Review of Timeless by Gail Carriger

Timeless by Gail Carriger

In this final installment of the Parasol Protectorate Series, Gail Carriger serves her readers the perfect cup of tea. Brewed just the correct amount of minutes, served at exactly the right temperature, splashed with the perfect amount of cream, and displayed in the most exquisite china tea set. (And possibly accompanied by a delicious and flaky bon-bon). 

I have been enamored with this series for a variety of reasons. It is a charming mixture of humor, steampunk creativity, paranormal politics, historical formality, and delicious characters. Alexia Tarabotti, soul-sucker extraordinaire, is channeling Amelia Peabody in the most fabulous way. They are both perky, no-nonsense heroines, partnered with giant gruff spouses (Conall-Emerson) and producing naughty cherubic infants (Prudence-Ramses). Where Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody Series goes off in a more serious and historical way, Carriger's books are utter silliness. I adore both, for different reasons, but I especially respect the way Carriger has woven together the humor, romance, and steampunk aspects so flawlessly. 

This book charmed the Carhartt pants right off me. Yes, my little buttercups, it's true.

My predictions about the budding romance between Lyall and Biffy were spot-on. (Did anyone really doubt Penelope? I think not). Prudence, the new preternatural baby, is the predictable offspring of a soulless Alexia and alpha werewolf Conall...smart, sensitive, mischievous, and filled with surprising talents. (And of course dressed to perfection thanks to Lord Akeldama). This book is even set in Egypt, further encouraging the Amelia Peabody comparison, but Carriger uses this setting as a back-drop for her over-the-top steampunk vision, whereas Peters uses it to explore her love of Egyptology.

I did think the ending was a bit too abrupt (and of course I'm disappointed that there will not be more books in this series....I would love to see more Prudence!), but otherwise this book was absolute perfection. It even had copious references to beards! ........

*****

The earl could freely play with and, much to Lady Maccon's delight, take care of his daughter any time of the day or night without repercussions. He also grew a very large and scruffy beard, with which she was far less delighted.

"A man's virility is in his beard," he insisted.

To which Alexia replied, "And a woman's is in her décolletage. Yet you don't see me allowing mine to get out of control, do you?"

"If wishes were balloons," was his only response.

****

Hee hee heeeeee......Alexia's only fault.

The perfect ending to a perfectly wonderful series.

Grade: A

Poised for pleasantries,

Penelope

Review of Heartless by Gail Carriger

Observations about Heartless by Gail Carriger.....

1.) The cover is wack. The models on Soulless, Changeless, and Blameless looked like they could kick your butt, admonish your improper behavior and have a spot of tea all without missing a beat. The woman on the cover of Heartless looks like she'll burst into tears if you look at her funny. Wack.

2.) The humor is spot-on--Alexia waddling around London, thwarting would-be paranormal crimes with a massive pregnant belly barely slowing her down. The characters are brilliant--the effeminate vampires, lesbian steampunk inventor, over-protective alpha werewolf hubby, catty suffragette sister, and best of all the no-nonsense soulless heroine. The storyline has ups and downs....interesting investigations, fabulous climatic scene at the end with the octomaton rampaging through town, but also occasionally bogged down by too much paranormal political stuff. Pacing slowed a bit in the middle, was just perfection at the end. With a killer cliff-hanger.

3.) This series is straight up the most original, clever and humorous bit of storytelling in the romance genre. Although it is truly a mish-mash of romance, steampunk, paranormal, historical and comedy. It's quirky. It's well-written. It's got Penny's Seal Of Approval.

4.) I was heartily disappointed with the lack of romance in Blameless. Due to a totally exasperating misunderstanding, the hero and heroine were apart for the bulk of the book. Heartless was an improvement, although still not enough for my romantic inclinations. It is definitely a sexy story, but I just can't get enough of Conall the gruff and grumbly werewolf. More, more, more!!!!!

5.) Favorite lines....

      "No wife. I mean to say, you are not exactly up to your usual galavanting about London with parasol at the ready, now, are you?"

      Alexia glanced down at her overstuffed belly and then got that look on her face. "I am entirely capable."

     "Of what, waddling up to someone and ruthlessly bumping into them?"

hee hee heeee..... 

And I love this line, too. Leave it to Alexia to tell it like it is. 

     "Goodness," said an exhausted Lady Maccon, "are babies customarily that repulsive looking?"

Why yes, yes they are. ☺

Looking for an entertaining steampunky historical romance with a kick-ass sense of humor? Look no further. 

Grade: A-

Pleasantly Pleased as a Peacock,

Penelope

Review of Blameless by Gail Carriger

Oh! How I have been waiting with bated breath for the release of Blameless. I adored Soulless and Changeless--both wonderful, funny, sexy, inventive and one-of-a-kind steampunk/paranormal romances. The "romance" at the end of that description is intentional and very, very important in my opinion. The reason those books sparkled, sang, and popped was because of the fantastic chemistry between Alexia and Conall. She is a no-nonsense soulless heroine, primed for adventure and preoccupied with proper manners. Conall is an alpha werewolf, rough and grumbly and sexy and prone to emotional outbursts. They are one of my favorite couples ever.

And that, folks, is the massively huge problem with Blameless. Because Conall and Alexia are not together in this book until the bitter, bitter end. Like, the last page. Criminy! That was an error of epic proportions. All of the other "fun stuff" in Carriger's books...the myriad colorful secondary characters, the creative inventions, and the paranormal politics, fall totally flat without the heated, combustible attraction between our soulless heroine and her werewolf husband. They, together, create the sparkle in these tales. Without Conall as her sidekick, Alexia's antics were not nearly as entertaining. (In fact, the only criticism I had of Changeless was that Carriger kept the hero and heroine apart for too long in that novel. It is much worse here.)

And yes, I agree with other reviewers....Carriger did not adequately address the huge betrayal and consequent conflict resolution. But at that point, I was so disheartened that Alexia and Conall had not been together at all, I didn't really care.

Surprisingly, the best part of this book turned out to be the reaction of Professor Lyall to the young vampire turned werewolf, Biffy. The scene where Lord Akeldama, Biffy and Lyall are all dealing with the ramifications of Biffy's transformation was a fascinating and emotionally charged scene--the best scene in the book. (Which is a problem...when the best scene in the book does not involve the heroine, it's not good). I love the homoerotic undercurrent going on between Biffy and Lyall and I desperately hope that Carriger explores that further.

There was still a lot of great humor in this book. But the reunion at the end between Alexia and her husband was a gigantic let-down. And I just didn't think the plot and action in the rest of the book made up for that.

I am super disappointed. I was looking forward to Alexia and Conall as much as I used to wait for Emerson and Peabody when Elizabeth Peters released a new Amelia Peabody book every year.

I sure hope the hero and heroine of this series finally get back together in the next installment.

Grade: C+

Sadly,

Penelope

Ack! Ack! Ack! (Review of Changeless by Gail Carriger)

Changeless by Gail Carriger

ACK! (We'll get back to that in a minute).

I am officially a Gail Carriger addict. In a million years, I could not imagine finding a series that is so perfectly suited to my personality. Carriger's writing is the perfect blend of humor, satire, history, sexiness, imaginative steampunk inventions, paranormality, and let's not forget the stunning outfits! (hee hee hee)....

The characters are delicious. The mystery is filled with chills, spills (and I do mean that literally), and suspense. The "soulless" heroine is beyond divine...practical, hilarious, determined and madly in love with her new werewolf husband (although reluctant to admit it). The hero is rough (ruff!), gruff, sexy and Scottish. The chemistry and dialogue between the two of them is off-the-charts fabulous. In fact, my only teensy, tiny criticism of this book is that I thought Carriger kept Alexia and Lord Maccon apart for too long. By far, my favorite scenes in the book are when the two of them are together, exchanging verbal volleys.

I am also getting into the spirit of the whole steampunk thing. The crazy inventions are the perfect backdrop for this sort of story. I love Alexia's parasol...it's the ultimate symbol for her: a combination of ruffles and pragmatic scientific invention, lethal weapons hidden behind a feminine and ridiculous contraption.

And now for the ack!!!!!!! I will not spoil the ending of this book for any new readers, but Holy Macarena! The ending was a heartbreaking jolt and anxiety-producing moment that had Penelope screaming "Noooooooo!" and realizing that it is going to be a very long wait until September 1 when Blameless comes out. ACK! The end is definitely a brilliant move by the author. I personally love "cliff-hanger" style endings. Even though this isn't exactly a cliff-hanger, the anticipation for the next book has been successfully established. ACK!

Grade: A

Carolyn Crane and Gail Carriger are my two new writing idols!

Ciao!

Penelope

Super Quickie Review of the Highly Rockable Book Soulless by Gail Carriger

Soulless by Gail Carriger

I honestly don't care what steampunk means. I don't care what "genre" this book falls into....comedic steampunk paranormal/fantasy romance? Who the hell cares?

All I know is the second I started to read it, I realized I was falling in love with this book. It has everything I could ever want in a novel...excellent writing, awesome tongue-in-cheek humor, fantastic characters, super sexy chemistry, a nice little mystery, spine-tingling suspense, and my favorite....the juxtaposition of historical formality/scientific discovery/serious paranormal politics with rough and growly werewolf urges, ridiculous vampire couture, and a prim and proper soulless heroine who is torn between following protocol and having hot sex with her werewolf-y nemesis.

Dude, it just doesn't get any better than this.

I am still smiling with happiness, and I fell asleep last night with my Kindle in my arms. Dreaming about werewolves. Ken you get it?

Grade: A+++

A Happy, Happy Day in Penelope-land,

Penelope