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Title: Slow at first, picks up as it goes along, good character development
Review: The first two volumes can be rather slow in parts, but things really pick up and become quite engaging by the third, though perhaps almost too much of a rush to a conclusion as one nears the final chapters (but definitely not as obvious as one would see in the typical Hollywood blockbuster which crams endless car chases, explosions, and plot twists until the very end). The delta between "real" and alternative historical timelines is just the right amount, as is what's revealed (and not) about the Raven King. The degree to which one's feelings change about the various characters over the course of the interwoven stories is a good indication of how they're both multi-dimensional and believable. Definitely to be considered part of the fantasy genre canon.
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