Ms Vaughn still has a knack for writing well, weaving in new innovative characters and mythology into her continued world building. Leaving an interesting and fast-paced novel in her wake. 
 My gripe about this book wasn't about her writing, but where she chose to take the story, which made me really disappointed, both in the now and for the future of the series. 
 I would much rather have read a story about the historic connection mentioned and possible extensions of it into the present than the quest story that emerged. However the worst twist (IMHO) was that the series looks to take a turn towards an us-vs-them concept that there are a million out there - especially in the fantasy/urban fantasy genre. I really hope I'm wrong and that Ms Vaughn will show us fans that she's different and more creative than that.