@Quick - hm, I think you stopped reading at the point where RSB really ups the ante. From that certain point, it became almost impossible for me to stop

... and I'm now eagerly awaiting the release of the paperback of The Thousandfold Thought.
In general, I can understand when people are bored by The Darkness that Comes Before. I liked the world- & character-building done in that novel, but there isn't much happening beyond that. Plus, the skin-spies are just depraved (but I guess that figures: Kellhus analytical, detached manipulation & mindset vs. the Consult's control by depravity and playing to basic instincts).
Since I had The Warrior Prophet at hand shortly after the first one, the two form a cohesive unit in my mind - in terms of ratings, TDtCB might get a lower rating if reviewed on its own, without knowing TWP (am I making any sense here

?).
In my humble opinion, though, I highly recommend PoN to everyone. I even managed to get some friends of mine to read TDtCB and not give up before reading TWP. And now they are as eager for TTT as myself.