Every book in the series has gotten longer and, while more happens in each, it also seems that there’s more in each that doesn’t need to be there. The series increasingly treats the reader as unintelligent, having characters give contrived tldrs of anything that isn’t explicitly spelled out. A fair amount of the humor doesn’t land or is infantile – I fast forwarded through Jamal’s intro, for example.
Still, its strengths continue to be strong. Character growth and motivations are intentional. The way plot points come together is perhaps not quite as grand as previous entries but still great. The AI is still the highlight but doesn’t overstay its welcome. And the sheer possibility of the future keeps the intrigue alive. What’s going to happen next? Unlike in many series…we have no idea, and we love that.