Blameless (novel)

Blameless is the third novel in Gail Carriger's steampunk Parasol Protectorate series. Published in 2010, it follows the adventures of Lady Alexia Maccon (née Tarabotti), a preternatural woman who can negate supernatural powers.

The story picks up after the events of Changeless. Alexia is declared "blameless" and exiled from Britain by the Bureau of Unnatural Registry (BUR) for her perceived involvement in recent supernatural occurrences and the political machinations surrounding werewolves and vampires.

Alexia travels to Italy to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Lord Conall Maccon, Alpha of the Woolsey Pack and prominent member of the BUR. Along the way, she encounters eccentric scientists, suspicious nobles, and dangerous supernatural creatures.

The plot involves Alexia uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the balance between the natural and supernatural worlds. She grapples with her unique abilities, strained relationships (particularly with her mother and her undead best friend, Ivy Hisselpenny), and the challenges of navigating unfamiliar customs and dangerous situations. The novel explores themes of societal expectations, personal identity, the clash between science and the supernatural, and the complexities of marriage.

Key plot points include Alexia's investigation into a secret society within the Italian vampire hives, the revelation of a connection between the disappearances and a scientific experiment gone wrong, and the discovery of the reasons behind Lord Maccon's self-imposed exile. The novel culminates in a confrontation that resolves the conspiracy and allows Alexia to understand her place in the world.