This book picks up shortly after How to Become a Henchman, with Alice trying to settle into her new life. She has to balance the needs of her villainous boss (and his ratings) with her real-life study, family and friends. Additionally, her secret identity isn't as secret as it should be, and she has an uneasy relationship with her fellow henchmen.

This was a smooth read, and I only noticed a couple of typos. The action was easy to follow, and everyone's actions made sense for their characters. That's allowing for the lengths to which the inhabitants of Big Little City will go for their shot at fame.

The plot was pretty straightforward, with no great surprises. For me, the social commentary is what raises this book above a standard action adventure. I did feel in spots it got a bit heavy-handed, with Alice mulling over her guilty conscience, but not really acting on it. It's perfectly understandable in her situation, but maybe bogs things down.

In summary, a fast-paced SF adventure that's also quite thoughtful.