surprising twist that added layers angst to his character and unexpectedly threatens the future of the pack. I also love Biffy, Akeldama's erstwhile drone and one-time favorite, and the fallout from his shocking induction into the Woolsey Pack is wrenching to witness. But Biffy's turmoil unexpectedly brings out the best in Conall, and I loved how his marriage to Alexia has given him fresh empathy as an Alpha (ironic since, as a soulless, Alexia has issues emoting!).

With Heartless, Carriger is poised to conclude the Parasol Protectorate series (watch for the scene where Ivy is "inducted," it's priceless!) on an extraordinarily strong note. Replete from start to finish with her trademark wit and humor, fast-pacing, and outrageously compelling and likable characters, Alexia's fourth volume of adventures hits a series high. Thank goodness I don't have to wait for the release of book five! :)

Review: Blameless by Gail Carriger

Blameless (Parasol Protectorate #3)
By: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN: B003JTHYBW

About the book:

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.

Review:

The revelation that Alexia Maccon, a soulless, was pregnant transformed her life from one of newlywed bliss to heartbreak and a struggle for her very survival. Rejected by her husband and accused of infidelity -- for it has long been accepted as unalterable fact that an immortal cannot produce children -- Alexia returns to her mother's home to face societal and familial censure for her apparent indiscretion. But ever-practical even in the midst of heartbreak and emotional upheaval, Alexia determines to prove her faithfulness and clear her name -- though Conall would have to do an awful lot of grovelling before she'd consider taking him back. The key lies in discovering the truth about this impossible child she carries within her (or "infant inconvenience" as she takes to calling it), the child that shouldn't be, the one whose very existence threatens both their lives. For many among London's supernatural set view Alexia's pregnancy as a threat, one they'll go to any length to eliminate. Facing danger from every quarter (including homicidal mechanical ladybugs!) and bereft of the protection once offered by the Woolsey Pack, Alexia and a handful of trusted companions flee London for the continent and her father's old home of Templar-controlled Italy. But the Templars' attitude towards supernaturals could prove to be the greatest threat to Alexia's unborn child, requiring all of that formidable's smarts and parasol-wielding skills in order to survive.

Blameless is a marked change of pace for the Parasol Protectorate series, as Conall and Alexia spend a good ninety percent of the novel separated by large parts of the European continent. As such the spark and fire that made Soulless and Changeless such rollicking good reads is largely absent, replaced by an adventure with the pace and scope of an Indiana Jones film. And the results are decidedly mixed. This novel opens shortly after the heartbreaking finale of Changeless, when Alexia's impossible pregnancy is discovered and Conall subsequently accuses her of adultery, because established science has long held that supernaturals, who have forfeited their humanity for immortality, cannot procreate. Now, while it is absolutely APPALLING that Alexia is convicted without the benefit of a trial, I can understand Carriger's choice to temporarily separate the newlyweds -- after all, in her steampunk universe science, particularly to a soulless like Alexia, would be something akin to a god, infallible and in Alexia's case, damning. So perhaps I'm a bit more forgiving of Conall than I should be, since Carriger makes it so patently obvious that the earl is completely miserable without Alexia.

Chapters roughly alternate between London and Alexia's continental European travels. While I love Alexia's no-nonsense character and independent spirit -- in particular the delicious irony that although she is soulless, she is far from heartless as her ruptured marriage and pregnancy prove -- I found the travelogue chapters a bit of a slow-go when compared to the London-set action. The Maccons' separation gives Carriger an opportunity to really flesh out her supporting characters, and Alexia's best friend Ivy and the Woolsey Beta Professor Lyall fair particularly well. Newly-married to her struggling actor, Ivy has lost none of her joie de vivre and when Alexia is forced to decamp from London Ivy gets the opportunity to reveal some savvy spying skills lurking beneath her air-head demeanor. And Lyall -- he is by far my favorite secondary character, and I loved how his patience is thoroughly tested by Conall's heartbreak (the Alpha drinks ALL the formaldehyde containing the Professor's scientific experiments!), as he is left to keep the Pack in-line while attempting to prove Alexia's innocence (all in a bid to restore normalcy to Woolsey).

Despite the occasionally sluggish chapter due to the absence of sparks between Alexia and Conall, Blameless is a rollicking, two-pronged adventure that sees supernatural affairs reach a new crisis in London and abroad. The breach between Alexia and her recalcitrant husband, while a tad forced and far too long in duration and then too quickly resolved, gives Carriger an opportunity to flesh out her steampunk vision of Victorian England and the cast of colorful characters that people Alexia's world. Carriger's plotting is solid, her pacing (mostly) steady, and her addictive wit present throughout Blameless-- and the promise of far-reaching ramifications for the supernaturals thanks to Alexia's forthcoming child? Too delicious to resist!

Review: Changeless by Gail Carriger

Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2)
By: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN: B0030I1XFK

About the book:

Alexia Tarabotti, 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. 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.

Review:

Alexia Maccon, nee Tarabotti, has left the "scandal" of her bluestocking spinsterhood behind for scandal of a deliciously different sort. Her marriage to Conall Maccon, Earl of Woolsey, werewolf, and head of BUR (Bureau of Unnatural Registry), set the gossipping tongues of London's social scene aflame. And her new position as muhjah to Queen Victoria -- the preternatural or soulless seat on the queen's Shadow Council for supernatural affairs -- keeps her on the cutting edge of vampire-werewolf-human relations and policy. But a mere three months into her marriage, Conall abandons her for Scotland and his former pack's stomping grounds with nary a word of explanation, and Alexia determines to follow. Her husband may be supernatural, and she may be soulless, but this is simply not the way to make a marriage work. When news breaks that a literal plague of humanization is sweeping from London to Scotland, leaving supernaturals human and vulnerable, Alexia's curiousity is more than piqued -- as the only member of the Shadow Council immune to the "plague's" affects, she is tasked with uncovering its source. The stakes are high as Alexia wends her way to Scotland (via dirigible), coping with mysterious Frenchwomen, lovelorn best friends, recalcitrant werewolves, and unknown assassins. With the survival of the empire and her young marriage at stake, Alexia's considerable intellect and propensity for parasol-related weaponry face its greatest challenge yet -- the very survival of those supernaturals who are wired to distrust a soulless...

I thoroughly enjoyed Soulless, Carriger's introduction to Alexia and Conall's world, but oh my word I think its sequel is even better. Marriage hasn't dimmed Alexia and Conall's predisposition for arguing and teasing, in the best Darcy and Elizabeth tradition, and the sparks continue to fly post-nuptials. If anything, the twist of having Alexia adjust to her role of Alpha female for the Woolsey pack adds spice to the relationship, since certain wolfish habits -- like grooming and table manners -- are a constant source of trial when met with Alexia's very proper upbringing. I love Carriger's exploration of both Conall's and Alexia's pasts. Conall's history is particularly interesting since he has a good two centuries of life on Alexia, and Carriger takes full advantage of his trip to Scotland to explore his prickly past history with the Kingair pack and his long-estranged relations. For her part Alexia's position as an Alpha pack female and muhjah to the queen widens her circle of supernatural acquaintances, many of whom knew her long-dead (but apparently infamous and promiscuous) father. Carriger is clearly poised to take her time developing Alexia's antecedents and their impact on her position as one of England's few registered preternaturals, but the hints she drops in this installment of the saga are tantalizing, leaving me eager to see how Alexia's history and role in current supernatural affairs progress throughout subsequent volumes.

The delightful, albeit somewhat one-dimensional characters first introduced in Soulless make their encore and oft-times more successful appearances in the pages of this sequel. Alexia's best friend, Ivy of the horrendous hats, is if possible sillier than ever, but I thoroughly enjoyed her on-again, off-again romance with Conall's werewolf-in-training valet, Tunstell. Even better I loved the reappearance of the flamboyant rove vampire, Lord Akeldama, whose propensity for spying introduces the aethographic transmitter, a replacement for the "troublesome" telegraph, a highly convoluted piece of steampunk technology that figures significantly in Alexia's investigations. The humanization threat even makes unlikely allies of vampires and werewolves, and the cooperation between Akeldama's favorite drone, Biffy, and the Woolsey Beta, the deliciously enigmatic Professor Lyall, is absolutely hilarious.

Where the plot of its predecessor was meandering but nonetheless an enjoyable trip, its sequel is more focused, the plotline more linear and well-developed. There is still plenty of humor, hijinks, and romantic sparks, but Carriger's sophomore effort feels more focused and polished. Alexia is altogether more assertive and sure of herself (though her alleged "susceptibility" to Madame Lefoux felt forced and contrived), and given the killer cliffhanger at the end of this book those are qualities that will stand her in good stead. The cliffhanger -- gah! It BROKE MY HEART. While far from flawless this series is on a roll and I cannot wait to see where Carriger takes Alexia and Conall next. Imaginative world-building, clever, quirky characters and a ton of humor mark Changeless as a page-turning entry in a highly addictive series.

Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1)
By: Gail Carriger
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN: B002NPCJ3G

About the book:

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?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Review:

Alexia Tarabotti is an anomaly in Victorian London in more ways than one. Her father (dead) was an Italian who gifted her with the questionable attributes of a dusky skin tone (pale is all the rage) and unfashionably generous curves. At twenty-six years she is considered firmly "on the shelf," the bane of her society-obsessed mother and two half-sisters' existence. As if her ancestry, age, and intellectually-bent mind weren't enough, she's also the only registered preternatural in the London area -- one of the soulless, capable of neutralizing the abilities of any supernatural with whom she comes in contact. Preternaturals are extremely rare and viewed with suspicion by the supernatural community, particularly those of the vampire persuasion, forcing Alexia to keep her ability a closely-guarded secret. Resigned to coping with her lot in life Alexia contents herself with books and intellectual pursuits, until a rogue rove vampire attacks her unprovoked and in the ensuing fight is killed. The attack brings Alexia to the attention of Lord Conall Maccon, the Alpha werewolf in charge of the local BUR office (Bureau of Unnatural Registry, the division of Queen Victoria's Civil Service that oversees all supernatural matters). Alexia likes nothing more than driving the grouchy Conall absolutely mad, but as the investigation proceeds the pair uncover chilling evidence of rove vampire and werewolf disappearances as well as more ominously the appearance of unsanctioned, unregistered, and barely functioning supernaturals. Threatened by malevolent forces, Alexia and Conall find themselves in a race to save the supernatural community from a vicious attack -- and perhaps the possibility of romance, if only they can stop driving each other insane first.

After seeing this book around the blogosphere for years I finally decided to give Carriger a try and I'm so glad I did. This book was just what I needed -- something outside my reading norm, light, fluffy, and wholly, deliciously addictive. The Victorian England that Carriger has reimagined reminded me of the television show Torchwood -- appropriate since the Torchwood Institute was conceived under Victoria's reign. Only Alexia's world, every bit as well-crafted, doesn't take itself quite so seriously -- Carriger manages to balance the suspense and danger of her storyline with a healthy dose of snarky, quotable, laugh-out-loud humor and sarcasm. Supernaturals may be "sanctioned," but there's a wonderfully open acknowledgement that, for example, a werewolf typically has appalling personal habits, nevermind that he might be a nobleman. This is a fantastic introduction to a world where supernaturals live openly -- vampires long acknowledged for their political prowess and fashion sense, while werewolves hold sway in military matters. The building blocks of Carriger's Victorian London make sense, leaving one at liberty to lose yourself in the story and characters and enjoy the ride.

I absolutely adored the romance between Conall and Alexia. It's like Darcy and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, but on steroids. Instead of the initial "meet" and a slow-burning attraction, Carriger plants the reader in the middle of Alexia and Conall's confrontation-prone acquaintance. I adored their bickering and their inability to see the truth of their mutal attraction -- hampered quite naturally by Alexia's soulless state and Conall's instinctual, wolf-pack driven worldview. I love the fact that Conall is every inch an Alpha hero  without being a total boor, and Alexia, with her unemotional outlook and savvy intellect is his perfect match. (Side note: Conservative readers keep in mind that this read falls at the spicier end of the spectrum.) I do hope that as the series progresses there is more focus on Alexia's strengths -- midway through the novel she pivots from seeming independence to zero self-worth (her family is horrible in that respect), a somewhat jarring inconsistency. Conall and Alexia are supported by a host of colorful, if sometimes one-dimensional characters. But while the vampire Lord Akeldama is relentlessly flamboyant until the final fourth of the novel, and Lyall, Conall's Beta is best known for being mysterious and capable, there's sufficient heart and the promise of depth behind Carriger's creations that I'm hopeful for stronger, more full-rounded characterizations as the series progresses.

Soulless is a ridiculously fun read and a promising beginning to a series and a world I'm looking forward to revisiting. Carriger's imaginative world-building and sense of humor are her strongest assets, and I have high hopes that characterizations are more fully-fleshed out and developed in further installments. With sharper-drawn, more consistent character-crafting and some polishing on point-of-view and plotting, I think Carriger has a ton of potential. Regardless, the humor and sheer fun within the pages of Soulless have left me eager to read the sequel.