When heavily pregnant Alexia Maccon receives information from an insane ghost on an assassination plot focused on the queen, she already has a lot on her plate. She's been busy with things like secretly moving into Lord Akeldama's closet, an attack of zombie porcupines, a sister who has been sneaking out to join a suffragette group and possibly most worrying, Madame Lefoux seems worn out and is being very cagey about her newest invention. Nonetheless, Alexia feels it is her job to help protect the queen. But is this plot simply too big and well-organized for one woman, even armed with an emitting parasol, to undo?

I didn't find this book as good as the last two, but it is still a fun read. My main problem is that I found Madame Lefoux's actions badly out of character. In the previous books, she has employed a good deal of subtly, cool logic and sneaky, sideways methods in her planning and technology. Such a melodramatic, public display seemed wrong for her.

On the other hand, Ms. Carriger did an excellent job with the reveal of Professor Lyall's past. I had guessed at it before, as the author did some nice subtle foreshadowing through the series. Don't believe me? Re-read with the new info in mind. I reckon you'll be impressed.

I am also enjoying the evolution of Ivy's character and the newer, more elaborate uses of her in the plot. I hope she gets a bigger piece of the action in the last book.

This book is on its way to quietorchid in the Steampunk Bookbox.

4th of the Parasol Protectorate, Alexia is heavily pregnant and trying to fight off the latest attempt to kill Queen Victoria while dodging vampires. Amusing book. This series should have a long run, as it has the formula down pat. Enjoy!

Off it goes into the Steampunk Bookbox for more travels! Hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Bookcrossing, where Books roam freely! I hope you enjoy the book, and leave a journal entry so I can see where the book ended up. You can remain anonymous if you'd like, or join and follow the book's travels throughout the world! If you join, please mention me, quietorchid, or any other journaller as the referring member. The site is free, secure, and non-spamming. Take a look around, and then go read!

P.S. If the book is too good to read and release, that's okay, you can keep it, just let me know that it's found a good home!

Selecting from emmejo's Steampunk Bookbox.

I love this series and thoroughly enjoyed this new adventure. I too enjoyed the unraveling of Professor Lyall's past. I wonder what the author has in store for him in future books.

Adding to the Steampunk Book Box and hope that emmejo won't find that it has made its way home to her again.

I recently discovered this series, and was pleased to see this title in the Steampunk bookbox, especially as I see from the other comments that it touches on Professor Lyall, who - in his role as hypercompetent sidekick to Lord Maccon - became one of my favorite characters in the first book!

Later: Another enjoyable installment in this charming series. This one won me with the title of Chapter One: "In Which Lady Alexia Maccon Waddles". [She's heavily pregnant, indeed, but "waddles"? I laughed a lot.] The opening scenes are pretty funny, too, what with the suggestion that Lord Akeldama adopt Alexia's forthcoming child, so as to ease the fears of the vampire community about a super-powered child in a werewolf clan. (When he mentions that he's planning to devote his second-best closet to a room for the child, Alexia realizes how serious he is. Hee!)

Lots of great character bits from all concerned - I think I read this series for the dialogue as much as anything else. And, oh, I do adore Prof. Lyall... [And Lord Akeldama. And the tricky relationship between Alexia and Conall. And - well, I like the series!]

That said, some of the conspiracy-plots leave me relatively cold, other than as they provide an excuse for more banter between my favorite characters - though the Attack Porcupines were... amusing. (The line "Is a cephalopod so dire as all that?" was also good.) I enjoyed (in an angsty sort of way) observing Biffy's situation - poor guy, his hopes of joining Lord Akeldama in vampirism dashed in a most decided and permanent manner in the last book, and now he's really struggling to fit in. Luckily, the new domestic rearrangements seem to help, and I found Alexia's sympathetic but no-nonsense advice to him quite refreshing. (The, um, altercation between Biffy and Lord Akeldama... what a scene, demonstrating Alexia's sang froid to a remarkable degree!)

Some fascinating secrets revealed, lots of quips quipped and battles battled - very enjoyable. And of course the final scene is simply perfect!

[There's a TV Tropes page for the series, which I've found quite entertaining.]

I plan to leave this book in the waiting area of Portland Pie Co. (that's it in the background of the photo) at around 4, on my way in to dinner with a friend. Hope the finder enjoys the book!

*** Released as part of the 2013 One Word Title release challenge. ***