I finished it, although it was quite dense. That said Im amazed at the lack of actual criticism of missionary work from an author well-known for speaking up against colonialism.
I don't grock with the incest themes.
And a lot of it is senseless. Sure this is faerie, it's not supposed to be logical, and I did enjoy some of the worldbuilding (the sea whale especially) but it's like seeing a Bosch painting. each bit is fascinating but the overall picture is of a mishmash of unconnected bits. I had "solved" the mystery myself by the end (it was not really the epiphany it purported to be) but I still did not see the Point. I was waiting for a "yes and" that never came. And it did not quite tie everything together.

notably, why Elizabeth claims to be The original if it has nothing to do with changelings. What was the point of Ariel as a character? she has no agency or arc of her own to follow which makes her quite flat, like the author didnt give her that much attention because she was just going to be a sacrifice.

And I hate feeling like I wasted my time with a book.