I don't want to go over old ground but some of my observations:

Manfred is more crooked than a corkscrew, says he'll let Theodore go and then he says he is going hold him as hostage.

The Ladies, Hippolita (so unAmazon like!) and Mathilda bring to mind JA's "Pictures of perfection..." I can understand JA's feelings! Isabella, well at least she had some courage, she ran away. twice.

The ploting of this novel is also like a corkscrew, so many twists and turns! I thought I would be able to predict the action and outcome but with so much double-backing, the early relavation of Thoedore's parentage (as has been said that is usually left until much later)and so forth, well anything is possible.