Gail Carriger

The Parasol Protectorate — (2009-2012) Publisher: 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 theyhave treacle tart? Soulless is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Soulless

Imagine what would happen if P.G. Wodehouse and Jane Austen got together and wrote an urban fantasy novel. Gail Carriger did (that’s how she describes this novel) and the result is a delightfully amusing paranormal romance. Soulless is the story of Alexia Tarabotti, who has the social misfortune of being a spinster with a dead Italian father; not having a soul is just an additional burden to bear. Then she gets attacked by an ill-mannered vampire. That’s when Lord Maccon gets involved. He’s the Queen’s officer in charge of investigating the paranormal, and just happens to be a werewolf. And gorgeous.

I giggled through almost the entire book. From the first few pages, it is obvious that Soulless was written with tongue planted firmly in cheek. While the story may not break new ground when it comes to Regency romance novels, the inclusion of the paranormal, which is thoroughly and convincingly a part of the history of the British Empire in this alternate world, is exceptionally well done. The different cultures of both vampire and werewolf society are well-imagined and have interesting implications for how the two cultures interact with each other and human society.

Soulless is an entertaining novel. It is definitely a romance novel (and I got tired of having Lord Maccon “nibble” on Alexia’s neck — really, can you imagine a huge werewolf nibbling?) but the paranormal elements are also central to the story. I recommend Soulless as a fun read for anyone who wants their romance served up with an otherworldly flavor and a large helping of humor. —Ruth Arnell

Changeless

In this charming sequel to Soulless, Gail Carriger brings us back to the world of Alexia Tarabotti, who now happens to be Lady Maccon. When a mysterious occurrence in London leaves vampires without fangs and werewolves incapable of shifting forms, Alexia springs into action, determined to find the source of this dangerous power. Whether or not her husband approves, she gathers her allies, rides a dirigible, is the target of assassins, and has to confront the (possibly eternal) side effects of her soullessness.

Changeless is a much more tightly focused story than the first book in The Parasol Protectorate was. The supporting cast of characters has already been established, which means less time is spent creating the setting and more time is spent on the action — and this story has a surplus of action. There is so much action that it keeps the characters from communicating with each other, which leads to a few misunderstandings. Alexia is still a wonderfully headstrong woman, and watching her morph from eccentric bluestocking into alpha female (in multiple ways) is an interesting development.

Not quite a comedy of manners, this story does flirt with farce at times, though the comedic notes that so richly dominated the first story are more of an accessory in this tale. The plot of Changeless is not quite as innovative as Soulless, though it does serve to flesh out the world — especially the role of werewolves in spreading the British Empire (which is an original take on the success of the British military and regimental order). Additionally, the exploration of contemporary technology provides a special depth to the setting. And, we learn a smidgen more about the mysterious octopus symbol from book one…

Just like Soulless, Changeless is a light entertaining read that would be right at home in many a beach bag or airplane carryon. Changeless falls more towards the paranormal side of the paranormal romance genre than Soulless did, but the last chapter of the book sets up a cliffhanger for the Alexia-Connall relationship that will leave the reader breathlessly waiting for the next book in The Parasol Protectorate. I would recommend Changeless to readers of paranormal romance, steampunk, or lighthearted fantasy. —Ruth Arnell

Blameless

Lord and Lady Maccon have been smitten with each other since they first met, regardless of the fact that he is a werewolf, and she is a preternatural — someone who can remove supernatural powers from anyone she touches. Everyone knows that werewolves and vampires can’t reproduce, so when Lady Maccon becomes pregnant, Lord Maccon does what any right thinking man would do in the situation — he accuses Alexandria of infidelity and kicks her out of his home.

Forced to take refuge with her stepfather, Lady Maccon finds that she has become the scandal of the season. To make matters worse, Lord Akeldama, a vampire and inveterate friend, disappears just when she needs a friend most. So Alexia decides to do what any rational female would do in the situation — she takes her butler and her friend and heads to the Continent to track down any possible explanation of how the “infant inconvenience” came to be, even if that means heading to Italy and facing down the fearsome Templars.

In Blameless, the third book in the Parasol Protectorate series, Gail Carriger finally brings all the different plot threads she has woven in the last two books into full view, creating a tapestry that is simultaneously witty, charming, exhilarating and downright fun. Carriger’s familiar tongue in cheek humor is on full display — Alexia’s stepfather’s response to finding out that he will have to board his errant child as she returns home in disgrace is “I have died and gone to the land of bad novels.” The plot rips along at a quick trot, using almost every kind of transportation available (cable car, anyone?) to keep the action moving.

As much fun as the action is, the witty banter among a group of unique and interesting characters is the true star of this book. While I have described earlier installments in the series as Jane Austen and P.G. Wodehouse writing Harry Potter, I think this time they wrote a James Bond movie. There is an almost cinematic feel to the action and the dialog that is screaming for this series to be optioned for a TV program. PBS or A&E should start knocking on Gail Carriger’s door, because this is the classy counterpart to the True Blood series that is getting so much publicity.

While book two ended on a cliffhanger that left me breathlessly waiting for Blameless, this book ends with all the plot threads seemingly resolved, but the last page announces that the fourth book, Heartless, will be out in July of 2011. I can hardly wait to see what Alexia and Conall get up to next. While this will never be mistaken for, and has no desire to be, epic fantasy in the tradition of Tolkien, this is a fun read that has earned its way on to my keeper shelf, just for the joy of reading. —Ruth Arnell

Heartless

Alexia is now largely pregnant and ready (though not overly willing) to enter into her confinement when an insane ghost appears and warns of a plot to assassinate the queen. As if that isn’t enough, the vampires have been repeatedly attempting to kill Alexia, or at least the infant inconvenience she carries (mechanical porcupines — what will they think of next), necessitating that Alexia and Conall move to London and come under the protection of Lord Akeldama who is wittier than ever before as he deals with the loss of his favorite drone, Buffy. And then Alexia’s half-sister decides to move in. And take up the cause of suffrage! What will people say?

Heartless is a welcome addition to Gail Carriger’s steampunk London. The Woolsey werewolf pack is at its best trying to anticipate the demands of their pregnant alpha female, Conall is beside himself trying to keep both Alexia and the unborn child safe while they face the call of duty, and old stories come to light as the threatened assassination attempt starts to look a lot like a previous assassination attempt that was made by Conall’s old pack.

This fourth book in The Parasol Protectorate series is a shining example of Carriger’s witty frivolity and endless imagination. Most series start becoming a little stale at this point, but Carriger manages to take all the things you already knew about her paranormal London and give them a big shake, and just like a snowglobe, as the pieces settle back into new patterns, they show an entirely different picture than you had known before.

With lots of action, lots of secrets revealed, and lots of Alexia waddling to and fro in search of the truth — and fires and zeppelins and vampires, oh my! — this book is a reward for all of Carriger’s fans. Everything you thought you knew has changed by the book’s end, and the ending promises that there will be many more adventures to come for Alexia and pack. I wait with pleasant anticipation for the next chapter in this witty and amusing saga. —Ruth Arnell