Very enjoyable. All of [a:GGK|60177|Guy Gavriel Kay|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1218804723p2/60177.jpg]'s trademark touches are there - historically-inspired fiction lightly tinged with the supernatural, short side stories from minor characters' points of view, and elegantly written prose. And once again, he pulls it off and sucked me in.
The court intrigue and the way in which the spirit world was involved most reminded me of [b:Sailing to Sarantium|690212|Sailing to Sarantium (The Sarantine Mosaic Ser., Bk. 1)|Guy Gavriel Kay|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1177267466s/690212.jpg|1336666] - a good thing.
I found most of the characters to be quite likable, and the story moved at a good pace, keeping me entertained throughout, with only a minor slowdown (and a touching, yet slightly more drawn-out encounter between two of the principals near the end).
Definitely one to read, and maybe even to buy.