I also read that years ago and I think my notes were almost identical to yours; nice but too detached, too much of a long-ago-when-we-were-young-and-stupid vibe.

I just finished Marlon James' Black Leopard, Red Wolf which is very much recommended if you're interested in very densely written African fantasy. Brilliant myth- and monster-building, the whole thing seems to run on dream logic, but some very harsh storytelling in there as well. Otherwise I'm about to start the new Kameron Hurley book, which should be fun if it's even half as good as her previous The Stars Are Legion.