Book Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger
My sister picked up Soulless a couple weeks ago. She read it in one night. Because I am oh so penniless (still job hunting), she let me borrow it. I read it in one night.
(LiveJournal has decided to hate me and erased my review portion and won't let me type anything below the cut portion. Erg. Ok, Take 2.)
I am completely impressed by Ms. Carriger's wit and banter throughout this book. I was laughing out loud, giggling like a school girl, and generally squeeing every page. Alexia has the mind and sharpness of Elizabeth Bennett, even more so. Ms. Carriger captures the manners and sense of dignity of the Victorian age without losing the humor or becoming dry (unless it's droll humor). *chuckle*
As my sister said, this is one of those books you keep nearby so you can read it over and over and over again. It will never get old. If Ms. Carriger keeps writing this way, then she will quickly become one of my top ten authors which include the likes of Diana Pharoah Francis, Brandon Sanderson, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Mark Henry, and so on...
This is also a very genreless book. Yes, there are definitely steampunk elements, but she mixes in the fantasy, romance, and lots of humor. I would say it crosses many lines and blends them very well.
I highly recommend this book!! Pick it up now!! It's so worth the read. I'm adding it to my birthday wish list since I can't pick up one of my own!!
Here's the basic back cover info from Amazon:
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?
SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking