First I'll say I got this as an audiobook, and the narrator was as good as you can hope for. Each voice was distinct, and each chapter was clearly read in advance and rehearsed. A character's voice would be shrill or quiet or whatever, and the following narration would indicate it was supposed to happen. I have listened to audiobooks in the past where the narrator is clearly stumbling through for the first time, using a quiet voice when the narration says shout, only at the end of the sentence realizing it was a question, etc. 
 The book itself was quite lovely. I rate it very highly, but warn that it's not for everyone. It is a very different sort of fantasy novel. It is not only the opposite of the recently popular Grimdark, it is also the opposite of Adventure. In spite of the inclusion of assassinations, assassination ATTEMPTS, conspiracies, and a murder investigation, there is about 0.25% of action--or less. All of those points mentioned are central to the book, but their culmination was brief, incidental, even anti-climactic. 
 The core of the story reminded me a bit of a Great Expectations--perhaps not in the vast underlying layers, but certainly in the meandering, seemingly listless episodes (which entertain throughout). I would say Dickens' work ended up tying everything together with purpose, where this one not so much, but they were equally entertaining to read throughout. 
 The main character Maia is also unorthodox in fantasy, especially modern fantasy. He is naive, milquetoast, kind, thoughtful, and well-intentioned to a fault. He also kind of barely has an arc. He gradually grows with confidence that it's barely perceptible, though there is a stark difference from beginning to end. But he never once has to compromise his good intentions. 
 In the many, many conversations of court, we are treated to philosophical discourses on race, gender, class, morality, friendship, and social structure, which obviously works to juxtapose with our real world. It is very progressive in tone, and not relying on a popular fantasy trope of, "Well this is based on a time of swords and warriors, so we may as well be as awfully Imperialistic and misogynistic as possible for 'realism', and any semblance of progress is 'anachronistic'." 
 Overall I found this a very delightful read. I don't think I would like to read 100 books like this, at least not in a row. But it is a very welcome change of pace in my favorite genre, that I will probably revisit for pleasant relaxation. 4.5 stars.