Is this really the conclusion of this series?

What happened to the subtle discussions of racism and class? This reads like a diary kept of her research trip.

My biggest problem with the entire story, the rehash of Mammoth Hunters notwithstanding, is that it has been clearly defined, over and over and over again, that Ayla knows the medicines in her pouch by knots and type of cordage, not by smelling them. AND YET. The CRUX of this entire story is based on both her and the reader forgetting this so she can have the trip that gives her information she already knows.