Reviews

This is the story of a reader who finds a story and a world really interesting but has become so frustrated with the inconsistency of the writing, the contradictions in the plot, and the way that some of the characters ~cough-Ryoka-cough~ seem to basically reset into something new every time they shift into a new adventure.

Seriously, though, there's so much that's fun and interesting in this serial. I'm very tempted to keep going to find out how things play out and what's really going on with some of the aspects of the world, but the writing is getting to me. As I said before, the quality is pretty inconsistent and there's a lot that feels like filler. And the stuff that does contribute to either the plot or that serves as exposition of various aspects of the world sometimes feels a bit forced or like the author is trying too hard to figure out a good way to present it.

If I was reading it as it was originally serialized then there would have been several places that I'd have just stopped. That was true of the first two volumes, but this part of the third had more than its share of bits like that. I've particularly gotten to the point that I can't take any more blatant contradictions in the parts that focus on Ryoka who, unfortunately, is the character whose perspective tends to move the plot forward the most. I'm fine with her being an impossible Mary Sue who doesn't eat junk food but knows how to make a bunch of it and who wasn't a good student and spent all of her time running or studying Muay Thai but somehow has a scholarly understanding of all sorts of things – heck, that's often what I really want out of an adventure story. I can even deal with her being bipolar and antisocial, though it makes me not like reading her perspective terribly much. But a lot of her interactions with people don't make any sense. She doesn't know how to talk to people but knows how to manipulate them by...talking to them? And she really behaves like the whole thing where Perusa followed Ryoka down to the Blood Fields and murdering the two runners who went with her didn't happen at all. And then there's the basic facts about her established by events in the story that are contradictory, like the fact that she can outrun Relc, who the couriers believe to be fast enough to be one of them, but she's too slow to be a courier herself.

I don't hate this and I think the world is wonderful and love the story in the most abstract sense. There's definitely a lot that I've enjoyed reading in it and I'm genuinely tempted to keep reading to learn more about the world and for those parts that are really engaging, but it's time to move on to something else. I might pick up the next part eventually, though.

kjavery37's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful relaxing sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

deotheophilus's review against another edition

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5.0

Simply outstanding

This book is engrossing the characters and clever and fun and the story is outstanding, I highly recommend it, it was a great read!

pjsontheoutside's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

percyslittleadventure's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

g_crabtree's review against another edition

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5.0

Keeps getting better

I have never been so captivated by a fantasy series before, I've tried, oh boy, have I. But this, this just ticks every box for me.
I'm incredibly grateful to be on this journey

justjoey555's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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