Sorry, i'm a huge fan of Stross and didn't check but I already read and reviewed it.
This was my review:
Charles Stross cannot write a boring or silly book even if he tries. This is another thought provoking, enteraining, and well plotted story.
If you never read anything by Mr Stross go and read it.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Stross’ Laundry Files series is a delightful mix of Lovecraftian horror and workplace humour, tempered with a little bit of good, old-fashioned British bureaucracy. The series follows a (hopefully) fictional division of the UK government that investigates occult goings-on. The series is very well established and well-received, with a dozen novels and a handful of novellas, stories and a roleplaying game building up to a really interesting and well-developed setting.

The thing is, as the series has progressed over the dozen novels, the setting has escalated somewhat from the relatively street level, . We see it in other long-running series, too. Dresden Files had this issue where it started out at street level before becoming much bigger, immensely impactful, and with unbelievably high stakes. The same has definitely happened with The Laundry Files.

But let’s zoom in and focus on this novel, specifically. Season of Skulls is the conclusion of the New Management spinoff trilogy form the larger Laundry Files series. The novel has a really cool mix of fantasy, horror, and political satire (a big plus for me, that!), set against the backdrop of a dystopian Britain where crime is almost non-existent due to draconian laws.

The protagonist, Eve Starkey, is a compelling character with a good amount of depth and complexity. Her hyper-organized nature and formidable strength make her a compelling lead. Her struggle against the arcane bindings of her deceased boss, Rupert de Montfort Bigge, adds a layer of intrigue and suspense to the narrative. The reader is drawn into her journey as she navigates the labyrinthine corporate world, battles supernatural forces, and grapples with her unexpected marital status.

Stross’s world-building is exceptional, with the 21st-century setting infused with ancient eldritch gods and individuals possessing strange powers. This is massively enhanced by the fact that this book is part of a very long series that has established the world over several years. The narrative is rich and detailed, immersing the reader in a world that is at once familiar and eerily alien; again, something I love in a good story. The author’s ability to blend the mundane with the fantastical is truly remarkable, and one of his hallmarks, creating a universe that is both believable and fantastical.

The plot is intricate and layered, with numerous subplots and characters that add depth to the story. Time travel always adds a bit of narrative complexity, but it’s handled pretty well. Each character is well-developed, with their own unique quirks and abilities. The interactions between the characters are engaging and often humorous, providing a welcome respite from the darker elements of the story.

The novel is not without its flaws, of course. The intricate plot can sometimes be overwhelming, with numerous subplots and characters that may confuse readers. The pacing of the story can be uneven at times, with some sections moving at a brisk pace while others seem to drag on. Ultimately, this book (this trilogy) does represent a departure from the usual feel of a Laundry Files novel. I enjoyed this book, but did I enjoy it as much as earlier books in the series? I’m not entirely sure that I did.

Despite these minor issues, Season of Skulls is a great read that successfully combines elements of different genres to create a unique and engaging story that works on its own, as part of the New Management trilogy (also consisting of Dead Lies Dreaming and Quantum of Nightmares), and as part of the overarching Laundry Files series, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the best entries in that series.

Stross has the ability to create a riveting narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Truth be told, I hate that cliche, but it feels apt. The novel is a testament to his creativity and imagination, and to the work that he’s put in over the entirety of the series. There’s no question that this will be a better and easier read for those who have read the rest of the Laundry Files, but for those people, this feels like a bit of a must-read.

I all but devoured this book. At first glance the blurb reads a little bit too much like the blurb from the second book - I went back and checked; the first sentences are pretty much copy/pasted which might put some people off. But the actual content is much more interesting

I wasn't 100% sure about the direction book two took, having preferred the stories surrounding Imp and the group at Kensington Palace Gardens rather than the story of Eve in book one. But this book makes book two make more sense to me. Can it be read as a stand alone? Yes, it goes over the main plot points from the previous books quite well, and is easy to follow without having read the first two books. It has a certain amount of genre-savviness to it while still staying true to the characters. I did wonder with about 50 pages left exactly how things were going to wrap up and then they did so quite satisfactorily. I'll always prefer Bob in The Laundry Files, I think - am due a re-read of those at some point - but this trilogy works pretty well, all things considered.