"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
02/15/2015
Raised in London as the adopted daughter of the vampire Lord Akeldama, Prudence has inherited a variation of her mother Alexia's preternatural abilities: she can borrow the powers of any werewolf or vampire that she touches. Her father sends her on a mission to India to investigate a possible new source for tea, and Prudence (along with her best friend, Primrose) sails by airship to Bombay where she becomes embroiled in a conflict between the local vampires and shapeshifters. VERDICT This opener, a spin-off of the recently completed steampunk "Parasol Protectorate" series that began with Soulless, has a younger heroine but a similar narrative voice. The deliberately purple prose and exuberant excess take some getting used to for new readers, but the author's humor and affection for her outlandish characters is always appealing. A fun launch for a new line of steampunk adventures from the popular Carriger.