I still haven't started it yet, but my hubby is about 1/2 way through and he said it feels like a "breather book" too! He told me that either it was because the last one had SO much going on and lots of action that this one just "feels" quieter, or that it is more of a "set up" for things to come....
He DID mention that he is finding some of the dialog kind of "stilted", but that he is still enjoying it-
Really hope to get into reading it this weekend! (Actually, it sounds like an "all in one sitting" read for me since my hubby is 1/2 way through already and I read much faster than he does, and if it grabs me, I won't do anything until it is finished!!)