This is one of the better books I've read in a while. Above all, I believe a book should keep me wanting to turn the pages, and this one fit the bill.

Edugyan's writing is, as always, lush and evocative. Her imagery is on point, enveloping the reader in the worlds she creates. Her major characters are (mostly) complex and compelling.

Minor spoilers to follow...
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Where the novel falls short is in its coincidences. I don't mind stretching my imagination--I enjoy fantasy, for instance--but within that stretch, there has to be a scaffolding of believability. When the characters just happen to run across one another, such as when Wash sees Willard at the hanging, or when the Moroccan guide happens upon Wash, that scaffolding collapses. That is why I couldn't give this book 5 stars.