Fan favorite and New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger has
done it again. Her novels set in an alternate Victorian London, which happens to
abound with parasols, vampires, dirigibles, werewolves, and—most importantly—tea
time, have delighted readers since her debut in 2009. Now, a new series has
entered the scene.
As of this week, a new plucky heroine joins Carriger’s character ranks, earning
her a pedestal beside Alexia Tarabotti Maccon and Sophronia Temminnick. Prepare to
meet Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (called “Rue”, thank heavens) and
travel with her by dirigible to India in PRUDENCE,
which released on March 17.
PRUDENCE
is the first in the new Custard Protocol series, which promises as much
mayhem and manners as Carriger’s first two series. To mark the occasion, I
wanted to take a look back at the perilous but polite adventures Carriger has
taken us on so far. Take a gander at the first book in each of her series below,
and celebrate the latest with a spot of tea. Or a dirigible ride, if you are
fortunate enough to possess one. (And if you do, might I come along?)
PS: For my fellow Dallas folks, Ms. Carriger will be at the Lincoln Park
Barnes & Noble tomorrow (3/20) from 7pm to 9pm. I'm terribly jealous of anyone
who is available to go, but don't let my envy stop you. Go and meet her, because
she seems perfectly lovely. For those of you not in Dallas, you can still meet
Ms. Carriger during one of her other tour stops, found here.
SOULLESS (The Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger
SOULLESS
|
It all began with The Parasol
Protectorate series, which first introduced us to Carriger’s Victorian
London and all its comedic, supernatural charm. Heroine spinster Alexia is a joy
to read as she bumbles and pardons her way through slaying vampires and courting
werewolves in New York Times bestseller SOULLESS. About:
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 -- and 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 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? |
ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE (Finishing School) by Gail Carriger
ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE
|
Carriger returned to her Parasol Protectorate
universe in 2013 with a younger audience in mind. The YA Finishing
School series is every bit as saucy, witty, and droll as its grown-up
counterpart, and every bit as beloved by its fans. About:
It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to
curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School. Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is
more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper
manners--and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious
curtsy. Mrs. Temminnick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady.
So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young
Ladies of Quality. But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have
hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything.
Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but the also
learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage--in the politest possible
ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's
education.
|
PRUDENCE by Gail Carriger
PRUDENCE
|
In the newly released first Custard Protocol
novel, the daughter of Parasol Protectorate series heroine Alexia travels to
India “on behalf of Queen, country…and the perfect pot of tea.” Pardon me as I
disappear for a spell to bury my nose in this book. About:
When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama ("Rue" to her friends) is bequeathed an
unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female under similar
circumstances would do -- she christens it the Spotted Custard and floats off to
India. Soon, she stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped
brigadier's wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a
dire crisis (and an embarrassing lack of bloomers), Rue must rely on her good
breeding -- and her metanatural abilities -- to get to the bottom of it all...
|
***
Pasha Carlisle is
a Fresh Take columnist and the Features Editor for FreshFiction.com. Though most
of her hours are spent drafting her Middle Grade fantasy series, she also bakes
confections, pins on Pinterest, volunteers at church, and reads novels she's
supposedly "too old" to love. She believes in breakfast for dinner, and she
hangs her tiara in the Dallas area.
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