This was simply not on the same level as Shogun or Tai Pan. My favorite aspects of this book were the references and comparisons to characters from those previous books. That is not the best look. However, there is something about JC's writing that does grip my attention. I wasn't bored reading this, I just wasn't invested. I didn't really care about any of the characters. Plus, their ultimate fates felt unsatisfying. What would Dirk think? I plan to continue reading this series chronologically. My only hope is that the next one is a step up.