Helpful Score: 4
The second book of the Parasol Protectorate, continues the story of Alexis as she assumes her new duties as both wife, and agent of the Crown. While this book does much to advance the storyline, the pacing is slower than the first book, and there are few surprises, save at the end of the book. The last chapter sets up the next book and does so remarkably well. A well-written, interesting saga that is a breath of fresh air to the genre, without being bogged down by the banality of today's supernatural/romance fiction.
Helpful Score: 4
One reason I love this series...the author compares the physical pain shifting from human to wolf form and back to "rearranging ones parlor furniture for a party, [because it:] involved a transition from tidy to very messy to tidy once more." HAHAHA!
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Holy crap!! I just finished the book and I am...am...flabbergasted! Thats how it ends?? Holy crap! Now I know why the next book is called Blameless.
Good grief, well the ending aside this book was incredible. The science behind the electronic transmitters were sometimes over my head but the plot, the spies, the twists and turns...all awesome. Carriger is amazing and so is this world she has created. I positively cannot wait for the 3rd book come September!
The only things that annoyed me this book were the secondary characters. Ivy, Felicity, Tunstell and their nonsense did nothing to help the plot. All they managed was to annoy me and make me skim onto the real plot and action. In the first book Ivy was funny, adorable, and sweet, and in this book she comes off as almost stupid, annoying, self centered, and dramatic. Hopefully in the 3rd book we see more of Lyall and Akledama instead!
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Holy crap!! I just finished the book and I am...am...flabbergasted! Thats how it ends?? Holy crap! Now I know why the next book is called Blameless.
Good grief, well the ending aside this book was incredible. The science behind the electronic transmitters were sometimes over my head but the plot, the spies, the twists and turns...all awesome. Carriger is amazing and so is this world she has created. I positively cannot wait for the 3rd book come September!
The only things that annoyed me this book were the secondary characters. Ivy, Felicity, Tunstell and their nonsense did nothing to help the plot. All they managed was to annoy me and make me skim onto the real plot and action. In the first book Ivy was funny, adorable, and sweet, and in this book she comes off as almost stupid, annoying, self centered, and dramatic. Hopefully in the 3rd book we see more of Lyall and Akledama instead!
Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
Helpful Score: 3
Holy cow, I certainly didnt remember the first book being so entertaining! But I suppose my memory is just a tad off, because CHANGELESS was a wonderfully entertaining romp that had me laughing throughoutin the moments that I could tear my eyes away from the page, that is.
Overly pragmatic Lady Maccon and the lovably gruff and domineering Conall Maccon make for an utterly charming couple. From their bedroom antics (dont worry: its all PG-13!) to their sleuthing, its difficult to find a more unlikelyand thus all the more endearingparanormal couple.
Gail Carrigers writing, of course, is on Austenian levels. Like, if Jane Austen were to write steampunk/paranormal fare, it would probably sound exactly like this, with all the ridiculous characters and outrageous societal twists. Carriger has a way of writing scenes so that she doesnt come right out and say what the characters meant, but gives us ever-so-obvious hints that combine charactorial humor with narrative humor for double the entertainment!
Overly pragmatic Lady Maccon and the lovably gruff and domineering Conall Maccon make for an utterly charming couple. From their bedroom antics (dont worry: its all PG-13!) to their sleuthing, its difficult to find a more unlikelyand thus all the more endearingparanormal couple.
Gail Carrigers writing, of course, is on Austenian levels. Like, if Jane Austen were to write steampunk/paranormal fare, it would probably sound exactly like this, with all the ridiculous characters and outrageous societal twists. Carriger has a way of writing scenes so that she doesnt come right out and say what the characters meant, but gives us ever-so-obvious hints that combine charactorial humor with narrative humor for double the entertainment!
Helpful Score: 2
I was really excited to read this book because I loved the first book "Soulless" so much. This was a wonderful addition to the series; great humor, some romance, lots of adventure. I really enjoyed it; except for the ending.
Alexia is awakened when her husband is summoned away for an emergency in the middle of the afternoon (nighttime for those of us non-paranormal beings). Something has turned all of the supernatural creatures mortal and Queen Victoria is not happy. It is up to Alexia to figure out what happened and what secrets her husband is keeping from her.
There were a lot of things I loved about this book. The action scenes are well done, the plot moves along quickly, and there is a dry cutting sense of humor throughout the book. The writing style is easy to read and engaging. Carriger introduces some wonderful new characters: mainly Madame Lefoux. I loved that so many steampunk elements were attached to this story. The descriptions of Madame Lefoux's inventions and how they worked was fascinating. I also enjoyed the dirigible journey the characters went on. Alexia's upgraded parasol was wonderful too and made for some fun elements to the story.
There were some things I did not like about this book. Ivy Hisselpenny was so ridiculous at times that it went past humor and into just plain annoying. Alexia and Conall sneak around behind each other a lot, sure there are some steamy scenes between this husband and wife pair, but mostly they are just sneaking around plotting behind each other's backs..which is not the great relationship I had hoped for. Then there is the ending. The ending was abrupt and an absolute cliffhanger. I abhor cliffhanger endings. Carriger is a skilled enough author that I like reading her books, I don't need to be forced into reading the next one by a cliffhanger ending. Conall's reaction at the ending is absolutely uncalled for as well and kind of came out of nowhere.
Overall I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the third book "Blameless". I was disappointed in some aspects of Conall's and Alexia's relationship and I was extremely disappointed in the ending. Other than that, this was an excellent read. Those who love Jane Austen style humor, steampunk, or just loved the first book "Soulless" should definitely check this book out.
Alexia is awakened when her husband is summoned away for an emergency in the middle of the afternoon (nighttime for those of us non-paranormal beings). Something has turned all of the supernatural creatures mortal and Queen Victoria is not happy. It is up to Alexia to figure out what happened and what secrets her husband is keeping from her.
There were a lot of things I loved about this book. The action scenes are well done, the plot moves along quickly, and there is a dry cutting sense of humor throughout the book. The writing style is easy to read and engaging. Carriger introduces some wonderful new characters: mainly Madame Lefoux. I loved that so many steampunk elements were attached to this story. The descriptions of Madame Lefoux's inventions and how they worked was fascinating. I also enjoyed the dirigible journey the characters went on. Alexia's upgraded parasol was wonderful too and made for some fun elements to the story.
There were some things I did not like about this book. Ivy Hisselpenny was so ridiculous at times that it went past humor and into just plain annoying. Alexia and Conall sneak around behind each other a lot, sure there are some steamy scenes between this husband and wife pair, but mostly they are just sneaking around plotting behind each other's backs..which is not the great relationship I had hoped for. Then there is the ending. The ending was abrupt and an absolute cliffhanger. I abhor cliffhanger endings. Carriger is a skilled enough author that I like reading her books, I don't need to be forced into reading the next one by a cliffhanger ending. Conall's reaction at the ending is absolutely uncalled for as well and kind of came out of nowhere.
Overall I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the third book "Blameless". I was disappointed in some aspects of Conall's and Alexia's relationship and I was extremely disappointed in the ending. Other than that, this was an excellent read. Those who love Jane Austen style humor, steampunk, or just loved the first book "Soulless" should definitely check this book out.
Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
Helpful Score: 1
Alexia Maccoon, the Lady Woolsey, is a newlywed and soulless. Born without a soul, but not all the other emotions that make one human, Alexia is a preternatural. When she touches one of the supernatural, they become mortal until she removes her touch. Alexia is married to the Alpha of the local werewolf pack, and she also holds rank in the Shadow Council, a council of supernatural beings who monitor the comings and goings of the paranormal beings in the area.
When a rare occurrence takes place, Alexia is the first person under scrutiny. For some reason, in a local area, whenever a supernatural being or ghost made an appearance, they were exorcized or made mortal. This happened for hours, and after such time had passed, the supernatural beings regained their immortality, but the ghosts never reappeared.
Not long after Alexia has this conversation with her husband, he disappears for Scotland without letting her know. He also doesn't explain to her about the camp of werewolf soldiers on her front lawn. Alexia is determined to get to the bottom of it and clear her name, so she and an assortment of friends and family make haste to Scotland.
Set in the Victorian age, CHANGELESS is witty, suspenseful, and phenomenal. Alexia is a superb character who is charming, yet firm in her beliefs and her parasol will knock anyone out of her way. Clearly, a new genre has been born; part steampunk, romance, mystery, fantasy, and paranormal - CHANGELESS is sure to please many.
When a rare occurrence takes place, Alexia is the first person under scrutiny. For some reason, in a local area, whenever a supernatural being or ghost made an appearance, they were exorcized or made mortal. This happened for hours, and after such time had passed, the supernatural beings regained their immortality, but the ghosts never reappeared.
Not long after Alexia has this conversation with her husband, he disappears for Scotland without letting her know. He also doesn't explain to her about the camp of werewolf soldiers on her front lawn. Alexia is determined to get to the bottom of it and clear her name, so she and an assortment of friends and family make haste to Scotland.
Set in the Victorian age, CHANGELESS is witty, suspenseful, and phenomenal. Alexia is a superb character who is charming, yet firm in her beliefs and her parasol will knock anyone out of her way. Clearly, a new genre has been born; part steampunk, romance, mystery, fantasy, and paranormal - CHANGELESS is sure to please many.
