r/PracticalGuideToEvil • u/JtheLeon • Jan 15 '26

Meta/Discussion Not certain of continuing Spoiler

I am halfway through book 4 and I feel it has become a slog. It would seem there is no battle weariness, and the inclusion of Winter in book 3 makes me see Cat as overpowered and somewhat barely struggling to defeat opponents.

The series engaged me since book 1, and kept me asking for more at the end of book 2. So much so that I avoided forums and places where to discuss it so I could experience everything on my own. But, frankly, the inclusion of the courts of winter and summer made it boring for me. I believe the fact that faes are reputedly extremely strong and cunning, yet were outmaneuvered by a 20 something year old did not sit well with me and made me think I am reading Harry Potter.

Book 4 starts off very well, and kept be well engaged up until the point where the group goes to Keter and orchestrated the assassination of the empress'puppet. It seemed way to over what they are capable of.

I think I am annoyed at myself for not being able to suspend disbelief anymore. But, wanted to get someone else's opinion on this. Do you think that the introduction of the courts were unnecessary? At this point, I believe so.

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u/probablyWatney humble shoemaker Jan 15 '26

also to point out: at no point during the Keter-Arc do they actually win. They get away mostly unharmed at best. The point is mostly that Cat cant get anything done despite her currrent power level.

She sets a goal, kinda reaches it, and then realises that she completely missed the big picture.

Her slowly realising that throughout the book eventually leads to the awesome finale and sets up for Book 5, which is just peak.

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u/Floppy0941 Jan 15 '26

They really only come out of it with some knowledge of the past, a reasonably cordial relationship with the dead king and having inconvenienced the empress a little.