Reviews
4.5
Delightful addition to a wonderful series. Suspenseful, action packed with Carriger's intelligent and funny prose. Get lost in the world of the Parasol Protectorate...you will not regret it.
Well, it took me long enough to finally finish this. The problem of course was that I started it, university studies took over my life and then I only just got to take it up again last Saturday when travelling to Auckland. This novel of manners with a supernatural inclination is witty, like the rest in the series, and draws smirks from the reader at regular intervals. Its Wodehousian and Heyeresque tone is deliciously fun loving, indeed the style of language the author employs has consistently been the factor that makes this series most enjoyable for me. The humour just shines through the words like sun streaming through a canopy of trees in a rainforest, winking at you incessantly. I must confess though that I am not entirely enamoured with the lead character or her partner. But it should be noted that rare is the book that manages to make me love the protagonists. My preferences almost always lie with the often under-appreciated side characters. I was already much taken by Professor Lyall and Madame Lefoux from the earlier books and was happy to discover that in this book they had quite vital roles to play. Watching Lyall managing the pack and BUR because his alpha was too inebriated to be of any use and finding out a bit of Madame Lefoux's past was really interesting. I'd also developed an odd liking for Major Channing Channing of the Chesterfield Channings from the last book and thus enjoyed his appearances in the book though they were almost always mute. This book further improved in my eyes when it is hinted that Ivy Hisselpenny is perhaps not as air-headed as she wants everyone to think she is. Furthermore the events that occurred with Biffy near the end were quite a twist! I did not see it coming but am really interested to see where it goes next on that front. The aftermath scenes in Ivy's house and later in the BUR office were wonderfully written and I absolutely felt for all the characters concerned. ...and yes for those that read the book you probably noticed I haven't mentioned much about the main plot line of the book...yeah, oh well :P Overall, for one who enjoys the sparkling wit of the books and adores the minor characters populating the Parasol Protectorate world this was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I really enjoyed this story, it was fast-paced, I was happy to get to know the characters a bit more, the story itself was interesting and orginal. I liked it more than the 2nd book, and it was as funny and witty as the other 2.
This is definitely my favourite book in the Parasol Protectorate series so far! What a great read:) I just love the world the Lady Woolsey evolves in. The various characters & the situations they encounter themselves in are even funnier than in the previous books. Ms Carriger' style is still as sharp & witty as ever and this instalment of the series did remind me of PG Wodehouse & screwball comedies, with a few vampires & werewolves thrown in that is! ;)
The direction that Alexia & Conall's relationship took in this book made it a bit uncomfortable for me :\
Alexia finds herself in a delicate condition, which Connall decides can't be his, as he is a werewolf, after all, and so throws her out. Alexia is stuck with the plan that she has to prove him wrong!
