Timeless (The Parasol Protectorate, No. 5) [Mass Market Paperback]

Gail Carriger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 2012

Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a damper on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Parasol Protectorate:

"The world of Timeless is a unique recipe of steampunk and fantasy spiced with light sprinkling of romance. Its setting is rich for characters to romp about in, but the unbridled playfulness of the language and dialogue shines brightest." - Miami Herald

"Readers will undoubtedly be content with how this charming series wraps up" - SciFi Now

"Spectacular debut novel...a real page-turner." --- Romantic Times

"Soulless is a character-driven romp with great worldbuilding and delicious rapier wit that recalls Austen and P.G. Wodehouse." --- io9.com

"A delightfully fun supernatural comedy of manners, with a refreshing romance thrown in - and a highly promising first novel." --- Locus

"Carriger debuts brilliantly with a blend of Victorian romance, screwball comedy of manners and alternate history. . . . This intoxicatingly witty parody will appeal to a wide cross-section of romance, fantasy and steampunk fans." --- Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"Soulless has all the delicate charm of a Victorian parasol, and all the wicked force of a Victorian parasol secretly weighted with brass shot and expertly wielded. Ravishing." --- Lev Grossman, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Magicians

"A tapestry that is simultaneously witty, charming, exhilarating and downright fun." --- fantasyliterature.com

About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Gail Carriger writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. Ms. Carriger then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She resides in the Colonies, surrounded by fantastic shoes, where she insists on tea imported from London.

The Parasol Protectorate books are: Soulless,Changeless, Blameless, Heartless, and Timeless (March 2012). Soulless won the ALA's Alex Award A manga version with release in Spring 2012. She is currently writing young adult books set in the same universe ~ the Finishing School series (Feb. 2013). Soon she will begin a new adult series, The Parasol Protectorate Abroad (Fall 2013).

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Orbit; 1 edition (March 2, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316127183
• ISBN-13: 978-0316127189
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times Bestselling author Gail Carriger writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She survived her early years by reading most of her local library and memorizing Greek battles. Eventually, she escaped small town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. In pursuit of further finishing, Ms. Carriger traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She now resides in the Colonies, surrounded by fantastic shoes, where she insists on tea imported from London.

The Parasol Protectorate books are: Soulless, Changeless, Blameless, Heartless & Timeless. Soulless won the ALA's Alex Award. Manga versions of the first two books release in 2012 (Soulless Vol. 1 & Vol. 2) and Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 3 is due out Nov. 19, 2013. The first in her young adult Finishing School series, Etiquette & Espionage debuted at #9 on NYT. The second in the series, Curtsies & Conspiracies is due out Nov. 2013.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, fast-paced, fun steampunk adventure February 19, 2012

By Cass Morris

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Parasol Protectorate series has just kept getting better as it's gone along, and 'Timeless' did not disappoint me. I think it's the best of the series. All of the characters are handled well, Carriger's descriptions are both vivid and precise, and her dialogue, as always, sparkles with wit and humour. Like the rest of the series, this is steampunk with a fine froth and a sense of humour.

'Timeless' jumps two years forward from 'Heartless', two years that have been peaceful -- well, as peaceful as anything is likely to get in the Maccon household. Then Alexia gets, by way of the local vampire queen, a summons to appear with her daughter in Alexandria (yes, the one in Egypt) before Matakara, the oldest vampire living. At the same time, Sidhaeg -- Conall's multi-great-granddaughter and Alpha of his old Scottish pack -- shows up, looking for her missing Beta, who had been in Egypt on a mission for her. The Beta reappears, but gets murdered before he can get more than a few words out to Alexia. So Alexia packs up her family -- and the Tunstells and their acting troupe -- and heads out via steamer (werewolves being notoriously poor floaters). From there, the story whirls through a sequence of mishaps, supernatural political entanglements, and strange occurrences. The action clips along at a great pace, both in Alexandria and back at home, as the Maccons abroad and the wolf pack back at home both try to sort out the mystery of the God-Breaker Plague.

The really great thing here is Carriger's ability to not forget character development admist all the action. For a lot of the book, that really shines in Biffy and Lyall, though we do get a fair bit out of Alexia and Conall as well. Biffy's swiftly becoming my favourite character in the whole series, really, because he goes through such a transformative journey from when we meet him to the end of this book. Without giving too much away, Carriger handles the various aspects of his personality and relationship dynamics really well, with a lot of tenderness and a lot of psychological awareness. She handles the expanding cast of characters without sacrificing any emotional realism, and she jumps back and forth between the two plotlines in a way that makes sure the reader never loses sight of what's going on.

I've said throughout the series that Carriger is at her best when she's writing for herself, with her own style, rather than emulating other genres, and in 'Timeless', she seems to have trusted that impulse entirely. There are no moments of narrative awkwardness, where the story feels like something else has collided into it from the outside; rather, we are treated to the continuing adventures of Alexia et al in Carriger's own witty voice. It's a delight. My only criticism is that the denouement ties up a little too quickly. I could've used a bit more exploration of the new constructs our characters find themselves in at the end of the series, about how they're going to move forward from here on out. Ultimately, it just ended way too soon; I could have happily spent a lot more time with these characters.

'Timeless' is an adventure story that manages to be lighthearted and emotionally tugging at the same time. Carriger gives us characters we can care about, but without ever taking herself too seriously. The series as a whole has fantastic energy, superb wit, and a sparkle that I've yet to find in other steampunk literature. The Parasol Protectorate series is just plain fun. I'm tremendously sorry to say goodbye to this series, but I'm delighted that Carriger's world will be continuing in the YA Finishing School Series and the adult Parasol Protectorate Abroad series. The former will take place some twenty-five years earlier in the AU's history; the latter is due to feature our Prudence, all grown up and taking on the world. Both are due out in 2013, and I eagerly anticipate their arrival.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Last is Least February 22, 2012

By S. Nichols

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Gail Carriger's first -- "Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate)" -- enchanted me only a few pages in. Werewolfs, vampires, dirigibles and a heroine who is soulless -- a preternatural -- but who wields a mean parasol, a smart mouth, and enjoys an appetite for food? What's not to love? Witty repartee, snark, and just plain funny dialogue abound in Carriger's novels. But the fifth novel -- Timeless -- not so much.

Carriger's take on supernaturals (vamps, weres, ghosts, etc.) is lively and original. Alexia Tarabotti's husband, Lord Conall Maccon, is the powerful (but very old) Alpha of a large wolfpack in London. Her dear friend Lord Akeldama, an ancient vampire who speaks in italics, is head of a style-setting group of young, fashionable, and quietly intelligent male vampires. He is also, for safety's sake, adoptive co-parent of Alexia and Conall's toddler daughter. Friends Ivy and Tunstell have somehow become the toast of London's theatre. Who knew?

I followed Alexia Tarabotti, et al, through Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate), Blameless (The Parasol Protectorate), and Heartless (The Parasol Protectorate), with their cliffhanger endings but the final book: Timeless (The Parasol Protectorate, No. 5), was a bit of a letdown. All the elements are there, but I just didn't find the heart of it. It's possible that the novel is crammed too full and trying to cover too much. It made me sad and not because of the ending.

A manga version of Soulless will release in Spring 2012. Carriger is currently writing young adult books set in the same universe ~ the Finishing School series (Feb. 2013). Soon she will begin a new adult series, The Parasol Protectorate Abroad (Fall 2013). I have high hopes for this new series.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "I never gossip. I observe. And then relay my observations to practically everyone."Ż Gail Carriger February 21, 2012

By CRISTY

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Have I mentioned how much I completely adore this series?...Yes?... 4 times now, you say?... Well, it bears mentioning again; the Parasol Protectorate supernatural steampunk series is just that good.

TIMELESS (Parasol Protectorate #5) is yet another hilarious and addictive addition to this witty and skillfully executed series. Alexia is running at full sass in TIMELESS and not alone. She has a mini me toddling along at her heals with the addition of two year old Prudence. And boy does Prudence add to the excitement in a way only she can with her "special" abilities.

I have to say, I was also so vey please to find this 5th book bursting with such a full cast. It seems all the favorites made it into this installment and quite nicely I might add. Expect lots of action, tons of answers and some pretty major changes with... well, just about everything. Oh and a few HUGE twists mixed up in all the hubbub.

Another amazing write; by the ever so delightfully cheeky and talented Gail Carriger who never seems to disappoint. So intelligent and clever!...Such adventure and whimsy!...And so, dare I say, gay!
Brilliant! Job well done!.. and now I'm ready for book #6.