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A review by constantki
Mother of Learning by Domagoj Kurmaić, nobody103
5.0
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.