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Soulless

Book 1 in the series:Parasol Protectorate

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In the book "Soulless" by Gail Carriger, readers are transported to an alternate Victorian England where supernatural beings like vampires and werewolves are accepted members of society. The protagonist, Alexia Tarabotti, is a unique character who is soulless, meaning she can neutralize supernatural abilities by touch. The story follows Alexia's adventures as she inadvertently kills a vampire and is drawn into investigating the supernatural occurrences in her society, leading her to partner with the brash and handsome werewolf leader, Lord Maccon. The plot is filled with mystery, humor, witty dialogue, and a touch of romance, set against a backdrop of steampunk elements and a Victorian London filled with paranormal intrigue.

The writing style of "Soulless" is described as witty, engaging, and fast-paced, with a blend of fantasy, steampunk, and romantic elements. The characters, especially the strong and sassy heroine Alexia, are praised for their depth, humor, and chemistry, making the story a delightful mix of comedy of manners, urban fantasy, and romance with a modern and feminine twist.

Characters:

The characters include the witty and strong-willed Alexia Tarabotti, the charming but gruff Lord Maccon, and quirky supporting characters like the flamboyant Lord Akeldama and Professor Lyall, all of whom contribute to the book's humor and appeal.

Writing/Prose:

Gail Carriger's writing style is characterized by witty and humorous prose, akin to Jane Austen, which combines dry British humor with engaging period language, creating an enjoyable and light-hearted reading experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows Alexia Tarabotti, a soulless spinster in Victorian London, who accidentally kills a rude vampire during a party. This incident entangles her in an investigation led by Lord Maccon, a werewolf, regarding the mysterious disappearances of vampires and werewolves.

Setting:

The setting is an alternate Victorian England, creatively integrating supernatural beings into society, with notable steampunk elements such as dirigibles and mechanical inventions.

Pacing:

The pacing of Soulless is mostly fast and engaging, maintaining interest through humor and intrigue, though some slower moments arise when focusing on romantic elements.
Miss Alexia Tarabotti was not enjoying her evening. Private balls were never more than middling amusements for spinsters, and Miss Tarabotti was not the kind of spinster who could garner even that muc...

Notes:

Soulless is set in an alternate Victorian England where vampires and werewolves coexist with humans.
The protagonist, Alexia Tarabotti, is a preternatural, meaning she has no soul, which allows her to negate supernatural abilities with her touch.
Alexia is described as being half Italian, which makes her feel unattractive by Victorian standards due to her darker complexion and prominent nose.
The story begins when Alexia accidentally kills a rude vampire who attacks her at a ball, causing a scandal and an investigation led by Lord Maccon, a werewolf.
Soulless combines elements of steampunk, fantasy, romance, and humor, with a comedic tone that plays on Victorian social norms.
Lord Maccon is the gruff and charming alpha werewolf who becomes a love interest for Alexia, creating a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic.
The book features a cast of quirky supporting characters, including a flamboyant gay vampire, Lord Akeldama, and Alexia's best friend, Ivy, who has a penchant for terrible hats.
The author, Gail Carriger, is known for her witty writing style and has released multiple sequels and related series within the same universe.
The series has gained popularity for its unique blend of genres and its strong, snarky female lead who defies societal expectations.
The novel has been well-received by readers who appreciate a light-hearted approach to urban fantasy with a touch of romance.

Has Romance?

The romance in the book is substantial and plays a significant role in the storyline.

From The Publisher:

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?

Soulless is the first book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Ratings (105)

Incredible (16)
Loved It (42)
Liked It (27)
It Was OK (14)
Did Not Like (5)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (185):

Read It (107)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (53)
Did Not Finish (7)
Not Interested (17)

4 comment(s)

Loved It
2 weeks

Soulless was a bit hard to get into for me at first, but I really enjoyed the book. Alexia, a preternatural, who can remove sup powers by touch, is a spinster in London high society. The relationships between her and Lords Maccon and Akeldama were very funny.

 
Liked It
1 month

A paranormal, steampunk, potboiler romance, with steamy scenes oddly shoehorned in. The writing is sometimes clunky, but I enjoyed it for all that. I'm not rushing out to get the next in the series.

 
Did Not Like
3 months

Everything about this book felt watered down to me: the romance, the danger, the humor (which often watered down the danger, in fact), the steampunk elements. Alexia acts very boldly and confidently, but we are told she is insecure. I believe this series is on its fifth book, so Carriger is obviously doing something right. It just wasn't for me.

 
Incredible
6 months

This had me giggling the whole way through. Alexia is hilarious and Conall is not far behind. That said, there's not a huge amount of romance and their relationship is more prone to volatile banter than anything else. I do love that Conall constantly defends her to everyone - including her own family. I loved the rest of the cast of characters, Ivy, Professor Lyall and Lord Alkeldama. I enjoyed the steampunk setting and the paranormal elements - particularly that of Alexia who is "soulless". I love how concerned she is with good manners. The mystery was intriguing and I had a great time following along as they investigated. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5.

 
 
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