Heartless by Gail Carriger (Parasol Protectorate Book 4)
I've been having good luck with Gail Carriger's books since I started reading them. Naturally, eager to see more of a good thing, I obtained a copy of Heartless.
Lady Alexia Maccon, happily reunited with her husband and werewolf Lord Connell Maccon is still dodging assassination attempts from the London vampire hive. All the while she sets about moving into a city home to wait for an expected gift... right next door to Lord Akeldama, rove vampire, awesomely sneaky politician and fashionista. Stuff happens.
I've been enjoying the humor in these books since I found them and this was no exception. Alexia's ongoing grumpiness regarding her state of expectancy was rather amusing (and probably entirely accurate) as she attempted to get around and do things. I did appreciate the explanation for what Victorian society did with upper class women who became pregnant as well.
Speaking of classes, I did like that Alexia got to have some of her upper class preconceptions rattled (at very least). Having Ivy give Alexia the reality check might actually ensure that it sinks in.. because let's face it, everyone underestimates Ivy. It must be the hats. I find myself entirely pleased by the new development of Ivy's character. In addition, a few of the other subplots are tied up in this installment to the series. At the risk of divulging too many spoilers I can say only this: Poor, poor heartsick Lyall and Biffy. Talk about a rock and a hard place (yes, I'm being entirely misleading).
I've been used to a certain undertone of deadly seriousness underneath the light, zany madcap humor found in the Parasol Protectorate books and Heartless is no exception. This installment pretty clearly centers around mothers and how foolish it is to trifle with them. Particularly if they happen to have certain rare and carefully honed talents at their disposal. Needless to say, someone gets their butt stomped as a result of forgetting this small rule.
I enjoyed it immensely and eagerly await the next book. I need to feed my slightly creepy steampunk comedy of manners addiction!
Lady Alexia Maccon, happily reunited with her husband and werewolf Lord Connell Maccon is still dodging assassination attempts from the London vampire hive. All the while she sets about moving into a city home to wait for an expected gift... right next door to Lord Akeldama, rove vampire, awesomely sneaky politician and fashionista. Stuff happens.
I've been enjoying the humor in these books since I found them and this was no exception. Alexia's ongoing grumpiness regarding her state of expectancy was rather amusing (and probably entirely accurate) as she attempted to get around and do things. I did appreciate the explanation for what Victorian society did with upper class women who became pregnant as well.
Speaking of classes, I did like that Alexia got to have some of her upper class preconceptions rattled (at very least). Having Ivy give Alexia the reality check might actually ensure that it sinks in.. because let's face it, everyone underestimates Ivy. It must be the hats. I find myself entirely pleased by the new development of Ivy's character. In addition, a few of the other subplots are tied up in this installment to the series. At the risk of divulging too many spoilers I can say only this: Poor, poor heartsick Lyall and Biffy. Talk about a rock and a hard place (yes, I'm being entirely misleading).
I've been used to a certain undertone of deadly seriousness underneath the light, zany madcap humor found in the Parasol Protectorate books and Heartless is no exception. This installment pretty clearly centers around mothers and how foolish it is to trifle with them. Particularly if they happen to have certain rare and carefully honed talents at their disposal. Needless to say, someone gets their butt stomped as a result of forgetting this small rule.
I enjoyed it immensely and eagerly await the next book. I need to feed my slightly creepy steampunk comedy of manners addiction!