I was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, I must say that I'm disappointed. There're plenty more exciting women chess characters out there. Shahade could have done a much better job with her selection.It's nice to read about Savereide and Crotto. My understanding of Shahade's assessment of Kosteniuk as an self-centered ego maniac / gold digger who married a much older control freak is right on. That's about the best part of the book. Her assessment of others are not deep enough. She should have gone a lot deeper.Shahade's writing is not smooth. It could use little more polishing. This book is too ambitious for a first book and she missed the mark. Therefore, I give two stars.