Rich, engaging interweaving of heroic legend with harrowing refugee story. I loved the setting - I learned a lot! Also enjoyed the synesthesia - could've been even more!! Recent "historical" fiction was fantastic perspective. I had to pay attention to know which storyline I was in (ear reading so couldn't see section breaks... but also a lot going on this time of year!) and some gaps that made a bit disjointed/ambiguous but enough of a thread was laid to wrap story into a complete package.
Interesting companion to The Last Mapmaker (Cristina Soontornvat)... would be cool leveled reading study.