Tensions rise in Aether Academy as cultists from the Knights of Eradication gather at its border. Angry protests threaten to turn into something much more dangerous, and an outside influence seems to fuel their confidence.Meanwhile, a mysterious patron approaches Jake with a job for the Shadows. All he needs to do is help take down one of the most powerful mages in the world.Jake needs to balance his priorities. He searches for a way to break his ties to the dark God Vethris, develops his own fighting style as he chooses his next round of classes, and adds a new member to the study group.But his lies are starting to catch up to him.When it all comes to a head, will his harem still have his back? Or will they only see the Shadows Jake has been hiding in all along…**Witch Girl Study Group 3 is an 18+ isekai fantasy harem story with slice of life elements and explicit adult situations**
A good sequel, but the final confrontation of the book felt too rushed, almost as if a third of the book was missing. The villains have just suddenly changed personalities. I think it would have been better to put some small scenes throughout the book of the villains hatching their plans so we could see how and why the characters change, and perhaps make the final confrontation feel less rushed by giving a reason as to why it happens when it does.
*spoilers* Theid's death didn't feel as impactful as it should because we rarely saw him and when we did there wasn't much emotion or personality. If Jake had become an assistant to him and spent some scenes with him talking while doing work, it could have formed the character and an attachment to him more, making his death hold more weight. *End Of Spoilers*
I'm looking forward to a sequel, but my anticipation is dampened by a worry it will feel as rushed as this one.
Part 3 wraps up developments so far in this fantasy series in a quite open-ended way. The tensions that have been building with the Knights of Eradication come to a head and well, let's just say there's a lot of room for further developments in future installments. In general I found this series quite enjoyable with an original plot and setting, even though some twists feel a bit illogical, and the ending here is a typical case of the Third Act Stupidity trope on the part of our heroes allowing the villains an undeserved exit which due to the long buildup and lack of surprises in the villain's plan definitely felt like Karma Houdini. Oh well.
Admittedly it was a pretty good ending but that didn't make up for the rest of it, which was pretty boring. I feel the author must have realized it was a bore too cause that subplot with Chips the shadow seemed thrown in there to add a little spice, but it didn't really go anywhere or add anything, except to introduce the concept of using an inquisitor to exorcise MCs connection to Vethras. But that's all.
I am definitely looking forward to the fourth book as this one brought the MC's world crashing down. There is so much potential freedom with the story from here that it feels like a soft reset.
The truth shall set you free and Jake has finally confessed his truth to the women he loves.. I can't read the next book. Too much is going I want to know what happens in Jake trial and will the girls forgive him