"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--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?" (from the publisher)
my thoughts:
Oh.....dear....where do I begin?
First, I want to say that I've had my eye on Soulless for quite some time. This book (the cover, the concept, everything) just appealed to me and made me anxious to add it to my list of to-read books. Add to that a lot of positive feedback from many sources about how unique and clever this Victorian comedy of manners/paranormal vampire/werewolf steampunk novel was that I moved it up to the top of my TBR list. (I certainly want to be in-the-know about a book or series that everyone is buzzing about!) It was with great expectations that I settled in to the world of werewolves, vampires, preternaturals, and a fiesty parasol-wielding spinster in Victorian London.
I wanted to love it.....I really, really did, but I had a hard time getting into it. I diligently forged ahead, thinking I would surely get caught up in the storyline, but I found it campy and strange...and not in a good way!
I know I'm in the very small minority here, as many readers found it to be enjoyable and witty, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I guess hunky Alpha Highlanders are more my thing than Alpha werewolves!
P.S. I skimmed through pages to get to the end quickly....I know Alexia got her werewolf, but did she ever get her treacle tart? (kidding)
2/5 stars
Title: Soulless
Author: Gail Carriger
2009
Orbit Books
373 pages
genre: fantasy/horror/steampunk
