Book Review - Heartless

The Parasol Protectorate, by Gail Carriger       
1. Soulless         10/25/2010
2. Changeless    11/2/2010
3. Blameless      11/22/2010
4. Heartless        07/17/2011 * * * * *
5. Timeless         Due 03/01/12

From Goodreads:

Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.

Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?

My Thoughts:
Well, I think we all remember how much I love this series, and Alexia, and Gail Carriger!  Each book in the series is better than the one before, and Heartless is no different.  I mean really, zombie porcupines?! What more could you possibly want?

Oh, but there is sooooo much more to Heartless than that.  Building upon the events from the previous novels, Alexia becomes aware of a threat against the queen, and begins searching for clues - clues that lead her straight back to the failed assassination attempt by the werewolves 20 years before.  As Alexia waddles around London (her baby is due any day!) she learns secrets that her husband's previous pack would rather stay hidden, and stumbles into the middle of a conspiracy to commit kidnapping and possibly murder.  But who is the culprit?  If only the ghosts weren't so unreliable!

Alexia sails through all these difficulties with her usual wit and charm - but can she solve the mystery and prevent the crime before the infant inconvenience makes its' appearance?  Will Ivy's taste in hats get better, and can she hold true to the sacred vows of the Parasol Protectorate?  Can a vampire and a werewolf find true love?  And what really happens when vampires swarm? 

I give Heartless 5 stars for being a thoroughly enjoyable and fantastically fun read.  And don't forget that Book the Fifth of The Parasol Protectorate is scheduled to be released on March 1, 2012!