I don't have an extensive review or anything. Just a random thought, and I'm wondering whether anyone else agrees (or maybe disagree and has good reasons for me to change my mind).
Basically, it just felt like there was a lot more introspective/interpersonal psychology/drama and a lot less world-building, alien life-form, evolutionary history exposition than previous entries in the series. The billionaire class critique and Cato were fun, of course, but I felt most of the exposition focused on personalities and social interactions.
I really wanted more details on the evolutionary history of the plant/fungal life on the planet, billionaire's "God mode" technology/how they were able to "program" evolution and upload their minds into the biosphere, etc. That being said, I did skim the last few chapters pretty quickly, so maybe he gets into that more there and I just didn't catch it.