Entertaining. I didn't have the complaints about boredom in the first half that many seemed to, but I did feel that we were a little light on plot. I missed the chemistry between Syenite and Alabaster. We learned a little more about orogeny and about the Stone Eaters, and I enjoyed that, but overall I have to agree with the assessments that the book falls prey to "middle book syndrome". Still looking forward to the conclusion.