The second book in the Merchant Princes series is even more fast-paced than the first. Stross is not afraid to pull any punches as he teases out the complexities of running a business across multiple dimensions. This book had a few unsurprising revelations and some unpleasant and surprising plot twists. All in all, it makes me want to keep reading the series to find out what perils await Miriam and the Clan next. ( )

getting better, I like how the main character is changing the male dominated society ( )

A slight improvement on the previous book, I think; the plot flows a little smoother. Generally, still fun; a few of the ideas touched on earlier (mainly in the economic side of things) get brought front and centre. The series is developed quite effectively by bringing in another world and a second faction of world-walkers; our heroine sets herself up as, in effect, a third faction; and a lot of the backstory of the Clan itself is resolved. The new world is delightfully drawn - a French conquest of Britain in the eighteenth century leads to the North American colonies forming something of a state-in-exile, which a couple of centuries down the line has become a sort of late-Victorian police state with a perpetual trans-Atlantic cold war. Historical plausibility not perfect, atmosphere excellent.

Minor quibbles; the infodumping was perhaps a little heavier than need be - it seemed like we got the same lecture on mercantilism and Why It's Wrong twice. The denouement was a little overblown for my liking, but it did fit with the overall plot. And we did get a nice, clear, definite ending; there are clearly directions in which bad things could happen (the authorities of the two 'modern' worlds are getting suspicious) but you're not left with the feeling that it ended in the middle of events as the previous book did.

This was a good book about alternate worlds. I liked how Miriam learned about the third world and how she brought new inventions there. I looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Clan Corporate. ( )

Very much enjoying the series. Recommended by a friend that they should be read in order is proving to be wise as I believe you'll struggle some if you read this one before The Family Trade. Personally, liked this one better than the first one -- perhaps the 3rd world was more appealing to me.... ( )