34 KiB
Monthly Recommendation Thread
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Author: u/ToaKraka https://i.imgur.com/OQGHleQ.png*
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URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/rational/comments/6rrew4/monthly_recommendation_thread/
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Score: 51
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Created: 2017-08-05T12:06:21
Post:
I was told to make this submission, due to the incapacitation of its usual submitter.
Welcome to the monthly thread for recommendations, which is posted on the fifth day of every month.
Feel free to recommend any books, movies, live-action TV shows, anime series, video games, fanfiction stories, blog posts, podcasts, or anything else that you think members of this subreddit would enjoy, whether those works are rational or not. Also, please consider including a few lines with the reasons for your recommendation.
Alternatively, you may request recommendations, in the style of the weekly recommendation-request thread of r/books.
Self promotion is not allowed in this thread.
Previous monthly recommendation threads
Other recommendation threads
Comments:
u/None [+22] (22 hours later)
[deleted]
u/serge_cell [+17] (23 hours later)
I'm not big fan of Pact, but by writing quality The Wandering Inn is not in the same league as Pact. Not that Wandering Inn is bad per se, it's just upper third of RoyalRoadL. Pact is written by real quality writer, whatever it's shortfalls are.
u/jiffyjuff [+3] (9 days later)
That is... strange. I found the Wandering Inn's prose much more compelling at times compared to Wildbrow's stuff. The emotional scenes get me the most, and I feel the pacing is well done. Perhaps it's a matter of personal preference.
u/dinoseen [+3] (3 days later)
And Twig is way better written than Pact, even. At least on the small scale.
u/Amonwilde [+2] (a day later)
I agree with this. Pact is very frustrating to read but the prose is high quality for web fiction.
u/IgonnaBe3 [+4] (a day later)
Hmmm i really have a bone to pick with the wandering inn as in i completly hate the main characters. Canst stand them as a reader and they are annoying. Especially the runner girl but erin still comes fairly close.
In terms of other stories i dont know if they are rational per se but Void domain The Zombie Knight The Gods are Bastards ( i especially would like the opinion on this one as i would think it really fits here)
u/AurelianoTampa [+3] (2 days later)
The Gods are Bastards ( i especially would like the opinion on this one as i would think it really fits here)
This was one comes up every once in a while. IIRC, the author didn't set out to make it rational, but it has some characteristics of it. People tend to love it or hate it - I'm in the "love it" camp, personally. It feels like a nice contrast to a sprawling web novel like Worm, where Worm is grimdark and the characters always end up having terrible things happen to them, while TGAB is lighter and though the characters go through tough times, they usually don't end up dead or maimed. Plus the characters in TGAB are just so darn likable - even the bad guys seem somewhat relatable.
But TGAB does have some things I don't like too. The first few volumes just seem "OK" to me; it takes a bit to get into them. The character list keeps growing exponentially, and since characters are hardly ever killed, this means there's an ever-expanding list to keep track of. I didn't care for the second-to-most-recent volume, since I'm primarily invested in the sophomore class and not just one member of them. And since there are so many volumes and it's still being released, it's tough to remember what happened so long ago without rereading the entire series, and that takes way too long. I've also heard some complaints from people that it's "too in-your-face about feminism," which I don't agree with, but it's cropped up a few times.
The Zombie Knight
I'll admit; I read this a while back based on a number of people recommending it here and there, and I did not like it. I thought some of the issues, particularly the child abuse and depression faced by the main character, were interesting and fairly well-done; you don't usually see those issues in novels except as some background for how people overcame struggles. Whereas with Hector he was still very much facing the repercussions. So that was good. But the writing overall wasn't very good and it feels like the power system is expanded when convenient for the author. It's been a while since I caught up to the end, but last I recalled, some people could suddenly use some kind of ultra form which combined multiple powers, something that was said from the beginning to be impossible? That's kinda frustrating to me. Like, if the rule of the universe is "You only get to use one power," I'd much rather see creative uses of that one power than to suddenly introduce Super Saiyan forms. It just rubbed me the wrong way I guess.
u/notsureiflying [+5] (2 days later)
I've been reading the gods are bastards for some time now and even though I'm enjoying it I can't help but notice how often everyone sounds like the same.
Every single chapter you'll see some perfectly clear explanation of something in a way that precisely outlines everything that's going on to the readers. And those explanations always sound the same, no matter who is speaking. It feels like the writer just decides to speak via whoever is at hand and fuck personality
u/IgonnaBe3 [+3] (2 days later)
I need to say that i stopped reading both when i caught up to them and never restarted reading them as The zombie knight was on a LOOOOOOOOOOONG hiatus because author had a writers block and IRL shit to deal with. In terms of TGAB i just couldnt be bothered to see the new chapters. In terms of characters i agree the list is huge and you can forget some of them fairly quickly. Especially the new class was kinda meh for me. My favourite character is the bishop guy from the thieves guild/church.
In terms of feminism it was centairly really visible, especially so if there is a religion of feminism... but otherwise it wasnt that in your face.
In terms of the zombie knight.... typical shonen problem ...power escalation. I too would prefer if it would keep to the level of a guy in a knights armor walking down the streets. but hell...
u/AurelianoTampa [+2] (2 days later)
Especially the new class was kinda meh for me.
Same. I like Maureen because gnomes are awesome, but the rest just left me wishing we'd focus back on the sophomores instead.
My favourite character is the bishop guy from the thieves guild/church.
Same here. Antonio Darling is like... a moral Littlefinger from Game of Thrones, with a combination Rogue and Cleric class from D&D. He's my favorite too; and I like his party members (Joseph P. Jenkins in particular is fascinating, and Brother Ingvar is intriguing too). His story, and that of the sophomore class, is what really carries the plot for me. The other story lines can be interesting, but I don't get absorbed in them as easily.
In terms of the zombie knight.... typical shonen problem
Yeah, that exactly describes my problem with it later on. Early on the writing just bothered me. IIRC, the writing for the first few chapters was basically just dialogue and no description. Even after that it feels like it focuses more on telling than showing (if that makes sense?).
I also had the impression that the author didn't know what he wanted to write at first, and that's why he's changing the plot. Like at the beginning, regular people didn't know servants existed. But later on we find out that there are thousands or tens or thousands around the world, some countries are run by people hundreds of years old, and they're constantly creating catastrophic events. There's NO WAY regular people wouldn't know about these folks, or not figure out that something crazy was going on. Their actions are disruptive on a transnational, if not global, scale. It's like how ridiculous Pokemon is when you start - there's no way Ash walks down the road and doesn't know what a Pidgey is. It introduces the concept to the audience through a method that makes no sense in-universe.
u/IgonnaBe3 [+1] (2 days later)
funny thing you talk about when the author of "The Zombie Knight" made an announcement that he is coming out of hiatus he said himself that he didnt know how he wanted the story to go on.
On the topic of TGAB i complately agree. The conflict between the bishop and pope, the first class of kids and arachne is what carried the webnovel for me. Also the mother of the paladin girl joining the religion and all was kinda interesting but it still played in the whole religious war plotline. and please excuse me not knowing the names of the cast as i read it a loooooooooooooong time ago.
u/TitansTrail [+7] (5 days later)
I just want to say that I think the Wandering Inn is worth reading. The writing has a lot of minor technical shortcomings, but I think the writer has a lot of good ideas. Most importantly, I always want to know what happens next after I read each chapter.
u/Abpraestigio [+17] (11 hours later)
I want to recommend the Dire Saga.
The main character is a female anti-villain Doctor Doom expy, and I for one found the series highly entertaining.
It also explores (or at least touches on) a couple of topics that I found highly unusual, and I would love to see what the r/rational community might make of it.
I've linked the compilation of the first three books, but the author recently published the fifth one. If he keeps up his writing speed, then the sixth one should come out early next year.
u/HollowpointNinja [+16] (15 hours later)
There is a great Worm cross over for this called Dire Worm. It is a blast. https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/dire-worm-worm-au-oc.300816/
u/Abpraestigio [+20] (20 hours later)
Notably, the crossover was written by the author of the Dire Saga and actually predates the books.
u/Frommerman [+5] (a day later)
Welcome to Lagrange Point Five!
u/HollowpointNinja [+6] (a day later)
Come to think of it, I believe this is the first story that used that method to deal with Crawler.
u/None [+2] (3 days later)
[deleted]
u/traverseda [+2] With dread but cautious optimism (3 days later)
I don't remember that too well, but extrapolating from context....
And also using knowledge from book 3 of the dire-saga
u/GaBeRockKing [+16] Horizon Breach: http://archiveofourown.org/works/6785857 (4 hours later)
I'm going to recommend the currently airing anime (and manga) Made in Abyss. The wordbuilding/creature designs are kickass, the characters are likeable, and the plot intruiging.
TL;DR the characters are exploring a (not quite) bottomless pit with its own bizzare flora and fauna.
It reminds me a lot of the [Tunnels](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnels_(novel) YA novels series, which I also reccomend.
u/trekie140 [+4] (8 hours later)
I heard about this from Digibro and Best Guy Ever's weekly videos/podcasts and am once again reconsidering my dubs only policy. I'm so worried that I'll end up having tunnel vision or read too slowly and get pulled out of the experience. I already know the show is slow-paced, but does that mean the dialogue is relatively slow and easy to follow?
u/k5josh [+5] (9 hours later)
I haven't had any issues, but I'm well accustomed to reading subs so take that how you will.
u/GaBeRockKing [+3] Horizon Breach: http://archiveofourown.org/works/6785857 (10 hours later)
I already know the show is slow-paced, but does that mean the dialogue is relatively slow and easy to follow?
Much of the storytelling is visual, so hopefully, but I'm also an exceptionally fast reader, so YMMV.
u/None [+2] (6 hours later)
Seconding both of those. Neither Tunnels nor Made in Abyss are particularly rational, but Tunnels is an absurd ride and Made in Abyss has an almost Ghibli feel to the background art.
u/Traiden04 [+9] (7 hours later)
That is because some of the Ghibli background artists have worked on Made in Abyss.
u/None [+2] (21 hours later)
[deleted]
u/GaBeRockKing [+3] Horizon Breach: http://archiveofourown.org/works/6785857 (a day later)
I honeslty never finished it, but I kept getting impressed at how progressively zanier and more awesome it got,
u/a_random_user27 [+14] (18 hours later)
SCP-3003 is relatively recent (written in March 2017) and pretty decent IMHO.
u/Frommerman [+2] (a day later)
It's like the Drug Lord, but there's more of them and they're technologically superior to us.
u/alexanderwales [+12] Time flies like an arrow (12 hours later)
I've been watching "Cracked: After Hours" lately, and while it's far from the obscure sort of thing you might want from a recommendation thread, I'd suggest giving it a shot. Each video is five to ten minutes of four friends/colleagues sitting around a table talking to each other about pop culture, examining weird aspects of movies and television in a way that I would think would resonate with this subreddit.
It's sort of like listening in on friends having a conversation with each other, but with more research, better writing, and better timing.
u/trekie140 [+8] (13 hours later)
I think it went downhill with the rest of Cracked.com a couple years ago, but I still love this show's analysis of pop culture and society through the lens of pop culture. The only videos I don't like are where they try to deconstruct a story, character, or genre without considering what the appeal of it is so it comes across as condescending towards the people who like it.
u/rhaps0dy4 [+2] (a day later)
This one is pretty cool: Why Homer Simpson Might Be God.
It's just like Haruhi Suzumiya :D
u/Timewinders [+10] (a day later)
I recently finished reading the webcomic Always Human. It's a lesbian romance set in a (post-singularity?) future where people use nanotech to modify their appearance. The main character gets into a relationship with a girl who has an autoimmune condition that prevents her from using mods. The romance is cute, the art is beautiful, and there's also nice music accompanying each chapter.
I also found a funny Ore Gairu fic called My Tinder Experience is about as Genuine as I Expected. It's about Hikki making a Tinder account.
u/trekie140 [+8] (a day later)
You didn't give Always Human enough credit. I'm four chapters in and I'm already impressed by how introspective the characters are. I loved the conversation in the park where they bare all their feelings and discuss them so matter of factly, bringing up the possible reasons why they feel the way they do and responding to them logically, it's very refreshing. I haven't fallen in love with their chemistry yet, but I'm definitely interested in seeing where the character development goes.
u/None [+8] (a day later)
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u/Kylinger [+16] (3 days later)
Yeah, I'm so glad I saw this. It's exactly what I want out of feel good media- it's beautifully drawn, emotionally engaging, and absolutely adorable.
Edit: Also, it's pre-singularity (no human level AI), but human cognitive enhancement is at a point where being unable to mod yourself is considered a significant disability.
u/None [+1] (2 days later)
[deleted]
u/Timewinders [+2] (2 days later)
Sure. Here's a link to a munchkin-y Oregairu/Danmachi crossover I posted here a while ago.
Also, more generally, here's a list of some of my favorite fics that I recced earlier. Sadly some of them are dead now, though.
Also, not on the list and more dark than funny (though there is still quite a lot of good humor), but Fargo is one of the best Madoka Magica fics out there, and is set in America.
u/None [+1] (2 days later)
[deleted]
u/Timewinders [+1] (2 days later)
Sure, I'd like some Pokemon recommendations. I've had a hard time finding good ones.
u/None [+1] (2 days later)
[deleted]
u/Timewinders [+1] (2 days later)
I've read some of these, but some were a bit too dark for me (i.e. Game of Champions and Pedestal). Do you have any light-hearted recommendations?
u/None [+1] (2 days later)
[deleted]
u/Timewinders [+1] (2 days later)
Yeah, that's the difficulty I've had looking for Pokemon fics. It's hard to find good ones that aren't dark, for whatever reason. I'll take a look at Traveler though.
u/Adeen_Dragon [+1] (29 days later)
I'd say that's because at it's core, Pokémon is either dog fighting or gladiator fighting, neither of which are really nice.
u/waylandertheslayer [+1] (3 days later)
Pokemon 0 is much better than I expected, and Ree Majors' Wonderful Journey is a less dark Pedestal so far iirc.
u/Timewinders [+1] (3 days later)
Thanks! I'll take a look at these.
u/None [+1] (14 days later)
[removed]
u/Timewinders [+1] (14 days later)
No, but the characters do a decent job of resolving incidents in their relationship with communication, which is a nice breath of fresh air compared to a lot of romances. trekie104 wrote a recommendation for it as well that's a bit more detailed.
u/Anderkent [+1] (15 days later)
Always Human is so damn cute. Hnggg.
u/ToaKraka [+7] https://i.imgur.com/OQGHleQ.png (2 days later)
u/amonwilde
Do you have any examples of such stories? Off the top of my head, I can think only of Look to the West (particularly, many of the antics of Revolutionary France) and Instruments of Destruction.
u/Aretii [+1] Cultist of Cthugha (9 days later)
God, Look to the West was awesome. I binged on it after finding a rec in a previous monthly thread.
I ran out of steam (heh) during the American Civil War analogue, but it was a super cool and ambitious idea and I'd love to see other alt-history with the same level of obsessive detail.
u/Aretii [+9] Cultist of Cthugha (14 hours later)
I've been in kind of a shitty headspace for the last long while, and a lot of rational fiction I used to enjoy is just way too emotionally exhausting for me now, because the writers, quite justifiably, make things hard on their protagonists and force tough choices. I don't have the energy to cope.
So I'm here asking for some non-rational feel-good competence porn/protagonist rising high and crushing everything stories. To illustrate with stuff that I've seen in other rec threads: the fanfic Seventh Horcrux, web fiction Everybody Loves Large Chests and The Bound Dungeon, and the xianxia novel series Cradle by Will Wight.
u/ToaKraka [+11] https://i.imgur.com/OQGHleQ.png (14 hours later)
non-rational feel-good competence porn
The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
Perseverance Island; or, the Robinson Crusoe of the 19th Century
The Swiss Family Robinson
u/Amonwilde [+5] (a day later)
I loved SFR as a kid. In retrospect the whole thing is ridiculous but they just keep leveling up and that island has more exploitable resources than most terrestrial continents.
u/Adeen_Dragon [+4] (18 hours later)
The sequel got weird. I suggest that you stop with the first.
u/trekie140 [+7] (a day later)
I give you, anime! Btw, the English dub for all these shows are fantastic.
I recently watched Gurren Lagaan and it might be just what you're looking for. It's a straightforward but totally nuts Hero's Journey epic about a kid piloting a mecha with drill-themed shapeshifting powers that's fueled by his self-confidence. It starts off as a very simple episodic adventure series, but the story goes all the way with its conceits and intentionally adheres to cliches like DBZ-esque escalating power levels. It's a more than a little mindless, but it works.
If you want a straight up action show about an underdog protagonist, My Hero Academia gives us an intelligent and big-hearted teen becoming a superhero despite not having conventional powers. It's a bit like Worm, except that every situation turns out okay and the characters have a lot more fun. People are calling it the next Naruto and it's been a blast so far so see a distinct yet familiar take on the superhero genre from a shonen.
If you're looking for something more subdued and relaxing, I recommend Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid. The protagonist is pretty damn rational, the story focuses on characters with almost familial relationships, and there's a reoccurring theme of how things could go wrong but don't. It's a slice of life show so the "rising high and crushing everything" comes in the form of achieving satisfaction in mundane life rather than from an epic adventure, but I still think it's worth checking out.
u/Aretii [+2] Cultist of Cthugha (9 days later)
If you want a straight up action show about an underdog protagonist, My Hero Academia gives us an intelligent and big-hearted teen becoming a superhero despite not having conventional powers. It's a bit like Worm, except that every situation turns out okay and the characters have a lot more fun. People are calling it the next Naruto and it's been a blast so far so see a distinct yet familiar take on the superhero genre from a shonen.
On your recommendation, I went through the entire thing (manga, not anime, since I dislike watching things). This rules. I see why people are calling it the next Naruto; a lot of the story beats/character notes are extremely reminiscent. That said, the characters are far more interesting, I get the sense that the author actually has some sort of coherent worldbuilding ideas, and I love our protagonist. He's everything Gryffindor should be.
Thank you for the rec!
u/Amonwilde [+2] (a day later)
The protagonist of MHA drove me crazy. I think he cried like 5 times in the first two episodes. Also any reasonable person would have given up on their stupid dream to become a superhero and become something useful, like a baker. Instead he's rewarded for being delusional.
u/trekie140 [+3] (a day later)
I don't love Midori, but I liked seeing him follow his dream because he wants to help people. Seeing him get told that he isn't cut out for it was heartbreaking, while watching him continue to try his hardest anyway and inspire others to take action felt good to watch.
This show isn't all that rational even if the powers are consistent and the characters are clever, but I find the story it tells emotionally satisfying. Superheroes are an escapist fantasy and I like the way MHA delivers on that fantasy without coming across as pandering.
After the first couple episodes we also see that Midori has more than just heart as an asset, he has the commitment to push himself physically, and the brains to perform complex problem-solving. He is capable of being a hero, he just wasn't given the chance to prove himself at first.
u/Amonwilde [+3] (2 days later)
Well, your response makes me like you more, even if it doesn't make me want to watch the show. :) I just feel that if he wanted to help people, and he was told he couldn't be a superhero barring some miracle, then he should have found one of the zillion ways to help people that aren't being a superhero. Of course, it's a show, so we know there will be a miracle, but in real life that doesn't happen. He should have been depicted pursuing some other dream and then getting wrenched back onto the path of being a superhero. That would have made me like him more.
u/Cariyaga [+3] Kyubey did nothing wrong (2 days later)
I mean, I cried like seven times in the first two episodes, so I dunno what to tell you there :p
u/Amonwilde [+1] (7 days later)
Ha ha, well I'm glad you enjoy it :)
u/None [+4] (22 hours later)
[deleted]
u/Aretii [+4] Cultist of Cthugha (a day later)
OK, the way this began was incredibly awesome but then the author kept adding more characters and worldbuilding and backstory and by the end of Chapter 9 I was completely unable to take this seriously, my eyes rolled right out of my head.
But I do appreciate the thought.
u/Amonwilde [+2] (a day later)
It's still worth reading but note that it's not finished. DD is better than the author's published work IMO.
u/ZedOud [+3] (20 hours later)
From the same site as Everybody Loves Large Chests:
Arcane Emperor
u/None [+1] (a day later)
Seconding Gurren Lagann.
u/Cariyaga [+1] Kyubey did nothing wrong (2 days later)
The video game Undertale is always my recommendation for this kind of thing. Also, Zootopia's pretty great.
u/a_random_user27 [+5] (a day later)
Another good recent SCP is SCP-3008. If you've ever had nightmares about being trapped in IKEA, this one's for you.
u/None [+6] (4 hours later)
I'd be amiss today if I didn't tell you all to pick up Interim Errantry I & II by Diane Duane.
u/PeridexisErrant [+3] put aside fear for courage, and death for life (15 hours later)
And to visit /r/errantry!
(there are probably dozens of us!)
u/vallar57 [+5] Unseen University: Faculty of High-Energy Magic (12 hours later)
Is The Games We Play good? I'm a bit wary of all The Gamer crossovers.
What's it current status (ongoing/dropped/finished)?
u/XxChronOblivionxX [+14] (12 hours later)
I highly enjoyed it overall, even if some parts far surpass others. It uses the premise very well, and makes the RWBY-verse feel more fully realized and awe-inspiring. It is actually completed, but there is a sequel planned.
u/AurelianoTampa [+1] (2 days later)
I felt the same way about TGWP. I hadn't watched more than the first season of RWBY and had read a bit of The Gamer and I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of The Games We Play. Later on it started slowing down quite a bit with the super-long fight descriptions; but I still liked it overall. It does a great job of expanding the universe.
Anecdotally, it was really interesting for me to go from reading TGWP and RWBY fan fiction from Coeur Al'Aran, to actually watching the rest of the RWBY series. As said, I only completed the first season of RWBY before I went on a binge of fan fiction based around it; so it felt really weird to see characters I "know" from the fics and what they were actually like in the real series. Led to a bit of dissonance when characters like Adam and Rowan were so completely different in the fics from the actual show!
u/eyuwi [+8] (a day later)
I've finished reading it, and as what the others have said, it starts out fun, but later on reaches DBZ power levels, causing the long, excruciatingly-detailed (like one paragraph per move) fight scenes to become extremely boring, because the reader already knows that everyone is effectively invincible and thus none of the attacks are actually meaningful.
u/NotACauldronAgent [+5] Probably (12 hours later)
It's a thing? Very polarizing, to stay the least. I enjoyed it, but it's not rational or anything. It's technically on hiatus, but it's been that way for a long time, and since season 3 of RWBY came out (They're working on five now so it was a while ago) it's been disconnected completely from "canon". Though I mean it kinda brought that down upon itself.
u/vallar57 [+2] Unseen University: Faculty of High-Energy Magic (12 hours later)
Thanks. /u/XxChronOblivionxX, you too. I'll read it, then.
Though, um, is it completed or on hiatus? You two say different things XD
u/XxChronOblivionxX [+12] (13 hours later)
The story itself is completed, and there is a sequel called "The Lies We Tell" planned, but it hasn't even started yet. So you could call it "on hiatus".
u/vallar57 [+2] Unseen University: Faculty of High-Energy Magic (a day later)
Ty.
u/Charlie___ [+7] (14 hours later)
I think it goes through the usual life cycle of those stories where the main character has a cheat-like ability and gets stronger rapidly. At the start it's fun, you're willing to overlook the necessary BS, but eventually it starts to collapse under the fact that the reader doesn't really care very much. If you're fine with that, then go for it.
u/ProfessorPhi [+1] (2 days later)
I enjoyed it thoroughly. So much so that canon rwby was incredibly disappointing and boring and the other fics I've read of it seem far less vibrant and real.
I didn't finish it, I got to the end of where the book had gotten and the power creep was a serious thing, but it was such an excellent story. I'm considering re reading now that you've put a link together.
u/ToaKraka [+3] https://i.imgur.com/OQGHleQ.png (4 hours later)
A Spell for Chameleon (the first book in the Xanth series) was somewhat interesting to read. It's based on the premise that, in a particular isolated part of the world (which looks suspiciously similar to Florida), every human is born with a supernatural power, whose potency may vary widely:
- Can create a cloud of poisonous gas
- Can transform a living being that he can see within six feet of himself into a different living being
- Can project his voice perfectly
- Can create and control storms and wind, large and small
- Can create simple holograms while concentrating
- Can create magnificently-detailed, semi-permanent illusions capable of fooling all the sensesI found the setting significantly more interesting than the plot, though. I definitely can see why this book was listed in the bibliography for GURPS Powers!
u/Amonwilde [+9] (4 hours later)
Probably one of my least favorite books of all time. Thought the plot with the woman who becomes intelligent as she becomes uglier and vice versa repellent.
u/ToaKraka [+6] https://i.imgur.com/OQGHleQ.png (8 hours later)
I'll clarify, though, that I found the setting more interesting than any of the main characters—even Trent, but especially Chameleon.
u/Amonwilde [+16] (9 hours later)
You're allowed to like it. Just because the book is unenlightened doesn't say anything about you. Or much, anyway, ha.
Still think the setting was pretty uninteresting, too, though. Not much thought of second-order effects...society didn't seem to have changed much given that everyone has magical superpowers. There's a lot better worldbuilding out there, even if you like that particular conceit.