3.5?

I have a hard time rating this book. On the one hand, I'm definitely going to read the second part, so I guess that means I liked it. On the other, there are so many things in this "political science fiction" book that rub me the wrong way -- the second person narrative that keeps going meta and generally being annoying, and I just don't see it having any reward; the pointless erotica (not even sex scenes, really); some annoying world-building pet peeves (the "one significant event that changed all human society around the globe immediately and completely" trope, for example).
There a lot of suspend disbelief in here, but ultimately, it's worth it for an intriguing world and an engaging story (when Palmer doesn't decide to stop it in its tracks for some meta discussion).

What is it about? In the 25th century, human society has gone through some interesting changes - instead of nation-states, there are now hives - specifically, seven hives - which are kind of like what would happen if nation states stopped having territories and you would pick your nation the same way you pick your facebook feed. But what started with lots of little hives with like-minded people ended up converging into a paltry seven: the Mitsubishi corporate hive, the arts and jocks Humanists, the benevolent cousins, the hierarchical Masons, the psychologistic Gordians, the Europeans (yes, well), and the futurist Utopians (plus the independent hiveless). With such a small number of groups, inter-hive politics become incestuous in the most literal sense.

In addition, a religious world war has lead to a complete ban on proselytizing, going so far as to consider any group of three people discussing religion without supervision to be an illegal cult.

Into this mess enters Mycroft Canner, whose infamy I will not spoil for you, a servicer (convicted felon who must provide services to whomever wishes in return for basic necessities) who is highly connected to the leaders of all hives, and then some. He finds himself in the midst of an investigation of a burglary and an attempt to frame the family ("Bash'") that runs the biggest transportation service on the globe. That, alongside his attempt to protect Bridger, a child with special powers, embroils him deep in the politics of this, shall we say, brave new world.

Too Like the Lightning is interesting if only because it is essentially a utopian book, rather than a dystopia. This is not to say it's perfect, but this book is a very interesting attempt to explore the limits of utopian ideas, see where they break without thrusting the world into a full-fledged dystopia. I'll have to wait for the second part to decide whether the discussion was worth it, but it is wrapped in an interesting story and an intriguing world, so all in all it is worth the read, despite its flaws.