I'm very disappointed in this book! It's 90% filler! The first two novels in the Annals of the Chosen (Wizard Lord and The Ninth Talisman) were great, even if I was upset about the unexpected cliffhanger ending of the second book. But you can read the first 25 pages and the last 25 pages of The Summer Palace and it completes the story. No need to read the interminable middle 300 pages.
Very disappointing read from an author I normally really like.