- #1
The other reviewer going on about "xenophobia" tbh doesn't know what the word means. The book leans heavy on stereotypes for characters from other countries, but if you read it, it's obviously that the intent is to be corny and s*upid-funny, not hateful.Basically, it's like an American TV show where the Asian kid is a math whiz or knows epic Karate and can chop blocks in two.Russians love vodka. Americans love independence and think Chinese people have Special Kung-fu. Etc, etc. Whether you find those stereotype-based jokes offensive or not is up to you, but it's not exactly textbook xenophobia. (Or maybe the reviewer also considers Asian characters being depicted as math nerds on American TV to always be xenophobia? In which case—well, at least you're fair, but... calm down.) Stereotyping is seriously not limited to other countries—the author grandly applies the "Chinese people/Asians will eat anything!" stereotype to the CN gang often, eg. when they eye up the edible insects while a lot of the other characters are put off.Anyway, the MC gets a super classic magic power, and on top of that, he later makes himself the most 100% stereotypical Chinese OP Magic Kung Fu weapon ever. The whole novel is purposefully corny and s*upid in a "... damn, seriously?" way. I liked it more when it was more comedic near the beginning. I feel like the transition to the more serious "heroes defend the earth from invasion" sacrificed a lot of the original appeal of the novel, and a lot of the drawn-out rescue scenes transition too abruptly and consequently seem more like filler. It's ok. It's not great. It's kind of a slog. The first ~half is funny when he draws a bunch of dumb shit, so about a 4 for dumb light comedy. Past that, reasonably engaging but not a favourite. I read the spoilers and apparently the ending is really moronic, and not in a good way, so...🥹
