The cover promises world building and adventures of the likes of "Game of Thrones". The book, however, does not deliver on that, at least not completely.

What I really did enjoy was the slowly unfolding specifics of the setting, especially all those "which famous person did you just mention?" and "oh, that's what they meant" moments, everything after the first third of the book in particular.

The characters, however, seemed pretty one-dimensional despite their grittiness and severe anti-heroism, with their actions being the way they are seemingly only for shock value. The plot, once you got beyond the world building parts, was also somewhat predictable.

I, however, feel compelled to read the remaining of the series, because I can see their potential.