Probably more like a 3.5. I'm not sure what to write about this book. I definitely liked it, but I found it fascinating and confusing in equal measure. I kept thinking that if I read a bit further I might work out what was going on, but I never did. And that was okay - it's not that kind of book. The plot was meandering, and I found that it was quite slow and almost lost its way in the middle of the book. On the other hand, the imagery and language was amazing, and there was a collection of some of the oddest characters I've ever come across in a novel. Not believable, but entertaining. To be honest, there were rather too many minor characters to keep track of, and I gave up trying to after a while. Part of it was set in Whitby, which is just about my favourite place in the world, so that's a plus. Recommended, with reservations.