Review "Soulless" by Gail Carriger

A NOVEL OF VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES AND PARASOLS
Author: Gail Carriger
Title: Soulless
Publisher: Orbit Books
Italian Version: HERE
Interview with Gail: HERE
Plot:
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette. Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart? SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.
MY REVIEWFrom time immemorial I was expecting that this extraordinary novel was published to Italy and unexpectedly, I must admit, I was struck by the choice of Dalai publisher to include it in its catalog because this publishing house is used to prefer in fact diametrically opposed genres. But I appreciate the challenge that this book implies, namely to help the whole Italian public to appreciate a genre which in the United States has already taken hold now (and this confirms how trends get Italy as the last destination): Steampunk. This genre is a genre of fantastic fiction-science fiction that introduces anachronistic technology in a historical setting, particularly in books by Conan Doyle and H. G. Wells.
Soulless is the brilliant debut novel of British writer Gail Carriger as well as the first book of the successful series The Parasol Protectorate that made the success of their creator. This book presents a strong leaning to the admixture of different genres to produce an effect that is nothing but amazing: a sparkling and seductive mix that it’s impossible it will not conquer the Italian readers. Steampunk, historical romance, paranormal, mystery with the addition of humour and sensuality make that all spicier and… tastier.
The main character of this novel is Alexia Tarabotti an eccentric spinster with a statuary body and olive coloured skin, the legacy of her Italian father (an inveterate libertine who has now found the path to eternal rest), with generous curves terribly out of fashion, with low self-esteem regarding her external appearance but stubborn, strong-willed, independent, obstinate, intelligent, and of course inseparable companion of parasols, hats, English tea and good food. Alexia is a preternatural however, a young woman without a soul (Soulless) suspended between two worlds, a human being who has the rare gift to be able to neutralize the powers of supernatural creatures which inhabit the Earth as ghosts, vampires, werewolves, with just a touch of her body. Miss Tarabotti however is an exception among the soulless too since, usually, those who had the fortune or misfortune to receive this gift were men. While the supernatural beings are largely integrated into the society of her time, so that there are specialized organs and two ministers, a vampire and a werewolf, very influential on the Queen Victoria, the existence of preternatural is kept hidden to the eyes of people.
Carriger, with her detailed writing style, does not spare to the reader even the smallest facets of that glimpse of aristocratic and supernatural society that we can catch reading the novel. A Victorian portrait and a careful and charming historical reconstruction (despite the paranormal and steampunk elements) that will certainly satisfy the fans of historical romance with her accurate descriptions of fashion, places and behavior which were held in that period. With a complete mastery and without heaving the lightness and smoothness of the text, the author manages to integrate perfectly in the novel the description of unusual Victorian society by explaining to those who read her political hierarchy and the various links that bind the various components of the system. A perfect fit, well thought out and perfectly delineated between historical reality, fiction and extravagant fantasy.
The book starts during a dance where our intrepid heroine Miss Alexia Tarabotti feels terribly bored and... hungry. She has just hidden her in the library to drink in solitude a cup of tea and eat a slice of treacle tart when suddenly she is attacked by a vampire, just as hungry as she is, and which seems not to recognize her as a soulless. The stranger does not seem to be aware about the rules of etiquette, and without having been properly introduced (how dares he!?), he desperately tries to bite her throat and accidentally Alexia, trying to defend herself, sticks her wooden hairpin in the vampire's heart, killing him and making him limp like a freshly baked soufflé. To save the situation from further disaster caused by the carelessness of Alexia Lord Maccon, alpha of the London pack, and Lord Lyall, his constant and efficient beta, promises her that her name would not have appeared in the newspapers the next day when the incident would certainly have been revealed. Lord Maccon is dark, seductive, rude, charming, vulgar, but also tremendously attractive and passionate. Despite his appearances, he has a romantic and sensitive soul, but carefully hidden under of large layers of a hard shell, which is essential to maintain his dominant role of an alpha in the London pack of werewolves.
This little incident, however, is not the only singular and disturbing one that occurred during those months in England and involving both vampire and werewolves. Something is hiding in the shadow of the dark houses of the Anglo-Saxon town and someone who is still apparently unknown lurks in the gloomiest darkness. Who is involved in the ongoing disappearances of vampires and werewolves? Who is able to create new vampires who ignore the rules of coexistence between humans and the supernatural world?, and, first things first, who wants to kill Alexia? Among unexpected adventures, terrifying encounters, and an overwhelming passion, will Alexia be able to find time to enjoy a slice of cake and a delicious tea in complete quietness? Soulless is just the beginning of many adventures that will follow for Alexia but certainly represents a turning point in her life and... in her social position.
Interspersed with the adventure events, passion and romantic love affairs that involving Miss Tarabotti and Lord Maccon will give life to this novel who, despite the initial mutual dislike, that engaged them in endless squabbles, they will find in themselves a spark of love that will complete their lives and join them together in such a bond that transcends the mere physical desire, despite some meetings between them are very sensual and unforgettable, described with elegance and passion, though not very responsive to a moralistic and educated spinster. They steal their dates in secluded parlours, in cold and unadorned cells and incredibly even amid the deserted streets of a nightly and silent London. Their relationship and the same novel are beautifully filled with the influence of the legendary Jane Austen, especially for the humor with which the author Gail Carriger paints and sketches the characters and with which she enjoys to narrate the story and the subtle references to the everlasting Pride & Prejudice which want to be considered a tribute to one of her favorite (maybe) authors.
It’s impossible to be not conquered over by the multitude of characters that the author presents to us because even secondary ones gain during the reading their own identity and three-dimensionality, and that is not always the standard issues in paranormal novels or in romances. Unforgettable is the character of Lord Akeldama a several-century old vampire with a soul prone to distinctly feminine attitudes and extravagant at the least clothing but we also remember Lyall, inseparable beta of Lord Maccon, for his willingness, kindness and faithfulness, Ivy for her horrific and unwatchable hats and last but not least Floote, efficient butler of Alexia, who I agree with the author has a considerable charm despite he is no longer in his prime.
Accomplice to all this the at least fantastic and sophisticated way of the author to narrate the story with an inevitable humor that makes the reading pleasant and smooth, so that I found this novel very satisfying and far exceeding my expectations, stealing my heart. I loved unconditionally the main character Alexia, for her intelligence and stubbornness, which whom I created a special affinity and empathy. I hope soon to dive back into this universe to get lost in its depths, lulled by the sweet love story of Miss Tarabotti Lord Maccon, involved in the amazing and bizarre adventures of the characters and enjoying the brilliant satire of the author.