Haven't finished it yet, but like it so far. The main character is a bit difficult to deal with at first, but it seems like he will get over himself in short order and then the book should be more enjoyable.
posted by Literaryhero at 8:50 PM on November 30, 2021

I thought this book was wonderful. It gleefully inverts, interrogates, and explodes all the tropes of portal fantasy, magical boarding school fantasy, war fantasy, young adult fantasy, and fantasy centered on a male protagonist, while somehow at the same time having a stunning level of emotional realism and depth. I laughed a lot. I teared up once. Thumbs way up.
posted by kyrademon at 4:55 AM on December 1, 2021 [3 favorites]

I've recommended this to several friends. It's like Ender's Game or HPMoR but with characters to scold the protagonist when he's being insufferable, and actual valuing of human emotions.
posted by one for the books at 9:48 AM on December 1, 2021

I absolutely enjoyed this one deeply. It's super charming and very funny.
posted by jeather at 11:31 AM on December 1, 2021

I had never heard of this book before the FanFare post and just requested it from the library. It sounds EXACTLY up my alley, thank you for posting!!
posted by rogerroger at 12:47 PM on December 1, 2021 [1 favorite]

Ok I love Serene.
posted by Literaryhero at 5:07 AM on December 3, 2021

Lovely!
posted by bq at 8:41 PM on December 8, 2021

This was one of my favorites from the past few years. I was surprised to reflect in particular that I've never read a book which portrayed a world with completely reversed sexism in this way. I suppose The Power goes there, but not in a humorous and satirical way. It cracked me up! And I do love a protagonist whose grumpiness slowly melts. And who's got such a clear moral compass on a large scale but is impossible at actual human relations. Delightful!
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 11:02 AM on December 20, 2021 [2 favorites]

I don't think I've read another book with that kind of reversed sexism either, but there is a recent Chinese pseudo-historical romantic comedy series that features a scriptwriter trapped in the extremely sexist matriarchy she's written, if anyone's interested in that kind of thing (The Romance of Tiger and Rose - I found it pretty fun, though the first episodes were a bit boring).

More on topic, I really loved this book. I've been a bit surprised to hear (IRL and also here) from some people that they found Eliot offputting at first; I guess I'd probably react that way to a real-life version, but as a reader, I found him hilarious throughout. Also his misanthropy makes this a great book for when you're feeling misanthropic yourself.
posted by trig at 4:20 PM on December 20, 2021 [3 favorites]

I bailed on the audio version because audio Elliott was a bit much. Ebook Elliott was just right.
posted by bq at 9:05 AM on December 21, 2021 [1 favorite]

There is now a sequel short story being published! Part 1 of TEARS WAITING TO BE DIAMONDS is already up, and Part 2 (the conclusion) will be published on January 29.

I am DED because ~waves incoherently at the first half of the story~.
posted by MiraK at 6:36 AM on January 12, 2023 [1 favorite]