First I have to admit, I only read 150 pages of this book. That was all I could possibly stand. Life is just too short to waste on a book you don't enjoy reading.Ballas, our main character, is a drunk and a scoundrel. One is not sure whether they should root for or against him. He is a vagrant, thief, and all around not so nice guy. He steals a mysteriously beautiful gemstone, which sets into motion something........I got too bored to stick around and find out what.The first 150 pages are filled with Ballas being beaten within an inch of his life, coming to, healing enough to move on, only to be beaten within an inch of his life again. ok, we get it, let's get on with the story. I just got too bored to stay with this one folks. Maybe it got better, but to me, if an author can't write well enough to grab and maintain my attention, their book isn't worth my time. There are too many great books out there. Read this one at your own risk, if you can stay awake through it, that is.