Book Review- Soulless manga vols 2 and 3 by Gail Carriger and Rem

Title: Soulless (manga) vols 2 and 3

 Author: Gail Carriger, illustrated by Rem

Series:  The Parasol Protectorate manga 2 and 3

Other info: Gail Carriger has written many other things. My review of Changeless, ie volume 2, is here. My review of Blameless, ie volume 3, is here.

Volume 2

Published:  12 November 2012 by Yen Press
Length: 224 pages
Source: gift from friend
Review: Alexia is now Lady Woolsey, and would probably find settling in to this new life a bit easier if a regiment of werewolves  weren’t camped out on her front lawn. After her husband leaves and she deals with the soldiers, she's left with an angry Queen Victoria and a problem with the supernatural that leaves them unable to be...supernatural. Her travels take her to Scotland, she meets the rest of his pack, and will learn more about the world of the unnatural as she goes.

Changeless was never my favourite Parasol Protectorate novel. That's not saying it's bad, it's just not my favourite. This adaptation has made me enjoy it more, probably because it plays up the comedy a little bit more.

The art is once again excellent, the style nicely suiting the steampunk Victorian world. The fighty action scenes are done very well, and I loved the illustrator's view of Lefoux.

Plot is just as good as the novel, and is quite true to it too.

I actually can't think of anything to say in addition to what I said for Changeless-review here.

Overall: Strength 3.5, more a 4, tea to a good addition to Alexia's world.

Links: Amazon | Goodreads |

Volume 3
Published:  19 November 2013 by Yen Press
Length: 208 pages
Source: gift from Kerrie @ Read and Repeat via the UKYABB Secret Santa
Review: Pregnant and now exiled ,Alexia Woolsey is now seeking an explanation for her child, in the hopes that she can prove her husband wrong of the accusations of cheating. Heading for France and Italy, and meeting strange scientists and crazy Templar Knights,  this last adaptation of the Parasol Protecorate novels ties up the series really well.

The whole Where's Akeldama? Plot takes a lot of a backseat in this adaptation, which is understandable considering there’s a lot to squeeze in. however, I think it was overlooked  (only one mention, I think, in the midst of a conversation that quickly moves on) until its climax at the Thames, and I think if I didn't know the novel, i'd wonder what on earth was happening and why this was important.

The art. Yes. Fight scenes very good. Colour inserts- excellent. There's two sections of them, instead of the normal one, which is quite nice. These art cards are sepia toned duos of characters. And one of them plays up Alexia/Lefoux, which I quite liked (I ship those two quite hard). Actually, the whole book played it up a little more than the novels.

As this is the end of the series, I feel I should sum up my thoughts about the whole manga adaptation. I like the fact that each volume is each novel, because it keeps the pace up. However, I think at times, it might have gone a little too fast and a couple of things might not have their importance noted enough for first time readers. The art works wonderfully with this series, the world, and the aesthetics  related to it. I like the fact that Rem used cleverness to get around the awkwardness of the many nude scenes the werewolves get. The attention to detail, and the faithfullness to story makes this one of my favourite adaptations of a book to date.

Overall:  Strength 4 tea to a fantastic ending to a generally amazing series.

Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Author website | 

Book Review- Soulless Vol.1 by Gail Carriger and Rem

Title: Soulless vol 1

 Author: Gail Carriger and Rem

Series:  Soulless Graphic Novel #1

Published:  March 1 2012 by Orbit/Yen Press

Length:  244 pages

Warnings: Nudity (a fair bit of it), highly suggestive situations, violence 15+

Source: Bought

Other info: This is an adaptation of the first book in the Parasol Protectorate

Summary : The life of a spinster in Victorian London isn’t an easy one on the best of days, but such a life becomes infinitely more complicated when said spinster is Soulless-a preternatural bridging the gap between the natural and supernatural worlds. Miss Alexia Tarabotti has this unique distinction, and when she is assailed at a formal gathering by a rove vampire, an encounter that results in the death of the half-starved creature, her circumstances become exponentially more complicated indeed. Now caught up in an intrigue with life or death stakes, Alexia must rely on all her talents to outmatch the forces conspiring against her. But it may be the man who has caught her eye, Lord Conall Maccon, and their budding flirtation that truly drives her to her wit’s end.

Review: If you’ve read the novels (which are amazing-go read!), you’ll know the plot to this already-it’s the events of book one, Soulless, with the more...adult...scenes cut out. For those of you who haven’t read it, Alexia Tarabotti is a (relatively-late twenties/early thirties, can’t remember, both of which by Victorian standards, consigns you to a single life)  older unmarried woman whose father is Italian and dead, and she doesn’t have a soul. The last thing doesn’t really hinder her in Victorian society-for the most part, anyway. It does lead to problems in other areas. After accidentally killing a vampire (and some treacle tart), the people who come to clear it up are Conall Maccon and Proffessor Randolph Lyall-the Alpha and Beta of the local werewolf pack. From there, with werewolves appearing and disappearing, Conall flirting (quite badly by human standards) with her, and a lot of other things happening, Alexia’s problems are quite bad compared to the loss of treacle tart. That is saying something.

Ever since I heard there’d be a graphic novel adaptation, I knew I’d want to read it (I even had a go at designing my own cover. It went in the bin). And knowing I liked Rem’s art style (from reading Vampire Kisses) and the first three in the Parasol Protectorate series, I was sure it’d be good.

Compared to the novel, it is lacking a little bit. Although being quite true, there were some things I’d have liked to see more of. Floote, the butler, Ivy’s hats and quite a few more things didn’t get the emphasis that they deserved. It also felt as if it was trying to cram everything in to the five or six chapters that graphic novels tend to have.

On its own though...great. It covered all the major plot points, and made a good read with a mix of romance and action in alternating parts.

The characters didn’t have too much of a backstory that’s explored in this, but we do get a little bit of an idea of the history between Conall and  Alexia through subtly exchanged words.

The defining feature to this, for me, was the art (I already knew the characters and plot quite well). It’s a rounded flowing style, and consistent throughout. Alexia and Conall were drawn the way I’d imagined them, and Akeldama was a little more...eccentric in the way he was than I thought he’d be. Shame you never saw him in colour. If the next volumes follow the format of opening pages in colour, and the series stays till volume four, I can’t wait.  I will be forever thankful to this for changing my image of Lyall, my favourite character, from that of my biology teacher with different hair to one of the cutest, most huggable guys ever.

I think my favourite thing about the art was Rem’s attempt to cover up Conall’s private parts at the end of the book. Something that my mind didn’t try to do when reading the novel.

Overall:  Strength 5 tea – slightly lacking compared to the novel, but amazing in its own right.

Links: Amazon | The Book Depository | Goodreads | Gail’s website | 

Waiting on Wednesday #34- Soulless, the Manga

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where we show off books that we want to read but have not been published yet. 

Title:  Soulless: The Manga vol 1
Author: Gail Carriger & Rem
Release Date: 1 March 2011
Link to / Summary from Goodreads: Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate. With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Or will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?
Why I want it: I love the novels (vampires and werewolves prettily wrapped up in Victorian England), so when I heard that there would be a manga adaptation, I knew I had to read it. But, being me, I couldn’t buy the Yen Press magazine when it came out...so this will have to do. I’m also interested to see what Rem will do to the story, and what parts will be adapted.
PS. The final book in the Parasol Protectorate series, Timeless, will also release on this day.


What are YOU waiting on this week?

Book Review: Vampire Kisses, Blood Relatives vol 1 by Ellen Schreiber and Rem

Title: Vampire Kisses- Blood Relatives 1

Author: Ellen Schrieber. Art by Rem

Series:  Vampire Kisses Blood Relatives #1

Published:  1^st October 2007 by Tokyopop

Length: 128 pages

Warnings: vampires, slight kissing

Other info: This is based on the Vampire Kisses series written by Ellen Schreiber, who has also written the Full Moon series. Rem has illustrated things, most recently the manga version of Gail Carriger's Soulless. 

Summary :The absolute last thing goth-girl Raven and her vampire boyfriend, Alexander, need is another hitch in their nighttime-only romance—but dark trouble hovers on the horizon when Raven and Alexander discover four freshly dug graves filled with empty coffins. When a crew of sketchy vampires takes up residence in Dullsville's lonely graveyard, Alexander finds this motley bunch led by his very own blood-sucking cousin, Claude Sterling. Shocking! Claude and his creepy crew can only spell out more problems for the pair, especially when Raven finds them in daylight in the very last place she could ever imagine. What could Claude and his invaders be doing—or searching for—in Dullsville?

Review:This is a spinoff to the fairly popular series Vampire Kisses, which features goth girl Raven and her vampire boyfriend Alexander. However it’s not a adaption of the novels, as Blood Relatives has a new storyline-Alexander’s cousin Claude has turned up in Dullsville (where they live) and has started looking for something. Exactly why is not known. However, judging by Alexander’s determination to stop him, the reason can’t be good.

The storyline’s ok. It’s not outstandingly good, or outstandingly bad. Same goes for the action that happens, because not that much happens. This is probably because it’s the first volume and therefore only really character introductions and scene setting and all that ever happens in manga volume 1. It may also be because of the length. You can’t fully have a story set up in 128 pages. Especially in manga, where it’s mainly pictures with a little text to explain it all. It doesn’t give quite enough room to pad everything out. And even if it does, it’s read and over far too quickly. There’s physically not enough in this book.

The characters are good. Raven can get on your nerves slightly, as can Alexander. But most people can after constant exposure. I.e. The first chapter features no-one but Raven and Alexander, except for a few panels at the end.

I like Rem’s art. Its in her own style, and the clothes are well designed. The character designs are also amazing- they’re exactly how I envisioned Raven and Alexander when I read the novels. Six of them I read, and there’s a few more I need to read. The clothes are also extremely detailed and pretty-I loved Raven’s wardrobe

I like the fact that the novels aren’t essential reading to enjoy this. There’s a double page spread introducing the characters we’d know from the novels, and the manga-only characters get introduced when they appear. Of course, reading the novels are a good way of adding a bit more character, but you could, I think, very easily read the manga without the novels. I say I think because I read the novels before I knew the manga existed. Oh well.

Overall:  Strength 3 tea to a quick light read that needs more to it than the 128 pages there is.

Links:  | Goodreads | Author website |