The first time I read this book was in 2016, which was, alas, before I started my habit of reviewing everything I read.  It was a five-star read then though, and that certainly hasn't changed in the last eight years (and now I'm extra excited because I'm rereading it because THE SECOND BOOK HAS FINALLY COME OUT, fifteen years after the first one was published!) 

This book is remarkably imaginative, with a very original setting and premise. It's extraordinarily clever, laugh-out-loud funny, and just bizarre enough to make you wonder what you're reading (in a good way).  And, best of all, in the middle of this delightfully clever, witty story is wrapped a lovely bit of disestablismentarianism (not the Church kind, just the general kind of establishment kind). 

When I first read this book, I fell in love with it.  And here I am, eight years later, and I think I'm ready to proclaim this one of my favourite books fullstop.