Heartless

The Parasol Protectorate, the Fourth

By: Gail Carriger

Narrated by: Emily Gray

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?

©2011 Hachette Audio (P)2011 Gail Carriger

Critic reviews

2010, Alex Award, Winner

2009, Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year, Winner

2013, Julia Verlanger Award, Winner

"Carriger delivers surprises with every book, and this one is no exception. With action, intrigue, and above all, proper manners, this excellent series will have broad appeal to readers of steampunk, urban fantasy, and paranormal and historical romance."—Library Journal on Heartless

Fantastic!

One of the funniest, most clever, and loquacious authors I’ve read in a while. Anyone who enjoys the fantastical genre and Charles Dickens will love this!

My favorite of this series so far!

Heartless is probably my favorite book of this series so far. Always enjoy the steam punk aspects of the books and this one does not disappoint. Alexia is her usual brilliant and enterprising self and is still a trouble-maker! The end is especially good with a big battle ending and a huge ooops moment. You also get to see what is special (supernatural?) about their child. I am not usually fond of supernatural stories but I like this one because it plays into the society aspects of period England. I am also glad that Carriger dropped the romance aspect of it mostly after book one. I think if you're looking for supernatural sexy stuff there's many many other books out there. So I would recommend this to people who enjoy steam punk and Jane Austin combined.

As for the narrator. I absolutely love her for this series. My only issue is that she cannot do a French accent worth beans! But her others are good.

Fantastic Series!

These books keep getting better and better! there is nothing the Lady Maccon cannot accomplish.

An Indomitable Heroine!

Alexia is so entertaining I look forward to her misadventures. This is a great teaming up of author and narrator. Emily does a wonderful job of differentiating voices. Take a moment to listen to the sample and you will see what I mean. The series is funny and lighthearted.

Carriger is Queen!

Lawd I love this series! And Emily Gray is a fabulous narrator. The has the personalities down perfectly and has incredible comedic timing.

Action packed with a bun in the oven

Alexia and Lord Maccon are anticipating the birth of their child in Heartless but that doesn’t stop Alexia from fulfilling her duties as Muja to the Queen and investigating a possible assassination attempt. News of which was delivered to her by a poltergeist one evening.

This story had a firm plot direction and was funny as we get to see Alexia waddle around in her very pregnant state and try to carry on with things as if she weren’t the size of a whale. It was a treat reading this one especially since I rarely ever come across pregnant heroines in urban fantasy, plus I’m pregnant so I could totally relate to some of her discomforts which made it all the more enjoyable.

Major kudos
– a pregnant heroine
– plenty of funny situations
– betrayal well…kind of :-P
– a kickbutt steampunk contraption of epic many armed proportions
– a hilarious chase scene
– this one is much more firmly steampunk. I personally considered the previous books rather light on the a steampunk elements. Having them more as garnish instead of a major theme in the books.

LOVE it!

This is a fantastic series! I love the steampunk feel, theme and adding the paranormal werewolves and vampires is perfect. I cannot wait for the next in the series. Emily Grey does a perfect job with the narration. Gail Carriger is on the top of my list of new favorite authors.

This series keeps on giving

I love the dichotomy of the fancy Victorian polite society compared with some of the action of the supernatural world. Mix in some great character development, and I have really enjoyed this series so far. Each book has come up with a great way to put Alexia in some kind of difficulty, starting with her dating her husband, then being shunned by her husband, and now being pregnant. This has done a really good job of keeping any of the things in this book from getting stale, and I honestly look forward to each one of these. If you enjoyed any of the other books this series has to offer, then you will love this one.

loved it!!

funny... She is always getting into some kind of trouble!! I'm excited to read the next one.

Love the series and love the narrator.

This series is a treat and the narrator is spot on in her delivery of the characters.