Konban wa! Anna speaking. Firstly, may I express how totally psyched I am to be working on this blog!

Secondly, lady geeks, have I got a book for you to read!

Title: Soulless (Book 1 of The Parasol Protectorate)

Author: Gail Carriger

Summary: Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations.
First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is bother Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social ettiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire - and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia is responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

Rating (out of five stars): FIVE STARS

Review: If you loved Twilight, Soulless is your new favorite book. Aside from being much better written than the teen fanfavorite, Soulless has a level of humor that caters to a more...what's the word...mentally awesome group. Set in Victorian London, the story follows the adventures of Miss Alexia Tarabotti, an almost literal 'black sheep' in her family of dumb blondes. Witty and resourceful, Alexia uses her wits and wiles to solve an intrigue that normal people can't even hope to understand. With the help of Lord Conall Maccon, an ancient, cynical, and Scottish werewolf leader, she braves the mysteries of the supernatural aspect of society and finds love along the way.
This book had me laughing, gasping, and reading until all hours of the morning. The novel has some steampunk aspects to it that made little old me a very happy little nerd. Alexia was a very relatable character: self-conscious, emotional, independent. She even has a gay best friend...even though he's a four-hundred-year-old vampire with a penchant for sparkly things and outrageous color combinations. And do not get me started on Lord Maccon. Bow-chicka-wow-wow!
There was some sex in it, but fear not, this is no bodice-ripper, my friends. Even during the steamy bits (which were honestly not that steamy), Carriger maintained her wicked sarcasm and biting humor. Nothing romance novel-y here. Just good writing.

So, to sum it all up, a great beginning to a series and a phenomenal book on its own. Definitely worth your time.

Well, that's all I have to say for now, ladies and gentlemen. Until next time!

Jaa mata!