The vivid characters and rich descriptions woven throughout really make this book addicting. This novel follows the lives of several people as they deal with oppression and political corruption. The raw emotion of the characters creates empathy and concern which leaves the reader clinging to every page. They quickly become like friends, family members, or enemies in some instances. However, this is not a cheerful novel despite fleeting moments of humor, in fact, it is much more likely to inspire feelings of frustration or even anger. Any book that can inspire such strong emotions either positive or negative should not be ignored.