Your first spoiler box doesn’t continue forever, but rather evolves. As for the 2nd, if my memory serves, things change quite a bit in the thrust of the story (though I may be confusing it with the 3rd book’s story), so “no”.
I enjoyed the series too, though I think the first book is the strongest and it declines as it goes along. Not as amazing as his First Law stuff, but still good.
The Thorn/Brand romantic stuff does eventually evolve (or resolve? depending on your view). The third book shifts to yet another different main viewpoint character, but continues the same overall plot of Yarvi and company gathering allies and combating their enemies.