Changeless by Gail Carriger

Parasol Protectorate

Soulless * Changeless * Blameless * Heartless * Timeless

Publish Date: April 1st, 2010
Format: Paperback
Series: Parasol Protectorate
Author: Gail Carriger
Author’s Goodreads
Wikia (has spoilers!)
My Review on Goodreads

Disclaimer

This book is not typically found in the YA section of a library as the characters are older (MC is 26). It has some sexual content. Not as much as Soulless, but it is there. I do contend that teens can enjoy the story and world, but some people may be upset about the sexual content. Totally fair. I usually only review content that is clearly marketed to teens, and this is not. I'm reviewing this because it is in the same universe as the YA Prudence and is the pre-story to that. So...

If you don't like some steamy content, please skip this review/book!

Introduction

Alexia Maccon, muhjah to the queen and bluestocking extrodinare, takes up nighttime hours to manage werewolf pack dynamics and vampire politics. One morning, her husband wakes Alexia with an angry conversation with a ghost. Then, he up and returns to Scotland, leaving her to navigate the current crisis: the widespread loss of immortality. Along with her own problems, Ivy and Alexia's family also bring their own issues to her that she has to deal with. With an entourage in tow, she travels to Scotland to unravel a few mysteries.

Characters

All I really have to say about this book is regarding the characters. The first book, Soulless, did a fairly good job of creating characteristics for everyone that were simple but concrete. This book tosses it all out. Perhaps this section will only be useful to writers who want to do better. The final verdict is at the end of the post.

Lord Maccon was a fairly simple character before: gruff and not easily swayed by sentiment. Emotions? Ew. Alright. Now, he has been sitting on information that Alexia should have been told, and he's just so flippant about it. He calls Alexia "Wife" all the time, which to me is demeaning. In public he says he married her for her body and to shut her up. Their dynamic is awful. And then the ending is beyond infuriating. Why would he act this way? He's with BUR and is fully aware that bizzaro creatures like WEREWOLVES (which he is one!), vampires, and ghosts exist. I saw the plot twist coming very early on, but the reaction to it was astonishingly stupid. I don't think it was properly written into Maccon's character/the world. IF she had given him cause to worry, it would have made a bit of sense, but she had literally never given him reason to question her loyalty. I officially hate him. Unfortunately, because I have already read Prudence, I know the ultimate outcome. I wish she would run away with anyone, including the lovely lady introduced in this book.

Ivy turned into an absolute dolt and I'm not sure why. Any why would Alexia be friends with someone that ridiculous? I did enjoy her ultimate action at the end of the book, as I think she would find it all romantic and against societal rules that she so stringently abided by. One of my favourite scenes in this book is this:

But the author did Ivy a disservice and I don't know why she was so poorly written. The character became unbearably annoying when Ivy could have filled her purpose in the story without the mind-numbing stupidity. Perhaps some of the ignorant comic relief that she's supposed to be providing could have been shifted to Alexia's sister.

Madame Lefoux and Lady Kingair are two new characters that are actually amazing. Each has their own histories, personalities, and ambitions. I think some things with Madame Lefoux (like Alexia undressing her and commenting on her bust) was cringy. Perhaps Ivy being so stupid was to balance out these two other women? 

Final Verdict

This book loses the romance elements, which is fine by me, because there is much less steam obstructing me from reading the actual story. These books aren't going to win literature awards, but the world is interesting and the characters are fun. This book has more same-sex representation than in the first installation, though Maccon does look down on my favourite vampire for the same reason, and that's a bummer. If you've already read Soulless, I don't see why you wouldn't read this one, and if your library already has Soulless, you'd get Changeless (unless you're my current library, that has all of this universe's books in print except this one). It's steampunk, has vampires, werewolves, lesbians, and women in men's clothing, so there's a little bit of everything here.

Fortuna Sworn by K.J. Sutton

Publish Date: June 23 2019
Format Reviewed: eBook
Series: Fortuna Sworn #1
Author: K.J. Sutton
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Introduction

Fortuna is a very special being in the world. Only herself and her missing brother are left of their otherworldly kind. She is dangerous, alluring, and very protective of the people she cares about. When the chance to find her brother is presented, she takes it. But she must trust a faerie and play their twisted games. It goes beyond saving her brother, as it quickly becomes apparent that she must fight for her own survival as well.

World Building and Characters

There are two worlds in this book. The familiar human world is just as we know it, though there are some things we regular humans don't get to see. Then there's the other, unseen world. I won't spoil anything, but this book details this new and exciting place. Fortuna is a fantastic bridge for the reader, because she holds some knowledge, though some of it is flawed and she's still learning. The world of the faerie court is thick with intrigue, indulgence, lust, and violence. They have their own traditions and history and there's so much for Fortuna and the reader to learn. 

Every character is well described and have great character details. What they look like, dress like, and their personality really shines. Fortuna changes throughout the book, reacting to her ordeals and growing. Just when you think you can trust another character, you can't, and she has to change too. I appreciate that there are no wasted characters, with the exception of one girl from the beginning, there are no wasted characters (but I'm hoping we get to see said girl in another book). There is one witch that is mentioned, and I hope we get to see her at some point too. 

Love Interests

There are a few possible love interests here and they are all great. You can't trust faeries but dang, does one really try to get Fortuna to like him. I flipped-flopped between liking him and loathing him. The other option, who I shall not name, is just so amazing as well. However, it's unconventional, and at first, I really wasn't rooting for him because it was so weird. But you know what? The more I read, I was like, no, girl, please be happy with someone because everyone here sucks.  

Age Group

Faerie stories seem to have a heaping spoonful of steamy moments, and this book is no exception. Because some of the scenes get fairly explicit, I recommend this to older teens, the new adult age range, or adults. In case anyone is wondering, these scenes are leagues above Soulless. What I do appreciate about Fortuna Sworn is that intimacy IS hella confusing, especially when you are new to it with new people.

Cover

Can we just take a minute and appreciate this cover? It's gorgeous and it's faithful to the book. Isn't it the worst when the cover has a representation of a character and it doesn't match the description? This absolutely does. It's amazing, please oogle the cover, it's deserving.

Final Verdict

I've read a lot of good books last year and this year, but this seriously this one is in my top 5 (even higher than The Hazel Wood, and I really got into that one). I couldn't put this down. I am so sad that it ended because it needs to go on and I can't wait for the next one. With the last line, I was loosing it. Winter 2019 can't come fast enough. I usually don't like stories that have three trials, but these were engaging and the stakes were high. As long as you are ok with some sexual scenes, I highly recommend this book.

 

This book was a roller coaster for me. The review ends here, but just in case anyone is interested, here how I basically handled it my reading experience.
Outrage came pretty quickly. This is what I wanted Fortuna to do right from the start:

Every time someone stood in her way or was just being so wishy-washy with their feelings/actions, I also put them on my list. Especially by the end. I was basically internally screaming Why isn't she murdering everybody?!

Give me back my brother!

Sometimes I softened a bit and it was confusing. Urgh,feelings!

But then, of course, I got angry again, and decided rampaging was still the best option.

I do, however, realize that if I tried to do anything of this, the outcome would be this:

So that's why I'm not the heroine of this book. I hope in the next book, she gets to kick even more deserving butt.