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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
Going back to this one after having finished all 4 arcs. It's undoubtedly a good story and if you were to like this one you will definitely be satisfied with the remaining 3 books. However, I do think it probably could have been cut down to 3 books.
The writing is where it's a bit of a let down for me. I'm not one to usually be picky when it comes to that but this time I wish it was better. It's a combination of being very simple and easy to read prose (which I'm not against) but together with everything being explained and described with an almost ridiculous amount of detail.. it gets a little dry. There's a good character arc for the MC though.
If you don't mind the writing much and just want a unique and fun story with some great mysteries, world building and magic, you should absolutely go for it.
The writing is where it's a bit of a let down for me. I'm not one to usually be picky when it comes to that but this time I wish it was better. It's a combination of being very simple and easy to read prose (which I'm not against) but together with everything being explained and described with an almost ridiculous amount of detail.. it gets a little dry. There's a good character arc for the MC though.
If you don't mind the writing much and just want a unique and fun story with some great mysteries, world building and magic, you should absolutely go for it.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
A torturous start that does improve greatly after about 25%.
Fifteen year old mage Zorian is attending his third year at wizard school when he abruptly gets caught in a time loop that resets after a terrorist attack. Zorian must use his seemingly infinite restarts to prepare himself and learn what is actually happening. This book is a bit difficult to review because I found the first 20% unbearable. Zorian is a pseudo-edgy loner who is very unpleasant to everyone around him and I didn’t enjoy reading about him. However, as soon as the time loops starts he becomes a) much nicer and b) very proactive. The rest of the book is full of very satisfying training montages and time loop strategizing. Ultimately I did enjoy this book, although if it was actually worth reading is dependent on future books continuing the momentum (I suspect this is the case). I just wish that some of these progression fantasy authors could start their stories a bit closer to the fun, zany characters they envision and not start at such a rock bottom.
Tentatively recommended to progression fantasy fans, although really the quality of future books impacts this. I suspect future entries will be great, thus justifying this book.
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to like the book more than I did. I finished but it ends on a disappointing cliffhanger clearly meant to stretch the book out.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Yes
Ah, Mother of Learning. I spent my last few years of college waiting to read your next chapters. Your prose is lacking, and sometimes you devolve into anime nonsense, but your core stays strong. You were the first and probably will always be one of the best rational time loop fantasies to grace the Internet. The grind? Real. The world? Intricate. The mysteries? Complex. I remember sitting with my friends arguing about each new chapter and what the implications were. All told, very fun once I got past the fanfiction prose.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Mother of Learning (Arc 1) by Nobody103
This is the first web-series I’ve read due to glowing reviews from various booktubers.
The first 300 pages of this Arc was a struggle. I considered to DNF the book so many times as the story seems very generic and quite boring. However, that changed significant in the 2nd half. It was such a blast and I’ve eaten up the book in no time.
This is rather plot-driven story as the author has spent little time in world and character building. We basically get to know only Zorian and the setting was heavily focused on the school and the city of Cyoria. As a character-focused reader, this is not usually something I would enjoy but Nobody 103 has managed to give a fresh twist to the time loop trope and makes it intriguing and engaging enough for me to follow.
I still want to read more and I hope that the series setting will expand further and explore other characters rather than Zorian.
Verdict: 3.5/5
This is the first web-series I’ve read due to glowing reviews from various booktubers.
The first 300 pages of this Arc was a struggle. I considered to DNF the book so many times as the story seems very generic and quite boring. However, that changed significant in the 2nd half. It was such a blast and I’ve eaten up the book in no time.
This is rather plot-driven story as the author has spent little time in world and character building. We basically get to know only Zorian and the setting was heavily focused on the school and the city of Cyoria. As a character-focused reader, this is not usually something I would enjoy but Nobody 103 has managed to give a fresh twist to the time loop trope and makes it intriguing and engaging enough for me to follow.
I still want to read more and I hope that the series setting will expand further and explore other characters rather than Zorian.
Verdict: 3.5/5