I’m honestly still digesting this book because WOW. A lot of the reviewers agree, the idea behind this book is brilliant. It’s just a fact. Where I think we begin to split is was it presented well? 
    A lot of the issues with this book are the over complexityof the story. Yes, brilliant idea but … can you dumb it down for us? Kidding, kinda. 

It did feel overly complex. I had a hard time keeping up with the large cast characters, that sometimes felt like they had similar names. I had to slow down reading to help me remember who was related to who, who was friends with who… when the nicknames shifted. It got to be a lot to track. Normally, that could be fine but add on the overly complex, magic world we also have to understand… it adds up to ‘a bit too much’.
     For me though, the beginning opening pages are what I struggled through the most. Not sure why, but they didn’t pick up my attention. Which I find odd as the beginning few pages/chapters are pretty action packed. The equation of ‘how to catch a readers attention’ was followed to a ‘T’. Leave the reader wanting more, wanting to read more, intrigue, disgust, etc. Yet, was it specifically the character of Bell (?) that turned me off? Again, not sure. Maybe that means it comes down to the issue was, I felt I was in a constant state of confusion and couldn’t see a way out. 

I’d like to comment on the ‘fat shaming’ that a few reviewers mentioned. I honestly didn’t think much of it. I could see the author not meaning anything by it, but rather trying to show another limitation, as he tried to show when the hosts were absolutely disgusting of the mind. Did it really bother me, no? Do I now look back and think he harped on it a tad too much, sure?
     I REALLY think it’s entertaining that they changed the title of the book for American audiences as it was too close to THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO. I read that years ago and I have noticed the popularity pick up recently, which is exciting. I’m not going to lie, I immediately thought of that book when I  read this title (even with the 71/2 ‘corrected’).
    Anyways – solid book for me still. The ‘idea’ of it was still so entertaining I think most readers could get through the confusing parts to find they actually enjoy it. Appreciate it for what it is. Well done Turton.