This book was incredibly well developed. And I think that's why it's so good...it goes back to the classic writing tradition of the characters being the most important things, as opposed to the plot. While the book does have a plot, it really only serves to move the characters forward and really help us get to know them. I feel like, having finished, I could predict most of the characters reactions to an event, even one that never happened in the book, and I think that says a lot for the level of writing the author has attained. I enjoyed very minute of this book and was really impressed with the depth of time and subjects covered. Totally worth the 3 month wait at the library.