Ok so having finished, I'm still a bit unsure about how I felt about this book. Just after around the halfway point I said to myself "this really seems like it was written by a teenage boy", checked up on that shortly after and it turns out it was, which explains a lot. The plot is pretty good really, and there are some great moments, but the writing could be better; there's an obvious, and now I'd say understandable, immaturity to it - though part of that I would also put down to the immaturity of the novel format in literature at the time of writing. I could honestly have done without the long and unnecessary poems throughout, but that's just me, perhaps contemporary readers will have got something from that. When don Raymond started his huge life-story digression from the main plot I was a little non-plussed, especially as it went on endlessly, taking up approximately a quarter of the book, but it was worth it in the end, highlight of the entire novel in fact being when he accidentally abducts the ghost nun from the castle instead of his damsel, that had me laughing for ages.

All in all I think there was some real food for thought as well as some quite problematic stuff, all wrapped up in a wildly sensational horror story. When read in the proper context of who wrote it and when I think it's a very interesting, worthwhile and enjoyable read, even if it's not gonna be threatening my top 10 list any time soon.

I was supposed to read this when i was in college and my dyslexia prevented a deep reading of the text but y'all--- this book ate! the villains are villainous and the heroes are marginally complicated and mostly good. The story is complex and richly detailed and justice is served at the end. If you are a GOT girlie, this would be a good read for you.

CN-- there is a LOT of sexualized violence and violence toward women.

Disgustingly beautiful