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I have not finished this, but I will say that the first quarter of the book can feel a bit like a dry catalog, but as it gets deeper into the time where written historical documents exist, many more interesting anecdotes are included. So it gets much better after the first quarter or so of the pages. Also, as a warning, the author doesn't shy away from descriptions of torture and gore. It's not fixated on either, but happens frequently enough to warrant mentioning.

This story from the 20's is a bit of a disappointment. There's enough curiosity built in to keep me turning pages, but it's quite cartoon-ish and dated (and not in a good way).

The juxtaposition of an author's skill with that of a spy/informant/agent is interesting, and his creation/interpretation of the characters he interacts with is described vividly, but ultimately it's hard to care or empathize with any of them.

An excellent adventure through an imaginative world full of wonderful creatures and characters.