Heartless

This fourth installment in the "Parasol Protectorate" series by Gail Carriger is another romp through an alternate Victorian England, where vampires, werewolves, and ghosts are all accepted parts of society, if not always cheerfully welcomed by regular mortals. Lady Maccon, a preternatural having no soul, is wife to Lord Maccon (a werewolf) and part of Victoria's secret council. She is also 8 months pregnant, which significantly interferes with her ability to get around as nimbly as she would like. The potential capabilities of the child she is carrying to threaten werewolves and vampires alike have made Alexia Maccon the target of numerous murder attempts and she is just getting tired of it all. A truce has finally been reached wherein the child will be raised by the flamboyant vampire, Lord Akeldama. Lord and Lady Maccon move into the house next door to facilite the arrangement. But in the meantime, there appears to be a threat to the Queen and a ghost on the verge of disintegration apparently holds the key to finding out more. Alexia's tedious sister has moved in with her and Lord Maccon and taken to wearing very sensible clothing--among other strange behaviors. Madame Lafoux has come up with an even more outrageous invention and the plot line is wild and fast-paced as always. This tongue in cheek series never fails to entertain me and make me laugh out loud.