A review by ladyethyme
The Magic of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

Did not finish book.

Chapter 6 and I don't know if I'm gonna be able to make it through the book. 

Starts off with a young man who is bored. We are well aware that he is bored. All he talks about is how bored he is. His parents are boring. His aunt and uncle are boring. Pottery is boring. Woodworking is boring. 

Going on an adventure is boring. The new town he goes to is boring. Sitting down is boring. The color of the buildings and walls are boring. Paintings are boring.People are boring.

The author seems to deliberately attempt to interject this word into every sentence. To be perfectly honest, you get to the point where you start expecting to hear this word every single sentence… 

All I can say is that's not good writing. Extremely ham handed and juvenile.

And I'm not even kidding, there's no exaggeration in this. Each one of those is directly from the text.

Beginning to wonder that if I take a shot every single time the author uses the word 'bored', will I pass out before I have to throw this book at the wall? 

So let me get this straight. Kids and adults that are unhappy, or have yet to find themselves, are shipped off to dangerous and life-threatening training or exiled. Because apparently discontent lead to chaos, and chaos evil. OK… So that's like… 99.9% of every single human being that I have ever known. 

So you either conform to a life that demands absolute perfection, or you're literally kicked out.

So it's a cult. Got it.

Describing women's breasts (as if that has to do with anything at all) and the incredibly shallow idea of a 'strong woman' being arrogant, insulting, condescending and bratty..... typical old-school writing from misogynistic men.

The descriptions are mind numbing. Do we really need to know which exact shelf he puts his toiletries on? Or his folded shirts? Honestly?

And when he goes to the market… OK I get how he can understand and has some expertise in pottery and woodworking. But where does he get his magical knowledge of cut and uncut gemstones, amber, ivory and metal work?😂😂

And I have to agree with other reviewers that the constant sound effects get pretty annoying real fast.

Yeah. I'm done.