The author has created a world and set of characters that the reader can sympathize, relate to and ultimately ‘cheer on’ throughout the book. While the novel is basically a ‘good vs evil’ story, it does not hold back on the harsh realities of life and indeed the story itself promotes a sense of emotional involvement from the reader. If you enjoy authentic characters, magical back-drops and prime examples of the human condition (food and bad), then this book is definitely for you!