Steampunk Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless

Book 1 of the Parasol Protectorate

 by Gail Carriger

Orbit

ISBN: 9780316056632

http://www.gailcarriger.com

Release Date: October 1, 2009

from the author's site:

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?

my thoughts:

I was in love with SOULLESS from the very beginning.  Alexia is a great wit. The way she spars with Lord Maccon is fabulous and so much fun to read. And Lord Maccon himself is such a fabulous character. These two really have me looking forward to reading more in CHANGELESS. 

It's not just about the characters though the story is great too. I was actually caught by surprise with this book. Obviously I'm not about to reveal any spoilers here, but I hadn't anticipated the cause of the vampire disappearances and I can't help but wonder if it's really over. There was also more romance to the story than I'd expected, but for me that's a good thing.  

Gail Carriger wrote a fabulous story with SOULLESS and it's one that you really need to check out for yourself. So you should go do that, like now.