Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
New York : Orbit, 2010.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season in the third book of the NYT bestselling Parasol Protectorate series. 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. Blameless is the third book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinki… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member alana_leigh
Well phooey. I loved Soulless, I really quite liked Changeless, but I just wasn't pleased with Blameless. It was missing some spark that the other two had in spades. Part of it has to do with what I felt was an unnecessary location change and part of it had to do with Alexia herself, who had the
In Changeless, we learned that a mummified preternatural had a shocking range for the whole nullifying supernaturals thing, thus reducing any supernatural in a certain radius mortal. This provided Alexia etc. with the surprising information that preternatural bodies seemed to keep their soul-sucker/curse-breaker abilities when mummified -- good thing that no one knows how the Egyptians mummified folks. Should word get out, though, surely renewed efforts might be made to relearn this trick and at that point, Alexia becomes worth more dead than alive. Alexia was able to dispose of the preternatural mummy, thus returning her husband's old clan (who were in possession of the offending mummy) back into their usual werewolf selves, but her personal life took a significant hit when what should be a happy event (the discovery of her pregnancy) turned ghastly. Her husband raged, insisting it couldn't be his, as immortals could no longer procreate. He flew off the handle and Alexia was forced to abandon Scotland post haste.
Maybe I'm crazy, but I thought this was a *fantastic* cliffhanger ending. It made me feel that Gail Carriger was really being faithful to the true natures of her characters (and hence, my anger at the end of Blameless). Of *course* Conall Maccon might flip out and overreact when faced with information that suggests his wife was unfaithful if everything he's ever known about supernatural reproductive capabilities is true. What made it truly awesome, though, was that he was so venomous in his denunciation of her. His language towards the woman he is supposed to love was completely horrifying. I loved the dramatic position it put Alexia in at the beginning of Blameless. She has a loyal band who believe she's telling the truth and what they have on their hands is a miracle indeed (even if they know next to nothing as to how this is possible), but Lord Maccon is initially convinced of her infidelity (even if we all know he'll realized the truth soon enough) and his complete and utter overreaction is unforgivable. It's awesome.
Once he's been completely sauced for a few days (quite a feat for a supernatural), Lord Maccon was bound to come around and realize that his Alexia would never cheat on him, but the damage is done and eventually he'll need to figure out how to get her back, if that is, indeed, possible. Alexia, meanwhile, would simply seek refuge in the home of her friend, Lord Akeldama, but apparently Lord Akeldama and his drones have completely disappeared. So Alexia takes off for Italy and we begin to suspect all new things of Floote's capabilities and what services he might have rendered for Alexia's father. Italy turns out to be a colossally bad decision on several levels (sure, the Templars will protect her, but they'll also want to use her and experiment a bit with her) and unsurprisingly, the main action of the book has to deal with escaping their clutches (while still surviving vampire attacks, as a price has been put on Alexia's head by the vamps). Back in London, Professor Lyall is trying to hold the pack together (and fighting off challengers who would see Lord Maccon in a precarious position) while simultaneously attempting to sober up the Alpha and drum some sense into his head. Lyall is also almost entirely alone in trying to figure out what plots are afoot that would drive Lord Akeldama into hiding.
What results from the London intrigues is a wonderful plot twist... but then everything goes wishy washy in Italy. It's spoilers from here on out, folks, so consider yourselves warned.
In London, the storyline about Biffy is actually quite excellent -- Biffy is one of Lord Akeldama's drones who is kidnapped by the potentate. Lord Akeldama flees the city (or at least goes into deep cover hiding) as he's clearly being threatened and yet we assume he's doing something to get Biffy back and not just relying on poor stretched-thin Lyall. Just when it appears that Conall and Lyall have rescued the chap... Biffy gets shot. The only choice is to let him die or try to turn him into a werewolf (though as a drone of Lord Akeldama, clearly he hoped to be a vampire). The twist here is really quite wonderful, and yet this doesn't make up for the inconsistency in Alexia's actions and lack of imagination with regards to that plot ending.
Alexia does manage to achieve one thing with her trip to Italy -- she finds the proof she needs to prove the baby is Conall's. Preternaturals cannot tolerate the presence of other preternaturals to the point that no preternatural female has ever been able to carry a child to term. They inevitably miscarry and the only way preternaturals can pass along their abilities is when males procreate with human females; and preternaturals always seem to "breed true," thus resulting in preternatural babies. The key here is that they can procreate with humans which doesn't quite qualify when Lord Conall Maccon is concerned, even if he is, essentially, human when touching Alexia. But because of his supernatural state, a preternatural and a supernatural procreating would create a child with some soul, so the child is not a preternatural. Alexia finds an account of a preternatural/vampire offspring known as a "soul-stealer" which is apparently even more fearsome than a preternatural. It could be interesting, but it's all terribly convenient. Ah well.
Truth be told, my real issue is this: I feel that Carriger did not properly keep to Alexia's character with the ending of this novel. In England, Conall publishes a public statement insisting that Alexia's child is his and in Italy, Alexia ends up inadvertently finding this out (a little unlikely, but fine). She bursts into tears (hormones, whatever) and when he shows up later on, she forgives him with the only "stipulations" of that forgiveness hinging on gifts. Alexia, our proud and strong preternatural, completely forgives her husband for saying horrifying things to her face and completely doubting her word and trust... and she does this so easily, with the gifts being only, really, a bit of humor? I'm sorry, but I was hoping Carriger was a better writer than this and could have seen the possibilities that come with Alexia refusing to forgive Conall (at least for now). To me, this shows that Carriger herself is too in love with Conall and is willing to forgive him anything, but quite frankly, for the way Alexia is established, I would assume that his error was far too extreme to simply be forgiven on the spot. It's not like his agreeing to purchase her requested items are a serious factor here and we know it, so I won't make any irritating comments about her being bought off, as we know it's not true. Alexia simply misses her husband and is willing to forgive him... but I honestly believe her character up to this point would see her as too stubborn to just give in. It's more than the public humiliation, it's the fact that he immediately assumed she'd been unfaithful and didn't even try to entertain the possibility of trusting her before flying off the handle. HIS character held true, but Alexia's yielded as soon as she might get her husband back. I was expecting her to appreciate his apology but refuse to return to him on principle. Clearly, this was a major issue for me and rather ruined the novel on the whole, even if I thought things were a bit dull anyway (at least for Alexia in Rome).
It's all quite unfortunate, as the novel was perfectly passable up to that point -- amusing, even if not quite as great as the first two. This hasn't turned me completely off of the novels, but I really do hope that Carriger returns to something delightful in book four or I'm going to think she's quite lost the fresh sparkle that charmed me so much in Soulless.
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opportunity to be a stronger and more interesting character (aka just staying as she was) and Carriger opted not to take the story in an interesting direction for the sake of a tidier ending. If you haven't read the second book in the series, Changeless, then stop reading this review now if you hope to have the ending of book #2 unspoiled.In Changeless, we learned that a mummified preternatural had a shocking range for the whole nullifying supernaturals thing, thus reducing any supernatural in a certain radius mortal. This provided Alexia etc. with the surprising information that preternatural bodies seemed to keep their soul-sucker/curse-breaker abilities when mummified -- good thing that no one knows how the Egyptians mummified folks. Should word get out, though, surely renewed efforts might be made to relearn this trick and at that point, Alexia becomes worth more dead than alive. Alexia was able to dispose of the preternatural mummy, thus returning her husband's old clan (who were in possession of the offending mummy) back into their usual werewolf selves, but her personal life took a significant hit when what should be a happy event (the discovery of her pregnancy) turned ghastly. Her husband raged, insisting it couldn't be his, as immortals could no longer procreate. He flew off the handle and Alexia was forced to abandon Scotland post haste.
Maybe I'm crazy, but I thought this was a *fantastic* cliffhanger ending. It made me feel that Gail Carriger was really being faithful to the true natures of her characters (and hence, my anger at the end of Blameless). Of *course* Conall Maccon might flip out and overreact when faced with information that suggests his wife was unfaithful if everything he's ever known about supernatural reproductive capabilities is true. What made it truly awesome, though, was that he was so venomous in his denunciation of her. His language towards the woman he is supposed to love was completely horrifying. I loved the dramatic position it put Alexia in at the beginning of Blameless. She has a loyal band who believe she's telling the truth and what they have on their hands is a miracle indeed (even if they know next to nothing as to how this is possible), but Lord Maccon is initially convinced of her infidelity (even if we all know he'll realized the truth soon enough) and his complete and utter overreaction is unforgivable. It's awesome.
Once he's been completely sauced for a few days (quite a feat for a supernatural), Lord Maccon was bound to come around and realize that his Alexia would never cheat on him, but the damage is done and eventually he'll need to figure out how to get her back, if that is, indeed, possible. Alexia, meanwhile, would simply seek refuge in the home of her friend, Lord Akeldama, but apparently Lord Akeldama and his drones have completely disappeared. So Alexia takes off for Italy and we begin to suspect all new things of Floote's capabilities and what services he might have rendered for Alexia's father. Italy turns out to be a colossally bad decision on several levels (sure, the Templars will protect her, but they'll also want to use her and experiment a bit with her) and unsurprisingly, the main action of the book has to deal with escaping their clutches (while still surviving vampire attacks, as a price has been put on Alexia's head by the vamps). Back in London, Professor Lyall is trying to hold the pack together (and fighting off challengers who would see Lord Maccon in a precarious position) while simultaneously attempting to sober up the Alpha and drum some sense into his head. Lyall is also almost entirely alone in trying to figure out what plots are afoot that would drive Lord Akeldama into hiding.
What results from the London intrigues is a wonderful plot twist... but then everything goes wishy washy in Italy. It's spoilers from here on out, folks, so consider yourselves warned.
In London, the storyline about Biffy is actually quite excellent -- Biffy is one of Lord Akeldama's drones who is kidnapped by the potentate. Lord Akeldama flees the city (or at least goes into deep cover hiding) as he's clearly being threatened and yet we assume he's doing something to get Biffy back and not just relying on poor stretched-thin Lyall. Just when it appears that Conall and Lyall have rescued the chap... Biffy gets shot. The only choice is to let him die or try to turn him into a werewolf (though as a drone of Lord Akeldama, clearly he hoped to be a vampire). The twist here is really quite wonderful, and yet this doesn't make up for the inconsistency in Alexia's actions and lack of imagination with regards to that plot ending.
Alexia does manage to achieve one thing with her trip to Italy -- she finds the proof she needs to prove the baby is Conall's. Preternaturals cannot tolerate the presence of other preternaturals to the point that no preternatural female has ever been able to carry a child to term. They inevitably miscarry and the only way preternaturals can pass along their abilities is when males procreate with human females; and preternaturals always seem to "breed true," thus resulting in preternatural babies. The key here is that they can procreate with humans which doesn't quite qualify when Lord Conall Maccon is concerned, even if he is, essentially, human when touching Alexia. But because of his supernatural state, a preternatural and a supernatural procreating would create a child with some soul, so the child is not a preternatural. Alexia finds an account of a preternatural/vampire offspring known as a "soul-stealer" which is apparently even more fearsome than a preternatural. It could be interesting, but it's all terribly convenient. Ah well.
Truth be told, my real issue is this: I feel that Carriger did not properly keep to Alexia's character with the ending of this novel. In England, Conall publishes a public statement insisting that Alexia's child is his and in Italy, Alexia ends up inadvertently finding this out (a little unlikely, but fine). She bursts into tears (hormones, whatever) and when he shows up later on, she forgives him with the only "stipulations" of that forgiveness hinging on gifts. Alexia, our proud and strong preternatural, completely forgives her husband for saying horrifying things to her face and completely doubting her word and trust... and she does this so easily, with the gifts being only, really, a bit of humor? I'm sorry, but I was hoping Carriger was a better writer than this and could have seen the possibilities that come with Alexia refusing to forgive Conall (at least for now). To me, this shows that Carriger herself is too in love with Conall and is willing to forgive him anything, but quite frankly, for the way Alexia is established, I would assume that his error was far too extreme to simply be forgiven on the spot. It's not like his agreeing to purchase her requested items are a serious factor here and we know it, so I won't make any irritating comments about her being bought off, as we know it's not true. Alexia simply misses her husband and is willing to forgive him... but I honestly believe her character up to this point would see her as too stubborn to just give in. It's more than the public humiliation, it's the fact that he immediately assumed she'd been unfaithful and didn't even try to entertain the possibility of trusting her before flying off the handle. HIS character held true, but Alexia's yielded as soon as she might get her husband back. I was expecting her to appreciate his apology but refuse to return to him on principle. Clearly, this was a major issue for me and rather ruined the novel on the whole, even if I thought things were a bit dull anyway (at least for Alexia in Rome).
It's all quite unfortunate, as the novel was perfectly passable up to that point -- amusing, even if not quite as great as the first two. This hasn't turned me completely off of the novels, but I really do hope that Carriger returns to something delightful in book four or I'm going to think she's quite lost the fresh sparkle that charmed me so much in Soulless.
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LibraryThing member beserene
I love this series -- it's clever, funny, steampunky take on the romance novel has a great deal of escapist appeal -- and I am happy to report that this newest installment is more of the same. In fact, I think it's a bit better than the previous book, 'Changeless', because our heroine -- Alexia
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Maccon, nee Tarrabotti -- is at her best (funniest, snarkiest, parasol-whackingest) when NOT happily married. Marital strife, in other words, suits her. We get plenty of Carriger's signature blend here -- Victorian stuffiness, sharp wit, a hint of sass, and excellent outfits -- not to mention some delightful cultural bonuses -- Templars, for example -- that add to the hijinks. For those who are a bit tired of the dark paranormal romances where everyone has angst, this series is the perfect antidote. Rather like a nice cup of tea, it's a pleasant pick-me-up for any occasion. :) Show Less
LibraryThing member GingerbreadMan
I was so disappointed with Changeless, the previous part of this series, that I was a bit hesitant to pick this up. Fortunately, this the third Alexia Tarabotti book is a step back in the right direction. Soulless’ strength was in light cheeky fun and world building. Blameless doesn’t quite
Interesting stuff is going on at home also, mostly starring Lyall, the Woolsey Beta. However, Carriger has always been better at wit and situation than plot, and this weakness shows mostly in this story line. When it comes to Lord Akeldama’s lost “property” and how it is reclaimed, the story stumbles on in clogs three sizes too big, as graceful as a shitfaced troll. I was for a while utterly convinced a chapter was missing in my copy.
Nevertheless, I’m prepared to overlook both that and the fact that most secondary characters are made out of cardboard (even though this book finally presents us with some depth in Ivy – barely enough for a worm to burrow in, but still) for the fun of this book. It’s not as good as the first one. But I’ll read on, with less fear next time.
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live up to that, but makes up for it with action and adventure. Alexia rummaging through Europe works pretty well, creating a fast paced and fun read. (It needs to be said though, that Carriger is taking her national stereotyping a little too far for my taste. ) And, without going into spoilers, after the endless neck-nibbling in Changeless, it’s kind of a relief to have her go without her husband. Interesting stuff is going on at home also, mostly starring Lyall, the Woolsey Beta. However, Carriger has always been better at wit and situation than plot, and this weakness shows mostly in this story line. When it comes to Lord Akeldama’s lost “property” and how it is reclaimed, the story stumbles on in clogs three sizes too big, as graceful as a shitfaced troll. I was for a while utterly convinced a chapter was missing in my copy.
Nevertheless, I’m prepared to overlook both that and the fact that most secondary characters are made out of cardboard (even though this book finally presents us with some depth in Ivy – barely enough for a worm to burrow in, but still) for the fun of this book. It’s not as good as the first one. But I’ll read on, with less fear next time.
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Alexia Maccon is pregnant, and since supernaturals are known to be partially dead and thus incapable of siring offspring, her werewolf husband - and most of London society - is treating the news as proof of her scandalous infidelity. Dismissed from her post on the Queen's Shadow Council,
Review: These books are just wonderful, silly, addictive fun. Actually, I thought Blameless was a little less silly and a little more serious than the previous two books, but I still tore through it like no one's business. The pseudo-Victorian prose is just as good as ever, and in some ways, it turns out third time's the charm; Blameless managed to hit just the right balance of having enough steampunk elements to give the book a fun edge without them completely dominating the story. I also love the continued worldbuilding regarding the preternatural/supernatural split. As much as my dad rolled his eyes when I tried explaining it to him, I think it's a clever idea, and I love the way Carriger continues to explore its implications.
There were a number of elements in this book that surprised me, both in and of themselves, and in how much I liked them. For one, it turns out that I've got a big ol' crush on Professor Lyall, and found his POV chapters much more engaging than I was expecting to. The end of that plot thread was also a lot more emotional than has been typical for the series thus far, and I actually got a little misty - way more than usual for a subplot involving secondary characters.
Unfortunately, Professor Lyall's narration meant a comparable absence of Lord Maccon, which was a shame. Although I understand the dramatic necessity behind keeping him and Alexia apart for most of the novel, a lot of the charm of this series is in watching them flirt and fight and banter. Alexia on her own just doesn't have quite the same spark, no matter how dangerous her adventures or how quirky her companions. Still, this book had enough interesting developments that I'll definitely be reading the next one. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Start at the beginning, but I definitely recommend the series as a whole for historical fantasy fans who are looking for some solidly entertaining and giggle-worthy reading.
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forced to move back in with her horrible family, and under increased attacks from vampires who suddenly want her dead much more than usual, Alexia decides enough is enough, and retreats for a visit to the Continent. She hopes to track down some information about her pregnancy, which surprised her as much as anyone which is, so far as she knows, the first of its kind. Her only hope is the archives of the Knights Templar... a religious order that notoriously fears and distrusts preternaturals like Alexia. Back in London, Lord Maccon is existing in a state of constant inebriation over his wife's presumed infidelity, and so it's up to his Beta, Professor Lyall, to hold the pack together, and to determine the cause for the sudden disappearance of the vampire Lord Akeldama.Review: These books are just wonderful, silly, addictive fun. Actually, I thought Blameless was a little less silly and a little more serious than the previous two books, but I still tore through it like no one's business. The pseudo-Victorian prose is just as good as ever, and in some ways, it turns out third time's the charm; Blameless managed to hit just the right balance of having enough steampunk elements to give the book a fun edge without them completely dominating the story. I also love the continued worldbuilding regarding the preternatural/supernatural split. As much as my dad rolled his eyes when I tried explaining it to him, I think it's a clever idea, and I love the way Carriger continues to explore its implications.
There were a number of elements in this book that surprised me, both in and of themselves, and in how much I liked them. For one, it turns out that I've got a big ol' crush on Professor Lyall, and found his POV chapters much more engaging than I was expecting to. The end of that plot thread was also a lot more emotional than has been typical for the series thus far, and I actually got a little misty - way more than usual for a subplot involving secondary characters.
Unfortunately, Professor Lyall's narration meant a comparable absence of Lord Maccon, which was a shame. Although I understand the dramatic necessity behind keeping him and Alexia apart for most of the novel, a lot of the charm of this series is in watching them flirt and fight and banter. Alexia on her own just doesn't have quite the same spark, no matter how dangerous her adventures or how quirky her companions. Still, this book had enough interesting developments that I'll definitely be reading the next one. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Start at the beginning, but I definitely recommend the series as a whole for historical fantasy fans who are looking for some solidly entertaining and giggle-worthy reading.
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LibraryThing member clfisha
3rd in the series and much better than the limp 2nd. This time Lady Maccon is in disgrace and on the run from, well everyone, so she heads with her trusty parasol to Italy, the templar stronghold and haters of all things unnatural.
We have killer mechanical ladybugs, vampire assassins, mad
I can't say I am enthusiastic about continuing but I am notoriously bad at continuing series (so many other shiny books!). For me there aren't enough plot hooks nor characters I really enjoy to keep me buying and I ‘m afraid I cannot recommend it, although if you have read number two its probably worth your time everyone else depends if you are a genre fan.
We have killer mechanical ladybugs, vampire assassins, mad
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scientists and their yapping dogs, madcap chases across Europe, heads in jars and, of course, high tea. Ok so it's not as much fun as the 1st, but the world exploration is interesting, the plot sweeps along at a fair old pace and the characters are very slightly more lively than the 2nd. I can't say I am enthusiastic about continuing but I am notoriously bad at continuing series (so many other shiny books!). For me there aren't enough plot hooks nor characters I really enjoy to keep me buying and I ‘m afraid I cannot recommend it, although if you have read number two its probably worth your time everyone else depends if you are a genre fan.
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LibraryThing member bell7
The third highly-anticipated book (for me, at least!) in the Alexia Tarabotti series begins with Lady Maccon once again living with her appalling family because her husband, Earl of Woolsey and werewolf Alpha, has kicked her out. Alexia is pregnant, you see, a state that scientists agree would be
While I enjoyed reading more adventures of Alexia, Lord Maccon, Professor Lyall, Ivy Tunstell (nee Hisselpenny), and the rest, I did not enjoy Blameless quite as much as the previous titles in the series. Perhaps this has more to do with my expectations than the story itself. I expected certain plot threads to take more time than they did to resolve, and was taken aback by how much time is spent figuring out why Alexia is pregnant and what that means for the supernatural community. Personally, since the fact that she is pregnant is a given, I was less interested in the how. I enjoyed the over-the-top humor as always, and was intrigued by the hints that Ivy is not quite as harebrained as we may have been led to believe. I will be looking forward to the publication of Heartless, the next book in the series, due out in July of next year.
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impossible as her husband is not exactly living, and she herself as a preternatural never expected what she has dubbed the infant-inconvenience. The vampires seem to know more about it than she does, however, because they want her dead.While I enjoyed reading more adventures of Alexia, Lord Maccon, Professor Lyall, Ivy Tunstell (nee Hisselpenny), and the rest, I did not enjoy Blameless quite as much as the previous titles in the series. Perhaps this has more to do with my expectations than the story itself. I expected certain plot threads to take more time than they did to resolve, and was taken aback by how much time is spent figuring out why Alexia is pregnant and what that means for the supernatural community. Personally, since the fact that she is pregnant is a given, I was less interested in the how. I enjoyed the over-the-top humor as always, and was intrigued by the hints that Ivy is not quite as harebrained as we may have been led to believe. I will be looking forward to the publication of Heartless, the next book in the series, due out in July of next year.
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LibraryThing member MagicalSibylle
This review contains spoilers for Blameless, please tread carefully.
SQUEE! I'm SO happy I got to read Blameless not that long after Changeless. What a treat this series is, I can't get enough of it. The plot is cleverly summed up in one sentence uttered by Alexia (who's addressing her husband)
Specific things now:
- Alexia is one of my favourite heroines in literature. She's wonderful, I still can't believe she got written. I discovered her while I was lamenting the lack of exactly such female characters and it seems the author heard my plea. Oh Alexia I do love thee. She's even making me tolerate Conall because as long as she's happy I'm happy.
- I've always found ladybugs creepy so I was particularly pleased to see them used in a very steampunk scene as a weapon against Alexia.
- Explaining the presence of garlic in Italian cuisine by Italy's aversion to supernaturals in general and vampires in particular had me chuckle.
- A welcome bit of meta concerning Ivy whom I've been wondering about since Changeless (I find her under-developped and sometimes nothing short of a stereotype only thrown in as a foil to Alexia), I'm really glad the author addressed the issue here in this passage: “The great advantage,”she said, “of being thought silly, is that people forget and begin to think one might also be foolish. I may, Professor Lyall, be a trifle enthusiastic in my manner and dress, but I am no fool.”
“No, Mrs. Tunstell, I can see that.” And Lady Maccon, thought Lyall, would not be so friendly with you if you were."
- I love Floote (again nice commentary on the character here: Such a competent man, Floote, thought Alexia with pride.). The kiss between Alexia and Madame Lefoux was very well-written, I hope those two stick around. I missed Akeldama more than I thought I would. I hope he won't vanish again in the future, once was enough!
- More favourite lines: Adventuring was highly overrated and Alexia felt a token protest was called for at this juncture. “I mean to say, really, I am near to developing a neurosis—is there anyone around who doesn’t want to study or kill me?” Floote raised a tentative hand. “Ah, yes, thank you, Floote.”
SQUEE! I'm SO happy I got to read Blameless not that long after Changeless. What a treat this series is, I can't get enough of it. The plot is cleverly summed up in one sentence uttered by Alexia (who's addressing her husband)
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towards the end of the novel: 'While I’ve been running across Europe pregnant, escaping ladybugs, flying in ornithopters, landing in mud, and drinking coffee, you have been inebriated.' General thoughts: this was such a good read, very different from the others but such wonderful continuity between each book, everything makes perfect sense, it's captivating and funny as ever.Specific things now:
- Alexia is one of my favourite heroines in literature. She's wonderful, I still can't believe she got written. I discovered her while I was lamenting the lack of exactly such female characters and it seems the author heard my plea. Oh Alexia I do love thee. She's even making me tolerate Conall because as long as she's happy I'm happy.
- I've always found ladybugs creepy so I was particularly pleased to see them used in a very steampunk scene as a weapon against Alexia.
- Explaining the presence of garlic in Italian cuisine by Italy's aversion to supernaturals in general and vampires in particular had me chuckle.
- A welcome bit of meta concerning Ivy whom I've been wondering about since Changeless (I find her under-developped and sometimes nothing short of a stereotype only thrown in as a foil to Alexia), I'm really glad the author addressed the issue here in this passage: “The great advantage,”she said, “of being thought silly, is that people forget and begin to think one might also be foolish. I may, Professor Lyall, be a trifle enthusiastic in my manner and dress, but I am no fool.”
“No, Mrs. Tunstell, I can see that.” And Lady Maccon, thought Lyall, would not be so friendly with you if you were."
- I love Floote (again nice commentary on the character here: Such a competent man, Floote, thought Alexia with pride.). The kiss between Alexia and Madame Lefoux was very well-written, I hope those two stick around. I missed Akeldama more than I thought I would. I hope he won't vanish again in the future, once was enough!
- More favourite lines: Adventuring was highly overrated and Alexia felt a token protest was called for at this juncture. “I mean to say, really, I am near to developing a neurosis—is there anyone around who doesn’t want to study or kill me?” Floote raised a tentative hand. “Ah, yes, thank you, Floote.”
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LibraryThing member jlparent
3rd in the Parasol Protectorate series, I had a bit more trouble getting into this offering. It felt overly long, too many forced chase scenes (I get it, Alexia is in danger...ok, try something new) and yet still did not feel engaging as the previous two. I did like learning more about the
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Templars, the ever-present Floote, Madame Genevieve, Professor Lyall shines a bit more here...so you definitely get a feel for more of the secondary characters. Interesting steampunk technological tidbits within-but I think the extreme fussiness/correctness of the Victorian-Era folks is either mentioned too often or purely annoying. I'm also the type of reader that if I read too much of any one genre all at once, I startto get REALLY nitpicky so I maybe Irushed thru the three too close together - good thing the fourth doesn't come out till 7/2011. Still, when all was said and done, I did enjoy it enough to finish - just not as smooth as the previous two - and the first is still the best, IMHO. Show Less
LibraryThing member usagi
Feels more like a set up for the next book than an adventure in it's own right (although, it is again a fun read). That doesn't mean I don't have the release date for the next one marked.
LibraryThing member pollywannabook
Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com
Julia and I decided to do our first joint review of BLAMELESS by Gail Carriger. Hopefully this will become a regular feature here on ATUF. Let us know what you think.
Abigail: Blending paranormal, steampunk, and romance, Soulless was one of
Julia: Beloved characters, the comedy of Victorian social mores being observed amongst robotic swarms and evil minion attacks, droll bon mots and repartee that had me giggling and highlighting and wishing for someone to share them with... BLAMELESS rekindled my delight in Alexia Tarabotti and her Parasol Protectorate. I heartily agree with Abigail’s 5/5 rating for Soulless, it is a book that I have read again and again (and have, on more than one occasion, tried to explain to hapless family members at holiday dinners). My devotion to the series was sorely tested by Changeless, which was so top heavy with arcane magical principles that Carrigner’s characters had a hard time carrying the plot. However, characters and concepts that so bogged down Changeless were much more palatable in summary form, and I found BLAMELESS witty, fast-paced, and original all over again.
Abigail: Oh good. I was half afraid we’d disagree and turn this into a throw down :) I mentioned that I thought one of the big problems with Changeless was the fact that Alexia and Conall were separated for nearly the entire book. In BLAMELESS that is again the case, though it worked better this time, and I can’t help but think that this book would have been even better if they’d had more interaction together. What do you think?
Julia: Throw down averted! Or maybe just postponed... (cue ominous music). Changeless was definitely light on any romance that could have cut the density of magical theory. Perhaps this is the band-aid theory of series writing. Changeless “ripped off” our expectations of seeing Alexia and Conall together, and the ending certainly set the hook for a classic romantic conflict. Despite them being apart for most of BLAMELESS, that hint of future conflict was enough to get me a few chapters in, and then the story itself did the rest. Who can resist finding out how to get a werewolf drunk? (It was the “wee pickles” part that had me doubled over in laughter). I’m an optimist, though. I have high hopes that Victorian sensibilities isn’t excuse enough to keep them apart for the entire series. The question is, however, how long will Carriger keep us hanging on? Will Heartless be our first glimpse of Maccon’s domestic bliss, Lord and Lady and baby?
Abigail: I think Heartless might be the pregnancy and we’ll have to wait for the as yet untitled book 5 to see what happens with the “infant-inconvenience.” Speaking of which, one of my favorite elements of this series is its unique mythology. Everything from the werewolves Anubis form, to the vampires hive structure, and of course the concept of preternaturals who are the antithesis of all things supernatural. I loved that in BLAMELESS we got to learn more about the nature of soullessness in general, specifically Alexia’s family history (And who doesn’t love the mysterious Templars?). What did you think about the new characters who revealed these new tidbits?
Julia: A whole book devoted to the pregnancy? Be still my heart! I can’t think of anything more comical than an estate full of werewolves trying to keep up with a pregnant Alexia... unless it’s Lord Maccon trying to make up with a pregnant Alexia. As for the new characters in BLAMELESS, I admit, I’m slow to warm up to most of Carringer’s supporting characters, all I want is Conall and Alexia, Conall and Alexia! BLAMELESS was the first time I wasn’t anxious to skim past Professor Lyall’s perspective hoping to see more of Lord and Lady Maccon. I’m glad I learned to relax into the rhythm of this book. Madame Lefoux, Lyall, those damned, illusive hedgehogs... every detail was too good to miss. Of the new characters, no one gave me more entertainment than Monsieur Lange-Wilsdorf and his high-strung Pooche. Despite the obsessed scientist calling her “The Female Specimen”, and his dog’s endless, maniacal barking, Alexia navigates it all with wit, humor, and a well-placed napkin.
Abigail: See now as much as I love Alexia and Conall, I’m a bit obsessed with the supporting characters in this series. I could have read a whole book about Alexia’s family. They are so wonderfully horrible. As far as the new additions this time out, Lange-Wilsdork, the leading preternatural expert, was my favorite. Analytical, and obtusely clueless when it came to people skills, I thought he was the perfect counterpart to Alexia’s escalating emotional state throughout BLAMELESS. Speaking of which, I was equally taken with the mystery of what exactly Alexia was carrying and all the dire predictions and secrets about previous preternatural pregnancies of the past (try saying that three times fast). I’ll be looking forward to learning more in Heartless and seeing exactly how Alexia takes to motherhood, assuming the baby is born by then. Either way the series as a whole is one of my favorites and BLAMELESS has done its job of leaving me desperate for more.
Sexual Content: References to sex. References to homosexuality. A mild scene of sensuality.
Julia and I decided to do our first joint review of BLAMELESS by Gail Carriger. Hopefully this will become a regular feature here on ATUF. Let us know what you think.
Abigail: Blending paranormal, steampunk, and romance, Soulless was one of
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those books that was shockingly good (as in 5/5 bats). Changeless, while still good (3/5 bats), didn’t manage to recapture that perfect mix of British humor and horror, and made the grave mistake of keeping the hero and heroine apart for nearly the entire book (although the ending was excellent). With the third Parasol Protectorate book, I tried to keep my expectations in check and hope for the best. Soulless is still the best book in the series to date, but BLAMELESS is an excellent installment, full of biting wit, outlandish farce, and exquisite characterization. Julia: Beloved characters, the comedy of Victorian social mores being observed amongst robotic swarms and evil minion attacks, droll bon mots and repartee that had me giggling and highlighting and wishing for someone to share them with... BLAMELESS rekindled my delight in Alexia Tarabotti and her Parasol Protectorate. I heartily agree with Abigail’s 5/5 rating for Soulless, it is a book that I have read again and again (and have, on more than one occasion, tried to explain to hapless family members at holiday dinners). My devotion to the series was sorely tested by Changeless, which was so top heavy with arcane magical principles that Carrigner’s characters had a hard time carrying the plot. However, characters and concepts that so bogged down Changeless were much more palatable in summary form, and I found BLAMELESS witty, fast-paced, and original all over again.
Abigail: Oh good. I was half afraid we’d disagree and turn this into a throw down :) I mentioned that I thought one of the big problems with Changeless was the fact that Alexia and Conall were separated for nearly the entire book. In BLAMELESS that is again the case, though it worked better this time, and I can’t help but think that this book would have been even better if they’d had more interaction together. What do you think?
Julia: Throw down averted! Or maybe just postponed... (cue ominous music). Changeless was definitely light on any romance that could have cut the density of magical theory. Perhaps this is the band-aid theory of series writing. Changeless “ripped off” our expectations of seeing Alexia and Conall together, and the ending certainly set the hook for a classic romantic conflict. Despite them being apart for most of BLAMELESS, that hint of future conflict was enough to get me a few chapters in, and then the story itself did the rest. Who can resist finding out how to get a werewolf drunk? (It was the “wee pickles” part that had me doubled over in laughter). I’m an optimist, though. I have high hopes that Victorian sensibilities isn’t excuse enough to keep them apart for the entire series. The question is, however, how long will Carriger keep us hanging on? Will Heartless be our first glimpse of Maccon’s domestic bliss, Lord and Lady and baby?
Abigail: I think Heartless might be the pregnancy and we’ll have to wait for the as yet untitled book 5 to see what happens with the “infant-inconvenience.” Speaking of which, one of my favorite elements of this series is its unique mythology. Everything from the werewolves Anubis form, to the vampires hive structure, and of course the concept of preternaturals who are the antithesis of all things supernatural. I loved that in BLAMELESS we got to learn more about the nature of soullessness in general, specifically Alexia’s family history (And who doesn’t love the mysterious Templars?). What did you think about the new characters who revealed these new tidbits?
Julia: A whole book devoted to the pregnancy? Be still my heart! I can’t think of anything more comical than an estate full of werewolves trying to keep up with a pregnant Alexia... unless it’s Lord Maccon trying to make up with a pregnant Alexia. As for the new characters in BLAMELESS, I admit, I’m slow to warm up to most of Carringer’s supporting characters, all I want is Conall and Alexia, Conall and Alexia! BLAMELESS was the first time I wasn’t anxious to skim past Professor Lyall’s perspective hoping to see more of Lord and Lady Maccon. I’m glad I learned to relax into the rhythm of this book. Madame Lefoux, Lyall, those damned, illusive hedgehogs... every detail was too good to miss. Of the new characters, no one gave me more entertainment than Monsieur Lange-Wilsdorf and his high-strung Pooche. Despite the obsessed scientist calling her “The Female Specimen”, and his dog’s endless, maniacal barking, Alexia navigates it all with wit, humor, and a well-placed napkin.
Abigail: See now as much as I love Alexia and Conall, I’m a bit obsessed with the supporting characters in this series. I could have read a whole book about Alexia’s family. They are so wonderfully horrible. As far as the new additions this time out, Lange-Wilsdork, the leading preternatural expert, was my favorite. Analytical, and obtusely clueless when it came to people skills, I thought he was the perfect counterpart to Alexia’s escalating emotional state throughout BLAMELESS. Speaking of which, I was equally taken with the mystery of what exactly Alexia was carrying and all the dire predictions and secrets about previous preternatural pregnancies of the past (try saying that three times fast). I’ll be looking forward to learning more in Heartless and seeing exactly how Alexia takes to motherhood, assuming the baby is born by then. Either way the series as a whole is one of my favorites and BLAMELESS has done its job of leaving me desperate for more.
Sexual Content: References to sex. References to homosexuality. A mild scene of sensuality.
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LibraryThing member theepicrat
Is there anything I can say that hasn't already been said 100 times over? Read this series - and if you choose to, make sure you have Book 3 on the ready! Gail Carriger puts the steamy in steampunk, and she leads us through such a delightful romp of a mystery and scandal that all semblance of
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etiquette goes out the window as one tries to devour each book without properly chewing. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Well. It's better than Changeless - at least it's a complete story. They're not home and there are a lot of loose ends to be dealt with, but there's no crisis starting in the last chapter. Some interesting insights into people - though I have to say, after Ivy's performance in Scotland I have
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trouble with her claim of not being foolish. Overall, I found this less than interesting - I do read the Scarlet Pimpernel and similar books on occasion, but they're rather overblown. Chases and mysteries and people with hidden motivations...just too much. I do intend to read Heartless, but I hope that's the end of the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member soliloquies
Didn't enjoy this was quite as much as the two previous books. Possibly because the action is removed to France and Italy which means many of favourite characters are missing for long periods of the book. On the plus side it was just as funny and this world is rapidly becoming a great place to
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escape into. Show Less
LibraryThing member MickyFine
There will be minor spoilers in this review for the previous two books in the series. You've been warned.
Following her husband's very poor reaction to the revelation of Alexia's pregnancy, Alexia ends up travelling to Italy and visiting the Templar temple in Florence in the hopes of figuring out
Another fun romp in Carriger's world full of fantasy beasts, steampunk, romance, and humour. Alexia and the cast of characters that surround her continue to amuse, develop, and get into endless amounts of troubles that make for exciting and entertaining reading. A wonderfully enjoyable entry into the series.
Following her husband's very poor reaction to the revelation of Alexia's pregnancy, Alexia ends up travelling to Italy and visiting the Templar temple in Florence in the hopes of figuring out
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how she got pregnant in the first place. Of course, she is constantly beset by vampires who due to the announcement of her pregnancy are set on killing her. Meanwhile, Lord Maccon spends a concerted amount of time getting drunk, not an easy task for a werewolf, ignoring his duties to the pack and the political disturbances happening amongst London's supernatural set.Another fun romp in Carriger's world full of fantasy beasts, steampunk, romance, and humour. Alexia and the cast of characters that surround her continue to amuse, develop, and get into endless amounts of troubles that make for exciting and entertaining reading. A wonderfully enjoyable entry into the series.
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LibraryThing member tapestry100
Gail Carriger, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways: La Diva Tarabotti. Lord Akeldama. Pesto. Formaldehyde. Templars. Biffy. Floote. Lord Maccon. "Parassault." Killer ladybugs. Vampires. Werewolves. Seriously, I could just go on and on and on about how I love Gail Carriger. And what do all of
Spoilers Ahead!
Blameless, the latest offering from Gail Carriger in her Parasol Protectorate series, finds our soulless heroine, Alexia Maccon (neé Tarabotti) is on the run. After the shocking revelations at the end of Changeless, she has been cast out by her brute of a werewolf husband, Lord Maccon, and has since discovered that for an as yet discovered reason, the vampires have set out to kill her, by any means possible (including killer mechanical ladybugs). Add to that the decision by the Queen to remove her status as muhjah of the Shadow Council, and Alexia is not having the best of times right now. Deciding that she needs some answers to her current condition, delicate as it is, Alexia travels abroad, in search of the Templars and some possible information regarding her, her father and her position as a preternatural.
Meanwhile back in London, there is intrigue and suspense galore as Lord Akeldama swarms from his home after a mysterious possession of his is stolen. How is this tied to the government? How do the werewolves play into all of this? And when will the formaldehyde run out?
And where exactly has Woolsey's Gamma run off to?
Gail Carriger has outdone herself with Blameless. I'll admit that I was a little concerned with the direction that Alexia and Co. were taking at the end of Changeless (I thought the situation seemed to come about a little too early), but I should never have doubted Ms. Carriger's ability, me the lowly reader that I am. She has taken a delicate state of affairs, and has made it into an integral, key plot point that helped move Blameless along with all the clever and witty pacing that I've come to love from her books. Having Alexia not attached to Lord Maccon was a refreshing treat. I think the characters are most interesting when they are apart, and Alexia is at odds with Connall. Of course, this situation won't always be that way, and of course they work well together, but I particularly loved the agitation felt throughout the book. The only other addition that I would have liked to see this time around? More Lord Akeldama. He has continually grown on me and may very well be my favorite character of the cast. He's just so over the top and divine.
The level of intrigue and the mystery behind the preternaturals was handled so well this time around. Ms. Carriger is developing a most engaging mythology and history for her characters, and I can't wait to find out more! There was just enough dangling plot lines left over to completely whet my appetite for more!
If you haven't had the pleasure of reading any of the Parasol Protectorate series, do yourself a favor, quit reading this humble blog and dash off to your nearest bookseller and acquire copies of all three books. Immediately. Posthaste. You won't be sorry. Gail Carriger may be one of the funniest authors that I've come across in awhile, and her books and characters are among the most charming and scintillating that I've read this year. My only regret now is that we've had the pleasure of three books released with the last year, that now we have to wait until the spring of next year to see what happens next!
Highly, highly recommended.
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these tidbits (and more!) add up to? The latest, delicious volume in the Parasol Protectorate series.Spoilers Ahead!
Blameless, the latest offering from Gail Carriger in her Parasol Protectorate series, finds our soulless heroine, Alexia Maccon (neé Tarabotti) is on the run. After the shocking revelations at the end of Changeless, she has been cast out by her brute of a werewolf husband, Lord Maccon, and has since discovered that for an as yet discovered reason, the vampires have set out to kill her, by any means possible (including killer mechanical ladybugs). Add to that the decision by the Queen to remove her status as muhjah of the Shadow Council, and Alexia is not having the best of times right now. Deciding that she needs some answers to her current condition, delicate as it is, Alexia travels abroad, in search of the Templars and some possible information regarding her, her father and her position as a preternatural.
Meanwhile back in London, there is intrigue and suspense galore as Lord Akeldama swarms from his home after a mysterious possession of his is stolen. How is this tied to the government? How do the werewolves play into all of this? And when will the formaldehyde run out?
And where exactly has Woolsey's Gamma run off to?
Gail Carriger has outdone herself with Blameless. I'll admit that I was a little concerned with the direction that Alexia and Co. were taking at the end of Changeless (I thought the situation seemed to come about a little too early), but I should never have doubted Ms. Carriger's ability, me the lowly reader that I am. She has taken a delicate state of affairs, and has made it into an integral, key plot point that helped move Blameless along with all the clever and witty pacing that I've come to love from her books. Having Alexia not attached to Lord Maccon was a refreshing treat. I think the characters are most interesting when they are apart, and Alexia is at odds with Connall. Of course, this situation won't always be that way, and of course they work well together, but I particularly loved the agitation felt throughout the book. The only other addition that I would have liked to see this time around? More Lord Akeldama. He has continually grown on me and may very well be my favorite character of the cast. He's just so over the top and divine.
The level of intrigue and the mystery behind the preternaturals was handled so well this time around. Ms. Carriger is developing a most engaging mythology and history for her characters, and I can't wait to find out more! There was just enough dangling plot lines left over to completely whet my appetite for more!
If you haven't had the pleasure of reading any of the Parasol Protectorate series, do yourself a favor, quit reading this humble blog and dash off to your nearest bookseller and acquire copies of all three books. Immediately. Posthaste. You won't be sorry. Gail Carriger may be one of the funniest authors that I've come across in awhile, and her books and characters are among the most charming and scintillating that I've read this year. My only regret now is that we've had the pleasure of three books released with the last year, that now we have to wait until the spring of next year to see what happens next!
Highly, highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member majkia
Everyone needs a Floote. And it wouldn't hurt to be rescued by Channing Channing of the Chesterfield Channings, either. And Alexia does need rescuing this time. She gets herself into quite a pickle - why, she can't even get a decent up of TEA! Oh, those damn Templars! Although she does discover
A spirited romp across Europe ends up with our heroine as prisoner in the catacombs of Florence. And where you may ask is Connell? Stuck in London, dealing with vampiric uprisings and disappearances, a brand new werewolf and Ivy. No wonder he's in a bad mood.
A great follow on to the series.
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pesto.A spirited romp across Europe ends up with our heroine as prisoner in the catacombs of Florence. And where you may ask is Connell? Stuck in London, dealing with vampiric uprisings and disappearances, a brand new werewolf and Ivy. No wonder he's in a bad mood.
A great follow on to the series.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the third book in the Parasole Protectorate series by Carriger. The fourth book "Heartless" is supposed to be released in July of 2011. The fifth and final book "Timeless" is supposed to release some time in 2012. This book was a great addition to the series, not quite as fun as the two
After the bombshell dropped on us poor readers at the end of Changeless, this book picks up shortly after that book leaves off. Alexia is living with her family and scorned by English society. Things take a turn for the worse when she is thrown out of the family home, removed from the Shadow Council by the Queen, and attacked by homicidal ladybugs. She finds that for some reason all of London's vampires are out to kill her. With Floote and Madame Lefoux as traveling companions Alexia is forced to flee to Italy and try to find the why, how, and what behind her infant inconvenience. Meanwhile Lord Maccon spends the majority of the time sloshed as he realizes his mistake in tossing his wife out because of her supposedly impossible pregnancy; this leaves poor Professor Lyall with a huge mess to hold together.
This was a fun book, but not quite as fun as the previous books in this series. I really missed some of my favorite characters; for example Lord Akeldama was absent most of the book and the insufferable Lord Maccon was sloshed. I missed the witty interplay between Lord Maccon and Alexia. I did enjoy spending more time with Floote, but although I find Madame Lefoux interesting, she is not one of my favorite characters in this book.
I continue to vastly enjoy Carriger's writing style. I love all the crazy steampunk contraptions she comes up with to incorporate into the story, I love her witty dialogue, and how her characters try to achieve English dignity in the craziest of situations. The pace of this story was good, it was a page turner and kept me fully engaged. I liked how it wrapped up, without a horrible cliffhanger like Changeless had.
You learn a lot about the background of many of the characters here. You learn a lot about Alexia's father and how Floote ties in to all that. You learn more about what it means for Alexia to be a Preternatural, and many crazy Victorian theories are discussed as to how her improbable pregnancy occurred. Alexia shows a venerability that she hasn't shown in previous books. Usually she is so practical and shrewd that you wonder at her emotional depth; this book explores that a bit more...it's not obnoxious about it but there are scenes where the whole pregnancy, abandonment, etc just becomes too much for her. Which is entirely reasonable under the circumstances.
I continue to get a lot of joy out of reading this series. It is interesting, witty, funny, and thoughtful all at once. I am very excited to see what Heartless will bring us and find out the outcome of Alexia's pregnancy.
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previous books, but more of a transition novel in which Alexia searches out the "why?" behind her pregnancy while fleeing both English hostility and vampires bent on her death.After the bombshell dropped on us poor readers at the end of Changeless, this book picks up shortly after that book leaves off. Alexia is living with her family and scorned by English society. Things take a turn for the worse when she is thrown out of the family home, removed from the Shadow Council by the Queen, and attacked by homicidal ladybugs. She finds that for some reason all of London's vampires are out to kill her. With Floote and Madame Lefoux as traveling companions Alexia is forced to flee to Italy and try to find the why, how, and what behind her infant inconvenience. Meanwhile Lord Maccon spends the majority of the time sloshed as he realizes his mistake in tossing his wife out because of her supposedly impossible pregnancy; this leaves poor Professor Lyall with a huge mess to hold together.
This was a fun book, but not quite as fun as the previous books in this series. I really missed some of my favorite characters; for example Lord Akeldama was absent most of the book and the insufferable Lord Maccon was sloshed. I missed the witty interplay between Lord Maccon and Alexia. I did enjoy spending more time with Floote, but although I find Madame Lefoux interesting, she is not one of my favorite characters in this book.
I continue to vastly enjoy Carriger's writing style. I love all the crazy steampunk contraptions she comes up with to incorporate into the story, I love her witty dialogue, and how her characters try to achieve English dignity in the craziest of situations. The pace of this story was good, it was a page turner and kept me fully engaged. I liked how it wrapped up, without a horrible cliffhanger like Changeless had.
You learn a lot about the background of many of the characters here. You learn a lot about Alexia's father and how Floote ties in to all that. You learn more about what it means for Alexia to be a Preternatural, and many crazy Victorian theories are discussed as to how her improbable pregnancy occurred. Alexia shows a venerability that she hasn't shown in previous books. Usually she is so practical and shrewd that you wonder at her emotional depth; this book explores that a bit more...it's not obnoxious about it but there are scenes where the whole pregnancy, abandonment, etc just becomes too much for her. Which is entirely reasonable under the circumstances.
I continue to get a lot of joy out of reading this series. It is interesting, witty, funny, and thoughtful all at once. I am very excited to see what Heartless will bring us and find out the outcome of Alexia's pregnancy.
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LibraryThing member silentq
Alexia has left her werewolf husband when he accuses her of infidelity because no one has ever been pregnant by a werewolf before. But Alexia is preternatural, she makes werewolves and vampires mortal when she touches them and she has been faithful. She goes back to her family but once news of her
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infant-inconvenience is leaked to the papers, she departs quickly for Italy to try and find researchers who can prove that she's not lying. She takes her father's old butler and the French inventress for companionship and protection, for the vampires are trying to kill her. We learn a bit more about the Order of the Brass Octopus as well as the Templars and how the rest of Europe views supernaturals (with suspicion and fear). I liked this entry in the series better than the previous one, it felt like the focus was a bit tighter and we learned more about the world. Plus more steampunk contrivances are always better. :) Show Less
LibraryThing member saramllr
This was a good installment in the series, but I have to admit that I rather missed Ivy and her hats. Don't want to say much else, I don't like being a spoiler. Many surprises, though.
LibraryThing member Meggle
Carriger's third novel in the Parasol Protectorate series continues where Changeless left off, with Alexia kicked out of Woolsey Castle by Lord Maccon due to her unexpected condition and now living with her intolerable mother and sisters. With her reputation in ruin and London's vampires wanting
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her dead, Alexia flees to Italy in search of the elusive Templars hoping that they will be able to explain her condition. Although I didn't enjoy Blameless quite as much as the first two books of the series it was still an enjoyable and entertaining read. Show Less
LibraryThing member flemmily
I'm a sucker for romance, and there is less of it than in Soulless, so I'd say out of the first three, this is my second favorite. I do like Alexia and all the other characters. The main trouble with this series is that it is a very delicate line to walk - emotion must be present, although hinted
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at, and the style can't become too much of a gimmick. I think Carriger generally does very well at this. Show Less
LibraryThing member pacey1927
After reading and enjoying both previous novels in this series by Gail Carriger, I am finding it difficult to put my finger on why it doesn't exactly live up to the previous two. This is far from a bad story and I was entertained and enjoyed visiting with these characters again. However the story
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seemed to go on and on for me. When it takes me three days to read a book, thats a long time. This particular book took me over a week. For some reason I found I wasn't as engaged in this story as I usually am. In this tale, Alexia along with Floote and Madame Lefoux, runs away to Italy to escape the scandal that was discovered at the end of book 2. While Floote is enjoyable, I really don't care for Madame Lefoux. Maybe I just missed her interactions with all the great characters. The best Lord Alcameda and Ivy were absent for a good portion of the book. I missed them. The best parts of this story were the parts that dealt with life back home. Professor Lyall has quickly become another favorite after this story, in which he takes a big part. I think the new twists that took place back home involving Lord Alcameda and his drone are going to be the cause of a lot of fun stories in the future. Like others I thought Alexia was too quick to forgive the idiotic Lord Maccoon. I did enjoy seeing the softer side of Alexia as she pinned for her husband and over time found herself becoming closer to her 'inconvienance'. The gadgetry was cool as ever, I enjoyed the Ladybugs tremendously. I did find the explanation and theories surrounding the 'inconvienance' to be dull and far too hard to follow. This was still worth reading, and I am hopeful the other books will be more enjoyable. Still I think so early in the series, it was a mis-step for Alexia to be away from the settings and characters we know and enjoy. Show Less
LibraryThing member STACYatUFI
I must say I wasn't sure that I would like this series when I saw it but decided to give it a try anyways. I actually ended up liking it very much. The characters are fantastic, and the story lines have been very entertaining so far.
LibraryThing member London_StJ
The Parasol Protectorate series is delightfully silly and entertaining in every way, and Blameless is no different. The most recent book picks up where the previous narrative ends, and the reader is treated to the story of consequences that arise from Alexia's singular predicament.
LibraryThing member nicole47
Excellent!
Another delightful romp. And this one doesn't end in a cliff-hanger! I can breathe a sigh of relief while waiting for #4 to come out.
Also, any things that you thought were plot holes in the last book turn out not to be so... the world gets curiouser and curiouser. The author does a great
Another delightful romp. And this one doesn't end in a cliff-hanger! I can breathe a sigh of relief while waiting for #4 to come out.
Also, any things that you thought were plot holes in the last book turn out not to be so... the world gets curiouser and curiouser. The author does a great
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job of making everything make sense. Show Less
Awards
Prix Julia Verlanger (2013)
Language
Original publication date
2010-09-01
Physical description
374 p.; 18 cm
ISBN
9780316074155
Local notes
Parasol Protectorate, 3
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Carriger |