In reply to Offwidth: I really enjoyed it- he does seem to be moving away from the more extravagant horrors of Perdito St Station etc. Embassy Town was v. interesting as well.
(I don't think it's SPOILERS, but....)
I think the best part was that it
wasn't scifi. The whole two cities thing is a deliberate, consensual act of wilful stupidity/beaurocracy in an entirely mundane world.