Changeless: 06/20/13

Changeless by Gail Carriger is the second of the Parasol Protectorate books. Alexia, the new Lady Maccon, is settling into married life and her new responsibilities when the supernaturals of London suddenly find themselves not so supernatural. Werewolves and vampires are stuck in their mortal form and the ghosts have vanished.

And just as quickly as it happened, the problem vanishes. But clues point to the problem moving north towards Scotland. Not to be left in the dark, Alexia follows her husband to his ancestral home.

Changeless offers a chance to explore more of the world, and more of the rules of this alternate 19th century. Travel is by dirigible. Communication is through the aether.

Scotland meanwhile reveals more about how Alexia's soullessness works — though not thoroughly enough for her or her husband's satisfaction.

I enjoyed traveling along with Alexia. I liked learning more about Lord Maccon's pack and how werewolfism supposedly works. I adore the haberdasher / inventor who keeps Alexia both stylish and well armed.

But the ending seemed to come out of nowhere. Not exactly, of course, but the reactions by characters at the end seemed out of character, especially for Lord Maccon. I didn't notice this during the initial rush of reading, but it's been nagging me now as I think about the book.

Five stars

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