This is a very character-centric fantasy book, with very little action or drama. Fortunately the characters are fascinating! I absolutely love this book, I've probably read it about four times in two years. The worldbuilding is well done, the character relationships are interesting, and the focus on what it's like to run a government (in a fantasy setting) really appeals to me.  There is of course some focus on politics, though it's not quite your typical political fantasy book. 

I also like that the main characters are not your typical fantasy protagonists. Most of them are nearing retirement age, and the main character Kip is the ultimate bureaucrat. They come from a range of quite different cultures. 

It is part of a wider universe created by the author, but you don't have to have read any of them to read this book (though if you like it, I strongly recommend checking out some of the others). It does at times get a bit repetitive, it could have used a bit more editing, but as it isn't a traditionally published book I can forgive that easily enough! 

Essentially if you like your fantasy books to be fast paced and plot based, this book isn't for you. On the other hand if you love books that focus on characters and world building, then I highly recommend this novel.