One thing that cracks me up tho is how the main characters are always having to solve puzzles.  The heroes are presented with one puzzle after another and, luckily, these people happen to be excellent at solving puzzles, riddles and things of that nature.  In fact, one of the characters spent her whole childhood having to do puzzles to get her b-day presents, so now she is no suited to solve puzzles which will have a huge impact on world history

The novel also has me looking at Pagan religions far differently.  I don't think that stuff is nearly as weird as I used to, it is just an older form of religion.