Hope V. (nightshadenectar) reviewed on 5/18/2011

I made the mistake of judging this book by its truly awesome cover (both the design on the front and the writing on the back) and was sorely disappointed by what I found inside. One reviewer couldn't stop smiling while reading "Soulless", but I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. The book is like a suitor who lacks personality but is trying much too hard to win your fancy: the harder this book tries, the more annoying it gets (and the easier it becomes to see how much substance it lacks). Despite Carriger's attempt to dress it up with a Victorian London setting and a poor attempt at steampunk (really, I don't think it gets to be called steampunk if all it has is a couple of zeppelins, a brass parasol, and some techno-modified opera glasses), the underpinnings of this book smack of "Twilight"- and not in a good way. I have no problem with a supernatural element to a novel, but I have little tolerance for confining oneself to the tired vampire vs. werewolf antagonism with few new twists (although I did appreciate Carriger's integration of supernaturals in government structure) or other supernatural beings. Like "Twilight", the romance is predictable and there is little to no development of the one-dimensional characters. Carriger does not seem to be an adherent of the old writing adage "Show, don't tell," nor does she seem able to keep her characters (particularly her protagonist, Alexia) from straying to quite out-of-period actions and thoughts- even Carriger's "Victorian" prose itself often rings false. Alexia apparently lacks a soul (though it's difficult to ever find evidence of this aside from the times the author explains it to us point-blank), but she at least has some spirit- the one quality that makes her a more redeeming and satisfying protagonist than Bella Swan of "Twilight". As an avid fan of both classic Victorian literature and steampunk subculture, I was very disappointed with this book and, after forcing myself through a few hundred pages, remembered that I had better books to read and gave up on this one (which almost never happens).

If you're a frequent reader of romances or cozy mysteries, then you'll probably know what to expect from this book, and if the plot sounds like your cup of tea, then this might actually be a real treat. But if you're more interested in actual Victorian literature and its attention to developing complex themes and characters, I'd suggest keeping your hands off this book, lest you throw it at a wall in frustration as I nearly did.

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