This was probably the worst book I have ever read in this series. Mommy Dearest was the ONLY saving grace. The rest was mundane. I literally couldn't deal. I usually knock back one of Lynsay's books in hours. This took me two days and a lot of stopping just to say "OMFG if there isn't something contributing to the overall storyline in this book then I'm going to be salty af that I dropped coins on this." Note I was 74% through the book BEFORE a well deserved detail was dropped. .
Elspbeth is just annoying to me. It's not her fault. Her crap childhood and mother are to blame for her quirks but still at no point did I ever think that I liked her or wanted to learn more about her.

Wyatt is pretty likable. What was taken from this couple was a bit shocking. Not to the level of Hans betraying Anna but still it was pretty shitty.

This is the second book that provides insight on the short staffed enforcers that Mortimer is trying to keep afloat while all the BIG DAWGS are dealing with the Island of Doctor Moreau. I appreciate Lynsay filling us in and I am really starting to feel all kinds of empathy for Mortimer's work load.

While I am obsessed with this series and would never suggest someone skip a book because there are always Easter Eggs to be found in even the most mind numbing text, I do feel that I could have skipped this particular story.