Changless — Gail Carriger (Parasol Protectorate #2)

Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can. She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

Genre: Fiction, Steampunk, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Orbit
Year: 2010
Rating: 3/5

You know... trying to write this review I realise I don't have much to say about this novel. Sure I am way behind in my reviews and it's been months since I read it, which could be the reason why, but really, what is there to say?

For me the Parasol Protectorate series is my go to when I need a silly read. You know those times when you just can't do serious, you don't want to think too hard and you want something fun? Yup, these books provide just that and I mean that in a positive way. These types of books are just as important as serious, award winning literature.

That said, I have no firm opinions on the plot in this book. Sure it was an enjoyable enough read. There were a few laugh out loud moments and Carriger has a unique writing style, but I didn't connect with the characters and for me that is the number one aspect of what makes a book excellent instead of average.

Reading this series, I know Lord Maccon is supposed to be a mega hotty, but I don't see it. Honestly, I am probably not the best person to review this book as despite my enjoyment of paranormal novels, I just don't "do" paranormal romance in the sense it makes me swoon.... and I think I am supposed to swoon. Instead I picture Lord Maccon to be hairy, smelly and ... well.... let's leave it at that.

As for Alexia. I want to love her, I really do. She had so much potential in book number one to be an awesome, kick are female protagonist. Unfortunately I didn't feel her character was developed much more in this novel... for me, she lacks depth. Depth is what makes an ordinary character a brilliant one. Honestly, I think it must be extremely difficult to write 'real' characters, especially when they are of the supernatural variety. So that can be forgiven.

When I read Soulless last year I enjoyed it. Mainly because it was so different from my usual reads. So I picked up Changeless thinking I could really get into this series. Although I have Blameless sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read (and I will read it) I am not itching to do so. I am happy for it to sit there until I am having one of those days where I need some silliness.

Leviathan – Scott Westerfeld

It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.

Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Steampunk, Adventure
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2009
Rating: 5/5

I was both interested and hesitant when I picked up Leviathan, as I was not sure it would be my cup of tea. It sounded like a "boy" book. I am normally not one to lump books into categories by gender, but this book contained war and fighting machines. Sure to appeal to a 15-year-old-boy, but maybe not a 20-something-year-old woman. I was wrong. I loved this book.

This novel follows both Alek and Deryn who come from different countries, different social classes and different genders. Yet they end up being thrown together, to fight alongside each other as allies.

Alek is a  prince. One night, his parents are murdered and he is whisked away by some loyal friends who wish to save his life.

Deryn longs to be in the British airforce, but she has one thing standing in her way: she is a girl. Instead of letting that stop her she disguises herself as a boy and soon finds herself accepted onto the airship, Leviathan. Too bad war is just about to break out!

The first half of this novel Alek and Deryn's stories are told in alternate chapters, until they meet and then their story becomes one.

The first half of this book was a little slow, Westerfeld spends a lot of time setting up characters and plot. I guess that's okay since this story is meant to be a trilogy. The second half is where the action kicks in and makes this book worth the read. 

One thing I love about Steampunk, is how an author will take a historical event, like WW2, and rewrite it with futuristic technology thrown in. Better than that, it is not futuristic from our point of view today, but how people back in the time it is set may have imagined things. 

In this case we have Darwinistic beasties and walking machines! The beasties were pretty crazy yet kind of awesome. Using DNA and methods founded by Charles Darwin, the British create these animals that are a blend of many different species, and equipped to carry passengers, fight in a war, fly in the sky and do all sorts of things! Imagine being in an airship that is a living, breathing organism?

The machines were interesting too.... being able to walk over terrain in an armed machine instead of drive would make a world of difference to combat... yet the beasties were still my favourite. 

The characters in this novel were likeable and interesting. I am keen to read the next novel to see what is going to happen next and where Alek and Deryn will end up. Will Alek find out that Deryn is really a girl? Will the airforce find out? Will Alek be incarcerated by the British because of his country's former alliances? Will the bad guys track him down? Will he ever get his throne back? What new beasties will Westerfeld think of next? Only one way to find out.... Stay tuned!

Want to grab a copy of this book? Try Book Depository!

Soulless – Gail Carriger (The Parasol Protectorate Book One)

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 the 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 is 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? 

Genre: Fiction, Steampunk, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Year: 2009
Publisher: Orbit
Rating: 3/5

Soulless is the first novel in The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. It is set in an alternate version of nineteenth century London, where the vampires and werewolves are accepted and active members of society. 

Alexia Tarabotti, however, has some problems. She is 26-years-old, unmarried, of Italian heritage, and boasts a strong, opinionated personality. No wonder she has difficulties fitting into London's rigid social class system. To make matters worse, she is preternatural, meaning she has no soul. 

This isn't so bad. With one touch Alexia can counteract a supernatural ability and therefore she has no fear of becoming vampire food.... but she still finds her state highly embarrassing.

Just when Alexia thinks her situation couldn't get any worse she accidentally kills a vampire with her parasol. Now she has to deal with the irritating Lord Maccon who has disliked her even since the hedgehog incident. Or so she thinks. 

Soon Alexia finds herself tangled up in a mystery involving a mad scientist, a flamboyant vampire, an extremely frightening waxed-faced man, a best friend with a horrifying taste in fashion and a horny werewolf, to name a few. She must deal with this all while trying to maintain the correct social decorum.

What did I think of this novel?

This was an interesting novel. Very different from anything I have read before. Carriger has managed to create something original out of the overdone paranormal genre. For this, I must commend her. Sure she has obviously borrowed from many other works, but what author doesn't, in a world where everything has been done before? I must admit, while reading this novel it felt like she picked a number of things that she had an interest in and mashed them all together to create a story. But it worked. Carriger has taken popular elements and made them her own.

This novel was also quite funny. Carriger writes with wit and this story does not take itself seriously. I am not a big fan of paranormal romance, so I found this element of the story a little tiresome (how many scenes did Lord Maccon have to be naked in, with Alexia pondering his manhood?... this novel is reminiscent of a bodice ripper!) but the humour in the story made up for that.

This was my first foray into steampunk and although I enjoyed this story, I have a feeling that it is not typical of this genre. The paranormal romance in this novel seemed paramount and there was no real exploration into steampower or invention from a Victorian viewpoint, which is what I understood the steampunk genre to be about.

I look forward to reading the second novel in this series to see how the story develops as I think it has potential. 

What did you think of this novel? How true was it, to the steampunk genre? Which steampunk works would you recommend I read next?