*4.5 ( )

I was sad to give this book so few stars since this is usually one of my favorite authors. This book had the least likable main character, the plot felt not well thought out. The details were weird. ( )

More fantasy than sci-fi, but airships exist. Anyway, Prudence Akeldama is pro-British Empire so I don't have a ton of nice words to say about her as a protagonist, but will trudge through the rest of the series because I have a hard time DNFing anything.

The Parasol Protectorate had its silliness, but Alexia was usually at least aware of fantasy geopolitics and its implications. Rue and the gang go off on what they think is a clandestine tea mission (capitalism~) only to stumble into fantasy geopolitics stemming from the British empire not fully understanding the supernatural lay of the land in India. Awful lot of, "Just sign the treaty; the Queen will understand" as if... there isn't... a history of the British and colonization... granted, as an aristocrat, Rue's not going to understand that but blegh. All the fancy gown descriptions aren't enough sugar to coat the unpleasant framework the plot relies on (EMPIRE).

Oh. Belatedly realized I forgot to mention that I really don't think the author did enough homework to fairly characterize Indian (and possibly Egyptian?) supernaturals... I'm not as familiar with rakshasas or vanaras but it feels simplistic to apply the vampire/werewolf framework to them (and perhaps that is indeed the lesson Rue learns: international supernaturals are not the same as the ones at home and one should never assume such... even if you can steal their powers anyway). Based on the cover of the next one, heading back to Egypt? ~fingers crossed it doesn't get too into orientalism~ ( )

It took about half the book before I really got into the plot or cared about the characters in this new series by Gail Carriger. There was quite a difference between the first and second halves-the first feeling forced, almost like someone trying to write like Gail Carriger rather than the lady herself, and the second snapping back into the delightful style of her earlier books. I rejoiced at the appearance of characters from Carriger's other series, especially that of Professor Lyall.
I wasn't sure this would be a series I'd want to follow, but she won me back by the end.
2 stars for the first half and 4 stars for the second. The Parasol Protectorate is still her best. ( )

Note: I received an ARC from the publisher. ( )