Scan barcode
tennilles's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely love Gail Carriger's books! She is one of the rare authors who excels in all 4 appeal "doorways"--great characters, interesting plots, witty language, and incredible world-building (steampunk Victorian London where vampires, werewolves, and ghosts are not only part of society but play crucial governmental and military roles).
In Soulless we meet Alexia Tarabotti, strong-willed bluestocking spinster of half-Italian blood who inherited not only her father's tan skin and strong nose but also his lack of a soul. This isn't as dire as one might fear--it merely means that she possesses the very rare ability to return a vampire or werewolf to fully human form as long as she remains in physical contact and to exorcise a ghost permanently by touching the cadaver. It's a useful talent to have when attacked by a hungry, newly minted vampire lacking all knowledge of feeding etiquette, although accidentally killing said vampire makes her the focus of intense scrutiny from both gossipmongers and Lord Maccon, Alpha werewolf of the Woolsey pack and chief investigating officer of the Bureau of Unnatural Registration (BUR). For it turns out the rogue vampire is part of a larger experiment by fanatical scientists, and their discovery of Alexia's unique physical properties puts her life in danger, as they seek to examine her, preferably via dissection.
In Soulless we meet Alexia Tarabotti, strong-willed bluestocking spinster of half-Italian blood who inherited not only her father's tan skin and strong nose but also his lack of a soul. This isn't as dire as one might fear--it merely means that she possesses the very rare ability to return a vampire or werewolf to fully human form as long as she remains in physical contact and to exorcise a ghost permanently by touching the cadaver. It's a useful talent to have when attacked by a hungry, newly minted vampire lacking all knowledge of feeding etiquette, although accidentally killing said vampire makes her the focus of intense scrutiny from both gossipmongers and Lord Maccon, Alpha werewolf of the Woolsey pack and chief investigating officer of the Bureau of Unnatural Registration (BUR). For it turns out the rogue vampire is part of a larger experiment by fanatical scientists, and their discovery of Alexia's unique physical properties puts her life in danger, as they seek to examine her, preferably via dissection.
rebels's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing! Funny and with a captivating storyline!!! Also the heroine is quite the witty and sassy 19th century feminist!!! I absolutely loved her!!!!💕
emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
3.0
Soulless is written in a lightly pompous, high English style that is really off-putting for me. I thought the story itself was interesting, but I had to get through the writing to access the story and that was hard to do. I might have given up if we weren't on vacation and getting out of my comfy chair to get another book was just too much! If that sort of writing doesn't bother you, you would probably enjoy the book.
kayhem502's review against another edition
3.0
This was one of those books that seemed to have a premise that was interesting at first, but it just derailed somewhere along the way for me. I gave it 3 stars because overall, I didn't hate it. In fact, there were several aspects that I very much enjoyed. For example, I liked the variety of different genres mashed together. I must say, this is the first time I've ever read a book that included vampire/werewolf lore, steampunk, the Victorian era, political intrigue and satire, and romance together. It works (sometimes). However, I felt like because there was so much going on, that sometimes certain areas weren't very well developed. Also, I may be biased because I am not a romance fan at all in literature. Often I only but tolerate it for the potential story line, but I feel like it got to overshadow everything else there towards the end, and I'm not just talking about .
Again, overall, I don't think it was a bad book, I just feel like there was a rather ambitious author who tried to balance several different genres and sometimes it worked and was great, and other times it just sort of fell flat.
Spoiler
the wedding of Alexia and Lord MacconAgain, overall, I don't think it was a bad book, I just feel like there was a rather ambitious author who tried to balance several different genres and sometimes it worked and was great, and other times it just sort of fell flat.
sade's review against another edition
3.0
Soulless is one of those books you really shouldn't take all too seriously.
The book doesn't even take itself seriously, which is not to say it's a bad book, but if you're looking for depth in plot or characters, 
well, you picked the wrong book is all i'm saying. It helps to know these things before you read the books.
You're welcome
bingley's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
(240608)
A meandering, amusing adventure, but reading enjoyability is occasionally hindered by excess verbosity, like what-in-the-downtown-abbey.
Girl, just say what you sayin'! XD (tho I do get, its part of the world the Author built, so I don't fault it.)
TLDR: Entertainingly tedious. It's best when Alexia and Lord Maccon are thrown together!
Off-kilter, amusing humor. Like dry british wit.
Exhibit A: "Good evening, Mr. MacDougall, she said. Even when one was horizontally prone, there was no call for rudeness."
Lol, it does make me snicker!
The plot takes a while to reveal itself: at first it seems like a slice-of-life, given the story's trotting pace. Then it seems like it's a series of adventures that Alexia happens upon, like a video game.
Then at the end, we finally get the antagonist reveal and confrontation climax.
I rmbr attempting this series years ago, starting from the 2nd book, and DNF-ing bc I wasn't captivated. This 1st one is more entertaining, but I wouldn't say I'm sufficiently captured enough to restart the 2nd book. It's too..... the vibes are like... restrained/proper whimsy. Which can be amusing, but sometimes I'm like, the narration needs to get back on the tracks!
POV: third, person, dual
SPICE: not exactly, mostly repressed, titillating british attraction LOL. And some kissing and makeout scenes that might scandalize a proper british chaperone.
A meandering, amusing adventure, but reading enjoyability is occasionally hindered by excess verbosity, like what-in-the-downtown-abbey.
Girl, just say what you sayin'! XD (tho I do get, its part of the world the Author built, so I don't fault it.)
TLDR: Entertainingly tedious. It's best when Alexia and Lord Maccon are thrown together!
Off-kilter, amusing humor. Like dry british wit.
Exhibit A: "Good evening, Mr. MacDougall, she said. Even when one was horizontally prone, there was no call for rudeness."
Lol, it does make me snicker!
The plot takes a while to reveal itself: at first it seems like a slice-of-life, given the story's trotting pace. Then it seems like it's a series of adventures that Alexia happens upon, like a video game.
Then at the end, we finally get the antagonist reveal and confrontation climax.
I rmbr attempting this series years ago, starting from the 2nd book, and DNF-ing bc I wasn't captivated. This 1st one is more entertaining, but I wouldn't say I'm sufficiently captured enough to restart the 2nd book. It's too..... the vibes are like... restrained/proper whimsy. Which can be amusing, but sometimes I'm like, the narration needs to get back on the tracks!
POV: third, person, dual
SPICE: not exactly, mostly repressed, titillating british attraction LOL. And some kissing and makeout scenes that might scandalize a proper british chaperone.
hilikus_00's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really fun read! Nice and easy and light.
I really enjoyed Alexis' character - a strong, quirky female protagonist! I loved her down-to-earthness, I loved her tongue-in-cheekness! I LOVED her relationship with Lord Maccon. I loved her sexuality, I just loved her!
I really enjoyed Alexis' character - a strong, quirky female protagonist! I loved her down-to-earthness, I loved her tongue-in-cheekness! I LOVED her relationship with Lord Maccon. I loved her sexuality, I just loved her!
aarnireads's review against another edition
dnf at page 78.
I don't think I have retained a single snippet of information so far. I find the writing style so full of itself and the main character is incredibly insufferable. Yes, we get it, you are so special and not like the other girls and have great tits
I don't think I have retained a single snippet of information so far. I find the writing style so full of itself and the main character is incredibly insufferable. Yes, we get it, you are so special and not like the other girls and have great tits