Mark

In terms of the how this compares to the original text novel I feel like it is one to one and maybe a bit shortened but nothings appears completely cut out. So I am not going to review that already well discussed original. Lets talk about Josep Homs art - love it. Gives the story a earthy look and I caught an Enki Bilal, Heavy Metal vive to the art. Not hyper realistic but grounded in reality with real dimensionality to characters and settings.

Short lovely novella about trauma, perception, power, and individuality. Great example of Weird Fiction.

What to add to what has already been said? Police procedural, supernatural London, likable protagonists, and believably bad villains.

Story: Son of shepherd talks about life in the Lake District in the North of England. How the landscape informs and roots his life. Also how the romantic notions of this landscape over the last 100 years or so has impacted how the land is viewed/used. Discusses that the usage has shaped the land, how the landscape is in fact not very natural at all, and how life is lived for those who are of the land. Spoiler alert: it is not walking about in one of the most romantic landscapes possible, not at all. Also much discussion of sheep and sheepdogs, their roles and that is very interesting, integral in fact.
Language: Evocative of the places and moods of the Lake District. Some specialized terms are present but are always explained. Enjoyable and adds much.
Setting: The Lake District in the North of England.
Characters: The author, family, the landscape, neighbors, sheep, and sheep dogs. All are very much more than just local color; they are all loved or at least respected, given true depth, and are truly what this book is about.

What is left to be said? Better than the tv series, I like the tv series and understand that it is just one interpretation. So setting aside the GRRM's bit I do want to talk about the performer Roy Dotrice. His reading is a barrier, not a complete barrier but an annoyance. The esteros characterizations are just a bit too cliche for me and overall well he feels a bit ponderous these ears but that may be the material. So I sped it up to 1.35 speed playback and that sorted it out for the most part.