For a book this exceedingly well-written, it has a lousy sense of plotting as it's torpid pace made me nearly want to give up on it several times. Motivations for people and events and the arrival of certain characters are murky at best. Even the reason for the book's title escapes me. But, there is a creeping menace that really does pay off in the book's final third where we are rewarded with an exciting page-turner of a climax plus the arrival of a truly terrifying pair of psychopaths named... (show more)

For a book this exceedingly well-written, it has a lousy sense of plotting as it's torpid pace made me nearly want to give up on it several times. Motivations for people and events and the arrival of certain characters are murky at best. Even the reason for the book's title escapes me. But, there is a creeping menace that really does pay off in the book's final third where we are rewarded with an exciting page-turner of a climax plus the arrival of a truly terrifying pair of psychopaths named "The Prefects." The last 100-150 pages were good enough to make me want to try the sequel but it was those first 200-250 pages that were such a slog. (show less)