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A review by finding_novel_land
Timeless by Gail Carriger
4.0
So this took a little longer to read than the others because I did. not. want. this. to. end ðŸ˜
I just love Gail Carriger's style of writing and humour and the relationship she has built up between Alexia and Conell over the series is just *chefs kiss*.
This review will be split into two sections - firstly for the final book and then for the series as a whole.
The Final Book
So it took me longer to get into this book than the others which I'm simply going to put down to me having a few days off reading and therefore coming out of the world a little too long, so I'm not going to critic the book on that mark.
However, this book does fall short on two points - one silly, one serious.
The silly one -
How dare you even try and suggest killing off Conall! Yeah I was not ok with that (I nearly cried and I don't cry at books). I ended up staying up into the wee hours to make sure that he was ok.
The serious one -
So I am a gal who loves a full explanation to mysteries. If a big reveal is being led up to I love a three page explanation to fully appreciate all the hints the writer has been giving over the book/series that leads us up the reveal. Like a good Scooby Doo explanation after the villain has been revealed.
But this book/series does not have that.
Instead it relies too heavily on the reader reading between the lines to understand fully what's going on, meaning everything isn't wrapped up into the neat little bow I like (so this is partly personal preference).
Example 1 -
As much as I was happy to see Conall alive and well, simply glossing over him getting shot three times and falling very far to the ground while human by saying 'oh Floot found me' does not sit well with me and honestly just seems (for want of a better word) lazy.
Example 2 -
So the whole point of this book is to finally give us the back story behind Alexia's father. This is the grand 3 page documentary about his secret life in Egypt I have been waiting for. And what do we get? Some hints and speculation about how he might have been working for Matakara the whole time, but no-one confirms this or the motivation behind it (ok he used to work for the paranormal hating Templars) and to have had the biggest mystery 'solved' within one paragraph was quite anticlimactic.
I dunno, maybe I missed something when reading it late at night but I did go back to see if I'd missed some grand explanation from someone in the know, but couldn't see anything. And I'm not that surprised when a similar thing was given to explain Conall leaving the Kingair Pack in Book 2 so it does seem to be the author's style to an extent.
Also, I had convinced myself that the guy who kept getting engaged to a different girl each week was going to have some sinister role revealed in book 5, but no. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF HIM BEING MADE SUCH A FUSS ABOUT?!
Anyway, that aside I still loved this book. I've been hoping Lyall and Biffy would get together since book 2 or 3 when Lyall first notices him so I just devoured every section where they were together. Too darn cute.
Finally the ending is wrapped up really nicely. I didn't think it would be possible (even though a friend of mine told me it was) but it really was beautifully done. Though (small gripe) the author really does like to take advantage of the supernatural existing as a 'get out of jail free' card to avoid any of the main characters dying. It just feels a little too convenient at times (even though of course it helps with the plot and I am very happy that Ivy's kids still have a mother).
The Series as a Whole
I loved this series, but then again I'm a sucker for fantasy romance so this series had me from about page 100 of Book one 🙈However, I will say that the majority of the romance is over by book 2 so don't stick around expecting the same smut you get in book 1. And for me that just shows how great the series is. For someone who thrives off a good love story to keep a plot going, to keep me invested for another 4 books without it is quite something. I personally put this down to the excellent character building of the main characters (some of the other characters, *cough* Alexia's meddling sister who's name I've forgotten just seemed forgotten in places and therefore only really appeared when the plot needed moving forward).
Alexia is an ICON. I can't explain how much I love her, not only her sass but also how much she is of her time. Call me a bad feminist, but I sometimes find historical characters that have overtly 21st century views (especially when that is literally their only personality trait - ie Bridgerton's Eloise (TV series version, yet to read the book)) quite grating. So I really appreciate that whilst she was very modern in some ways (eg her fascination with science), she is still a very austere Victorian. <Spoiler> She isn't automatically a suffragette and disapproves of Ivy wanting to marry Tunstell, despite it being a love match, because of what it would do to her reputation. She was very much the quirky aunt of the series, if mildly too obsessed with tea.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, her and Conall's relationship banter just made this series. They are just too great together. Their lack of interaction in Book 3 really made it the worst of the series for me which just shows how key to the series' success it was.
Finally, I have to give a shoutout to Lord Akeldama for simply being a legend. I just love him and can he be my friend? That is all.
I do have one tiny gripe with the covers though that needs to be said. Alexia is constantly described to be a larger woman. In fact it makes up part of the plot in Book one as she believes herself too large to be loved (I just loved the whole working-on-self-love undertones in books 1 and 2). But the lady dressed as Alexia on all 5 covers is not at all plus-sized. Come on guys, there's enough fat-erasure in the world as it is.
Overall, this series was a very enjoyable and a much needed bit of escapism from the world and I am so pleased my friend recommended it to me as I'm not normally a vampire/werewolf sort of gal. It had just the right level of world building for me across the series, if lacking in plot detail at points. Needless to say I'll be reading the Custard books at some point soon to see if anything gets cleared up (and for more of Carriger's wonderful humour).
This is by far the longest review I've written, which just goes to show how much I love, and have thought about, this book. There is so much more to say (including a potential philosophising about the link between love and the soul. One would presume Alexia to be Asexual/Aromantic for being soulless, but was in fact able to fall in love) but I'll leave it here for now and just say this:
Read this series now!
I just love Gail Carriger's style of writing and humour and the relationship she has built up between Alexia and Conell over the series is just *chefs kiss*.
This review will be split into two sections - firstly for the final book and then for the series as a whole.
The Final Book
So it took me longer to get into this book than the others which I'm simply going to put down to me having a few days off reading and therefore coming out of the world a little too long, so I'm not going to critic the book on that mark.
However, this book does fall short on two points - one silly, one serious.
The silly one -
The serious one -
So I am a gal who loves a full explanation to mysteries. If a big reveal is being led up to I love a three page explanation to fully appreciate all the hints the writer has been giving over the book/series that leads us up the reveal. Like a good Scooby Doo explanation after the villain has been revealed.
But this book/series does not have that.
Instead it relies too heavily on the reader reading between the lines to understand fully what's going on, meaning everything isn't wrapped up into the neat little bow I like (so this is partly personal preference).
Example 1 -
Example 2 -
I dunno, maybe I missed something when reading it late at night but I did go back to see if I'd missed some grand explanation from someone in the know, but couldn't see anything. And I'm not that surprised when a similar thing was given to explain Conall leaving the Kingair Pack in Book 2 so it does seem to be the author's style to an extent.
Also,
Anyway, that aside I still loved this book. I've been hoping
Finally the ending is wrapped up really nicely. I didn't think it would be possible (even though a friend of mine told me it was) but it really was beautifully done. Though (small gripe)
The Series as a Whole
I loved this series, but then again I'm a sucker for fantasy romance so this series had me from about page 100 of Book one 🙈However, I will say that the majority of the romance is over by book 2 so don't stick around expecting the same smut you get in book 1. And for me that just shows how great the series is. For someone who thrives off a good love story to keep a plot going, to keep me invested for another 4 books without it is quite something. I personally put this down to the excellent character building of the main characters (some of the other characters, *cough* Alexia's meddling sister who's name I've forgotten just seemed forgotten in places and therefore only really appeared when the plot needed moving forward).
Alexia is an ICON. I can't explain how much I love her, not only her sass but also how much she is of her time. Call me a bad feminist, but I sometimes find historical characters that have overtly 21st century views (especially when that is literally their only personality trait - ie Bridgerton's Eloise (TV series version, yet to read the book)) quite grating. So I really appreciate that whilst she was very modern in some ways (eg her fascination with science), she is still a very austere Victorian. <Spoiler> She isn't automatically a suffragette and disapproves of Ivy wanting to marry Tunstell, despite it being a love match, because of what it would do to her reputation. She was very much the quirky aunt of the series, if mildly too obsessed with tea.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, her and Conall's relationship banter just made this series. They are just too great together. Their
Finally, I have to give a shoutout to Lord Akeldama for simply being a legend. I just love him and can he be my friend? That is all.
I do have one tiny gripe with the covers though that needs to be said. Alexia is constantly described to be a larger woman. In fact it makes up part of the plot in Book one as she believes herself too large to be loved (I just loved the whole working-on-self-love undertones in books 1 and 2). But the lady dressed as Alexia on all 5 covers is not at all plus-sized. Come on guys, there's enough fat-erasure in the world as it is.
Overall, this series was a very enjoyable and a much needed bit of escapism from the world and I am so pleased my friend recommended it to me as I'm not normally a vampire/werewolf sort of gal. It had just the right level of world building for me across the series, if lacking in plot detail at points. Needless to say I'll be reading the Custard books at some point soon to see if anything gets cleared up (and for more of Carriger's wonderful humour).
This is by far the longest review I've written, which just goes to show how much I love, and have thought about, this book. There is so much more to say (including a potential philosophising about the link between love and the soul. One would presume Alexia to be Asexual/Aromantic for being soulless, but was in fact able to fall in love) but I'll leave it here for now and just say this:
Read this series now!