A solid 4.5 Stars! 
 A very intriguing book that is very different to most styles I have read. Brilliant world building in the China Mieville strain (without the overdoing it bit) and wonderful character development in our main hero Senlin. 
 The Tower is advertised as the greatest place in earth to visit and the reality is, it isn't. It is a place that epitomizes the greed and nastiness of the world today. A true pyramid scheme, where everyone below you is lessor and your entire goal is to get to the next level. A place where, given your base desires you will force yourself into poverty and enslavement. It's grim. But it is artfully done in layer upon layer, so you do not realize how deep you are in, until the only option is to keep going to try and improve, with full knowledge that the likelihood is disaster. Like any addiction really. 
 The character work deserves a special mention. Great character development and character traits that surprise are a big plus for me. Senlins' character was superbly written. Classed as a stuffy Victorian Headmaster from a little town in nowhere, full of pomposity and correctness, he should have been a very static character portrayal. In fact, we are taken on a journey where, he morals, he beliefs and everything about him is learned, not only by the reader but Senlin himself. A great story of a man, forced to make changes to the way he lives and treats others, to survive, but yet maintain a basic level of human dignity above all else. Something that all of us should be mindful of in these current times. 
 So why not 5 stars? 
 There is a section in the book, where a fair bit of detail is given, that did bog it down slightly. In my buddy read of this, it did cause a few people to go from 'omg! BESTEST EVA!!' to "hmmm, this has slowed down". This part of the book is needed because it plays a part throughout the story and I think for future books. I also want the chance to rate the next book even higher than this one, so left myself half a star. 
 So overall a fantastic read. I do advise reading in a group as there are many, many subjective discussions based on the writing. Some people talk about its reference to religion or politics. I think that a lot of the character names are based on historical influences and book and film characters from the authors favourite list. But then again, I could be completely wrong. 
 You decide.