[Dragaera] Freedom and Necessity

[Philip Hart]

So I finally got past page ~30 of the above, and then eagerly read the 
rest with enjoyment, mostly.  I did have to skim the occasional page of 
philosophizing or romanceish-relationship-telling-not-showing, and some 
elements of the plot are introduced then annoyingly hardly gestured at. 
But there are many extended exciting sequences, good spy-novel elements 
and period details, and one of the main characters is I think very much 
like Vlad may turn out to be - maybe that's spread across two characters - 
along with some possibly interesting plot parallels.

Anyway I recommend anyone here who hasn't read the novel to get it and 
just keep reading until it grabs you.