I've pieced my way through the first novel. I've decided to specifically hold off reading the second novel so I can just enjoy the latter half of the series rather than moan and groan about what they've left out
or put part of my brain on hold to analyze the second half standing on its own.
And... yay for more people who think like that for discussion and debate in this forum. Sometimes a rather nasty streak of anti-rationalism roams about.