Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Latest Read: Soulless

Publisher summary:
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.

Such a cool cover, no?

This was my first steampunk book, and what a fun read!  Soulless is a unique little novel - a Victorian setting, a splash of the supernatural, a seriously quirky heroine, humor and a little romance...what's not to like?  The main characters are fully fleshed out and their flaws make them all the more endearing.  I loved the banter between Alexia and Lord Macon - it kept me quickly turning the pages with an amused smile.  Oh also, it's um...quite sexy.  There's some serious chemistry steaming up several parts of the book.  It makes me blush just thinking about it :)

This is the first book in the Parasol Protectorate series and I can't wait to see what else is in store for Alexia.  I definitely recommend this compulsively readable book to those who like historical, paranormal, and/or Victorian fiction!
4/5 stars.

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