DNF @ 24%. This is a grand epic of a fantasy novel with many characters moving through a world that is undeniably thoroughly thought out. But I found myself caring less and less as I went on, and while I was told and saw so much about every character we follow, I had no real idea who they were, nor did I feel a single thing for any single person.

As I read more Tchaikovsky, I'm finding that he's a big Ideas person and his characters exist to flesh out that Idea and World. I don't always vibe with it, but when I do (like Elder Race) it really works for me. This didn't work, unfortunately.