The lore isn't all that interesting as a whole but I'm sure if he'd been able to complete it it would make sense. As it is, this is to blame for all the fantasy authors who Care Too Much about their world and think their readers care as well.
A cool concept but it wasn't really for me, although past me who was way into mermaids would have LOVED this. So there's definitely an audience this is for.
Kinda enjoyed the movie version better but the MC is much more vain and self-absorbed than Clooney ever seemed (which says more about his acting, I guess) so it's harder to relate to him in the book.
