Tal has found a doorway to an ancient pocket dimension in the woods, but the discovery has cost him dearly.
Spellbook is lost somewhere inside, held by an unknown magical force. Should his Bond to the book fade, Tal fears he will lose all awareness of the time loop he’s trapped in, and any chance of escaping it. He must get Spellbook back before this happens, but the enchantments protecting the pocket dimension are formidable.
Another threat is the presence Tal has detected hidden amidst the oblivious citizenry of Crossroads—someone else is aware of the loop. A foe who retains their memories is a serious problem, but Tal has no idea who it could be. He’s determined to draw the mysterious individual out of the shadows before they find him first.
Tal can’t afford to let his magical and combat training fall by the wayside either. After all, new dangers are revealing themselves every reset—the behavior of the town’s rats is particularly disturbing. So a new instructor is called for, however brutal their methods may be…
I love this non linear, time loop novel. The casual language and humor kept the novel light, but the plot still had some weight to it. Keep it up Peter Lee!
1 billion and 5 stars out of 5 stars; on to volume 3!
I love this series thus far. The world, character, and magic systems building Lee does are simply off-the-charts well done. The characters are very believable, retaining plenty of verisimilitude in comparison to how many people I know would certainly react given the same circumstances. The length of the book is excellent for those of us who love longer works and/or actively turn away from many short ones (as I do). I can't wait to read volume three and I have little doubt that I will faithfully move through this author's entire body of works as long as they continue in the same or a compatible vein.
Additionally, I always listen and read along with Whispersync, and as always, Travis Baldree does an epic job aiding immersion as narrator. I can’t emphasize enough how the Audible version, when done very well, enhances one’s reading experience. Though I began doing both simultaneously due to my low vision, I recommend everyone try it to enjoy the unique experiences.
Last but ABSOLUTELY NOT least, Lee gets a billion extra stars from me for not being crazily foul-mouthed like so many current authors. Instead, this brilliant author uses very creative and wonderful euphemisms, which also serve to further enhance the world building in the process! 10^9 + 5* of 5*.
I loved the characters and how far the MC progresses in a way that feels authentic (hard work with flashes of inspiration).
I enjoyed getting more backstory on the world and the major characters but I am not sure that the timing was as good as it could have been. Sometimes it happens too long after the characters were last mentioned, so I was not sure if they were really important to know about.
My only serious criticism was the detailed spell stats. I understand the in world logic of putting them into the Spellbook as completely as possible, but as a reader, multiple pages of this as a block of data seemed unnecessary and damaged my interest in following the story. OK, I could skip ahead, but I question if that's a necessary burden to put on the readers. Surely, there are other ways to let the reader know what's happening and why even in a Progression Fantasy?
Having said that, I'm excited to read the next book in the series.
Wizard is a much more interesting book than Sorcerer, the first book in the series. While the Groundhog Day gimmick of repeating a single day over and over became tedious in the first book, the introduction of a new character in this volume energizes the plot and allows Wizard to shine. Linking the local situation to the bigger picture also creates more excitement. If you liked the first one you should love this book. No summary at the start so you might want to read the first book to refresh your memory of events.
I enjoyed this book, little bit better than the first one. Some of the myteries were resolved satisfyingly, and many more were added. It was almost funny to watch the events escalate throughout the book and the amount of different things going on at Crossroad and the surrounding areas was mind boggling.
I was a little disappointment at the distinct lack of interaction with Tal's main group (despite the reason being good and the new side-characters being interesting). Thankfully, they started to appear in the second half and the ending promises a lot more!
I hope I enjoy this. It was living rent free in the back of my head since I read book one. Didn't like this as much as the first, because he is recounting things of the past. It was still entertaining.
This series resembles Mother of Learning the more I read it. They even share character archetypes.
I could have done with some more. I guess I will be picking up the sequel to see how things go.
Definite improvement over the first book. Still superflous and tedious in many regards, but I don't regret reading it. Many plot decisions are rather interesting, not in terms of events, but the meta way of portraying the conflict happening in the world at large. However, I had to revise my expectations for what the story had to offer, and as such I think the third one might be the most satisfying, if it manages to keep up.
A fantastic sequel! The story is not the most intricate or mysterious timeloop, but the characters are the best. Everyone just feels so alive. The stories from others' struggles during the timeloop, really add an awesome sense of scale. Very enjoyable!
Tal continues to grow in magical might and figure out why he's stuck in a time loop; now, however, he has an unexpected ally in that fight. And that's good, because he's lost access to his Spellbook, and needs their help to get it back.
Full review is with the third book. Suffice to say, I liked this, and adding a character for Tal to bounce off of is a welcome addition.
This book was a struggle to get through. The storyline was convoluted, jumping between subplots without clear direction. The characters were unrelatable, making it hard to invest in their journey. Additionally, the pacing was erratic, making the narrative feel disjointed and ultimately unsatisfying
I’m gonna go see if I can get the next one. Maybe go on royal road if it’s not ready. I Really liked the characters, world and genre. Thanks for the story!
I generally really like progressive fantasy; The "groundhog day" time loop aesthetic really vibes with me. This is one of the best examples of progression I have read (behind Mother of Learning)
I haven’t stayed up reading till the sun came out for a long time. Great read. Love the magic system and how Tal breaks it. One book left and I’m already dreading it being over