This book was a great disappointment to me. I guess I really want to read this book, but written by a recognised fantasy author. In retrospect I had too high an expectation of it. Can one really expect much of an insight into the subject from an observer rather than a doer?

The pace and organisation of the work felt wrong. There were areas that were summary in the extreme, and other areas that were belaboured at great length.

My advice would be to steer well clear of this book.