1. The differences are subtle. I feel the changes around begin 31,32, and it may be more in plot that style. The biggest change in my eyes was how in all non Rachel books, she becomes more and more hostile, and more of a concern to the others. This happened some in KA's books, but it's more here, and worse, in her own books by GW, if that's not an issue of the book, she's not dealing with it. They all become a bit more issue driven and one dimensional-this book is prime example-but Rachel's regression develops here.
2. Okay, no reason not to want the ship I guess. How he found it this time is something else, but it'd be a good thing to have.You don't get enough of the differences of the Sea Blade vs the Bladeship to appreciate the difference. The Hork-Bajir modifications is typical brute idealism on his part: give em webs and gills, bipeds will never be fit for ocean swimming. Plus, what the hell, the only thing he'd have to fight in water out side the ship is Animorphs, who would be too large as whales for Hork-Bajir to handle. Maybe (and awesome) if they went up as sharks, but they wouldn't be able to hold up a ship.
3. This here I'ma give fault to GW as well. Horrible out of character for both. They're nice, thoughtful people, but Cassie constantly talks down revenge, and Jake's never shown a desire for it against anything but Tom's Yeerk. Of all the characters, these are the worse to ascribe vengeance to, disgustingly bad.
4. This however was cool. Neat to see an off shoot of the human race, Regardless of the truth of their origins, it's impressive they survived. And the seagulls. If they were really strong enough to attack the Surface, well I think shear numbers would again be on our side, but yeah that could be fairly frightening. But then I live fairly close to the cost. I don't think the Animorphs ever mentioned them, and I don't think they were discovered in any manner that would allow them contact with the rest of the world. I figure they died out, and that was the end of it.
5. And that's what I'd let them to. Maybe I'd inform people who'd want to help, but personally I'm not big on conservation. Their hostility keeps me from wanting to go back, and since they aren't much of a threat, no point in wiping them out yourself. A touch of pity, but all in all, I've little qualms but leaving them to their fate.
6. A wonderful creature that gets the best and worst of the human imagination. Intelligent, powerful, aesthetically interesting, but a bit disdained for it's power, and it's diet. This is a good animal for them to have, could/should have replaced dolphin early for sea morphs. Again, I'll fault GW here about the whale mind knowing Jake, no matter the intelligence, a morph isn't supposed to do that, and it's things like this the make me feel like a number of people stopped caring about content and rules of the story, in favor of just getting a book out.
7. Not overwhelmed, but he did good. Whales vs ship, I think they should have had a different plan of action-very risky. He handled the Nartec pretty diplomatically, but again, luck is what got them out. Nothing bad with Visser Three, but something is lacking in their interactions-leaders of the two factions, they should have a bit more than mild negotiations when they do come head to head. Not overwhelming, but nothing disappointing, i.e. he didn't spend forever griping about his mistakes this time.
8.
9. "What? What, I can't compliment a fish girl?" Magnificent