Hard to put down, for me. I was pretty invested in learning more about the various characters that I had gotten to know in The Fifth Season - Alabaster, Schaffa, Hoa, and Essun in particular. We didn't get to learn too much more about Essun's backstory, which, fine, that was all The Fifth Season was about. But it was very cool to see how Schaffa has changed and learn about Hoa as well. I also enjoyed the bits and pieces of post-apocalyptic political machinations that began to emerge. Overall, though, the book felt a little confused / lacking in focus, which was not the case for the Fifth Season. I have high hopes that the next book will, if not solve every mystery, at least end the story in a satisfying way.