Still compulsively readable, at least for me – this time I noticed how swiftly it moves compared to its calm setting, how carefully organized it is as a plot. I made a little chart. The plot is not a mystery of rooms upon rooms, but a pretty tidy clockwork, at least until the end where it gets a little more pleasantly messy.

The story makes me feel very clever by giving me more information than the narrator has, but still requiring me to figure some things out.

The setting is absolutely alluring to me. I want to live (I do live?) in the flooded palace.

And I can't remember if last time I appreciated as much what the book might be saying about magic (that it rests in affinity for and attention to the ecosystem, not in Powers, and that it never left -- that is the great learning, maybe?) -- but I liked that this time.

I like the book very much, except for some small qualms about the choices Clarke makes in characterization, which issues are not large enough that I can even really call them quibbles; just qualms.

(Louche gay villains, biracial hero who spends much of his time as a brainwashed noble savage -- commentary, satire, attempt to credit central insight to traditional culture, or flaw? Unsure. Certainly I appreciate louche gay villain representation as much as the next louche gay villain does.)

(ETA) It goes without saying, but should be said, that I am interested in your thoughts on the book!