I reluctantly give this book 5 stars because of how much I learnt from it. It is a classical work of good-quality journalism: balanced, informative, well sources, and evaluative. The book present a compelling history of the like of Kim Jong-Un, from his years in Bern to his rise to power in his father's remaining years. The final chapters then present a portrait of a fragile and untested leader who has not only succeeded in securing the regime's survival, but has increaserd its legitimacy through improved relations with China and even the USA, and also through the continuation of its nuclear weapons program.

Whilst the book is not a book about regular North Koreans, it often presents a scary picture of the reality of North Korean life, a society in which residents must constantly compete for perks and security by proving regime loyalty, and where neigbours turns on one another and the regime's heavy hand is never far away.

The Great Successor is a great introduction to modern North Korean politics, however like any book on North Korea, it is ultimately weakened by its reliance on defectors to the regime and the lack of interviews with any regime members or regular North Koreans. Despite this it is still a top-quality book, and I look forward to reading more Anna FIfield books in the futre.