To start I really liked this book, then I felt meh, then I just didn't gaf.

I wouldn't recommend this story for the romance. It's one of those books where the couple is broken up for no good reason, and they don't ever actually get back together. I wouldn't recommend this book for the characters either. The main two are fleshed out, but every side character is a cartoon with a strawman argument ready for our protagonists to go head to head with.

The reveal of John Bull's race was fun, and added some complexity. But I felt that it wasn't used enough, it made for a fun reveal, but then it was ignored until some random racist popped up for a one liner. I was not impressed with the reveal of Gwalia's rape. A Welsh girl being gang raped by the English in Cardiff? Not the most subtle of narrative choices, and I'm not really a fan of rape as tragic back story anyway.

Honestly the best part of this book, was how the history of England's rule of Wales has influenced current events, and how until very recently historically speaking, being Welsh in the UK wasn't a great thing. I would recommend the book for that, which is why this book gets a mid range review. ( )

This book highlighted a lot of issues that I wasn't really aware of before, which was very interesting. I know Wales, and Welsh, a little but this fictionalised account of very real problems facing small communities in North Wales raised a lot of questions (and answered a few). So for that, I would give 5 stars. I also found the narrative structure to be quite clever - with the two main characters alternately telling each other their side of the story, creating in some places a mixture between 1st-person and the rarely used 2nd-person narrative.

What prevents me from giving this the top-rating is that I personally didn't always find the characterisations very convincing. I realise that, as a satire, a lot of the characters would have been forms of stereotypes and more exaggerated examples of real people than true characters in their own right. However, even the two main characters didn't completely sit right with me. The way the female protagonist talked about her inner feelings felt a bit forced at times.
There was also a glossary of Welsh words and sentences used in the narrative at the back which didn't always tally with what was written in the text, which I thought would be confusing and off-putting for readers who know no Welsh.

On the whole, though, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about a culture and politics which can often be ignored outside of Wales. ( )

If you are Welsh, or have anything to do with Wales or the Welsh, I think you should read this book. Aside from that, it is a very good read, a "ripping yarn" that you want to finish.
If you're Welsh or English having connections with Wales/the Welsh you might find yourself looking into a (sometimes grossly distorted) mirror at times, but you'll laugh. I enjoyed it immensely (not being Welsh or English but having fallen in love with the country and the language). And the points being made are not limited to Wales, but apply to the whole of Western Europe I think. ( )