OK, I think I found a way to articulate how I feel about this as a whole:
From the Washington Post review of the book:
"Every piece of back story reveals information that charges the emerging narrative with significance, until at last the puzzle-box of the plot slides open to reveal the treasure hidden inside."
I feel like the "puzzle-box of the plot" is a great description of the plot, but when it finally opened it was empty and I was left confused. Confused...but I liked it?
From the Washington Post review of the book:
"Every piece of back story reveals information that charges the emerging narrative with significance, until at last the puzzle-box of the plot slides open to reveal the treasure hidden inside."
I feel like the "puzzle-box of the plot" is a great description of the plot, but when it finally opened it was empty and I was left confused. Confused...but I liked it?