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Title: Frustrating...I tried to like it, but unsatisfying ending.
Review: (1) Too many secondary characters receive too much attention(2) A crucial character who is set-up to be intriguing turns out to have no impact on the plot at all(3) A big secret you were waiting for...is never revealed(4) Most of the characters are extremely self-absorbed(5) For a book that supposedly relates the experiences an unfamiliar world. I found very little that could be called insightful or even fresh.(6)There's a couple of nice passages that made me say "right on!" But not enough.(7) Sub-plots introduced early in the book have very abrupt endings midway through...muting their impact or cause you to wonder why it wasn't edited out.(8) At close to 700 pages the pacing was very inconsistent: at times I coudn't put it down, but more often I felt anchored in one spot for 50 to 100 pages at a time.(9) The tone was unremittingly downbeat.
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