/lit/ - Literature

>>20589406
The ranks weren’t introduced until over halfway through the book, but each stage includes 10 sub-stages. Most people in this universe never breach the tenth substage. Qi condensation is divided into drops, mana stages are divided into wisps, and natal essence is divided into cracks. ‘Get ten of the same substage to advance.’ Stages are generalized as benefits to strength, speed, perception, and mental fortitude. They can also cast spells and techniques.

There’s no real rhyme or reason to theses, being generalized to Shield and Magic Missile variations. In addition to this, most Practitioners bond with a spirit beast to increase their abilities and affinity with their chosen source. In Jasper’s case, he finds a lifemouse which is the BEST spirit beast for advancement. This companion is far less endearing than most, using double words to talk. Mouse-mouse is not a strong-strong character-character.

[Final Thoughts] Did not enjoy this. In the first chapter alone, the two characters go over the entirety of their backstories, dwell on the injustices of the 1968 world, elaborate on an entire romance sub-plot and then violently introduce fantasy, sci-fi and wuxia concepts all within the same few paragraphs. The main character opts out of being a character after the first chapter, instead taking orders and cultivating while being told how overpowered he is. The author also seems to be setting up multiple romance subplots all with the same woman or versions of the same woman. If the book weren’t so fucking boring, I’d be interested to explore that if nothing else – s’different.

Every ounce of this book is provided through exposition between the Soulship (Vessa) and Jasper. The few moments when the Soulscape or spirit beasts come up are interesting, but poorly utilized. Better than Soulhome’s cultivation system, but the story and method of presentation is so terrible I must take points off. Hate to hit on this point, but so very little is shown to us but one or two rooms and one or two planets, while every ounce of the rest of the universe is told to us through Vessa. There’s definitely an interesting character dynamic here, it’s just written in such a shitty bi-polar way.

4/10

Won't bother with the sequels, not enough here to catch me.

Previous Scores:
>Cradle by Will Wight - 9/10
>Lord of the Mysteries by Cuttlefish – 9/10
>Ave Xia Rem Y by Mat Haz - 8/10
>Forge of Destiny by Yrsillar - 7/10
>A Thousand Li by Tao Wong - 7/10
>Virtuous Sons by Ya Boy - 6/10
>Bastion by Phil Tucker - 6/10
>Mother of Learning Act I - 5/10
>Reverend Insanity by Gu Zhen Ren - 5/10
>Beware of Chicken (Non-Edited for Release) by Casualfarmer – 5/10
>Soulhome by Sarah Lin - 5/10
>Soulship by Nathan Thompson - 4/10
>Beware of Chicken (Edited for Release) by Casualfarmer - 3/10
>Reincarnation: Threads by Michael Head - 3/10
>Last Ship in Suzhou by Lungs - 0/10 (Dropped)

>Current Book:
Heaven’s Laws: Prodigies by Apollos Thorne