Warning: Clifhanger ending! (I wish I knew before I ran off it.)

Besides the ending that left me open-mouthed and with "heart palpitations," Carriger continues to write witty humor and lively characters. Lady Alexia Tarabotti Maccon is still her practical self with a wickedly sharp sense of humor; Lord Conall Maccon is still his surly, loud self (At least for the most part! (view spoiler)[Oh that infuriating man! How could he believe that Alexia could ever be unfaithful! (hide spoiler)]), but now we get to learn more about the ditzy, dramatic Miss Ivy Hisselpenny, hilarious, love-strucked Mr. Tunstell, and annoying, spiteful Miss Felicity Loontwill. We also get to meet a bevy of new characters, including Gamma Major Channing Channing of the Chesterfield Channings, mysterious and dashingly dressed Madame Genevieve Lefoux, and a pack of Scots. Nevertheless, Lord Akeldama remains my favorite character. (view spoiler)[(I loved that he did a pirouette albeit a "little" one.) (hide spoiler)]

This installment leaned heavily in the werewolf territory, though steam punk is considerably inlaid in the background. The mystery in Changeless has more twists than Soulless, but admittedly I read Carriger's novels more for her amusing writing and vibrant characters than the mystery.

I was prepared to resoundingly applaud Changeless as another laid-back entertaining read if not for the surprising ending. That's not to say the ending made the book worse, but I sure wasn't laid-back after I read it. Thank goodness I had Blameless on hand right after I finished. (I approve of my past self's forethought in borrowing the first three books together.)