I never once thought “oh he’s just having her do it for girl boss scene” because everyone in the book is basically a god compared to a regular person with all the items and abilities and stat boosters they have, men and women (and cats and alligators).
Totally disagree about the quality declining. I could understand not liking a particular setting or something, like I didn’t care for the trains. Also didn’t really like the card battles as much. The quality stayed good the whole series so far. Hopefully he keeps that up and sticks the landing.