From the Bookshelf of The Not-So Austen Bookclub…

Soulless (Parasol Protectorate, #1)

Gail Carriger

Start date: September 17, 2012

Finish date: November 8, 2012

Why we're reading this: Let's just say that I envy a woman who can fight with a parasol. ;)…more
[close] Let's just say that I envy a woman who can fight with a parasol. ;)

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Jun 29, 2011 Lindsay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5stars, steampunk, lmaiangowi-s-150-for-2012, read-in-2012, reread, kobo, read-in-2017

First Read April 15 2012 - April 20 2012
4 Stars

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Aug 06, 2009 Miss Clark rated it liked it

Shelves: adventure, paranormal

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. There are so many wonderful reviews of this book already out there and that is because it is a charming book, with style and enough quirkiness to make it an enormously fun read.

I love Gail Garriger's choice of words and the feel of her sentences, such as "a family that specialized in being both inconvenient and asinine." The description on pages 32-33 concerning Ivy and Alexia's friendship is an excellent example of why I enjoyed the style of this book.

It is a unique blend of an alternate 19th c There are so many wonderful reviews of this book already out there and that is because it is a charming book, with style and enough quirkiness to make it an enormously fun read.

I love Gail Garriger's choice of words and the feel of her sentences, such as "a family that specialized in being both inconvenient and asinine." The description on pages 32-33 concerning Ivy and Alexia's friendship is an excellent example of why I enjoyed the style of this book.

It is a unique blend of an alternate 19th century England, with a touch of magic, a world peopled by ghosts, vampires, werewolves and the rare preternaturals. In this world, everyone knows of these creatures existence, but not everyone is happy about their existence, much less their influence in British culture and politics. To that end, our heroine Alexia must deal with several extremely incommodious attempts at abduction by said persons and even great peril to her health, whilst also trying to determine whether or not she loves the mercurial and tempestuous Lord Macon. Because Alexia and Macon have known each other for several years, you do not see them getting to know each other, but it did not bother me unduly as they seem well suited to each other. A few plot points, esp. one concerning the American, I saw coming from around the corner, but the story as a whole was fresh and I am terribly interested to read the sequels in this trilogy. And it is a good thing it is a trilogy, as there are too many aspects of this world that need further exploration.

Also, the romance in this book was more graphic than is my general fare and more than I am personally comfortable with. Just a heads-up.

****************************SPOILERS AHEAD*****************************

Alexia does marry Conall Macon and becomes a member of Queen Victoria's Shadow Parliament, but her troubles and thus adventures are far from over. She may have escaped death at the hands of those who fear her and her husband's kind, but these individuals, who have a strange affinity for octopi, have fanaticism driving their actions, so things are only just beginning.

Next comes Changeless, due out April 2010 (date subject to change)

Content Advisory: Nudity, graphic sensuality (and rather tasteless in my estimation), etc. You have been forewarned.

A few random notes: I found the concept of a person without a soul extremely difficult to get into. The author makes reference sometimes to Alexia lacking in morals, thus having to choose a code of ethics, or lacking style, etc., but so complete in other things and I wonder if a) the condition is mistermed/ misunderstood or b) it is not well conceived. ...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Marie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, fiction, romance, library, historical, paranormal, steampunk, urban-fantasy, ebook

Soulless is about Alexia the half-Italian spinster and her trials and tribulations as a soulless member of a paranormally-inclined Victorian London. Not that the Victorians aren't known for there attraction to the paranormal in our world, but in this one the vampires and werewolves are real and officially 'out'.

It's all marvelously civilized, especially if you use the Victorian's definition of the term.

At any rate, our main character Alexia Strangename (I've forgotten her real surname) is, wel ...more

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Aug 19, 2012 HC rated it liked it

Soulless had a very good plot, but contained waaayyyy too many details for my liking (especially on the romance...) I liked the witty exchanges between Alexia and Lord Maccon, but again, I wish this book had less romance in it.

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Oct 06, 2010 Heather rated it really liked it

This was a fun book to read. I'm looking forward to reading #2 in the series. ...more

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Sep 25, 2009 Bodea rated it really liked it

Lets see,

Great plot ... check
Great characters ... check
Great writing ... check

On top of that, I practically laughed myself silly while reading this and the romance is actually quite realistic.Nothing but fun. Can't wait for the next book. ...more

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