Timeless by Gail Carriger
Apr. 17th, 2012 11:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
Alexia Tarabotti has settled into domestic bliss …
Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London high society, living in a vampire’s second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell’s acting troupe’s latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a dampner on Alexia’s enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.
Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. But Egypt holds more mysteries than even the indomitable Alexia can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?
Two years after HEARTLESS and officially Alexia and Conall live next to Lord Akeldama (guardian of two-year-old Prudence); in reality, they live in Akeldama’s second best closet. The arrangement is a happy one, despite the challenge of Prudence’s soulless abilities, which enable her to steal a vampire or werewolf’s abilities leaving them mortal. The Tunstells have launched a stunning new production that’s taking London by storm while Biffy has adapted to his werewolf status and now runs Madame Lafoux’s hat shop while she serves her sentence as a vampire drone.
When Lady Kingair reveals that her beta is missing after travelling to Egypt to investigate the source of the soulless mummies from CHANGELESS, Alexia’s investigations are interrupted by a summons from Queen Matakara, ruler of the Alexandria Hive, requiring her and Prudence to visit.
Alexia and family travel to Egypt to discover what Matakara wants, leaving Biffy and Professor Lyall to investigate in their absence. But as old secrets are revealed and mysteries unravelled, Alexia finds that the truth is linked to old secrets – both hers, her father’s and those of the people she loves …
Gail Carriger’s conclusion to the bestselling Parasol Protectorate series is a fittingly charming and frothy story that ties up loose ends but leaves the way open for the next generation.
The book hinges on relationships, particularly that between Alexia and her infant daughter, which despite a few anachronisms in expressions, I found it delightful. Alexia remains a practical woman, not given to displays of emotion, determined to install a sense of decorum into her daughter (who is equally determined to frolic in the nude) and fascinated with scientifically assessing her abilities. The obvious affection between all the characters makes some of the developments (notably for Professor Lyall) so heart breaking. Biffy comes into his own in this book and I would love to read more of his adventures, but I was gutted by what happens to Floote.
Carriger displays her customary wit and there were many moments that made me chuckle loudly but particularly those involving Ivy’s foray into the theatre. There’s also pathos though, particularly with Conall’s desire not to become an insane Alpha and Matakara’s storyline.
I’m sorry that this series has ended but it’s refreshing to see an author determined to go out on a high before the quality fades and I look forward to the Prudence-centric new series.
The Verdict:
The conclusion to Gail Carriger’s bestselling Parasol Protectorate series is a return to form – a charming, frothy story that ties up loose ends but leaves the way open for a new series revolving around Prudence. I loved some of the developments (particularly the relationship between Alexia and her daughter) while others left me gutted (I’m thinking of getting a tee-shirt ‘Still Mourning For Floote’). It is great to see an author who knows when to go out on a high and I can’t wait to read Prudence’s adventures.
Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London high society, living in a vampire’s second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell’s acting troupe’s latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a dampner on Alexia’s enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.
Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. But Egypt holds more mysteries than even the indomitable Alexia can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?
Two years after HEARTLESS and officially Alexia and Conall live next to Lord Akeldama (guardian of two-year-old Prudence); in reality, they live in Akeldama’s second best closet. The arrangement is a happy one, despite the challenge of Prudence’s soulless abilities, which enable her to steal a vampire or werewolf’s abilities leaving them mortal. The Tunstells have launched a stunning new production that’s taking London by storm while Biffy has adapted to his werewolf status and now runs Madame Lafoux’s hat shop while she serves her sentence as a vampire drone.
When Lady Kingair reveals that her beta is missing after travelling to Egypt to investigate the source of the soulless mummies from CHANGELESS, Alexia’s investigations are interrupted by a summons from Queen Matakara, ruler of the Alexandria Hive, requiring her and Prudence to visit.
Alexia and family travel to Egypt to discover what Matakara wants, leaving Biffy and Professor Lyall to investigate in their absence. But as old secrets are revealed and mysteries unravelled, Alexia finds that the truth is linked to old secrets – both hers, her father’s and those of the people she loves …
Gail Carriger’s conclusion to the bestselling Parasol Protectorate series is a fittingly charming and frothy story that ties up loose ends but leaves the way open for the next generation.
The book hinges on relationships, particularly that between Alexia and her infant daughter, which despite a few anachronisms in expressions, I found it delightful. Alexia remains a practical woman, not given to displays of emotion, determined to install a sense of decorum into her daughter (who is equally determined to frolic in the nude) and fascinated with scientifically assessing her abilities. The obvious affection between all the characters makes some of the developments (notably for Professor Lyall) so heart breaking. Biffy comes into his own in this book and I would love to read more of his adventures, but I was gutted by what happens to Floote.
Carriger displays her customary wit and there were many moments that made me chuckle loudly but particularly those involving Ivy’s foray into the theatre. There’s also pathos though, particularly with Conall’s desire not to become an insane Alpha and Matakara’s storyline.
I’m sorry that this series has ended but it’s refreshing to see an author determined to go out on a high before the quality fades and I look forward to the Prudence-centric new series.
The Verdict:
The conclusion to Gail Carriger’s bestselling Parasol Protectorate series is a return to form – a charming, frothy story that ties up loose ends but leaves the way open for a new series revolving around Prudence. I loved some of the developments (particularly the relationship between Alexia and her daughter) while others left me gutted (I’m thinking of getting a tee-shirt ‘Still Mourning For Floote’). It is great to see an author who knows when to go out on a high and I can’t wait to read Prudence’s adventures.
