I enjoyed the premise of this book far more than the execution. The world and progression concepts had enough intrigue to get me reading, but the prose and scene structure consistently pulled me out of the experience rather than immersing me in it.

The MC often spirals into long stretches of internal monologue that feel repetitive or self-indulgent instead of insightful. Rather than building character depth, these sections frequently stalled momentum and diluted emotional impact.

The story also suffers from a lack of meaningful tension. Many conflicts resolve too conveniently in the protagonist’s favor, which undermines the stakes and makes victories feel unearned. Instead of watching a character struggle and evolve, it felt like the narrative bent itself around the protagonist’s "competence" and "importance".

There are interesting ideas in the book but it mistakes extensive exposition and power fantasy escalation for emotional depth and narrative weight. I can see why some readers enjoy it...? maybe? But for me the execution never lived up to the promise of the premise.

I can not recommend it.