I wanted to like this more. It has vast world building and complexity, and layers where religious imagery is played with, for example, an isolated community controlled by a cruciform parasite, and a pilgrimage to mysterious tombs by pilgrims who tell each other stories en route like a futuristic Canterbury Tales. It also reminds me in some ways of 'Dune'. The relationship between the man and his daughter who was aging backwards was moving. 
 Although I'm used to SF, there is a lot of mind boggling stuff in this book and its sequel. They also might not be a good read for people who don't like graphic violence.