More backstory in Siren Song - that's what I love about the books. Interesting stuff about Aris Boch, although... maybe it's just me, but I felt that they made him too clearly one of the Good Guys. I liked his ambiguity in Deadman's Switch, never really knowing what his true history was - kind of like Vala. And I was slightly dubious about the plot - Ancients can't destroy this monster, but they can lock it in a mountain and engineer people to guard it? I swear I'm not trying to be contrary, orca_girl! :) I did enjoy the journey, however, and I liked the uncertainty of the ending. Perhaps it's just that my expectations were too high. 

On the other hand, I really didn't have high expectations for Trial By Fire... and really enjoyed it. :) I'm totally in the minority here, I know - but aside from a few niggles (did they have to make it clear, with every single line she spoke, that OFC was British? Ye gods. No one speaks like that. But when they relaxed with that a bit, it was better), it was entertaining, completely undemanding, and had some fun running around in costumes. Plus, it gave me the great mental image of Jack naked and covered in honey. Little things please little minds. *g* I read it when I was coming down with a cold, and it helped me survive a couple of endless journeys home from work.