Ruth flees to wreak havoc in the normal world; those events and the fate of the surviving Scarabae are told in the sequel, Personal Darkness.

[2] From the bookjacket: "Emerging from the burned remains of their old home, the ancient, elegant Scarabae ready themselves for a new life of seduction and feasting, until little Ruth ignites a blaze of chaos through the streets of London that threatens them all."

Publishers Weekly criticized the novel, saying, "Although filled with mystery and foreboding, the story takes too long to gel" and that the narrative is "mired in a decadence that impedes forward momentum.

"[3] Library Journal, however, wrote, "Lee mesmerizes the reader with her exquisite rhythm as she tells a complex tale of adventure permeated with surreal and erotic images.

"[citation needed] In addition to the novels, Lee has written a separate short story set in the same world, titled "Scarabesque, The Girl Who Broke Dracula."