So it looks like people either love or hate this book. I loved it and actually got the audio book just so I could write a review and listen to it bef..Show More »ore the next one comes out. Maybe it is because I read the actual book, but this is the first book I have read in a long time that I just could not put down. I read the whole thing in 2 days. It is true that this first of the trilogy is really just character development and setting the stage, there is not a whole lot of action yet, but I swear while reading it I felt like I was sitting there at the table with them and that is due to the incredible writing style. The way this book sucked me into it's world is amazing. I have read all the other greats of this genre and while many of them are wonderful, I never felt as attached to them.

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First, the narrator. I don't know if all Audible subscribers have a choice, but being in Japan, I was given the choice of the USA and the UK versions...Show More » They differed by only one minute in length. I listened to both samples (which covered the same part of the narrative) and chose the British one because it seemed more expressive, and the characters depicted in the short portrayal seemed to me to be better differentiated. Just in case anyone is curious, I'm an American from Boston.

Also, as an aside, I completely loved the moments when the narrator's father sounded just like Eddie Izzard.

At the moment, I'm just a few chapters in on the second of the four segments of this novel, and I am already disappointed that it will someday come to an end. This novel by this narrator is astoundingly good. If some recommendation or other has brought you this far, then this is without any doubt the best book you will listen to this year.

While listening to this book on various busses, subways and while cycling and walking, there have been moments so tender that tears spilled from my eyes, which is embarrassing. There have been moments so fierce that I've probably pumped my fist. I've actually laughed aloud. I've grinned fiercely. This is a talented storyteller telling a tale that's well constructed. The characters are alive. I'm so happy that I am experiencing this story.

I came upon this book through a "This Week in Tech" podcast in which one of the pundits said that someone influential in the tech field had once said that he judged people by their reaction to this novel. If a person didn't like this novel, the story went, then that person was deficient in some essential way that made that person not worth doing business with. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but that was enough to make me want to listen to the book.

All I knew about the book was that it was in the fantasy genre, the writing was supposed to be good, and that it was a kind of "coming of age" tale. I couldn't figure out in the beginning whose coming of age it was supposed to be, so the tale evolved around me in a very interesting way. I think this is a good way to experience the book, so I'm not telling you any more details about this book.

Just so that you have a perspective on where I'm coming from: I'm mainly a sci-fi reader, not space opera but the techie sci-fi, but I also like good spy novels. I'm not really much of a fantasy guy outside of what I read before college. I also like modern fiction and good writing in general; my favorite writer is Milan Kundera, but I'm eclectic in my tastes. Having said that, I'm telling you that this is really good writing (regardless of genre).

If you like quality writing, great characters and a good storyline, and if you are not squeamish about sword fighting, and if you enjoy a bit of speculative fiction (whether sci-fi, fantasy or magic realism), you will love this book. I suppose there are some people who won't love it, but, has has been said before by others, those aren't really the type of people I think I'd enjoy knowing anyway.

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Rupert Degas does this book justice!!! but the story probly would've been just as good with a lesser narrater than he, absolutely get this follow on f..Show More »rom the 1st amazing book!!! this book is among a rare few that made me want to drive all night to finish it.

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