Review: The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger (Souless, Changeless, Blameless)

Review: The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger (Souless, Changeless, Blameless)

Content note: This review includes some mild spoilers for all of books of The Parasol Protectorate series, published so far (Souless, Changeless, Blameless), more or less along the lines of what you would find in the jacket blurbs. If you are highly spoiler-averse, you might want to skip the synopsis section.

Synopsis

The main heroine, Miss Alexia Tarabotti, is a well-bred and surprisingly well-educated spinster with highly independent personality – she is even-minded and calm but she knows perfectly well what she wants and she acts accordingly. Her family, consisting of a step-father, a silly mother and two even sillier half-sisters, doesn’t appreciate Alexia and openly frowns upon her bluestocking interests. After all her opinion hardly matter as she has no marriage prospects and more importantly, no soul – a trait inherited from her biological Italian father, the late Alessandro Tarabotti. So far you can call the story a supernatural Cinderella. Being soulless, referred to politely as preternatural, or impolitely as soul-sucker, her touch cancels out all of the supernatural attributes of vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. Preternaturals, especially female preternaturals, are extremely rare and so Miss Tarabotti’s nature is unknown to everyone outside of herself, the English supernatural community, and the relevant parts of Her Majesty’s Government, Queen Victoria including.

Alexia’s life takes an unexpected turn when a poorly dressed, uncouth vampire attacks her in a library and she kills him using her famous parasol. The Bureau of Unnatural Registry (BUR) is called in to investigate the incident, forcing Miss Tarabotti to renew her acquaintance with Lord Maccon, Earl of Woolsey, and Alpha of the London werewolves. As romance as much as mystery is at the heart of the series, Alexia and Lord Maccon fall in love with each other and get married at the end of the first part. 
In the second installment, Changeless, we see them already living together (a rare thing, the author didn’t shrink from describing a married couple!) and trying hard to adjust to their new situation and duties. Not that their life is peaceful and easy. Somebody tries, unsuccessfully, to kill Alexia as she follows Lord Maccon to his native Scotland, where he had departed rather suddenly one day after talking to a ghost. Alexia travels in a dirigible with one of her sisters, two friends and her faithful secretary, Floote. I must say the dirigibles (a.k.a. Zeppelins) were greater fun than the planes although they were also slower and the food was still awful.

Without giving off too much I must mention that at the end of the second part ludicrous allegations are made against our heroine, but nobody, let alone her husband, listens to her explanations. The worst thing is that she doesn't have a clue how to proceed either. Rational thinking seemed to have flown out the windows of that damp, mouldy Scottish castle, and the third part, Blameless, is about Alexia clearing her unjustly besmirched reputation and making her stubborn husband understand the depth of her attachment. Doing so, she is forced to travel to the native country of her father despite her delicate condition and the fact that all the vampires seem to be hell-bent on finishing her off. In Italy she partially uncovers some mysteries of her dad's childhood (he died in Alexia's infancy so she didn't know anything about him), his ties to Knights Templars and many other things, pleasant or unpleasant but always fascinating, not to mention pesto, the famous Italian delicacy.

What I liked:

All three books entertain through sharp wit, dry commentary, and an unusual array of paranormals but their biggest asset, in my opinion, lies elsewhere. This fantasy series is based on the premise that the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church came about not because King Henry VIII wanted to have a fresher wife by his ample side but because he decided to integrate the supernaturals – namely vampires, werewolves, and ghosts – into English society. The supernaturals stopped being treated as natural enemies of the humankind and their skills were put to good uses with incredible success, creating thus the British Empire. Personally I found such a theory very original if not well-founded.

The romantic thread was presented equally well - the relationship between Alexia and Conall Maccon is so authentically awkward that it becomes nostalgically charming instead of boring. It was so nice to sit back and read about two people whose biggest obstacles were themselves.
I was also fascinated by the secondary characters – the development of Floote, Alexia’s butler/her father’s former valet, who has had much more history with the supernaturals/Templars than we’d known was riveting and the character Madame LeFoux as a liberated French woman in Victorian England was presented perfectly well. Not to mention the long-suffering Beta of the Woolsey pack, professor Lyall, a specialist in sheep.

What I didn’t like:

My only complaint is that we kept getting explanations about the alternative London world that Alexia exists in over and over again. It was slightly boring I must say. Several times, someone mentions Alexia’s odd state, and the effects thereof, and about how greatly disappointed her family was with her. All of this was given ample time and consideration in the first book, there was no need to repeat it in the sequels too.


The final verdict:

I think anyone not fundamentally opposed to the paranormal romance genre will find something, if not everything, to enjoy in Carriger’s series. Personally I am looking forward to reading the next installments (“Heartless” and "Timeless").

Teaser Tuesday 12 October

The Tuesday meme hosted by MizB at shouldbereading.wordpress.com

Finnaly I got the Alexia Tarabotti series by Gail Carriger. It seemed like ages but I decided to be very patient. I know, I know, back to vampires and werewolves but let's give the series a chance. I quote from the first part, "Souless", chapter one, which opens as follows:

"Miss Alexia Tarabotti was not enjoying her evening. Private balls were never more than middling amusements for spinsters and Miss Tarabotti was not the kind of spinster who could garner even that much pleasure from the event. To put the pudding in the puff: she had retreated to the library, her favourite sanctuary in any house, only to happen upon an unexpected vampire."

How can you not like her?

Silent Sunday

Review: Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Review: Hunger Games trilogy (Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay) by Suzanne Collins

Cover of The Hunger Games

Synopsis:

Somewhere in the distant future the USA are no longer a great democratic country. After a series of natural disasters it is reduced to Panem, a country consisting of 13 districts and ruled from the Capitol by a despot called President. After a bloody uprising, organized by the 13th district, the government forces decide to level the 13th district’s area to the ground; allegedly all its inhabitants are dead, the terrain is contaminated by nuclear waste and unfit to live. All the other districts are severely punished for the cooperation with the rebels – not only people are forced to vegetate as peasants and blue-collar workers on a pittance bordering sometimes starvation but also each year during a ceremony called reaping the government officials draw for two underage children (adults must work so they get off), a boy and a girl from every district; they become tributes and must take part in bloody Hunger Games, filmed and broadcast, in which you either kill or you are killed. A punishment and compulsory entertainment in one- isn’t our dear leader rather clever? The sole survivor is the winner; she/he is awarded a luxury life (like a comfortable house, some money, nice clothes and plenty of food for the victor's district) and fame but it doesn’t mean they are left to live happily ever after. It would be virtually impossible to live happily after taking part in such a nightmare as the Games.

We meet the family of Katniss Everdeen, a passionate 15-year-old girl, just before the reaping in district 12, one of the poorest but also the least important ones. She lives with her mother and Primrose, her younger sister. She must hunt to feed them although hunting is officially illegal; her father died in a mining accident and her mother doesn't earn enough. At the ceremony, her little sister is chosen by lottery to be the girl tribute. Shocked Katniss volunteers to take her place (volunteering is allowed). Her partner and competitor in the Games will be Peeta Mellark, the son of a local baker; he loves Katniss secretly but otherwise seems to be rather soft and ordinary boy without any combat training, in other words a perfect victim. He is no fool, though and knows his chances of winning are slim; his main aim is to help Katniss to survive. Katniss is not sure of his good intentions because there are no reliable allies at the Games. As we deal with a trilogy here it will be perhaps not a big spoiler if I tell you that both Katniss and Peeta survived the first Games (but I am not telling how). However, if you think it is the end of their ordeal you can't be more wrong. They provided good entertainment but also did the unthinkable, outsmarting Gamemasters and the Capitol. It is considered almost an act of defiance. They will never be left alone especially that after the Games a new rebellion is brewing in different districts. President Snow wants Katniss to prevent it happening but is it really in her power to do so? She and Peeta have no choice - they must try their utmost as their life and the life of their families and friends is on the line.

Cover via Amazon

What I liked:

Plenty. The pace of narration leaves you simply breathless, the idea behind the plot is incredibly good and original, combining Greek myths, Roman gladiator games and more contemporary events like those ugly reality shows. In my opinion the authoress brought out all the subtleties necessary for such a dark story. The series is simply un-put-downable so I was very glad I had waited a bit to be able to order all three books at once; otherwise I would be agonizing over the end constantly.

The lead character is portrayed in a truly heart-wrenching manner: as we get fond of her almost immediately we observe with ache how she struggles to save her life and sanity in quite barbaric circumstances she must face. I also liked her main partner in the Games, Peeta, very much – an intelligent boy full of kindness who simply can’t stop protecting his beloved Katniss even if he is not sure of her feelings or, in fact, anything else. What a nice surprise he wasn't a vampire ;).

Last but not least, I found the description of the Capitol people and the rebels very real indeed: we don’t have here good guys vs. bad guys cliché but on every side we are presented with different shades of evil. Some of the rebels would certainly fit the ugly Capitol without any problem and some of Capitol inhabitants are not bad at all.

What I didn’t like:

Cover via Amazon

I have no intention to pick holes in an undeniably brilliant series but I would like mention two things I didn’t like in these books.

First, the fact that we deal here with another romantic trio (Katniss, Gale and Peeta) I found simply silly. I must admit this kind of mannerism in YA literature, so popular nowadays, is getting on my nerves a lot. Soon enough any girl, be it a fictional character or a real person, who doesn’t have two boys vying for her attention at the same time will consider herself seriously deficient.

Second, I wonder why the character of Katniss’s mother was portrayed in such a way. I mean I don’t quite get why she did so little to help her daughter - she seems to be too busy to play an important role in her healing and finally she decides to leave unstable Katniss in the care of that emotionally scarred, unreliable drunkard, Haymitch, so practically on her own, in the ruins of her home district. I consider it rather strange, especially taking into account the fate of Prim. In my view it would have been more natural if they had stayed together, at least for some time.

The final verdict:

I do recommend this series to anyone who likes good stories told in a terrific manner. Just incredible read!

Image via Wikipedia

Teaser Tuesday 4 October

The Tuesday meme hosted by MizB at shouldbereading.wordpress.com

This week again I read about some epic battles fought by Kate Daniels in the futuristic Atlanta. They are awaiting you in "Magic Strikes" by Ilona Andrews - here is one fragment to make you feel the athmosphere ;): p.173. Our heroine has a logistical problem...

"They were our evidence. I would have to carry one. A seven-foot-tall scallen monstrosity, a green creature covered in foot-long needles or the guy missing most of his flesh from his ass and legs. Hmm, let me think..."

Cover of Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels, Book 3)

Silent Sunday

From my brain to this blog part 3

The post is the final part of the creative exercise, started and hosted by Brooke Bluestocking Guide. The first part you can find clicking here and the second - here. Feel free to comment and have fun!


That’s what happens when you follow your heart...

I started looking for jobs which didn’t require a full day’s work. There were plenty of them available for a willing person and soon enough I was very busy earning money for my dream shoes. I babysat in the evenings for a week, I cleaned some flats for elderly people, then I filled in for a friend at McDonalds and I wrote several French homework short stories meanwhile. It was ok although I was always tired. If only it was equally profitable…As you might guess I earned little and managed to save even less. Carrying on like that it would take me probably a year to amass the sum I deemed necessary for my happiness. I had less than a month. I got desperate. It was high time I spoke with my rich friend, Greta. I hated to admit it but she was my last chance.

Greta was very short, very slim and rather attractive. With an owner of several wholesale shoes and clothing companies for a mother and a bank manager for a father she could certainly afford it. Her hair was always professionally cut and dyed, her teeth – even and whitened to the extreme, her nails manicured and varnished, her clothes - of the latest fashion and the highest quality. She drove a red Volkswagen Polo which added greatly to her charms. Fortunately Greta didn’t like studying much; that’s why from time to time she needed a poor, scruffy nerd - in other words yours truly - to make her head less muddled up. So far I hadn’t asked her to pay me for bouts of private tutoring because I profited from them as well. As a result, she always gave me a peck on the cheek when seeing me in public and generally was rather nice around me although normally she would give everybody short shrift, especially her female friends.

I arranged a meeting in a café and as soon as Greta arrived I asked her for a favour.

“What kind of favour?” she inquired in her low husky voice

“I need money,” I blurted out. “Would you mind lending me some?”

I didn’t have time for beating around the bush. In half an hour I was expected to clean a flat and then I had some classes to attend. My direct-and-almost-honest strategy seemed to be working, though.

“What for?” asked Greta, also without a preamble, but I saw the curiosity sparkling in her large, perfectly made-up gray-blue eyes.

Live wire. Proceed with caution.

“You know I’ve met someone recently and now I want to go to Paris with him. Such a perfect thing, spring in Paris. I can’t ask my parents because they would never allow me to go there.   I will pay you back, you know I will.”

Her knowledge was even fuller than that: she knew I spoke French tolerably well (as we both attended the same French classes) and she knew I always wanted to visit Paris. So far so good. I added a bogus boyfriend because I knew she enjoyed reading those tacky Harlequin romances and watching equally cheesy soap operas. One thing I didn’t know, though.

“Oh, how awful. I am very sorry, sweetie, I can’t give you a loan. How much money do you need by the way?”

Stunned, I wrote the sum on the napkin. Hope does die the last.

 “That much? Dear me, that’s a lot. I would love to help you, I really would, but I can’t. I set up my own company last month and what with all these taxes and premiums to pay I am close to broke. I’m sorry, it seems your little trip must wait but surely there’s luck in leisure, isn’t it?”

I didn’t expect that and I was shocked. Greta sipped her coffee with a small satisfied smirk on her face. It made me think she was pulling my leg as much as I was pulling hers. A tug-of-war. Great. Anyway I knew I lost the last chance of buying my dream shoes and it left a bad taste in my mouth. With tears in my eyes I paid for the coffee, declining Greta’s generous offer to foot the bill, excused myself and left. She made the right noises (I almost heard her thinking that she might still need my services in the future) but I knew something was off. In that moment I hardly wanted to find out what. The most important thing was that I lost. I could kiss my shoes good-bye.

I would dwell on my misery longer if only I had more time. The examination session approached – I had to put my nose to the grindstone in order to get high marks and secure my living for the next semester. I managed to do that again and, almost happy, I decided to let my hair down a bit. Some of my friends were going to a popular club and I joined them. When my eyes accommodated to semi-darkness I recognized a short, slim figure wobbling rather clumsily on a dancing platform in the middle of the club. It was Greta. I noticed she was a bit higher than her usual self. Wearing incredible high-heels. I didn’t need the strobe light, pulsating from time to time above her head, to guess what kind of shoes they were - cherry-red and expensive.

I wanted to go out and howl with rage to the moon, I wanted to strangle Greta with my bare hands and drink her blood. I move away from her as far as possible (so directly to the bar) and ordered a beer to occupy my shaky hands. The evening turned out to be a complete failure. I declined any dance offers that came along not even bothering myself with looking at the offering guys. My friends, seeing the sudden change in my mood, tried to engage me in a chit-chat. I wasn’t responsive enough so they moved away from me. I could hardly blame them - they came there to have fun, not to cry over red shoes. I finished the ordered beer and was almost leaving when I heard a muffled shriek and saw a commotion on the platform. People were leaving it in a hurry as somebody was lying next to it on the floor, swearing profusely. The DJ stopped music and then I recognized that voice. Greta. I came nearer, intrigued. She was clutching her leg and her face was streaked with tears. A tall man next to her was very busy dialing a number. Calling an ambulance. I went outside with others but decided to wait a bit longer to see the end of the story. Paramedics arrived after a while and Greta was stretchered off, one of her red shoes positioned squarely on her chest. People gaped at her and commented; listening to them I found out that she was pushed and fell off the dancing platform, breaking the heel of one of these incredible stilettos and probably her leg as well.

The rumours proved to be quite correct. Greta spent four days in hospital and then her leg was in plaster for a month, undoubtedly ruining her holiday. I’ve never asked whether she knew about my shoes and how come she bought the same pair I wanted so badly but I guess her mother must have known the manager of the shoe shop I had negotiated with. All these business people gossip a lot. Anyway my brief fling with posh stilettos taught me a lot about the responsibility and earning a living - not easy tasks, both of them.