Stephanie S. (skywriter319) - , reviewed on 1/24/2010 + 784 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

I am a HUGE fan of well-executed Austenian wit and satisfying paranormal romancesâin fact, I go almost positively fangirl over those aspectsâbut I've always been wary of a blend of the two. Luckily, first-time novelist Gail Carriger has completely succeeded in this ambitious endeavor. SOULLESS is a brilliant and witty steampunk paranormal romance mystery, and one that I'll be raving about for weeks to comeâindeed, if I can ever stop raving about it.

The wry tone of narration in SOULLESS, combined with its engaging characters, makes for an utterly delightful read. For sure, it is most likely not the first time in the history of the English language that an ornery and independent spinster is a main character, but Alexia Tarabotti goes above and beyond the type. Her preternatural âabilitiesâ seem to perfectly complement her personality, unusual for the Victorian age.

Supporting characters, too, are a blast to read about. It doesn't hurt that Lord Maccon is sexy and adorably gruff. Alexia and Lord Maccon's chemistry is undeniably good, but it also doesn't direct the course of the novel, which I appreciated. The paranormal/mystery element of the plot is a little rough sometimes, but it certainly does not detract from one's enjoyment of reading this book.

Overall, SOULLESS is a cross-genre delight that will be adored by all different kinds of readers. Gail Carriger, you have a solid fan in me, and I will be looking forward impatiently to future books about Alexia and Lord Maccon!

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