It took me a long time to read this book for various reasons. I didn't find it as engaging as previous books in the series. It took a long time to read and I'm not sure if I read slower because I wasn't enjoying it, or if I didn't enjoy it as much because it took a long time to read.

As prequel to the first novel the plot meanders towards the known end point. I found the discovery of "mentalics", the entire basis of the second foundation too coincidental and unbelievable.