Timeless: Book 5 of The Parasol Protectorate (Parasol Protectorate, #5)

by Gail Carriger

Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a dampener on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

***Also available as a manga adaptation***

• ISBN10: 0748122680
• ISBN13: 9780748122684
• Publish Date: 1 March 2012 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Orbit
• Edition: Digital original
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Beth C.]

It's not often I get a whole day to read...and this was just the light and fluffy tale I needed...though there were a few moments that had me teary...I look forward to reading all about Prudence ;)

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 stars - rounded up because I love this series

I love this series so much, and am sad to say goodbye. I have a special place in my heart for Conall and Alexia, and I never tired of their affectionate displays in this book. I shed some tears at the end, when Conall's plans were revealed. That was beautiful.

I really enjoyed getting to know 2 year old Prudence. She was adorable, but feisty, just like her mother. That is the silver lining for me here. That Prudence now has her own series, and I can spend more time in this world that I have grown to love.

I actually liked the endings Carriger gave to the characters: Ivy, Floote, Biffy, Lyall, "Dama" -- they all were set in their new paths, and I was happy with most of those paths.

There was fun, romance, danger, action, and drama. I laughed out loud and smiled often.

[Amanda]

Although it took me a long time finish this book (I picked it up in 2012 and never got into it until I picked it up now) -- one must be in the right frame of mind for Alexia, Lady Maccon -- I do have to admit that this is one of the better series enders that I've read.

I definitely did not remember all events of previous books -- I did, after all, start this series in 2010, and took a three year break before picking up Timeless -- but I found that what I needed to remember was woven neatly into the story and if there was something I missed, well, it did not affect my comprehension or enjoyment of the book.

One aspect I don't think I realized, though, or I'd forgotten, is that Timeless is told from a sort of an omniscient POV. It's not my favorite, but Gail Carriger's writing style carries it well, given the ridiculousness of it all at times and the vast number of characters. It works.

The shining stars of Timeless, for me, were Prudence and Biffy rather than Alexia and Conall, though I liked the lack of drama between them for the majority of the book. It's nice when your favorite fictional couples seem to be enjoying their HEA in the book. Biffy I adored for his dandy ways and his developing romance with the Beta. It was sweet. Prudence. Well, let's just say that I finished this book and immediately had to look up information about the books Gail Carriger has written featuring her.

And if the end of a series has you seeking out spin-off books upon finishing, then you know it's good. Timeless closes out the series, ties up the threads neatly, and gives us a glimpse of Lord and Lady Maccon's future together, as well as what's in store for the supernatural set.

[nitzan_schwarz]

2013 cleaning my shelves challenge

3.5 stars
I really liked it, and I loved Prudence and Conall, but I just kind of felt a lot of things were left in the air at the end of of things... :/
And I still have NO idea what Alexia's father was thinking...

[Hixxup]

This was not what I expected at all. I thought it would be better than it was. I kept seeing rave reviews over this but I was all to impressed. Most of this book I found hard to get into, though I did enjoy prudence, and I enjoyed Biffy and Professor Lyall as well. But the storyline just didn't hold much grasp on my attention. I was also getting rather annoyed with Alexias attitude in this book. And the ending was just blah for me.

[lizarodz]

Review Pending

[MurderByDeath]

Just excellent. I could not put it down after about 1/3 of the way into the novel. I have loved the characters from the beginning, in Soulless, and watching them all develop in unexpected ways, with unexpected depths, throughout the series has been pure enjoyment. The culmination of several story lines in this book was riveting and there was a moment towards the end when I thought I was going to be *really* unhappy, but the author pulls it all together in the end with the most interesting solution. Ms. Carriger paints an alternative London that is vivid, easily imagined, and jumps off the page, in every book in this series. I'm heartbroken that there are to be no others, but this will be a series I re-read for a long time to come.