I enjoyed this book, but I felt like it was supposed to be Manny and Payne's story and we got a lot more of Jane and V - I didn't mind so much because the story was good and I liked what happened/where Ward went with it, but I felt like Manny and Payne got a little short changed. The development between Butch and V was good - it answered some of questions that were hanging around about them. 
 I also liked that the lessers played a much smaller role in this story - they were mentioned and there were consequences of the Brothers' interaction with them, but there wasn't anything from their POV and fewer fight scenes with them. I don't mind the fight scenes, but I feel like the balance between fighting and story was better this time around. I'm hoping that with the itroduction of Xcor and his "band of bastards" that they will become the new enemy and the lessers will continue to stay in the background. 
 Usually you can tell from the characters Ward focuses on who is getting set up to be featured in the next novel, and the only other couple that wasn't just mentioned in passing was Blay and Quinn, but from everything I've read Ward thinks it's not time for their story yet. 
 (view spoiler)[ While I totally saw it coming from the time we met Manny that he was going to be part vampire I was surprised at the twist that he's Butch's half brother. Since they both aren't on good terms with their families and have always felt a little like outsiders I hope that they'll have a good relationship. 
 I also wonder if Payne and Xhex will bond as the only female fighters, but Payne is much more feminine than Xhex. (hide spoiler)]