Parasol Protectorate
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.
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