Ultimately I think this book, and likely the entire series, has the capacity to tackle some big themes (colonialism, "civilization", discrimination, duty) etc. in a satisfyingly Hobb-y way. But it doesn't have the spark that I felt reading the Elderlings series, and I don't have the space in my life for plodding through a 600 page book that I'm not connecting with right now. I feel completely uninvested in the plot and the world and the characters. I'd rather just re-read RotE.