Sam
Re-reading 'Malice' by John Gwynne was a rewarding experience, reigniting my excitement to continue the series. The book offers a strong start with likeable characters and their fascinating animal companions. The worldbuilding, particularly the ancient history, was somewhat challenging to grasp even on a second listen, possibly due to the audiobook format. The narration was good, though some accent choices, like an Aussie accent in a Celtic-inspired epic, felt out of place. Nevertheless, the story excels with its nuanced antagonists, adding depth to the narrative.
Re-reading 'Malice' by John Gwynne was a rewarding experience, reigniting my excitement to continue the series. The book offers a strong start with likeable characters and their fascinating animal companions. The worldbuilding, particularly the ancient history, was somewhat challenging to grasp even on a second listen, possibly due to the audiobook format. The narration was good, though some accent choices, like an Aussie accent in a Celtic-inspired epic, felt out of place. Nevertheless, the story excels with its nuanced antagonists, adding depth to the narrative.
The series finale was nothing short of spectacular! I was a bit worried about how everything would come together, but Kurmaic nailed it. It’s been ages since I finished a series without any lingering questions, but this one pulled it off seamlessly. The pacing in this final arc was spot-on. If Arc 3 was a slow ascent on a rollercoaster, Arc 4 was a non-stop, exhilarating thrill ride. I’m genuinely sad to say goodbye to these characters; I’ve grown so attached to them. What a ride!
The series finale was nothing short of spectacular! I was a bit worried about how everything would come together, but Kurmaic nailed it. It’s been ages since I finished a series without any lingering questions, but this one pulled it off seamlessly. The pacing in this final arc was spot-on. If Arc 3 was a slow ascent on a rollercoaster, Arc 4 was a non-stop, exhilarating thrill ride. I’m genuinely sad to say goodbye to these characters; I’ve grown so attached to them. What a ride!
Overall, this was a great continuation of the series, despite some pacing issues. I enjoyed the focus on personal growth in this book. Usually, the series emphasizes magical ability growth, so this shift was a refreshing change of pace. I also really enjoyed the expanded world-building and experiencing new areas outside of Ibasan. The plot did start to drag in the middle, but I believe this is due to its origins as a web novel, which may lack a solid beginning, middle, and end.
Overall, this was a great continuation of the series, despite some pacing issues. I enjoyed the focus on personal growth in this book. Usually, the series emphasizes magical ability growth, so this shift was a refreshing change of pace. I also really enjoyed the expanded world-building and experiencing new areas outside of Ibasan. The plot did start to drag in the middle, but I believe this is due to its origins as a web novel, which may lack a solid beginning, middle, and end.
