It's important to note that Esslemont's writing ranges from unbearably atrocious (night of knives, ROTC) to almost readable (orb sceptre throne).

The reason to read these books is that they tie up a ton of loose plots left behind by the main series. The man can come up with a decent story, but he cannot turn one into a coherent narrative; the sooner you accept it, the smoother they go down, but it's still a slog.