This book suffers from a painfully slow start, particularly with character development. Gray and Sophie--who both start as very flat and boring--do eventually become more animated. Unfortunately the villains remain very one-dimensional throughout. 
 There are some pacing issues, and although I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be an alternate history, there are somewhat confusing deviations outside of just the existence of magic--it's got the manners of Regency but the old Celtic and Roman Gods. It did inspire me to a great deal of googling about the Breton language, which was quite fun and informative. 
 At any rate, I'll be reading the sequel and hoping for better pacing.