I thought the world building was excellent. Politics, badguys and gods. Actual though not theoretical. The spice was a little more than I prefer. Also I think writing spice is tricky because it can take you out of the moment. For example there was a spicy scene in water that I'm pretty sure would have been physically impossible without someone drowning. This was #2 in a series. (I'd not read #1.) I liked the leads though which is why I finished.