Yeah, you know what? The other reviews are correct. The first part was unnecessary. 
 But you know something else? Beside Mark Lawrence's Red Sister, This is the book I've enjoyed the most this year. 
 Some people made a big deal of the Asian influence. I barely felt it. Some people talked about racial bias. I didn't see it. Yeah, too many POVs. Yes, info dump galore. Yes, sometimes flaky intrigue. Yes, some plot leaps that leave one bewildered at times. 
 But still, it kept me hooked, and really wanting to read the next volumes. 
 And I can't ask for more from a book.