I can't tell you how many times I tried to read this book. I actually got pretty far into it the first time I picked it up, but for some reason I put it down and had to force myself to eventually pick it back up and keep going. I didn't get too far that second time...or the third...or the fourth. I think I have finally reached my limit. 
 Don't get me wrong, the writing is exquisite. But exquisite writing without a solid story or without characters that have at least a little bit of personality doesn't seem to do much for me. To put it simply, I was fascinated at first by the world but then I got bored. I got bored by the lack of "competition" mentioned in the synopsis. I got bored by the droll characters that have absolutely no spark to their personalities. I got bored reading the random side stories that pop up throughout the so-called "plot". And despite the beauty of the scenes, I got super duper bored by the number of them. To be honest, I'm getting bored just writing this review, as I'm sure you are getting bored reading it. 
 I still want to know how it ends, simply to find out whether or not anything happens that is promised in the synopsis. However, having read other reviews, I'm almost convinced that I'm not missing out on much. I just...don't care anymore. If you can enjoy being blinded by flowery language and writing, more power to you. If you are looking for something with an inkling of an actual story, I don't believe you will find it within these pages.