Wonderful. Really wonderful, and artistic in a way you don't often see in YA anymore. NOT an easy read, and it's hard to get into, but very rewarding if you persist. I'm glad I read "Finnikin of the Rock" first, because that was difficult in some of the same ways -- emotionally damaged protagonists who are hard to connect to -- and I think my prior experience enabled me to trust that there would be a payoff here.