Word-count-wise, people spend more time talking about their relationship than they do talking to each other.

Yes, exactly. I sort of understand that it wasn't so much a book about romance as it was about the world as a whole taking a shit on Vanyel, but I probably would have felt more strongly about THE DEATH if it had felt stronger and more meaningful. As it was, it just seemed like a plot device to make Vanyel into the most super special awesome person ever.