May 25, 2024
Spoiler-free review.
It's a beautiful story. What shines about it is how you can clearly perceive the growth, that is, the "maturing" of its protagonist, Acer. Developing from what's roughly an elven teen (150 years old)—still a bit childish and slightly brash—to a mature adult. And ultimately, a wise elder. His essence remains the same, however.
The story is about Acer's journey, growth, and relationships with the people around him.
It's about life. About the passage of time and those we meet along the way.
It's a story about the choices we make and the consequences of those choices. It's a story about love (of many kinds), friendship, family,
...
and loss.
It's a story about the human condition, or should I say, the elven condition (both, in fact.)
There are many touching moments, most of them bittersweet. The story is not afraid to show the darker side of life, and it's not afraid to make you tear up. There are frequent musings by the MC.
When I started reading, I didn't know what to expect tonally. Initial volumes are a bit more light-hearted (roughly until volume 3). But as time passes and the centuries pile up, arcs become more reflective and solemn. The difference isn't that significant, however. The first books are a slow burn, comparatively. The world-building is good and has plenty of original and intriguing elements.
It has its faults, though.
An issue I had is that the story is almost entirely told from Acer's perspective, in the first person. Sometimes, you desperately want to know what certain characters think or feel. It's very sparse on the dialogue, and that doesn't help characterization. Luckily, the characters were well-thought-out and likable, so the issue is softened. You can also infer what they're thinking or feeling from their interactions with Acer (there's also how Acer himself is rather insightful and will tell you what he thinks they think or feel.) You'll seldom get to read direct perspectives of other characters (the side stories.)
I won't say romance is utterly non-existent, but it's definitely not the story's focus. Don't expect anything satisfying in that regard, at least not in the traditional sense. Some things are hard to accept and frustrating, but that's part of Acer's nature. It's presented subtly and unconventionally, reflecting the unique personalities of those involved. Essentially, it's sort of there.
The pacing is a bit off (something I keenly felt in the story's final stretch.) Some readers might be dissatisfied with this final section. It doesn't help that by the later books, time goes by absurdly fast, and you're left with some questions. You don't get to see many things you'd like to see. At least I felt that way. Personally, I was a bit upset, yes. But YMMV.
As an idea, the story spans roughly 850 years (out of 1000 years of Acer's life.) The first 6 volumes, of 8, cover the first 106 years (or approximately that.) The last 2 volumes cover the remaining 744 years. That's a bit of a problem. This pacing isn't entirely unjustified, considering the nature of things. It makes sense in the story, but it's still a bit unsatisfying. There was certainly room for certain events to be described.
Overall, I believe fans of works with similar premises, like "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End", might enjoy this novel, especially if they were interested in exploring the passage of time. Other fantasy readers as well, if they think any of this sounds interesting, should try it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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