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coreydavis 's review for:
The First Binding
by R.R. Virdi
Exhausting in a bad way. Derivative, trope-heavy, repetitive in both writing and theme.
I lost count of how many times the protagonist was described as “too clever”. He reads at all times, and all ages, as an authorial self-insert who is entirely too pleased with his own dialog. He never learns but the framing device allows him to ominously regret - over and over, directly to the reader - how his flaws will one day have consequences… (UGH!!!!!)
Nearly every secondary character falls into one of two categories:
1. Adult Male Plot Advancer (Teachers, Antagonists, or Caravan Drivers) who rues - out loud, repeatedly - how annoyingly clever the protagonist is
2. Stunningly Beautiful Female Peer who takes a sudden liking to the protagonist (despite rueing how annoyingly clever he is!!!)
The protagonist operates in one of two modes at all times: Anointed Genius Savior or Angry Dense Idiot, with no in-between.
The worldbuilding has some merit but also reads as a shallow kitbash of influences from popular fantasy. Not to mention the very direct adaptation of The Name of the Wind’s entire structure and plot.
1.5/5 at best. If the author could get out of his own way, he set up some interesting plot lines and a world with potential.
I lost count of how many times the protagonist was described as “too clever”. He reads at all times, and all ages, as an authorial self-insert who is entirely too pleased with his own dialog. He never learns but the framing device allows him to ominously regret - over and over, directly to the reader - how his flaws will one day have consequences… (UGH!!!!!)
Nearly every secondary character falls into one of two categories:
1. Adult Male Plot Advancer (Teachers, Antagonists, or Caravan Drivers) who rues - out loud, repeatedly - how annoyingly clever the protagonist is
2. Stunningly Beautiful Female Peer who takes a sudden liking to the protagonist (despite rueing how annoyingly clever he is!!!)
The protagonist operates in one of two modes at all times: Anointed Genius Savior or Angry Dense Idiot, with no in-between.
The worldbuilding has some merit but also reads as a shallow kitbash of influences from popular fantasy. Not to mention the very direct adaptation of The Name of the Wind’s entire structure and plot.
1.5/5 at best. If the author could get out of his own way, he set up some interesting plot lines and a world with potential.