Soulless

Carriger, Gail. (2009) Soulless. (Parasol Protectorate series). New York, NY: Orbit.

ISBN: 9780316056632

Pages: 373

Genre: steampunk, fantasy, romance, alternate history

Annotation: Alexia Tarabotti’s life is complicated by a plot against supernaturals.

Summary: Alexia Tarabotti goes to a ball for food, fun and maybe conversation. Instead, she has to kill a vampire who wants her for dinner. This leads to encounters with a handsome, and frustrating, werewolf investigator and being targeted by a plot against London’s supernatural citizens. Alexia has a gift which can save her if the fact she has it doesn’t get her killed.

Evaluation excellent read

The details about fashion, science and society made me think I was in an alternate steampunk and supernaturally influenced London. The characters are a lot of fun. Alexia is calm with a determined attitude that has the reader rooting for her. Lord Maccon is blunt but also caring and determined to protect London and Alexia. The minor characters are engaging as well: Lord Akeldama is amusing, Professor Lyall is urbanely capable and Alexia’s mother channels Mrs. Bennett. The storyline flows at a quick pace while also allowing for relationship development between Alexia and Lord Maccon. Some aspects of their relationship got a little too detailed for me, but that is just personal preference. The plot against the supernaturals ends smoothly while also leaving room for continuation. (What does the octopus mean?) This book is an excellent read for romance, supernatural, steampunk, alternate history and strong heroine fans. What else to read:

Other books by Gail Carriger.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen because the romance, and Alexia’s mother, reminded me of it.

The Iron Duke (Iron Seas series) by Meljean Brook for steampunk, strong heroine and romance.

Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series) by Phillipa Ballentine for steampunk and a strong heroine.

The Manual of Detection

Berry, Jedediah. (2009). The Manual of Detection. New York, NY: Penguin.

Pages: 278

ISBN: 978-1594202117

Genre: mystery, fantasy, science fiction, steampunk

Annotation: A clerk is unhappily promoted to detective.  

Summary: Clerk Charles Unwin is a master of detail and routine. Then his life is disrupted when the greatest detective his city has goes missing. This gets him promoted to detective, but Unwin sees this as a mistake to rectify. Then he finds his boss’s boss murdered and realizes he has to take on the mantle of detective at least long enough to be able to get his own job back. This sends him on a surreal journey where who can be trusted is unclear, facts are uncertain and what the future holds is up for grabs. As he uses his knowledge of reports, the people he encounters and The Manual of Detection hints he finds truth of the past is not what he thought. Unwin’s search brings him into contact with a foe that would control the dreams of the whole city. Unwin must go from a clerk who records details to a detective who makes them if he has chance of saving the city, the detective and himself.

Evaluation: Good read

Unwin is an engaging character. The reader is drawn into his obsessed with detail view of the world. It is a trait which hinders him by making his world view narrow, but helps him to see what he needs to when applied correctly. The other characters are intriguing as the details of whom and what they are is slowly revealed. The storyline is good, but two parts keep it from being excellent. Unwin’s movement from clue to clue seemed too lucky. Also, the Agency’s purpose, the changing nature of the characters and some of the events of the book are a bit too surreal at times. The surreal vibe of the story was conveyed very well. Descriptions of the agency, the unnamed city, the carnival and the dream areas made the reader feel surreal and very aware this was another world. A good read for those wanting something out of the ordinary.

What other out of the ordinary books to read:

City of Glass by Paul Auster also involves a mystery and a reluctant hero.

The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer is another surreal steampunk novel.

The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman by Angela Carter is a surreal fantasy where the nature of reality is challenged.

The Prophecy Machine (Investments #1) by Neal Barrett Jr. is a fantasy in which societal order is challenged.  

The Desert of Souls

Jones, Howard Andrew. (2011). The Desert of Souls. New York, NY: Thomas Dunne Books.

ISBN: 9780312646745

Pages: 309

Genre: fantasy, adventure

Annotation: A scholar and a guard captain fight to save Baghdad.

Summary: The smooth lives of a brilliant scholar, Dabir, and guard captain, Asim, are interrupted when a Greek spy steals two ancient artifacts. Tasked by the magistrate with retrieving the items they find the Greek spy has joined forces with an evil sorcerer. This duo plans to use the artifacts to gain possession of an object which could leave their city cursed forever. The scholar and the captain must save Bagdad while also confronting forbidden love.

Evaluation: very good read

 The characters are excellently portrayed. The members of the heroic duo are equals: each is loyal, brave and possessing their own strengths (Dabir’s knowledge and Asim’s fighting skills). The sorcerer, who is the main villain, has turned to evil but the reason why makes the reader feel empathy for him while still wanting his defeat. The storyline is pretty good: believable and interesting, but it seems like the heroic duo encounter too many setbacks. The flow of events keeps the story flowing smoothly and is not too fast or too slow. The story does an excellent job of evoking the feel of its Baghdad: the control of those in power, the appreciation for marvels and descriptions of locale believably recreate an Arabian Nights like world. This book is for those who want an Arabian Night like tale of adventure, magic and love of different types (romantic, friendship, family).

What else to read:

Other books by Howard Andrew Jones .

The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights, translated with a preface and notes by Richard F. Burton and introduction by A.S. Byatt, for Arabian Nights tales.

Arabian Nights and Days by Naguib Mahfouz , translated by Denys Johnson-Davies, takes off where the Arabian Nights tales left off.

Throne of the Crescent Moon (The Crescent Moon Kingdoms #1) by Saladin Ahmed for another Arabian Nights like world.

The Arrows of the Queen

Lackey, Mercedes. (1987). Arrows of the Queen. (1^st volume of The Heralds of Valdemar). New York, NY: DAW Books.

ISBN: 9780886773786

Pages: 320

Genres: fantasy

Annotation: Talia searches for where she belongs and saves a kingdom.

Summary: Talia runs away from home in desperate search of a better life. She is surprised, and awed, to encounter the Companion Rolan. The Companions are horse-like beings which protect the kingdom of Valdemar with their human allies. Rolan chooses Talia to help protect Queen Selenay and her daughter Princess Elspeth. He brings Talia to the Collegium for training. Talia learns how the traits she has, personal and magical, make her the best hope to help the queen and train the spoiled Princess Elspeth.

Evaluation: good read

The book has one main character, Talia, and the others are peripheral players. Talia’s character development is feasible, but can feel a bit rushed. It would have been nicer to see more of the small “normal” moments that compromise growth, but there are some. Other than that, her reactions to events and overall character development is believable. The other characters, who the reader gets to know through occasional focuses on their points of view, are worth getting to know. Skif the mischievous, but loyal thief, and Jadus the harp master are two examples. The challenges Talia has to face are varied and the reader roots for her to overcome them. The atmosphere feels average. The reader knows they are in another world, but do not feel deeply immersed in it. The pacing feels too fast: at one point it seems like the book skips a couple of years. This ensures quick movement to the next significant challenge Talia faces, but it cuts out some of the small, normal moments that might be interesting to see. This is a good read for those who like strong heroines and horses.

What else to read:

Other books by Mercedes Lackey.

Green Rider by Kristen Britain also has a strong female hero and horses.

Black Horses for the King by Anne McCaffrey is technically young adult, but is a good match. The hero, like Talia, is unwanted by his family and finds his place helping his ruler. It is also a good story for those who like horses.

Poison Study by Maria Snyder features a strong heroine. 

The Eyre Affair

Fforde, Jasper. (2003). The Eyre Affair. New York, NY: Penguin.

ISBN: 9780142001806

Pages: 374

Genre: fantasy, sci-fi, adventure

Annotation: Thursday Next must save Jane Eyre among other challenges.

Summary: Thursday Next, a dedicated Literary detective, is jolted out of her routine when a supposedly secure book is stolen. This brings her into disastrous contact with a villain who wants to use literature for his own gain. His plan is to use a device which literally allows people to step into the pages of books, and if they have the original story, change them forever. As if this is not enough, Thursday also comes into contact with the man she loves but also feels betrayed her ten years ago. A jaunt into the pages of Jane Eyre can help her with both problems.

Evaluation:  Excellent read.

The characters are engaging. Thursday is a lot like Jane Eyre: dependable and struggling to deal with emotions. Hades is an over the top villain the reader loves to hate. Landen Park-Laine is at once a romantic and/or someone the reader wants to yell at depending on the interpretation. The storyline keeps the reader interested: the premise of being able to step into a book alone is worth it. Thursday’s encounters with Hades, Goliath Corporation, Landen and those in Jane Eyre provoke laughter and/or thoughtfulness. The literary allusions, the mentions of societies and other elements help the reader to feel they are in a world where literature is king. The use of jarring elements such as dodos, airships versus airplanes and the Crimean War lasting over a century show the reader this is a world much different from our own. This book is an excellent read for readers who love books, retold tales, alternate history and humorous fantasy.

What else to read:

The other books in the Thursday Next series.

The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moer, translated by John Brownjohn, for another book about books.

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey for a retold tale.

Heroics for Beginners by John Moore for humorous fantasy.

Harry Turtledove is a master of alternate history who has various “what if” scenarios from different time periods.