While the characters here might have used some more development (Auda herself is well-drawn, but her family members and others who play important roles are somewhat flat), Sankaran's created a well-structured novel which carries itself along quite nicely.
The best part for me (perhaps obviously) is the discussion of early papermaking, the technique of which is well handled here (as is the question of paper use vs. parchment use for various things). Sankaran's interest in such things is clear, and her research shows. Her next book is reportedly on printmaking in Renaissance Venice, so we can expect more from this promising author.
