Can you grieve for something that never existed? Is it possible to lament the loss of an entire culture if it wasn't ever real?

The answer, is yes, as I learned by reading this book.

Someone on reddit said that this book solid protagonists and no antagonists. I assumed that would take the form of grim fantasy, akin to [b:A song of Ice and Fire|13496|A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)|George R.R. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562726234l/13496.SY75.jpg|1466917].

I was both right and wrong. This is not just a book about morally gray characters making the best of a situation.

This is far more than that. This is a book about cultural clashes, and the futility of war. It is no more a fantasy book than [b:The Three Musketeers|7190|The Three Musketeers (The D'Artagnan Romances, #1)|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320436982l/7190.SY75.jpg|1263212], which is what it reminded me most of.

There are things in this book, as in life, that might upset you. There is death and pain in here, tears and discomfort, violence of all kinds, cruelty, even abuse. There is kindness, too.

- Quote by Neil Gaiman on his own book, which I find fitting here.

Someone should make a tv series out of this.

Re-read review from 2021: Still amazing.