Alexandria, Egypt


I found this Victorian dress on Pinterest, pinned from “Old Rags” website.
Its practical nature would surely appeal to Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon.


★★★★½ (This is a review of the audiobook.) Ah! My little kumquats, I do so love this series. Sorry to see this fifth and final book in the Parasol Protectorate.

Emily Gray does an excellent job with all the various paranormal – and soulless – voices, but she does her best with Prudence, who is now a toddler, making her sound like the “puggle precious” Lord Akeladama dubs her; but, not to worry, she’s not too precocious! In fact, Ms. Gray is so good at delivering Ms. Carriger’s alternate historical version of Victorian England that I wish I’d know about her sooner. Now I’ll end up buying this series in audio as well. Yes, she’s that good.

If you have NOT tried steampunk before; if you like the Victorian era; if you get off on Etiquette & Espionage; and if you like paranormal worlds filled with werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and a preternatural or two, this is the series with which to start.

Maybe I did not laugh as much as I did in Heartless, and I certainly did NOT see... (view spoiler)[Professor Lyall and Biffy becoming an item! Shocker, that. But, I must say I quite liked it. And Lord Akeladama wasn’t too heart-broken. (hide spoiler)] However, I still enjoyed every minute of it.



Alexia is called to Egypt this time, and she’s having a hard time finding any tea!

Alas, Gentle Reader, it is impossible to review this book without spoilers! All I can say is that I am impressed and surprised at the all-encompassing arc of the series, with details planted early on and things neatly tied up, for the most part. Or, at least, we know that they’ll most likely reappear in the spin-off series The Parasol Protectorate Abroad which doesn’t come out until Fall, 2013!

Archaeologist and author Ms. Carriger’s avatar showing her hard at work on her laptop.