Decim

I recently binged the last three volumes and genuinely enjoyed each one too much to even rate them separately. While many readers might dismiss Volume 6 as a filler, I'd say otherwise. It actually gives us a glimpse into Ray's real life and hints at the possibilities of him forming connections beyond the world of 'Infinite Dendrogram'.

The reveal of Shu's true identity was also a great twist, and it made me curious to learn more about their older sister and the lore surrounding their family.

That said, I do wish there was less unnecessary chatter and undermining of Nemesis. I wanted to see more of her growth and evolution into her later forms.

One thing I appreciated was Rook's previous job changing to Lost Heart, since that fixed one of my long-time icks with the series.

Overall, while a few side stories dragged and felt like background noise, the main plots and quests remain engaging and full of energy. The series captures the feeling of playing through an MMO perfectly, from being a total noob to unlocking a superior job. I'll definitely keep reading to see where the adventure goes next.

After just two days of reading, I am completely hooked and already binged three volumes.

The events in this volume had me glued to the pages. The twists and turns caught me off guard, but in hindsight, they made perfect sense and added a lot of weight to the story.

I loved learning more about the characters. Even though, as the author mentioned in the afterword, Ray did not get much action this time, it did not bother me at all. The introduction and backstory of Marie made this volume more than worthwhile.

What I cannot stand though is Rook's job being called "Pimp." He is such a gentle and comforting character, and slapping that label on him is just distasteful. Out of everything else the author could have chosen, this one feels lazy and downright insulting. I do not know if it is a translation issue, but the constant reminder of it gets under my skin and undermines what Rook actually does. I just hope his job levels up soon so this nonsense does not get mentioned again.

I love how this volume continues to show that Ray, despite acquiring unique skills, his Embryo, and encountering lots of UBMs, is not an overpowered character and still has much to learn. Being a reader really feels like you are on the ride with him as he continues to unravel Dendrogram's mysteries.

My favorite part of this volume is how we finally get a preview of what kind of older brother Shu is. It is refreshing to see him portrayed as a cool, kind, and motivational brother instead of the usual trope. We also get some background on other side characters, which adds more depth to the story. These details make Infinite Dendrogram even more entertaining and exciting to read.

The Poppy War is not your usual fantasy story where the main character is overpowered from the start. Yes, Rin was destined for something greater, but she worked hard, struggled, and proved herself. She was born to be great, but her journey also shows what it means to be human. You follow her from childhood to becoming a child of war, and it is impossible not to empathize with her.

R.F. Kuang does not hold back in making her characters suffer, and it is both shocking and powerful. The book takes inspiration from real historical events, particularly the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Nanjing Massacre, which makes it even more haunting and unforgettable.

The book is great, but some parts can get overwhelming, which is why I postponed picking up the remaining books. Still, I know I will read them soon.

Read this at work. It was trash but I kept reading anyway. Entertaining (?) garbage.

The author with his "masked and unknown" persona is what gives this gimmicky, convoluted book a 2 stars lol.