I know this is harsh, especially considering I've only just started reading this story. It might improve, but I don't see anything compelling enough to continue. This realization alone was so surprising that I felt compelled to write this review and remember this book as an example of what to avoid in the future.
I tried to approach this story with an open mind, but I found myself getting increasingly frustrated as I read. If you're more patient than I am, you might find something to enjoy. Unfortunately, I did not.
The narrative moves too quickly, with little to no context or reason. It feels as though the beginning has been cut out, leaving us to jump straight into the middle of the story. This is problematic because it's difficult to care about the characters when they are already facing significant challenges without proper introduction or development. To engage with a story, you need to be invested in the characters, and I simply wasn't.
You'd think a strong female protagonist in a world filled with dungeons would be intriguing, but the author managed to drain all my initial excitement. I even tried listening to anime openings to boost my enthusiasm, as this usually helps me power through a boring story. But it didn't work at all this time.
There was nothing else in the story that captured my interest enough to overcome my disengagement with the characters.
I typically wouldn't write a review after dropping a novel so early, but this was such a unique experience for me. I lost interest after just three chapters and spent the next two hours forcing myself to read, which was a form of self-torture. I'm genuinely puzzled by how this story managed to completely sap my interest so quickly. It's as if all the right elements were present, but something went terribly wrong. How did it end up like this? I'm truly baffled.
Edit: I realize my review might come across as overly critical, so I want to add that the story has potential, and the translation is excellent. However, what I read lacked any detail that sparked my interest, which is unusual for me. I've read poorly written stories before, and even those managed to hold my attention more than this one. Perhaps someone with a more nuanced understanding can explain what exactly the author did in the beginning that turned me off, because even I can't pinpoint it. It felt like reading through a fog, and even skimming didn't help. The main issue seems to be the pacing. The author assumes the reader will automatically love the characters and jumps right into their story, but without that connection, it becomes frustrating to read about characters you don't care about going through intense situations. The foundation of the story was weak from the start, making everything that follows feel unstable.