Scan barcode
sentry's reviews
150 reviews
Clover City: Rise of the Mystic Mage book 2 by Jay Boyce
Strong Elements:
fast-paced
3.25
Weak Elements:
The central flaw in this book/series resides in its almost nonexistent main plot. While our protagonist aims to explore the world's lore, her specific goals remain elusive. She's tasked with a quest from some queen(probably stuff from the first book that I've forgotten) but the focus on that quest this in this book is almost non-existent(aside from a scene mentioned later). I'd argue this book is setting up a different plot. The narrative touches upon her desire to foster better relationships this time around.
Perhaps this story intends to showcase the journey of an introverted protagonist learning to forge new relationships, but this aspect feels underdeveloped. This premise seems shallow—merely about power-leveling others or handing out overpowered items without a deeper exploration of friendship or meaningful connections.
The supporting characters, ostensibly significant, lack depth. What do the other characters want? Who are they? So many interactions between our main character and side characters have been, "oh shit this lady is rich and is OP"
Our main character's standoffish attitude toward non-NPC individuals, is a complicated character trait that I worry won't be for anything.
"I don't want to waste my time with someone who wasn't famous in my first go around" can summarize her attitude towards her peers. Which isn't a bad start to a character, particularly a flawed character, but if the author doesnt let her character grow out of this mindset/behaivior, it will just be weak writing.
The supporting characters, ostensibly significant, lack depth. What do the other characters want? Who are they? So many interactions between our main character and side characters have been, "oh shit this lady is rich and is OP"
Our main character's standoffish attitude toward non-NPC individuals, is a complicated character trait that I worry won't be for anything.
"I don't want to waste my time with someone who wasn't famous in my first go around" can summarize her attitude towards her peers. Which isn't a bad start to a character, particularly a flawed character, but if the author doesnt let her character grow out of this mindset/behaivior, it will just be weak writing.
The pacing feels sluggish and intermittently un-engaging. While a slower pace isn't inherently detrimental, the absence of a clear direction in the storyline makes it a somewhat arduous read
In regards to the main plot. Only one scene really stands out to me. When she met back up with the headmaster of the school(was that his title?). fixing his old books and revealing lost knowledge at the same time learning a new use for her OP magic was done well, and got her an invite to the lore-keepers. This invite is a big deal, which is stressed to the reader that 10 years of friendship with the headmaster wasnt enough to warrant an invite.
So... what does this organization do for our protagonist? Well not much besides some hidden reputation bonuses and some discounts on seemingly random purchases.
The importance wont be explored in this book anyways. It's seemingly setting up something in the future?
The protagonist's involvement with the lore-keepers, while seemingly significant, lacks substantial utilization.
The other scene I want to dig into is the ending. She rides her bunny for the first time off into the sunset and then there's an abrupt and shallow epilogue, the reveal that the developers are indeed surveilling her lacks impactful revelation and is presented only fleetingly. Will future books offer fresh perspectives to clarify this?
So... what does this organization do for our protagonist? Well not much besides some hidden reputation bonuses and some discounts on seemingly random purchases.
The importance wont be explored in this book anyways. It's seemingly setting up something in the future?
The protagonist's involvement with the lore-keepers, while seemingly significant, lacks substantial utilization.
The other scene I want to dig into is the ending. She rides her bunny for the first time off into the sunset and then there's an abrupt and shallow epilogue, the reveal that the developers are indeed surveilling her lacks impactful revelation and is presented only fleetingly. Will future books offer fresh perspectives to clarify this?
Stories involving reincarnation or regression demand extensive exposition to familiarize readers with the world, yet here, reminders of past occurrences sometimes feel forced. Sometimes they are done well in this story, but a majority of the time something will happen and the main character will remind us "oh this didnt happen in my first run through"
Certain scenes lack depth while others are hastily executed, leading to jarring temporal shifts. While the author's use of temporal jumps is plausible, providing additional contextual information could enhance comprehension.
TL;DR this book feels like mere setup, lacking a cohesive plot.
TL;DR this book feels like mere setup, lacking a cohesive plot.
Strong Elements:
One of the book/series' strengths lies in its well-developed protagonist, shaped by personal trauma, steering her decision-making.
The minor dialogue exchanges are adeptly crafted and effectively delivered.
This story excels in detailing often overlooked aspects, such as emotions, character movements, and environmental features, fostering an immersive experience. The meticulous attention to these minor details significantly contributes to crafting an engaging narrative.
The world building displays potential for expansion, teasing further depth.
Certain aspects of the litRPG genre are well executed, making readers curious about the mechanics is a solid foundation for future development. One of the reasons I'll probably continue this story (besides my weakness for OP main characters) is that there seems to be a lot of variety in skills and builds that people can make in this game and I'm hoping we'll be seeing a lot of unique characters later on.
Certain aspects of the litRPG genre are well executed, making readers curious about the mechanics is a solid foundation for future development. One of the reasons I'll probably continue this story (besides my weakness for OP main characters) is that there seems to be a lot of variety in skills and builds that people can make in this game and I'm hoping we'll be seeing a lot of unique characters later on.
Audio Book Commentary:
Ellen Quay's narration in the audio book was commendable, especially in handling action scenes. However, one noticeable critique was her limited variation in character voices. There were instances where distinguishing between characters, particularly male ones, became challenging, especially during scenes with multiple characters conversing. This aspect occasionally caused confusion regarding who was speaking in these exchanges.