This is a highly unusual book full of entertaining and wild imaginings unlike anything I've read before. Some reviewers have compared the writing to that of Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket but I don't see the similarity strong enough to agree except to say that the author does have a fresh energetic style.
I'm not a fan of stories that are told in flashbacks, and in multiple places, the reader is given necessary backstory in that manner, but I managed to persevere and finish the story. I found it a bit disjointed and difficult to read at times. There's fleeting world creation as Walter travels through various places on his way to meet Flasterborn so you have to really work when you're reading it and you can't read very much at one time because it's exhausting. If you like wild imagination in your tales you will find something to enjoy in this fun yet very sad story. It would definitely not be a good suggestion for a weak reader because as I mentioned, there's a lot packed into the pages. What I did love however, was Walter and how he was unconsciously competent at inventing. I suspect this is a book that will stay with me for a long time. It's also one that I could see myself rereading and getting more out of it the second and third time. ( )