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Having read Ostromir's claim that Akanthus is actually a man from the Shapeless Empire named Sobieslav, I was surprised to realize we've actually seen Sobieslav in the Thorns quest-path! It's clear he always was a piece of dirt, if it wasn't already from what we've seen him do as Akanthus and from what Ostromir said about his actions as a Magester.
I worry what those Soulsmithed weapons he stole from Krasimir's forge will be used for. They do explain some of his abilities; Tomix's dad makes quality gear.

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The symbolism of Hesperrhodos horrifies me. Jaania has stripped him of his name and given him the designation of a genus of roses. She has muzzled him by placing a flower in his mouth, something that reminds me of one of the worst scenes in the movie Papillon. She has placed machinery where his heart should be. She has covered over his eyes and ears.

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See Hesperrhodos; Jaania has now joined the ranks of evils like Roirr, Vaal and Valtrith by destroying and reconstructing souls. No matter how good she may claim her intentions are, you can't walk back from an abomination like deliberately creating the elemental spirit of obedience or the damage that went before.
Even if we don't look at Hesperrhodos, it seems to me that Jaania has gone insane due to all the stress she's piled onto herself (not to mention the horrors inflicted on her by her two best friends, followed by manipulation by Akanthus). I just don't see how Book 3 will end unless Jaania is neutralized somehow, be it through death or by de-powering her and locking her in an insane asylum.

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The way Alteon acted, letting Robina suffer in her role as queen without saying anything or just passing her a frickin' note, disappointed me. Him telling her she'd made him proud, when she never wanted the position and didn't try to let her know he was there to help? I was with Robina when that angered her. I cheered when the new Queen of Greenguard told Alteon there wouldn't be a throne waiting on his return; she may not want the job, but she's already better at it than he was.

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As the heirs of Hawkscry, it's not hard to see why the Shapeless Empire is so advanced when it comes to magic and technology. I bet Yix would have a fieldday if he were able to examine their accomplishments.
From time to time, Vseslava and Ostromir seem quite likeable; I got a chuckle out of Ostromir trying Moglinberry juice for the first time.
And then they remind you of all the horrors the Magesterium has committed. How every single Magester is complicit in experiments on children in the Elemental Wastes. How the Ignominious are created out of people who make a mistake as simple as spilling a wagonload of salt; how their souls are driven out of their bodies so their bodies become walking nexuses, and those same souls are used to power Magesterium golems.
Maybe not every Magester was completely evil, but I have trouble feeling very bad for the idea that the Magesterium as an organisation is either going to die or be forced to switch back to drawing power from the Mana Core like other mages. Of course we'll need to destroy the Shapeless-golem sooner or later, but let's not forget the Shapeless Empire was a tyranny that used its own citizens to power its machinery.

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I am quite enjoying the three different possible paths for our Hero to take in the Proclamation quest chain. I have one character travelling with each faction, and it's been interesting to learn specific information from each. It's also fun to see the different forms the various rewards take, depending on which faction you're travelling with. Design-wise, I most prefer the Vind-style helmet, the Rose-style cloak, and the Golden Hand-style scythe.
Having a character in the Rose faction gives me hope that Hansa will take over that organisation when Jaania is neutralized, one way or another. She's powerful, she quite wise, she's more flexible than she seemed at the start, and above all she's sane. The idea that magic needs to be controlled and that there should be troops who specialize in neutralizing rogue magic and magic-users isn't bad; it just needs to be shackled to a system of ethics and morals, and there needs to be accountability. Hansa could provide all of that. With her in the big chair, maybe with Neron as a counsellor, a time might come when we can all be happy to see the Rose move about.
Travelling with Kara makes me feel for her. She's going to be sorely disappointed in Jaania, unless we can somehow convince her to back down from her mad path. I worry she already blames herself for Jaania's madness, and that this will get worse. Not unlike the Hero, Kara blames herself for a lot of things that were out of her control.

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Do I remember correctly that Alteon and Valen both loved Lynaria, and that Lynaria married Alteon? Is Gravelynn half-sister to Robina and Alteon's other daughters? If so, does she have sort of a claim to the throne through Lynaria, who was once the crowned queen of Greenguard?