A review by alittleshy
Soulless by Gail Carriger

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.0

Here are some off-the-cuff thoughts about the work, now that I've finished it. 
  • I generally enjoyed myself.  The characters were likeable and the setting was a novel one for me as a reader.  I occasionally found all the manners business a bit tiring, but the story is set in the Victorian era so I can hardly complain.  Complaining a work set in Victorian Britain delves deep into manners is like complaining a microbiology textbook is too focused on the cell.  It'd be, in a word, silly.
  • I was a bit worried about the appearance of
    the automaton
    , because I initially thought it was
    a golem
    and that there'd be some
    low-key anti-Semitism
    in the work.  As near as I can tell, those fears were unfounded.
  • I'm glad that the work didn't end with
    Lord Akeldama's death
    , because he is the clearest
    queer representation
    in the work.  I'm pretty over the
    "bury your gays"
    trope, frankly. 
  • I listened to the audiobook, and the performer does an admirable job voicing the various cast members.  With that being said, it sounds like something akin to ADR was occasionally used.  This is an assumption on my part, but every once and a while its like the performer is using a different microphone or is in a different room. 
  • There is an intimate scene in the prologue; it was fine (and relatively brief).  If that's what you're reading for, though, you'll probably be disappointed. 
  • This isn't related to the "review," but apparently this series also has three volumes of manga?  Go figure.
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