This only gets an extra star because I started reading it while cruising down the Mekong from Chiang Khong to Luang Prabang. It was nice to look out and see the scenery that you are reading about.
The book might have been great for foreigners with little to no knowledge about Southeast Asia, but for a Thai like me, the story setting reminds me of those low-budget soap operas with lousy CG of naga floating around unrealistically. The plot is quite typical for Thai soap operas they show at night after 8 pm and Thais are growing up watching that. Not until they realized the predictable plot, movie setting and cheesy lines, did they start to no longer enjoy it. Once again, I have a feeling that the author, along with Thai soap operas trends back in the 90s, has a profound sensation for Luk-krueng (lit. half children), or mixed Thai-Caucasian girls. That makes this book is typical Thai soap operas but only in pages. I agree that it might have been great for people who are not so familiar with southeast Asian vibes, so my opinion is quite subjective. Anyhow, I really can't say it's a good book.