SOULLESS by Gail Carriger

SOULLESS by Gail Carriger

Carriger, G. (2009). Soulless. New York: Orbit.

GENRE: Fantasy - Steampunk

ANNOTATION: Life hasn't been easy for Alexia Tarabotti. She's a soulless spinster, making her a societal outcast in 19th century London. But when she accidentally kills a vampire, things go from bad to worse.

SUMMARY: Supernatural forces are alive and well in 19th century London - but they're not always good... Or socially acceptable. Alexia Tarabotti is at the losing end of the social ladder. Not only is her father dead (and Italian) she is a spinster and is cursed - or gifted - with the supernatural absent soul. But things go from bad to worse when she is attacked by a vicious vampire and inadvertanty kills him. She soon falls prey to the supernatural world filled with vampires and werewolves. When the right vampires disappear and the wrong ones turn up, she is believed to be responsible. She must use her powers to fight the supernatural, clear her name, and find those truly responsible.

EVALUATION: 5 - An interesting blend of genres, this book is witty, funny, and fast-paced, keeping the readers interested and intrigued all the way through. They will come away with an instant yearning for the next book.

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION: This is the first in the Parasol Protectorate series, currently three books long followed by "Changeless" and "Blameless."