When I was about halfway through reading this book, I had the intention of giving it 3 stars due to the fact it took me a little bit to get into the book. But when I continued reading, it more than made up for it. It has the perfect balance of science, fantasy, adventure, and gore, with a "Limony Snickett meets Douglas Addams" writing style that I simply adore. And I've never related more to and eleven-year-old boy before in my life. I'm really looking forward to reading the test of the series and seeing how everything plays out!! If you're on the fence about reading this book, I highly recommend you give it a try, and stick with it if it doesn't seem like it's for you, you may just be surprised.