This book is the best I have read this year - and it's September! An outrageous and surprising book, with the best delineated characters I've ever seen. The narration is light, the descriptive prose seems to be minimal, but it isn't, it's the skill of the writer leading us with such a gentle touch, that we take in all the details osmotically. Brilliant writing, and a brilliant story. Can't wait fir the sequel!