Timeless (Parasol Protectorate, #5) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Oct 28, 2012 Thenia rated it really liked it

Shelves: series, reviewed, r-ab, vampires, paranormal, shifters, 2013

An excellent job by the narrator, the talented Emily Gray, as usual. I enjoyed the audiobook immensely!

The atmosphere of this last book in the series is as refreshing as in the previous ones and so is the story itself. Alexia and Conall are great together and I had fun reading this last part of their story together. This time their new adventure takes them to Egypt where they uncover secrets, solve mysteries and cause an uproar, as it usually happens wherever they go.

I will definitely read, or m ...more

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Dec 29, 2013 Logan rated it really liked it

Shelves: borrowed-library, 2015-books-read, romance, borrowed-ebook, steampunk, paranormal

Maybe 4 stars is generous, but it's the end of the series and overall it was a satisfying ending. I loved the change in scenery - they visit Alexandria, which was cool - but I do wish there had been more excitement throughout the story. Lord Akeldama is terrific as usual and I enjoyed Biffy's journey. My only real complaint is that the author seemed so focused on tying up loose ends and setting up for the spin-offs that we lost some of the heart in the main characters. I felt really distant from ...more

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Jul 22, 2013 lia rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal-fiction

The last book in the Parasol Protectorate series. It was a so-so for me. It still has GC's trademark humor but the story somehow lacking.

In the 5th book open with several things that reminds us of the story of the previous book; Prudence is two years old and still raise by the doting Lord Akedalma, Biffy is taking care Madame Lafeux's hatshop, Madame Lafeux herself becomes drone to the Wolsey vampire hive.

Suddenly Alexia has been summoned to Egypt to face Queen Matakara (the oldest living vamp ...more

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Aug 30, 2010 Charlotte (Buried in Books) rated it really liked it

Shelves: steampunk

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 23, 2010 The Flooze rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, steampunk, vanquished_2012, urban-fantasy-paranormal

As noted by Lord and Lady Maccon, Timeless is filled with rather elegant solutions to the problems presented. Par for the course - or it should be - when one is dealing with the closing book of a series.

Despite some of the more convenient resolutions, the story does not sport the forced feeling that plagued the previous installment. The dialogue is more fluid. Any behaviour that might be out of character is remarked upon and explained to this reader鈥檚 satisfaction. Unexplained pieces of the stor As noted by Lord and Lady Maccon, Timeless is filled with rather elegant solutions to the problems presented. Par for the course - or it should be - when one is dealing with the closing book of a series.

Despite some of the more convenient resolutions, the story does not sport the forced feeling that plagued the previous installment. The dialogue is more fluid. Any behaviour that might be out of character is remarked upon and explained to this reader鈥檚 satisfaction. Unexplained pieces of the story fall into place, though there is a feeling that more might be uncovered; no accident, I鈥檇 venture, since Ms. Carriger will continue to craft tales in this universe by bringing secondary characters to the fore. The author has scattered enough clues throughout to whet my appetite for new adventures, and her supporting characters have always been endearing enough that I can easily see them standing strong in the absence of our heretofore leads.

Placing the infant-inconvenience at the age of two was perfect. Not so much of a time gap as to allow for much change in this universe - thereby keeping us connected - but just enough to permit Prudence to develop her own personality (and to some extent her abilities). Also, the Terrible Twos guaranteed fodder for comic relief as the supernatural households of Maccon and Akeldama learned to cope with a mobile metanatural. Prudence is as curious and stubborn as one would expect of the offspring of Alexia and Conall, and she certainly sports the dramatic tendencies of our darling Akeldama. I enjoyed getting to know her and applaud Ms. Carriger for creating a toddler both brazen and charming, dispelling my fears that she鈥檇 detract from the story.

What did lessen my enjoyment a bit was all the running around the characters did. I felt as if most of the story had everyone on a merry chase - time that may have been better spent delving into Alessandro鈥檚 past. By the same token, I yearned for more information on the ever-reliable (or is he?) Floote, but perhaps Ms. Carriger is holding back these details for a time when she can explore them to the fullest. (Oh, just think: wouldn鈥檛 it be rather exciting to have a tale from the perspective of the Jeeves-like Floote and his employer, the hardly Bertie-ish Alessandro? What larks!)

A fair amount of the narrative stays in London with the werewolves. Biffy and Lyall鈥檚 roles in the books have been expanding all along. That comes to a head in this installment where I might go so far as to give them the status of leads. I鈥檝e always had a soft spot for both (see above comment regarding secondary characters) and the changes they undergo are promising in their expansion of personalities and emotion. What might come next for these two! I do hope the new series will allow us to find out!

All in all, though I fretted over the relative ease of some discoveries I still have to thank our tea-loving author for her creation of Alexia and her topsy-turvy steampunk world. It鈥榮 been a pleasure getting to know our heroine. Maccon is a man I鈥檒l gladly imagine nibbling my neck. Biffy can handle my wardrobe any time. Lord Akeldama, my daffodil can gleefully gossip in my parlour all he likes. And Lyall and Floote are perfectly welcome to swoop in and set my chaotic life to rights. Thank you, Ms. Carriger, for a memorable series with delightful characters. I can鈥檛 wait to read what you dream up next. ...more

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May 14, 2012 PM rated it liked it

I reviewed the entire series as a whole for book 1 - Soulless.

Just had to add a bit, GREAT ending. I was starting to wonder where this was going to go and it was running on a bit, but, great ending. Loved it.

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Jun 25, 2012 SandyC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, vampires, paranormal, rrrc-2012-challenge, 2012-read

Ms. Carriger saved the best for last. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I'm sad that it's the last in the series!
...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Nicole rated it it was amazing

I loved the conclusion of this series!!! I hope there will be some spin offs in the future.

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Jun 15, 2010 Kimberly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

This did not feel like the end of this series. The storylines felt rushed, but I loved the time period it was set in.
Carriger is going to write more about the Parasol Protectorate with Prudence and that should be a hoot to read.

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