Soulless by Gail Carriger
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Synopsis
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.
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?
Read-along
Midway through 2018, I decided that I wanted to read the books from Gail Carriger’s Parasolverse in chronological order. This led me to start the journey of the Parasolverse Read-Along in August 2018. If you would like more information about the read-along please visit my post about it here. At the beginning of each month, I will have a brief read-along post go up letting you know what the book for that month is.
What I thought
Firstly, this is an adult book there are adult themes. Soulless is the first book in the Parasol Protectorate series. This book begins the story of Alexia Tarabotti who is a preternatural in a supernatural world. Second, I love this book and I love the character, Alexia. Alexia has accepted that she was immediately “put on the shelf” and she will live her life as a spinster. So the way that she looks at how things are in Victorian London is very funny. Since she does not need to pursue a husband she has no problem acting how she wants. Within the first chapeter, she hits someone (they were attacking her) over the head with her parasol. She very much takes care of herself. I adore how she pushes the social norms of that time and turns them on their heads. The way the characters are balanced is amazing for every “Alpha” character there is a “Beta” to balance them out. Yes, I couldn’t help using those terms.
Oh, you hate to love people out there you need this book!
This world…its a steampunk setting with a paranormal twist. I love how the vampires and werewolves are integrated into society. If you are looking for a diverse book look no further. The way that everything blends together is just amazing it really is.
There are so many things I want to gush about but I am trying so hard to keep this spoiler free. So I will end with one more point. Even though this is the first book in a series it wraps up very well. I love reading a book in a series and feeling satisfied at the end of it. Sorry, I am not a fan of cliffhangers.
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I am ashamed to say that I have had this book sitting on my TBR pile for years and have yet to read it. I am away to dig it out now 😀
Great review.
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Thanks! You really should read it!
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This one sounds so fun and every time I see a review I think “I need to read that!” Just gotta find the time – haha.
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Oh you really should. 😉
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