Soulless is about Alexia Tarbotti, a twenty-six year old
Victorian spinster who lives in London. Her deceased
biological father was Italian and gave Alexia her long nose,
dark looks and too many curves that are considered
acceptable. She Alexia has a dark secret because of her
father and is known as a preternatural, one who doesn't have
a soul. Alexia has a heart and can feel emotions but because
she has no morals, she uses reason and logic instead. As a
preternatural, anytime Alexia touches a supernatural
creature they lose their abilities.
Alexia's secret is about to come out because one night while
she is at a ball, sitting alone in a library, she is
attacked by a vampire. Alexia kills the vampire and pretends
to faint and is found by her nemesis, Lord Maccon who is the
fourth Earl of Woolsey who works for the Bureau of Unnatural
Registry and also happens to be Scottish and the alpha to
the Woolsey werewolf pack. It looks like something dastardly
is at play that could uproot the whole supernatural community.
Armed with her parasol and good sense, Alexia will do some
investigating of her own. Unfortunately, Alexia is in deeper
trouble than she would have ever expected especially when
the BUR offices are broken into. Lord Maccon also pops out
of nowhere to protect her as well as kiss her senseless and
dare to give her love bites around her neck for anyone to see.
Soulless is a rousing good time. The sights and sounds of
Victorian England are shown so well here where you will be
lost in the world of vampires, werewolves and mad scientists
who have an obsession with octopuses. Not only is there a
great deal of action but a wonderful romance between Alexia
and Maccon that is too adorable for words. The mystery
surrounding the supernatural disappearances is written so
very well and you will be cheering for Alexia because she is
the one to figure things out.
There are not many books I can recommend that will make you
want to drop everything you are doing and run out to your
nearest bookstore to buy. SOULLESS is one of them. This is
one book that you must own. I am truly in awe of Gail
Carriger's writing talent and she is a true superstar of the
publishing world and because of her I have a new respect for
the Steampunk genre.
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?
SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London:
full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.