The first entry in the culture series is brilliant. It builds the universe of the culture well, whilst still telling a great story from the view point of a protganist from outside the culture. You feel empathy for both horza and the culture throughout even though they are on opposite sides. The behaviour of the idrians is explained in a way that doesn't justify it but makes it believable beyond the simplicity of bad guy is bad. However there's one chapter in the middle which I really disliked and can't think as to why it is in the book as it doesn't seem to add anything to either the plot or the universe as a whole and as such I can't give it more than a 4 star rating. Highly recommend reading it though as well. As the rest of the series I've read so far.