Finished reading pic related. The prose reads like it was written by an alien at times, and Severian is such a milquetoast protagonist. The plot was meandering and yawn inducing. I read Latro in the Mist before this and it was more of the same, except way too repetitive. I don't get the Wolfe praise he has some cool ideas, but everything else is subpar. I don't think I'll be reading anything from him again.