fiadhnd's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
**Most of my reviews contain detailed CW/TW sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
Audiobook (Emily Gray)
3/5
Summary: Slightly comedic, steampunk, pnr romance - the continuing story of Lord Conall Maccon (werewolf alpha) and former advisor to the Queen, soulless Alexia. Mystery, drama and a lot of angst continue when Alexia takes off across Europe in search of answers, leaving Conall behind due to their marital troubles.
Stats: PNR/HR - Werewolf M/"Soulless" F, third in a series, does not stand alone, very limited open door/fade to black.
Notes: The series is slowing down... and I'm enjoying it less. I've not much sympathy for Conall though most of this one.
Incomplete, but still spoilery, Content Warnings (CW) and Trigger Warnings (TW)
Audiobook (Emily Gray)
3/5
Summary: Slightly comedic, steampunk, pnr romance - the continuing story of Lord Conall Maccon (werewolf alpha) and former advisor to the Queen, soulless Alexia. Mystery, drama and a lot of angst continue when Alexia takes off across Europe in search of answers, leaving Conall behind due to their marital troubles.
Stats: PNR/HR - Werewolf M/"Soulless" F, third in a series, does not stand alone, very limited open door/fade to black.
Notes: The series is slowing down... and I'm enjoying it less. I've not much sympathy for Conall though most of this one.
Incomplete, but still spoilery, Content Warnings (CW) and Trigger Warnings (TW)
Spoiler
pregnancy, accusation of infidelity, marital distress, violence, death, religion/cultwonderofthepage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
bookplaits's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
eoghann's review against another edition
4.0
Gail Carriger continues her light and frothy urban fantasy pastiche of victoriana with Blameless, the third book in the series.
It's usually somewhere around this point that I start to run out of interesting things to say because the author has generally found their groove and all the main characters have been introduced. All of which is certainly true for Blameless.
There's nothing radically new going on here. Carriger does shake up the status-quo a little bit with a falling out between Alexia Maccon and her husband but you know perfectly well it will all be nicely resolved by the novel's end.
Perhaps more interesting here is the continued expansion of the steam punk elements, particularly with the use of the mechanical ladybugs. A nice, if particularly fantastical touch. And also the gradual introduction of the rest of the world. Up until now we've really only seen Britain, which it turns out is far more accommodating to the supernatural than pretty much anywhere else. Now we get to sample a little bit of the Continent.
That certainly helps to give the formula a new coat of paint without risking any of the elements that fans of the series will be looking for.
So basically it's a light, easy read, in the style of the earlier novels with most of your favorite characters putting in at least some sort of appearance again.
It's usually somewhere around this point that I start to run out of interesting things to say because the author has generally found their groove and all the main characters have been introduced. All of which is certainly true for Blameless.
There's nothing radically new going on here. Carriger does shake up the status-quo a little bit with a falling out between Alexia Maccon and her husband but you know perfectly well it will all be nicely resolved by the novel's end.
Perhaps more interesting here is the continued expansion of the steam punk elements, particularly with the use of the mechanical ladybugs. A nice, if particularly fantastical touch. And also the gradual introduction of the rest of the world. Up until now we've really only seen Britain, which it turns out is far more accommodating to the supernatural than pretty much anywhere else. Now we get to sample a little bit of the Continent.
That certainly helps to give the formula a new coat of paint without risking any of the elements that fans of the series will be looking for.
So basically it's a light, easy read, in the style of the earlier novels with most of your favorite characters putting in at least some sort of appearance again.
pam_sartain's review against another edition
4.0
Alexia finds herself in a delicate condition, which Connall decides can't be his, as he is a werewolf, after all, and so throws her out. Alexia is stuck with the plan that she has to prove him wrong!
fancytoast's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Okay. So this one was a bit better. It's still a Victorian romance paranormal with vampires and werewolves. And this time a travelogue. But it's got an interesting cast of characters. And we didn't have to hang with Lord Maccon all that much, though also Akeldama wasn't around all that much either. And at least a few times it was actually funny, not just trying hard to be funny. Maybe the next one will continue the trajectory. 3.5 of 5.
proffy's review against another edition
4.0
Alexia Tarabotti once again finds herself entangled in a supernatural hullaballoo, this time offset by her falling out with her husband Lord Maccon. Just as awesome as the first two in the series, Blameless has solidified my love of this protagonist and this world.
In my review of Soulless, I said that the novel combines so many elements I enjoy: paranormals, romance, Victorian London, steampunk, overblown propriety, eccentricity, comedy, sex, and on and on and on. In that review, I also discuss how much I love the contradiction inherent in a person who both abides by and defies propriety simultaneously. In my review of Changeless, I talk about how the character of Alexia is reason enough to read the series, but add in all of the other complex and entertaining characters, the supernatural bent, and the whole steampunk Gothic aura, and wowza!
All I can do at this point is ditto what I've already said. I adore this series and wish there was a back-log of twelve books so that I didn't have to wait for the next installment. I will say though that, as can be the case with romancy-mystery-series novels, I do wish there was a bit more difference from one book to the next. Overall though, I am absolutely thrilled I started this series.
In my review of Soulless, I said that the novel combines so many elements I enjoy: paranormals, romance, Victorian London, steampunk, overblown propriety, eccentricity, comedy, sex, and on and on and on. In that review, I also discuss how much I love the contradiction inherent in a person who both abides by and defies propriety simultaneously. In my review of Changeless, I talk about how the character of Alexia is reason enough to read the series, but add in all of the other complex and entertaining characters, the supernatural bent, and the whole steampunk Gothic aura, and wowza!
All I can do at this point is ditto what I've already said. I adore this series and wish there was a back-log of twelve books so that I didn't have to wait for the next installment. I will say though that, as can be the case with romancy-mystery-series novels, I do wish there was a bit more difference from one book to the next. Overall though, I am absolutely thrilled I started this series.
bookworm5732's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5