I had to read this for a second-year university creative writing course. It was a very brisk read at about two hours, and it rolled along at a satisfying pace. The final act was a bit convoluted, invoking an interesting blend of supernatural with the science fiction, but the characters and setting were well-developed given the short length of the piece. I found it interesting that there was no real mention of time frame, and it was surprising to me that the book worked as well as it did without one.
I've spent the last half-year immersed in reading, mostly literature, but this book in particular has spurred me to start putting pen to paper again. It reminded me a lot of my own work, particularly Tale of the Madeus, and while I know that there's so much more to be told in that series it's just been a painful walk over broken stones getting back to it.