Soulless by Gail Carriger

I love the Victorian time period. Put a spunky, no nonsense, give me my treacle tart woman in that setting and I am a happy camper.

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire. And then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

I really enjoyed this book. The era is fun, the steampunk elements are interesting, and the main character is instantly likable. Right away you feel for Alexia. In a time where the most marriagable women were fair skinned, light haired and quiet, Alexia is tan with dark hair and has a boisterous personality.

Now that she is firmly on the shelf and is settled into spinterhood Alexia has to take her younger half sisters to party's and gatherings in society. At one such occasion Alexia gets into a little trouble. Enter Lord Maccon (swoon), to clean up the mess, literally. The interaction between Alexia and Lord Maccon is one of the best aspects of the book. They vex one another to no end and can barely stand to be in each others company (smirk). And so the book starts on its rollercoaster ride of ups and downs.

The secondary characters are a real treat in this novel.
Ivy, Alexia's best friend and owner of many unfortunate hats, is prim and proper and would never put a foot out of line. The complete opposite of Alexia.
Professor Lyall is Lord Maccon's second in the pack. He is quiet and spends a good deal of his time reminding Lord Maccon about social etiquette.
And last is Lord Akeldama. He is a vampire and a friend of Alexia (quite scandulous). He is also an extravagant dresser and keeps a harram of young men.

All together these wonderful characters make one of the best reads I have ever had. Thoroughly enjoyable and a must add to the already toppling over To Be Read pile.

Visit the authors webpage at...
www.gailcarriger.com

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