Gosh, there were many interesting bits and bobs throughout this book... but they never became much more than that. The heart of this novel is fascinating yet for a world that is presented as vast and complex as it is, the scope of the story is actually quite restrained. Ultimately, not much happens and there are a whole lotta words for a whole little happenings--which could still have packed a critical punch-- but unfortunately those little happenings were not very engaging to read either.