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 damper 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?
So… this is it. The protectorate is over. Fini… Done… No more…
You’ll have to forgive me for a moment; I think I have something in my eye… I uh, just bit a pepper before you came in… *sniffle* *snuffle*
Alright, sorry about that. So I’ve just finished “Timeless” which is the end of the series starring the utterly fantastic Lady Alexia Maccon. Ms. Carriger has stated that she will, in fact, be creating two more series set in this world… but it won’t be the same.
I want to say that “Timeless” was a satisfying end to a marvelous series, but I can’t. I’m sorry, but to tell you anything was a good end to this series is like saying “that was an awesome end of my winged unicorn ride who had given me a bag full of infinite edge piece brownies.” There is no possible way that it ending could’ve been a good thing, even if you were chaffed and walked funny and were puking up chocolate and weighed 600 pounds. All good things should not have to come to an end.
*pout*
That being said, the book was fantastic. Made slightly bittersweet with the knowledge that it was my last, but still excellent. All of your favorite characters are here at least in some small part. I think the only cameo missing was that young American gentleman whom took Alexia on a date back in the first book, and I kind of wish he’d made an appearance, but we can’t have everything, now can we?
There is a section of this book that ripped a hunk of my heart out of my chest, chewed it up, and spat it out. I cried. I cried hard. And since I was listening to an audio book I cried at work. I was at the point where it actually hurt to breath. Really, all I wanted after reading that piece was to go home and snuggle in bed with my husband and child. I think it speaks volume about an author’s talent when their characters are so real that when they hurt, you hurt.
I had read in another review that this book could’ve been split into two books, and I quite agree. Towards the end things feel rushed. I might have sort of peaked at spoilers, so I knew what lie ahead, and I kept finding it odd that so many details could be squeezed into so little time. Ms. Carriger did handle it all well, but I feel like if she had wanted to she could’ve expanded things… giving me more time to cope with the impending cessation of my Tarabotti fix.
Which means I wanted more time with Biffy. A DANDY WEREWOLF. I HAD A DANDY WEREWOLF AND NOW I DON’T! Phew! I feel better now.
“Timeless” gets 5 stars… and a memorial service for the series where I take a picture of Alexia and float it out into the… well it’s more of a swampish area by my house than a lake… and a hold a candle while singing “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan.
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