Alexia is back as Lady Maccon, wife of one of the most powerful Alpha werewolves in her alternate England.  This time she is eight months pregnant, but that doesn’t slow her down, waddling between hives of vampires, out-of-control werewolves, dens of mad scientists, and leading a giant, angry, mechanical octopus on the rampage out of the city.

Among her troubles this time, Alexia, who is soulless and therefore the natural hunter for vampires and werewolves, is constantly under threat from the vampires who wish to keep her from giving birth to another soulless being.  A solution is reached which means Lord and Lady Maccon taking a house in London, next-door to Alexia’s old friend, Lord Akeldema, the most fashionable and flamboyant vampire in town.

Unfortunately, Lord Akeldema’s lover has recently been turned into a werewolf and this proximity to his old life doesn’t help his transition to being part of the werewolf pack.  And this leads to the destruction of Alexia’s new back parlour, among other things.

To add to her problems, a ghost turns up seeking Alexia in particular, with news that the queen’s life is in danger.  Alexia traces the scent right back to The Order of the Brass Octopus, a group of steampunk scientists living right down the road from her.  She visits her friend, Madame Lefoux, inventor, and converses with said inventor’s ghost aunt, sets fire to a large part of London, rides in a dirigible, infiltrates a hive of vampires, escapes from a Octomaton, upsets her werewolf pack, discovers more about her mysterious father, and finally invents the initiation ceremony for the Parasol Protectorate.  Who has time for pregnant relaxation with so much excitement?

Alexia’s alternate steampunk London is more fully realized by this fourth book in the Parasol Protectorate.  The vampire and werewolf social groups based on biological animals and growing more complex.  Carriger’s writing has improved since the first book, Soulless, and while this series is not going to be featured by Oprah’s Book Club, any time soon, it is fun.  It may be total fluff and sugar, but with all the dirigibles, attack hedgehogs, and vampire dandys, it is time well-spent.

Bookmark to