So disappointing. Very dull. DNF at 72%.

Isn't it wickedly ironic that my main complaint on this self help book about slowing down is that it's too meandering? It's such a tiny little book, and yet still drags as the author takes many detours to his soapboxes and irrelevant anecdotes. The Calls to Action are often so specific that they won't help most people (have only two outfits, anyone? Sounds like I'd just be busy going to the laundromat every day).

And yet, every now and then I need something to say to me, "You're addicted to your phone, and you need to do something about that." And I'm grateful to this book for giving me that message. I just wish I hadn't had to slog through the chapters on fast fashion, advertising, and stopping at stop signs to get there.

My favorite quote from this book, ironically, was from the Bible:
Mark 6:30-32
30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

Funny, insightful, and oh so human. I fell in love with this book, with the therapy and the thoughts and feelings of everyone in here.

A very solid ending to the quartet. I'll be thinking about the cute moments for a while.

My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined. After book 1 was so good, how is the sequel so bad?

Now, I've very aware that this is going to be an unpopular opinion. The main difference between book 1 and 2 is that while book 1 was very character-led, this one is more focused on exploring the ideological war of knowledge thru yanking the characters around. You can see the emphasis in other people's reviews on praising the brain-breaking worldbuilding and thematic depth. That is not going to be in this one.

I think a microcosm for why I hated this book is in our new POV character: Celcha. She is a slave (with a new fantasy race) who is put to work in the library. There is supposed to be a mystery with her but the book blatantly gives too many hints and spoils itself. No more intrigue. Can you root for her? Also no, because she doesn't do anything but react. Oh no, slavery is bad! She gets manipulated, and none of her decisions mean anything because she isn't really making any informed decisions. Celcha's plotline is consistently boring, and adds nothing to the narrative except thematic depth and worldbuilding.

I need some actual character development and compelling plot to enjoy something, and this book gave me nothing. In the end, it felt like we were in the same spot as the beginning of the book. Except I care much less about all of the characters.

This book also tried to pull off not one but two romances. Not enough really given for me to believe in them or be invested.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ace for a copy to review. All opinions are my own.

The author (in very engaging interviews, I recommend the one on @ToriTalks) has said that part of the project of this novel is to explore a complicated world from the perspective of a despicable character. Alas, I find myself really hating both the overly detailed worldbuilding and the POV. I cannot enjoy this novel.

I LOVE the first half of this book. It talks generally about Deep Work, what it is and why it's important. I feel inspired to pursue this in my own life for my own happiness and productivity.

I'm lukewarm on the second half of the book, where it gets into specific things to do. The advice seems so specific to an Academic (who loves schedules and hates email, he calls them "knowledge workers" ) to not be super useful more broadly.
I also didn't love how the focus of this book is monetary success, to the exclusion of everything else.

Wow. (wow.)
Utterly unputdownable. A perfect end to the trilogy.