* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

I do love me a weird book and this totally fit the bill. I also love books about books, so...bonus! This is a total genre bender and I loved it. A bit historical fiction, a bit mythology, a bit fantasy, a bit thriller, and all of it a lot of fun.

The writing is super ambitious, as is the premise, and I thought it was executed wonderfully. Do not expect this to be a fluff read, as it does require attention and inquisition along the way. The reader does need to be an active participant to glean the full intent.

I read it in the Baroness Sequence, but do want to read it again in the original order. The story is very complex and there are a LOT of characters to keep track of, but the story is still very well-written and intriguing. It feels like a book where pieces are continually found in rereads. I'm still left with a bit of a swimming head and will need at least one reread to feel like I grasp the situation enough.

There is a lot of time jumping and switching of POVs by reading in the Baroness sequence, so those who prefer one POV at a time and a more linear style of story will do better to read it as written. I can see the potential of it being slightly less enjoyable in this way, but not detrimentally so if you keep in mind that the stories are meant to connect. I am glad that I read it in the order I did as I think it helped me weave the story together a bit more solidly.

I loved the weaving of different cultures, historical events, and people. It is such a clever book with atmospheric writing that does not feel overly flowery or inaccessible. It is a monumental work spanning several decades and lifetimes. There is so much at work here that I cannot help but be truly impressed with the intelligence and creativity it must have taken to create. This will be a book that I will be putting on my own bookshelf to enjoy again in the future and I will be looking forward to more of Landragin's work.