Review: 4 1/2 Stars from Red Adept Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 12, 2010
Plot/Storyline: 3 1/4 StarsThe beginning of this novel was a confusing muddle that had me going back to the Amazon page to read the description. After that little detour, the plot gained a little clarity. I was still a bit lost, but the individual scenes drew me into the story.Reading this book was somewhat like reading a couple of novellas that have been taken apart and put back together almost randomly. It took some getting used to, and I had to suppress my frustration, at times, when I didn't get to continue a particular thread of a story.  The main character felt the same frustration I did, though. Somehow, it made me feel better that his dissatisfaction mirrored my own.It took me until the end of the book to really get a grip on all of the relations in the novel. This was partly because, after the first few chapters, I quit trying to figure out any overall picture and just enjoyed the individual scenes. The ending did tie up all the loose ends and contained an explanation for all events. However, I actually read the last few pages twice to make sure I had it all straight.Overall, the reading process was enjoyable, but I didn't really enjoy the feeling of being lost that permeated the entire novel.  Whereas the plot was intact and interesting, I thought there should have been more clues throughout the book to impart better understanding of the underlying philosophy.Characters: 4 1/2 StarsAbove all else, this novel was a true character study, rich with unique and interesting personalities.  Astrid was my favorite character. Reading about her gave the feeling of reading about someone that could be anyone you could pass on the street, yet also like reading about an old friend.Amazingly, this author managed to write both male and female characters equally well.Warning: These characters have the power to make you cry.Writing Style: 5 StarsThe eloquence of the writing style made the reading smooth and effortless. The descriptions were rich and immersive.