Just a quick pop-in from a first-time Mieville reader.
Loved the book, and seeing comments about it being the most accessible for a traditional fantasy reader, I'm glad I picked this one first.
I'm not usually a urban fantasy/steampunk sort of gal, so I'm afraid PSS might have turned me off, from the sounds of it.
Anyway, I'm very impressed. Some of the action bits, in particular, sucked me in more than I've been by a book in quite some time. The pirate attack sequence with Bellis observing from her hiding place, and seeing just glimpses of what Uther Doul was capable of, was so vivid...