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Supernatural Society #1
Romancing the Inventor
Vampires are keeping an inventor in their potting shed. Imogene wants to seduce her.
Imogene Hale is a lowly parlourmaid with a soul-crushing secret. Seeking solace, she takes work at a local vampire hive, only to fall desperately in love with the amazing lady inventor imprisoned there.
Genevieve Lefoux is heartsick, lonely, and French.
With culture, class, and the lady herself set against the match, can Imogene and her duster overcome all odds and win Genevieve’s heart, or will the vampires suck both of them dry?
New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger presents this stand-alone lesbian romance is set in her popular steampunk Parasolverse, full of class prejudice, elusive equations, and paranormal creatures taking tea.
Supernatural Society stories can be read in any order. Look for surprise appearances from popular Parasol Protectorate characters and the occasional strategic application of cognac.
Delicate Sensibilities?
This story contains women pleasing women and ladies who know what they want and pursue it, sometimes in exquisite detail.
Imogene Hale is a lowly parlourmaid with a soul-crushing secret. Seeking solace, she takes work at a local vampire hive, only to fall desperately in love with the amazing lady inventor imprisoned there.
Genevieve Lefoux is heartsick, lonely, and French.
With culture, class, and the lady herself set against the match, can Imogene and her duster overcome all odds and win Genevieve’s heart, or will the vampires suck both of them dry?
New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger presents this stand-alone lesbian romance is set in her popular steampunk Parasolverse, full of class prejudice, elusive equations, and paranormal creatures taking tea.
Supernatural Society stories can be read in any order. Look for surprise appearances from popular Parasol Protectorate characters and the occasional strategic application of cognac.
Delicate Sensibilities?
This story contains women pleasing women and ladies who know what they want and pursue it, sometimes in exquisite detail.
149 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2016
247 people are currently reading
6197 people want to read
About the author
Gail Carriger
64Ìýbooks15.3kÌýfollowersGail Carriger writes comedies of manners mixed with paranormal romance (and the sexy San Andreas Shifter series as G L Carriger). Her books include the Parasol Protectorate and the Finishing School series. She is published in many languages and has over a dozen NYT bestsellers. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea. Join the Chirrup for sneak peaks of upcoming giggles:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 587 reviews
November 3, 2016
As a huge fan of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate universe I was incredibly excited when I realised that she was finally giving my favourite female inventor, Genevieve Lefoux, a happily ever after. I loved Genevieve as a child in the Finishing School books and as a young woman in the Parasol Protectorate and now we finally get to see what happens to her after that series ended. Don't worry if you're not familiar with the series though, this story really does work well as a standalone so it would work as an introduction to the world (I'm sure you'll end up buying more books after this though!).
The story is told from the point of view of Imogene Hale, a young woman from a poor family who is working as a parlourmaid to help her parents make ends meet. She has a secret that would lead to her being ostracised but she was hoping taking a position working for the local vampire hive would allow her to explore her deepest, darkest fantasies without her family being any the wiser. The minute she sets eyes on Genevieve she knows she made the right decision but the inventor is wary of getting involved in a relationship so Imogene is going to have to use all her wiles to persuade her.
Romancing the Inventor is such an incredibly sweet, slow build romance and I totally fell for both of the main characters. Imogene is fairly innocent but she knows exactly what she wants and she's not going to let Genevieve get away from her without a fight. Genevieve is older and more experienced but she is also gun shy after her last relationship ended in disaster and she worries about corrupting the younger woman too. Working alongside each other they become fast friends but it's obvious that they're both incredibly attracted to each other and Imogene is determined to show Genevieve just how good they could be together.
I thought Gail Carriger did a wonderful job showing just how hard it would be to be a lesbian in Victorian times, in a society where women were expected to marry and produce children anyone who breaks from the norm was looked at with suspicion and could end up in a lot of trouble if they were caught in a delicate position. Imogene uses working for the vampires as a cover story but she really wanted to be there because she knows they have a reputation for being far more open to "perversions" and she's hoping that will give her the freedom to explore her own desires. I have to say I'm not a big fan the vampires in Countess Nadasdy's hive, apart from Lord Akeldama I much prefer the werewolves in this world, but I do love that they brought Imogene and Genevieve together.
I'm just really excited that Gail Carriger has decided to write stories about some of the LGBT characters from the main series and I'm already looking forward to the next book (which I believe may be about Biffy and Professor Lyall!).
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review
_____________
I'm so excited that Madame Lefoux is getting her own HEA! I've been hoping for that ever since she first appeared in the Parasol Protectorate series :o)
The story is told from the point of view of Imogene Hale, a young woman from a poor family who is working as a parlourmaid to help her parents make ends meet. She has a secret that would lead to her being ostracised but she was hoping taking a position working for the local vampire hive would allow her to explore her deepest, darkest fantasies without her family being any the wiser. The minute she sets eyes on Genevieve she knows she made the right decision but the inventor is wary of getting involved in a relationship so Imogene is going to have to use all her wiles to persuade her.
Romancing the Inventor is such an incredibly sweet, slow build romance and I totally fell for both of the main characters. Imogene is fairly innocent but she knows exactly what she wants and she's not going to let Genevieve get away from her without a fight. Genevieve is older and more experienced but she is also gun shy after her last relationship ended in disaster and she worries about corrupting the younger woman too. Working alongside each other they become fast friends but it's obvious that they're both incredibly attracted to each other and Imogene is determined to show Genevieve just how good they could be together.
I thought Gail Carriger did a wonderful job showing just how hard it would be to be a lesbian in Victorian times, in a society where women were expected to marry and produce children anyone who breaks from the norm was looked at with suspicion and could end up in a lot of trouble if they were caught in a delicate position. Imogene uses working for the vampires as a cover story but she really wanted to be there because she knows they have a reputation for being far more open to "perversions" and she's hoping that will give her the freedom to explore her own desires. I have to say I'm not a big fan the vampires in Countess Nadasdy's hive, apart from Lord Akeldama I much prefer the werewolves in this world, but I do love that they brought Imogene and Genevieve together.
I'm just really excited that Gail Carriger has decided to write stories about some of the LGBT characters from the main series and I'm already looking forward to the next book (which I believe may be about Biffy and Professor Lyall!).
Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review
_____________
I'm so excited that Madame Lefoux is getting her own HEA! I've been hoping for that ever since she first appeared in the Parasol Protectorate series :o)
December 14, 2021
Only 149 pages but Gail Carriger packs an awful lot of fun and entertainment into them. Best of all she brings so many of her characters from related series into the story.
Alexia plays quite a large supporting role accompanied by Lord Maccon of course. Major Channing is there and Biffy gets a mention, others too. The main character is already well known to fans as well. This is Genevieve Lefoux's happy ending as she finally meets the person of her dreams.
The story is told with plenty of the author's witticisms and her obvious love for all her characters. I am sure you could read this book as a stand alone but for total enjoyment reading the Parasol Protectorate first is a good idea. I believe the next book features Biffy and I can't wait to get round to it.
Alexia plays quite a large supporting role accompanied by Lord Maccon of course. Major Channing is there and Biffy gets a mention, others too. The main character is already well known to fans as well. This is Genevieve Lefoux's happy ending as she finally meets the person of her dreams.
The story is told with plenty of the author's witticisms and her obvious love for all her characters. I am sure you could read this book as a stand alone but for total enjoyment reading the Parasol Protectorate first is a good idea. I believe the next book features Biffy and I can't wait to get round to it.
November 14, 2016
I have read a few of Carriger's Protectorate series, and really enjoyed them. But with my love of reading lesbian fiction, I have not been reading as many mainstream books. When I heard Carriger was writing a lesbian fiction book, I could not have been more excited. And to learn it was going to be a paranormal romance, taking place in the Parasol Universe, I just had to get this book. I'm happy to say, this lived up to my expectations.
While this is a novella, it is only a few pages short of being a full length book, and for that I was thankful. It did not have that horrible rush feeling you can get in a short story. The ending did wrap up a little quickly, but I'm happy overall how it ended. The story is about Imogene, who goes into service for the vampires. She is looking for a better job and a chance to be away from men trying to marry her. She feels there is something horrible wrong with her, but knows vampires may share her "perversions". Imogene is surprised to find the attractive inventor Genevieve, working for the vampires. The attraction for Imogene is instant, and she desperately wants a chance to love Genevieve. But will the vampires stake their claim on Imogene instead?
Genevieve is a character that people will already know, if you have read the Protectorate series. The flirty French inventor who dress like a man. I really loved her character before, so I was very happy to have her in this book. Imogene, is a great new character, who is extremely likeable. While she does not have it easy, shes tougher and smarter than people realize. The chemistry was obvious, and they really complemented each other. This book also includes other characters you will recognize from the Protectorate series, like Alexa. I do want to make clear, if you are new to Carriger's books, you can still enjoy this story. This book stands alone, and there is enough information about the characters, that if you are meeting them for the first time, you will still understand the book perfectly.
Carriger has always been good about putting LGBT characters in her books. But I really appreciate her taking the chance to write a lesfic romance. It's something I wish more mainstream authors would do. I don't know if Carriger reads these reviews, but I really hope she will consider writing another lesfic book in the future.
While this is a novella, it is only a few pages short of being a full length book, and for that I was thankful. It did not have that horrible rush feeling you can get in a short story. The ending did wrap up a little quickly, but I'm happy overall how it ended. The story is about Imogene, who goes into service for the vampires. She is looking for a better job and a chance to be away from men trying to marry her. She feels there is something horrible wrong with her, but knows vampires may share her "perversions". Imogene is surprised to find the attractive inventor Genevieve, working for the vampires. The attraction for Imogene is instant, and she desperately wants a chance to love Genevieve. But will the vampires stake their claim on Imogene instead?
Genevieve is a character that people will already know, if you have read the Protectorate series. The flirty French inventor who dress like a man. I really loved her character before, so I was very happy to have her in this book. Imogene, is a great new character, who is extremely likeable. While she does not have it easy, shes tougher and smarter than people realize. The chemistry was obvious, and they really complemented each other. This book also includes other characters you will recognize from the Protectorate series, like Alexa. I do want to make clear, if you are new to Carriger's books, you can still enjoy this story. This book stands alone, and there is enough information about the characters, that if you are meeting them for the first time, you will still understand the book perfectly.
Carriger has always been good about putting LGBT characters in her books. But I really appreciate her taking the chance to write a lesfic romance. It's something I wish more mainstream authors would do. I don't know if Carriger reads these reviews, but I really hope she will consider writing another lesfic book in the future.
August 9, 2020
I listened to this one as I listen to all of Gail's books. She has wonderful narrators. This was a short novella in her Parasol Protectorate universe - a nice slice of life with familiar characters. If you're like me, and love anything Gail writes, then you won't be disappointed.
August 27, 2023
Rep: lesbian mc & li
CWs: sexual harassment, physical abuse, attempted rape, lesbophobia
CWs: sexual harassment, physical abuse, attempted rape, lesbophobia
July 31, 2017
I haven't read a book by Gail Carriger before so I have no previous knowledge of any of the characters or the world. Despite that, this read was quite fun. It felt like a standalone and I didn't feel I was missing out on information from other books.
In addition to the Victorian steampunk vibe there's a dose of paranormal with a cast of vampires and werewolves. The tone is pretty light, minus the harassment our protagonist receives, and we get a somewhat superficial slow burn f/f romance.
All in all, it's an entertaining novella. Nothing too deep.
If you're looking for other f/f steampunk paranormal Victorian stories be sure to check out Elizabeth Watasin's Dark Victorian and Elle Black series. Both are excellent.
In addition to the Victorian steampunk vibe there's a dose of paranormal with a cast of vampires and werewolves. The tone is pretty light, minus the harassment our protagonist receives, and we get a somewhat superficial slow burn f/f romance.
All in all, it's an entertaining novella. Nothing too deep.
If you're looking for other f/f steampunk paranormal Victorian stories be sure to check out Elizabeth Watasin's Dark Victorian and Elle Black series. Both are excellent.
April 2, 2017
A story about a really young woman of only 29 who is in the working/servant/poor class in England way back in the 1800s.
Really young? 29? Well, the love interest, Genevieve Lefoux, of this woman, Imogene Hale, did keep repeating words that correspond to 'too young' or the like. To the point that I was beginning to feel icky and believe that I was somehow reading a pedophile book or something. TOO YOUNG TOO YOUNG!.
Remember how I noted that the woman was 29? And it's the 1800s (well, some where in the 19th century, I don't mean literally 1800)? Now normally an unmarried woman of 29 would be considered 'too old' in this time period, but Genevieve is an ancient woman of something like 900 (I mean, this is a vampire book). Wait, no? That's not her age? She's actually 38? And there's only a 9 year age difference? And it isn't as if it was a woman of 18 'playing with' a girl of 9? But instead a woman of 38 using the 'too young' excuse to stay away from a woman of 29? Yes. By the way - precision, scientists are known for that. Quite important to them. Genevieve is a scientist. Vaguely disappointed that she would use 'too young' when the perfectly appropriate and acceptable 'too inexperienced' could have worked just as well without an icky feeling developing.
And I mention that 'poor class' part because 'class' is super important in the story, both in terms of how Imogene is of the servant/working class and because everyone around, for the most part, sees her (if they see her, it's kind of cliche in a book like this to note that the servants aren't 'visible' to the non-servants) and treats her as such (including herself). As in, at least in her own mind - 'not good enough' for someone like Genevieve.
Right, so. A woman grew up in a small country village knowing that there was something different about her. When her friends flirted with men, she didn't. When they married, she didn't. She didn't want anything to do with men. No, she saw herself as perverted because she wanted to 'do stuff' with other women. Which is how she ended up employed by the vampires - because they were basically the only source of employment for a woman like her (I don't mean 'perverted', I mean because she's a woman looking for work in a poor village in England); because they were considered 'perverted' themselves; and because Imogene didn't want to marry a man.
So Imogene went off and acquired a parlourmaid job with the local vampire hive. Whereupon she was alternatively ignored by the vampires, or abused by them. Also abusing her was the 'first footman' who liked pinching her, tripping her, and acting like a two year old near her. Not exactly what Imogene thought/expected she would find, but she is helping her family get food on the table.
There is one bit of brightness, though - one of the people living and working on the hive grounds is a scientist doing experiments. Wearing men's clothing and stuff. That'd be Genevieve. Imogene is quite aroused by this woman, but Genevieve seems reluctant to 'corrupt' her. Though she keeps doing something like a push-pull. Showing signs of want/need for Imogene, then pushing her away.
I was quite happy and eager to read this story when I saw it appear. I bought it immediately when it was first published. Then didn't read it. For there were other things to read before I could read this book. I'd read this author before - devoured her Parasol Protectorate series, but hadn't read her in seemingly forever.
I wanted to set myself up perfectly before I dove into this FF book. So I read that series Genevieve was in as a 9 year old (or however old she was), though she was a side character and not in all of the books (referring here to Finishing School). Then began a reread of that Parasol series. But only made it through 1 of the books in that series before I decided to just skip all that and dive into this book here.
I think I set myself up for failure. I mean, I did read 5 books just to 'set myself up correctly' for this book here. If I'd just wandered across this book, gazed upon it, briefly thought about whether to read or not read, and then read - my experience would likely have been different. But I kind of accidentally built up this massive hill of expectations. Which would have been hard to meet. And the book didn't meet my high expectations. Heck, even the cameos from the stars of the other books, well more from Parasol, were more annoying than a welcome blast from the past. More because they didn't really seem to be acting like themselves. Though that might be because I was actually seeing them from the outside in, for the first time, instead of from inside out.
I'm not really sure what rating I should give this work. There were certain things I liked, and certain things I disliked - some of those 'disliked' things made me feel icky and vaguely ill. Tis life.
Rating: .... 3.15
April 2 2017
Really young? 29? Well, the love interest, Genevieve Lefoux, of this woman, Imogene Hale, did keep repeating words that correspond to 'too young' or the like. To the point that I was beginning to feel icky and believe that I was somehow reading a pedophile book or something. TOO YOUNG TOO YOUNG!.
Remember how I noted that the woman was 29? And it's the 1800s (well, some where in the 19th century, I don't mean literally 1800)? Now normally an unmarried woman of 29 would be considered 'too old' in this time period, but Genevieve is an ancient woman of something like 900 (I mean, this is a vampire book). Wait, no? That's not her age? She's actually 38? And there's only a 9 year age difference? And it isn't as if it was a woman of 18 'playing with' a girl of 9? But instead a woman of 38 using the 'too young' excuse to stay away from a woman of 29? Yes. By the way - precision, scientists are known for that. Quite important to them. Genevieve is a scientist. Vaguely disappointed that she would use 'too young' when the perfectly appropriate and acceptable 'too inexperienced' could have worked just as well without an icky feeling developing.
And I mention that 'poor class' part because 'class' is super important in the story, both in terms of how Imogene is of the servant/working class and because everyone around, for the most part, sees her (if they see her, it's kind of cliche in a book like this to note that the servants aren't 'visible' to the non-servants) and treats her as such (including herself). As in, at least in her own mind - 'not good enough' for someone like Genevieve.
Right, so. A woman grew up in a small country village knowing that there was something different about her. When her friends flirted with men, she didn't. When they married, she didn't. She didn't want anything to do with men. No, she saw herself as perverted because she wanted to 'do stuff' with other women. Which is how she ended up employed by the vampires - because they were basically the only source of employment for a woman like her (I don't mean 'perverted', I mean because she's a woman looking for work in a poor village in England); because they were considered 'perverted' themselves; and because Imogene didn't want to marry a man.
So Imogene went off and acquired a parlourmaid job with the local vampire hive. Whereupon she was alternatively ignored by the vampires, or abused by them. Also abusing her was the 'first footman' who liked pinching her, tripping her, and acting like a two year old near her. Not exactly what Imogene thought/expected she would find, but she is helping her family get food on the table.
There is one bit of brightness, though - one of the people living and working on the hive grounds is a scientist doing experiments. Wearing men's clothing and stuff. That'd be Genevieve. Imogene is quite aroused by this woman, but Genevieve seems reluctant to 'corrupt' her. Though she keeps doing something like a push-pull. Showing signs of want/need for Imogene, then pushing her away.
I was quite happy and eager to read this story when I saw it appear. I bought it immediately when it was first published. Then didn't read it. For there were other things to read before I could read this book. I'd read this author before - devoured her Parasol Protectorate series, but hadn't read her in seemingly forever.
I wanted to set myself up perfectly before I dove into this FF book. So I read that series Genevieve was in as a 9 year old (or however old she was), though she was a side character and not in all of the books (referring here to Finishing School). Then began a reread of that Parasol series. But only made it through 1 of the books in that series before I decided to just skip all that and dive into this book here.
I think I set myself up for failure. I mean, I did read 5 books just to 'set myself up correctly' for this book here. If I'd just wandered across this book, gazed upon it, briefly thought about whether to read or not read, and then read - my experience would likely have been different. But I kind of accidentally built up this massive hill of expectations. Which would have been hard to meet. And the book didn't meet my high expectations. Heck, even the cameos from the stars of the other books, well more from Parasol, were more annoying than a welcome blast from the past. More because they didn't really seem to be acting like themselves. Though that might be because I was actually seeing them from the outside in, for the first time, instead of from inside out.
I'm not really sure what rating I should give this work. There were certain things I liked, and certain things I disliked - some of those 'disliked' things made me feel icky and vaguely ill. Tis life.
Rating: .... 3.15
April 2 2017
June 4, 2024
The lighthearted slow burn paranormal Victorian steampunk lesbian romance I never knew I needed, but I totally did. This is a spinoff of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate multi-series universe, but I hadn't read any of the Parasolverse before I read this and I had no trouble with it whatsoever.
Imogen Hale goes into service with a vampire hive because she can't figure out how else to avoid expectations to marry a man, and also because she suspects there's "perverted" sex going on in the hive and how else is a gal with sinful (i.e. same-sex) desires supposed to get lucky? Inventor Genevieve Lefoux, who wears "men's" clothing, is an indentured servant to the vampires after a slight misjudgment involving a rampaging attack in London with a mechanical octopus.
The setup sounds a bit ridiculous, but there's a genuine love story here within the genre fun. Imogene sees Genevieve and both her heart and body say "YES, YOU!" Genevieve sees Imogene and says "Thanks, but I'd rather not, because many excuses, but you're great at mathematical calculations so help me in my lab." Imogene is fine with working in the lab, but hell if she's giving up on this amazingly perfect woman! The will-they-won't-they often makes you want to whack them both on the back of the head with a newspaper, but it's hard to stay mad because they're both so damn cute. Also, there's a lot of interference that isn't their fault, such as class issues, employment contracts, and of course the damn vampires.
Content warning: attempted sexual assault, on page.
Imogen Hale goes into service with a vampire hive because she can't figure out how else to avoid expectations to marry a man, and also because she suspects there's "perverted" sex going on in the hive and how else is a gal with sinful (i.e. same-sex) desires supposed to get lucky? Inventor Genevieve Lefoux, who wears "men's" clothing, is an indentured servant to the vampires after a slight misjudgment involving a rampaging attack in London with a mechanical octopus.
The setup sounds a bit ridiculous, but there's a genuine love story here within the genre fun. Imogene sees Genevieve and both her heart and body say "YES, YOU!" Genevieve sees Imogene and says "Thanks, but I'd rather not, because many excuses, but you're great at mathematical calculations so help me in my lab." Imogene is fine with working in the lab, but hell if she's giving up on this amazingly perfect woman! The will-they-won't-they often makes you want to whack them both on the back of the head with a newspaper, but it's hard to stay mad because they're both so damn cute. Also, there's a lot of interference that isn't their fault, such as class issues, employment contracts, and of course the damn vampires.
Content warning: attempted sexual assault, on page.
November 3, 2016
1.5 stars
This one was such a let down. And that hurts to say because I really really wanted to love this. I mean come on lesbian steam punk--with cross dressing! Who could say no to that?!?? Plus I really liked Imogene. She was a good character who deserved more. I couldn't get over how Imogene kept getting led on by Genevieve only to be told that they couldn't be together because she wasn't capable of loving her enough. It was bullshit and not cool to repeatedly initiate intimate contact and then to abruptly stop and say no sorry I can't love you fully, and then she would use her ex as an excuse. I think the really shitty thing about this story was that you could actually see and feel the attraction and chemistry between the two women. I absolutely loved the innocent flirting and interactions in the beginning (which is why I am rounding my rating up).
As I said before, I felt like Imogene was being strung along the entire book. Until there was a separation for a week and then Genevieve declares she's been wrong and finally wants Imogene for more than just heartbreaking and confusing hook ups and longing gazes. What really annoyed me was when Genevieve announced this she assumed that Imogene would "pounce" on her and immediately take her up on it, as if it was such an astounding proposition. As if she didn't need to grovel more. Or that Imogene would be so starved and desperate for that affection and love that she would immediately want her after she was constantly put in this odd hot and cold ringer (I mean that's exactly what happened but still it pissed me off). I understand a person's need for time to adjust and think about being in a relationship, but it didn't feel like that was the case here. I felt like one partner had more control and was constantly calling the shots, while the other partner had to wait around while being toyed with. I was not okay with that dynamic. It did not feel respectful or considerate, it was as if Genevieve had no regard for Imogene's emotions or feelings.
Another thing that I disliked was how desperate and needy Imogene was portrayed in the middle to end of the book. She kept saying that all she needed was a few drops of attention and affection, that she didn't need all the love that she was giving. I do not accept that. I want a heroine who understands and knows her worth, who demands to be treated with respect, and understands that she deserves to be given the same amount of love that she gives. I understand that some of the worries Imogene had with their initial attraction was due to her status in the household and the fact that this was a historical piece where all of that really matters, but that is not an excuse for how it's carried over into their relationship. I didn't have an issue with their differing statuses until I sensed that that power imbalance was affecting the romantic and sexual relationship. At least that's how it felt to me. Because with how amazing and demanding Imogene was in the beginning of the story I cannot imagine her taking that shit from someone if they were in the same class/social position as her.
I also wasn't a fan of Genevieve (in the beginning and middle portions of the book) dismissing Imogene's attraction and attention to her and saying that she was confused and that the attraction was some form of hero worship. And then when Imogene was constantly trying to express how she always had these feelings for women and that it wasn't some misguided worship she was constantly silenced and basically ignored. It pissed me off that Imogene was not allowed to fully express herself until the middle portion of the book, after constant hushings. I can't imagine how terrifying and scary it would be to come out during that time period, and so for her to willingly want to do that and then not be believed or heard must have felt horrible.
And then all the drama with the hive was just so incredibly obnoxious to me. The whole abuse, Queen anger, attempted rapes, and attempted deaths was just way too much. I think if maybe a couple of those things were tackled it might have worked, but when the author tried shoving all of that drama into such a short read it all felt very over the top and clumsy.
Overall this was an incredibly disappointing read. I had such high hopes for some amazing lesbian steam punk but that was not what I received. Also I wanted more sex! And not that glossed over "I love her soft silky skin and dimples" shit. I wanted some hot orgasms and descriptions damn it!
This one was such a let down. And that hurts to say because I really really wanted to love this. I mean come on lesbian steam punk--with cross dressing! Who could say no to that?!?? Plus I really liked Imogene. She was a good character who deserved more. I couldn't get over how Imogene kept getting led on by Genevieve only to be told that they couldn't be together because she wasn't capable of loving her enough. It was bullshit and not cool to repeatedly initiate intimate contact and then to abruptly stop and say no sorry I can't love you fully, and then she would use her ex as an excuse. I think the really shitty thing about this story was that you could actually see and feel the attraction and chemistry between the two women. I absolutely loved the innocent flirting and interactions in the beginning (which is why I am rounding my rating up).
As I said before, I felt like Imogene was being strung along the entire book. Until there was a separation for a week and then Genevieve declares she's been wrong and finally wants Imogene for more than just heartbreaking and confusing hook ups and longing gazes. What really annoyed me was when Genevieve announced this she assumed that Imogene would "pounce" on her and immediately take her up on it, as if it was such an astounding proposition. As if she didn't need to grovel more. Or that Imogene would be so starved and desperate for that affection and love that she would immediately want her after she was constantly put in this odd hot and cold ringer (I mean that's exactly what happened but still it pissed me off). I understand a person's need for time to adjust and think about being in a relationship, but it didn't feel like that was the case here. I felt like one partner had more control and was constantly calling the shots, while the other partner had to wait around while being toyed with. I was not okay with that dynamic. It did not feel respectful or considerate, it was as if Genevieve had no regard for Imogene's emotions or feelings.
Another thing that I disliked was how desperate and needy Imogene was portrayed in the middle to end of the book. She kept saying that all she needed was a few drops of attention and affection, that she didn't need all the love that she was giving. I do not accept that. I want a heroine who understands and knows her worth, who demands to be treated with respect, and understands that she deserves to be given the same amount of love that she gives. I understand that some of the worries Imogene had with their initial attraction was due to her status in the household and the fact that this was a historical piece where all of that really matters, but that is not an excuse for how it's carried over into their relationship. I didn't have an issue with their differing statuses until I sensed that that power imbalance was affecting the romantic and sexual relationship. At least that's how it felt to me. Because with how amazing and demanding Imogene was in the beginning of the story I cannot imagine her taking that shit from someone if they were in the same class/social position as her.
I also wasn't a fan of Genevieve (in the beginning and middle portions of the book) dismissing Imogene's attraction and attention to her and saying that she was confused and that the attraction was some form of hero worship. And then when Imogene was constantly trying to express how she always had these feelings for women and that it wasn't some misguided worship she was constantly silenced and basically ignored. It pissed me off that Imogene was not allowed to fully express herself until the middle portion of the book, after constant hushings. I can't imagine how terrifying and scary it would be to come out during that time period, and so for her to willingly want to do that and then not be believed or heard must have felt horrible.
And then all the drama with the hive was just so incredibly obnoxious to me. The whole abuse, Queen anger, attempted rapes, and attempted deaths was just way too much. I think if maybe a couple of those things were tackled it might have worked, but when the author tried shoving all of that drama into such a short read it all felt very over the top and clumsy.
Overall this was an incredibly disappointing read. I had such high hopes for some amazing lesbian steam punk but that was not what I received. Also I wanted more sex! And not that glossed over "I love her soft silky skin and dimples" shit. I wanted some hot orgasms and descriptions damn it!
September 28, 2018
Lovely. It’s such a great feeling to be reminded that you love something. I miss this world and all these quirky characters.
Here are some of my thoughts:
� I’m so happy Genevieve gets her happily ever after with someone. And that someone is really sweet and hardworking. Imogene is very humble and bashes on herself at times (understandable though considering how that’s how society raised her to be), but she fortunately gets increasingly more confident as the book goes on.
� It is great that Genevieve recognizes that this girl is smart, but she has never been given the opportunity to expand her horizons and gain more knowledge due to her station. She gives her that opportunity.
� Alexia, as always, is such a hoot. She remains to be one of the best characters I’ve ever read of all times. She is badass in her practical, bossy ways, and truly compassionate. I love that she is more than happy to see Genevieve get someone. Also, her meddling is amazing, as always.
� Seeing other old characters are a delight as well, like Conall and Channing. Channing is a surprise. It’s sweet that despite his arrogant nature, he can show this caring side to a girl who would seem to be of no consequence to him. They develop a sibling type of bond especially as they are similar in their arrogant exterior, and I absolutely love it because you wouldn’t expect this side of him. He’s surprisingly thoughtful and it makes me even more excited when I finally read his book.
� Skoot the dog is ADORABLE.
So overall, 4 stars. It’s short, enjoyable, funny, and sweet.
Things that you might want to know (WARNINGS: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
Here are some of my thoughts:
� I’m so happy Genevieve gets her happily ever after with someone. And that someone is really sweet and hardworking. Imogene is very humble and bashes on herself at times (understandable though considering how that’s how society raised her to be), but she fortunately gets increasingly more confident as the book goes on.
� It is great that Genevieve recognizes that this girl is smart, but she has never been given the opportunity to expand her horizons and gain more knowledge due to her station. She gives her that opportunity.
� Alexia, as always, is such a hoot. She remains to be one of the best characters I’ve ever read of all times. She is badass in her practical, bossy ways, and truly compassionate. I love that she is more than happy to see Genevieve get someone. Also, her meddling is amazing, as always.
� Seeing other old characters are a delight as well, like Conall and Channing. Channing is a surprise. It’s sweet that despite his arrogant nature, he can show this caring side to a girl who would seem to be of no consequence to him. They develop a sibling type of bond especially as they are similar in their arrogant exterior, and I absolutely love it because you wouldn’t expect this side of him. He’s surprisingly thoughtful and it makes me even more excited when I finally read his book.
� Skoot the dog is ADORABLE.
So overall, 4 stars. It’s short, enjoyable, funny, and sweet.
Things that you might want to know (WARNINGS: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
February 3, 2020
It was wonderful to revisit Gail Carriger’s Romancing the Inventor again and to do it in audiobook form this time. I spend my entire Sunday listening to Emma Newman’s fantastic narration and was delighted to be back in Carriger’s wonderfully crafted universe of vampires and where wolves.
Madame Lefoux really needed her own novella and Carriger did her justice in her first lesbian romance. Prior to reading this book when it was published back in 2016, I read the complete Parasol Protectorate series to prepare myself for this one. Even though it can be read (or listened to in this case) as a stand-alone it becomes so much more if you know the background of these characters and the world they inhabit.
We are in parlor maid Imogen Hale’s head for most of the book. Newman did a splendid job doing all the accents; from the haughty vampire countess, to the round country sound of Imogen and the French lilt of Genevieve Lefoux. They gave Imogen’s inner voice a small echo effect (something I’ve never heard done before). Stubborn Lefoux puts up quite a fight. She is certain her broken heart can never love again, but she’s found her match in the very determined Miss Hale who will do anything to prove her wrong.
f/f slow burn and not overtly explicit but in keeping with the period
Themes: “Vampires are keeping an inventor in their potting shed. Imogene wants to seduce her.�
5 Stars
Madame Lefoux really needed her own novella and Carriger did her justice in her first lesbian romance. Prior to reading this book when it was published back in 2016, I read the complete Parasol Protectorate series to prepare myself for this one. Even though it can be read (or listened to in this case) as a stand-alone it becomes so much more if you know the background of these characters and the world they inhabit.
We are in parlor maid Imogen Hale’s head for most of the book. Newman did a splendid job doing all the accents; from the haughty vampire countess, to the round country sound of Imogen and the French lilt of Genevieve Lefoux. They gave Imogen’s inner voice a small echo effect (something I’ve never heard done before). Stubborn Lefoux puts up quite a fight. She is certain her broken heart can never love again, but she’s found her match in the very determined Miss Hale who will do anything to prove her wrong.
f/f slow burn and not overtly explicit but in keeping with the period
Themes: “Vampires are keeping an inventor in their potting shed. Imogene wants to seduce her.�
5 Stars
September 25, 2018
Sweet novella about Genevieve Lefoux and her new lover Imogene Hale. I loved getting to see Alexia and Conall (even in small roles), and Imogene's general confusion over their family workings kept me giggling. I wonder if she'll show up in the Custard Protocol books? One can hope :) I love this world.
And thanks to Muffin for the ebook loan!
And thanks to Muffin for the ebook loan!
January 1, 2022
Between the pining, the gentleness, and the absurdly adorable doggo, I'm surprised this book didn't result in my demise via cute attack! Seriously, this is My Kind of Romance�, and I'm especially impressed at the effect it had on me despite its short length! I'm so, so glad I picked this up on a whim at a secondhand bookstore, and I can see myself becoming a hardcore Gail Carriger fan.
tw/cw: alcohol (recreational), mention of kidnapping, death of a loved one (past, off-page), internalized homophobia, sexual and physical assault (not committed by main characters), semi-graphic sex, sexual imagery, vampire feeding
tw/cw: alcohol (recreational), mention of kidnapping, death of a loved one (past, off-page), internalized homophobia, sexual and physical assault (not committed by main characters), semi-graphic sex, sexual imagery, vampire feeding
May 18, 2020
Gail Carriger has published several novellas featuring side characters from her Parasolverse - gotta love a happy ending outside the vampire hive, especially a F/F tale!
Since this is most likely an eBook you'll buy online, you should know the last 16% is a preview of another book (this just meant it ended before I was ready!)
The author has , but you can enter almost at any point.
Since this is most likely an eBook you'll buy online, you should know the last 16% is a preview of another book (this just meant it ended before I was ready!)
The author has , but you can enter almost at any point.
April 23, 2017
This is an achy novella about a maid who is too pretty and her crush on a French female inventor.
It is moving exploration expectations and class burdens taking place in an historical steampunk world with vampires and werewolves.
It is a cruel place and part of the pleasure of this little sexy book is the heroines finding a way with very little room to maneuver to get a happily ever after.
I might have enjoyed this book even more if I was a devoted reader of the series but it was a lovely read on its own.
It is moving exploration expectations and class burdens taking place in an historical steampunk world with vampires and werewolves.
It is a cruel place and part of the pleasure of this little sexy book is the heroines finding a way with very little room to maneuver to get a happily ever after.
I might have enjoyed this book even more if I was a devoted reader of the series but it was a lovely read on its own.
November 3, 2016
Adorable, romantic, very funny, sometimes genuinely scary (the vampires present a real menace!), and heartfelt. I've really enjoyed all of the Gail Carriger novels that I've read, but I am LOVING her new novellas - so utterly delicious! If you like romantic fantasy for adults, this is highly recommended. (And it's such a rare treat to get f/f romantic fantasy!)
February 6, 2019
5 Words: Attraction, inventing, duty, danger, intrigue.
I think this is my favourite novella set in the Parasol Protectorate world. I love the glimpses of well loved side characters, and I love that Genevieve LeFoux is such a main character. I really enjoy the power dynamics and how Genevieve is always hesitant about abusing them, it made a great contrast to the vampires.
I loved Imogene as a narrator. I loved seeing her journey from self-contained and hesitant to self-confident and pursuing what she wants.
There was the slightest bit of intrigue and danger to the story, which I really appreciated.
This is a sweet, slow burn FF. You'll definitely benefit having read the Parasol Protectorate books first so you fully understand the world and the powers at play, but I don't think it's necessary if a cute romance is what you're after.
I think this is my favourite novella set in the Parasol Protectorate world. I love the glimpses of well loved side characters, and I love that Genevieve LeFoux is such a main character. I really enjoy the power dynamics and how Genevieve is always hesitant about abusing them, it made a great contrast to the vampires.
I loved Imogene as a narrator. I loved seeing her journey from self-contained and hesitant to self-confident and pursuing what she wants.
There was the slightest bit of intrigue and danger to the story, which I really appreciated.
This is a sweet, slow burn FF. You'll definitely benefit having read the Parasol Protectorate books first so you fully understand the world and the powers at play, but I don't think it's necessary if a cute romance is what you're after.
November 25, 2017
Oh this was lovely. I always love it when my favorite authors add diversity into their worlds. This was super short, only 150 pages, but it's cute, romantic, and I liked it.
November 19, 2016
5+ stars. This was amazing, swoony, cute, fantastic, lovely, sweet, kyaaa, squeal, and so much more!
So, now that I posted almost all my favourite scenes (I had a few more, but they were either NSFW or they might go to a spoiler area) on Twitter, I am ready to try my hand at writing a review for this adorable, fun, sweet, oh wait, you already know I love this book to bits. :P Sorry if the review is a bit chaotic. :)
The main character is Imogene, a country lass who is apparently very pretty (which causes her problems all the time), however she isn't interested in a man. All she wants is a wonderful girl. Yes, this book is LGBT. So be warned if you don't like that. There will be quite a few scenes with girl x girl action, or at least hints to it.
Now back to Imogene. She is a lovely, sweet, wonderful girl. She can't read, write, but she is amazing with numbers. She can calculate stuff right out of her head. Even big sums. Yes. I really loved that she was wiz in maths. It stood out so much, especially in the age this book was written. A time in which girl should just be girls, being a math genius isn't really something to talk about.
A lot happens, and then she has to bring something to the pottery shed, where Drone Lefoux is. From that moment on, all Imogene wants is to be with Lefoux. Why? Well Lefoux (VIEEEEEVEEEEEE, cough, sorry) is a girl and Imogene is very very much in love with her. But how do you let someone of the same sex know you like them? Especially when, later, you find out about a difficult past?
Well, you just send some hints, and you try your hardest to show that what you feel is 100% love and affection. What makes this even more difficult is that (how could you) Vieve apparently is under the impression that Imogene isn't lesbian. That Imogene is just infatuated, is just feeling indebted to her due to some things that happen in the book. Arghhhhh! Plus the fact of course that there is that whole dark, gloomy past that isn't easily conquered even when faced with a sweet angel like Imogene.
But the road to love isn't an easy one, and I was frankly quite happy it wasn't easy. Don't get me wrong, I was shipping these 2 as crazy, I wanted to bop Vieve for being such a stiff idiot (even with all the hints, and even some Lady Maccon butting in), but I am glad it took them a bit before things finally began to form. Now it felt much, much, much more realistic. Now by the time they finally started doing stuff I was so invested in them, by now I just wanted them to be together, and it made the love scenes oh so much better. Finally! Hopefully I explained it right, it sounds so much better in my head than seeing it on a screen. :P
Of course next to Vieve, we also meet some others from the world of Gail Carriger and it was such a delight to spot them all. Like a game. :) Who would we meet? Would we see this and that person?
I also loved Vieve's background story, well, maybe love sounds wrong, considering what happened to her, but I hope you get what I meant. It was quite interesting to see what has happened to Vieve after that Finishing School series. It was darn sad though. I wish that Vieve would have been happy, then again, she wouldn't have met Imogene then. And that would have been terribly sad they make such a cute couple.
I also loved that Vieve never gave up on inventing. She just went and became super famous and super awesome with it. *snickers*And it seems she never really cared about dresses, so I was happy to see she is still wearing suits tailored to her form. So she would still look feminine but not have the restrictions that dresses would have.
The book also has some sex scenes, but like with Poison and Protect, they are written quite lovely and you will just be kyaaaing and squeeeing because of what happens. While there are enough details to know what is going on, it isn't too explicit, at least not as explicit as some books I have read. The scenes are just really sweet, cute, and warm.
Next to the sex scenes we also have some super adorable scenes with them (or well, Imogene) reaching out and trying to flirt. Of course she isn't that good at it, but at least she tries!
Then we have Henry, my lord, I hated his guts so much. I was definitely happy with how Vieve handled that little rat. Muahhahah. I have to say it was written very effective, I read them out loud to my boyfriend and he was just cringing and wiggling, like he could understand the pain. :P
I wont waste any time on this rat, what a horrible, terrible character (not written badly, he just was terrible as a person).
Also I have the feeling Skoot is a reference for someone (or more than one) in the Finishing School. I am not sure, but it surely does feel like that.
Of course we have the whole supernatural bunch together too. From the hive, Imogene and Vieve work there, to the werewolf pack, who also played a giant role.
I already adored, loved, swooned over the cover before I read the book, before I even had the book, but after reading it? I definitely love the cover even more. Now I can just imagine it being Imogene and Vieve even better, and I can just imagine how this kiss will end.
What more? Mm, well I think I have said everything. I loved this book to bits, and I wouldn't mind more books like this set in the world that Gail Carriger made. I can think of some more characters I wouldn't mind seeing. Or maybe some new characters meeting old characters. *dreams*
I would highly recommend this book to everyone!
Review first posted at
So, now that I posted almost all my favourite scenes (I had a few more, but they were either NSFW or they might go to a spoiler area) on Twitter, I am ready to try my hand at writing a review for this adorable, fun, sweet, oh wait, you already know I love this book to bits. :P Sorry if the review is a bit chaotic. :)
The main character is Imogene, a country lass who is apparently very pretty (which causes her problems all the time), however she isn't interested in a man. All she wants is a wonderful girl. Yes, this book is LGBT. So be warned if you don't like that. There will be quite a few scenes with girl x girl action, or at least hints to it.
Now back to Imogene. She is a lovely, sweet, wonderful girl. She can't read, write, but she is amazing with numbers. She can calculate stuff right out of her head. Even big sums. Yes. I really loved that she was wiz in maths. It stood out so much, especially in the age this book was written. A time in which girl should just be girls, being a math genius isn't really something to talk about.
A lot happens, and then she has to bring something to the pottery shed, where Drone Lefoux is. From that moment on, all Imogene wants is to be with Lefoux. Why? Well Lefoux (VIEEEEEVEEEEEE, cough, sorry) is a girl and Imogene is very very much in love with her. But how do you let someone of the same sex know you like them? Especially when, later, you find out about a difficult past?
Well, you just send some hints, and you try your hardest to show that what you feel is 100% love and affection. What makes this even more difficult is that (how could you) Vieve apparently is under the impression that Imogene isn't lesbian. That Imogene is just infatuated, is just feeling indebted to her due to some things that happen in the book. Arghhhhh! Plus the fact of course that there is that whole dark, gloomy past that isn't easily conquered even when faced with a sweet angel like Imogene.
But the road to love isn't an easy one, and I was frankly quite happy it wasn't easy. Don't get me wrong, I was shipping these 2 as crazy, I wanted to bop Vieve for being such a stiff idiot (even with all the hints, and even some Lady Maccon butting in), but I am glad it took them a bit before things finally began to form. Now it felt much, much, much more realistic. Now by the time they finally started doing stuff I was so invested in them, by now I just wanted them to be together, and it made the love scenes oh so much better. Finally! Hopefully I explained it right, it sounds so much better in my head than seeing it on a screen. :P
Of course next to Vieve, we also meet some others from the world of Gail Carriger and it was such a delight to spot them all. Like a game. :) Who would we meet? Would we see this and that person?
I also loved Vieve's background story, well, maybe love sounds wrong, considering what happened to her, but I hope you get what I meant. It was quite interesting to see what has happened to Vieve after that Finishing School series. It was darn sad though. I wish that Vieve would have been happy, then again, she wouldn't have met Imogene then. And that would have been terribly sad they make such a cute couple.
I also loved that Vieve never gave up on inventing. She just went and became super famous and super awesome with it. *snickers*And it seems she never really cared about dresses, so I was happy to see she is still wearing suits tailored to her form. So she would still look feminine but not have the restrictions that dresses would have.
The book also has some sex scenes, but like with Poison and Protect, they are written quite lovely and you will just be kyaaaing and squeeeing because of what happens. While there are enough details to know what is going on, it isn't too explicit, at least not as explicit as some books I have read. The scenes are just really sweet, cute, and warm.
Next to the sex scenes we also have some super adorable scenes with them (or well, Imogene) reaching out and trying to flirt. Of course she isn't that good at it, but at least she tries!
Then we have Henry, my lord, I hated his guts so much. I was definitely happy with how Vieve handled that little rat. Muahhahah. I have to say it was written very effective, I read them out loud to my boyfriend and he was just cringing and wiggling, like he could understand the pain. :P
I wont waste any time on this rat, what a horrible, terrible character (not written badly, he just was terrible as a person).
Also I have the feeling Skoot is a reference for someone (or more than one) in the Finishing School. I am not sure, but it surely does feel like that.
Of course we have the whole supernatural bunch together too. From the hive, Imogene and Vieve work there, to the werewolf pack, who also played a giant role.
I already adored, loved, swooned over the cover before I read the book, before I even had the book, but after reading it? I definitely love the cover even more. Now I can just imagine it being Imogene and Vieve even better, and I can just imagine how this kiss will end.
What more? Mm, well I think I have said everything. I loved this book to bits, and I wouldn't mind more books like this set in the world that Gail Carriger made. I can think of some more characters I wouldn't mind seeing. Or maybe some new characters meeting old characters. *dreams*
I would highly recommend this book to everyone!
Review first posted at
October 13, 2017
5 Words:
I loved this!
It's set a little while after the Parasol Protectorate series ends, and I loved catching up with some of my favourite characters.
I loved the introduction of Imogene.
I loved this!
It's set a little while after the Parasol Protectorate series ends, and I loved catching up with some of my favourite characters.
I loved the introduction of Imogene.
November 8, 2016
I enjoyed this short story much more than I anticipated. I wasn’t sure what to expect having never read any LBGTQ but I found that that had on bearing on a sweet, romantic story. For me, love is love not matter who it’s between so having the main love interests be two females wasn’t distracting for me in the least.
Madam Lefoux, as always, was a well constructed character with genuine feelings evident on each page. She was charming in her ‘rough around the edges, unconventional� way and I loved her all the more for it.
Imogen was sweet and charming but a little annoying at times�..she mentally struggled to figure out a way to show her feelings for another women but it was clear she never questioned what her preferences were. Something about that combination didn’t work as well as I had hoped.
I guess it would have been one thing if suddenly she developed feelings for this women and it was something entirely new and exciting for her and then questioned what she was feeling. Or if she clearly accepted her nature and then have the focus on expressing love rather than expressing both love and that she was a lesbian.
Though that is a minor personal preference and I wouldn’t say that it made the book any less enjoyable.
Overall this was a romantic, sweet short story that made me excited about new characters (Imogen) and fall in love all over again with old characters (Madam Lefoux and Alexia). I really enjoyed this one!
Madam Lefoux, as always, was a well constructed character with genuine feelings evident on each page. She was charming in her ‘rough around the edges, unconventional� way and I loved her all the more for it.
Imogen was sweet and charming but a little annoying at times�..she mentally struggled to figure out a way to show her feelings for another women but it was clear she never questioned what her preferences were. Something about that combination didn’t work as well as I had hoped.
I guess it would have been one thing if suddenly she developed feelings for this women and it was something entirely new and exciting for her and then questioned what she was feeling. Or if she clearly accepted her nature and then have the focus on expressing love rather than expressing both love and that she was a lesbian.
Though that is a minor personal preference and I wouldn’t say that it made the book any less enjoyable.
Overall this was a romantic, sweet short story that made me excited about new characters (Imogen) and fall in love all over again with old characters (Madam Lefoux and Alexia). I really enjoyed this one!
March 22, 2017
I was saving this one and now I am partly sad that i've fnished it and partly overjoyed that I finally did. Genevieve Lefoux has always been one of my favorite characters and I was so happy to finally see her getting a chance of finding love. The novella is delightful and a true romance (thank you for giving us that, Gail!). When I bought "Romancing the Inventor" when it came out last November, I did not know any of Gail Carriger's other work. To do this novella justice I decided to go ahead and read the Parasol Protectorate series first. To really get to know Madame Lefoux and all the other fantastic characters. I am so glad I did invest that time and not dive into this novella unprepaired. I know it is a stand alone but you get so much more out of it if you really know the universe it is set in.
February 7, 2023
4 stars. My first Gail Carriger book and I loved it. The world building was really good and descriptive and I really liked the writing style minus one little thing. The sex scene. I really didn’t like the way it was written and it came off as someone who isn’t comfortable or familiar with writing sapphic sex scenes which might not even be true but that’s the vibe it gave me which was unfortunate.
Imogene and Genevieve are both wonderful characters and I loved the tension and chemistry between them and all of the buildup but yeah that scene was a let down. Other than that it was a really great romance between them. I love an emotionally closed off heroine and Genevieve is that due to her last relationship and yet the way Imogen was so patient and not afraid to go after what she wanted I just really loved it. Overall, a fantastic read and I definitely plan on going back and reading the Parasol Protectorate series.
Imogene and Genevieve are both wonderful characters and I loved the tension and chemistry between them and all of the buildup but yeah that scene was a let down. Other than that it was a really great romance between them. I love an emotionally closed off heroine and Genevieve is that due to her last relationship and yet the way Imogen was so patient and not afraid to go after what she wanted I just really loved it. Overall, a fantastic read and I definitely plan on going back and reading the Parasol Protectorate series.
June 1, 2018
4.5 stars
I was absolutely delighted when I found this book. I'm so happy Madam Lefoux is getting her happy ending (as well as several other characters in other books.)
Imogene is a new character to the Parasolverse and I found her as a POV character very intriguing since she is VERY different from Alexia, Sophronia and Prudence.
Born on the countryside and very well aware of her sapphic inclinations (and polite society's stance on such things), Imogene decides to work for the nearby vampire hive, hoping that the rumors about vampires' "perversions" are true (and so she can financially support her family).
While working for the vampires turns out not quite as she expected, she then meets Madam Lefoux and not only in love with her but also finds her inventions and equations quite fascinating - but there are complications.
One thing that surprised me was that this novella seemed to be a bit more serious than the author's other books. I think that's mostly because Imogene is not gentry - as a parlormaid she has no social power whatsoever and is constantly at the mercy of her superiors: those being the vampires and quite a big part of their household.
In this context the novella contains sexual harassment, bullying, repeated sexual and physical assault and a certain undertone of hopelessness. Both the lesbian main character and the lesbian love interest also have a lot of internalized homophobia, talking about their "perversions" or "corrupting" other women.
It's still definitely not a sad heavy book - there's still a lot of the typical humor - and Imogene remains, while not exactly optimistic, a very strong silent type, and I loved reading about her.
One minor thing I found a bit weird was how Imogene was repeatedly said to be "very young" or even "too young" - even though she's 28 at the beginning of the book, and Alexia has been called an "old spinster" at 26 already.
I adored the countless cameos of well-known characters from other books of the Parasolverse. In fact, all characters who aren't household staff (and a few of those as well) have been at least minor if not major side- or main-characters in other books.
Plot wise in ties in with the Parasol Protectorate books a lot, if only to reference or mention certain things that happened. I don't think that technically one wouldn't understand Romancing the Inventor if one hasn't read the Parasol Protectorate books, but for me personally a lot of the charm lay with those mentions and cameos.
I was absolutely delighted when I found this book. I'm so happy Madam Lefoux is getting her happy ending (as well as several other characters in other books.)
Imogene is a new character to the Parasolverse and I found her as a POV character very intriguing since she is VERY different from Alexia, Sophronia and Prudence.
Born on the countryside and very well aware of her sapphic inclinations (and polite society's stance on such things), Imogene decides to work for the nearby vampire hive, hoping that the rumors about vampires' "perversions" are true (and so she can financially support her family).
While working for the vampires turns out not quite as she expected, she then meets Madam Lefoux and not only in love with her but also finds her inventions and equations quite fascinating - but there are complications.
One thing that surprised me was that this novella seemed to be a bit more serious than the author's other books. I think that's mostly because Imogene is not gentry - as a parlormaid she has no social power whatsoever and is constantly at the mercy of her superiors: those being the vampires and quite a big part of their household.
In this context the novella contains sexual harassment, bullying, repeated sexual and physical assault and a certain undertone of hopelessness. Both the lesbian main character and the lesbian love interest also have a lot of internalized homophobia, talking about their "perversions" or "corrupting" other women.
It's still definitely not a sad heavy book - there's still a lot of the typical humor - and Imogene remains, while not exactly optimistic, a very strong silent type, and I loved reading about her.
One minor thing I found a bit weird was how Imogene was repeatedly said to be "very young" or even "too young" - even though she's 28 at the beginning of the book, and Alexia has been called an "old spinster" at 26 already.
I adored the countless cameos of well-known characters from other books of the Parasolverse. In fact, all characters who aren't household staff (and a few of those as well) have been at least minor if not major side- or main-characters in other books.
Plot wise in ties in with the Parasol Protectorate books a lot, if only to reference or mention certain things that happened. I don't think that technically one wouldn't understand Romancing the Inventor if one hasn't read the Parasol Protectorate books, but for me personally a lot of the charm lay with those mentions and cameos.
February 7, 2017
Autant le dire clairement, Romancing the Inventor est plus une fanfic qu’une nouvelle. Le problème des fanfics, c’est que si à la base on ne shippe pas à mort le couple principal, autant zapper. Or Mme Lefoux n’a jamais été mon personnage préféré du Protectorat de l’Ombrelle et même si l’histoire est racontée du point de vue d’Imogène et que la demoiselle est plutôt sympathique, y a pas franchement grand-chose d’autre à se mettre sous la dent. Très clairement il ne se passe pas grand-chose dans ce roman et les meilleurs passages sont ceux où sont présents Alexia et surtout : le Major Channing Channing des Chesterfield Channings ! (j’avais voté pour que ce soit lui qui ait sa fanfic bordel, quelqu’un peut me dire pourquoi il est arrivé en queue de peloton ?). Pour le reste, c’est bien écrit, plaisant, j’apprécie toujours autant de retrouver des références au reste de la saga mais non là vraiment, moins d’histoire que ça tu meurs. Malgré tout je sais d’avance que je resignerai en fin d’année pour Romancing the Werewolf parce que là pour coup, je shippe à mort de chez mort !
June 11, 2018
My first Carriger book and I have to say I enjoyed it.
In the beginning, I was not so sure, and felt as though I’d missed something, maybe from previous books? This uncertainty soon vanished as the story got into its stride and then, well, the pages just sped by.
It is a light read, but it reads well. The humour is plentiful and the characters varied. I liked the characters, all of them. Even the horrid and nasty ones. I will definitely read more of hers. I just wish this one had been longer.
January 3, 2020
Sweet f/f love story set in Steampunk Victorian England in a world where Werewolves are gentlemen and Vampires pretend to be. Genevieve is a brilliant scientist and inventor who is indentured to the Vampire Hive; Imogene has a sharp mind and a beautiful face and works as a parlormaid. One is experienced and has been badly hurt by love before and refuses to go down that road again. Another is inexperienced but very much wants to be loved. It was a sweet story with just enough spice. It’s a stand alone novella, set post-Parasol Protectorate series; there are definitely spoilers to the series, so you might want to read the series first.
February 28, 2017
Great narration of a fun book. So glad i got the audible add-on when i saw it.
November 9, 2016
Originally posted at For What It's Worth on 11/3/16:
I’m really enjoying these spinoff novellas set in Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate world featuring some of our favorite side characters and their HEA's.
First off � let me say that you do not have to have read any of Carriger’s prior series to enjoy this novella. While it has great cameos if you have, it stands alone. But if you do enjoy Victorian, paranormal, steampunk and romance give her other books a try as well. She has both adult and YA - all set in the same world.
So back to Romancing the Inventor!
Imogene Hail has never been attracted to men and is tired of the constant push to marry her off to one. She wants to explore her “perverse sexual proclivities� towards women and feels that getting a job at the local vampire hive is the way to do that. Who’s more sexually free than vampires after all?
Once she gets there though, the vampires don’t show much interest in her and she becomes a parlourmaid. Everything is quite dull until the day she brings the enigmatic Madame Genevieve Lefoux tea.
Imogen is immediately smitten by the inventor but Genevieve is gun shy after a romance gone bad and by Imogene’s age and innocence. She feels that Imogene is nursing a hero worship crush and tries not take advantage of that.
This is a very slow burn romance but so, so sweet. Both women are whip smart � Genevieve with her inventions and Imogene with math � and it was fun to watch Genevieve's resistance crumble under Imogen’s relentless pursuit. Occasionally Imogen’s pining from afar dragged on and frustrated me but she really couldn’t do much else considering her social station and precarious situation with the vampires.
When the vampires do finally start to take notice of Imogene all hell breaks loose and the real fun begins. Vampires/werewolves and fun extended cameos with Alexis and Lord Maccon and a few others make Romancing the Inventor a delightful, quick read!
I’m really enjoying these spinoff novellas set in Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate world featuring some of our favorite side characters and their HEA's.
First off � let me say that you do not have to have read any of Carriger’s prior series to enjoy this novella. While it has great cameos if you have, it stands alone. But if you do enjoy Victorian, paranormal, steampunk and romance give her other books a try as well. She has both adult and YA - all set in the same world.
So back to Romancing the Inventor!
Imogene Hail has never been attracted to men and is tired of the constant push to marry her off to one. She wants to explore her “perverse sexual proclivities� towards women and feels that getting a job at the local vampire hive is the way to do that. Who’s more sexually free than vampires after all?
Once she gets there though, the vampires don’t show much interest in her and she becomes a parlourmaid. Everything is quite dull until the day she brings the enigmatic Madame Genevieve Lefoux tea.
Imogen is immediately smitten by the inventor but Genevieve is gun shy after a romance gone bad and by Imogene’s age and innocence. She feels that Imogene is nursing a hero worship crush and tries not take advantage of that.
This is a very slow burn romance but so, so sweet. Both women are whip smart � Genevieve with her inventions and Imogene with math � and it was fun to watch Genevieve's resistance crumble under Imogen’s relentless pursuit. Occasionally Imogen’s pining from afar dragged on and frustrated me but she really couldn’t do much else considering her social station and precarious situation with the vampires.
When the vampires do finally start to take notice of Imogene all hell breaks loose and the real fun begins. Vampires/werewolves and fun extended cameos with Alexis and Lord Maccon and a few others make Romancing the Inventor a delightful, quick read!
August 28, 2019
A friend saw the cover of ‘Romancing the Inventor� and asked me, “Are you reading a bodice ripper?� Yes, indeed I am. I find that during the stressful period of a house-move, what you need is a frivolous supernatural romance novel or several. Having already read ’s 'Parasol Protectorate' series, I knew I could rely on her for light, amusing nonsense. Even better, ‘Romancing the Inventor� and its companion both centre on gay couples, while the 'Parasol Protectorate' series was pretty darn heterosexual. Although there isn’t a great deal of depth to this story, it’s fun and rather adorable. The narrator is an attractive parlourmaid named Imogene Hale, working in a household of vampires. She pines for the French inventor Genevieve Lefoux, previously introduced in one of the 'Parasol Protectorate' novels, while dodging amorous footmen and hungry vampires.
During the last-but-one stressful house-move, I read several of ’s Merry Gentry novels and Carriger is a definitely lot more coy about sex scenes. Merry Gentry novels are all orgy all the time, with occasional breaks for graphic violence, while Carriger is much more inclined towards flirtation and romantic tension. Her fondness for brackets and periodic Americanisms are mildly annoying and the outcome is certainly never in doubt, but this is definitely a pleasant distraction from the need to phone up three recalcitrant energy companies.
During the last-but-one stressful house-move, I read several of ’s Merry Gentry novels and Carriger is a definitely lot more coy about sex scenes. Merry Gentry novels are all orgy all the time, with occasional breaks for graphic violence, while Carriger is much more inclined towards flirtation and romantic tension. Her fondness for brackets and periodic Americanisms are mildly annoying and the outcome is certainly never in doubt, but this is definitely a pleasant distraction from the need to phone up three recalcitrant energy companies.
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