This book is not for everyone. Don't read it if you're expecting another "Lord of the Rings", or something like one of the innumerable Tolkien imitations that have been written in the last 20 years. It is something quite different. I was literally mesmerized as I read this book and it's follow up, "Gormenghast". The beautiful prose transports one to a strangely fascinating land populated with bizarre characters who never the less are very human. The reader feels for these sad people, trapped in a world of complicated, arcane rituals. A light hearted escape it is not, but for those with a taste for the unusual, this is a very rewarding read. I would think that anyone who enjoys Terry Gilliam's movies would like these books.