The characters were not deep enough to care about so that when we were to be shocked or heartbroken, etc, we were just confused. The depths of the relationships between Alcestis and her father, her step-mother, her husband, the gods of the Underworld, and the lengths she goes to regarding her sister and the Underworld are unsupported in the set-up of the story. The turn of events are completely unbelievable -- it's as though there is a missing chapter where all the emotional bonds were made. Alcestis comes across as disinterested in the path of her life but, conversely, supposedly incredibly moved by it. Also, the amount of writing spent on the Underworld is excessive and irritating, with new story lines being introduced out of thin air without resolution. Perhaps the writer was writing mainly for her peers who, one must assume, have the necessary background to understand/enjoy this book. It didn't seem meant for anyone else. Skip it.