Customer Reviews

Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate)

5 star:		(156)
4 star:		(91)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I don't really think I've ever come across a book quite as quotable as Soulless, and right from the start it had me in a combination of giggles and "oh, I'm so going to have to remember that line" - it was a pattern that started very early on ("a vampire, like a lady, never reveals his true age") and continued right to the very end (I cannot post the quote as it is both spoiler and possibly NSFW). For all the dark and dreariness that does appear in a world populated by vampires, werewolves and London fog, this is a very humorous book with a great many wonderful lines. The best humour, naturally, comes from the interactions between Alexia and Lord Maccon, who are already familiar with each other, and his dislike of her at least somewhat relates back to an incident with a hedgehog - don't worry, folks, we do find out what the hedgehog incident actually was. And if you're a fan of UST between people who don't quite get along, you'll be more than happy to know it's absolutely dripping with the stuff.

Carriger has done a lot of clever world-building when it comes to her paranormal steampunk London, and the many people and beings who live in it. The organisation of this Victorian society populated by supernatural beings is well-displayed, with the relevant information coming out at the right time, and not being dumped on us all at once. Every author puts their own twists on the concepts of vampires and werewolves, and while for the most part she sticks to standards she adds her own flare to things - like how vampires have influenced fashion and the like (pale, my dears, is very much in). But the thing I like most is the concept of preternaturals, their historical role and their own unique abilities. It's quite fascinating, and I'll be keeping an eye out on how Carriger develops the concept in future novels - in the meantime though I was more than satisfied with how it went in Soulless.

There were two things that niggled at me, and which kept Soulless from reaching the full five stars I would have given it otherwise. The first was the name-jumping: in one paragraph a character would be addressed by title and surname in the narration, and then in the next it would just be the first name. Then it would go right back to the first way and continue jumping all the way through the novel. This mainly occurred with the main character, but other minor ones were similarly afflicted, and it made for a whole lot of distractions, thus taking me much longer to get into reading the story fluidly.

The other niggle was the repetition of some aspects. As I was reading along I was constantly reminded that Alexia was half-Italian and olive-skinned and was curvy and didn't have a tiny nose and that was Not Good in her world. I can understand that it was important as it marked her as different and odd in an outward sense (as her own preternatural abilities aren't something you can just see), but after a while it got frustrating enough for me to want to yell back "I KNOW!" when that repetition came up once again. Fortunately that lessoned over the course of the novel, but it was still very frustrating.

Apart from those two things, Soulless was an incredibly fun novel, and I'll be looking forward to May to read the next one, Changeless. In the meantime, if you like novels such as Pride and Prejudice and the Sookie Stackhouse novels, then Soulless might definitely be the book for you.

Soulless is a light book with an imaginative premise. The main character is Alexia Tarabotti, a woman who is born without a soul, who is thus able to negate the powers of the supernatural with her touch. The cast of characters is interesting, albeit a little one-dimensional.

The story is a fun romp but I did find the writing a bit choppy. Certain scenes felt contrived. Some of the actions of the characters didn't make sense in their situational context and left me scratching my head going "huh, seriously, NOW??? When your life is in danger, you want to do WHAT?!" I can't be more specific without giving away some of the key scenes but if/when you read this, you'll know what I mean. Despite that, I did enjoy the book.

Here's a list of the things I loved about this book:
- Alexia is half Italian and different from her peers and while she is made to feel like an outsider, she embraces her status as an independent thinking woman. I liked that she is a nonconformist.
- Highly imaginative premise. Brilliant!
- Loved the writing style!! Very classic, very British and fun to read.
- Quirky supporting characters: Ivy, Professor Lyall and Lord Akeldama.

Here's a list of things I didn't love about this book:
- Alexia is half Italian. Okay. I get it. I think I got it after the 1st two or three times. I also get that she's darker than her peers and has a bigger than usual nose, hence she's been shelved and has never presented for marriage. And I get that she's generously proportioned in the bosom and hips, okay, okay. I just don't need to be reminded over and over again of her appearance. The repetition was making me crazy.
- Characters were one-dimensional and needed more development.
- Situations were a little contrived.
- Predictable storylines. I say storylines, because Ms Carriger does a good job of weaving several storylines into the book so there's a lot of things going on. While that is positive, the storylines seemed a wee bit thin and underdeveloped. (Sorry!)
- A little too reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice: 1) female protagonist who is strong-willed, opinionated, independent, determined, well-read (like her father), and unmarried (but who would secretly like to marry for love, ahem), 2) dingy mother who is obsessed about the daughters' marriage prospects, 3) 2 silly sisters, and 4) a love/hate relationship with a powerful, titled wealthy man who also seems to dislike the female protagonist on the surface.
- The sexual tension could have been drawn out a little longer. (Just saying!!!) I felt it would have been more fun had it been stretched out.

Overall, I liked the book and am looking forward to book 2 but am hoping for a less repetitive installment and more of Ms Carriger's witty and quotable lines.

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 is being rudely attacked by a vampire to whom she has not been properly introduced! Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire, and 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? Who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?
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This book is a mix of things and I fell head over heels for it. I had heard a lot about steampunk and after reading this I want more. I love a good alternate history/earth kind of book.

And yes I know I put up a lot of genres there, but there is a lot of different things in here, and how to tell what is what. Also I am first now getting the whole steampunk idea. What not to miss is that it's also comedic. It's so witty, and even if it's not laugh out loud haha, it has that witty streak through out the whole book that I often sat there with a smile on my face. I loved the banter between the main characters.

Alexia is a great heroine, witty, smart and not like her half sisters or other women. She is also soulless, a soulsucker as the vampires call her kind. She has been a spinster from once, her mother does not know about her condition, but because of her Italian look she has been on the shelf for 10 years. But she is quite happy there, and she has the freedom to at least try to do what she wants.

But then there is the nasty incident with a rude vampire who does not introduce himself instead he goes straight for her neck. Vampires have more manners than that since they, werewolves and ghosts now are a part of society. She is of course shocked and does what she has to do. here the book starts, and we get to meet Lord Maccon who she has come across now and then. The alpha wolf from Scotland who came and took control over the London pack. Rather rude, and very much a werewolf. Can she figure out things without running in to him all the time?

Lord Maccon, well yes I fell for him. He is all alpha, and the dance between those two is great, she has really succeeded with creating chemistry between them. They are so annoyed by each other, but at the same time there is something more there. Something a soulless really should not feel for a werewolf, because what would others say? How I wanted them together.

Werewolves. vampires and ghosts are a normal sight in England, an the rest of the world these days. In England they are a part of society, and it's a nice twist to it. The setting feels normal.

This is a great and funny book. There is the romance, the comedy of manners, and the insight in how things could perhaps have been. The main characters are lovely, and very rude. The side characters are nice, especially Lord Akeldama, her vampire, and very eccentric friend.

For lovers of paranormal, historical, urban fantasy, steampunk or romance, this is a book that I can recommend. It's a nice read, and I am so happy I was lucky to win it, and discovering yet another great side genre. With likeable characters, a funny story and that little bit of extra this is a good start to a series. The next book will be released in the spring of 2010, and I hope to hear more of this author in the future.

Yes, this one's a must-read. Wodehouse meets Jane Austen meets Jules Verne in this uncategorizable, delightful book. You want to laugh? This is your book. You want to identify with a complex main character? Here you go. You want to read a love story, and to settle in for some comfort reading? Here's a book you'll be genuinely glad to read. . . and re-read. This one goes next to Pratchett on my shelf, for sheer fun value. Warning: there will be parasols!

Soulless is heavily weighted down by trendy genre elements. In my experience, this usually leads to books that are poorly constructed, badly integrated, and the literary equivalent of a chess club stereotype wearing star-shaped sunglasses - trying much too hard to be cool.

Soulless should be like combining salmon and chocolate while I, in this metaphor, am an ichthyophobe with no sweet tooth. However, it appears that skilled chefs can pair salmon and chocolate. And sometimes a novel that's full of everything wrong can go terribly, tragically right.

Carriger's Victorian voice is sharp and funny. Witty observations provide a plethora of humorous clashes between action sequences and rigid etiquette. The descriptions of Victorian fashion are very nice for those readers with a weakness for bustles and lace, and I suspect I'm not the only one since the book is marketed with a Victorian dress-up doll flash game.

The main character, Alexia, is a fun and well-portrayed heroine, full of vigor and flaws. She, her friend Ivy, and their friendship are memorably captured in a few sentences: "Ivy Hisselpenny was the unfortunate victim of circumstances that dictated she be only-just-pretty, only-just-wealthy, and possessed of a terrible propensity for wearing extremely silly hats. This last being the facet of Ivy's character that Alexia found most difficult to bear."

Soulless is not a profound novel. It imparts no revelations about the human experience. I don't expect it will change anyone's life or that I'll remember the plot intricacies in ten years. But it was a fun, adventurous romp that diverted me for a few hours. I might even read it a second time. I will certainly pick up book two of the Parasol Protectorate and I look forward to meeting Alexia Tarabotti again in 2010.

Read the rest of this review at [...]

Alexia Tarabotti is not your typical Victorian gentlewoman. Effectively "shelved" (i.e. un-marriageable) for being half-Italian and excessively forthright, Alexia is also a preternatural -- a woman without a soul. Consequently any supernatural creature that touches her loses their abilities and becomes temporarily human. And when Alexia is attacked by a rogue vampire in the middle of her tea, it sets off a series of events which will bring her right into the heart of the Empire's mysterious underbelly...

I've stated before that the better a book could have been, the angrier I am in reviews. I'm furious, here. You've been warned.

I was so incredibly disappointed by "Soulless." I get very excited whenever an author is brave enough to mix genre and atmospheric elements in their work, so an urban fiction/steampunk/Victorian historical/romance had me reaching out with greedy little hands. All for nothing, because Carriger only seems interested in these elements inasmuch as she can stuff her narrative as full of appealing quirks as possible. Let's break it down.

VICTORIAN SETTING: Full of anachronistic language and almost no sense of the city in which the book is set. There were also wince-inducing mistakes, including addressing the Queen as "Highness." (I know Americans have trouble when it comes to royals, but honestly. That one's on the tea towels.) Consequently it reads as if written by someone who did their research via period bodice rippers.

STEAMPUNK: Purely cosmetic. A few things were thrown in as running off of steam engines, but there was no investigation of how steampower would change the culture or shape history, and none of it made physical sense. You wondered why the author didn't say "it's magic!" and leave it at that.

URBAN FANTASY: Vampires and werewolves, oh my. No mention of why, exactly, Britain had accepted them as citizens or how this affected society at large. Only one original addition to the standard template -- the idea that different people have a varying quantity of "soul." This was absolutely fascinating... up until the point where the author devises an explanation which had all the "oomph" of Lucas' midichlorians.

ROMANCE: More echoes of bodice rippers. (Which I cop to really enjoying, when they're not pretending to be something else.) I had no idea the Victorians had such open and accepting attitudes towards sex... wait.

And, all right, not everyone gets their fun from truly solid world building, like I do -- and if a story is genuinely interesting, who cares about the trappings? But no luck there, either. The book's "voice" is awkward, since the author has visible trouble handling third person omniscient point-of-view, resulting in a lot of grammatical mistakes and shameless head-hopping. The plot is both confusing and dull, resolving in a deus ex machina. And the characters -- the element which can save almost any book, no matter what else is in shambles -- are so blatantly (sometimes insultingly) stereotypical, you have to wonder if it was done on purpose.

We have Lord Maccon, the rough and lusty Scotsman. (Er, Scotswere.) Lord Akeldama, the homosexual aristocrat who oozes foppishness and italicized diminutives, and became a rogue vampire because "no one tells me how to dress!" Alexia's family is socially obsessed and cruel, her best friend is the well meaning but fashion-impaired sidekick. Even Alexia has the depth of a puddle -- her inner monologue and outer dialogue so socially "correct" she almost comes off as a parody, unless her author wants to mix it up by having her act more like Buffy than a well-bred young woman: making out in public venues, thinking her beau's naked chest is "full of pinchability." Consequently this is less a diverse cast of characters and more a collection of attitudes.

Seriously, this is what urban fantasy has come to? This is not a good book. I'm not surprised it sells, because it's flash and you should never underestimate the power of Anglophilia. But the best thing about it is the cover art.

I thought it was promising and the story and characters sounded interesting when I first heard about this book. When I started reading it though, it came off as a bit amateurish. No, it's not very bad, I just thought that after the first few pages it became obvious that this was the author's first attempt. The blurb made it sound very clever when the book was only just sort of clever. It was only sort of clever because whatever made it clever on the blurb was repeated many times in the book. Her father is Italian. And dead. Her nose is too big. Her figure is lovely. Where is her trusty parasol? She frowned. He's irritated. These things and more repeated many, many times in the book. Not just characterization, even words. Coppice twice in a few pages. Proclivities maybe four or five times. Nice, irregular words. That's why it's more noticeable when they are used more than once in a book.

And then the story is also predictable. I thought that the book could be shorter.

I think it can get better. I wouldn't mind giving the author another try with the next book. I hope her writing has improved by then.

I did want to like this book. I really tried. The reviews made it sound interesting and amusing and it so easily could have been. The story is clever, the worldbuilding is interesting and original (there's some nice new terminology for vampires - "larva" is so much more appropriate for a newly-created bloodsucking parasite than "fledgling"), the hero and the heroine are both intelligent, intrepid and nice, the secondary characters are well drawn and charming. I am particularly fond of the delightful Professor Lyle, Beta Werewolf. There are mad scientists and ingenious devices and nice clothes. If the author had contented herself with a simpler style, it would have been a decent book.

But. In pastiche, words matter, and words are where this would-be romp trips on its hem and falls flat, not just once but throughout. I would strongly suggest that the author, before writing her next book in this style:

(a)Do just a bit more research into the manners, mores and vocabulary of late Victorian England, including such basic information as the correct styles and titles of the peerage. This is actually quite straightforward, we aren't talking about the Byzantine Imperial bureaucracy here. Getting the Queen's style and title correct would be nice too, especially if she is to be given another walk-on part. Google would be her friend given half a chance.

(b) Avoid the use of modern US locutions and vocabulary in the narrative and in the dialogue of non-US characters. I am unpersuaded that "rile" and "Gee" are terms applicable to or in the vocabulary of a two-hundred year old Scottish nobleman, whether or not he is also a werewolf.

(c) Read Nancy Mitford's "Noblesse Oblige" and Jilly Cooper's "Class". These are, obviously, 20th century sources, but on the evidence of the novel temporal or geographical dissonance of vocabulary is not an issue that concerns the author.

(d) Improve her English. Off-hand, I recall that the author clearly does not understand the meaning or usage of such words and phrases as "dissemble", "high tea", "social class" and "purposeful", and her grasp of prepositions is generally shaky. This is a small sample of various egregious errors of usage that riddle this book and make it unsuitable even for students of English-as-a-second language to use for reading practice.

And finally I come to the overwhelming point that drove me to decide that this is a book to be hurled aside with great force: the author's appalling proposition that the heroine, a rational, brave, intellectually-inclined and independent-spirited woman, has these qualities because she lacks a soul. It's used as a rather clever plot point - the heroine's condition allows her to turn vampires and werewolves (temporarily) back into ordinary humans with a touch - but the offensive implications of this premise are obvious to anyone with half a brain.

While it definitely has good points and the author clearly has some talent, I cannot recommend this book to anyone. If you want Victorian steampunk comedy, read Catherine Webb's three Horatio Lyle novels, which are much better.

Soulless by Gail Carriger was anything but soulless. It is a mixture of everything and I fell head over heels for it. It is so cleverly written, wit paints every page. The banter between the main characters was not exactly laugh out loud funny, but I sat around reading this with a smile plastered on my face.

Soulless is set in the time of Queen Victoria- thus combining two very fun topics- corsets and the paranormal. Miss Tarabotti is a soulsucker, someone born without a soul- the natural enemy of all things supernatural. She has an attitude problem which provides great conflict throughout the entire novel as outspoken women weren't very common during this time. She can't even confide her lack of a soul to her best friend, a delicate Miss Ivy Hisselpenny. (Aren't these names so much fun!?) Ah, so what's a girl to do when she has been shelved and deemed useless at the ripe age of 26?

Miss Tarabotti finds herself in a bind one evening while attending a ball - a young, rude vampires goes straight for her neck. It is mortifying that he has not even introduced himself first. She is not having that. One thing leads to another and the police are called. Enter Lord Conall Maccon... what a wonderful man. I love his character. He is Alpha Werewolf of the Woolsey Castle pack. He is brutal and Scottish. The romantic dance that happens between Miss Tarabotti and Lord Maccon is brilliant. Carriger provides everything you could ever want in a courtship. Their kisses are a grade 10 on a scale of steamy. The only thing that stands in their way now are the rogue vampires- Where are they coming from? Can Alexia and Conall stop them?

What I love about this novel is that the romance IS there, but it is quite subtle. The characters themselves can't see it right away, but we can. The focus is on the investigation of disappearing (and reappearing) rogue vampires and werewolves. During their investigation of the supernatural a massive, torturous plan unfolds... but is it too late to put a stop to it?

This book is funny, intense and romantic. The main characters are alluring and rude. The secondary characters are just as much fun- I found myself fond of Lord Akeldama, an eccentric vampire, and the Professor- Lord Maccon's intelligent Beta werewolf.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy paranormal, romance, historical, urban fantasy and steampunk. It is refreshing and a lovely change from the stories I normally find myself reading. I can't wait to read the second installment!

There come certain occasions when one is surprised by a book. On certain rare occasions, one is pleasantly surprised by a book. And then there are the occasions, which occur only when there is a full planetary alignment during a new moon on a neap tide, when the surprises in a book results in at least one good laugh every chapter. Please note, this only works once for any given author. After that, I expect them to be able to replicate the phenomena.

So, I had the joy of many laughs, chuckles, guffaws, giggles and one snort while reading Soulless. The writing style seemed like some weird melding of Jane Austen, Jim Butcher and Terry Pratchett. Very dry humor, scrupulous attention paid to 19th century societal mores with likable characters and pretty good action.

It still seems somewhat odd that I like this book, as preoccupied as it is with vampires and werewolves (groan). It does seem to take a particular delight in satirizing some of the "paranormal romance" subgenre. Which happens to be good, because the subgenre takes itself too seriously and all residents therein look the same besides.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. The story centers around one Miss Alexia Tarabotti, part Italian, spinster and born without a soul. It is intriguing to note that "soul" and the possession or lack thereof seems to mean something slightly different in from the usual metaphysical term in this book. No soul means that a soulless person, or preternatural, can nullify the powers of the supernatural (werewolves, vampires, ghosts, etc.) and that such nullification occurs through touch. Also, the supernatural are out in the open and a quiet part of the British government.

There is an evil plot afoot and stray supernaturals are disappearing, but that takes a bit of a backseat to the byplay/ flirting between Alexia and Lord Conall Maccon, Alpha Werewolf (yes, groan). Fortunately, both characters are considered audacious by Victorian standards and watching them try to maneuver through werewolf, Victorian and cross paranormal boundaries is actually pretty funny. I didn't catch a huge amount of character depth, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the humor and awkward situations.

I do like that the book doesn't go out of its way to isolate Alexia from her family, even though her sisters and mother are all mildly annoying. Her stepfather is henpecked but not malicious towards anyone. Overall, they helped lend extra comedic opportunities to the story as a whole. Lord Akeldama the vampire was fabulous and the rest of his household was all right as well.

About the only thing I didn't understand was the octopus motif in the villain's lair. it wasn't expanded upon at all. I can only suppose that it will be made mention in later books as well. How I hope that it turns out to be an organization dedicated to or influenced by something Lovecraftian... The homunculus the bad guy had was a good call for the henchman as well.

The other thing that was mildly irritating was that sometimes the writing perspective would shift unexpectedly. It's almost as if the author wasn't quite sure whose point of view she really wanted for certain scenes and so she switches between them. It might have been a bigger problem had the story been more complicated, but It wasn't so bad as to make me stop buying into the narrative world.

I would happily recommend Soulless as a fun light read.