It was really beautifully written, and a bit "different" as fantasy books go. It did not have too many typical tropes, and was a much slower, more personal story. 
 The narration was like a storyteller having a conversation with you, which I am not always a fan of, but it was very well done here. I felt sympathies and ties to each of the main characters. 
 For most of the book I was thinking it was truly superb and easily 5-star quality. However my initial suspicions on where the book may be going were proved wrong, and frankly I would have liked the book far more if it turned out the way I had thought it might! By the end--and this is mostly a matter of personal taste, and not truly a fault of what was purposely and rather masterfully crafted--I decided on 4-stars. Spoiling nothing but the book's tone and technique, I was disappointed with paths certain characters took and choices that were made, the overall melancholy feel of the book, and the many vagueries left at the end. 
 Even though I greatly enjoyed it, and initially felt sure it was becoming a personal classic, I don't think I would read this again. This being my first Kazuo Ishiguro, however, I was impressed with it, and will be checking out some of his other works. Though I will do my best to sift out the most melancholy of them.