I've just finished reading this and I'm left with the feeling that I'd like to know more about the history of the Balkans.
In places it's a slow-moving book. I skipped over a few of the long descriptive passages but it has some great scenes and gives a real flavour of great historical hatreds and characters bound to these nations struggles.

There was a rather gratuitous sex scene, near the beginning, involving a woman with no tongue and a hammock but otherwise I really enjoyed the book and the last few chapters are exciting and moving.