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4.49 AVERAGE
4.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
Very fun book. Character development is very obvious and well done in my opinion.
What absolutely amazes me is how every little detail matters, if something gets mentioned then it's going to come back in force. Which is unique for a webnovel of this scope!
The author doesn't describe every character or every pebble on the road which is actually not a problem at all as the narrative provides plenty of interest.
The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is because of the amount of infodumps. They are cleverly hidden and kept to a minimum but they can be a chore to read through.
What absolutely amazes me is how every little detail matters, if something gets mentioned then it's going to come back in force. Which is unique for a webnovel of this scope!
The author doesn't describe every character or every pebble on the road which is actually not a problem at all as the narrative provides plenty of interest.
The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is because of the amount of infodumps. They are cleverly hidden and kept to a minimum but they can be a chore to read through.
This is one of the strongest fantasy series I've ever read.
It has many, many issues. The editing is not terribly good, even when compared to other self-published works. Spelling mistakes, grammar errors, repetition, poor phrasing, and so on are fairly common. The prose itself is wonky and fairly bad at times, though it's not without small gems here and there.
Instead, this series is made great by its set of diverse characters, intriguing plot, elaborate and fascinating magic system, and occasional asides into society and human nature.
The cast of characters is vast, but easily memorable. They are very colorful, with noticeably different mannerisms. Some of them start out as side characters, or are only mentioned passingly, but grow to be pivotal later on in the story.
The bedrock of this series is the growth of the protagonists - both in terms of in-world power and in terms of personality. This applies to the protagonists, but also applies to others, even though in their cases they often lose their memories after every month, which makes such growth temporary and fleeting. Nevertheless, it does take place, and often sheds light on the characters doing the growing.
As I said, characters train and grow in power, and this training constitutes a large part of the book. The difference in power level is staggering and yet believable. Although the main character doesn't start from close to zero, unlike books such as Cradle, he does start from a very mortal level of skill. He's very intelligent but fairly ordinary. And while he ends up being incredibly powerful, he never gets so overpowered that he's essentially unbeatable. He can never stop watching his back and his enemies can surprise him until the very end.
In spite of this staggering growth in skill, the story never runs out of new enemies and challenges to pit the protagonists against. There's always something new to learn, a new enemy to defeat, another exploit to perform, another tricky deal to negotiate (in fact, I felt the most impressive parts of the book were the deals the protagonists managed to negotiate - they were very cleverly done).
The magic system is incredibly consistent and well-executed. There are many different types of magic, each of which has its strengths and weaknesses, and throughout its many pages the book describes each one. It does perpetrate the sin of information dumps sometimes, but they're not too long or too common, so that (unlike in some other works) you never feel like you're reading a fantasy textbook.
A great thing about the magic system and the world in general, is that it shies away from the strange classification tropes that plague this sort of genre. There are no E-class adventurers exploring C-class dungeons, with Lowgold spirits and dark yellow mana cores. Power levels are much more nuanced than that, and not at all linear. This helps maintain a sense of unpredictability and makes the world feel much more organic. There is also no levelling system, no experience points, and so on. Growth happens through learning, not some abstract progression system.
The plot is quite nuanced and cleverly crafted. True, it's not terribly original in concept - a lot of the themes of the book are quite derivative to be honest - but it's incredibly intricate, with lots of actors and moving parts. Most pivotal events don't have just one cause or one person behind them, but are perpetrated by delicate alliances of multiple self-interested parties that have different motives and agendas.
A really interesting aspect of the groundhog day setup is the ability of characters to make mistakes. This is often rather limited, because some kinds of stupid mistakes - especially during heroic escapades - will easily get you killed. But in this setting, getting killed isn't an end to the story, so the protagonists can make all kinds of blunders that make them seem more human and less preternaturally lucky. They don't succeed because they're protagonists, they succeed because they've had lots of practice.
The world-building is quite serious. Some fantasy tropes, such as dungeons full of monsters, are given an in-world explanation that makes quite a bit of sense. It also doesn't shy away from topics such as inflation. Unlike other series, it doesn't overly rely on empty fantasy conventions that don't make sense unless you just tacitly accept them.
In short, event when compared to published works, Mother of Learning is incredibly good and I strongly recommend people should read it if any of the concepts above appeal to them.
It has many, many issues. The editing is not terribly good, even when compared to other self-published works. Spelling mistakes, grammar errors, repetition, poor phrasing, and so on are fairly common. The prose itself is wonky and fairly bad at times, though it's not without small gems here and there.
Instead, this series is made great by its set of diverse characters, intriguing plot, elaborate and fascinating magic system, and occasional asides into society and human nature.
The cast of characters is vast, but easily memorable. They are very colorful, with noticeably different mannerisms. Some of them start out as side characters, or are only mentioned passingly, but grow to be pivotal later on in the story.
The bedrock of this series is the growth of the protagonists - both in terms of in-world power and in terms of personality. This applies to the protagonists, but also applies to others, even though in their cases they often lose their memories after every month, which makes such growth temporary and fleeting. Nevertheless, it does take place, and often sheds light on the characters doing the growing.
As I said, characters train and grow in power, and this training constitutes a large part of the book. The difference in power level is staggering and yet believable. Although the main character doesn't start from close to zero, unlike books such as Cradle, he does start from a very mortal level of skill. He's very intelligent but fairly ordinary. And while he ends up being incredibly powerful, he never gets so overpowered that he's essentially unbeatable. He can never stop watching his back and his enemies can surprise him until the very end.
In spite of this staggering growth in skill, the story never runs out of new enemies and challenges to pit the protagonists against. There's always something new to learn, a new enemy to defeat, another exploit to perform, another tricky deal to negotiate (in fact, I felt the most impressive parts of the book were the deals the protagonists managed to negotiate - they were very cleverly done).
The magic system is incredibly consistent and well-executed. There are many different types of magic, each of which has its strengths and weaknesses, and throughout its many pages the book describes each one. It does perpetrate the sin of information dumps sometimes, but they're not too long or too common, so that (unlike in some other works) you never feel like you're reading a fantasy textbook.
A great thing about the magic system and the world in general, is that it shies away from the strange classification tropes that plague this sort of genre. There are no E-class adventurers exploring C-class dungeons, with Lowgold spirits and dark yellow mana cores. Power levels are much more nuanced than that, and not at all linear. This helps maintain a sense of unpredictability and makes the world feel much more organic. There is also no levelling system, no experience points, and so on. Growth happens through learning, not some abstract progression system.
The plot is quite nuanced and cleverly crafted. True, it's not terribly original in concept - a lot of the themes of the book are quite derivative to be honest - but it's incredibly intricate, with lots of actors and moving parts. Most pivotal events don't have just one cause or one person behind them, but are perpetrated by delicate alliances of multiple self-interested parties that have different motives and agendas.
A really interesting aspect of the groundhog day setup is the ability of characters to make mistakes. This is often rather limited, because some kinds of stupid mistakes - especially during heroic escapades - will easily get you killed. But in this setting, getting killed isn't an end to the story, so the protagonists can make all kinds of blunders that make them seem more human and less preternaturally lucky. They don't succeed because they're protagonists, they succeed because they've had lots of practice.
The world-building is quite serious. Some fantasy tropes, such as dungeons full of monsters, are given an in-world explanation that makes quite a bit of sense. It also doesn't shy away from topics such as inflation. Unlike other series, it doesn't overly rely on empty fantasy conventions that don't make sense unless you just tacitly accept them.
In short, event when compared to published works, Mother of Learning is incredibly good and I strongly recommend people should read it if any of the concepts above appeal to them.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I've been following Mother of Learning for about 2 years now, and this is the third time I've written a review (previous ones frustratingly keep getting deleted on goodreads). This review will mark my completion of the entire series, rather than the smaller "books" that comprise it.
As a fantasy series, MoL is a complete triumph, and succeeds in a lot of ways that seasoned fantasy authors fail. MoL is time loop fantasy, which I definitely live for in general, but here it's done so incredibly thoughtfully, with a ton of innovation, intrigue, and thoughtful planning.
Zorian the main character is unlikable at the beginning but in the best and most relatable way - he reads like a bratty kid, but i promise this gets much better, so don't let this put you off. The thing I love about Zorian for this story is that he is hyper-logical, and maybe even emotionally closed off, but in a believable way. A lot of rational fiction fails at this, and I think Zorian hits a wonderful balance. He is a flawed character who can be arrogant and selfish, but also feels human and someone the reader wants to root for. This allows him (and the author) to take this story to next-level heights. You have a character who thinks deeply about how to take advantage of the situation, who is ambitious and highly competent. This combination with fantasy and time loops is such a winner. The book is constantly fascinating and mind blowing, and Zorian has a fantastic arc.
Plotwise, I always think of how amazing that sequence and reveal at the end of book 1 (~chapter 20-26) was. That scene is one of my all time favorite things in all of fantasy. The mystery is so well done, and it's so refreshing to have intelligent protagonists. Truly, the immense scope of the world and the series is so amazing, and the way that it builds up over the many time restarts is so natural and not jarring. The sheer amount of mysteries, supporting characters, and magical discoveries/artifacts in this series is so impressive, and further, I found 99% of these plot threads satisfying and gripping. It would be impossible to talk about everything I loved about this world and this series. However, my least favorite part was near the end, when they were retrieving the artifacts, specifically the staff from Blantyrre. That plot dragged for my taste, and I think it should have just been the crown, orb, and dagger, for a much better pacing. By the time we got to the staff I was checked out, and I could tell the author was too. That part was so rushed and weird. Luckily, we got back on track for an amazing ending fairly shortly after.
The writing itself is probably the weakest part of MoL. It really works for the format, but it is definitely on the side of telling rather than showing, especially during book 3 where some of the plot was summarized and rushed. Also there are many grammatical errors and typos, but this is something I found easy to overlook that didn't diminish my enjoyment of this fantastic series. Overall the prose isn't bad at all, but it isn't on the same level as the plot.
I used to say strongly that Mother of Learning is the best rational fiction I've ever read, over Worth the Candle, HPMOR, and Practical Guide to Evil. I don't feel this as strongly anymore, since over the years I believe MoL decreased in quality and Practical Guide to Evil has been increasing. I recently finished Book 3 of PGTE, and I hear that books 4 and 5 are even better. Where I am now, I would say MoL is still my favorite, but this may be subject to change in the near future. No matter what happens, MoL was the first piece of rational fiction that I truly fell in love with. It feels bittersweet to finally finish it, after literal months-years of stressing out about Red Robe's identity and the nature of the time loop. This series will always hold such a fond place in my heart. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who loves fantasy and wants something immersive, clever, and unique.
As a fantasy series, MoL is a complete triumph, and succeeds in a lot of ways that seasoned fantasy authors fail. MoL is time loop fantasy, which I definitely live for in general, but here it's done so incredibly thoughtfully, with a ton of innovation, intrigue, and thoughtful planning.
Zorian the main character is unlikable at the beginning but in the best and most relatable way - he reads like a bratty kid, but i promise this gets much better, so don't let this put you off. The thing I love about Zorian for this story is that he is hyper-logical, and maybe even emotionally closed off, but in a believable way. A lot of rational fiction fails at this, and I think Zorian hits a wonderful balance. He is a flawed character who can be arrogant and selfish, but also feels human and someone the reader wants to root for. This allows him (and the author) to take this story to next-level heights. You have a character who thinks deeply about how to take advantage of the situation, who is ambitious and highly competent. This combination with fantasy and time loops is such a winner. The book is constantly fascinating and mind blowing, and Zorian has a fantastic arc.
Plotwise, I always think of how amazing that sequence and reveal at the end of book 1 (~chapter 20-26) was. That scene is one of my all time favorite things in all of fantasy. The mystery is so well done, and it's so refreshing to have intelligent protagonists. Truly, the immense scope of the world and the series is so amazing, and the way that it builds up over the many time restarts is so natural and not jarring. The sheer amount of mysteries, supporting characters, and magical discoveries/artifacts in this series is so impressive, and further, I found 99% of these plot threads satisfying and gripping. It would be impossible to talk about everything I loved about this world and this series. However, my least favorite part was near the end, when they were retrieving the artifacts, specifically the staff from Blantyrre. That plot dragged for my taste, and I think it should have just been the crown, orb, and dagger, for a much better pacing. By the time we got to the staff I was checked out, and I could tell the author was too. That part was so rushed and weird. Luckily, we got back on track for an amazing ending fairly shortly after.
The writing itself is probably the weakest part of MoL. It really works for the format, but it is definitely on the side of telling rather than showing, especially during book 3 where some of the plot was summarized and rushed. Also there are many grammatical errors and typos, but this is something I found easy to overlook that didn't diminish my enjoyment of this fantastic series. Overall the prose isn't bad at all, but it isn't on the same level as the plot.
I used to say strongly that Mother of Learning is the best rational fiction I've ever read, over Worth the Candle, HPMOR, and Practical Guide to Evil. I don't feel this as strongly anymore, since over the years I believe MoL decreased in quality and Practical Guide to Evil has been increasing. I recently finished Book 3 of PGTE, and I hear that books 4 and 5 are even better. Where I am now, I would say MoL is still my favorite, but this may be subject to change in the near future. No matter what happens, MoL was the first piece of rational fiction that I truly fell in love with. It feels bittersweet to finally finish it, after literal months-years of stressing out about Red Robe's identity and the nature of the time loop. This series will always hold such a fond place in my heart. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who loves fantasy and wants something immersive, clever, and unique.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Good read! The action stays interesting, the twists are very fun, and Zorian really does grow on you over time (ALTHOUGH! in the beginning it's very fun to enjoy annoying him via every side character). Also, I was truly impressed that pretty much every string of plot was neatly wrapped up at the end. A few key criticisms: there were no real powerful female protagonists and that felt strange? Like maybe the matriarch but she’s not even human, and all the other women were very faulty/emotional (Imaya is hapless, Silverlake is evil + weak in battle + makes bad, annoying deals just to be overtaken down by herself, even Ilsa we see struggling with the loop, the priestess shows up twice and barely talks even though she’s a useful plot device, Zach and Zorian just consider the other girls on a scale of datability or usefulness, even Taiven isn’t that strong and has a meltdown when Zorian’s existence challenges her self esteem, not to mention Kirielle and Zorian’s mom - Rea’s cool but a total minor character and we know very little of her) meanwhile the men were superbly talented and good leaders even if they have muddied ethical choices in their pasts. Similar vein, no one was queer and it wasn’t homophobic, but there were light gay jokes about Zach and Zorian throughout and I do think the whole thing would be more fun if they explored their love (platonic or romantic) for each other after being stuck together for like a decade… It definitely gives me vibes of “this was written by a very slavic man” and you know that’s gonna get on my nerves even if the humor, plot, and character development is all cool and interesting.
And on the plus side I won’t be against time-loop stories in the future because that aspect of this wasn’t bad at all!
And on the plus side I won’t be against time-loop stories in the future because that aspect of this wasn’t bad at all!