Without a morsel of exaggeration, its publisher describes this debut novel as "a comedy of manners set in Victorian London full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking." At the center of Soulless's "parasol protectorate" is Miss Alexia Tarabotti, a young woman who lacks not only a suitor but also a soul. And those are not her only problems: When she accidentally kills a vampire, it begins a series of events that she must set out to resolve without the help of any proper authorities. A charming mass market original.
Publishers Weekly
Carriger debuts brilliantly with a blend of Victorian romance, screwball comedy of manners and alternate history. Prickly, stubborn 25-year-old bluestocking Alexia Tarabotti is patently unmarriageable, and not just because she's large-nosed and swarthy. She's also soulless, an oddity and a secret even in a 19th-century London that mostly accepts and integrates werewolf packs, vampire hives and ghosts. The only man who notices her is brash Lord Conall Maccon, a Scottish Alpha werewolf and government official, and (of course) they dislike each other intensely. After Alexia kills a vampire with her parasol at a party—how vulgar!—she and Conall must work together to solve a supernatural mystery that grows quite steampunkishly gruesome. Well-drawn secondary characters round out the story, most notably Lord Akeldama, Alexia's outrageous, italic-wielding gay best vampire friend. This intoxicatingly witty parody will appeal to a wide cross-section of romance, fantasy and steampunk fans. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"Carriger debuts brilliantly with a blend of Victorian romance, screwball comedy of manners and alternate history. . . . This intoxicatingly witty parody will appeal to a wide cross-section of romance, fantasy and steampunk fans."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Soulless is a character-driven romp with great world building and delicious rapier wit that recalls Austen and P.G. Wodehouse."—i09.com
"Light-hearted and fast-paced, Soulless will please fans of fantasy, historical fantasy and paranormal romance alike."—The Miami Herald
"Laugh out loud funny and refreshingly different, Soulless kept me turning pages well into the night. I enjoyed every minute of this wonderfully unexpected twist on paranormals...Wickedly funny."—Angie Fox, New York Times bestselling author of The Accidental Demon Slayer
"In this spectacular debut novel, Carriger has created a fascinating alternate Victorian London in which there are all sorts of supernatural creatures. Alexia is a smart and capable heroine armed with a parasol and an attitude. Moving at a healthy clip, this is a real page-turner."—RT Book Reviews
"Soulless has all the delicate charm of a Victorian parasol, and all the wicked force of a Victorian parasol secretly weighted with brass shot and expertly wielded. Ravishing."—Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians
"Deliciously, vampiricly satiric, a tremendously clever, sexy read."—Karen Marie Moning, New York Times bestselling author
"I was enchanted from start to finish."—sfrevu.com
FEBRUARY 2011 - AudioFile
Emily Gray introduces listeners to the soulless—but otherwise respectable—Alexia Tarabotti and a Victorian London teeming with werewolves and vampires. Alexia's soulless condition allows her to neutralize magic, making her a force to be reckoned with. Gray’s arch tones skillfully convey Alexia’s delight in flouting society’s conventions and her interest in alpha werewolf Lord Conall Maccon. Conall’s growly Scots accent is the most recognizable voice in a varied cast of characters, who are witty, urbane, and bloodthirsty good fun. Alexia and Conall investigate a spate of paranormal disappearances, and listeners will be drawn irrevocably into the story as an intense showdown in a macabre science laboratory brings all the players together. Despite some odd pauses, background noises, and audible breathing, this smart, well-delivered audio is not to be missed. C.A. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
