Other reviewers have extensively explained the story and the background in this book. That is mainly why I bought it, because I felt fascinated by the ideas in it. Ms. Finch manages to create a completely believable society and makes you feel its strangeness. I was so enraptured I stayed awake up to 4 in the morning just to finish the book before I had to go to work. Considering this is definitely not an action-adventure book, that says a lot about the magic and interest the characters, the world and the story bring to the reader. Buy this book. You will enjoy it.