As you may have noticed, I’ve done some redecorating. I proudly present to you Of Books and Bailey. I do so hope you like what I’ve done with the place. I find the revisions not too shabby myself, if I may say so. You might want to check out the updated About page as I have re-branded and refocused.  I am confident in the direction I’m heading.

As is only appropriate given my elevated, hoity-toity,  pretentious language, I simply must tell you about my new favorite novel, Soulless by Gail Carriger. It’s brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, I tell you! A Victorian fantasy, steampunk novel, we follow the adventures of Alexia Tarabotti, who is enduring many a social tribulation. She is a spinster possessing the rare talents of a preternatural, one without a soul and thereby able to negate supernatural abilities. She is rudely attacked by a newborn vampire without any sense of social etiquette, leading to the discovery of missing known vampires and unwarranted newborns.

Vampires. Parasols. Naked werewolves. Scandalous! What’s not to love?

The wit and humor of Soulless left me giggling out loud and blushing furiously. The world Carriger creates is meticulously put together much like the Victorian ladies of old. The characters are delightful, charming, and perfectly flawed. You cannot help but adore them.

I honestly don’t have a single bad word to say about the whole thing. Carriger is the modern Austen of steampunk and fantasy.

In short, you will like Soulless if you enjoy the following:

• Strong, non-conforming heroines
• Teatime
• The Victorian era in general
• Imagining British accents in your head
• Appealing and masculine males
• Intrigue and mystery
• Period dramas on BBC
• Lace, corsets, and bustles
• Desserts
• Fantasizing about strolling in gardens with a parasol

Readers be discrentioned. There is a large romantic element to the story. I would not however, categorize this book as a romance. That being said, there is sexual content though mostly innuendo and non-descriptive.

Read this book and go eat a treacle tart.

Tootle loo, darlings! Till next time!