If you've spent as much time as I have playing text-based roleplaying games, you'll slip easily into the same mindset as you read the second-person narrative of Halting State. I didn't even notice it at first. On the other hand, if you're not accustomed to reading second-person - and especially if you don't play any games - I can imagine the whole style of this book might be confusing. The story follows three characters as they try to navigate a story that's unfolding across multiple levels of augmented reality in Edinburgh. It's hard to say much more without spoiling it... I found it a quick read, but would have liked the ending to be a little less sudden.