There's a fantastic idea behind this, and I did like the magic and the setting. The whole shadow-thing was interesting as well, if not as well explored as I'd have liked it to be, but I suspect that is something that will be remedied in later volumes. The setting however didn't really make up for the fact that I didn't care remotely about what happened to any of the characters - with the exception of those poor duped armies slaughtered miserably on behalf of the titular princes, simply because those nasty brats can't get along. I did feel a spark of sympathy for Corwin when his eyes got burnt out, but that disappeared along with his affliction.

Seems to me what Amber really needs is a good strain of republicanism and a few guillotines. It could only improve the place.