It's the characters for me. Always the characters and a great setting never hurts. Garner's The Queen's Chair has both.

The city of Verida practically vibrates off the page with its unique neighborhoods and varying images. It's almost as much a character as Anastasia Fielding-Horne. When you add in the rest of the ensemble cast - Jasper, Collin, Babe, and of course, Queen Constance - the result is a rich stew of a story that needs little more than a good chunk of time to dig in and savor it.

I read widely and like a lot of books. I can highly recommend them without reservation, because they're that good. This one? I loved it, and I don't find that many books that make the extra grade.

Very Highly Recommended.