First, this book sucked me in, which is usually a good sign. The author did a decent job of making me care about the main character, and want to know what would happen. However, as the story progressed, and the character changed in ways I did not like, my enjoyment also went down. I've read other books with great cruelty, but this one didn't appeal to me. It's possible that even though I consider this book well-written, and like parts of it, that I was simply not reading it at the right time and frame of mind. I may keep it on the shelf and re-read it in a couple of years. Sometimes a very heavy book appeals much more that way. I didn't hate it, loved it at first, and was very disappointed in the characters by the end. Not disappointed in the writing; disappointed in the characters as people (which is a good feat by the author).