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amym84's review against another edition
4.0
After the explosive ending of [b:Changeless|6933876|Changeless (Parasol Protectorate, #2)|Gail Carriger|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1292566141s/6933876.jpg|7165488], I was really happy that I waited to read this series until all the books were out. I was really interested to see what would become of Alexia. While i did enjoy this book, I missed the interactions between Lord and Lady Maccon. Plus there was the fact that our dear Lord Akeldama was out of the picture for most of the book as well. She did have Madam Lefoux along for her adventure and I really do like the inventor so it was nice to see her again.
This book really took Alexia and cast her out of her already established place. True, in Chageless she leaves London to go to Scotland, but she was traveling with friends and she was going to meet up with Conall. Here, she leaves London for Italy with no Ivy, Conall, or Akeldama. She's in a completely different setting with characters that we haven't gotten to learn too much about at this point. The good side of this is the fact that we do get to learn more about Madam Lefoux and Floote, whose devotion to Alexia I've always liked.
I will say that I enjoyed the fact that Professor Lyall got more page time to himself in this book. With Lord Maccon not mentally fit to do anything,it's obvious that Lyall would have to take up the reigns.
After Alexia discovers her delicate condition, along with the rest of London, she's considered a scandal in Lonodn society and even her own family (although not surprising) casts her out. When somone tries for her life (again) she thinks that maybe a change of location would be best. She decides on Italy and we finally get to meet the often mentioned Templars. Let me tell you I was not impressed and Alexia probably wasn't either. We did get to learn a lot more about her preternatural state and I can kind of see threads of storylines that will lead us to the conclusion.
I continue to adore the world the Gail Carriger had created. One of the only things I have small issue with was the easy resolution at the end. I didn't want anything to be dragged out, but sometimes when it comes to Alexia I find her lack of emotions a little irritating. I know this is blamed on her not having a soul, but it seems to me that there are times when the reader can tell she cares for something very much, but won't admit to it, and I feel like her lack of emotion in this case was the same. I would have liked to have seen her a little more out of her element in this case. She had some very dramatic and heartbreaking things happen to her over the past few weeks and I don't think it would have hurt to really let Conall know just what he did to her. I just don't really think he understands.
Regardless, I look forward to continuing the series and look forward to other books written in this world. Until Then!
This book really took Alexia and cast her out of her already established place. True, in Chageless she leaves London to go to Scotland, but she was traveling with friends and she was going to meet up with Conall. Here, she leaves London for Italy with no Ivy, Conall, or Akeldama. She's in a completely different setting with characters that we haven't gotten to learn too much about at this point. The good side of this is the fact that we do get to learn more about Madam Lefoux and Floote, whose devotion to Alexia I've always liked.
I will say that I enjoyed the fact that Professor Lyall got more page time to himself in this book. With Lord Maccon not mentally fit to do anything,it's obvious that Lyall would have to take up the reigns.
After Alexia discovers her delicate condition, along with the rest of London, she's considered a scandal in Lonodn society and even her own family (although not surprising) casts her out. When somone tries for her life (again) she thinks that maybe a change of location would be best. She decides on Italy and we finally get to meet the often mentioned Templars. Let me tell you I was not impressed and Alexia probably wasn't either. We did get to learn a lot more about her preternatural state and I can kind of see threads of storylines that will lead us to the conclusion.
I continue to adore the world the Gail Carriger had created. One of the only things I have small issue with was the easy resolution at the end. I didn't want anything to be dragged out, but sometimes when it comes to Alexia I find her lack of emotions a little irritating. I know this is blamed on her not having a soul, but it seems to me that there are times when the reader can tell she cares for something very much, but won't admit to it, and I feel like her lack of emotion in this case was the same. I would have liked to have seen her a little more out of her element in this case. She had some very dramatic and heartbreaking things happen to her over the past few weeks and I don't think it would have hurt to really let Conall know just what he did to her. I just don't really think he understands.
Regardless, I look forward to continuing the series and look forward to other books written in this world. Until Then!
gem9589's review against another edition
5.0
edited rating: 5 stars
one those books I think I would love to read over and over again and still find delight in. This series has everything I appreciate in a sff-romance- banter, humor, worldbuilding, a light mytsery plot and tricky supernatural politics. I love all the characters in this series, from the impersonal, menacing yet weirdly goofy German scientist to the delightful side characters who we've seen already before, manipulating things from the bg and really coming into their own in this volume. I don't know why I rated this volume 3 stars on first read- maybe because I was so mad at Conall. But I really see that his reaction was out of love, and deep loyalty to Alexia in the first place.
Standout characters for me in this volumes had to be Alexia & Lyall both. Alexia showed a side of her that I hadn't seen since book 1. Lyall was just incredibly competent the whole way through, knowing *exactly* what it took to keep his pack together and to snap Conall back to his senses. Lefoux was a treasure but weirdly was rendered useless in a few scenarios during the book, knocked unconscious for whatever reason in ome scene so that Alexia could prove herself and then subsequently be saved by Channing.
And god, Channing. I love me a bastard. I genuinely need more of that man in my life.
In any case, this might have been my favorite volume of them all, despite the lack of sexy times between Alexia & Conall. I'm taking a break from the series *for now*, but this volume generally just encapsulates everything I could want in a politically fraught, often humorous, yet still heartfelt supernatural adventure across Europe.
one those books I think I would love to read over and over again and still find delight in. This series has everything I appreciate in a sff-romance- banter, humor, worldbuilding, a light mytsery plot and tricky supernatural politics. I love all the characters in this series, from the impersonal, menacing yet weirdly goofy German scientist to the delightful side characters who we've seen already before, manipulating things from the bg and really coming into their own in this volume. I don't know why I rated this volume 3 stars on first read- maybe because I was so mad at Conall. But I really see that his reaction was out of love, and deep loyalty to Alexia in the first place.
Standout characters for me in this volumes had to be Alexia & Lyall both. Alexia showed a side of her that I hadn't seen since book 1. Lyall was just incredibly competent the whole way through, knowing *exactly* what it took to keep his pack together and to snap Conall back to his senses. Lefoux was a treasure but weirdly was rendered useless in a few scenarios during the book, knocked unconscious for whatever reason in ome scene so that Alexia could prove herself and then subsequently be saved by Channing.
And god, Channing. I love me a bastard. I genuinely need more of that man in my life.
In any case, this might have been my favorite volume of them all, despite the lack of sexy times between Alexia & Conall. I'm taking a break from the series *for now*, but this volume generally just encapsulates everything I could want in a politically fraught, often humorous, yet still heartfelt supernatural adventure across Europe.
kraley's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like this one as well as the first two books, but I still am so in love with the characters that I will continue to read as long as she will keep writing. Part of why I think it wasn't as good as the others is the lack of Ms Hisslepenny(?) and Lord Akeldama. Because she was traveling, we missed them both. I think this one only had one garish hat description, and not nearly enough tea time for me. Love the Parasol Protectorate though!
showell's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. Extremely entertaining. Ate it up. Still laughing at some of the jokes 24 hours later. Plan to read it again to savor the prose.
carlacbarroso's review against another edition
3.0
It was an action-packed kind of book, with lots happening but it seemed to fail when it came answering questions. Yeah, we know what Alexia is carrying but what the hell did her father? What does Floote seem to be hiding? What problems are coming Alexia's way? And the end was rushed. I was hoping for something more but it is still entertaining and provides a better understanding of this world.
toodrew's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I don't know with this one. I thought there was a lot of fluff without enough plot to justify it. Book 2 and 3 almost feel like they could've been one book instead of two. I enjoyed a lot of it but a lot felt needless.
The resolution between Alexia and Lord Maccon felt really rushed and odd. It was so built up that she might not even return and then she instantly forgave him. It didn't feel earned after seeing what his actions did to her. He put her in real risk. If she forgave him at all. it should have taken a lot more.
cg07's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jmitschke's review against another edition
4.0
Still really enjoying this series.
First read June 14, 2014
Re-read July 2016
Re-read January 2020
First read June 14, 2014
Re-read July 2016
Re-read January 2020