Soulless

(Parasol Protectorate #1)
by Gail Carriger

This was the June Blogger Book Club pick, in the Paranormal genre. And personally, I thought it was a treat – just a delightfully fun read. Soulless has the witty flavor of Jane Austen mixed with steampunk, mystery, vampires and werewolves, and a good ol’ rollicking romance. Alexia Tarabotti is an entertaining protagonist, with a penchant for meddling, parasols and good food. The story is told in 3rd person, so it misses a little of the intimacy of having her as the 1st person narrator, but I found her to be relatable and sympathetic nonetheless. The inevitable romance plot line is a bit predictable, but then I don’t think the book was aiming at subtlety in this matter. The mystery/crime plot line is less predictable without being completely out there, which is always a plus for me. The supporting cast of characters is good fun, too, from Ivy with her clueless nature and ridiculous hats to Lord Akeldama’s purposefully outrageous manner of speech. Overall, this is pure entertainment in novel form. It’s not the book to pick up if you’re looking for a high-minded literary read, but if you’re looking for escapism and laughs it fits the bill.
 

I give it 4/5 stars.

 

 
Blogger Book Club peeps: let me know if you want to join in the Google Hangout chat tonight at 7pm CST! For July, the category is ‘fairytales’ and you can choose your own book that fits within that (an original, a modern adaptation, a sequel). Link-up and chat for that will be July 25. I hope you’ll join us!