Gail Carriger’s delightful The Parasol Protectorate series of paranormal fantasy books have created quite a stir among some die-hard Steampunk devotees. They argue that Ms. Carriger’s work is, in fact, not steampunk enough; that it is too “fluffy” to fit into the genre.

Yes, The Parasol Protectorate series is a fanciful world of werewolves, vampires and ghosts, but I’ll argue that it takes up a perfect niche in the Steampunk genre. I can’t speak for others, but I like a lighter read now and then. Purists who think that Steampunk literature can only be set in a dystopian world are clearly not having enough fun.

The first three books (we’re saving Heartless, the fourth and most recent installment, for a separate review next week) are Soulless, Changeless and Blameless. In the first few pages of Soulless, we are introduced to heroine Alexia Tarabotti as she slays a vampire. Tarabotti is far from perfect: at 26 years old, she is considered a spinster in London’s Victorian society. She is also (gasp!) half Italian.

What really makes Alexia an outsider, though, is that she is soulless. Termed preternatural, she stands in stark contrast to the supernatural set. (In Ms. Carriger’s world, people with excess soul are the ones most likely to transform into supernatural beings after death.)

The vampire’s attack falls under the jurisdiction of BUR, the Bureau of Unnatural Registry. The Queen’s special agents keep track of supernatural citizens and investigate crimes that smack of immortal meddling. The head of BUR is the gruff and grizzly-sized Lord Maccon. In addition to his service to the crown, Lord Maccon is the Alpha of the local werewolf pack, Clan Woolsey. He is also, as the book progresses, Alexia’s love interest.

As Soulless progresses, we find Alexia bustle-deep in mystery: vampires are disappearing, and strange new ones are showing up all over London. When she is attacked by an automaton, Alexia knows that it’s not just the vampires who are in danger.

The Steampunk factor is taken up a notch in Changeless, book two of The Parasol Protectorate series. Alexia finds herself settling into the roles of both wife and Shadow Council member. As the Queen’s secret supernatural advisers, Alexia and her fellow council-members have the unenviable task of determining why ghosts have suddenly disappeared from London, and why vampires and werewolves have suddenly lost their abilities.

The search for the cause sends Alexia on an airship voyage to Scotland, with the progressive Madame Lefoux along for the ride. Lefoux, a brilliant inventor, lends some intrigue with her “is she really this nice or is she up to something?” personality. Changeless us a solid follow-up to Soulless, and the main characters continue to develop nicely.

Blameless focuses on the mysteries laid out in Changeless, meaning one really can’t pick up the series from this point without having read the preceding two novels. Alexia is pregnant, and since supernatural creatures can’t usually procreate, Lord Maccon assumes that his wife has been seeing a mortal on the side. He kicks her out of the house, but once again Alexia finds herself targeted by some unknown enemy. She flees to Italy, where a series of scientists—all belonging to the clandestine Order of the Brass Octopus—and even the Templars help Alexia piece together not only what she is, but what her unborn child may be. The narrative in Blameless was a bit choppy compared to the first two books in the series, but was still a worthwhile read.

Ms. Carriger has done an excellent job building a fanciful world that deftly blends the supernatural and science. My one criticism of the series as a whole is that some of the characters are so very over-the-top that they are practically caricatures. Overall, though, Ms. Carriger tells a great story without taking her characters too seriously. Her voice is distinct, but has a definite old-world air. The Parasol Protectorate Series is a perfect escape, well paced and tends to give one a sudden craving for tea.

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Beth Dolgner is a writer, editor, and overly-enthusiastic costumer. She is the author of the Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter paranormal romance series as well as two non-fiction books (Everyday Voodoo and Georgia Spirits & Specters). Beth's young adult Steampunk novel, Manifest, debuts in the summer of 2012 from Redglare Press.