Changeless

Better than the first book, in my opinion. I can't wait to read the next one! I am happy with the flow of this series. The characters are my favorite part of the series. I also love Carriger's other book, a YA novel, Etiquette and Espionage. ( )

Spring-Summer 2010

3.5 stars

WHAT the hell. (the ending)
( )

Changeless is the second outing for Alexia Maccon in the Parasol Protectorate series. Alexia is woken by her husband’s yelling, and then he promptly disappears. A ‘plague’ of humanisation is sweeping the country – ghosts are exorcised and the werewolves and vampires are no longer immortal. Conall’s investigation takes him to Scotland, but when Alexia realises the plague is also moving in the same direction she sets off in pursuit - after dealing with the regiment camped on her front lawn.

This was a good, fun follow up to Carriger's debut and sees the return of her particular brand of wit and snappy dialogue. All of the characters from Soulless are back, with a few new additions as well. Although Alexia has grown into her role as pack mistress and her and Conall remain a fun couple, the character development in this instalment is limited. Ivy in particular, is still utterly foolish, and after two books this is starting to grate slightly.

The mystery aspect of the story is used well to continue to develop the history and mythology of the supernatural inhabitants of Carriger’s London, although the overall explanation of what caused the soulless plague is perhaps a bit weak. Carriger has also continued with her world building in this installment. The major elements of Alexia and Conall's world were laid out in Soulless, but here we get more details of the different technologies in existence.

Luckily I’m a late comer to this series and I had Blameless waiting on my shelf – the cliff hanger ending had me diving straight into Book the Third. ( )

See Abigail's review at All Things Urban Fantasy. ( )