Heartless by Gail Carriger

Parasol Protectorate

Soulless * Changeless * Blameless * Heartless * Timeless

Publish Date: July 1st, 2011
Publisher: Orbit
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. 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

There's a plot to kill the queen, and Alexia must get to the bottom of it. Unfortunately, she is eight months pregnant and under constant assassination attempts of her own.

Tone/Pacing

The book does get some shifts in tone. The beginning is slow and meandering, setting up everything for later, and I found it absolutely boring, though it is good to know when you read Prudence. The last third(ish) of the book is action-packed with plot twists and turns and to me, it was much more enjoyable. 

However, the constant reminder of Alexia being pregnant got trite real quickly. I don't know if the author has ever been pregnant, but the way Alexia has to be man-handled every five minutes was ridiculous. She's unable to do so much, yet she constantly puts herself and her child in danger.

The pacing was thrown off a lot with the terrible way answers were almost given. This book likes to have conversations where something is almost revealed, but a sudden visitor/ruckus happens and they are interrupted. Once or twice, sure, but how many times has this happened here? I lost count and I stopped caring.

Verdict

It definitely wasn't as good as the other books. But it does shed some light on some historical events, plus a few mysteries from the previous books. There's only one more book in this series, so I can't just stop now. I have a lot of complaints about this book, but ultimately, I wanted to know about the story itself and what happens to the characters. Which is what this series does - it gets you hooked with emotional investment. The problem is, I now dislike a bunch of characters because of their actions in this book, and a lot of the plot is contrived. I'm kinda rooting for the vampires to eat everyone now. 

Spoilers Ahead! Let's Spill Some Tea.

1. Having Biffy and Lord Akeldama split for good was a wasted opportunity. Alexia and Conall are together, why not Biffy and Lord Akeldama? The whole thing was dragged on for so long and it just ended with zero satisfaction. Biffy couldn't integrate into the pack and learn to be a werewolf AND be in love with a vampire? Thanks, I hate it. 

2. Speaking of Lord Akeldama...he used Alexia to his own advantage by getting the other vampires out of London, which made Alexia/the pack lose their castle. Am I supposed to think this was cute? Also, Alexia put her FRIEND into slavery with the group she hates, who will also start biting her. Lovely. 

3. I still have no idea why everyone wants to kill the baby. Because it has never happened before in recorded history? I think? And Akeldama adopting the baby makes everything ok, somehow? 

4. Lyall lied for how many years? Seemed so tacked on...

5. Why did she save the vampires?!

Marceline is the only Vampire Queen you need!

  

Killer Domes and The Chosen One by Gibbo Gibbs

Publish Date: July 06th, 2019
Format: eBook
Author: Gibbo Gibbs
Author’s Website
My Review on Goodreads

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

Introduction

Humanity now exists in a dome utopia -- they are fed, clothed, and given creative projects in a program called Canvas. Maz, a girl of intellect and curiosity, and her best friend Hap, happen upon an opportunity to learn about the truth of the domes. Maz chooses to learn more, and Hap reluctantly follows.
 

Pacing

This is quick and rewarding, which I like in novellas. Even the "quieter" moments aren't boring. Aside from the clean, orderly domes, there are robots, survival, and futuristic technology, which are all fun/terrifying, depending on the reader. I think sometimes it went a little too quickly, and I couldn't envision some of the landscape/environments very well sometimes, but this novella doesn't need that much detail.

Essay Ideas

Need another book to pair with a classic dystopian novel like 1984, Brave New World, Fahrenheit 451, or something more recent like Never Let Me Go or Oryx and Crake? Especially if you are short on time, or if you are interested in something with a faster pace and more sci-fi elements, this may be an option for you. This is the apocalypse and how humans dealt with it, along with the aftermath. I am hoping there are more books to this series as well, so we can get even more world-building and backstory.

Final Verdict

I greatly appreciate dystopia novels and I personally haven't read too many that were this heavily in the realm of sci-fi. There are a few grammatical errors, but it's independently published, and I know how expensive editors are, and what I spotted were few and far between, so I'm not too concerned here (if it was riddled with errors and unreadable, I'd say so, or I wouldn't review it at all). The characters were all great, and the two younger dome-dwellers were interesting to follow, as was their other companions. I had a great time with it, and it's a quick read even for me (a slow reader). If you like novellas, sci-fi, post-apocalyptic dystopias, this will probably be a good time. Or, if you need more reasons to fear the future, try this one.   

The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

The Hallowed Ones

The Hallowed Ones * The Outside

Publish Date: September 25th, 2012
Format Reviewed: eBook
Series: The Hallowed Ones
Author: Laura Bickle
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

Introduction

Katie is a Plain girl and excited to enjoy her forthcoming Rumspringa with her childhood friend Elijah. Her life carries on and aside from her occasionally not being the most obedient girl and how she's pretty sure she's expected to marry Elijah. Everything is fine. Then, a disaster from the Outside, the English, comes in. It's obvious that major events are happening in the world beyond their gate, but her Elders ignore it. Then, their people go missing. An Outsider, a young man, is injured and left to die, but Katie doesn't listen to the decree that God should decide his fate. During all of this, the evil is coming in, and Katie has to figure something out before the whole community is slaughtered in the night.

Story

Ok, listen. Amish fiction, but with vampires.

YAAAASS!

This would make a great film. Even a B movie would be so much fun.

Tell me you are not intrigued!

The beginning of the story is mostly the day-to-day of Amish life, and I honestly forgot that something (the inciting incident) was going to happen to bring the story into a dystopia. I could have kept reading about Katie and her life uninterrupted and been fascinated. But, things do happen, and it is because Katie is not the perfect Amish daughter that things actually get rolling.  

Truthfully, I don't know how true to the Amish community the book is. I'm very interested in the topic but I lack it in-depth knowledge. I admit that the book could be blatantly lying. In the context of this book, I like how the "behind the doors" interactions of families doesn't always perfectly align with what they preach. It seems that they are bringing in more love and affection, so I enjoyed the family unit that they had.  

Insta-love

Yes but it's the end of the world, basically. It's not another week in high school. In my book, the relationship gets a pass. The woman in question actively goes to this relationship of her own accord and builds it up. 

Setting/Essay Topics

It reminds me of the anime Shiki. Both use the horror of isolation from other towns/people. When the people you know are reanimating and luring you out, how do you fight back? How do you get a town to finally admit that there is something paranormally wrong and you have to do something about it? The technology/science of today vs traditional/religious myths. 

Shiki!

Shiki!

Final Verdict

I greatly enjoyed this book. The Hexenmeister, the two English characters, Elijah, and Katie were great characters. Even Katie's mom and sister occupy the softer parts of my heart. I have no qualms with the way it was written; it is written in first-person POV with a serviceable writing style. So if you're interested in vampires in a slightly different setting, I highly recommend this. I hope I was able to intrigue someone to read this, as I happened to come across this by chance.