It's got maps! Family trees! Pronunciations! An explanation of how history meets fiction! Everything you want in a saga. I was excited to start. Yet this wasn't the saga I was expecting. I was expecting a story that followed one or two families through the centuries and told one major story.

Instead the novel followed several families somewhat loosely, bringing in new families as time went on. It wasn't one major story but stories based around major events in Ireland--think a collection of related novellas with related characters and you'll get the idea.

Once or twice, I was doubtful about a story. I would think it a bit dull and wondered why I cared about these two or three unrelated families. And then Rutherfurd would pull all the threads together and it would be magnificent. The tension that was building was that subtle at times.

This was a great read. It created a complex culture among its people, and I missed characters after they'd left the stage, though I'd known them only a short time. Book 2 is already on my shelf, waiting for me to dive into it.

Did I mention it has maps?