Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1)

Soulless: A Parasol Protectorate Novel
by Gail Carriger
Orbit 2009

Summary (from Goodreads):
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?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking

Review

I first read Soulless in graphic novel form, illustrated by one of my favorite artists, REM. After I loved the graphic novel so much, I decided to check out the actual novel, wondering if the graphic novel had been based on a different script like the Vampire Kisses graphic novels. Come to find out, the graphic novel is pretty much like the actual novel. It was very interesting to read both and compare the differences of the two, but at the same time each of the forms shine in their own way.

Soulless is unlike anything I have ever read. It combines things that interest me: victorian era, supernatural creatures, and steampunk science. Not only that, but Ms. Carriger does a wonderful job of writing Alexia's sarcastic and whitty nature making her interactions with Lord Maccon wonderfully fun to read. Not only that, but I love ALL the characters of Soulless, even the "bad" ones. Each character has it's own quirks and personalities. I absolutely adore Lord Akeldama, Alexia's flamboyant vampire friend and there hasn't been too many novels out there that has achieved what Ms. Carriger has on the likeable characters front.

Soulless was a quick read due to whitty dialogue and fast paced action scenes, I definely reccomend this book if you are a fan of Meg Cabot, as it reads similar to Cabot's writing style.

5/5