Okay, after finishing the series I have to sum it up with: These books have no plot.
I expected something to happen, something to be explained. Nope. The author just piles technology, magic and monsters on top of each other willy-nilly in order to look cool and mysterious. Anyone remember the series Lost? It's a lot like that. Magical smoke monsters and ressurection that makes no sense included.
Insert a villain for villain sake, his immediate demise and boom! The end.

I'm in the middle of reading another series by the same author but if this is her writing MO, I don't think I'll bother continuing.