It took me thirteen goddamned years to finish this book.

I've already read the first book twice and the last time several years ago. Love love loved it, and every time I started the second book I would enter into 150 pages about Pierce Moffett's damn childhood. Totally derailed me, again and again. Somehow I decided that NOW was the time, and it was the time after all!

The magic of this book is in continuation and it doesn't exactly stand up on its own. The plot is not so much; it's the Work that is important.

I've read some reviews online that talk about

Spoiler

Robbie and how it's unclear whether he exists or not. Holy cow, dude, it's pretty clear that Robbie doesn't exist. He never speaks and no one but Pierce ever sees him. It's still a somewhat creepy part of the story, though.