This book could well merit a four-star rating, but I won't know until I read the second half of the series. Having never read Wolfe before, I don't know whether or not I can trust him as a writer to tie things together in an acceptable manner. So far, he has raised far more questions than he has answered. Although I've enjoyed the journey so far, and I'm interested in finishing the series, I am a bit worried that it won't have been worth the effort.