I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I was enthralled by the writing style. It didn't matter if it was slow in the beginning; not once did I think that the book was boring or too long. 
 BUT... I also felt like there was something missing. When all was said and done, there were too many pieces left out from the puzzle, so I wasn't getting the full picture. I'm still weighing how this affects my enjoyment of the book, because I'm fairly certain it was intentional on the author's part. 
 My favorite part about reading this book was all the grey area. There were no clear lines, no black and white. I waffled between loving and hating the characters and their choices, which made it all feel very realistic. The setting was likewise very lifelike, painting a portrait of historical Amsterdam. 
 I have no trouble recommending this book, but please don't go into this expecting a happy story, because it's far from it. Yes, there is a certain feeling of hope, but I can't help but wonder what kind of future could possibly follow this tale.