This started out really strong for me -- I liked the setting and the characters, but honestly, the introduction of the hob himself and the relationship between him and Aren wasn't very compelling for me and I felt like the deconstruction of the plot into "let's learn about the magic system for 100 pages" didn't really work for me.

Also, the incessant fat-shaming. For about a chapter there was just a comment about somebody's weight every five seconds. The hob is a large and oddly shaped being, but don't worry guys, he doesn't walk like a fat person so he must just be broad. (And other similar comments)