User Profile

Having read other books of LeGuin, I recognize a certain love she weaves into her books - her main characters have something honorable, likable, proud, soft yet strong, worthy in them. This makes it a pleasant read, but i miss the richness of imagination present in her other books, as well as the excitement - the plot is fairly predictable. Understandable as this book is mainly an ode to the Aeneid and she had to limit her imagination to the frame setting of that world. A pleasant, interesting read nonetheless.

Another review i've read describes my feelings about this book aptly: the worldbuilding is great, the imagination of the writer is super creative, the characters are interesting and there is great potential for a good story - but in the abrupt end you're left with the feeling that it could have been better. Maybe with a good editor some things could have been scrapped and others explored more in depth - i also think that the "revelation" at the end of the book should have been left for book 3 of the series, if there are going to be sequels.