- #1
This is a really pure 'academy' type novel. Life at the academy isn't just one arch in the story, a means to an ends, or overshadowed by more significant events, but makes up the entire story.This mainly works because:
- The academy is a whole world unto itself. Not literally, but pretty darn close. With mountains, forests, deserts, and mysterious magic towers to explore, the story isn't limited by being within the academy. The wild rules of the academy also help it feel like a world worth exploring.
- The MC isn't OP (yet). Yi-han has indescribable talent, but reincarnating doesn't mean he knows how to use it. His past life just helps him learn how to grow his talent even faster. While he quickly out paces his peers, teachers and higher-level magic are still able to provide challenges that we can't just effortlessly overcome.
- The characters. Just really well done. Everyone has their own quirk, so freind groups form pretty naturally and teacher/student dynamics don't feel over used.
- It's funny. I haven't laughed out loud because of a novel in a while. Although some jokes have started to stale, enough new bits are added in that the old ones can change as some characters grow.
- The pacing... The first 300 chapters equates to one semester. I'm sure the second semester will be faster, but the MC is so busy that it naturally slows.-> This is only timeline wise, as character growth/story progression don't feel as slow.
- Some seemingly forgotten items/skills. Spoilers below~
- There is truly no plot outside of academy life. I wish there was some contact with (or even a desire to contact) his family. We know as much/more about the families of... pretty much everyone else? Just hoping it's a plot point later on.
Mostly just thinking about that ring of underwater breathing he got from the Presinga order and has yet to use. Also, the continual joke that Ferkuntra is a useless spirit, since everytime he gets summoned (which is almost never!) the situation resolves itself.
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