I initially discovered this series on Kickstarter, and the murder-mystery concept intrigued me so much that I immediately backed the project. When I finally delved into the book, it turned out to be quite different from my expectations. However, I still thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’m glad I supported the project. Zorian’s journey falls under the category of “progression fantasy,” with elements that resemble LitRPG. These are not sub-genres of fantasy literature that I typically delve into, but the author’s execution was remarkable and captivated my interest.
The greatest strength of the novel lies in its variety. Plots centered around a repeating time loop can sometimes feel monotonous (no pun intended), but Kurmaic masterfully maintains the pacing, resulting in minimal lulls. There are enough familiar details to anchor the reader in the core aspects of the time loop, while superfluous elements are swiftly summarized or skipped over. Such pacing is a commendable achievement, especially considering the book spans over 600 pages! Additionally, Zorian approaches each time loop in a distinct manner, introducing new encounters, characters, and a complex world. In other novels, such expansion often feels like reading a textbook, but the time loop mechanism in this book transforms the world-building into an enjoyable aspect of the plot.
Now, let’s talk about the protagonist, Zorian. While progression fantasy frequently focuses on the development of new skills and abilities, the most fascinating progression in this book lies in Zorian’s personality. Revealing too many details would spoil parts of the plot, but I assure you that the journey is worth it. The novel concludes with a cliffhanger that compelled me to immediately purchase the second installment!
