This book really struck me emotionally a lot more than it had in the past. I had a lot more sympathy for esmi and felt more powerfully the losses of Akka/Proyas/Xin. All good things.
The Shadow Way was also curious to me, especially with the Cish seemingly avoiding identifying Akka/Xin as they moved back into the city. Moenghus keeping Kellhus' bid for the gnosis alive?