Most Helpful Customer Reviews
75 of 80 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't quite live up to my high expectations, March 31, 2010
This review is from: Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate) (Mass Market Paperback)
Ugh. Please don't force me to read the next book in a series by introducing major new plot elements a few pages from the end and leaving them totally unresolved. I want to go on with a series because I'm enjoying spending time in that world, not because I was tricked by a cliffhanger ending. The ending of Changeless just left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Of course, I'm more forgiving of these underhanded tactics when I've been thoroughly enjoying the reading experience up to that point. Unfortunately, I can't quite say that that was the case here. It took about half the book before I was really engaged in the story at all, and even then there were elements that irked me.
I read in an author interview that while Soulless was structured like a romance, Changeless was supposed to be more like a mystery. Unfortunately, I think that some of the silliness that worked so well in a lighthearted romance didn't quite hit the mark here. It was one thing for Alexia's empty-headed friend Ivy Hisselpenny to be concerned only with hats and manners when there wasn't really much at stake, or at least nothing that wasn't being concealed from her; but in the context of someone hanging on for dear life, at risk of plummeting to sure death at any moment, or when people were being poisoned or shot at, her absolute idiocy was just grating--not to mention that I couldn't think too highly of Alexia for secretly laughing at her supposed friend all the time.
I also think that Changeless in general is lacking some of the interest of Soulless because the world is already established, and we mainly have to rely on plot and characters to keep us engaged now. One of the things I loved about Soulless was the unique setting and the descriptions of how vampires and werewolves were integrated into Victorian society, but in Changeless there wasn't much new in that regard.
Let me re-iterate here that these comments are coming from someone who absolutely loved Soulless. It's not by coincidence that I read Changeless as soon as it was released; I had been looking forward to this book for months. I'm sad to say that it was ultimately a bit of a disappointment.
And yet, when it comes to the final judgement, should you read this book? If you liked Soulless, of course you should, though I might advise waiting until September when the third book is released. And if you haven't read Soulless, I would highly recommend it. Even after being underwhelmed by Changeless, I'm looking forward to reading more of Carriger's work in the future.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it, but...., April 20, 2010
This review is from: Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate) (Mass Market Paperback)
You will notice that I gave this four stars, but that my review still has reservations.
The Plot:
Plenty of people have summed up the plot, so I will not be doing that here. Besides, I'm prone to giving away spoilers, so best to avoid this altogether.
To start, the good:
Loved, loved, LOVED this book as much as the original. The character interactions were as smooth and amusing, the humor was ever-present, the pacing was good, and the story overall was delectable. I am impatient to receive the third book simply because I enjoy this series, not because of the cheap authorial trick utilized. I would recommend it highly to almost anyone who loves werewolves, vampires, Steampunk, Victorian romances, the Victorian era, or just tea and parasols.
The Bad:
CLIFFHANGER ENDING.
This was a cheap and shoddy gimmick that I feel the author should be shot for. I feel it demeaned her story, her writing ability AND her readers. It was like the author, in an orgy of self-destructive tendencies, was jumping up and down screaming; "my writing sucks, and this is the only way I can get my readers to stay!!"
The Ugly:
More thorough editing, PLEASE. I was yanked out of the text at least once by an inconsistency involving the showing of the parasol, and later with logistical questions of it's use. I was annoyed by the amazing dumbing down of Ivy (though amused at the same time--worth the ride!), and more-so by the deliberate out-of-character denseness of Alexia herself regarding a certain matter. It is my opinion that a woman of imminent sense and logical mind, one who practically raised herself on her father's journals and had frequent close contact with Lord Akeldama would NOT tend to overlook the one glaringly obvious thing she refused to understand until the end of the book. It felt contrived, like the author needed the character ignorant, but not something the character would actually have been ignorant of.
The cliffhanger ending was also, I feel, a bad move. I ended the book on such a sour note that instead of thinking back on the book in pleasure, I found myself dissecting its flaws. The flaws mentioned above were only the ones I felt though the whole story, before the cliffhanger knocked me for a loop. My list of complaints afterwords was MUCH longer. And, despite the somewhat logical nature of the break between the two books, it also felt arbitrary, as if someone had randomly picked a place, and accidentally picked a chapter into the new book.
Final Summery:
I will finish the series and love every second of it.
I will recommend the series to all my frinds.
I do not, for an instant, regret my involvement with these books.
I still stand by that this author is a wonderful author, and the world she creates well worth every moment spent in it.
However, I can honestly say if this author ever works on another series, I will hold back on purchasing it until the entire thing is published in full, as I never want to have this trick pulled on me again. I am also feeling much less forgiving as a whole. If the upcoming book is later than six months, I probably won't buy it, and if it is shoddy, I will not be purchasing from her in the future.
This could just be me; I feel really strongly about the trickery of the ending, and the sour taste of it that lingered long after the novel was done. Again, if you are like me, don't buy this book until the new one is released. You'll be happier that way.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent - another great entry in this wonderful series, March 30, 2010
This review is from: Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate) (Mass Market Paperback)
I had the pleasure of devouring this book yesterday. The second in the Parasol Protectorate series, Changeless is as witty, smart and fun as its predecessor, Soulless, which I also recommend most highly. Gail Carriger is clearly a talented writer, capable of creating a unique and detailed world, clever dialogue, and relatable and believable characters. I didn't know much about steampunk before reading Soulless, but now I am hooked on the genre - if only all other steampunk offerings were as great as the Parasol Protectorate series!
I won't go into too much detail about the plot. Suffice it to say, almost everyone from book 1 is here, too. Alexia Tarabotti, having married werewolf alpha Connall Maccon, through series of events ends up traveling to Scotland on a dirigible, accompanied by assorted friends and family. The denoument takes place in Scotland, where she learns a lot about her husband's past. The mystery this time around isn't as strong as the one in the first book; instead, several supporting characters get more attention. Still, the book is fast paced and gives further insight into the fascinating world of Gail Carriger's Victorian Britain.
I feel that Changeless is less plot driven and more character driven than the first book in the series. This is by no means a disadvantage; Carrige's characterization is certainly strong enough. I'm particularly happy with how Alexia's relationship with Connall is progressing. Throughout the book, the two have an easy familiarity that is all barbs and sarcasm on the outside, and deep affection on the inside. However, not everything is rosy and perfect - their relationship is tested in several ways. I will not spoil this for you - and I highly recommend NOT to read the preview of her third book until you've finished this one. Believe me, it will be worth it. I will simply say that Gail found a way to challenge their relationship in a way that some readers might think as too much, but I find it makes the characters human and real. For the resolution of this challenge we will have to wait till book 3. Needless to say, I absolutely cannot wait; September is very, very far away!
In summary, this book is highly recommended. I would not advise to read it as a stand-alone though; it's definitely part of a series, and one simply must read Soulless first. If you are a fan of Victorian England, Jane Austen, P.G. Wodehouse and all things British; urban fantasy or paranormal romance; or just a roaring good read, I promise, you will enjoy both books.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
