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Loading... Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate) (edition 2010)by Gail Carriger
Work InformationChangeless by Gail Carriger
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Vampires and werewolves galore and a lively woman protagonist in an interesting start for this Steampunk Series ( ) It was ok, I guess. So far, I find this series fun but on the shallow end of things. Which is okay! Not everything has to be super thoughtful! I do think, though, if you're going to do alternative-historical fiction where it's our world but with supernaturals... we do need to think about how that would affect society, and at various class levels. It exists in the world, and maybe it's because of our viewpoint characters but they're rather... limiting? Privileged for sure? Maybe a sense of situational irony where they're not as aware of things? Anyway, there is an interesting mystery here, of why there's an area that nullifies supernatural powers (and exorcises ghosts- seemingly permanent?) and the implications of the why could've had more time on it. Instead, we get banter between characters and... I guess that's ok? I dunno. I'm going to read the rest of the series because I'm intrigued by the worldbuilding, but I'm not compelled by these characters yet. Changeless, the second book in Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series, picks up some undefined time after the end of Soulless. A new threat emerges, sending Alexia’s husband, Lord Maccon (a werewolf), disappearing in the middle of the afternoon, leaving Alexia to try and piece together what in the name of the devil happened. Changeless, like its predecessor, entertains through sharp wit, dry commentary, and an unusual array of paranormals, not the least of which is Alexia herself–a “preternatural” who (more or less) nullifies paranormal abilities. However, while in the first book we had Alexia worrying about why Lord Maccon, Conall, was doing his best to seduce her at every possible chance, in this book we have…actually pretty much the same thing. Only now they are married, so Alexia only puts up the barest hint of objection (usually only because Conall tends to try and seduce her in public). The marvelous thing about Alexia is that she is a very even-minded and calm individual. It takes quite a bit to really shake her, and she recovers her poise quickly. As for the threat that sends Conall gallivanting away, and then has Alexia following him to engage in her own adventures (like the dirigible!) so she can track him down and give him an earful, I admit to some confusion. I have a feeling on a re-read it will make more sense, since many of the details are more or less mixed together with the emotional aspects of the novel that took a lot of precedent at times. At times the plot seemed to deviate off course, focusing an awful lot on how ill Alexia kept feeling, but by the end of the novel the importance of that matter is fully explained. Or at least, it’s given a fair explanation that leaves room for a more in-depth discussion in the third book (Blameless). My only complaint was that it seemed like we kept getting explanations about the alternative London world that Alexia exists in over and over again. Several times, someone mentions Alexia’s odd state, and the effects thereof, and I was ready to smack someone over the head if I heard any more about how greatly disappointed her family was with her. All of this was given ample time and consideration in the first book, and you can’t go into this book without first reading Soulless, so I didn’t feel there was any need for the points to be dragged on in this sequel. The end, (the denouement, that is that is) made me more than a little mad, as well. Not at the author, but for Alexia. Without giving off spoilers, suffice to say allegations are made against her that anyone who had spent any time in her presence would know are ludicrous, but nobody listens to her. Rational thinking seemed to have flown out the windows, and the excerpt from Blameless (included in the back of the book) doesn’t speak well of how it all goes. I don’t know how she will forgive anyone, honestly–I would just as soon kick them all to the curb and tell them to get over themselves. Carriger delivers another entertaining and amusing novel that should interest several different genres of readers; historical romance fans (she does her research, and she does it well), paranormal fans, and fans of witty heroines who don’t cave in under pressure.
Changeless, the sequel to the award winning debut novel, Soulless, is even more enjoyable than the first book, with more comedy, suspense and steampunk fun. Garriger brings back her excellent writing skills, witty dialogue and lovely descriptions in this sequel to her first novel, Soulless. Alexia Trabotti, now Lady Maccon faces a host of comical obstacles in this new addition to The Parasol Protectorate Series. In addition to waking up morning and finding her husband off to who knows where, she must deal with problems with her best friend, a troop of werewolves on her front lawn and another conspiracy taking place within the supernatural community. Is contained inHas the adaptationAwardsDistinctions
"Alexia Tarabotti , the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently alseep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. The he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria. But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the souless can. She might even find time to track down her wayward husband - if she feels like it."--back cover. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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