Soulless by Gail Carriger
Reviewed by: Joscelyn Lockwood, Childrens Department
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about?: Miss Alexia Tarabotti is a spinster in Victorian England facing more issues than just her lack of marriage prospects. Besides being a tad too old, a tad too strong willed, and a tad too Italian, Alexia is also a preternatural. You see, in this version of Victoria’s Britain, vampires and werewolves walk among the normal humans. A preternatural, also negatively called a “Soulless”, is a person lacking a soul, and who therefore cannot be changed from human to vampire or were. A series of disappearances in both the werewolf and vampire communities cause fingers to start being pointed Alexia’s direction. Will she be able to prove her innocence?
My Review: I am big fan of strong female characters, and Alexia definitely fits the bill. She often disregards her mother’s worries over her spinster status in favor of high tea with her friend Ivy, and doing everything she can to drive the local werewolf Alpha bonkers. The supporting characters also bring their own fun to the party in the form of a flamboyant vampire, crazy step sisters, and a bookish beta werewolf that is both nerdy and adorable. The events that take place and make up the bulk of the mystery in the book are interesting without overwhelming the main storyline. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the series is like.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Sassy, Hilarious, and Very Fashionable (for the Victorian Era, of course.)
Give This a Try if You Like… Headstrong women, gratuitous descriptions of both food and fashion, and a little mystery thrown into your paranormal novels.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!