As I mentioned at the time, I love that you were able to give a recommendation with a stopping point--it would have taken me way longer to pick up the series without one, and it helps me not second-guess continuing. I also just dig recommendations with limitations/caveats on principle, because there are plenty of things which are worth picking up on a circumstantial basis.
And I am glad I tried these out!
Like I mentioned in that third review, there's a lot of things going on that I like whenever I'm not reading. I was expecting interesting God Shit™ based on description/recommendation/the, yanno, title of the first book, but I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of it, particularly the way the Kencyr's antagonistic relationship with their god is contrasted to the faith-fueled religions of the setting; it felt almost like a distraction in the first book but is so persistently present and nuanced, especially in the third book, in a way that makes me reflect back on the first book more positively. Sometimes that oblique way of presenting plot developments feels tortured, but with the god stuff it's fitting: the ideas always feel a little too big for plain English descriptions, and need to be felt as well as known.
Other bits of the worldbuilding I can give or take, and I definitely didn't jive with much of the overall tone (although I still had a lot of fun in the Anarchies), which all accounts for not liking them as much as you did. But the parts I did like are sticking with me.
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And I am glad I tried these out!
Like I mentioned in that third review, there's a lot of things going on that I like whenever I'm not reading. I was expecting interesting God Shit™ based on description/recommendation/the, yanno, title of the first book, but I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of it, particularly the way the Kencyr's antagonistic relationship with their god is contrasted to the faith-fueled religions of the setting; it felt almost like a distraction in the first book but is so persistently present and nuanced, especially in the third book, in a way that makes me reflect back on the first book more positively. Sometimes that oblique way of presenting plot developments feels tortured, but with the god stuff it's fitting: the ideas always feel a little too big for plain English descriptions, and need to be felt as well as known.
Other bits of the worldbuilding I can give or take, and I definitely didn't jive with much of the overall tone (although I still had a lot of fun in the Anarchies), which all accounts for not liking them as much as you did. But the parts I did like are sticking with me.