ramakn22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I adore this author. I started with her finishing school series and followed the books chronologically. The dialogue reminds me of my favorite TV shows, witty and fast-paced, which serves to emphasize when there's a dark moment that needs to be focused on.
Funny and heartwarming in all the right places and an introduction to my absolute favorite Vampire of all time.
Funny and heartwarming in all the right places and an introduction to my absolute favorite Vampire of all time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, and Body shaming
Minor: Sexual content, Classism, and Dysphoria
ellementary's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
At times amusing but often repetitive. Great audiobook narration. Points for the author's take on the supernatural and the steampunk/scientific elements that were blended in. I was less enthusiastic about the recurrent xenophobia, gay stereotyping, and the main character's incessant self-loathing as a character flaw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
noroomforghosts's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexual content, and Racism
Minor: Body shaming
melodyseestrees's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Sexual content, Body shaming, and Classism
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Genocide, and Kidnapping
booksthatburn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Alexia Tarabotti is a spinster in her mid-twenties, mostly content to spend her time at home, in libraries, or with her friend Ivy who has unfortunate taste in hats. She’s also soulless, a preternatural whose touch can temporarily revert any supernatural persons to their formerly mortal state.
Alexia and the London werewolf Alpha, Conall, have chemistry built on mutual annoyance. He enjoys someone who will surprise and stand up to him (a limited commodity when one is the Alpha of a pack of werewolves), and she seems surprised when annoying him for fun turns into something more. Professor Lyall is his Beta, a competent and unassuming older werewolf who is a quiet, steady presence. Ivy, Alexia’s hat-obsessed friend, is one of my favorite characters but this isn’t yet the book where she shines. Lord Akeldama is a flamboyant and well-informed vampire who is utterly delightful.
The worldbuilding is cohesive and worked naturally into the story. Alexia and Conall both have to think in order to stay in step with social expectations (or notice whenever they flout them), which provides opportunities for many details about the setting without distracting from the story. I read this series so many times in high school that I’m having trouble distilling my thoughts about the series generally into what just applies to this book. It sets up the cephalopod-obsessed organization which will continue to have a presence in the series, as well as establishing (at least by mention) many of the characters who will matter as the series continues.
I love this series and it’s so nice to dive into it again.
Alexia and the London werewolf Alpha, Conall, have chemistry built on mutual annoyance. He enjoys someone who will surprise and stand up to him (a limited commodity when one is the Alpha of a pack of werewolves), and she seems surprised when annoying him for fun turns into something more. Professor Lyall is his Beta, a competent and unassuming older werewolf who is a quiet, steady presence. Ivy, Alexia’s hat-obsessed friend, is one of my favorite characters but this isn’t yet the book where she shines. Lord Akeldama is a flamboyant and well-informed vampire who is utterly delightful.
The worldbuilding is cohesive and worked naturally into the story. Alexia and Conall both have to think in order to stay in step with social expectations (or notice whenever they flout them), which provides opportunities for many details about the setting without distracting from the story. I read this series so many times in high school that I’m having trouble distilling my thoughts about the series generally into what just applies to this book. It sets up the cephalopod-obsessed organization which will continue to have a presence in the series, as well as establishing (at least by mention) many of the characters who will matter as the series continues.
I love this series and it’s so nice to dive into it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Confinement, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Torture, Death, Racism, Gore, Genocide, Xenophobia, and Murder
Minor: Religious bigotry, War, Animal death, Death of parent, Dementia, and Domestic abuse
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Cute. Carriger creates worlds well, populated with characters who sometimes exchange quite funny dialogue (even within the confines of strictly regimented society life). While I find it slightly less entertaining than I did in my 20s, it's still a fun read. Steampunk with werewolves and vampires.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood and Violence
mjwhitlock18's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
An easy to read, funny, paranormal romance/steampunk fantasy following a prickly, dry-humored and sarcastic misfit as she navigates 19th century London as a preternatural dealing with a gruff werewolf, his bookish beta, a foppish old vampire, and the rest of supernatural society.
This book is fun and witty, with great banter between characters. I particularly love Professor Lyall with his quiet competence and willingness to call his friend’s BS. Don’t expect complex plot, don’t take it too seriously (hell, this book doesn’t even take itself seriously), and it will be a fun, easy read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
the_disreputable_dog's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I was told there was a lot of spice in this book, and while the spice was missing in action save for two instances of making out, a single, incomplete handy, and then sex - once - at the end (that was only partially included!), I did very much like this story over all. It was funny, and I felt the flirtation was suitably Victorian in its reserved nature. After all, as Ms. Tarabotti indicates, it's quite scandalous in Victorian England to be caught showing ankles in public, so it makes sense for a young spinster to keep mostly to herself, except for her penchant for winning arguments all the time. This one is a funny, soft enemies to lovers romance, with a fun mystery to solve as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Racism, Sexual content, Murder, Kidnapping, and Blood
Minor: Body shaming, Violence, Misogyny, and Homophobia
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This book is just fun.
With as much emphasis on the plot as the romance, Soulless is a well-designed and solidly built steampunk, paranormal universe. Whenever I want to read a romance novel, I reread this book.
With as much emphasis on the plot as the romance, Soulless is a well-designed and solidly built steampunk, paranormal universe. Whenever I want to read a romance novel, I reread this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Violence, Kidnapping, and Medical trauma
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual content