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series Reading Order

Alexia Tarabotti Books in Order

7 Books
2009 – 2020 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

For the best introduction to the Parasolverse, start with the core five-book series in publication order. This matches the way the author built the world and introduced its supernatural rules.

The Core Parasol Protectorate Novels

  1. Soulless (2009)
  2. Changeless (2010)
  3. Blameless (2010)
  4. Heartless (2011)
  5. Timeless (2012)

Prequels and Short Stories

If you want to dive deeper into the history of the characters before the events of Soulless, there are two key short works to look out for:

  • Meat Cute (2020): Set in the spring of 1872, this novelette details the hilarious and chaotic first meeting between Alexia Tarabotti and Lord Conall Maccon. It serves as a direct prequel to the main series.
  • The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't (2014): This historical prequel is set decades before the main series and focuses on Alexia's father, Alessandro Tarabotti, and his valet, Floote, on a mission in Egypt.

Chronological Order of the Parasolverse

For readers who prefer to experience the entire universe in chronological order, the reading path spans multiple series across different generations:

  1. The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't (decades before the main series)
  2. The Finishing School Series (starting with Etiquette & Espionage, set in the 1850s)
  3. Meat Cute (set in 1872)
  4. The Parasol Protectorate Series (starting with Soulless, set in 1873)
  5. The Custard Protocol Series (starting with Prudence, set in the 1890s, following Alexia's daughter)

Wider Parasolverse Spin-offs and Sequels

Once you finish Alexia's main adventures, the story continues with several connected series and standalone novellas:

  • The Finishing School Series: A four-book prequel series following a group of young ladies at an academy that teaches espionage and etiquette.
  • The Custard Protocol: A four-book sequel series set twenty years after the events of Timeless, following Alexia's daughter, Prudence (Rue), on her adventures aboard a dirigible.
  • Delightfully Deadly Series: Companion novellas featuring characters from the Finishing School series as they grow up.
  • Supernatural Society Stories: Standalone romance novellas focusing on side characters from the Parasol Protectorate.

Frequently Asked

QWhere is the best place to start reading the Alexia Tarabotti books?

The recommended starting point is Soulless, the first novel in the core Parasol Protectorate series, which establishes the rules, characters, and steampunk tone of the universe.

QWhen does the prequel story 'Meat Cute' take place?

The novelette Meat Cute is set in the Spring of 1872, exactly one year before the events of Soulless, and depicts the very first meeting of Alexia and Lord Maccon.

QWho is the main character in 'The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't'?

This prequel short story follows Alexia's father, Alessandro Tarabotti, and his valet, Floote, on an archaeological adventure in Egypt decades before the main series.

QWhat is the chronological sequence of the different series in the Parasolverse?

Chronologically, the order is: The Finishing School (1850s), The Parasol Protectorate (1870s), and The Custard Protocol (1890s).

QAre the manga adaptations of the series faithful to the books?

Yes, the manga adaptation (titled Soulless: The Manga, published by Yen Press) covers the events of the novels visually and is highly praised by the author for its accuracy.

QWho is Prudence (Rue) in the sequel series?

Prudence is the daughter of Alexia Tarabotti and Lord Maccon. She stars as the main character in the sequel series, The Custard Protocol.