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To Build A Fire does not do anything you couldn't guess from reading the premise, nor did the descriptions of the situation the man finds himself hin evoke any emotional response from me. That was the only thing I was asking for.

Strikingly casual and brisk in its prose, this first volume comes across as a stream of consciousness above all else, and it's absolutely delightful. The way the main character dramatizes every triviality is silly, but also oddly reflective of (social) anxiety and the negativity spirals it can put one in. Its biggest drawback is arguably the fact that the author didn't anticipate being able to write sequels to this, which makes this volume perhaps more conclusive than it should have been. However, it's a great setup for this story, and I can't wait to see how it continues.

The Search for WondLa stands out thanks to its remarkably rich descriptions of the landscapes and cultures Eva Nina and her companions encounter on their journey. There's a lot of texture to this work, and while it may not be the most intricate story due to its target demographic, it is a beautiful fantasy coming-of-age book with plenty of unexpected twists and turns along the way. I was a bit disappointed by this book's main antagonist, as his character felt rather incomplete and one-sided despite hints at his motivation, nor did his constant appearances over the course of the plot feel particularly meaningful.