This book is ONLY a decent beginning of a book. It lays out an interesting fantasy setting and stretches the intro plot on forever. It gives readers the feeling it will become something good, but it never does. If the plot developed, it might be a good novel - That’s a major reason for its success. But as it stands, it’s the nutritionally empty junk food of webnovels. Below is a list of other rambly criticisms: 1. The writing is monotone. This is especially noticeable with characters who share speech mannerisms to an alarming degree. It is acceptable at first when everything is new and local, but as international cultures are introduced its nature as a flaw comes to light. 2. Character worldviews and attitudes are generic. All characters (even leaders, foreign countries, and “gods”) fall into two sets, “generic beast companion” and “generic humanoid.” These sets govern nearly all tones, mannerisms, attitudes, and thoughts. 3. Hundreds of chapters in its still 100% training arc. No real antagonists. Even “wars” against “faceless” giant monsters reads like a training arc. 4. The book is padded out to be a “slice of life.” It sacrifices progress (aside from strength increases) for semi-repetitive good-vibe moments. If you buy into the inside joke-like style these scenes might give you a little dopamine rush. Otherwise, it’s incredibly stale and predictable made worse by the monotone voice everyone has. 5. Other than the initial sudden twists (like a trial jumping out of nowhere), it’s too predictable. 6. Although the world’s mystery was intriguing for a long time, what is revealed over time is less interesting than I had hoped. (This is a common issue with many books where the initial concept the author adopted was obscured by a more interesting concept that never gets fully realized) I’ve rambled enough. I read this a while ago and only reviewed it now because it's been pinned to the top of my library for two days and I’m tired of it. Should you read this book? Maybe. I did once and I don’t anymore. Keep in mind that it’s super junk food and in the end, you will probably be unfulfilled. If you’re fine with that, enjoy the sickly sweet flavor stretching on forever.
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I totally agree with you. There's no tension, no conflict. The tone never feels serious, everyone just has the same witty attitude. I feel like I'm reading a bad marvel movie/serie.
It does not make sense why this novel is ranked 2nd on ranking. I have read up to chapter 38 and felt so bored - Yes I have read from ch1 to 38 with straight face. I just could not feel any emotion reading it. And those training chapter are also boring - I skipped to next paragraph because it is so predictable... This novel has 20000 fans......I am baffled and speechless.. .really.
you stated exactly how I feel. This book is too dry. Monotone is the best word choice for this novel. There's practically no tension and Karl agrees with damn near every suggestion given, to the point that it feels like he has no individuality. Some books are so engaging that you go for a ride and not realize you've already read 50 chapters. This book is the exact opposite, you will feel all of those chapters you read.. The Magi King (his other book) was like that too.. I eventually dropped it.. I was hesitant to pick this one up for that reason, but decided to give it a shot.. Now, I'm struggling to get to chapter 150
So I managed to push through and I'm currently at chapter 418. I have to be fair to the author since I was critical earlier; the quality of the book does get significantly better around chapter 170 and onwards (in my opinion). It's still primarily a slice of life novel in my estimation which he should put a tag for, but the story has become more palatable and not dry. The MC also develops a greater sense of self and becomes more balanced (knowing when to stand his ground, and when to be cordial).
The commentor above me, Rayn, is correct. The monotone writing gets better as time goes on, but imo, what the story offers is not worth suffering through hundreds of chapters of garbage writing. And while it does get better in not only the tone, but in other aspects as well, it's still not great. Especially the pacing. Half the time it feels like a garbage slice of life. The MC gets skills and upgrades way too infrequently, and they are often unsatisfying when he does get them. The author also likes to do this thing where he introduces a skill, concept, or reward that should obviously be used or addressed immediately, then puts it off for 100 chapters. Then, when everyone thinks the author forgot about it, he reintroduces it way after it would be satisfying. It's the worse way to build excitement I've ever seen. He doesn't even hype the abilities. He just refuses to even address their existence until a hundred chapters later.
