While readers who are not accustomed to the style being emulated by Akunin in The Winter Queen may be slightly nonplussed initially, once they accustom themselves to it they will find it quite enjoyable. Personally I've always had an affection for the naturalistic style of the nineteenth century, having some of the same predilections for adjectives and descriptive phrases, but I know most modern readers have grown used to terse texts that deliver just the facts at the expense of colour and may find the prose a shade of purple not quite to their liking. But I say to you persevere; put aside your prejudices and let yourself be seduced. A world of pleasure awaits you that you may never have experienced before.

Don't let memories of struggles to read War And Peace hold you back, Boris Akunin's work never descends to that level of turgid immobility. (And nobody has more then two names thank goodness - I spent the first half of War And Peace under the impression there were twice as many characters in the story as actually existed because of Tolstoy's propensity for diminutives, and even worse, second, third and even fourth names for some characters) He may have stylized his work in the manner of the nineteenth century but his pacing is pure twentieth and twenty-first, meaning the action moves along briskly and with enthusiasm.

If The Winter Garden is any indication of the type of fun that's in store from the rest of Boris Akunin's novels featuring Erest Fandorin, then there are hours of pleasure awaiting readers. He has somehow managed to balance the floweriness of nineteenth century naturalism with enough twentieth century realism to create a confection of wit and intelligence that won't set your teeth on edge with it sweetness nor purse your lips with its acridness. It's such a harmonious meeting of style and culture that it could serve as an example to many governments how seemingly disparate elements can coexist with ease.

If you live in Canada you can purchase a copy of The Winter Garden either directly from Random House Canada or from an online retailer like Amazon.ca.