a wonderful and also immensely difficult book to read. the story-telling by Dumas is brilliant, and i couldn't help but become absolutely sucked in when the story really got going. i do not really know what compelled me to actually finish this book (i started it around 2-3 years ago), but even throughout the many breaks i took i still wanted to come back to it - and it was worth it. most of the book is build-up, and then you see people's true characters really pop out towards the end. this book needs patience and yet a lust for adventure (and included a LOT of philosophical topics when you really look for them: is revenge good? what are our motives for treating others? what causes the human brain to break? etc.). plus, if you have a general love for the extravagant and period-typical style of writing, this is right up your alley. 

the story of revenge is always a perfect plot, and the twists and turns will have you trying your hardest not to look ahead.