Perhaps what I liked best was that this is very much realistic fiction, despite its mysteries and unexplainable elements. My only reservation is the exoticism of the Mazg culture — it's a little too close to Orientalism for comfort, in my opinion — but otherwise I loved it. The storyline was both complex and cohesive; the characters were vivid (though, if I'm being entirely honest, Lois didn't seem to have much personality of her own, just determination — which actually did work for me in this case, inserting me neatly into her shoes); and the descriptions were delectable. (I'm highkey craving sourdough now.)