Engaging. A crazy old man telling a tale that turns out to be true. The part where he tells the story of the captive wizard, however, has a repetition about Hawthorne choosing a bad man as heir. Tempted to skip ahead right there. And the reveal about him being a wizard was anticlimactic. But overall, pretty solid. Info dumping should be done in moderation. I don't mind it, but some people do. :3