Review – Heartless (Parasol Protectorate, Book 4) by Gail Carriger (4/5 stars)

This is the fourth book in the Parasol Protectorate series by Carriger, the fifth book Timeless is due for release in March of 2012.   I enjoyed this book, it was a good addition to the series, we get to learn more about Lord Maccon’s past.

Alexia is eight months pregnant and not all that thrilled about it.   She feels like a boat and her and her husband have to figure out some way to keep the vampires from hunting Alexia down to kill her and her child. To make matters even more complicated a ghost tells Alexia someone has a plot to kill the Queen, so Alexia is trying to figure that out.  Then Alexia finds that Madame Lefoux  is at work on some sort of diabolical device…but to what end?

All in all this was a fun and entertaining novel.  While this book doesn’t have the freshness of some of the previous books and Alexia seems a bit tired throughout (she is eight months pregnant) this was still a great read.  As with the previous books, at times things get a bit outlandish and absurd (zombie porcupines anyone?), but it is all in all good fun.

It was great to learn more about Lord Maccon’s past and how he came to be alpha of his werewolf group.  You also learn a lot more about Lord Akeldama and the Vampire Queen.

Alexia remains witty and hilarious, Lord Maccon is sweetly in love with her and it was fun to read about their wonderful stable relationship (even if things do get a bit odd at times).  Lord Akeldama remains outrageous and funny.  All your favorite characters are here and then some.

The book is easy to read, fun, and very engaging.  Fans of the series won’t be disappointed.  The book ends well but throws a little curve ball at the reader which involves Alexia’s infant inconvenience; this will have readers dying to read more.

Overall a solid addition to this series.  Fans of the series should be pleased.  Alexia comes off as a bit tired at points, but is still witty and charming as she struggles to be eight months pregnant and is embroiled in all the other craziness that encompasses her life.  I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the fifth book, Timeless, when it releases next year.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:

– 100+ Reading Challenge
– Get Steampunked!