I had initially thought that this story might be some manner of reiteration of The Man in the Iron Mask, but I found myself immediately engrossed and read the entire story in two hours. This is precisely the kind of lit fic that makes reading enjoyable. The prose are intense yet whimsical, and they flow unimpeded. Prince Mute is the perfect antihero, lost in his confident doubt, while the other characters are utterly human in their pretense-inspired indifference. Part sardonic, medieval fairy tale (akin to The Princess Bride), part Dangerous Liaisons, and part latent bildungsroman, the story demands your attention. Does it all sound too contradictory? Read it and it will make perfect sense.

This was my first book by Wolff, but I will be reading the sequel.