I loved this book. I loved taking the time to savour the details of the Count's life as time passes and everything changes but also stays the same. Book 2 was my favourite - The Bees!! And I loved the final third. The ending definitely had me questioning what happened and it felt very bittersweet with several avenues for interpretation that still felt satisfying if you remember different details of conversations and descriptions from earlier in the book.

Not quite a five as there are elements of the story in the middle that made the book drag but there's no denying how wonderful the writing is overall and how vivid and rich the world is that the author has created. Dare I say it - a modern classic?