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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!),... read more

Summary edit see section history

The men in Alexia's life have come up with a little plan which involves her and Conall moving into some rather tight quarters and some of the pack relocating next door to Lord Akeldama. Not long after the move, a ghost pops up out of nowhere and warns them of a plot to murder the Queen.... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The men in Alexia's life have come up with a little plan which involves her and Conall moving into some rather tight quarters and some of the pack relocating next door to Lord Akeldama. Not long after the move, a ghost pops up out of nowhere and warns them of a plot to murder the Queen. Unfortunately, said ghost is in poltergeist stage and not much sense can be made of what they said. This begins Alexia's rather ambitious quest to find out more information, completely disregarding the fact that she is 8 months pregnant and a full moon is coming. On the plus side, at least it seems as if the assassination attempts on her life have come to a temporary holt.

Characters edit see section history

  • Lady Alexia Maccon: Preternatural, wife of a werewolf, Muhjah to Queen Victoria, enjoyer of tea and parasols.
  • Lord Conall Maccon: Alpha of the Woolsey Pack, husband to Alexia, Chief Sundowner for BUR, has quite a temper and is a hassle for his Beta.
  • Madame Genevieve Lefoux: French friend of Alexia, in the Order of the Brass Octupus, brillant inventor and hat shop owner, and partaker in wearing men's garments.
  • Professor Randolph Lyall: Loyal Beta of the Woolsey Pack, polite in every way possible for a werewolf, and spiffy dresser.
  • Mr. Floote: Former valet to Alexia's father and was her loyal butler until his current position as her secretary. He believes in dressing appropriately and is not very forthcoming on information on the late Alessandro Tarabotti.
  • Lord Akeldama: Dear friend of Alexia's and Rove Vampire, much to her husband's annoyance, flamboyant in every way and knows almost everything about everyone, current Potentate on the Shadow Council
  • Mrs. Ivy Tunstell: Alexia's oldest friend now married to an actor who enjoys wearing the most outrageous hats.
  • Ormond Tunstell: Former claviger to Woolsey Pack, married to Ivy, and now a full time actor.
  • Biffy: Lord Akeldama's favorite Drone, now turned new member of the Woolsey Pack.
  • Major Channing Channing: Of the Chesterfield Channings, Gamma of the Woolsey pack
  • Boots: Drone of Lord Alkedama.
  • Quesnel: Madame Lefoux's adopted son.
  • Countess Nadasdy: Westminster Hive's Vampire Queen in London.
  • Dr. Caedes: Vampire in Countess Nadasdy's hive
  • Mr. Rumpet: The Woolsey Pack's Butler.
  • Miss Mabel Dair: Drone of Countess Nadasdy, an actress
  • Formerly Beatrice Lefoux: A ghost, great-aunt of Madame Lefoux.
  • Felicity Loontwill: Alexia's half sister.
  • Alessandro Tarabotti: Alexia's father, preternatural; homosexual
  • Dr. Neebs: Scientist formerly in Hypocras Club
  • Lord Slaughter: Autonomous werewolf, current dewan on the Shadow Council
  • Lord Ambrose: A member of the Westminster Hive who attempted to assassinate Alexia.
  • Aunt Beatrice: Genevieve's spectral addled aunt who raised her as a child.
Show all 23 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “You lovebirds, how will I endure such flirtations constantly in my company? How déclassé, Lord Maccon, to love your own wife.”
  • “Well, my word! You can’t threaten me, you’re pregnant!”
  • “Oh, my dearest girl, what will you think of next? Weregoats? Be on your guard, for at full moon they shall creep into your coat closet and eat up all your shoes!”
  • “The ghost whirled to face Alexia. “No, no, no. Now, no, what? Oh, yes. Are you Alexia Macaroon?” Alexia didn’t know how to respond to that, so she nodded. Conall, useless beast, started laughing. “Macaroon? I love it!”
  • “Alexia glanced down at her overstuffed belly and then got that look on her face. “I am entirely capable.” “Of what, waddling up to someone and ruthlessly bumping into them?”

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Alternate Victorian Era

Organizations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

"Five months! Five months you—dare I say it—gentlemen have been sitting on this little scheme of yours and only now you decide to inform me of it!” Lady Alexia Maccon did not enjoy being surprised by declarations of intent.

Table of Contents edit see section history

PROLOGUE: P Is for Preternatural
CHAPTER ONE: In Which Lady Alexia Maccon Waddles
CHAPTER TWO: Wherein Alexia Will Not Be Flung
CHAPTER THREE: Matters Ghostly
CHAPTER FOUR: Where Tethered Specters Meet
CHAPTER FIVE: The Lair of the Octopus
CHAPTER SIX: In Which Mrs. Tunstell Proves Useful
CHAPTER SEVEN: The Werewolves of Woolsey Castle
CHAPTER EIGHT: Death by Teapot
CHAPTER NINE: In Which the Past Complicates the Present
CHAPTER TEN: Ivy’s Agent Doom
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Wherein Hairmuffs Become All the Rage
CHAPTER TWELVE: Formerly Beatrice Lefoux
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The Octopus Stalks at Moonlight
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: In Which Lady Maccon Mislays Her Parasol
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Where Dirigibles Fear to Tread
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: A Clot of Vampires
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: In Which We All Learn a Little Something About Prudence

Glossary edit see section history

  • Drone: Human helper to vampires.
  • Claviger: Human helper to werewolves.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 4 of 5 in The Parasol Protectorate. (standard series)

Preceded by Blameless, and followed by Timeless.

This book is in 2011 Locus Recommended Reading List: Fantasy. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Gail Carriger (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Orbit
Country: USA
Publication Date: June 28, 2011
ISBN: 0316127191
Page Count: 400

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

Sexual Content:Kissing. References to homosexuality. References to sex

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Soulless
  • Changeless
  • Blameless
  • The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Soulless
  • Changeless
  • Blameless

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