This was one of the oddest reading experiences I've had in a long time. Maybe ever, now that I think about it more. This will sound strange, but I must admit that I actually wanted NOT to like it - while I was reading, every night, for hours.
Why? It's slow, has a very tight third person limited voice of just one character (which I often find, well, limiting), everyone's an elf or a goblin (never seen that), there are absolutely a bazillion characters with bizarre names to keep track of, and there is NO action. Seriously. There's one scene of a kidnapping that's resolved in like five pages, and an attempted assassination that's resolved in two.
HOWEVER, I could NOT stop reading. And I loved it. Shame on me for doubting. Don't let my whining keep you from this quirky, elegant treasure. Just keep breathing, and read.
All the best,
DA