I've finished 'Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen' by Lois McMaster Bujold. Alas, while the novel is an entertaining read, I'm having a hard time calling it a sci-fi novel. The plot is easily summarized in a single sentence (and basically already given away in the book's title). The most exciting things happening are two side events involving a kind of floating jelly-fish and drying plas-concrete (yup, no kidding, there!).
Initially, it gave me the impression of being a commentary on (trans)gender indentity and equality, but the focus is clearly on the developing relationship between the two protagonists.
So, while it's not quite as bad as 'A Civil Campaign' (which I really disliked), you can easily skip reading this unless you're a completionist.
Next up is China Mieville's 'The Scar', his second 'Bas-Lag' novel (i.e. the setting introduced in 'Perdido Street Station').