When I first read these books, I loved them! However, after rereading them, I found that I do not like them as much as the first time. If you asked me last year when I just finished reading for the first time, I would say 4.5/5, but for now, I gave them a 3/5.
Although less gruesome, overall I found it better than the first series. Better characters and their progression are much more realistic. Also, the author does good in layering the connections of all three series, keeping up with the mysteries with a dash of the supernatural. This one was also much more funny than the first series. Four months to wait for the last of this series....really can't predict how the author will wrap things up.
I can't tell which one I like better between this set of books and the first set in the series but what I know for sure is I can't wait for the last one to find out how the second 'sister' will turn out since I like backstabbing harem politics a lot anyway.