A Practical Guide to Evil VII

3 million words (like 30 books!!) and 3 years later, I finally complete this series. I was first intrigued to read this because the core concept of the story is super unique and fascinating. The “magic” system of Guide revolves around Stories, and classical story tropes. There is naturally Good vs Evil, and the story tropes that are typical actually manifest in the world, with fate shaping itself so those story beats are followed, and are used by both heroes and villains to achieve their ends. A simple example is that sometimes, a hero is thrown into impossible odds, and whoever is doing the throwing, knows the hero will win because it is only natural for heroes to overcome impossible odds. The protagonist weaving and manipulating stories for her goals is very satisfying to witness. This makes the Guide at times immensely familiar, because what reader is not familiar with knowing saying “This couldn't get any worse” is immediately followed by things getting worse, yet new because of how those tropes are baked into the setting and story.

I don't think it's ever taken me this long to read something, this normally would be like a 2 week affair, so I ended up reading this series in spurts. I actually read the first two books twice because I forgot what happened and wanted to get serious about finishing it. I think it took so long because at times, it was hard to get through, but it is very worth it! There are a couple things I think the Guide does better than ANYTHING I've read.

1. Characterizations and dialogue
The main character, Catherine, and her friends are all well developed, each with their own motivations and personality. And put together is really where this story shines, because I have never read anything that so easily demonstrates the chemistry between the cast, their witty dialogue and funny banter. Character development and interaction is really what drove this series for me because it was always interesting.

2. Argument and philosophy
This goes along a bit with the previous point, but I have never read anything where argument was so complex, I could never decide which way I was leaning in an argument. More than once I thought to myself how does the author even come up with these arguments, because it always made sense when explained to me, but I could never have done it myself. It's interesting because you can't write clever characters without being clever yourself, and the author is definitely clever. I think this is so strong because the characters are so strong, and the author knows them so well.

3. Enemies to lovers
Haha this one is a little different from the other points, but generally speaking, enemies to lovers, is usually just dislike to lovers in most things I've read. This is I think the truest example of enemies to lovers I have read because they are most definitely enemies in the beginning, with a huge enmity, and very very good reason for that enmity, and there is a slow-burn that takes pretty much the whole series to resolve. It also develops into one of the best redemptions arcs I've read.

4. Epithets

At which point Lord Bujune and Lady Rania both accused the other of being the Emperor in disguise, and the meeting devolved into protracted argument until the final quarter hour had passed.” – Extract from the minutes of the fourth meeting of the Red Fox Conspiracy, as taken by the stenographer Shamna Mehere (later revealed to have been Dread Emperor Traitorous all along)