My sincerest apologies to those who have read and loved this book, but to be blunt, in all seriousness, without hyperbole, it has got to be one of the top 10 WORST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ. What utter drivel! What COLOSSALLY, IMMENSELY STUPID CHARACTERS!! I can find nothing redeemable to say. Nothing. Not an iota. Not the characters, not the writing, not the plot...nothing. Zilch. This was a complete and utter waste of my time and money. 
 A few times there was a glimmer of something interesting, but it fizzled out almost immediately after it started. 
 For five years I have struggled to read this. Now it's done. One of the most painful readings I've ever gotten through because of the sheer awfulness of it. I did not feel indifference while reading; I was viscerally incredulous at how bad this was. 
 And I own several more on the series which I will read because I bought them. I will read the next couple of books in hopes it gets better, because such has been known to happen. It might take me another five years to read the next one, though. My goodness, this was irredeemably awful. This book is the stuff of pain and suffering.