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This one really felt like a page turner for me. It was a good mystery with magic at its core. Strongly reminiscent of a Dresden Files novel, it is a basic whodunnit set in the world of elite societies at Yale. Giving such power to groups who, ostensibly, are pulling the reigns of American capitalism does put a burden on the book to address the inherent inequality of the whole system. While I did appreciate Alex's concern that someone pay for the pain being wreaked across the pages, it feels like all that ends up being placed on a very few individuals and the houses themselves are merely pawns of personal grabs for money or power. Regardless of any specific outcome, a chance was missed to more blatantly hold them accountable for the oceans of blood wept by those dying of poverty, starvation, medical need. The protagonist herself has experienced this head on, but no connection is made between her circumstances and the wheel of capitalism that ground her up in the first place. But could I really expect a sufficient critique of capitalism in a magical murder mystery? The characters were fun, the setting was interesting, and I will definitely read the sequel soon.