Helpful Score: 5
Book 3 returns this series to the quality of the 1st book, after a questionable book 2. This book starts a few weeks after the end of book 2, where Alexia discovers that she is pregnant and her husband throws a huge fit, as everyone knows that it is impossible for a werewolf to father a child. Alexia is cast out on her own and as news gets out society turns their backs on her, due to her apparent infidelity. However, it soon becomes clear that at least one group believes that the father is indeed Lord Maccon - the vampires. Attempts on Alexia's life become more open and serious. With no pack to protect her Alexia gathers Floote and Madam Lefoux and heads to Italy to find proof that werewolves can indeed father children on preternatural.
The writing in this book is just as witty and delightful as it was in the first book. We are treated to new characters for Alexia to sharpen her wits and her tongue on. Back in England there are some startling things that occur that will change relationships once Alexia returns. Lord Maccon goes on a bender, which results in some funny situations, and a very frustrated Professor Lyall.
I liked the look into Italy, where the Templars rule and it is a very dangerous thing to be a member of the supernatural community. It was nice to get a different take on things.
I've seem some reviewers that think that Alexia forgave her husband too easily. However, I think she understands how difficult it was for him to place the ad in the paper. That plus having several days to absorb knowledge of the ad before running into him again made the scene at the end quite understandable. Although she will probably hold this over his head for a while now :-) Looking forward to the next book.
The writing in this book is just as witty and delightful as it was in the first book. We are treated to new characters for Alexia to sharpen her wits and her tongue on. Back in England there are some startling things that occur that will change relationships once Alexia returns. Lord Maccon goes on a bender, which results in some funny situations, and a very frustrated Professor Lyall.
I liked the look into Italy, where the Templars rule and it is a very dangerous thing to be a member of the supernatural community. It was nice to get a different take on things.
I've seem some reviewers that think that Alexia forgave her husband too easily. However, I think she understands how difficult it was for him to place the ad in the paper. That plus having several days to absorb knowledge of the ad before running into him again made the scene at the end quite understandable. Although she will probably hold this over his head for a while now :-) Looking forward to the next book.
Helpful Score: 4
This is the third book in the Parasole Protectorate series by Carriger. The fourth book "Heartless" is supposed to be released in July of 2011. The fifth and final book "Timeless" is supposed to release some time in 2012. This book was a great addition to the series, not quite as fun as the two previous books, but more of a transition novel in which Alexia searches out the "why?" behind her pregnancy while fleeing both English hostility and vampires bent on her death.
After the bombshell dropped on us poor readers at the end of Changeless, this book picks up shortly after that book leaves off. Alexia is living with her family and scorned by English society. Things take a turn for the worse when she is thrown out of the family home, removed from the Shadow Council by the Queen, and attacked by homicidal ladybugs. She finds that for some reason all of London's vampires are out to kill her. With Floote and Madame Lefoux as traveling companions Alexia is forced to flee to Italy and try to find the why, how, and what behind her infant inconvenience. Meanwhile Lord Maccon spends the majority of the time sloshed as he realizes his mistake in tossing his wife out because of her supposedly impossible pregnancy; this leaves poor Professor Lyall with a huge mess to hold together.
This was a fun book, but not quite as fun as the previous books in this series. I really missed some of my favorite characters; for example Lord Akeldama was absent most of the book and the insufferable Lord Maccon was sloshed. I missed the witty interplay between Lord Maccon and Alexia. I did enjoy spending more time with Floote, but although I find Madame Lefoux interesting, she is not one of my favorite characters in this book.
I continue to vastly enjoy Carriger's writing style. I love all the crazy steampunk contraptions she comes up with to incorporate into the story, I love her witty dialogue, and how her characters try to achieve English dignity in the craziest of situations. The pace of this story was good, it was a page turner and kept me fully engaged. I liked how it wrapped up, without a horrible cliffhanger like Changeless had.
You learn a lot about the background of many of the characters here. You learn a lot about Alexia's father and how Floote ties in to all that. You learn more about what it means for Alexia to be a Preternatural, and many crazy Victorian theories are discussed as to how her improbable pregnancy occurred. Alexia shows a venerability that she hasn't shown in previous books. Usually she is so practical and shrewd that you wonder at her emotional depth; this book explores that a bit more...it's not obnoxious about it but there are scenes where the whole pregnancy, abandonment, etc just becomes too much for her. Which is entirely reasonable under the circumstances.
I continue to get a lot of joy out of reading this series. It is interesting, witty, funny, and thoughtful all at once. I am very excited to see what Heartless will bring us and find out the outcome of Alexia's pregnancy.
After the bombshell dropped on us poor readers at the end of Changeless, this book picks up shortly after that book leaves off. Alexia is living with her family and scorned by English society. Things take a turn for the worse when she is thrown out of the family home, removed from the Shadow Council by the Queen, and attacked by homicidal ladybugs. She finds that for some reason all of London's vampires are out to kill her. With Floote and Madame Lefoux as traveling companions Alexia is forced to flee to Italy and try to find the why, how, and what behind her infant inconvenience. Meanwhile Lord Maccon spends the majority of the time sloshed as he realizes his mistake in tossing his wife out because of her supposedly impossible pregnancy; this leaves poor Professor Lyall with a huge mess to hold together.
This was a fun book, but not quite as fun as the previous books in this series. I really missed some of my favorite characters; for example Lord Akeldama was absent most of the book and the insufferable Lord Maccon was sloshed. I missed the witty interplay between Lord Maccon and Alexia. I did enjoy spending more time with Floote, but although I find Madame Lefoux interesting, she is not one of my favorite characters in this book.
I continue to vastly enjoy Carriger's writing style. I love all the crazy steampunk contraptions she comes up with to incorporate into the story, I love her witty dialogue, and how her characters try to achieve English dignity in the craziest of situations. The pace of this story was good, it was a page turner and kept me fully engaged. I liked how it wrapped up, without a horrible cliffhanger like Changeless had.
You learn a lot about the background of many of the characters here. You learn a lot about Alexia's father and how Floote ties in to all that. You learn more about what it means for Alexia to be a Preternatural, and many crazy Victorian theories are discussed as to how her improbable pregnancy occurred. Alexia shows a venerability that she hasn't shown in previous books. Usually she is so practical and shrewd that you wonder at her emotional depth; this book explores that a bit more...it's not obnoxious about it but there are scenes where the whole pregnancy, abandonment, etc just becomes too much for her. Which is entirely reasonable under the circumstances.
I continue to get a lot of joy out of reading this series. It is interesting, witty, funny, and thoughtful all at once. I am very excited to see what Heartless will bring us and find out the outcome of Alexia's pregnancy.
Helpful Score: 2
Historical/Paranormal/ Steampunk tale, third of the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger. Our very stalwart, very proper English heroine Alexia, finds herself in a very indelicate condition, and a pariah among the English Social set. Hurt, and angry with her husband, she sets out to Italy, to learn more about her heritage, and her current predicament. Meanwhile, back at the Scottish castle, Lord Woolsey is indulging in formadahyde and his Beta is left to manage the Pack and BUR. Alexia has vampires trying to assassinate her, and Templars bent on their own agenda. By the time her hubby sobers up and realizes the error of his ways, Alexia is well on her way to sorting everything out. This is a pretty good book, very different from other paranormals, and fun. Lord Akeldama gets the best line in the book. Can't wait to read the fourth in series, "Heartless."
Helpful Score: 2
{slight spoilers below}
Sadly not as good as the first two. The author did a good job introducing a lot more information on the secondary characters, and built up suspense for what looks to be a big reveal in the last novel (something about her father, something about Floote, something about Lord Akeldama), but the overall plot was a bit thin.
And I know someone will disagree with me, but at the end the "tone' of the Lord Maccon, was completely off, he sounded like Lady Maccon, when the author was writing in his "voice". Odd and overall not satisfactory.
Sadly not as good as the first two. The author did a good job introducing a lot more information on the secondary characters, and built up suspense for what looks to be a big reveal in the last novel (something about her father, something about Floote, something about Lord Akeldama), but the overall plot was a bit thin.
And I know someone will disagree with me, but at the end the "tone' of the Lord Maccon, was completely off, he sounded like Lady Maccon, when the author was writing in his "voice". Odd and overall not satisfactory.
This series really has become something to read about! I really enjoyed this book!
Jolene O. (esmestohelit) -
Ladybugs, Pesto, and Biffy. What more could you ask for?
This is my favorite book in the series so far. It answered a few questions I've had since book one and has me asking a few more. The action starts right in the first few pages and never stops. We get to see a side of Miss Ivy I never thought existed. One thing I really liked about this book was the lack of romance. The romance was great in the first two books, but was not needed in this one. So many authors feel the need to put it in their books when it's not needed. I think this was more of a transition book to get us ready for Timeless more then anything. And to the authors credit, I've never enjoyed a transition book more.
This is my favorite book in the series so far. It answered a few questions I've had since book one and has me asking a few more. The action starts right in the first few pages and never stops. We get to see a side of Miss Ivy I never thought existed. One thing I really liked about this book was the lack of romance. The romance was great in the first two books, but was not needed in this one. So many authors feel the need to put it in their books when it's not needed. I think this was more of a transition book to get us ready for Timeless more then anything. And to the authors credit, I've never enjoyed a transition book more.
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed Blameless (Parasol Protectorate, Bk 3) on + 724 more book reviews
A good addition to the series.Got through it fast,was hard to put down.
Soulless Alexia finds herself impossibly pregnant and the infant inconvenience causes her no end of problems. This is an excellent addition to the series and is delightfully witty on its own. Highly recommended.
Carriger is truly a master of her craft. The continued impressive character development and world-building in this series amazes me to no end. I find myself gobbling up this series as quickly as I possibly can! While the first two books in this series focused on developing the main characters and introducing many secondary characters, this third installment further fleshes out those secondary characters and gives them a life of their own. I loved that Genevieve and Professor Lyall got more spotlight, as they are by far my favorite characters in the series so far.
This book however did have a rather repetitive feel to it, which made it horribly predictable and at times a little frustrating. The plot goes something like: Alexia runs. Alexia is found. Alexia flees. Alexia is found. Alexia flees, etc. etc. The most frustrating part of all of this rigmarole was that there is no concrete explanation as to how these people keep inevitably finding Alexia, or how they are coordinating/handing off "the hunt" to one another.
While the plot was terribly frustrating, I just cannot get enough of the characters, thus the high rating I gave this book. This is my favorite exchange:
Professor Lyall looked modestly proud. "I am considered a bit of an expert on the procreative practices of Ovis orientalis aries."
"Sheep?"
"Sheep."
"Sheep!" Madame Lefoux's voice came over suddenly high, as though she were suppressing an inclination to giggle.
"Yes, as in baaaa." Professor Lyall frowned. Sheep were a serious business, and he failed to see the source of Madame Lefoux's amusement.
"Let me understand this correctly. You are a werewolf with a keen interest in sheep breeding?" A little bit of French accent trickled into Madame Lefoux's speech in her glee.
Professor Lyall continued bravely on, ignoring her flippancy. "I preserve the nonviable embryo in formaldehyde for future study. Lord Maccon has been drinking my samples. When confronted, he admitted to enjoying both the refreshing beverage and the 'crunchy picked snack' as well. I was not pleased."
I am so looking forward to reading more of this series, although I am rather sad that it eventually must come to an end.
This book however did have a rather repetitive feel to it, which made it horribly predictable and at times a little frustrating. The plot goes something like: Alexia runs. Alexia is found. Alexia flees. Alexia is found. Alexia flees, etc. etc. The most frustrating part of all of this rigmarole was that there is no concrete explanation as to how these people keep inevitably finding Alexia, or how they are coordinating/handing off "the hunt" to one another.
While the plot was terribly frustrating, I just cannot get enough of the characters, thus the high rating I gave this book. This is my favorite exchange:
Professor Lyall looked modestly proud. "I am considered a bit of an expert on the procreative practices of Ovis orientalis aries."
"Sheep?"
"Sheep."
"Sheep!" Madame Lefoux's voice came over suddenly high, as though she were suppressing an inclination to giggle.
"Yes, as in baaaa." Professor Lyall frowned. Sheep were a serious business, and he failed to see the source of Madame Lefoux's amusement.
"Let me understand this correctly. You are a werewolf with a keen interest in sheep breeding?" A little bit of French accent trickled into Madame Lefoux's speech in her glee.
Professor Lyall continued bravely on, ignoring her flippancy. "I preserve the nonviable embryo in formaldehyde for future study. Lord Maccon has been drinking my samples. When confronted, he admitted to enjoying both the refreshing beverage and the 'crunchy picked snack' as well. I was not pleased."
I am so looking forward to reading more of this series, although I am rather sad that it eventually must come to an end.
