Heartless

Carriger's fourth Parasol Protectorate adventure is filled with steampunk creations such as zombie porcupines and harmonic auditory resonance disruptors, but its primary focus is on character. To protect Lady Alexia Maccon-eight months pregnant and feeling like a "stuffed goose with bunions"-from threats to her possibly soul-stealing unborn child, her husband, the Alpha of the Woolsey werewolf pack, suggests that vampire Lord Akeldama, Alexia's dear friend, adopt the baby. Alexia and Lord Maccon move next door to Akeldama, building a bridge to secretly connect the households. Meanwhile, Alexia's clueless sister Felicity moves in; new werewolf Biffy, once Akeldama's protege, embarrassingly experiences premature transfluctuation; and a ghost sends Alexia to unravel a plot against Queen Victoria. Carriger's writing remains crisp and witty, and the affectionate banter between Lord and Lady Maccon will please series fans distressed by their long separation in 2010's Blameless. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

In her fourth "Parasol Protectorate" adventure (after Blameless), Lady Alexia Tarabotti Maccon is entering the final stages of her pregnancy full steam ahead, and she is not pleased. Her werewolf husband, Lord Maccon, her pack beta, Professor Lyall, and her close vampire friend and fashion trend-setter, Lord Akeldama, have hatched a plan to protect her from repeated assassination attempts by the vampire hives. Since Alexia is preternatural, or soulless, and her husband is supernatural, with an excess of soul, no one is sure what exactly their child will be-or how dangerous. As Alexia deals with the plan, investigates a ghostly visitor, and shocks society by appearing in public when she should be in confinement, she is caught up in a battle raging through London and into the countryside that will change her world as she welcomes her first child. -VERDICT 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.-Melanie C. Duncan, Shurling Lib., Macon, GA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.