Entertaining, story continues in a cosy fashion. ( )

Aggro? Really?

It’s never good when a pure fantasy novel starts pulling concepts from gamers without even filtering them a little bit. Add to that the occasional misuse of the English language (‘chaff’ when it should have been ‘chafe’, etc.) and a clumsy unrequited romantic plot that resolved with little more than a few kisses...I don’t need erotic bedroom games in explicit detail, but two mature adults who have been functionally engaged for two years should maybe indulge in a little off-screen hanky-panky when they finally admit their feelings.

The world building was fraying. Trains were in the first book, as were portals (that never seem to be used except as a plot device), but now we have ‘Mules’ - self propelled carts that follow a particular person and carry supplies.

Magic is incredibly poorly defined in this series. At one point, Rena is supposed to kill a bunch of pink slugs because nobody else could do it. Then, suddenly, the other party members are making a game of squishing them. Why weren’t they doing that all along?!?!?

I don’t think I can continue in this series. The characters are amusing, but the world is so slap-dash and ill-conceived it leaves a bad taste. ( )