A large part of the mysticism was the heavy reliance on visions and hallucinations by Blacktooth and, apparently, by others. I didn't find it as much overwhelming as just heavy handed. Cantiicle moved smoothly by not being excessively detailed. How many pages have to be allotted to the details of Blacktooth's diarrhea? This is a novel, not "The Rise and fall of the Roman Empire." A good editor could have removed 50 or more pages without hurting the story.