GL Carriger - The Dratsie Dilemma

Once upon a time, Trick went up against the sea and lost. Badly. Or so he thought.
What the sea decides to keep, it keeps forever.
Trick is a dratsie shifter, a river otter. He is charming, loads of fun, and a little bit slippery. He’s running from a past he can’t forget, and he’s landed unexpectedly in the chaotic comforting embrace of a small-town cafe and the world’s queerest pack of werewolves.
Unfortunately, it turns out the past has also refused to forget Trick. It washes up on his doorstep and gets instantly tangled up in marine biology conferences, twelve mermaids thrift shopping, and specialty cappuccinos.
That past is grumpy, sexy, and wearing a very sparkly tail. (Don’t you dare call him a fish.)
Trick was just starting to feel like it was all going to be okay. But sometimes the sea decides to spit up a merman who has been looking for Trick for over a decade. Trick will have to decide whether he starts running all over again or faces up to heartbreak and the childhood best friend who betrayed him.

Comment: This is the fourth full length installment in the San Andreas Shifters series by author GL Carriger, who is actually Gail Carriger. The last story in this series had been published in 2020 and I have been eagerly awaiting more stories, for what I have read was very appealing altogether. At last, this book was released in the past December and I was quite happy to finally take another dive! (pun intended since the main characters are water shifters)

Trick is an otter shifter. Otters are known to have large families and Trick's is no exception but they have always gotten themselves into trouble, the criminal type. Trick has often escaped to his neighbor's house, where he met Sato, the mermen who became his best friend and then, boyfriend. However, the promises they made to each other failed, and now Trick is on the other side of the country and is part of the San Andreas pack, as weird as that can be. He wasn't counting on Sato truly coming back...

Sato did come back but it was later than what he intended and he has been searching for Trick for all this time. By chance, he is with his pod in California, for they are attending a marine conference, and suddenly, there is Patrick, the boy he has always loved. He wants to win him over, but will the pressures of the past, which separated them due to several obligations, be reason to push them apart again? 

After years since I had read the last book in the series, there were things I no longer remembered that's true. But many others just came to mind the longer I read. What I like the most about these books is how heartfelt the character connections are and how each protagonist, in their own story, feels much more than seems if they are simply secondary characters...

This story features an interesting couple. The series is mainly focused on werewolves and their pack dynamics, but this time we have two shifters who are water oriented, Trick is an otter and Sato is a mermen. Throughout the story we get to learn many cultural details about these two types of shifters, why they are the way they are, personality aside and I must say that while I love the author's imagination, the water born shifters' dynamics certainly don't dazzle me as much as the more traditional wolf ones do. It was great these two were linked to the pack, but their relationship and the water "roots" wasn't as impressive to me.

What did impress was, as in the other books, how the characters' dynamics made for such an engrossing read. Trick and Sato were apart for a long time, still thinking about one another and longing and feeling sad over the separation, and while the story develops these thoughts and feelings are often part of their daily routines and in how they deal with others. I think this is a good way to convey emotion and longing too, because it shows they are not just the labels one might give them, such as needy Trick and stoic Sato.

Their romance was sweet in the sense that they longed for one another even when they both thought the other hadn't fulfilled the promise of waiting. I think they were on the verge of being a bit obsessed with each other and Sato especially seems too focused on Trick... I suppose shifters would always behave this way and Sato could even been seen as in the spectrum if he were human and not shifter, but I wouldn't have minded that their relationship could be a bit more balanced. I was still happy for them, of course, and that they managed to find each other again.

There is certainly a huge dose of shenanigans and craziness in these books, though. I can understand it isn't a style that will resonate with all readers. Comparing a little to the author's work as Gail Carriger, there are series which mix up these crazy and serious elements quite well, and other stories in which it seems everything is over the top. I confess there were moments in which the absurd of some scenes/situations made me roll my eyes, but in general, the vibe was still a good vibe of what I like about these types of books...light stuff in the middle of an actual sedate plot.

I had a great time reading this book, even the more serious parts. I hope the author won't be taking too long to release a new novel in the series.... even the characters who aren't werewolves have their appeal!

Grade: 8/10

Two novellas

Two of the last stories I've read were novellas. Since both are on the small size in terms of page count, I've decided to write only a small summary on them.

How to Marry a Werewolf by Gail Carriger is apparently a stand alone novella in the werewolf universe created by the author but I think it would only make true sense for those who have read other books in the main series (Parasol Protectorate). It also addresses situations which, although understandably for this specific story, are so much more interesting if w know something about the characters' backgrounds.
This is the story of major Channing, a recurrent secondary character we've sen in most of the books in the main series and he finally has his HEA. We only knew he had a past he wanted to forget, that being a werewolf is both a blessing and a curse for him but he is now content to have an alpha his wolf is happy with. In comes Faith, an American whose family wants to get rid of after an indiscretion and traveling to England and marry a werewolf is the "fate" the family deemed proper for Faith's "crime". However, Faith does find a much better life here than she could have anticipated...
I liked this novella, it reminded me of why I have liked the author's work so much...both protagonists are actually vulnerable people who find common ground and in little things we learn a lot of them, which so many authors can't do. There's a lot of shenanigans which can sound a bit too complicated to situate within the overall plot but I like the writing style, so this worked out for me. I think the path to happiness wasn't too easy for them, but when the story ended, I liked knowing they can be happy together, that they dealt with the things of their past which were roadblocks to become happier people and I also liked seeing beloved characters again. Again, I liked this one a lot but maybe for some new readers, some details may sound confusing.
Grade: 8/10

Out of the Ashes by Hailey Turner is a novella part of the Metahuman Files series, featuring a futuristic reality where some humans became something more after the exposure to a chemical weapon. In this novella we follow the events of book #4, where the protagonists faced torture. Now, after some months, and when both are about to be cleared for new missions, they still deal with the PTSD, especially Sean, who feels guilty he might have been the reason why Alexei was tortured. 
Although this affects their life together, they are in love and they want the best for one another so despite the conflict, they still defend and help one another. This is particularly important int heir next mission, which they share, but someone from the past will force them to trust one another despite the personal feelings.
I really think this should not be read as a standalone, there too much information compacted which might not feel easy to grasp, and it's always more rewarding if one has prior knowledge from other books. Sean and Alexei are still my favorite couple, their dynamics as a couple seem to me mire balanced than that of Jamie and Kyle, for instance, and although it feels too long is spend on thinking about their issues and the solving of them is too quick comparing, I still felt glad they talked and found a way to truly communicate and reinforce their relationship. I'm very eager to see them more in future installments.
Grade: 8/10

Gail Carriger - Poison or Protect

Lady Preshea Villentia, the Mourning Star, has four dead husbands and a nasty reputation. Fortunately, she looks fabulous in black.
What society doesn’t know is that all her husbands were marked for death by Preshea’s employer. And Preshea has one final assignment.
It was supposed to be easy, a house party with minimal bloodshed. Preshea hadn’t anticipated Captain Gavin Ruthven – massive, Scottish, quietly irresistible, and… working for the enemy.
In a battle of wits, Preshea may risk her own heart – a terrifying prospect, as she never knew she had one.
New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger presents a charming love story set in her popular steampunk Parasolverse. May contain plaid, appearances from favorite characters, and the strategic application of leather gloves.

Comment: I have loved the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. Since the, I have read other things by her and the majority, I have liked, but some series have not appealed to me. That is why I keep adding books written by her (both under her name and her pen name) to my TBR and this month I added this novella, labeled as a different series but connected to the one I mentioned.

In this short story, we follow Preshea Villentia, a clever woman who is known to have became a widow four times and many don't know if it as always naturally. This gave her an aura of mystery and curiosity which makes it easier for her to conduct her secret role of assassin or simply spy if necessary. When this books starts, she had been given the task of preventing an assassination and a possible engagement, and that is how she sees herself at a house party, which suits her goals wonderfully. At the same place, she meets captain Gavin Ruthven, who is there with the same goal but although they play for different employers, it seems there is a special connection between them, or there isn't?

For a short story, this was quite well laid out. I think the author did a god job in placing things in motion and in allowing the reader to have a feel of what kind of story this would be. Her wit and style is as sharp as ever and the characterization and dialogues wonderful as I remember from that original series (what I have read by her more recently was contemporary). I think a new reader might start this and feel a little confused about the "rules" of this steampunk series but I think it wouldn't take too long for any reader to get used to it.

I think the best feature of the author's style in this genre is the wording, the way characters talk. It can be both amusing and overwhelming because I would struggle to think about which words to use to have the biggest impact, so I can imagine the author cleverly writing away and thinking about how to best put things on paper. Because of this, the characters always seem larger than life, although they can also look a little too able or too much of everything. I like it best when we are able to see their vulnerabilities, to understand their softer side but I wouldn't say this happens as smoothly as it could all the time...in this novella, for instance, perhaps due to the smaller length, the more personal side of both protagonists felt a little "forced" for the place (a house party with established time line).

I liked Preshea, and I think we are able to have a good idea about her personality and "softer side" like I call it, while the plot develops. Nothing is overly explained, though (page limit) and I miss some more interactions of her with others outside of the house party to be able to say I got to like her as a character. The little things we learn about her past help but it still felt there was a big gap between who she used to be and the persona she presents now.

Gavin reminds me of a teddy bear, in the sense he is big and strong but cute and wants to comfort, to take care of Preshea. Although some secondary things occupy a lot of his time during the house party, they still found a way to be attracted and talk but apart from the obvious, I don't think I got to know him that well and I foresee I'll forget most things about him (and the novella) in the future. I'll say I wasn't too excited about the romance between them and how they are made to match intimately. I suppose the author wanted to put all the details in sync when it comes to how well this couple is meant to suit but I certainly wasn't convinced.

In the end, perhaps what I can say is that, for me, the romance wasn't as romantic as I imagined it could be. I'm aware of the author's style, yes, I have said so, but there's always this hope the characters would go a certain way in their mutual journey and even though this story delivered on what it promised, I still imagined... well, it doesn't matter because if one thinks from a different perspective, then the author was faithful to her style and to her characterization. Still, it seems to me that the original series was perfection and everything steampunk I've tried by her since then wasn't as amazing to my expectations... but I'll try something else in the future too.

Grade: 6/10

GL Carriger - The Enforcer Enigma

Judd has wandered from pack to pack his whole life, searching for wolves who will accept him for who he is and who he loves. Now he believes that he’s finally found the right pack and the right man.
Rejected by his family for being gay and geeky, Colin has never fit in with werewolves, yet now he is one. He doesn’t know how to react when Judd starts courting him. He’s even more lost when a famous singer, the selkie mob, and the feds also start chasing him.
Can Judd protect Colin and still prove his love? Can Colin figure out why enemy shifters are invading his favorite cafe? And what’s with all the gold sparkle? Find out in The Enforcer Enigma.

Comment: I got this book because I've been a fan of the series since the author started publishing them. I was more than glad to finally pick this one up.

In this 3rd installment, we have the story of Colin and Judd, the two extremes in the pack. Judd is the oldest of them and Colin the youngest.

Although they have been treating each other as pack members, it does seem to be obvious to everyone how much connection exists between them, even though both aren't what one could describe as "chatty" or "obvious".

However, now that someone from Colin's (and his fellow pack member and older brother Kevin) life is in need of protection from their bodyguard business, Colin starts to think about himself and what he could gain from life if he takes a chance on his own happiness. The fact Judd is thinking along the same lines surprises him but in such an inclusive pack, why not grabbing what could be a lifelong bond?

Will Colin and Judd g past their own quiet personalities and possible fears and become the couple everyone already expects them to be?

I have had a great time reading the stories in this San Andreas series featuring mainly gay protagonists in a paranormal setting. The author is Gail Carriger, known for her excellent world building and imagination in the PNR area.

The first two full length books in this series were amazing to me and I had hopes this would be too. In terms of romance and character development yes, it was indeed amazing, as was how heartwarming the relationships between the pack members.

However, two main reasons made me like this installment a little less, when comparing to the others.

The first reason is the main characters' personalities.

Both Judd and Colin are likable characters, they are quiet, reserved people and I could easily identify with their need to be alone, to be their own person even if they felt right in a pack. Physically the age difference doesn't get to be such a big deal between them but in maturity and experience, yes. Judd is often letting Colin be aware of how far he can go, how well he feels in certain things... I really liked how well they communicated and discussed what was good for each other.

However, this also made for a slight analytical beginning for them, it wasn't as spontaneous and vibrant as the previous couples' evolution was.

Colin also felt he could be more daring but things from his life made him close on himself. This is fine, people evolve and change but I thought his nerdiness and quiet personality seemed more intriguing in the other books. Same for Judd, his aura of mystery and quiet strength felt more interesting before this book where he acted more as a teacher/mentor than a mysterious guy.

I suppose their relationship, overall, wasn't as romantically developed as the others.

The second reason is the tone of the character's interactions and, therefore, of the story as a whole.

The plot didn't interest me as much as the events in the previous books either but it did allow for some information to be pertinent to be known. Throughout the story we get to see characters interact and situations to be developed. Fine but it just felt some situations were explored more for their strangeness and the characters seemed to showcase their quirkiness and in some of them, the "twink" side of their personality. 

Again, all fine, but them the tone feels a little bit fluffier and I must say I liked the balance of the other books more. It feels as if here the author let go of some control in what kind of information is shared and I confess I preferred the more serious and apparent maturity in the pack's interactions seen in the first two books.

It's true I might be unfair in this, for I keep making comparisons but books #1 and #2 really were great, balanced, sweet without being fluffy, cute without being silly. It feels as if here some of the tone and the situations were a little too ridiculous. 

Other times it felt as if all characters had to be as out and loud as they could. I admit I don't enjoy stories with the so-called "twink" very much for it always seems they are described as almost childish and only interested in make up and glitter and clothes... I'm generalizing, of course, but it's what comes to mind as soon as I think the word. Some characters in this series are proudly so and that's fine but I like it better, personally, when that isn't so obviously mentioned or such a big part of the plot or the characterization.

Still, this was a good story and I liked seeing where the other characters were at, how they interact and deal with one another.

The plot ended up on a situation I can't see the appeal of, it was a little unimportant to me because the emotional content it could start of didn't have such a big impact as it could (perhaps of the tone as I've mentioned) but overall, it was information enough.

I'm still eager to keep reading the series and although the next book features another "twink" character, I have hopes it will be a more engaging story to me.

Grade: 7/10

GL Carriger - The Omega Objection

Can a gentle giant with a trampled heart show a man who’s been running all his life that sometimes there are monsters worth running towards?
A werewolf walks into a bar.
Tank is working as a bouncer when he notices something odd about the new sexy-as-sin bartender. He’s odorless, he’s amazingly popular with shifters, and he’s terrified.
A man without a smell.
Isaac is trying to escape his past. He hides in San Francisco because everyone knows that there are no werewolves in the Bay Area.
Until one walks into his bar.
Can Tank figure out Isaac’s secrets in time to save him? And can Isaac forgive Tank for being a wolf in time to learn how to love? 

Comment: This is the second installment in the San Andreas Shifters series by GL Carriger. Once again, we are able to see what else happens in the lives of the pack members even if the focus is in one specific couple.

In this second full length story, the protagonist is Tank. He has always had the impression he was redundant in his old pack, just a number there and not unique enough. In this new pack what he really liked about it is that everyone is special, everyone is friendly and Tank likes hanging out with people who like him, even if he recognizes he isn't that important.

One day he meets and smells a man at the bar while working that night as part of his pack's contract. Isaac is popular among shifters and he seems to have a kind word for everyone but Tank probably wouldn't even get his attention...or would he?

Isaac knows shifters can't smell what he is and that is a good thing, considering what he running from. But Tank seems to match all his preferences in a partner except the fact he is a wolf. When danger returns and Isaac feels like running again, can he really let go of a guy he can't seem to stay away from?

Some readers have focused their reading of this book too much on specific details I suppose and that can explain some lower ratings. However, despite some of those details being a little annoying (I'd also change this or that), the majority of this novel is so appealing, so vibrant and so addictive, I actually struggled to put it down when necessary.

Again, different books work for different people for a multitude of reasons and for me, this book, worked out very well indeed.

The best element I love about this book (and the previous one too) is the amazing characterization of the characters. They are so well fleshed and have so much depth, it's both interesting and captivating to keep reading about them, so that we can discover a little more about them.

Then, there's also the pack interactions. If there is one thing any and all writers out there should do when creating paranormal worlds featuring families/communities/groups is that if they don't mesh well, if they don't seem to interact, the story doesn't seem as solid.

When this happens, the whole world feels populated, strong, alive (see Nalini Singh's psy-changeling series with shifters or Larissa Ione's Demonica world with a multitude of species). I'm very glad I was able to have this feeling with the world GL Carriger has created.

There's a romance, of course, between Isaac and Tank. I think a little detail regarding their relationship wasn't as necessary to exist as we are led to see but it's sort of explained. I dislike bdsm types of stories and in this case I didn't really like Tank was so submissive sexually but gratefully the focus wasn't this.

Isaac and Tank are a good match because, as cliché as it sounds, they do complement each other. Tank is someone who explains why a pack exists: he is the reason why other members have their own positions. Without pack members, why bother? Isaac, on the other hand, is an omega which means he is someone who unites, who helps the others bond and be calm. It was very good to see that as their relationship got stronger, so did the importance of each one of them individually.

I think I'd have preferred their sexual connection to be more balanced but well, nothing is perfect.

While the plot is developing, we get to learn several things about how packs work, about personal expectations (I really liked how Tank's personality was created) and why certain situations in this world with shifters happen. The story itself isn't that complicated but the author has added so many details, every character becomes alive and part of this, not only being just a prop. The reasons for Isaac's mystery aura aren't as impossible as I imagined but it did allow some more characteristics of the world to be presented.

All in all, a very good installment, wonderful scenes to devour and now I'm very eager to read the next one, it will feature an unlikely couple and I want it now but alas, it only comes out in the second semester of next year...

Grade: 9/10

Gail Carriger - Romancing the Werewolf

Biffy, newly minted Alpha of the London Pack, is not having a good Christmas. His Beta abandoned him, his werewolves object to his curtain choices, and someone keeps leaving babies on his doorstep.
Professor Randolph Lyall returns home to London after twenty years abroad, afraid of what he might find. With his pack in chaos and his Alpha in crisis, it will take all his Beta efficiency to set everything to rights. Perhaps, in the process, he may even determine how to mend his own heart.
New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger presents a charming love story set in her popular steampunk Parasolverse. Featuring the long-awaited reunion between everyone’s favorite quietly capable Beta and the werewolf Alpha dandy who let him slip away.
This sweet romance is full of unexpected babysitting, holiday decorations, and no small amount of pining. Look for surprise appearances from popular side characters and the occasional strategic application of italics.

Comment: This novella is part of the world created by Gail Carriger, which started with the full length novel Soulless. I've loved that series although some of her other ones weren't as impressive to me. I had hopes this novella in a beloved "universe" would be amazing too.

In this story, Biffy is the new alpha of London's werewolves but he feels he's not dealing with things as easily as he once imagined. His having trouble to find his place in all this but he still tries, despite some issues he can't seem to control. 

However, after an absence of twenty years, Professor Lyall finally returns home so he can become the Beta the pack needs. He feels maybe his coming back might not turn out to be what he wants, which is to go back to where things were before he left but his position in the pack can't be dismissed. 

If only Biffy were the same person he was the first and only time they were together all those years ago...

I got interested in this book because it featured two characters I liked a lot in the original series. Fans of the Parasol Protectorate certainly are able to recognize Lyall and Biffy as recurrent characters from that series. Their paths are incredible to follow in that overall arc story so for those who haven't read the mentioned series, perhaps they should read that first, it does add a lot of meaning to some situations we have in this novella.

Still, in terms of plot, of course this is still readable and makes sense even without having read the previous stories. But for new readers, maybe some details won't make as much sense.

The plot itself is very simple since it addresses the new relationships between pack members after Lyall's return and a secondary issue which makes things move along, namely the strange finding of babies at the steps of the pack's house.

It's not difficult to follow this story nor is it complicated to imagine where it goes in terms of romance. I still think something more could have been done about the plot but it offered the necessary elements to be understood.

The writing is the classical Gail Carriger, very formal and wordy at times, in a very peculiar but funny way.

It's rather obvious the romance is the key element here. I was so anxious while reading the original series where they appeared and to think their story might not have a resolution - because their connection seemed quite amazing even if not really contemplating the "mates" notion. I think this novella isn't enough and I think a full length book would have explored some situations even better, like how much of a couple they can be in front of others and all that. 

There are several details mentioned while they talk and part of me did like the subtlety of their looks and longing but it would be amazing to have fireworks somehow, to better validate the strength of their feelings. I miss more romantic scenes besides the inferring we do while reading between the lines or following inner thoughts.

At the end of things, I just feel glad this story exists. It's not as perfect as I hoped for but Biffy and Lyall do seem a matching couple and I feel glad they found happiness with each other and are well accepted by their friends.

Grade: 7/10

G. L. Carriger - The Sumage Solution

Max fails at magic, relationships, and life. So he works as a sumage, cleaning up other mages’ messes. The job sucks and he’s in no mood to cope with redneck biker werewolves. Unfortunately, there’s something irresistible about the sexy muscled Beta visiting his office for processing.
Bryan is gay but he’s not out. There’s a good chance Max might be reason enough to leave the closet, if he can only get the man to go on a date.
Everyone knows werewolves hate mages, but Bryan is determined to prove everyone wrong, even the mage in question.
NYT bestseller Gail Carriger, writing as G. L. Carriger, presents an offbeat gay romance in which a sexy werewolf with a white knight complex meets a bad boy mage with an attitude problem. Sparks (and other things) fly.
The San Andreas Shifter books stand alone and do not have to be read in any particular order.
Delicate Sensibilities?
This story contains M/M sexitimes and horrible puns. If you get offended easily, then you probably will. The San Andreas Shifter stories include blue language, dirty deeds, and outright admiration for the San Francisco Bay Area. Not for the faint of heart/mouth/tongue…

Comment: I got very curious about this title when I realized it was by Gail Carriger, even if she chose a different pseudonym. I was used to her historical "voice" but got very interested in seeing how she would approach a contemporary sort of tale. I'm very glad I went for it.

In this story we meet a new pack of werewolves, in a world where there are all kinds of species and beings among the humans. The new pack decided to move to California because it's a place close to the water - and the alpha's mate is a merman - but also because it's distant enough from the prejudice of their past. However, to establish itself, the new pack must be registered officially and for that, the Beta Bryan goes to the office where those situations are dealt with and he meets a sumage, a mage who doesn't have much magic of his own. 

Max is a man used to loss and feeling down and he especially doesn't care about welcoming a bunch of wolves but he starts to change his mind when he meets Bryan and something about him makes perfect sense...

I'm really amazed by the way the author created this paranormal world. I particularly appreciate how she developed her werewolves into a group of people who care for one another and aren't only moved by rules or the mating instinct. Often, in shifter para normals, the attention isn't properly given to the pack rules, the pack dynamics and focuses on the elements and their need to find a mate. Although this is a fact here as well, I loved how each detail was seen to, how each decision made sense not only for each individual but also for the sake of the pack.

The story didn't start that amazing and I couldn't help but compare it to the author's other work, where her sarcastic voice is so obvious. It seemed this would be more alike the comedies she writes historically and somehow I felt that wouldn't be the way to go but thankfully, the characters started to become more and more alive and fleshed out and things developed steadily and so compellingly!

I think I was dazzled by the way the story developed in such a captivating manner.

All the paranormal details were good for me. I liked the notion of the world, I liked how many types of creatures/beings were mentioned, I liked how complex society felt like but not to a point I wouldn't enjoy reading. I think the author showed a great capacity to be organized and present a world very different from the usual but still showcasing her writing talent.

The romance is obviously one of the best details all around. I liked Bryan and Max as a couple, I liked how balanced their relationship was (at all levels) and how they got to know each other and trust each other slowly. Even the intimacy between them didn't feel rushed or a drive, it was simply an extension of their feelings. There were some situations where they acted rather silly but it just felt like a natural step in the process of falling in love, so....

Individually I liked them both, Max especially because he had a personality I could empathize with so I wanted him to succeed in embracing happiness and Bryan because he is a sweetheart who one can't help but wish all the best for.

All in all, I loved this book. The start wasn't as brilliant and there was one or two little details I'd change but for the most part I was amazed, in love with the characters and everyone's interactions and I'll definitely read more on this world, probably even the prequel to this story. Bring them on, mrs Carriger!

Grade: 9/10

Alphabet Soup Challenge: Gail Carriger - Prudence

When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (Rue to her friends) is given an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female would under similar circumstances - names it the Spotted Crumpet and floats to India in pursuit of the perfect cup of tea.
But India has more than just tea on offer. Rue stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier's wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a dire crisis and an embarrassing lack of bloomers, what else is a young lady of good breeding to do but turn metanatural and find out everyone's secrets, even thousand-year-old fuzzy ones?  

Comment: Here's another book chosen for the alphabet challenge, this made a perfectly good P title.

I was also very curious about this story because I've loved the series that originated the appearance of this book/new series. The Parasol Protectorate was amazing, engaging, full of surprises and a style I really loved going through. I was so eager to have the same again with this story, featuring the child of the other series' main couple.

 

In this book, we meet Prudence, the daughter Alexia and Conall from the Parasol Protectorate had and that originated some twists in their series. Prudence is now a 20 year old woman always causing mischief and surrounded by her friends, decides to embark on a journey about tea, something very important to her and her second father, Lord Akeldama.

However, the journey isn't without some problems, meeting new people and challenges and even things Prudence couldn't anticipate.

But traveling to India isn't abut only Lord Akeldama's business...can Prudence do something to avoid scandals, international conflicts and the loss of precious tea?

 

Two things I need to say right away:

a) this is not like the series I loved so much and;

b) Prudence and her friends aren't as captivating as I hoped they would.

I was so happy to be reading a book where I really wanted to see the beloved characters that made me read non stop the other series, that it was with surprise I realized this cast wasn't like the other and I wasn't having fun...

 

The problem with expectations is that, when they aren't met, the reader always feels like it was misdirected or wronged somehow. I don't feel cheated but I admit I put a lot of hope in this simply because I truly enjoyed and loved the other series.

I also know each book should be praised or disliked on its own worth and not by comparing it to others, but in this case it was difficult not to.

I can't say I didn't have a slight inkling of doubt because I've read a book in another series, and that book wasn't the marvel I thought it would be, so this one was highly anticipated but not at 100% level, even more so because of the YA reference...

 

At this point, matching too many expectations, a missed hit with a similar book and not as great reviews out there, I got apprehensive but still wanted to see if all that was just noise. For me, it ended up being the disappointment I dreaded anyway.

 

My biggest problem is that I felt this book, or the actions the characters were taking and even everything surrounding their choices, conversations, etc, missed the amazingly perfect subtlety of emotion that the first series had and which I loved. I couldn't find much in this book that reminded me of how things used to be and how much I enjoyed reading about them. It's almost as if these characters, by being obviously different from the others, thus having different personalities, couldn't bother to care about things, as if their emotional answers didn't have to exist.

It just felt weird to read about characters that didn't bother to act in a way I thought it would suit them. I missed the emotional level I thought this would have.

 

The secondary characters - which I confess was part of why I wanted to read this - didn't strike me as engaging as that. I liked seeing some beloved characters and some interactions that surely will have repercussions and that will affect certain things and I'm very curious to read about that but to think I have to suffer through so many pointless passages to get to the good stuff...

 

Prudence and her circle of friends didn't leave a mark on me. I'm not very fond of them, they seemed very shallow and predictable and their actions revealed immaturity and a lack of concern for things...pretty much a sort of YA attitude I really can't stand for. Prudence is the key character, of course much of what happens goes through her but although I didn't despise her, I feel she isn't the type of person I want to read more about. I think this would be better if the focus was still on her parents.

 

I struggled a bit to finish the book. Many passages didn't have any appeal to me and the way things ended was almost exaggerated. This wouldn't be such a problem if more than half the book weren't silly and without real meaning, in my perspective. I totally respect the author's style, in fact it was that particular trademark that made me want to read her books, but in this book it's too much, things got a certain mocking tone that didn't have the emotional side to balance it like I thought it should.

 

All in all, I can't say I hated this but it certainly wasn't something I'll cherish. I might read the next book but it stopped being a priority and I'll certainly not spend too much on it and will wait for a cheaper paperback edition.

Grade: 5/10

Gail Carriger - Etiquette & Espionage

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the

same time. Welcome to Finishing School.
Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.
But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but the also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.
Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail's legions of fans have come to adore. 

Comment: I've purchased this book several months ago. I had just finished the last of the Protectorate series by the same author and the way it ended was an indication that the YA series to come (this one) might be about a new character from that other series, someone I was eager to know as a protagonist. I got the book and only later did I realize no, this new series wasn't about that character and would be, in fact, a new series about something different. My letdown wasn't that huge because I loved the other series and would love to have something else by the author, even when I don't have any more patience for YA's books,  still stick to this one and went for it.

This book is all about a Finishing School and Sophronia is invited to join, mostly because of her mother's hopes she might learn to be a lady there. However, the school proves to be quite different from what Sophronia expected. Still, she decides to take a rick and welcomes what she is learning, even to help people she barely met. 

I feel conflicted. Actually I'm not sure what to think about the book. I've finished it and spent some good time with it but some days later I'm still unsure of what I thought about it.

It's true that the writing is as thrilling as I remembered from the Protectorate series but this time the action took place years before the other one and despite having some fun seeing some characters when they were children, it wasn't as amazing as that.

Then there's the fact there's no real action in the book. We see Sophronia and her friends in their adventures at school and there's a sort of mystery to solve but it's all so wrapped up I didn't feel as expectant to see it end as I do in other books.

I really don't know what to say about this book. It was good in terms of writing and environment with all those elements of steampunk and paranormal that the author does so well, and for that alone the book is worth it, but the action isn't special and as it's YA there's no romance to flavor things up, so... I wasn't very impressed with what I think should be strongest point in the book, the story itself. I'm still curious to see what might happen in following books and if other characters we know will show up, but I'm not eager for it and will probably wait until later to get it.

Really unsure of what to say about it...sometimes you really have no clear words or thoughts about a book...I didn't hate it, I just liked it enough, that's all.

Gail Carriger - Timeless

Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a damper on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle. Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

Comment: This is the last book in this series. The author has said there will be another series with these characters in the future, but things as we know them are over with this 5th installment.
In this story Alexia is summoned to Egypt with her daughter to meet the oldest vampire Queen alive and it's something she can't say no to, so they go with Lord Maccon and Ivy Tunstall's troupe as an excuse. While in Egypt, Alexia is faced with too many things happening and in the end it's surprises after surprises.
I've said before I love these books. The action makes sense and is brilliant in a very perfect way, considering the strength of the characters that might overshadow the plot, but everything works so well, it's amazing.
In this book we follow Alexia and her group to Egypt and also the remaining pack in London. Two different groups facing two different challenges and it's perfect how well everything is matched. I was completely caught by surprise over some things and let me tell you, when an author manages to lead you through a certain path ans still show you things don't have to be the same old thing, then we have a winner. It's still something I can't get past, this bubble of surprises that caught me unaware but very happy too. There are three things, in terms of plot, that I wasn't expecting at all, that I never imagined not even in my daydreams and speculations and I'm positively happy with it because not only the book made me turn page after page but is making me eager to read more about it in the future, when the author writes more.
I won't tell spoilers, but this book promises and delivers everything we could hope for.
One thing is consistent the relationship between Alexia and Connall, they fight, they kiss, they have arguments but they love each other and it's so god to see. Their daughter is interesting and smart and if she's smart to be the lead protagonist in the upcoming series in this world, than she will be a great one.
I can't say much without ruining the book for those who haven't read, but I assure you it's great and a great "end" for the series, I loved this book.

Gail Carriger - Heartless

Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.
Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?

Comment: The next adventure of Alexia Tarabotti brings us a very pregnant Alexia still trying to solve many things at once. She has to deal with her sister's new look at life, her husband's pack issues, poor Biffy's state of mind, the vampire's attacks, the giant octopus destroying London and a warning from a ghost. All this while 8 months pregnant.
In this 4th book we have many surprises. We finall see who was behind the Kingair plot to kill the queen, and the revelation coming from there is a shock. Besides Biffy and the pack are still having issues and Alexia feels the need to help. Then she finds out who wants to kill the queen and because of knowing that she takes a decision that will affect the state of her house.
I was very surprised with so many interesting information that shows up in the book, I loved it. Everything has a reason and the whys of those seemed credible to me. We have some more insight into some of the secondary characters, some things I didn't expect but I was so much more happy for it, because things aren't as predictable as they might look.
Then there's the author's subtle ways of dealing with serious things, although many parts of the story are filled with comic tidbits or situations, all things are serious and are treated with true feeling, in a very subtle way. I liked this a lot.
We also see her child being born and this also brings some shock, something I can't wait to be adressed in the next book.
It's obvious the author is tidying things to end the series in the next book. But she's doing it well, in a sensible way, and it feels like she's coming to a perfect end, let's see. I'll be sorry to see its end, but she will publish a new series in the future connected to this one, so it won't be a final goodbye. So far, the series is close to perfection, so I'm happy.

Gail Carriger - Blameless

Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season.
Queen Victoria dismisses her from the Shadow Council, and the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs, indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London's vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.
While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires -- and they're armed with pesto.

Comment: The third book of Alexia Tarabotti's series by Gail Carriger.
I just had to read this book right after the previous one because the way it ended. I was so furious with Lord Maccon because of what he did and said to Alexia. He accused her of betrayal and it was something so shocking I just couldn't wait a month to see how things would develop after this.
I was sad because they seemed such a great couple and I wouldn't expect something like this from him. Obviously, the author didn't mean to separate them, so the whole book shows us how sad and miserable they both are without the other and how out of character they seem because they miss the other. These clues made me believe we would have a great scene when they finally meet again and made peace. I was slightli disappointed whrn Alexia forgave Conall rather quickly, like all the words were explained by his personality. I think it would be better for both of them if we could have seen some more emotion into that scene.
Anyway, apart from this small detail, I enjoyed the book, it has an interestinf take on how to measure a soul even in the middle of all those problems Alexia faces in her trip to Italy (in order to find an explanation to fact she's pregnant and Conall doesn't believe her).
I also loved seeing some other characters and I was very surprised to what happens to one of them. I can't wait to see what hapenns next.
The author has said the series will only have 5 books. I can't believe there's only two missing for me to read, this is a great series and I'm enjoying myself a lot with it. By the way, I love the covers so far and this third one is amazing, I love the strong red with the gray behind, very beautiful.

Gail Carriger - Changeless

Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then 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 soulless can.
She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

Comment: This is the second book in Gail Carriger's series. It's a mixture of romance, steampunk and paranormal. I enjoy it quite a lot.
In this book Alexia is married to Conall and they married life seems perfect, even with the yelling when waking up. I was very happy to see them so well, I was anxious to see them together now that the courtship was over and they were a married couple. I'm happy to say the chemestry between them keeps steady.
In this book Alexia is faced with the issue of shapeshifters not being able to change shape, so after her husband leaves for Scotland, she follows and it's there that she finds out why the problems have started and how to end them.
I'm used to the language now so it no longer seems awkward to me. This bothered me a bit in the first book but it's something one gets used to. I was also happy to see Lord Akeldama again, he's amazing. In this book Ivy, Alexia's friend also does something out of character but in the end I was happy for her.
Some new characters showed up in this book and were an important part of the plot. I'm satisfied to see the world won't revolve around Alexia and Conall.
The world is very funny and its very interesting to watch things happen and imagine them in victorian times, all the machines and way of behaviour, an excellent mix.
In the end of the book something so unexpected happened and I was so shocked I couldn't believe what I was reading so I couldn't wait and had to read the 3rb book right away.
Comment is next.

Gail Carriger - Soulless

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 is 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?

Comment: I have had this book in my TBR list for more than one year. Yes, and lots of other books have been there for a long more, I'm hopeless.
Anyway, I finally read it. I have a friend who prefers fantasy above any other genre, although she reads UF and romances too. She said this book was very, very good and it had a strong story, so that was why I decided try it, and thankfully she was right.
Alexia has no soul which means she can neutralize the supernatural of everyone who isn't human. This also means she can be a danger to some species who might feel threatened by her power. Alexia is a vitorian lady, a spinster, and a very assertive disposition, and often has arguments with lord Maccon, the werewolf alpha and someone she's attracted to.
The attraction is mutual and Lord Maccon sees past her power and attitude and sees a woman he's developing feelings for.
I enjoyed their "fights" a lot, it's so funny to see them walking around each other, and everyone else who knows them thinks they're perfect for each other, but themselves. The evolution of their relationship is perfect, I think.
However, some troubles appear because some vampires and werewolves, specially the loner ones, are missing more and more and something must be going on. What happens is a danger for all of them, but in the end Alexia and Lord Maccon save the day.
I loved all the secondary characters, some of them will certainly offer interesting developments in the following books. I also like the author's style and all the mix of romance and steampunk and paranormal, all together make an interesting balanced mixture.
The language used is the only think I couldn't help notice, I mean, it was well done but usually in regency or historical novels I can put aside the fact it's there, but in this case, I guess it's too remarkable. Not in a bad way, just enough to be noticed.
Anyway, I'm still happy with the book and will read the next one in november.