Soulless by Gail Carriger **Review**

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Series: The Parasol Protectorate #1
Pages: 291
Publisher: Orbit
Release date: 2nd September 2010
Buy: Book Depository | Amazon UK | Waterstone's | Amazon US

Goodreads synopsis:
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 a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Well, where to start?! I suppose Alexia would want me to begin at the beginning, so that is where I shall begin.
At first I found this novel a little difficult to adjust to - it is written in a style not all too different from that of the great, British authors of the 19th century, and so, to begin with, takes a little more concentration. After only the first chapter though, I found myself settling into the style, and eventually I came to really enjoy it.
The novel is written in a sophisticated and elegant manner, that suits the time period, characters and plot extremely well. The novel manages to keep up this sophistication throughout, but leaves room for the wit and humour of the author to shine through effectively - and the novel is definitely witty and humorous! This is mostly thanks to the protagonist, the brilliantly intelligent and strong-willed Alexia Tarabotti. I don't think I have loved a character this much since I was first introduced to Sookie Stackhouse, from Charlaine Harris' True Blood series - and this is a great compliment indeed! Alexia is so fiercely intelligent, and well - fierce - that she can talk most of the other characters in the novel into submission if need be, mostly eliminating the need for a thump with that trusty parasol of hers (although the thumps she does deliver are particularly satisfying, have no doubt!). As you can see, the written style of the novel has rubbed off on my own writing of this review - this is how effective and oddly compelling it is!

The novel not only has sophistication, wit and humour, but action, suspense, thrills and romance too! Buckets full of it! The plot is a complicated and satisfying one that leaves no detail, no matter how small, unexplored - this includes the ever-so important dress sense of each character (an untidy cravat is an almost inexcusable offence!). The details of the novel make the novel particularly, and adorably quirky - Lord Akeldama's outrageous dress sense, Ivy's truly terrifying hats, and of course, that poor, abused treacle tart (what a waste!).

Soulless is an absolute delight full of the most wonderful, fantastical treasures, that will almost certainly leave you wanting more! I highly recommend this series to anyone with an interest in general fantasy, urban fantasy, romance and steampunk!

Gail Carriger has very kindly agreed to an interview at Pen to Paper.
CLICK HERE
to read it!