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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I love a good steampunk. And I think this is just the right amount of ridiculous for my steampunk tastes. Gothic without being dark. Victorian without being completely prudish. It's a really lovely mix of everything.
And I loved every second of this book, up to and excluding the final 30 minutes. I am so mad, and I'm not even sure that I can continue with the series.
I love a surprise baby as much as the next girl.....well maybe not. It's not my favorite trope. But when it was introduced here, I was fully on board within like 30 seconds. Alexia is preternatural and turns her husband "human" while touching. Wellllllll to the best of my knowledge you have to tough to get pregnant Connall, you great baffoon! And yet he refused to even acknowledge that she could be faithful. He went straight to kicking her out of his castle within like 3 minutes of hearing that she's pregnant. I don't think I could forgive him for that tomfoolery.
The only reason I am even contemplating continuing with the series is that Madame LeFoux is a delight! I'm very excited to get to know her more.
Not that I don't have the utmost faith in Ms. Carriger to redeem Lord Maccon. I do understand why he's pissed. And I know we need a conflict. But I just want them to make out!
And I loved every second of this book, up to and excluding the final 30 minutes. I am so mad, and I'm not even sure that I can continue with the series.
The only reason I am even contemplating continuing with the series is that Madame LeFoux is a delight! I'm very excited to get to know her more.
Not that I don't have the utmost faith in Ms. Carriger to redeem Lord Maccon. I do understand why he's pissed. And I know we need a conflict. But I just want them to make out!
Still wildly entertaining, just not quite as good as the first; although that is likely due to the fact that the idea is no longer wholly original. The cliff-hanger was actually great for me, I spent most of the book thinking one thing was going to happen, and then it turned out to be something completely different! Did anyone else have different ideas as to what the ending would contain? Anyway, over all a great book, just in the shadow of its predecessor.
I enjoyed this book very much, but it had some similar problems to the first book in terms of affected language. In this case, the tone seemed more natural, but there were some glaring mistakes that an editor should have caught.
- "coup de grace" does NOT mean the same thing as "coup" ("a notable or successful stroke or move") - a coup de grace is "a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal." Not something that Ivy Hisselpenny's mother would be pleased for her daughter about achieving, socially or otherwise.
Vague spoiler -
I'm sure there are other similar inaccuracies that I didn't notice - and I also suspect that the portrayal of Scotland and Scots people is problematically reliant on stereotypes, going by the prevalence of haggis jokes.
All that said, however, the characters were still endearing, the conflict interesting, and the repartee funny. I especially liked the inclusion of additional queer characters and themes, and the steampunky alternate science. Just enough scientific detail - enough to pique the interest and not so much that it got boring or clunky. I will definitely stick with the series for the next book.
- "coup de grace" does NOT mean the same thing as "coup" ("a notable or successful stroke or move") - a coup de grace is "a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal." Not something that Ivy Hisselpenny's mother would be pleased for her daughter about achieving, socially or otherwise.
Vague spoiler -
Spoiler
Gretna Green is a very logical place to go to elope, if you are in England, because it was for many years the most convenient place to access Scotland's laxer marriage laws. HOWEVER, if you are already in Scotland, going to Gretna Green to elope is ridiculous.I'm sure there are other similar inaccuracies that I didn't notice - and I also suspect that the portrayal of Scotland and Scots people is problematically reliant on stereotypes, going by the prevalence of haggis jokes.
All that said, however, the characters were still endearing, the conflict interesting, and the repartee funny. I especially liked the inclusion of additional queer characters and themes, and the steampunky alternate science. Just enough scientific detail - enough to pique the interest and not so much that it got boring or clunky. I will definitely stick with the series for the next book.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I liked this book all the way up to the end. The ending really ruined it for me and made me really sad. Unsure if I will read the rest of the series now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy
Changeless is an excellent follow-up to the first Parasol Protectorate book. Now that Alexia and Lord Maccon are married, most of the mushy romance stuff is out of the way, leaving room for more dirigible adventures and better steampunk parasol designs. A mysterious epidemic of mortality has been ravaging England, and it seems to be tied to Lord Maccon's former werewolf pack, necessitating a visit to the Scottish highlands. And what better way to go to Scotland than by dirigible?
All your old favorite characters are back, and some new ones are introduced, including a shockingly lesbian and even more shockingly French inventor, and a feisty Scottish woman who wants to be a werewolf despite the fact that no women have survived the transformation in hundreds of years.
Be warned, this book has a (not that surprising) surprise ending that will leave you in desperate need of the 3rd book in the serious, Blameless.
All your old favorite characters are back, and some new ones are introduced, including a shockingly lesbian and even more shockingly French inventor, and a feisty Scottish woman who wants to be a werewolf despite the fact that no women have survived the transformation in hundreds of years.
Be warned, this book has a (not that surprising) surprise ending that will leave you in desperate need of the 3rd book in the serious, Blameless.
A delightful continuation of the first book's romp through Victorian London! Lord and Lady Maccon are off to Scotland in this book to divine the answer behind strange preternatural happenings. Be prepared for a huge cliffhanger... and be ready to read the third immediately!
I loved this book. I adore this series. I've spent many nights reading them until my eyes couldn't focus and then picking them up first thing in the morning when my cat wakes me up.
The ending to this one will throw you for a loop. A friend told me I was lucky that the third book in the series was out already so I wouldn't have to wait. I've just finished that one too.
The ending to this one will throw you for a loop. A friend told me I was lucky that the third book in the series was out already so I wouldn't have to wait. I've just finished that one too.
Dare I say, better than the first? I do have to give fair warning that the end will make you wish it was September already and you had Blameless in your hands. But, can you really consider that a bad thing? I also have to confess that I actually woke up in the middle of the night and my first thought was of Alexia; poor poor Alexia. The ending is heartwrenching to say the least, it just made me so sad and I can't imagine how things are going to work out. But they have to work out, right? Right?!?
I honestly don't think I can write a review that does this book justice. And I also find it hard to write about the plot without giving something away, so many things are intertwined that I'd worry I'd spoil something. I do have to say that I figured things out a bit sooner than Alexia, but this was well into the story so it's not like it was overly annoying knowing what was going on before she did.
We get to meet some new characters while some old ones stick around past their welcome. I have to say that I'm not that big of fan of Ivy Hisselpenny anymore, she's just not rooted in reality enough for me to be able to handle her in such large doses. And Alexia's sister, Felicity, deserves to be backhanded for her mouth. She has no redeeming qualities and I don't understand how or why Alexia puts up with her. One of the new characters, Madame Lefoux, is a lot of fun. You constantly wonder who's side she's on and what exactly her motive is, without her being antagonistic toward Alexia.
One thing that might confuse readers is actually one of the draws of this series - the steampunkiness. The contraptions and machines described are imagined in great detail, but it's almost as if the book would benefit from some schematics and blueprints in the back. I want to see what this stuff looks like! She does a well enough job of describing things though, it's not as if you're completely left in the dark. I think an art book for this series would be a fantastic idea. With all the different fashions and gadgets and things it'd be so cool to have art to go with it.
The story was fantastic, I love the world and the characters, and I honestly can't wait for the next book. I actually think I'm going to start foaming at the mouth waiting for Blameless!
And for the love of all that's holy, DO NOT READ the synopsis or any blurbs for Blameless if you haven't read Changeless yet! Don't spoil yourself!!!
I honestly don't think I can write a review that does this book justice. And I also find it hard to write about the plot without giving something away, so many things are intertwined that I'd worry I'd spoil something. I do have to say that I figured things out a bit sooner than Alexia, but this was well into the story so it's not like it was overly annoying knowing what was going on before she did.
We get to meet some new characters while some old ones stick around past their welcome. I have to say that I'm not that big of fan of Ivy Hisselpenny anymore, she's just not rooted in reality enough for me to be able to handle her in such large doses. And Alexia's sister, Felicity, deserves to be backhanded for her mouth. She has no redeeming qualities and I don't understand how or why Alexia puts up with her. One of the new characters, Madame Lefoux, is a lot of fun. You constantly wonder who's side she's on and what exactly her motive is, without her being antagonistic toward Alexia.
One thing that might confuse readers is actually one of the draws of this series - the steampunkiness. The contraptions and machines described are imagined in great detail, but it's almost as if the book would benefit from some schematics and blueprints in the back. I want to see what this stuff looks like! She does a well enough job of describing things though, it's not as if you're completely left in the dark. I think an art book for this series would be a fantastic idea. With all the different fashions and gadgets and things it'd be so cool to have art to go with it.
The story was fantastic, I love the world and the characters, and I honestly can't wait for the next book. I actually think I'm going to start foaming at the mouth waiting for Blameless!
And for the love of all that's holy, DO NOT READ the synopsis or any blurbs for Blameless if you haven't read Changeless yet! Don't spoil yourself!!!
This is the second book in the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger so if you don't already know that read no further and go get yourself a copy of Soulless. Either way you have some fabulousness coming your way. What I love about these books is what initially drew me to the covers- it's all very old meets new. It's historical but different and fun and approachable. It's the book form of a watching a movie based on classic book or BBC period piece. Somewhere between Emma (with Gweneth Paltrow) and Clueless (with Alicia Silverstone) but with vampires and werewolves. But, never fear, it's not teen angst-y or dark and USA Up All Night (if you catch my drift). And don't be nervous if you see the term "steampunk" floating around the reviews- it's not overly sci-fi- it's just a re-imagining of the world with cooler gadgets. And the most compelling reason- when I finished the book I set it down and went upstairs to pre-order the next.
Attempted murder on dirigibles and supernatural creatures unable to change. What could be afoot. So silly, such a lark. Part of me will be glad when I finish this series because I won't be compelled to devour each book as soon as it becomes available from the library. Part of me will cry out, "but what happens NEXT???!!!"