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?
Alexia is witty and strong-willed, and Gail Carriger excels at entertaining with this paranormal steampunk series set in Victorian Britain, blending fantasy, romance, and adventure. The series is often described as “a novel of vampires, werewolves, and teapots” for its whimsical charm. The first book, Soulless, won the ALA’s Alex Award in 2010, and a manga adaptation was released in March 2012.
I’d love to tell you more about this series and others, but you really have to read them to understand their charm. Here’s a rundown (updated):
- The Parasol Protectorate Series: Soulless (1), Changeless (2), Blameless (3), Heartless (4), Timeless (5)
- The Finishing School Series: Starting with Etiquette & Espionage (February 2013), followed by three more books.
- The Custard Protocol Series: Starting with Prudence (March 2015).
Visit gailcarriger.com for more information!