Book Musings: Changeless by Gail Carriger

I have just finished Changeless by Gail Carriger, the second book in the Parasol Protectorate series.  I simply could not wait for the library to purchase a copy, so I went out and bought my own and I absolutely loved it!  I found parts of it to be predictable, but in a good way.  It was the kind of predictable where I found my self thinking "Hmmm...I wonder if she's going to do______."  Only to find out that she did.  I don't enjoy  when I figure out the plot because it is so obvious and I find myself thinking how so many other authors have gone down the same route.   That's upsetting, this however wasn't.   Spoilers commence!  (Which means you should go read Soulless first, right now!)

Here is what Amazon.com had to say:

"Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it."

Everything I enjoyed about the first Parasol Protectorate book was back again, with one exception.  At one point Lord Maccon approaches Lady Maccon in wolf form and recognizes her.  I like how in the first book he was not able to restrain himself quite so much in her company, but I am guessing he has become accustomed to her scent and therefore no longer needs to be as careful around her.  

The parasol was back!  And so was the witty dialogue.  As annoying as she is supposed to be, I really do enjoy the character of Ivy Hisselpenny.  She has a very fun story line, and her ability to faint is always welcome.  I would have liked to see more of Professor Lyall, but there really was no place for him in this installment, and from the synopsis I've read about Blameless, the next book, I do not believe he will be involved there a great deal either.  This book seemed to explore a little bit more of what it means to be a preternatural, and what abilities Alexia is capable of.  

I have one frustration.  I do not blame the author for this, I feel she wrote the scenario very well, which is why I am frustrated with it.  If it had been done any other way, I would have thought it too out of character for Lord Maccon.  Anyway because of information that is revealed towards the end of the book Lord Maccon acts, well stupidly.  If he was thinking logically at all, which he wasn't, he would realize his accusations are completely unfounded and if he looked at his unique situation and relationship with  Alexia he would would realize how much of an idiot he was!  That said, it was a beautifully orchestrated event.  Unlike other books which have similar scenes, there is more than just anger and betrayal.  Lord Maccon's eyes are described as "agonized and bereft" (Carriger, 371).  He seems to have lost so much more and he is able to realize what he has lost.  Usually the hero is just angry. 

Anyway I early look forward to Blameless which is described as "A novel vampires, werewolves, and Templars" I think this series can only get better.  I know what I'm buying on September 1st!

Listening to:  Billy Joel:  "Big Shot"