More like a strong 3.5. This was actually a re-read for me. I read it at some point in 2017 and I don't recall it making a strong impression on me. I suspect that was largely due to the steampunk setting of a large part of the book. As I have gotten older, I have gotten grumpier about retrograde settings. I started re-reading it on a whim as a side filler on the phone when I had spare time in queues and such. My previous grumpiness with the setting had probably obscured that this was a well written romp with a nicely rounded protagonist. Certainly enough here to have me read the next one. I probably wouldn't go higher than 3.5 because Victorian wish-fulfillment makes me grate my teeth but others may not have that problem.