It started slow for me until I realized that nothing much was going to happen until the extended family all had their say. 
 That being said, the plot started weaving and the world started blooming. So many bad things started happening to everyone so slowly that I wondered if I, too, was slowly being boiled alive. 
 That's the effect this novel had on me. It's very long, and its very detailed. If you like immersive fantasy and especially nautical fantasy, then you'll love this. 
 Edit 7/5/16 
 Looking back after years and having read the full trilogy plus a third trilogy after this one, I'm a bit more forgiving of the novel. The final interesting events, the redemption and restoration of the mad ship, the tragedy of the main family, and all the proto-dragons, the leviathans, and the wilds, makes me think much more fondly on the whole storyline. :)