Awesome. Totally worth the hardcover price. (And I say this as someone who really hates hardcovers, both for the price and the space they take up.) 
 The overall series story arc? A beautiful, beautiful thing. Most cohesive thing I've ever seen, especially as this is book 10 of the series. 
 Update August 2011: Next time I reread this series, I'm taking notes. (Need to keep track of (not characters so much as) what little hints and concerns are mentioned.)