Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Mother of Learning: ARC 1

Top positive review

Fully fleshed out story

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2021

One of the few stories out there with the end in mind from the beginning. There’s a plan, a purpose to each interaction. Nothing’s wasted or unnecessary.
Does it seem slow in the beginning? Be patient! You’re following a budding wizard from crawling, to walking, to running, to flying, to teleporting. Everything is earned and used. No cheap tricks.
The characters are unique, fully developed individuals who shape Zorian as he grows in knowledge, experience, and resilience. Everyone goes through change (that can). Each interaction is believable.
You’ll read fantasy, action, mystery, suspense, betrayal, and a sprinkling of romance.
One of my all time favorite stories! Up there with Will Wight’s Cradle series, and Robert Jordan’s and Brandon Sanderson’s Wheel of Time series.

Caution to those who do not like the following, this story includes:
Blood magic
Ritual sacrifice
Spiders (some are cute)
Maiming
Slashing of wrists
Necromancy
Anti-Religion views
Distorted Christian views
Witches and covens
Murder (even by Zorian the main character)

69 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Health For Life

Not much closer

Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2021

I like how creatively zorian spends his time. There is some decent world building. However, the arc is a bit of a slog. I made it to the end looking and hoping for some kind of absolution but...

6 people found this helpful

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From the United States

MitchyGoodness

Fully fleshed out story

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2021

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69 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Highly Recommended

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2021

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Beautifully written, excellent characters and an intricate and intriguing plot. Make sure you have time to read this before starting, because you are not going to want to stop once you start.
Some of my review is based on having read a previous version but from that I will say: Perfect for people who love world building and characters who are complex and flawed, this has a main character who you really see mature and grow with over the course of the story

Readers new to the story should also know that the author has finished the story so that they won't have to worry about having to wait years (or an eternity) for the next book.

25 people found this helpful

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Jon M Renshaw

Best "Groundhog Day" ever!

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2021

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I had been recommended this story and I am delighted that I chose to heed it.
As my title alludes, this is a very satisfying take on "reliving the same day over and over". Except it's a month.
It's got everything: Cleverness, compelling characters that slowly reveal themselves over time, personal growth in many dimensions, polished world building, a fleshed-out and fun magic system, small details that end up having an entire story of their own, and a vast evil plot to unravel.

I look forward eagerly to the next installment!

17 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Instantly one of my favorite series

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2022

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I thought I was burned out on magic fantasy novels for a while and tried finding a more mundane or sci-fi book, couldn't find one, and kinda just chose this randomly. Turns out I wasn't so much burned out on fantasy as I was fatigued on predictable lower quality novels. I am lucky I gave this a shot because I love this book. I've had so much fun reading this book. I can't think of anything negative to say. The story hooked me so fast and kept me interested and I liked all the character and grew to care about many of them. I wouldn't necessarily classify any of them as "thow away" characters that are flat and one dimensional only to exist to bump the story along. Seriously the best book I've read in a very, VERY long time.

One person found this helpful

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Jennifer C.

Wonderful and different!

Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2022

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This book was amazing! I listened to the audiobook, as it was recommended to me by the narrator after I had listened to Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality podcast. It had been showing up on my suggestions list from KU for a few weeks, so I decided to give it a go. I am glad I did, because it was really good.
The idea of getting trapped in a time loop was done really well, with the repeats not becoming repetitive due to the way to Zorian changed his actions in certain ways in each restart. I also really enjoyed the way Zorian was able to improve his magical abilities through each restart, as well as the group of allies he was able to pull in around him, even if some of them were only for a few restarts and they wouldn't remember anything about it in the next restart.
I am definitely looking forward to the next book, especially with the way this one ended. I strongly encourage anyone who has not read or listened to this book to do so, as soon as possible.

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Jeff R. Hawkins

What a surprise!

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2021

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I have been reading a lot of pretty entertaining books lately. Some fantasy, LitRPG, science fiction etc. The vast majority of these that I can read for free with Kindle Unlimited have been at best worth 4 stars.
But this one is the whole package! Interesting characters, unique plot devices, extensive world building that still doesn't get in the way of storytelling, lots of action, plenty mystery, and a very well built magical system that is fun to learn about.
The biggest problem is that it ends on a cliffhanger without wrapping up anything, and the next book isn't written yet. I considered subtracting one star for this reason. I will if the next installment does the same, because I really hate this gimmick. I read this all in one day, because I couldn't put it down. It's been a while since that happened, so I'm inclined to be generous with the stars, and hopeful that there's not too long a wait for ARC 2.

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Thomas

Literary Masterpiece

Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2021

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I’m cheating a little since I read the whole book which is up on Royal Road and know how it ends.

This just might be my favourite book of all time and I have read and tried to read many books which I dropped. The character growth of Zorian from whiny and irritable teenager to badass Archmage is great. This book was originally supposed to be a world building exercise and the world building is phenomenal.

The magic system is a variation of D & D but it’s got these cool anima shaping exercises. This series is a little bit like Harry Potter with a richly imagined magical world. In my opinion, it is even better than Harry Potter and deserves just as much recognition. It’s got everything, mystery, magic, progression, and a overarching timeloop where the month repeats over and over. I was initially hesitant to read it because of the timeloop but it is masterfully done. It doesn’t get boring or repetitive.

Wish it had a little romance which it doesn’t have but hey you can’t have everything. I’m not sure if romance would be even feasible either.

In short, if you like Harry Potter, if you like progression, fantasy, or books in general read this book!

10 people found this helpful

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Obstinate Pride

Magic, a gathering

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2021

Verified Purchase

This one grows on you as you read it. Not much action, but a lot of world building. The story ends as it starts to get interesting unfortunately. The character development is widely apparent and satisfying. We see our protagonist grow as a person and a mage. Unlike most magic adventures, we get a more nuanced look into the magic school. Instead of school being a setting for the story to happen like in Harry Potter, we actually see the school as a function of the plot. The character learns, actually learns magic and theory, and we learn it with him. It's engaging to say the least. It's a good read, give it a chance.

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Easily one of my favorite series

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2021

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I discovered Mother of Learning via the rational fiction subreddit. In other words, you can expect sensible world-building as well as characters with fleshed-out and thoughtful motivations.

If you're tired of characters who hold the idiot ball or do things just to progress the plot, and if you like high fantasy, you should enjoy this.

Two warnings:

1. The original serial version of this novel is considered by many to start slow (others, like myself, love the build-up). Stick with it until after chapter four or five.

2. If you dislike the main character's personality, know that he changes a lot over the course of the series.

2 people found this helpful

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In Vino Veritas

Up there just below Tolkien but above GRRT, Robin Hobb and Patrick Rothfuss!

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2022

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If you have fallen in love with Tolkien's beautiful worldbuilding, this is the closest resemblance I have come across, (apart from inventing entire fictional languages!)
If you have read and enjoyed the top authors in LITRPG, read GRRT, Patrick Rothfuss, Raymond E Feist etc, you will find that this story is a amazingly enjoyable.
Think of this story as having the best of Groundhog Day and Harry Potter (an intelligent Harry Potter) and you will find an unforgettable story to get lost in.

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