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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I had trouble keeping my attention focused on this book. I liked it by the end, but getting there was difficult. I'm just not sure I buy the way everyone talks/acts.
I think this is by far the best the series has to offer, yet. Heartless will come out next summer and I look forward to learning how this story evolves. Delightfully witty and well written, you continue following Alexia Maccon (or is it Alexia Tarabotti again?) through a web of mystery to discover more about the nature of her being. She is a preternatural, a soulless creature who can negate the paranormal effects of other beings. With Lord Maccon off drowning his miseries born of his rash thinking, Alexia heads off to prove him wrong. Her adventure reveals more about her condition but again leaves more questions to be answered in the next installment. Genuinely a fantastic series and a must read for lovers of paranormal fantasy.
Why, oh why, have I waited so long to catch up with the Parasol Protectorate books? I think maybe it's because I am impatient and don't terribly like waiting for each book in a series. But, it's complete and I have finally returned *all* of my library books, so I'm going to start working my way through things-I-actually-own. Even if it means buying a few more, ahem.
But, digression aside. I love these books. Like, a lot. There is so, so much fun and charming and wit and win. I laughed, like, out loud, which I seldom do and feel such fondness for so many of the characters and, just, yes. Now I want to rush through Heartless and Timeless, but then I'm afraid I'll have to play the desperate waiting game for Etiquette and Espionage, and I just don't know if I can do that to myself. Hrm.
But, digression aside. I love these books. Like, a lot. There is so, so much fun and charming and wit and win. I laughed, like, out loud, which I seldom do and feel such fondness for so many of the characters and, just, yes. Now I want to rush through Heartless and Timeless, but then I'm afraid I'll have to play the desperate waiting game for Etiquette and Espionage, and I just don't know if I can do that to myself. Hrm.
A journey through Italy with Alexia is always fun.
While this book did do quite a bit to expand the worldbuilding of the series, I do feel like it was probably the weakest of the series so far. Not to say that it wasn't good, because it was, but I was not quite as interested in the plot as I have been in the last two.
Or perhaps I should say I wasn't as interested in Alexia's plot. Lyall's plot however was quite good, but probably mostly because he is my favourite character.
From the few things I know about what is coming, as well as the impression I get from reading this, I think book 4 will step it up a bit but I'm not quite as anxious to get to reading it ASAP as I was after reading either Soulless or Changeless.
Or perhaps I should say I wasn't as interested in Alexia's plot. Lyall's plot however was quite good, but probably mostly because he is my favourite character.
From the few things I know about what is coming, as well as the impression I get from reading this, I think book 4 will step it up a bit but I'm not quite as anxious to get to reading it ASAP as I was after reading either Soulless or Changeless.
“Just because history says it isn't possible doesn't mean that there aren't exceptions.”
Actual rating: 4.25 stars
This series is proving to be so enjoyable and fun and still with a complexity of characters that I really really like. This one wasn't as delightful as the previous ones, I think mainly because of some parts of the journey were a little dragging and not as interesting - we as readers knew what was going on but had to wait the characters realize. The ending was heart-wrenching in a way, but very action packed as well. I think some plotlines were resolved in a very easy manner, but it was satisfying. Still, I wished it would have been more developed. It did leave some very interesting questions and plots for the next book and I can't wait to see a very pregnant Lady McConn dealing with things - I absolutely love her character and her direct, no-nonsense way. I felt for Biffy and especially for Lord Alkedama and I'm dying to see what will become of this.
It's not the best installment of the series, but it's a nice transition book and it answers some very good questions about preternaturals, Alexia's father and the Templars, which so far were a mystery. I can't wait to continue on with these characters and this world.
I found the pacing a little odd in this volume. It took about 1/3 of the book for Alexia to even leave England, which seemed slow considering the back of the book mentions that she flees to Italy. Despite the slow start, the story was able to fall into a rhythm that was familiar to the other books in the series and redeem itself. My biggest issue is that the book just suddenly ended, however, I suspect book 4 will pick up very closely to where this one left off.
While not my favorite installment of the series, I highly recommend the series for anyone looking for steampunk urban fantasy.
Just a note that the mains in this book are cis m/f. The queer rep is mainly in the form of side characters with varying roles of importance depending on the book
While not my favorite installment of the series, I highly recommend the series for anyone looking for steampunk urban fantasy.
Just a note that the mains in this book are cis m/f. The queer rep is mainly in the form of side characters with varying roles of importance depending on the book
Quite the entertaining adventure. The Lord Woosley kicked his wife out of Woosley Castle upon their return from Scotland causing Alexia to move back in with her parents. After her reputation was soiled publicly in the papers, Alexia's father kicked her out as well to improve her half sisters marriage prospects. Alexia, left with no other choice but to leave the country in search for answers to her plight heads to Italy. Along the way, Alexia finds herself being attacked by vampires, poisonous mechanical ladybugs and kidnapped by the most dangerous fanatic group in Italy bent on destroying supernaturals. Professor Lyle, Biffy, Lord Eckledama, Ivy, Madame Lafou and some strange and wild new characters reintroduced furthering the weird but exciting plot continued from the last book. Highly recommended to those who have read the first two books in the series and loved them. These books are great in audiobook, especially narrated by Emily Gray! The accents are excellent and fun to listen to.
3.5 stars
Not as stellar as Soulless, but leaps better than Changeless.
So Alexia is cast off by her husband because she's pregnant and he doesn't think he is the father because werewolves can't reproduce. She moves back in with her family and is at turns miserable because her husband was such an ass (he was awful to her) and pissed.
After the news of her pregnancy and her husband's reaction to it hits the gossip pages, Alexia is officially persona non grata. Her family kicks her out, the Queen disavows her and decent women everyone turn their faces away.
Luckily for Alexia, she is made of sterner stuff. She doesn't care what other people think and she is remarkably resilient when censure is cast her way. But she does care about proving her husband wrong. She also has some loyal persons still in her corner. She lerns that the answers she seeks about her unborn child lies abroad. So she leaves London to seek her proof in Italy.
Meanwhile Connal is in a drunken miserable stupor, Lord Akeldama has mysteriously disappeared, the Vampires have put a price on Alexia's head so it is open season on her and poor Prof. Lyall has to try to keep the Woolsey pack together.
This book went by much quicker than the previous book and featured a few surprising twists. I did find Alexia's travels & travails through Italy a little wearying after time. However the quick switches back to London and how Prof. Lyall was holding everything together are what really made the story.
The biggest con of the story is the lack of face time Connall and Alexia have. They spend almost the entire book apart. Also I was disappointed at how easily Alexia forgave him, but her sanguine practicality is part of her nature so it made sense.
I can't wait to see what is in store for my poor Biffy, though.
Onto the next one.
Not as stellar as Soulless, but leaps better than Changeless.
So Alexia is cast off by her husband because she's pregnant and he doesn't think he is the father because werewolves can't reproduce. She moves back in with her family and is at turns miserable because her husband was such an ass (he was awful to her) and pissed.
After the news of her pregnancy and her husband's reaction to it hits the gossip pages, Alexia is officially persona non grata. Her family kicks her out, the Queen disavows her and decent women everyone turn their faces away.
Luckily for Alexia, she is made of sterner stuff. She doesn't care what other people think and she is remarkably resilient when censure is cast her way. But she does care about proving her husband wrong. She also has some loyal persons still in her corner. She lerns that the answers she seeks about her unborn child lies abroad. So she leaves London to seek her proof in Italy.
Meanwhile Connal is in a drunken miserable stupor, Lord Akeldama has mysteriously disappeared, the Vampires have put a price on Alexia's head so it is open season on her and poor Prof. Lyall has to try to keep the Woolsey pack together.
This book went by much quicker than the previous book and featured a few surprising twists. I did find Alexia's travels & travails through Italy a little wearying after time. However the quick switches back to London and how Prof. Lyall was holding everything together are what really made the story.
The biggest con of the story is the lack of face time Connall and Alexia have. They spend almost the entire book apart. Also I was disappointed at how easily Alexia forgave him, but her sanguine practicality is part of her nature so it made sense.
I can't wait to see what is in store for my poor Biffy, though.
Onto the next one.
I enjoyed reading Alexia's further adventures. While still not as good as the first book I definitely think this one came closer to the original than the second installment did. We see more of the science and just what exactly the soul is/isn't in this world. It was also nice to see Alexia coming to terms with her burgeoning emotional side.