Do you like internal indecisive monologues, philosophical ramblings, and info-dumps? Well this is the novel for you! Let’s get this across: I enjoyed the concept of the world this novel presents, but I detested everything about the execution. The world-building is explained by “author fiat” at best, and the author’s writing skill is terrible. As such, despite finishing this novel, I hated the entire experience.

Why finish something you dislike? Well - there are flashes of greatness here and there. But if this review will convince even one person to give up, then it has been worth my time to write. If you think the novel will get better, don’t. It is terrible from start to finish.

This was supposed to inspire a video game, right? Well it feels like the opposite. The main character travels from one location to the next, narrating his internal thoughts and describing the dark tunnels he’s exploring. Yes, it’s that boring. And then when you get to the next station? You meet entirely new characters that will info-dump everything you need to know about the place. Then the main character will leave these characters behind, and you’ll restart this process.

Worse, every so often you’ll face mini-bosses or sidequests. A random antagonist will give the main character some challenges, and then deus ex machina will save the main character. Or he’ll meet someone that will rant about some pseudo philosophy that has zero impact on the rest of the plot. Nearly every chapter is episodic and doesn’t impact future chapters.

Brutal. I have no idea why this is so highly rated.

My favourite point is that at 75% of the way through the novel, when we’re going to deploy a missile against the botanical garden and save the whole Metro, the author chooses to spend 2 chapters on a side-quest against a brand new enemy called the Children of the Worm. Two entire chapters of bad religion, priests ranting about the great worm, and then the main character is saved by others (again, he doesn’t solve his own problems. Others always show up).

Halting the plot? Check. Utterly irrelevant sideplot? Check. Deus ex machina solution? Check.

Fuck this book.