Yes, dark, bitter, horrendously sad. I actually had to stop reading partway through part 2 last night and finish it this morning because I couldn't bear to 'watch' what Sean was doing to himself any more. And yet beautifully written, believable, evocative, addictive. I could no more leave it unfinished than walk to New Zealand.

Like others, I think it works equally well with or without the epilogue