Review 128. Gail Carriger – Soulless.

Title: Soulless.
Author: Gail Carriger.
Pages: 373.
Published: October 1st 2009.
Publisher: Orbit.
Sort: Part one of ‘Parasoul Protectorate’

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?

Rating:

This book is hilarious! All the characters are so fleshed out and the mystery was great.

“Please, Lord Maccon, use one of the cups. My delicate sensibilities.”
The earl actually snorted.
“My dear Miss Tarabotti, if you possessed any such things, you certainly have never shown them to me.”

Meet Alexia. Stubborn, soulless, tempered and not afraid to say what she think. She lacks of the proper social etiquette and she doesn’t fit in with her tanned skin, large nose and curves – all features she thanks to her deceased Italian father. Her mother remarried and produced two empty headed girls. They are everything society can ask for: busy with clothing and gossiping about fashion. Alexia likes to read and she loves to have conversations about science and politics. Her mother can’t handle this behaviour and that is why Alexia became a spinster.

Meet Lord Maccon. Scottish, bad tempered, attractive and an Alpha werewolf. He has a lot of hilarious discussions with Alexia and it’s very clear that they like each other, but they don’t know it yet. He works for BUR, a bureau that keeps track of all the registered supernaturals since the Age of Enlightenment. His beta professor Lyall is a gentleman and he always tries to calm him. They are both trying to investigate an important matter:

Alexia was attacked by a vampire at a party. He wasn't part of a hive (community of vampires with a queen) and he also wasn't a registered rove (a vampire who decides to seperate like the eccentric Lord Akeldama. He is hilarious.) Where did this vampire came from? And why are vampires and werewolves disappearing around town? Lord Maccon is trying to keep Alexia out of his investigation, but with no success. And when they finally find out what is going on, it might be too late.

All right, let me begin by saying: I loved this book. Everything works. From the main characters to the secondary characters, they are all fleshed out. Alexia is lovely and I like how smart and different she was. Her sexy scenes with Lord Maccon were great and I liked their interaction. Their constant bicker was funny; the overall writing-style is this book was fun. There is always some humour.

There is a subtle change in perspective and that works good. The telling voice sometimes switches to Lord Maccon’s POV, so we get to see what he thinks of the situation. He is sweet and attractive in a non-perfect way. I wouldn’t mind being in one room with him.

Another great aspect was the mystery. There is something scary going on and I liked how we slowly got to unravel it. The wax-faced man definitely gave me the creeps.