Much needed backstories for the seven main characters in FFXIII. All but two (Hope's and Snow's) greatly aided in my understanding of the complex world and plot of the game. This is both a good and a bad thing. I appreciated it because it made aspects of the game more clear to me, but it's unfortunate that the book was required for a complete experience. I also got annoyed by the constant description of Sazh's Afro as "hair a bird could nest in." Yes, we get that he has a chocobo chick living there. Moving on. Also 40 is not "middle-aged" in my book. but it was a teenager's POV, so I'll let it slide.