This book will remind you of other epic fantasy novels - The Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, etc. I believe that's intentional.Ms. Carey takes the framework of these epics and turns it on it's head: most of the action we see from the viewpoint of minions of the "evil" Lord Satoris, particularly his general, Tanaros. But are they really evil? This book sheds some light on the shades of grey that are usually missing from such epics.Oh, and something purely informative - this does not contain sex, unlike the Kushiel's series, whether that's to your taste or not.