I moved to teach English in Hungary a few months ago and found this book in the very slim English section at the local bookstore. I waited a few months to read it, and I'm glad I did. I had a chance to travel and enjoy the sites and the villages around Hungary, which just made this book so much richer. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn a little history of the area along the way.

I can't quite put into words exactly why I liked this book as much as I did. There are those who might be bored with this book, and I understand. It's not some huge action thriller, but rather 12 vignettes each with their own ups and downs. I found the characters believable and complex, and the writing never missed a beat. Just, solid writing. It's a book of quiet moments, despite the grandiosity of telling a nearly 400 year story.

I think I still need time to process it, but I can definitely say it thoroughly enriched my time here in Hungary, and what more can I ask of a book then one which not only kept me amused in the characters and stories, but also added value to my daily life and brought new insights into the world around me.