Apparently it contains loads and loads of literary references, e.g. to Keats, Chaucer, Yeats, Shakespeare, etc. I didn't pick up on any of that

One of the cities is literally called Keats. And there's a lot of Shakespeare Bottom jokes. Chaucer, Yeats get call outs. It's not even subtext (if it is, I'll have missed it). And I am only half way through.

As much as I am enjoying it, and someone who did English Lit in school, it does have the vibe of someone trying to be too clever by half.