This was the second Erikson book that I nearly threw across the room (the first being Deadhouse Gates). For DG it was the end of the Chain of Dogs story that I found so frustrating. For this book it was the Tool storyline. For me, the brightest part of the whole series was Tool becoming mortal again. It was a rare glimpse of almost pure joy in an otherwise rather depressing series. To have him killed again, so senselessly, really got to me. Then, just to turn the knife we have what happens to his wife directly afterward. Ugh.

You're right that this book was not overly preachy. One of the themes I got from this book is a question of whether or not a race or culture is wholly evil or beyond redemption. This was presented through the Barghast and the K'chain Ch'maile (sp). For the latter, they have up until this book, been presented as nothing but a menace. But the way this story unfolds, the world may not be a better place if they moved on towards extinction. With the Barghast however, as shown through Tool's story, we see very few redeeming qualities. I feel like I ought to have had some pity for the outright slaughter of the Barghast by the end of the book, but there really wasn't much. In fact, the pity was more for the added burden on Tool's soul for more death by his hand.

Overall though, I agree that this one was better than the last couple.