Status Updates From Losing Ground

From a long description of teaching someone to use magic to a long scene about getting up and making pancakes. ugh. dnf.

How much I care about magic school: 0%

do these people have jobs or

So far, no real worldbuilding to speak of. Magic is discussed in super vague terms, and there are so many named characters who don't really seem important to the plot. Kinda bored.

Reasonably interesting. Easy to read. The end was a whole heck of a lot of off page explaining, therefore simmering my interest down, and the romance was sort of... spark-less? Overall, decent quick read. 2.5

"He barely glanced at Carter and didn't greet him, as per usual, and Carter repressed the urge to snort only because his mother would scold him roundly if he wasn't diplomatic." That ain't diplomatic! That's accepting being treated like you're nothing! Pet peeve of mine, one I commonly Shakespeare it out in my outrage, based on my childhood.

A promising start! I'm a sucker for a mysterious stranger all bruised up on his face and his hurt, slow-moving body, with timid, cautious-like actions (see how easily I fell for Timshel by Turner?). Bit weird how MC thinks of his mom as Rebekah in the third person MC subjective prose, but calls her Ma in dialogue. Eager to continue--I've liked everything I've read by Miller so far.