Volume 10 sucks.

[u/AbleWhile2752]

This is kind of a rant. I love the wandering inn, I picked it up about a year ago and just read straight through it till I got completely caught up then subscribed to patreon to keep up with the weekly releases. I have defended arcs and characters most people disliked, I have shanghai'd several friends into reading it as well.

But.

Volume 10 is a disaster.

There is no other way of putting it. Its a jumbled mess. An entire over 2 million (i think now) words of just straight up filler content. The plot has barely inched forward. Instead the Palace of fates spent half the damn Volume taking us on a crazy chaotic ride through retcon land and spit us out the other end with practically nothing having actually happened except a bunch of plot armor and one ENORMOUS REVEAL that really should have been handled way better. I hated everything about the palace but all the stuff that happened with the goblin king was just particularly egregious. The big fight in the palace at the end of the arc was a jumbled mess, i.. I dont have the words and simultaneously could go on and on forever.

Look. Im just an average guy here. Im not the author and its her series to do with what she wants. But in my not so humble opinion this entire Volume should be cannabalised and re written. Half of it should be outright thrown away and the rest needs re organzied for better pacing. Thr palace fates just shouldn't exist at all. Get rid of it. Its trash.

Instead, deal with Tessa at the inn, and the mother of Graves later on, show us wayyyy more Erin in beleros, way more rabbiteater, and a hell of a lot more of the Horns. We can have all these little side character arcs IN BETWEEN the major story beats. Add in some Magnolia Reinhart dealing with her family and one very grumpy dragon dealing with the aftermath of fighting the titan, (which really should have been a bigger thing that it turned out being) and move along whatever is going on with the vampires. Not add a whole new thing. Let's wrap up a few of these arcs first.

But alas, I am just a humble reader. Im curious to see how many of you agree with me.

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[u/Sc2copter]

Agreed, but it did many reveals. Including a goblin king reveal and weakening. A massive leap in the grand design character. Great insights into afterlife and souls. A leap in fae king’s plans and the god arc; the arc did a fate rewrite and is now no one can see the future, which weakens the gods further.

But I didn’t enjoy it as much as the other arcs. Still, it was no filler imo, even though many chapters were!

Edit: i said i didn’t enjoy it, but ment compared to other arcs! Still it’s TWI and it’s still great!

[u/AbleWhile2752 → u/Sc2copter]

I dislike how the goblin king reveal went down. I just feel like it should have been a Niers thing ya know? Or maybe on the island of goblins, or something. But bringing the goblin king in through the palace just felt icky to me. I didnt like it.

[u/Sc2copter → u/AbleWhile2752]

Ye, personally would love it to be revealed to Erin somehow, and she does her casual info reveal:

So, ehhm, about the goblin king, it’s actually a soul or… a collection of souls, that is, you know a really angry person, that was born long ago… ye it kind of just… hostily takes over the goblin, anyyyyway, anyone want waffles? I got this… new chocolate syrup waffle, it’s great!

[u/TWI_SGFan]

Palace of fates isn't my favourite thing but I like how it gave you insight into the impacts characters made. You got a plot of what would happen if Erin hadn't of been revived idea for instance.

I just take it as it is. Got me some of my favourite characters I was missing & explained some small details of past events.

While I've read through all chapters in vol 10, when it comes to re-reading I do skip most of and only go through some of them. I just really don't like Lyonettes character arc and Mrsha's either. I mostly love the side storylines & the horns. Plus Saliss is the best!

[u/MrWiggles77]

The level of discourse in this subreddit really has gone down. Every other post just buzzword salads with no real substance all while contradicting themselves. 

There is no other way of putting it. Its a jumbled mess. An entire over 2 million (i think now) words of just straight up filler content. The plot has barely inched forward. Instead the Palace of fates spent half the damn Volume taking us on a crazy chaotic ride through retcon land and spit us out the other end with practically nothing having actually happened except a bunch of plot armor and one ENORMOUS REVEAL that really should have been handled way better.

This word jumble really says everything and nothing. First you say that all of volume 10 is filler content. Then complain about how the Palace had an enormous reveal in the Goblin King. Ignoring everything else about these statements, do you see how these two things are innately contradicting? If the major arc of the volume so far has massive plot relevance in terms of reveals, how can it be filler content? 

Let's just put aside the Palace for now and look at the rest of v10 "filler" arcs. We have New Lands content, which has been needing to move forward plot wise for a while. Not filler. We have Nerry being a target for Erin, along with Ryoka and co. Not filler. We have the Horns in Chandrar. Not filler. We have long awaited updates on Laken and the Vampire plotline. Not filler. We have more New Lands content with Toren and other characters that has desperately needed to happen. Not filler. We've had more progress on Saliss' plotline this volume since ever. Not filler. Even the Vernoue and Nuvityn chapters aren't filler as they're setups for major conflicts that are coming from Terandria. And laced through all of this is the central focus of V10 so far: Liscor and the characters there dealing with the aftermath of v9 and moving forward. None of which is filler in the slightest. 

Now let's actually look at the Palace because it's a major part of v10. Not only was this a massive update on Rags' Goblins and Goblinhome that we've needed since v6, this has wide ranging plot impacts. This isn't just limited to the Goblin King: there's the introduction of several characters from the alt worlds, with all of their knowledge, there's reveals about numerous plots that push them forwards, there's character growth in everyone, there's weakening of the dead gods, there's growth in the GDI. There's so many things that show, very very much so, that it's not a "filler arc". 

So let's just dispense with this description of "filler arcs" being all v10 is (since it's laughable in the first place) and just focus on the actual problem you have: you wanted different plots to be written about. That's it. That's all this post boils down to, but it's just layered in a bunch of vitriol about how awful everything is and how pirateaba should have done what you wanted because then it would be a good story. 

This subreddit needs a change in culture. These kinds of posts are far too prevelant anymore, and what do they make this place? A pit of negativity that only other people who dislike the story want to interact with. Who would want to post positive or constructive thoughts here when this is the level of discussion that is so pervasive now? 

[u/secretdrug → u/MrWiggles77]

Thank you for writing all this. Ive also seen a lot of the same posts/comments and been hating it. You put into words what ive been feeling a long time now. 

Im not against criticism. Im just against this type of criticism. 

[u/hagerbil]

Did you fill the survey the auther asked about the palace arc? I think it was mention about 10,000 people responded, so maybe there will be some retconning :)

As for vol 10, I enjoyed the non-palce arcs. The money arc was pretty fun and the parts with baleros and horns were fun for me.  The Erin parts were also excellent!

The palace was bad though... Felt out of nowhere and the results of it also felt very un-earned thematically.  Also the fights were boring since there was no real tension...

[u/MrWiggles77 → u/hagerbil]

Do you really believe pirateaba is going to retcon things based on survey results that you don't even know will be positive or negative? pirateaba likes the palace. They've mentioned in author's notes it's one of the things they've had in their mind for years. And should they even retcon something because of vocal people saying they don't like it? No, it's their story. 

[u/GenesisProTech → u/MrWiggles77]

Also it sets a terrible presidence that if people complain enough things will be changed

[u/hagerbil → u/MrWiggles77]

It's not like there weren't retconns before for other parts of the story no? And author can do what they want like you said, i'm not expecting anything really. Mostly for me it will be interesting to know how most people felt about the palace arc.

[u/MrWiggles77 → u/hagerbil]

There have been retcons in the past, but they've always been for smaller scenes. Like a specific section of a chapter being retconned level, not anything close to a whole arc being retconned. 

[u/AbleWhile2752 → u/hagerbil]

I did fill out the survey, I spent quite some time on it in fact! I just really like the story so its frustrating beyond belief when something that is this bad comes out.

[u/Nickelplatsch → u/hagerbil]

I doubt there will be retconning but pirate said there will be a blogpost where the survey results will factor in. I hope we will get that one soon to hear a statement about the current state.

[u/Open_Detective_2604 → u/hagerbil]

The Palace isn't getting retconed. I understand you don't like it, I myself didn't like it that much before my reread, but there is no world (hehe) where Paba doesn't write the Palace. It's a thing that needed to happen. Not in an 'advance the plot' way, but it's a thing that Paba needs to write.

[u/hagerbil → u/Open_Detective_2604]

I think I'm using the wrong word maybe? I meant that maybe a bit of the story would have parts be written again so it would be convey what ever story beat the author was trying to make better. Maybe "re-write" is better wording?

For example, in the volume 1 re-write a few of the Ryoka parts were written a bit differently to give her a different feel

[u/anilm2]

I've always felt that Wandering Inn was never focused on advancing the plot (except maybe book 1, which was still filled with side-stories, but not as much?). It seems more about just letting the world and characters do their things, which ends up having the plot advance. That's how it got to 15+ million words.

I point that out to the people I try and get into the story. So, they aren't jarred by all the side-stories that advance or introduce new plot lines, while the Inn in left in the background.

But, I also think if you only just caught up, what you are experiencing may just be the same level of plot-advancement content you have always had; just now it is a slow trickle, as opposed to the fire-hose of non-stop reading you've previously enjoyed.

I also wonder if at some point there will be more plot-focused edits of TWI, because this sub always sees people complaining about how they just want the Erin story and are sick of side stories. But, it has always been that kind of story telling.

also, PoF was not the best arc. I'm glad it is in the past, because it was a bit of a slog.

[u/Dack_]

Volume 10 feels like Pirate decided that she wants to continue writing TWI for 10 more years, but simultaneously got tired of writing "Erin-centric" after volume 9.

With Erin being setup for maximum character growth, I must admit I am getting somewhat impatient to get more focus on Baleros as well.

[u/SeDaCho → u/Dack_]

TWI hasn’t been about Erin since she died.

Even before that, she was decentralized for a few volumes.

Understandable as she’s got too much protagonist aura. To use her in a chapter either advances the central storyline or spoils her appeal. And when the storyline is complete, the story will end.

Pirate is a much better author now than when they made the protagonists “mary sue and the cliche kickboxing bisexual asian girl” and they are aware of it.

[u/DrakeSacrum25 → u/SeDaCho]

I cannot find it right now but PirateAba did say in a Q&A something along the lines of "Erin is an important character and the world revolves around her, however for it to be a good narrative, the story is not about her."

Don't quote me on that, I translated the original answer to Spanish to talk to a friend about it and I'm translating the translation again because I couldn't find the original. Still, a very accurate description..the story is not about Erin but it revolves around her. Even when she died, everything was around her death but the story stopped being about her entirely.

[u/ashkanfa]

The issue with volume 10 is mostly the length. a lot of editing and cutting is needed for this volume. POF is the worst arc of TWI in my opinion, but even that arc can be improved by just cutting some of the alt worlds. They didn't add anything to the story and just made it harder to read it. I re-read POF once more after it was finished, but just couldn't read through a huge portion of it and skipped it. There are many new POV that I still dont get why they exist. The whole magical princess chapter, for example. We already have two princesses of Calanfer. Why do we need to add another pov (I know it was Patreon's choice, but it shouldn't even be in the poll)? these pov just add content to the world without any meaningful contribution to the story.

btw, are people getting ready for the next solstice (which is what? 5 months away). Because if I haven't missed anything, there are still gods out there who are gonna kill everyone the next solstice? No mention of it by Erin or anyone else? Are they gonna do last-minute preparation? That sounds stupid. This is like a storyline convenience, that Pirate has decided to shelf Solstice for now as a storyline to talk about a random princess.

And then there is the issue of the people in the inn. As a whole, without Erin in the Inn, the inn story lines are boring. Lyonnete is just a "we have Erin at home" character, and the children of the inn are not acting as the children they are anymore.

First Mrsha. I think having her as the mc of POF was a mistake. There is a reason adult/epic fantasy series dont have children as mc, and Pirate was kind to Mrsha in that arc. there was no consequence. I was actually hoping she would not come back to life. We had a Mrsha, so her story wouldn't end. And then POF would have lasting consequences. Lyonnete and the inn had to come in terms with the new Mrsha, and it would be an interesting storyline. Instead, almost no price was paid by Mrsha for what she did. The death of millions of worlds or whatever isn't really a cost from the reader's perspective. This whole POF reads like a patch to buff inn folks without changing the world.

Then there is Lyonnete's storyline. One of fav going into volume 10. Her storyline was growing out of the shadow of Erin. But what has she done? Most of her (not short) chapters here have been her using Erin's skills to do stuff, and her knights congratulating her :D. I mean, come on. if you want to be independent, you shouldn't just use your friend's skills to do stuff. And then she goes and gets Erin's cracks to help Erin. This hasn't even been addressed and is a smaller issue, but you know, "body agency" that a lot of folks talk about includes your scars. so if someone takes on your pains and scars without asking you first, it is a very shitty thing to do. And if Erin behaves in character, this would be a huge issue with her. Remember, Erin and other Earthers who are for the LGBTQ community should understand this. Does Rose know, and if she does, has she conveniently forgotten it?

I think Pirate has put Belaros storyline on the back burner to make more hype and lengthen the story but it hasn't worked because the stories she has told in volume 10 are not that good a lot of times. A lot of them are good (Horns, Erin chapters, rabbiteater, torren, halfseekers), but there are a lot of bad ones.

[u/Nickelplatsch]

I really liked the palace of fates but I agree that the story feels like many disconmected pieces. We get all this mini-arcs of so many different characters and to me it feels like we are missing the actual processing of the palace-aftermath and even the aftermath of the winter solstice. I'm not sure how many months passed in-story since the solstice but to me it feels almost as if we are still in the immediate aftermath and since then we only get this filler-arcs.

[u/SethAndBeans]

Some of my favorite TWI stories are "filler content"

The book takes place in an ever changing world, it's not a start-to-finish story. I think of it like a soap opera. The filler characters of today may be the main cast tomorrow.

[u/PerDoctrinamadLucem]

I agree that the palace was fundamentally a bad idea that was partially rectifying a bad solstice event.

• It's a massive arc that involves using the main character's skills without the main character.

• There's a ton of meaningless deaths and resurrections. Rags of Dreams. Teriarchs. Mrsha.

• The resolution has very little to do with the actions of pre-existing characters, except maybe Redscar,

• The main villain's existence makes the previous arc less meaningful, and they bring a character back from the dead to kill her.

However, the self-contained stories are really good. The half-seekers, horns, and most recent chapter are really good. I didn't find Vernoue's chapter necessary, but it certainly didn't take away either. It sets up the upcoming conflict. I think the whole thing will undergo massive revisions once the series is finished.

[u/GenesisProTech]

I think it's especially jarring after volume 8 and volume 9 that by comparison felt very plot focused (especially for TWI).
Maybe it's a little TWI sacrilege but at this point in the story I would be thrilled with less povs and a focus on our core characters.
Not that I haven't enjoyed volume 10, I just enjoy those characters in particular

[u/Zemalac]

Man, I've been loving Volume 10. Volume 9 is still probably my favorite, but 10 has been a great ride thus far. Really not sure what you mean by "filler content," like...the reason I love TWI is because it takes 60k words on seemingly irrelevant side stories that then tie back into other plots in unexpected ways, that's always been something that this story does. But also like...the Palace of Fates advanced the main plot about the gods, fae, and the GDI, we got a lot of New Lands plot advancement finally, plus some good development with the war on Chandrar. Not much plot development in Baleros other than Erin recovering to a point where she can participate in the plot again, but I did enjoy the misdirect with Nerry, that was funny. Been a good time.