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Sufficiently Advanced Magic

Book 1 in the series:Arcane Ascension

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Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe is a unique blend of RPG elements and intricate magic systems set in a world filled with dungeon crawls and magical schools. The story follows Corin Cadence, a character who is speculated to be on the autism spectrum, as he navigates through a world of attunements and cultivation-like progression. The book combines dungeon diving, magic school, and world-building with elements of betrayal and mystery, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged.

The writing style in Sufficiently Advanced Magic is characterized by detailed descriptions of the magic system and the world, reminiscent of a Dungeons and Dragons campaign or a computer program technical manual. The narrative balances between a dungeon grind and a detailed exploration of magical systems, enchanting, and attunements, offering a fresh take on the fantasy genre with modern touches on topics like racism, asexuality, and child abuse.

Characters:

The characters are diverse and well-developed, with Corin as a relatable, introspective protagonist navigating his magical journey.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging with humor and descriptive elements, though it sometimes suffers from exposition overload.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around Corin, who navigates challenges in a magical tower and deals with family dynamics, striving to gain magical powers.

Setting:

The setting features a complex magical tower and a school for mages, filled with puzzles and a richly developed lore.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, with strong action early on, a slower middle section, and a compelling conclusion that regains momentum.
Bringing weapons and armor into the test was strictly forbidden, but there weren’t any rules about bringing a backpack full of supplies. I had double checked, triple checked. Maybe they’d consider my ...

Notes:

Sufficiently Advanced Magic is the first book in the Arcane Ascension series by Andrew Rowe.
The main character, Corin, is from a lesser noble house in the world of Valia.
The novel includes elements of LitRPG, combining fantasy and role-playing game mechanics.
Corin's family has been affected by a tragedy involving his older brother failing a Judgement test.
Corin has a magical affinity for engineering and toymaking rather than combat-oriented magic.
The middle of the book has been critiqued for pacing issues and plot holes, particularly concerning Corin's background knowledge of magic.
There are themes of poverty and familial struggle woven into the character's journey in the story.
The novel explores the emotional detachment of the protagonist and his relationships with friends and family.
Andrew Rowe's books showcase a detailed magic system, complete with carefully defined rules and classes.
The characters in the series include LGBTQ representation, with the main character being asexual and panromantic.
Corin, the protagonist, develops skills in a magic university, facing challenges in rekindling friendships and financial struggles.
The book has garnered attention for its unique blend of humor, action, and intricate world-building.

From The Publisher:

Five years ago, Corin Cadence’s brother entered the Serpent Spire — a colossal tower with ever-shifting rooms, traps, and monsters. Those who survive the spire’s trials return home with an attunement: a mark granting the bearer magical powers.

According to legend, those few who reach the top of the tower will be granted a boon by the spire’s goddess.He never returned.Now, it’s Corin’s turn. He’s headed to the top floor, on a mission to meet the goddess.If he can survive the trials, Corin will earn an attunement, but that won’t be sufficient to survive the dangers on the upper levels.

For that, he’s going to need training, allies, and a lot of ingenuity.The journey won’t be easy, but Corin won’t stop until he gets his brother back

Ratings (127)

Incredible (17)
Loved It (39)
Liked It (31)
It Was OK (25)
Did Not Like (13)
Hated It (2)

Reader Stats (217):

Read It (133)
Currently Reading (9)
Want To Read (56)
Did Not Finish (5)
Not Interested (14)

5 comment(s)

Loved It
4 weeks

I liked this story. It felt like the author was still trying to find his style, but the story is so good, I can overlook the awkward way things are told and sometimes over explained.

My biggest criticism is how many times the characters scratch their chins. It caught me up every time it came up.

 
Loved It
1 month

New magic system

 
Did Not Like
1 month

To school focussed

 
It Was OK
1 month

Started off really well. Bit the farther into the series it gets, the more content gets added without really solving any of the old issues. There's like 3 different magic systems with sub systems and different worlds, and maybe a time skip.

 
Liked It
1 year

Not a bad progression series. I liked the first book best, thought it’s slowed down after

 

About the Author:

Andrew Rowe was once a professional game designer for awesome companies like Blizzard Entertainment, Cryptic Studios, and Obsidian Entertainment. Nowadays, he’s writing full time.

When he’s not crunching numbers for game balance, he runs live-action role-playing games set in the same universe as his books. In addition, he writes for pen and paper role-playing games. Aside from game design and writing, Andrew watches a lot of anime, reads a metric ton of fantasy books, and plays every role-playing game he can get his hands on.

 
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