Delighted! Delighted! I am delighted with this book! I admit I was suspicious at first - the steampunk thing, the ridiculous-seeming synopsis, and the obvious Mary Sue heroine, but curiosity got the better of me. I was very pleasantly surprised. Soulless reminds me of early episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or even Xena: Warrior Princess. Enjoyably, intelligently campy. The heroine, Alexia Tarabotti is swarthy, snarky, and has a big mouth to go with her big boobs. Gail Carriger's writing goes towards the direction of twee, but comes across instead as playful and funny. This is the first book in which I actually enjoyed the portrayal of werewolves. Maybe because I picture Lord Maccon as Gerard Butler before he got bloated and orange and did those idiotic rom-coms. Sigh. 
 Finally, there are glorious descriptions of food, which I always love: p. 349-50 
 "There were galantines of guinea fowl stuffed with minced tongue quivering in aspic jelly and decorated with feathers made of lemon-soaked apple peel. No fewer than eight pigeons in truffle gravy nesting in coils of pastry made their apperance and disappearance. There were stewed oysters, fried haddock fillets in anchovy sauce, and grilled sole with peach compote... the Loontwill cook provided woodcock pie, roast pheasant in butter sauce with peas and celery, and a brace of grouse. Ther was a baron of beef, a forequarter of mutton glazed with red wine, and lamb cutlets with fresh mint and broad beans - all offered on the rarer side. Corner dishes included lobster salad, spinach and eggs, vegetable fritters, and baked potatoes... there were rhubarb tarts, stewed cherries, fresh strawberries and purple grapes, gravy boats of clotted cream, and plum pudding." 
 Huzzah!