ashnight's review against another edition
5.0
Loved loved loved this story and the change of scenery. The cliffhanger was such a shock and made me grab the next book as soon as I put this one down. Thank you for another amazing book.
mrydstrom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
stacy_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
3.75
emeraldrina's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
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? Yes
4.25
hquin's review against another edition
5.0
*4.75* I had minor problems with this book but overall I loved the characters and its one of my favourites of the series.
intostarlight's review against another edition
5.0
I can't put my finger on what it is but these books are so addicting! Gail Carriger has such a unique and funny voice. Her writing has some of the subtle sarcasm I’ve read in classics, but somehow it’s got a modern flavor. It’s just so freaking beautiful. The story is captivating. I didn't want to put the book down. However, I must say that I was very, very annoyed with the end of this book. It is definitely a "cliff-hanger" type ending. But still, I love the world this author has created.
To any newcomers to this series, I highly recommend you start with book 1. Much will be missing from this book if you don't.
To any newcomers to this series, I highly recommend you start with book 1. Much will be missing from this book if you don't.
decafplease's review against another edition
4.0
First I have to say the writing overall is visibly more smooth and coherent than that of the first. Thank goodness. In Soulless there is a lot of awkward similes and humourless wit which just make me feel sorry for Carriger for trying so hard but failing at it. Here she's gotten more refined to the degree that even Lucy appears to be a lovable character whereas in the first she is just plain absurd.
In spite of the great difference in temperament and the types of men that we would appreciate and prefer...(and the height thing) between us, Alexia is a character that I have embraced. I sympathise with her fully on the matter of sibling difficulties and ridiculous friends. (Warning: elitist moment) I suspect they're curses that many people today labor under for there are too many persons of incomparable ridiculousness in this world spreading their plague--stupidity.
Oh, one more thing...I'm still not liking the cover. It reminds me too much of Marie Antoinette the movie which I have rather poor opinions of.
Ok. Really. Last thing I mention about Changeless: I loooove how much time Carriger spends on talking about Victorian fashion! The travelwear descriptions combined with Victorian sensibilities and decorum are very amusing indeed.
In spite of the great difference in temperament and the types of men that we would appreciate and prefer...(and the height thing) between us, Alexia is a character that I have embraced. I sympathise with her fully on the matter of sibling difficulties and ridiculous friends. (Warning: elitist moment) I suspect they're curses that many people today labor under for there are too many persons of incomparable ridiculousness in this world spreading their plague--stupidity.
Oh, one more thing...I'm still not liking the cover. It reminds me too much of Marie Antoinette the movie which I have rather poor opinions of.
Ok. Really. Last thing I mention about Changeless: I loooove how much time Carriger spends on talking about Victorian fashion! The travelwear descriptions combined with Victorian sensibilities and decorum are very amusing indeed.
rachelelizabethlee's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
whisperfox's review against another edition
3.0
[6/10]
As bridge books for series go, this one is not the worst one I've read. The story is quite well-crafted. It feels like it is less important in the grand scheme of where the series eventually goes, but it does provide a necessary plot device for those later books as well.
For some reason this one doesn't hold my attention as well as some of the others in the series. It's still very entertaining and funny, just a little less compelling for me. I think it may have something to do with how political this installment is.
I find myself waffling when I think about the writing in this one. I think this book marks a shift away from character-driven story into a more plot-driven narrative. It gives her more room to play with the tone of the narrator voice, which is hilarious, but plot-driven is simply not my natural preference. Also, I found the secondary romance plot in this one to be awkward and a little disingenuous, but that may be because Alexia's perspective is so powerful that I can't disconnect from it (and that's definitely what Alexia thinks of that whole affair).
The steampunk vibe ratchets up significantly with the introduction of Madame Lefoux, and this is for sure when the series jumps headlong into the everyone's-a-little-gay universe. Those things elevate it into really fun territory.
The ending here will be a controversial one -- for me, it makes me pick up the next one right away to get to a better conclusion. For others, it makes them so angry they stop reading the series forever and miss out on all the fun things that happen after you get through this little hiccough... looking at you, HeiHei.
As bridge books for series go, this one is not the worst one I've read. The story is quite well-crafted. It feels like it is less important in the grand scheme of where the series eventually goes, but it does provide a necessary plot device for those later books as well.
For some reason this one doesn't hold my attention as well as some of the others in the series. It's still very entertaining and funny, just a little less compelling for me. I think it may have something to do with how political this installment is.
I find myself waffling when I think about the writing in this one. I think this book marks a shift away from character-driven story into a more plot-driven narrative. It gives her more room to play with the tone of the narrator voice, which is hilarious, but plot-driven is simply not my natural preference. Also, I found the secondary romance plot in this one to be awkward and a little disingenuous, but that may be because Alexia's perspective is so powerful that I can't disconnect from it (and that's definitely what Alexia thinks of that whole affair).
The steampunk vibe ratchets up significantly with the introduction of Madame Lefoux, and this is for sure when the series jumps headlong into the everyone's-a-little-gay universe. Those things elevate it into really fun territory.
The ending here will be a controversial one -- for me, it makes me pick up the next one right away to get to a better conclusion. For others, it makes them so angry they stop reading the series forever and miss out on all the fun things that happen after you get through this little hiccough... looking at you, HeiHei.