I read this because a friend of mine adores Anne Bishop's writing style, but I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on the plot. I'd like to be clear -- this was a very well-written book. But I could not rate it well, due to my inability to enjoy it. That, I will explain... 
 The book is definitely high fantasy. It took me the first 100-150 pages to get my head into the world at all. That isn't a bad thing, per say, but it did make it hard to slog through the first 1/3 of the book. My trouble more came from much of the content, not the world itself. It was a nagging pain in my mind's eye, but I even managed to eventually get over the fact that the three primary male protagonists were named Saetan, Deamon, and Lucivar. *sigh* But even after that and my ongoing confusion over the varying 'realms' of existence, the trouble for me really came out of how dark the whole thing was. 
 Now, I expected dark. I just wasn't warned properly on the particular brand of dark. I don't have "delicate" sensibilities, as some reviewers seem to claim of those who didn't absolutely adore this book. I have no trouble with violence, painting the walls with blood and pulpy remains, assassinations, castrations, torture, etc... But I draw a line at child rape. And if you, too, have difficulty with such subject material, I give you the warning I wish I would have had. The sexual exploitation and rape of children is prevalent throughout the theme. Initially it is more alluded to, but it becomes more blatant and graphic. This isn't a book for kids, teens, or those who have endured the trauma of sexual assault (male or female.) I read it through to the end, but I had to force myself, and I ultimately felt cheated by the lack of closure or satisfaction to the plot line.