Title: Blameless
Author: Gail Carriger
Series: Parasol Protectorate, #3
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Rating: ★★★★☆
In Changeless, Gail Carriger abandoned the supernatural romance setup we're given in Soulless. In Blameless, she forgoes the predictable "mystery" plot convention I hate, just letting Alexia go on adventures and be dramatic. With gears. All in all, it's a fun time.
Blameless follows the continuing adventures of Alexia as she deals with an unexpected pregnancy. She's lost protection of her pack, as her husband's kicked her out, thinking the child's not his. With the companionship of her trusty butler and Madame LeFoux, she sets off to Italy. After all, if you want your husband to pay, going to a country where they'll kill him dead before even thinking about it is a brilliant move.
Alexia discovers new friends and makes new enemies along the way. We learn more about the Templars, who have been continually hinted at throughout the book. At first, I felt like they were being overplayed a bit, but then I remembered that well, everything is overplayed a bit in these books, and I felt more comfortable.
There's some endearing parts, some sad parts, and some funny parts. Gail Carriger does a good job making sure that a book is well-balanced in that aspect. She doesn't bring in comic relief too early, and she doesn't only use humor. There's a very touching scene with Biffy and Lord Akeldama and hintings at some things to come, which I am greatly looking forward to.
Normally, in series like this, I can't stand the main character and love the side characters. However, with Parasol Protectorate, I don't have to choose! The main character is not developed at the expense of the side characters, or vice versa. Alexia has also, in a lot of ways, seemed to come into her own since a lot of the build off of stereotypes she received in Soulless.
Like Redshirts, this is light easy reading. While the series is getting better and better, that's not to say it's gaining more and more "nutrition." They're fun diversions, and I highly recommend them.
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