Publishers Weekly
07/25/2016
The second installment of Carriger's Custard Protocol series picks up not long after the events of 2015's Prudence, set in an alternate Victorian England populated by various paranormal entities. Series heroine Rue, the daughter of previous protagonists Lord and Lady Maccon, is chastised for her unconventional and unauthorized approach to diplomacy and stripped of her legal protections by Queen Victoria. Undaunted, Rue carries on; when a family emergency requires that she use her airship, the Spotted Custard, to transport her parents to Egypt, she seizes the opportunity to see more of the world. Their journey is fraught with danger, with attackers appearing like clockwork, and it's all Rue and her eclectic crew can do to fend them off. The trip is made ever more complicated by matters of the heart: Rue is falling for her chief engineer, Quesnel Lefoux, but is determined to keep things casual. Romance and mayhem are described with a tongue-in-cheek mannerly tone as Rue and her friends try to discover why they're being attacked and to stop it before things get out of hand. Carriger remains deft at mixing comedy with action in her idiosyncratic steampunk and paranormal setting. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary Agency. (July)
From the Publisher
"Carriger's trademark wit and whimsy are in evidence from the very first sentence, and the result is an inventive madcap adventure."—RT Book Reviews on Imprudence
"Blending steampunk and urban fantasy in a colorful alternate Victorian England, Carriger presents a grand cast of characters on a harrowing adventure that stretches from England to India... Filled with lavish fashions, supernatural high society, and witty dialogue, this story is a fine introduction to a fabulous new series."—Booklist on Prudence
"Carriger maintains a droll, tongue-in-cheek tone, and her protagonists are as concerned with witty banter and fashionable hats as they are with fighting for their lives. Series fans will enjoy this mischievous romp, which revisits old favorites while raising a new crop of charming characters."—Publishers Weekly on Prudence
"Readers who delighted in Carriger's Parasol Protectorate will be entranced by the familiar cast and trademark wit of the new Custard Protocol series...Behind the delightful whimsy and snarky observations, there is a great deal of heart and soul."—RT Book Reviews on Prudence
"The author's humor and affection for her outlandish characters is always appealing. A fun launch."—Library Journal on Prudence
"Soulless has all the delicate charm of a Victorian parasol, and all the wicked force of a Victorian parasol secretly weighted with brass shot and expertly wielded. Ravishing."—Lev Grossman
"The dialogue is as smart and snappy as ever, full of intelligent humor and artful verbal sparring."—All Things Urban Fantasy on Changeless
"Changeless is equal to Soulless: witty, sexy, graceful, and unpredictable. With a few more novels, this delightful, Ms. Carriger will be challenging Laurell K. Hamilton and Charlaine Harris for the top of the New York Times bestseller lists."—Fantasy Magazine on Changeless
"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."—Library Journal on Heartless
"The world of Timeless is a unique recipe of steampunk and fantasy spiced with light sprinkling of romance. Its setting is rich for characters to romp about in, but the unbridled playfulness of the language and dialogue shines brightest."—The Miami Herald
Library Journal
07/01/2016
In the follow-up to the popular Prudence, Rue and the crew of the Spotted Custard return from India and discover that everyone from Queen Victoria to the vampires to the werewolves are having issues. Add to that a slew of parental problems and an engagement-hungry best friend, and Rue may be in over her head.—KC
