This was an amazing read. The characters have true depth and conflict. There are plenty of twists and nuances. Some of them are foreseeable, but that doesn't make them any less powerful as the reader watches the understanding between the characters grow. This is not a romance! I love romances as much as the next person, but this goes in a different direction than most romances. It *is* about a relationship, but not just one but about relationships overall, and society, and how those societies view each other for better and worse, as well as how people and societies see themselves. A real masterwork. I snapped up the next book right away.