When I first began reading this book, I found keeping track of all the different characters and relationships to be quite challenging. However, after a little perseverance they felt like old friends. 
 Rowling is a marvellous story teller, and her characters are quite believable. They were all quite flawed, but aren't we all. I found Fats the worst of the lot - he was an ungrateful bully and a coward, and so pretentious with he search for an 'authentic' life. 
 I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and while this novel is completely different, Rowling did not disappoint!