Heartless
120. Gail Carriger, Heartless
Warning: MAJOR spoilers for previous Parasol Protectorate books, especially Blameless.
After the alarming events of Blameless, Lady Alexia Maccon is dealing with several huge changes in her life. She is extremely pregnant with a child whose very existence is probably dangerous to supernatural beings - which might be why the vampires are once again trying to kill her. Her husband is having difficulties with Biffy, the newest member of his pack, who is still heartbroken over being transformed into a werewolf. Worst of all, she has just learned that there is an assassination plot of supernatural origin against Queen Victoria. Can Alexia sort out her husband’s pack, the vampires’ threats, and the attempt on the queen’s life, all while days away from giving birth?
I’ve been a fan of this series from the beginning, and I think this is another very strong installment. The book’s central plot is the possible threat to Queen Victoria, but there are also several interconnected sub-plots that begin to make sense of the loose ends in earlier books. For example, the 20-year-old plot against the Queen by Lord Maccon’s former pack (described in Changeless) is finally explained. There is some more insight into Professor Lyall’s character, as well as Lord Akeldama’s. The book also drops some tantalizing information about Alexia’s father, and I anticipate that the final book in this series will finally address his character in depth. Overall, this is another fun, steampunk-flavored Victorian romp that sets up the last book quite nicely. I can’t wait for the release of Timeless next year!