So reads the sign outside of The Wandering Inn, a small building run by a young woman named Erin Solstice. She serves pasta with sausage, blue fruit juice, and dead acid flies on request. And she comes from another world. Ours.
It’s a bad day when Erin finds herself transported to a fantastical world and nearly gets eaten by a Dragon. She doesn’t belong in a place where monster attacks are a fact of life, and where Humans are one species among many. But she must adapt to her new life. Or die.
In a dangerous world where magic is real and people can level up and gain classes, Erin Solstice must battle somewhat evil Goblins, deadly Rock Crabs, and hungry [Necromancers]. She is no warrior, no mage. Erin Solstice runs an inn.
I absolutely love this series but this volume felt like I could truly connect to it. I felt so much joy in their triumphs and shed so many tears for their pain. I found that acceptance can be so difficult but you just can't help but be who you are. Sometimes finding the right words to say are so difficult and sometimes the words arrived too late. There was so much that happened but every chapter felt like an amazing story in its own right. This story has reinforced my own values and taught me to be more open-minded. That even in a world of magic, monsters, and wonder, people are still people.
So thank you Pirateaba for writing this amazing story. I hope that the upcoming year will be just as amazing or even more so. Thank you for creating this world where it isn't the magic and levels that make me come back but the people and their connections.
Continuity errors, grammatical errors, spelling errors, a lack of editing, american-centrism, some characters that are just incredibly stupid, a pessimistic outlook, a tendency to homage without understanding of the material, a lack of likeable characters, a disturbing propensity to code rather than create new cultures, a lack of MC death when really they should all be dead multiple times over, tweeness, a failure to fully characterise the additional pov characters, a lack of resolution, pacing issues, pointless characters, a tendency towards fan service, characters' knowledge seemingly added after the fact for the benefit of the story(?), honestly a messed up magic system, a lack of perspective, retconning, making up new characters that should have been at least mentioned before, product placement, listening to and worrying about what the readers think rather than just writing, lack of whiny near-27 yo half-new-zealand-halfenglish man-children characters to identify with, a ridiculous amount of characters, seriously why has nobody made a bicycle yet, book seven is not even written yet there are like 7 chapters, disregard for certain differences that would come from a levelled society, probably more issues but I mean it's not like I was writing things down as I went. Someone please explain the difference between discreet and discrete to pirateaba before I go insane.
So yeah it would have been five stars but I really hate Flos. Like as a character, on a fundamental level.
30/09/2020: I'm 27 now, and a fucking month and a half older than when I started reading this.
Usually, when I read, I read to the exclusion of all else, but that hasn't really been an option lately, and the length of this means that it would have been like a solid 5 days straight even if I did that.
This is such a fucking book. It has flaws, but, so does everything. I think my real reasoning behind not giving every single one of these books five stars is the format, and the fact that I can see so incredibly clearly that it could be near perfect with a little editing.
I feel like, if the option was available, I would go and live in this place that pirateaba has made. Like yes, it's made very clear that this is a lethal world, occasionally backwards in odd ways and constantly in conflict, but. Imagine a universe that recognises what you put effort and time and care into.
Guess I'm maudlin in my old age. :P
24.11.2022 I kinda like the Doctor. Geneva. Everyone else is fairly well flawed. I don't really admire anyone.
The language bothers me on multiple levels. The fact that errors abound, not just spelling errors, but things like instances where it's obvious the wrong name has been used have pushed me towards paranoia and a lot of second-guessing. The vocabulary used is a bit repetitive at times, especially when it's a teaching word, and there aren't really enough of them for my taste. How many times is susurration the perfect word for a situation? Surely, occasionally, a different word is more appropriate. Also I prefer susurrus. The word discrete still bothers me every time I read it. Then there's the way language is used, like people still using the word skill mundanely, outclassed, things like that. Surely they'd fall out of use after a while? People would use workarounds? It just doesn't make sense to me. There's also the religious language used by the native inhabitants of the world. I get Hell, on Rhir, but if all religious things have been wiped from history except for tidbits here and there that have to be hunted down by expert historians... is this intentional? Because it feels a little like an oversight, especially given the abundance of errors. I can think of two major explanations given that I've read Volume 7 and some of Volume 8, but they are a little nebulous/implicit/haven't been expounded upon. Then there's the use of the word 'Skill' itself to describe something... that isn't necessarily a skill.
For all the death and destruction this still feels like it's going to have a happy ending. Which annoys me.
Fuck Flos.
The cracks are sort of beginning to show but the problem/benefit of the format is that they can be patched over in each chapter, so it's hard to judge the series as a whole.
If the story was cut into blocks of 1235 pages, the length of the first book, there would be 26 of them and then some.
I still admire the series, and the author. Maybe it's a ridiculous series of coincidences, or maybe this series is a concerted effort to demonstrate Montessori principles and why they are the optimal way to live your life. Either way I can't really oppose it, it's so incredibly valuable not just for it's own sake but because of the prevalence of stupidity, ignorance, stubbornness, and benign neglect in the governing bodies around the world that insist on traditional education practices in schools.
Does Marian like Venaz?
Does Yvlon like women?
Does anyone like Flos?
Is there stevia in Baleros and can we save Magnolia from Diabetes?
Kad pirmajās trīs Wandering Inn sērijas grāmatās iepazīti pavisam galvenie varoņi kā Erina un Rioka, laiks tiem piepulcēt klāt citus, iepazīt jaunus tēlus un vispār vēl vairāk paplašināt pasaules uzbūvi un horizuntu. Jāsaka, ka autors gana labi iepazīstina arī jau ar iepriekš zināmiem tēliem, lai arī salīdzinošs jaunpienācējs sērijā nejustos pavisam apjucis.
Reading this book has solidified a number of things for me. One- I don't like reading battles, or watching them for that matter. Two- I will give anything 5 stars if it brings me the sheer delight of Erin's peace time chaos or the Titan's game. This book has be interested in metalwork, medicine and drake politics. The transitions are still abrupt at places, and I have character perspectives that I have to push myself to get through, but overall, I'm glad I read this, and I'm looking forward to more.
Ha! This time, it took me several reading spurts to read Vol6. Hm, I read 90% of Vol6 in the summer. Comics & Asian webnovels snagged my attention, and I've been devouring them instead. It's almost the end of the year. I figured I should finish my reread of Vol6. It took me a few days, but I did it!
There are two epic events in Vol6 that are amazing! It's fun to think about how the different moments are lined up to make them happen. Not all the story blocks are well-formed, but each one made it possible to have the gut-wrenching events.
There will be a buddy read for Vol1 next year. I'm not sure if I'll re-read with them or just chat. I may re-read Vol7 & Vol8. Hoping that the end of Vol8 will be done by the time I get to it.
08/10/2020 Notes:
Are there a bunch of grammar, spelling & other mistakes? Yup! However, I have come to love some of the characters and the Innverse world. =)
Great mini-arcs, overall plot progress and epic battles. Eh, not sure if I'm down with what happened between Toren & Erin at the end but it was also predictable.
1st volume of the series I've given 4 stars. Not counting the audio for Wandering Inn Vol1. That rating is for audio effect, not the story told. I'm waiting for the day I'll give a volume 5 stars. I don't think that will happen due to the errors that litter the series. But! It's a crazy, fun ride!
11 days to read 5500 pages. Ha! I'm such a slowpoke. Still bored silly by some of the POVs.
While reading this volume, I experienced same joy from reading volume 1. A lot of tightly written cliffhangers, throwing readers into a loop and highly entertaining. (I mean its been a year and am still not over that one death from volume 1)
finally became their Patreon member. Thanks! And Sorry its late :(
Best volume in the series so far, it is so cool to follow this web serial from the beginning to now and see the author's growth as well as the growth of the world as well. can't wait for the posts to start up again in Volume 7.
The weird child of the series. The slow, at times brilliant but a at times boring middle piece.
This volume is a new volume 1 in the way it sets up volumes 7,8 and 9. But you don't know it as you're reading. It contains my least favorite arc in the series (War for Tiqr) and at no point reaches the heights of Volumes 5,7,8 and 9.
However the story needs the time to set up and develop new plotlines, but it's so slow, nothing world changing happens. Even the battles are false (Daquan games), the Liscor election has really low stakes and the final battle changes nothing for the story, good as it is, it's merely a side quest.
Only arc I consider great is the Witch of Webs which is dark, intense, gripping and manages to set up future events without sacrificing pace or character development.
Volume 7 is quite better, volume 8 smashes it and volume 9 completely eclipses it. So it's really worth it to keep reading.
I can't get enough of Pirateaba's world...amazing, character-driven world. Intricate details galore. Wonderful story-telling, plotting and gargantuan size. Full of FEELING.
Despite not liking to read about battles and disliking Flos and the Horror elements...I still love the volume to bits. I've been going slow, and re-reading, so that I never catch up. It's a challenge, but I have to stick with my plan. Read this web serial--it is quite incredible.
I was a patron for a long time, to give the author extra support, but thought too many of the patrons were often very obnoxious and full of spoilers where there should not be, so I stopped, but will keep buying Audible (yeah!) and Kindle versions.
Wow, just when you didn't think that Wandering Inn-verse books could get better, pirateaba ratchets up book6: The General of Izril all the way to 11, achieving a whole new level! And I can't believe how smoothly the story-threads are now being woven together. I get the impression that all roads will lead to Liscor and to the Wandering Inn! The next book (already available for pre-order) mind you is even called the Rains of Liscor! So you'll need grab the book and follow not only Erin Solstice, but Zel Shivertail, Pawn, Tom (Clown of Rhir), Laken Godart (the self- appointed Emperor of the Unseen Empire) and many others! Ohhhh and yeah there's also a bonus novelette. But it's not just a static account of the second Antinium War. No pirateaba used a very inventive dynamic way to weave this historic tome into their own amazing narrative. And of course it's all narrated by the fabulous Andrea Parsneau and that in itself is a bonus! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I guess it's getting better now that the characters are meeting each other and most of the episodes have at least one interesting character, but I find myself bored again and again on the king of whatever and the goblins.
This time we need to address that Erin is doing idiotic things for a long time even if everyone is telling her she is wrong, and she still going at it because of, umm Reasons! Yes Reasons! That's it…
I understand where the author is going with these boring chapters and why it's important we get to know the other characters before they meet the main ones, but that does not mean they have to be soooooo long…
I have the next book ready and I find myself needing a break again, I hope the next one will address the boring parts, because I see it's a repainting complaint in the reviews
This volume is just not for me. Where the other books took me days, but not longer than a couple of weeks, this one has taken me months so far. And I'm not even half way through. Maybe not even a third of the way through. There barely have been any Erin-centered chapters so far. I'm in a stretch of currently at least 16 chapters in a row that are not about the Inn. I had to fight my way through Flos-Chapters, Selys-chapters and now that school in Baleros. It's not for me. The only break from the tediousness was the chapter centered around the Horns. But apart from that, it's just not my cup of tea. I miss Erin and I miss the goblins. Maybe I have to start skipping chapters or else I fear this is it for me.
To stop with the whining, the writing is still the same. The chapters are creative etc. This is more of a me-problem.
16,000 pages, approximately, are contained in this story by the end of this volume. What would make me enjoy reading a series that is so excessively long-winded? Warmth and strong characterization, essentially. The other elements are decent, but what makes this story keep working is that so many of the characters are genuinely likeable and I enjoy reading about them. I think the overall quality of the story has continued to improve, and the author's experiments with new sorts of stories are generally more successful.
This volume of the series also pulls together some more of the longest running disconnected plotlines, including tying up loose ends from all the way back in volume 1. While the story might keep going indefinitely, I can also see how it could wrap up from here.
Near perfect for enjoyment, I loved this book on many, many levels. Mostly, its quality of STORYTELLING and how it builds on everything that came before makes this an automatic win for me. It's not perfect. There are a few circle backs that are annoying, but the good FAR outweighs the bad.
That being said-- Wow.
If you're this far in, with all the epic fantasy bits kicking some serious ass, filled with both depth and breadth, then you know.
This cake is rising nicely. And yes, we can have it and eat it too. So rich.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.
I’m dropping this here after attempting to get back into it for almost a year. Binge reading this series was great. Waiting for the chapters to come out and for the all the side stories to come together was too suspenseful for me. Now this book is finished and I barely started it because I wanted to put it off for as long as possible. Maybe I’ll get back to this when the series is complete?
The lives of our heroes have not gotten easier. This episode of The Wandering Inn will catch up with Tome the clown, Pawn of the Free Antinium, Lady Magnolia and Zel Shivertail.
The stakes increase and we also get to learn more about the Antinium war.
If you have made it this far then you are also deeply entranced by the characters and their lives. Even though there was more added to the story it still feels like there is so much more to come.
There are many issues people will complain about, grammar, plot holes, etc. I come back because the series is entertaining. I do not like every character, but I always get sucked into their world. I miss the chess games from earlier in the series and the slice-of-life feel, but it's understandable as new and more significant problems arise. This book got an emotional response out of me. The ending really got to me. Read it and you will enjoy it. With all its ups and downs.
Ended really well this time around. As always I'm always interested in the happenings at the Inn and not so much with politics. Did enjoy the war bits at the end and Lady Magnolia is the exception to politics where I quite enjoy her.
Some things I really want to happen. Erin's chest buddy to come over. Character development of the Lord of the Wall. It's about time for Erin to level up in some way shape or form, we haven't had one big one since her menataur punch.
3.5 stars maybe,after the epic finale of 5th volume it felt kind of slow i guess not much major events or overall plot kind of like little arcs through out the story,the witches arc was good i guess i kind of liked the knights and belavierr fights and all and i think ryoka was toned down too much from who she was which makes sense plot wise but I didn’t the like the timid ryoka much
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Overall I give it 4.5 stars. Man it is just so long, takes a lot of dedicated time to read. I think I will give it a few months before starting up Vol 7 as that will probably be a 4 month read, so I can catch up on more of the other stuff I am wanting to read this year.
Once this series finds its legs, it really runs. The Necromancer's minions cause some trouble, the dragon makes an appearance, the Unseen Empire expands, and we get more insight into the Goblin Lord. Big battle at the end sets the stage for the next book. I'm already reading volume 7.
Excellent ending, but the meat of the book fell a bit short compared to some of the previous volumes. Emperor Laken and the Horns only had sparse appearances, and the volume centered a bit too much on the inn where nothing of import was happening.
At 1.6 million words this is the longest book I've ever read, it's more then 3 times as long as LOTR, twice as long as the Farseer trilogy but as you can see my rating means to me that I really loved every word.
Probably one of the weaker volumes of the series, the storyline mostly revolves around the Witches and Bellavier but it's not quite as good especially since Laken doesn't come back for so long and the Goblins (the true heroes of this series) are not really involved yet.
I just can't get enough of this world. It's so well constructed and I never want this series to end! Highly recommend for anybody interested in fantasy.