Much more exciting and entertaining that the last installments which I was very happy to discover. I did enjoy Alexia, Floote and Madame Lefoux's adventures running from the vampire drones and vampires that are our to kill Alexia. 
 I was rather annoyed with the phrases infant-inconvenience and parasite when Alexia refers to her child. These references Alexia makes made me dislike her when originally I had not. 
 Also the introduction one character who would only call her Female Specimen lent a certain suggestion that he was inclined to be like the foes of the first book and was annoying if not just downright rude at such a stage of society. It amazes me that Alexia as a peer doesn't bring them to task. 
 I do have to say that at times this book made me a little nauseated because of the suggestion of cutting the child out of Alexia for dissection. I understand these are the enemies of the story but it was very hard to stomach such a villainous idea. 
 As for the mystery unfolding with Akeldama's swarming (not entirely sure what that means except disappearing) and the identity of those that want Alexia dead, it was well executed as it never seemed to leave you bored or wondering when some new twist or turn to the adventure would pop up. 
 Lord Maccon's inebriation was rather funny at times and well worth reading about. 
 I'm a little saddened that even at this stage of the series I don't feel a vested interest in the well being of most of these characters. 
 I do have to say that the surprise foes of this tale were mostly not a surprise at all.