Imprudence (Custard Protocol #2)

Imprudence by Gail Carriger is the second book in her Custard Protocol series - continuing the world she created in her Parasol Protectorate series - a steampunk Victorian England with werewolves, vampires and adventure.

Rue (Prudence) has returned from her first adventure in her dirigible, the Lady Bug. While she is waiting for the next, something strange is going on with her parents. Her father, Lord Maccon is the Alpha werewolf in the London pack.

If the problem is what we all fear - the aging of an alpha that causes him to lose his mind and his pack to go crazy - there may be something Rue can do to help.

In Egypt there is a god-breaker curse that turns supernaturals back into humans. If her father is no longer a werewolf he can live out his life in peace. Unfortunately, werewolves don't float - making the dirigible the worst way to get him there.

Carriger has created a wonderful world peopled with eccentric and lovable characters. Rue heads the next generation of the beautifully. If you have not read these, get started today!

Carriger, Gail. (2016). Imprudence. New York: Orbit.

Manners and Mutiny (Finishing School #4)

Manner and Mutiny by Gail Carriger is the fourth book in her Finishing School series - about a school that teaches girls espionage along with etiquette.

England is awash in the latest technology - mechanicals used as maids, butlers and more. They have all been recently updated with a special valve - a valve that Sophronia and her friends think will lead to something big. Months ago all of the mechanicals stopped working and started to sing the same song - surely a test.

Sophronia, Agatha and Dimity continue their education at a strange school that floats in a large dirigible in the moors of England. They seem to be having a hard time getting any adults to believe the severity of the problem.

In this conclusion to the series, Carriger continues her wonderful alternate history of England in the 1850s. Her characters are delightful - fans will be excited to see some of them in her other two series. If you are looking for a fun, light read, start one of her series today. Her world is brilliant!

Carriger, Gail. (2015). Manners and Mutiny. New York: Little, Brown and Co.

Prudence (Custard Protocol #1)

Prudence by Gail Carriger is the first book in her new Custard Protocol series - set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate series, but twenty years later, in an alternate history Victorian England were supernatural creatures (vampires and werewolves) have equal rights as humans.

Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama, aka Rue, has three of the most influential parents in London. Her blood parents are a werewolf and a preternatural who both work for the Queen. Her adoptive father, raised by him for political and security reasons, is a rove vampire and also works for the Queen. Together, the three of them plus the greater werewolf pack and vampire drones, raised Rue to be a self-sufficient, strong young woman.

When Rue is gifted a dirigible by her father, Lord Akeldama, she immediately sets about setting up a crew to set sail for India. Dama is sending her to explore a new tea that could become all the rage in London. Joined by her best friend, Primrose Tunstell, her brother Percy Tunstell and Quesnel Lafoux, Rue is planning a one to two month float. What she does not know is that Dama has other plans for her along the way. Plans she may have been told if they had not unexpectedly left a full day early.

Filled with beloved characters from her previous series, and introducing the next generation, Carriger has begun another wonderful series. While it is difficult to pinpoint one favorite book, her Parasol Protectorate, Finishing School and now Custard Protocol series are definitely up there on the list of the most fun I have had reading. Carrigers books are creative and delightful. If you have not yet been introduced, start reading them today!

Carriger, Gail. (2015). Prudence. New York: Orbit.

Timeless (Parasol Protectorate #5)

Timeless by Gail Carriger is the fifth book in her Parasol Protectorate - an alternate history of Victorian England peopled with vampires, werewolves, and the usually manners of the time period.

Three years has passed since Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, relocated to a house in London to raise her daughter with the help of the vampire Lord Akeldama - a compromise because of the unusual nature of the offspring between a werewolf and a preternatural.

Prudence Maccon Akeldama is a creature not seen for thousands of years. Unlike her mother whose touch turns werewolves and vampire human, Prudence is a soul-stealer. If she touches a vampire or werewolf, she will become one until the next sunrise, and he will become human.

A summons, in the guise of an invitation, arrives for Alexia and Prudence to visit the oldest living vampire, Queen Matakara, in Egypt. So, using the disguise as a traveling stage production lead by Ivy Tunstell, the Maccons set off for abroad.

Carriger has created a wonderful alternate world. Timeless is the last of the series featuring Alexia, but you can continue with her young adult series, The Finishing School, and then Prudence's own series, the Custard Protocol. This has quickly become one of my favorite reads!

Carriger, Gail. (2012). Timeless. New York: Orbit.

Heartless (Parasol Protectorate #4)

Heartless by Gail Carriger is the fourth book in her Parasol Protectorate series set in an alternate history Victorian England.

Lady Alexia Maccon is not your average Victorian lady. While her manners are impeccable, she does not defer to  her husband or merely run a household. Alexia is on the Queen's secret council, married to a werewolf, very good friends with a vampire, and a preternatural - one who can cancel out supernaturals, making them human while in contact with her.

When a ghost who is almost dissolved visits and tells Alexia of a plot to kill the queen, Alexia jumps to investigate. All the while, the vampire of London have a price on her head, the latest attack utilizing what appeared to be zombie porcupines.

Carriger has created a wonder version of the Victoria era - complete with supernatural creatures, dirigibles, clockwork machines, and a lot of humor. Start the series today!

Carriger, Gail. (2011). Heartless. New York: Orbit.

Blameless (Parasol Protectorate #3)

Blameless by Gail Carriger is the third book in her Parasol Protectorate series - a steampunk series that takes place in an alternate Victorian England.

Lady Alexia Maccon is in the middle of a scandal. And with the morning's paper it is obvious that everyone knows. It is enough for her stepfather to kick her out of his home - a home she should not be in in the first place being a married woman. And to add insult to injury, on her way to a friend's house with all of her belongings, her carriage is attacked my mechanical lady bugs.

Alexia calls a meeting of her likely helpers, to be conducted at Madam Lefoux's hat shop - where Alexia decides to get out of London for a while. She, Genevieve Lefoux and her butler turned secretary are leaving for Italy.

Carriger has written a mad chase through Europe as the continuation of her fabulous Parasol Protectorate series. If you like to read, read this series. Alexia Tarabotti is a wonderful character everyone would want on their side in a fight. And Madam Lefoux is delicious.

Carriger, Gail. (2010). Blameless. New York: Orbit.

Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2)

Changeless by Gail Carriger is the second book in her Parasol Protectorate series - an alternate history, steampunk fantasy set in Victorian England.

Lady Woolsey, Alexia Tarabotti Maccon, is one of a kind. In a world with vampires and werewolves, Alexia is the only preternatural person in England - and as such, any werewolf or vampire she touches reverts to human form until she lets go. She has recently gotten married to Conall Maccon, Lord Woolsey, leader of the Woolsey pack and head of the BUR - Bureau of Unnatural Registry of the British government.

Alexia herself was just appointed to the Shadow Council that advises Her Majesty, Queen Victoria on political and military matters. So when all of the supernatural creatures near the Thames revert to human - a plague of humanity -  one night, both Conall and Alexia investigate.

Carriger's series and world are wonderful. Characters from her YA series, the Finishing School, are seen in this series, twenty years later - including my favorite character, Genvieve Lefoux. If you are a fan of humor, fantasy, supernatural, mystery, steampunk, historical fiction or just great books, read this series!

Carriger, Gail. (2010). Changeless. New York: Orbit. 

Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1)

Soulless by Gail Carriger is the first book in her Parasol Protectorate - set in an alternate, steampunk Victorian London.

Alexia Tarabotti is a spinster. She is twenty-six - much older than the average marriage prospect. Her mother and half-sisters have convinced her she will never wed because of both her forceful opinion and her Italian heritage.

While Alexia is at a ball, as chaperone for her sisters, she sneaks off to the library - her favorite room in any house - where she is attacked by a vampire. What the hungry vampire did not know, and what saved her, is that she is preternatural. Vampire and Werewolves can be changed because as humans they had an excess of soul, which refuses to die. Alexia has a lack of soul and neutralizes any supernatural creature she touches.When the vampire is not convinced to stop, Alexia hits him with her parasol - which accidentally kills him.

Lord Maccon, Alpha of the Woosley Werewolf Pack and in charge of supernatural investigations for Queen Victoria, is not surprised to find Alexia at the center of any controversy. They have been butting heads for months. New vampires have been appearing and rove werewolves have been disappearing, but Maccon does not think Alexia the cause.

Carrige has created a wonderful world of alternative history in Victoria England. Her werewolves and vampires are not the norm, but great characters who are within the stories instead of at the fringe of society. The Finishing School series (YA) takes place in the same world, roughly twenty years earlier. Carriger's books are fabulous! Read them for a refreshingly original, highly entertaining read.

Carriger, Gail. (2009). Soulless. New York: Orbit.

Waistcoats and Weaponry (Finishing School #3)

Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger is the third book in her Finishing School series of alternate, steampunk history set in 1850s England.

Sophronia and her friends attend Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing School for Young Ladies of Quality. A school that no only teaches them to catch a good husband, but become spies.

When one of her best friends receive an urgent notice from home then runs off, Sophronia wants to help. Given permission to leave the school for her brother's engagement ball, Sophronia and her friend Dimity are escorted off of school grounds.

When the ball is interrupted by two werewolves and a Scottish Lady, Sophronia leaps at the chance to help. What follows is an adventure of both great feats and mishaps.

Carriger has created a wonderful young adult series set in the same world as her adult Parasol Protectorate series. This is a fun, historical version of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series.

Carriger, Gail. (2014). Waistcoats and Weaponry. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Curtsies and Conspiracies (Finishing School #2)

Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger is the second book in her Finishing School series set in an alternate history England and focused around Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality - a school that trains spies.

Sophronia's story continues in the middle of her first year of finishing at Geraldine's. She and her friends will be joined by one teacher and a few boys from Bunson and Lacroix's Boys Polytechnique - a school training boys to be future evil leaders. And the school, housed in a large dirigible will be floating to London for the testing of a new technology.

Sophronia will try to find out who is behind a plot to control the new prototype that will change travel forever - a plot that includes a kidnapping of her best friend to use for leverage.

Carriger has created a delightful, fun series set in an interesting version of 1851. Filled with gadgets, political intrigue and great characters, this series is a must read. It is also on the NYC Summer Reading List for Young Adults.

Carriger, Gail. (2013). Curtsies and Conspiracies. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Etiquette and Espionage (Finishing School #1)

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger is the first book in her Finishing School series - an alternate history, steampunk tale about a finishing school that teaches dance, dress and etiquette along with death, diversion and espionage.

Sophronia Temminnick is the youngest child in a London household. Her sisters are all about dressing and following social rules while Sophronia is more interested in how things work. She is always getting into trouble and while trying to eavesdrop on a conversation between her mother and a friend, she tumbles out of the dumbwaiter and splatters food all over her mother's friend.

This is the same day she learns that she is being sent to a finishing school - Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. She will be traveling to the school with an academy representative and two other students.

Even before she can arrive at the school, the action begins. And the longer Sophronia is at school the better suited she thinks she is to be there - in spite of the fact that she regularly breaks the rules.

Carriger has created a wonderful steampunk world. The Finishing School series takes place in the same world as her adult series, the Parasol Protectorate. This first book in the series is a delight and I cannot wait until I can start the second book.

Carriger, Gail. (2013). Etiquette and Espionage. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Kinslayer (Lotus War #2)

Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff is the second book in his Lotus War series that takes place in a land reminiscent of ancient Japan, the land of Shima ruled over by the Shogun.

Only now the Shogun is dead and Shima is on the brink of civil war to put another in his place. Only one person of the bloodline lives, and the Lotus Guild that controls the land has a plan to wed her to their new puppet. But the Kage rebels have a different idea, as do the other clans of the land.

Most of the upheaval was caused by one young woman. Yukiko tamed a thunder tiger, a mythic creature not seen in many years, and her bond with him lead to the change in power. But now the kenning, or mental connection she has always had with animals, threatens her sanity. The thoughts of others is becoming too loud and she must find some answers about how to control it.

Meanwhile, in the Shima capital city of Kigen, the Guild uses its machines to keep an eye on the public while rebels work their way closer to the palace to rescue the one remaining heir before she can be married off and turned into an heir producing slave.

Filled with espionage, fantastical creatures, technology and Japanese lore, the Lotus War series is a must-read for fans of fantasy, science fiction and steampunk.

Kristoff, Jay. (2013). Kinslayer. New York: Thomas Dunne Books.

Cold Fire (Spiritwalker #2)

Cold Fire by Kate Elliott is the second book in her Spiritwalker trilogy.

Catherine Barahal has been married to a cold mage of the Four Moons House. She has been taken from the only family she has ever known. Now she is on the run from that same mage house. Along the way, Cat found out that she can enter the spirit world.

Now Cat, her cousin Bee, and her half-brother are fleeing toward the rebels to find shelter from all of the groups that are after them for one reason or another. 

What follows is an adventure through both the spirit world and a world where a warlord is trying to conquer Europa and and island in the Antilles about to begin a civil war. Elliott's series is well crafted and her characters are great. Cat might remind readers a bit of Jacky from L.A. Meyer's series - a strong female character who refuses to follow the role proscribed for her by current dogma.

Elliott, Kate. (2011). Cold Fire. NY: Orbit.

Cold Magic (Spiritwalker trilogy #1)

Cold Magic by Kate Elliott is the first book in her Spiritwalker trilogy.

Catherine Hassi Barahal has been raised by her aunt and uncle since the age of six when her parents were killed in a flood. Though she has few memories of her parents, she has the journals her father wrote as he traveled the world.

Before Cat and her family can get ready to visit an air ship that has just arrived in their city of Adurnam, a man shows up at their house. Not just any man, but a cold mage. And he is there to fulfill a contract between the Four Moons House and the house of the Hassi Barahal - a contract sealed by magic. He asks who is the eldest daughter. Cat is older than her cousin Bee by a few weeks.

The next thing Catherine knows, she is being married to the mage without even knowing his name. She is told to pack a small trunk and prepare to travel to her new home.Cat will be thrust into a new world of magic and politics where she will be used as a pawn by a powerful house.

Elliott has created a world that is a mix of our own history and her creation. It gives the world more weight that Elliot's world is build upon such a strong foundation. This first book in the trilogy will leave readers craving more and, I am sure, reading all of her other books after this trilogy.

The Friday Society (Friday Society #1)

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress is the first book in her series by the same name that is about three young women in early 1900s London who are not satisfied with the roles society proscribed for them - and what they can accomplish when they join together to solve a mystery.

Cora Bell is the assistant to Lord White who is a secret inventor. She helps in the laboratory both building and inventing. She is in charge of Lord White's schedule and making sure he get where is supposed to be on time.

Nellie Harrison is the assistant to the Great Raheem, London's best magician. They are a very popular act for all types of audiences. Nellie is often underestimated because she is beautiful.

Michiko was studying to be a Samurai in Japan but knew she was at risk for arrest since it was a daily possibility if discovered. When a British man came through town studying different types of martial arts and asked her to come back to London to be his assistant she jumped at the chance. But in London she is mostly a servant. She performs battle on stage to get clients for him, but she is mostly confined to the house.

Cora, Nellie and Michiko meet at an gala and after on their individual travels home meet up again at the scene of a murder. That night sets in motion events that will lead to the three of them joining forces to solve a mystery that could destroy all of London.

Kress has created a great beginning to what is hopefully a long series featuring Cora, Nellie and Michiko. The Friday Society combines mystery, historical fiction, steampunk and more that will delight readers.

Kress, Adrienne. (2013). The Friday Society. New York: Dial Books

The Inexplicables (Clockwork Century #5)

The Inexplicables by Cherie Priest is the fifth book in her Clockwork Century series - an alternate history of the US Civil War period.

Rector Sherman grew up in an orphanage. He was a child of the Blight - a poisonous gas that was released when a tunnel machine broke through an underground cavern - but now he is turning 18 and will have to make it on his own.

Rector uses Sap - a drug form of the gas - to escape his ugly life. But when he is high, he is haunted by the ghost of a young man he led into the ruined city of Seattle. As he has to begin a new life anyway, he decides to make his way into Seattle and find the body of his friend so he can be at rest.

Zeke, however, is not dead. He is living underground in the sealed off parts of the city. When people go above ground they must wear gas masks to prevent the gas from effecting them - and turning them into Rotters.

Fans of Priest will enjoy catching up with characters of previous books in the Clockwork Century series in this ode to the city of Seattle. Her steampunk is great - she is considered one of the best steampunk writers of today. If you have not read any steampunk and would like to begin, start with her book Boneshaker.

Priest, Cherie. (2012). The Inexplicables. New York: Tor.

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2)

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross is the second book in her Steampunk Chronicles.

The characters fans loved in the first book - Findley, Emily, Sam and Griffin - are on their way to America to find out what happened to their friend Jasper Renn.

Jasper was arrested in London and transported to New York. But when Griffin asks after him at the jail, it appears that the men who collected him were not the law. They work for a criminal, Reno Dalton, who is holding Renn's ex-girlfriend hostage.

Years ago Renn stole something for Dalton and instead of turning over a potentially dangerous machine to a dangerous criminal, Renn took it apart and hid the pieces around New York City. If Renn does not retrieve them, Mei Xing will be killed by the clockwork necklace locked around her throat.

Cross has written a story that takes readers through the seedy streets of 1897 New York. Fans of steampunk will love this series.

Cross, Kady. (2012). The Girl in the Clockwork Collar. New York: Harlequin Teen.

Ganymede (Clockwork Century #4)

Ganymede by Cherie Priest is the fourth book that takes place in her alternate history, steampunk, zombi Civil War era called the Clockwork Century.

Andan Cly is an air pirate. He has made his living by transporting blight gas from Seattle to other places in the US where it is distilled into a drug. But lately he has been thinking of going legit - maybe even setting up an air dock in Seattle.

When he receives a telegram from an old friend he sees his chance to earn the money he needs to settle down. He has been invited to New Orleans to move a ship into the Gulf. It seems like an easy job for the money.

But the Ganymede is not an easy ship to move. In fact, it has killed many crews who have tried. It is basically the first submarine. Josephine Early thinks that Andan will have a better job of it because he is a pilot and those who tried in the past have been sailors.


Also - though the project will be funded by the North once Josephine proves the Ganymede worth it - it is being sought by the Republic of Texas (who control New Orleans) and the South. And the number of Texas soldiers has recently doubled since two officers disappeared.

Priest's vision of the world for this steampunk series is creative and true. She takes history and add machines that were plausible for the time period creating a great fantasy setting for her great characters. Fans will see characters from all of her previous books in this volume.

Priest, Cherie. (2011). Ganymede. New York: TOR.

Goliath (Leviathan #3)

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld is the conclusion of the Leviathan trilogy (except that his last trilogy ended up having four books, so fans can still hope for more!). The premise of the series is that instead of just discovering evolution, Darwin discovered DNA as well. As a result some countries developed machinery while others used DNA to create new type of beasts.

The Leviathan, the British airship, was created from whale DNA. It is a living, breathing ship that flies it crew around the sky. A whole ecosystem exists inside of it.

In this conclusion to the series, Dylan Sharp (actually Deryn disguised as a boy to join the service) and Prince Alek continue to do their part to help bring the war to an end. The Leviathan will make a detour to rescue a scientist who claims to be able to end the war with his contraption - the Goliath.

In this volume, Alek will discover Deryn's secret. The Leviathan will travel to many foreign lands. And a mad scientist will affect the outcome of the war.

Westerfeld has created a dynamic, steampunk alternative history of the Great War. His characters are compelling and his plot genius. Fans of so many different elements of story will delight in this series.

Westerfeld, Scott. (2011). Goliath. New York: Simon Pulse.

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1)

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross is the first book in her Steampunk Chronicles.

Finley Jayne works as a lady's maid. And she is about to lose another job. When the young man of the household makes unwanted advances toward her she defends herself.

Later that night as she is running through London trying to decide where to go - she cannot go back to her (now ex-)employer's house - Griffin King hits her with his velocycle.

When she wakes up she does not know where she is - but she will find out that she has finally found people like herself. People who will understand the problems she has been having - namely, that her personality is split in half and when she is threatened her darker half takes over to protect her.

Together, Griffin King, Finley Jayne, Emily O'Brien, and Sam Morgan will use the science and skills at their disposal to bring the halves of Finley into harmony. They will also have to work together to find The Machinist who is using automatons to attack people.

Cross has created a fabulous steampunk history of London. Based on the idea that a primordial goo had been found that emits energy as well as healing flesh, Cross's world is both advanced and exciting. Fans of steampunk will rejoice in this new series.

Cross, Kady. (2011). The Girl in the Steel Corset. New York: Harlequin Teen.