Not a terrible book but not a terribly good one neither...to be honest since Memnoch the Devil with it's paradise lost type stylings the series seems to have lazily become embroiled in origins and back stories to circumstance rather than moving apace as say books such as Queen of the Damned or the tale of the body thief did.
I haven't read any of the Mayfair Witches saga to be honest and maybe i may view this book as more essential if I had that grounding as this is the book that marrys Rices two 'series' together..but as someone who occassionally buys and reads the Vampire Chronicles I can't help but feel a bit underwhelmed about this entry.
Trouble is I'm something of a completist and more reside on my bookshelf I can't help but think it might be a case of dwindling returns though...let's hope not.