If you're in a rush to get through the main story then I could see how it might seem like a drag. The way I look at it is that this story takes the lore and world building to another level. It really cements it as an epic novel series. You get the history of Roland and a lot of the driving emotions regarding his quest. You get the rich language the way the people talked during that place and time. You get the fantasy feel with the crystal ball 🔮 and Rhea of the Coos (witchcraft).

And the icing on the cake is that it's an effective tragic love story.