I don't think I've met anyone yet who has really liked the last two seasons from a critical perspective. I completely agree it would have been better to wait for the book to be finished. They could have just paused for 10 years. Unfortunately, the actors would change and the book would need to have some kind of similar pause or it would be another problem. I do wish there were a couple filler episodes with discussion. I missed that since around season 6, too.