Although I overall enjoyed reading this tale and will read the second installment in this duology, there were some notable problems that make it a difficult read.
The authors have created a new fantastical world, whose people are divided into Shapers, Keepers, Dreamers, and Abstainers, and in which three kingdoms reign under the supervision of three moons. Each kingdom has its own name, its own capital, and a number of towns that are mentioned in the text. In addition, each kingdom has its own royal family and notable citizens, whose names must be remembered and whose problems and personalities must be distinguished from each other. Since this book is so great in length, it can take a long while to read it, which means that it can be quite easy to confuse the many-varied place names and individuals. Keeping notes may be necessary for some.
The organization of this world is only revealed to the readers in pieces that are in themselves not completely comprehensible and, moreover, is never explained in full (for example, the story of how this world came into existence is told to us halfway through the novel). Who are these Shapers? What is the purpose of the Keepers? Why are the Dreamers fighting monsters that keep wanting to destroy this fictional world? Who are these Abstainers and why are they not doing the job they were born to do (e.g., Shaper or Keeper)? Where are these kingdoms and their capitals in relation to each other? (A map would have been quite helpful!).
Finally, it is very difficult to follow the passage of time in this book. From the beginning of the book until the end, several years have passed in this fantasy world. But it doesn't seem that way when you are reading it. For example, we read that one character leaves her home and moves to another place. We follow her experiences there for a short time (well, what seems like a short time). Then she moves to another locale, and we again read about what happens to her there. It feels as if only a short period of time has passed during all of these events. However, much later in the story the reader finds out that a number of years have passed from the time she left home to the time she finally settles down! Some better organization would definitely have been desired in this regard.