I was charmed by this story years ago and was excited to have it in audio form.
Is it essentially a roman novel?
Yes. Yes it is.
However, the world-building and social ramifications of the society’s structure is so well done and layered, it would be foolish to skip it just on that account. It’s a well-written, well-plotted story with one of the more interesting world’s I have had the pleasure to explore.
As an audiobook, the choices made by the narrartor for voice and accent were quite well done. I enjoyed the narration well, even, after a bit forgetting that I was listening to a book I’d read many times. So, well done narrator as well. I think a narrator that makes you forget someone is telling you a story and allows you to be immersed is probably the best job a narrator can do!