Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger

The Parasol Protectorate - Bk. 1

 Soulless

by Gail Carriger

    Orbit (publishers) tag this as "a comedy of manners set in Victorian London full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking." Set in a 19th-century London where the supernatural are all common and (mostly) accepted by society. 

    

    At 25 years of age Alexia is past her main eligibility. A bluestocking, from Italian decent, highly outspoken and more muscled than is socially desirable. If that wasn't bad enough, she also has no soul (a very unique case). 

    Lord Conall Maccon (Aplha werewolf and government official) and Alexia do not see eye-to-eye, actually they dislike each other rather intensely. 

    After an accidental murder at a party, with Alexia being the perpetrator —she and Conall must work together to solve a supernatural mystery. 

    Thank heavens for tea, otherwise it would be most intolerable for for them to work together.

    This series seems to be a rather acquired taste. There is a lot of love, and a lot of hate for this book in reviews. An interesting mix of fantasy, paranormal romance and steampunk (plus a smattering of other genre).

    I will admit this is here for a more adult version of steampunk (compared to Westerfeld). This is also probably going to be one of the very few paranormal romance link-ins as well.

    If you find this not your cup of tea (put not intended but the book really is obsessed with tea), leave a post and I can forward you to some more, maybe not so female focused, but good, steampunk.

    Also try Pip Ballantine/Tee Morri's Phoenix Rising. One of the leads in a female I know and up to page 80-odd she is a major kick-ass =)

• Changeless (Book 2)
• Blameless (Book 3)
• Heartless (Book 4) - Out September 2011
• Timeless (Book 5) - Out around March 2012

 

 

Australian/US covers. Orbit.

Carriger, Gail. Soulless, New York : Orbit, 2009.