'A Novel Of Vampires, Werewolves and Afternoon Tea'
As someone who has never knowingly read a 'steampunk' novel before I found the first three books of this series interesting, funny and inventive, like the characters.
The first book, Soulless, introduces the reader to the main characters quickly and a picture forms from page one of their personalities. The world in which they are placed, Victorian with added vampires, werewolves and unusual technology, is well developed and consistant.
The basic plot, without giving too much away, is that a young woman, Alexia Tarrabotti, has no soul and her touch returns vampires and werewolves to a mortal state. She is attacked by a vampire while she is hiding in a library at a Society ball, and kills him. This results in an investigation by the second main character Lord Maccon, head of the Bureau of Unnatural Registry, who is trying to discover the vampire's origins. The story unfolds as Alexia and Lord Maccon are both immersed in the investigation, soon there are attemps on Alexia's life, and both are eventually taken prisoner by a group of mad scientists. (9/10 for plot, writing and originality)
Changeless follows Alexia, now Lady Maccon, as she sets out to find her errant husband and leads her to Scotland, with a brainless younger half-sister and a lady inventor in tow. This time they are investigating a rash of mortalisations in London when a regiment of werewolves return from Egypt. The trail leads to Lord Maccon's previous pack. Dirigibles make an appearance, and so do mummies. Alexia gets a new parasol and her French maid falls to her death. Alexia is accused of being unfaithful.(7/10 - writng was still good, but i didn't find this one as interesting)
In the third novel, Blameless, Alexia sets out to prove her innocence and has to flee to France accompanied only by her butler, Madam Lefoux the inventor and hat maker, her trusty parasol and a pound of tea. She is then chased by vampires into the hands of the Templers in Italy. These rabid monks seek to use Alexia as a weapon against vampires and werewolves, eventually locking her up in catacombs beneath their monastery. At home in London Lord Maccon spends his time moping and drinking formaldehyde in an attempt to stay inebriated. Eventually he sobers up. Betrayed by an aquaintance, another mad scientist/inventor, who wishes to get his lab back, the Templers learn of Alexia's pregnancy. There are plans to dissect her. After finding crucial evidence to prove that she hasn't been unfaithful Alexia is rescued by her friends.(9/10 - Gail Carriger is back on form with this one)
Summary
The novels follow each other seemlessly, building on the foundations laid down in Soulless and expanding to develop a world that is intriguing. The inventions are believable, characters well rounded, dialogue realistic, as are the little background details that make up the picture of Victorian London.
This is a witty and entertaining introduction to the steampunk sub-genre and I eagerly await the fourth novel, Heartless (published July 2011). The fifth book, Timeless, available March 2012, is already on my wish list.
Details of Books
Paper back
£7.99
Published by Orbit
Rosemarie Cawkwell - From a Small Town in the Middle of No-where, England, I'm interested in pretty much everything except cars, shopping and 'celebrity ...
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