ok i know this is (pardon the pun) Odd, but i didn't even read the first book til just now...i read books 2 & 3 last year or sooner because they just sounded so good i didn't want to wait for Chapters to stock book 1. so the other week when i was there and the new book 4 was there i had to buy it and book 1.
just finished book 1 and it was real good...since it's been a while i'm gonna read 2 & 3 before going on to 4. 
and for anyone who cares...my dream is to one day have a dark-themed, leather & wood study with a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf of all the book i've read and more...ah...with one of those deep window sills that doubles as a cushiony bench seat...