Many people have cited the book cover as the main source of intrigue when beginning this book and it is gorgeously gothic and seductive. The opening pages do not disappoint as it begins to weave a detailed web of the magical world in 1920s Ireland. The description of Mountfathom itself equals the decadence of the book cover and it is a place you feel excited by along with the eccentric people within it. The threat to the magical world is established quickly and many questions are raised about the tensions between the magical and the outside world. The writing style takes a while to get used to- the sentences are a little off-kilter and the opening section does not seem to make much sense at this stage! However, magic always requires a suspension of disbelief and the writing/characters are intriguing enough to hook you in the opening pages.