Blameless (novel)
| Company type | Publisher |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
| Parent | Hachette Book Group |
Blameless is a steampunk paranormal romance work authored by Gail Carriger, initially released on September 1, 2010, through Orbit Books. This novel represents the third entry in the five-part series titled "The Parasol Protectorate," centering on Alexia Tarabotti, a woman without a soul. First issued as a mass-market paperback, Blameless achieved status as a New York Times Best Seller.
Plot
Taking place in an alternate version of Victorian Britain, where vampires and werewolfs coexist within the upper echelons of society, Blameless chronicles Lady Maccon (Alexia Tarabotti) as she confronts scandal following an unexpected pregnancy—an event deemed impossible since werewolves are considered infertile, raising suspicions about her loyalty. After being expelled from the Shadow Council by Queen Victoria, Alexia endures social exclusion and antagonism from London's vampire factions. With her spouse Lord Maccon succumbing to alcoholism, she journeys to Italy to consult the Knights Templar, facing intricate difficulties tied to her distinctive soulless condition.
Publication history
- 2010, USA, Orbit Books , Published September 1, 2010, Paperback
- 2010, UK, Orbit Books , Published September 2, 2010, Paperback
- 2011, Germany, Blanvalet , Published September 19, 2011, Paperback (titled Entflammte Nacht, translated by Anita Nirschl)
Future editions include planned Italian and Spanish translations by Baldini & Castoldi and Versátil respectively; release dates are yet to be confirmed. A Polish version by Proszynski was announced in 2010 but has no scheduled publication date.
The cover for the US edition was crafted by Lauren Panepinto, Creative Director at Orbit Books. Actress Donna Ricci portrays Alexia Tarabotti on both the US and UK covers; the original photo was produced by Tiny Dragon Productions.
Reception
Blameless remained on the New York Times Best Seller list for two consecutive weeks, reaching its highest position at #20 on the Paperback Mass Market Fiction list for the week ending September 5, 2010. It then slipped to #35 in the subsequent week. Additionally, the novel secured the top spot on the Locus magazine mass-market paperback bestseller chart in December 2010.
Adaptations
In September 2010, global rights for adapting the initial three books of the Alexia Tarabotti series into graphic novels were acquired by Yen Press. Both Yen Press and Orbit Books—the series' publisher—operate under the Hachette Book Group umbrella, fostering opportunities for cross-media marketing.