The Grand Game Book 9 felt lacking compared to the previous entry. The beginning reads like material that should have been part of Book 8, while much of the middle feels like setup rather than payoff.
The ending is big but unfinished, leaving more frustration than satisfaction. This book feels less like a complete volume and more like a bridge meant to be read alongside the next release.
Best experienced back to back with Book 8 and with book 10 whenever that comes out rather than on its own.