What do you think?
Rate this book
Mother of Learning #2
Mother of Learning: ARC 2
As the months in the time loop seem to add up without end, Zorian forms alliances with acquaintances old and new in an effort to solve the mystery of the loop and save his city—maybe even the world—from destruction.
But while his mage skills develop and he pursues more advanced and unusual forms of magic, Zorian must battle necromancers, fanatical cultists, and vicious creatures—all while avoiding the attention of the lich who could kill him...
Permanently.
But while his mage skills develop and he pursues more advanced and unusual forms of magic, Zorian must battle necromancers, fanatical cultists, and vicious creatures—all while avoiding the attention of the lich who could kill him...
Permanently.
664 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 17, 2022
634 people are currently reading
1619 people want to read
About the author
Domagoj Kurmaić
6 books551 followersDomagoj Kurmaić (aka nobody103) is just your average accountant from Croatia who thinks way too much about fantasy and sci-fi, and occasionally puts his thoughts into writing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 367 reviews
April 21, 2023
4.5/5 stars
Mother of Learning: ARC 2 by nobody103 or Domagoj Kurmaic was as good as the first volume. It almost completely topped ARC 1 that I read last month.
This series deserves more recognition in the fantasy novels landscape. Despite the popularity and praises of the web novel version, I am genuinely surprised that not many adult fantasy novel readers have talked about Mother of Learning. I had so much fun reading the first volume, and it has been challenging to not dive into the second volume immediately. I read the first volume with the hardback edition published by Wraithmarked Creative, and I could not wait for the hardback to be published next year. So I decided to read Mother of Learning: ARC 2 using the ebook edition available on Amazon Kindle. And the result? This was still another engaging and incredibly entertaining volume in the series.
The story in Mother of Learning: ARC 2 follows the heel of what happened at the end of the first volume. There’s no time jump whatsoever. It is essentially as simple as reading the next chapter after what happened at the end of the last chapter of the first volume. Understandably. Because this was originally a web novel re-edited and republished by Wraithmarked Creative into four installments. The months and years in the time loop add up without an end in sight. Zorian must form alliances with old and new acquaintances to solve the mystery of the time loop and save Cyoria—maybe even the world—from destruction. But while Zorian develops his mage skills and pursues more advanced and unusual forms of magic, he must battle necromancers, fanatical cultists, and vicious creatures—all while avoiding the attention of the lich who could kill him... Permanently.
I mentioned earlier that this installment was as good as its predecessor. There is only one reason why, as a whole, I cannot consider this to be better than Mother of Learning: ARC 1. This was because Mother of Learning: ARC 2 did not start as smoothly as I hoped and expected. The same situation happened in the first quarter of Mother of Learning: ARC 1, but I did not expect it to occur in the first 35% of Mother of Learning: ARC 2, even if it happened for different reasons. Be careful what you wish for. In my review of Mother of Learning: ARC 1, I wished Zorian would explore the world outside Cyoria's magical academy, and guess what? It immediately happened here. I should be thankful. But the result is not always as good as what we expected. The first 35% of ARC 2 deals with Zorian's time outside of the magical academy, and it frankly felt tedious and forgettable. Maybe what he learned outside of Cyoria's magical academy will play a more significant role later, but at this moment, I do not think they were crucial enough to warrant 35% of volume 2. The world-building and lore delivered during this section were, once again, done in a barrage of info-dump style, and it is hard to retain them in my mind.
Fortunately, this rough situation did not persist past the first 35% of the novel. If you, like me, have read and enjoyed the first book in the series, know that every great strength in the first volume returns and is enhanced powerfully once Zorian returns to the academy. I did not expect the best part of the book, or series, would be Zorian's time at Cyoria's magical academy, but hey, why fix something that is not broken, right? And yeah, this notion is strongly applicable here. Initially, I was worried about the negative potential that could be sparked by making the story too heavily centered inside the academy even longer. It could make the narrative too repetitive. But it wasn't the case. I was pleasantly proven wrong. And this will sound repetitive, but without going into details, let me say this, I was thoroughly impressed by Kurmaic's capability to constantly pour revelations and necessary character developments into the narrative despite the limitation of the setting and one-month time loop.
I am halfway through the series now, and the story has progressed four years in the time loop. Yes, Zorian has been repeating the same month over and over again for four years. However, this repetition never meant Zorian is stagnant as a character. I already talked about how I felt invested in Zorian's character and story in the first arc, and that statement is evidently stronger in the second story arc. It is to be expected, though, because excluding the point that I am further into the series now, Mother of Learning: ARC 2 took everything remarkable about the first volume and undoubtedly improved upon them. I am more immersed in the world and story now. Not only was it rewarding to see the fruition of Zorian's physical and magical development, but plenty of other supporting characters in the series (that were forgettably previously) starting to develop here, too, giving merit to the compelling pacing further. Zach, Taiven, Xvim, and Kirielle, in particular, felt more distinct as a character now comparatively.
I wish I could go into more detail regarding what made Mother of Learning: ARC 2 better, but they will go into spoiler-territory. I will end this review by saying Mother of Learning: ARC 2 was a magnificent sequel filled with well-written character developments, likable interactions, engaging pacing, more big action scenes, and tense revelations. Yes, the secret behind the time loop has been revealed in this installment, and you bet I am super excited to read the continuation of Zorian's story as soon as possible, most likely next month. The potential for the remaining two books to become my favorite books in the series is strong, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that my goal to finish reading the series this year will end on a high note.
You can order this book from: Amazon US
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Anastasia, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Brad, Cade, Casey, Chris, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Miracle, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Teri, Tori, Tracy, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
Mother of Learning: ARC 2 by nobody103 or Domagoj Kurmaic was as good as the first volume. It almost completely topped ARC 1 that I read last month.
This series deserves more recognition in the fantasy novels landscape. Despite the popularity and praises of the web novel version, I am genuinely surprised that not many adult fantasy novel readers have talked about Mother of Learning. I had so much fun reading the first volume, and it has been challenging to not dive into the second volume immediately. I read the first volume with the hardback edition published by Wraithmarked Creative, and I could not wait for the hardback to be published next year. So I decided to read Mother of Learning: ARC 2 using the ebook edition available on Amazon Kindle. And the result? This was still another engaging and incredibly entertaining volume in the series.
“Picking on innocent people for the sake of personal training was not the road he wanted to take, and dismissing their plight as irrelevant due to the time loop struck him as an unhealthy attitude to have.”
The story in Mother of Learning: ARC 2 follows the heel of what happened at the end of the first volume. There’s no time jump whatsoever. It is essentially as simple as reading the next chapter after what happened at the end of the last chapter of the first volume. Understandably. Because this was originally a web novel re-edited and republished by Wraithmarked Creative into four installments. The months and years in the time loop add up without an end in sight. Zorian must form alliances with old and new acquaintances to solve the mystery of the time loop and save Cyoria—maybe even the world—from destruction. But while Zorian develops his mage skills and pursues more advanced and unusual forms of magic, he must battle necromancers, fanatical cultists, and vicious creatures—all while avoiding the attention of the lich who could kill him... Permanently.
“You just seem so straitlaced, you know? Then again, you’re a pretty driven guy, and my grandfather always said that nobody ever got powerful by following the law.” Such sage wisdom from the older generation.”
I mentioned earlier that this installment was as good as its predecessor. There is only one reason why, as a whole, I cannot consider this to be better than Mother of Learning: ARC 1. This was because Mother of Learning: ARC 2 did not start as smoothly as I hoped and expected. The same situation happened in the first quarter of Mother of Learning: ARC 1, but I did not expect it to occur in the first 35% of Mother of Learning: ARC 2, even if it happened for different reasons. Be careful what you wish for. In my review of Mother of Learning: ARC 1, I wished Zorian would explore the world outside Cyoria's magical academy, and guess what? It immediately happened here. I should be thankful. But the result is not always as good as what we expected. The first 35% of ARC 2 deals with Zorian's time outside of the magical academy, and it frankly felt tedious and forgettable. Maybe what he learned outside of Cyoria's magical academy will play a more significant role later, but at this moment, I do not think they were crucial enough to warrant 35% of volume 2. The world-building and lore delivered during this section were, once again, done in a barrage of info-dump style, and it is hard to retain them in my mind.
“It is commendable that you are trying to correct your deficiencies on your own initiative. Too many mages with such natural talents mistake their inborn advantage for actual mastery, wasting their potential and putting everyone around them at risk. Even themselves. Especially themselves.”
Fortunately, this rough situation did not persist past the first 35% of the novel. If you, like me, have read and enjoyed the first book in the series, know that every great strength in the first volume returns and is enhanced powerfully once Zorian returns to the academy. I did not expect the best part of the book, or series, would be Zorian's time at Cyoria's magical academy, but hey, why fix something that is not broken, right? And yeah, this notion is strongly applicable here. Initially, I was worried about the negative potential that could be sparked by making the story too heavily centered inside the academy even longer. It could make the narrative too repetitive. But it wasn't the case. I was pleasantly proven wrong. And this will sound repetitive, but without going into details, let me say this, I was thoroughly impressed by Kurmaic's capability to constantly pour revelations and necessary character developments into the narrative despite the limitation of the setting and one-month time loop.
I am halfway through the series now, and the story has progressed four years in the time loop. Yes, Zorian has been repeating the same month over and over again for four years. However, this repetition never meant Zorian is stagnant as a character. I already talked about how I felt invested in Zorian's character and story in the first arc, and that statement is evidently stronger in the second story arc. It is to be expected, though, because excluding the point that I am further into the series now, Mother of Learning: ARC 2 took everything remarkable about the first volume and undoubtedly improved upon them. I am more immersed in the world and story now. Not only was it rewarding to see the fruition of Zorian's physical and magical development, but plenty of other supporting characters in the series (that were forgettably previously) starting to develop here, too, giving merit to the compelling pacing further. Zach, Taiven, Xvim, and Kirielle, in particular, felt more distinct as a character now comparatively.
“My brother is really great… He’s like a hedgehog. He gets nice once you get past his prickliness.”
I wish I could go into more detail regarding what made Mother of Learning: ARC 2 better, but they will go into spoiler-territory. I will end this review by saying Mother of Learning: ARC 2 was a magnificent sequel filled with well-written character developments, likable interactions, engaging pacing, more big action scenes, and tense revelations. Yes, the secret behind the time loop has been revealed in this installment, and you bet I am super excited to read the continuation of Zorian's story as soon as possible, most likely next month. The potential for the remaining two books to become my favorite books in the series is strong, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that my goal to finish reading the series this year will end on a high note.
You can order this book from: Amazon US
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions | I also have a Booktube channel
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
My Patrons: Alfred, Aliysa, Anastasia, Andrew, Andrew W, Annabeth, Arliss, Barbara, Brad, Cade, Casey, Chris, Diana, Dylan, Edward, Elias, Ellen, Gary, Hamad, Helen, Jenn, Jesse, Jimmy Nutts, Joie, Kristina, Luis, Lufi, Melinda, Michael, Michael, Miracle, Nicholas, Norbert, Radiah, Samuel, Sarah, Sarah, Scott, Shawn, Teri, Tori, Tracy, Wendy, Wick, Xero, Yuri, Zoe.
October 3, 2022
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions upon finishing reading fantasy books.
An absolutely wonderful read that was better than the first book in every conceivable way.
I absolutely adored reading this book, and thought that the direction the author took this story worked brilliantly. The first book was essentially all centered around a magic school with the main character stuck in a time loop. But the second book has finally branched out to develop the world in a much richer way and make the story have so much more depth to it.
I love the general concept of a time loop (first presented to me as a kid in the movie "Groundhog's Day"), but this story takes it a few steps further by also creating a horrific event that happens at the end of the loop that the main character is desperately trying to avoid. So not only is the character trying to escape the loop, but they are also trying to escape it while solving the larger mystery of what is happening on a much larger level. It's wonderful.
The characters are a little bit on the shallow end and the writing quality is a bit typical in the web serial world of being par (at best), but the story, world, and fantasy elements to this book more than make up for these shortcomings to make an absolute joy of a read.
An absolutely wonderful read that was better than the first book in every conceivable way.
I absolutely adored reading this book, and thought that the direction the author took this story worked brilliantly. The first book was essentially all centered around a magic school with the main character stuck in a time loop. But the second book has finally branched out to develop the world in a much richer way and make the story have so much more depth to it.
I love the general concept of a time loop (first presented to me as a kid in the movie "Groundhog's Day"), but this story takes it a few steps further by also creating a horrific event that happens at the end of the loop that the main character is desperately trying to avoid. So not only is the character trying to escape the loop, but they are also trying to escape it while solving the larger mystery of what is happening on a much larger level. It's wonderful.
The characters are a little bit on the shallow end and the writing quality is a bit typical in the web serial world of being par (at best), but the story, world, and fantasy elements to this book more than make up for these shortcomings to make an absolute joy of a read.
April 29, 2023
"Good morning, Brother!"
"His plans were virtually nonexistent...What the hell was he supposed to do now? He needed some time to calm down and come to terms with what had happened, think up a new way forward."
![Mother of Learning [Web Novel] - AnimeSuki Forum](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1659277573i/33227022._SX540_.jpg)
This 2nd read of Mother of Learning, Arc 2 held up really well. I enjoyed how Zorian left his comfort zone in Cyoria and began exploring more of the world to better understand what's happening to him in the time loop. I'm also rounding up the rating (as I did for the first book). This was interesting and lots of fun!
----
Still trapped in a month-long time loop, Zorian feels he has failed in his efforts to take on the powerful foes intent on destroying his city. So in Domagoj Kurmaić's Mother of Learning, Arc #2 he takes a different approach to how best to use his time. It's not just about sharpening skills as we saw in the first book, Zorian explores more of the world around him. This allows for some great world-building, the introduction of interesting characters and more character development for those we already know. It also provides increased reflection on what he is doing in the time loop as well as what the exit strategy will be. Looking forward to what comes next! 4.5 stars.
"His plans were virtually nonexistent...What the hell was he supposed to do now? He needed some time to calm down and come to terms with what had happened, think up a new way forward."
This 2nd read of Mother of Learning, Arc 2 held up really well. I enjoyed how Zorian left his comfort zone in Cyoria and began exploring more of the world to better understand what's happening to him in the time loop. I'm also rounding up the rating (as I did for the first book). This was interesting and lots of fun!
----
Still trapped in a month-long time loop, Zorian feels he has failed in his efforts to take on the powerful foes intent on destroying his city. So in Domagoj Kurmaić's Mother of Learning, Arc #2 he takes a different approach to how best to use his time. It's not just about sharpening skills as we saw in the first book, Zorian explores more of the world around him. This allows for some great world-building, the introduction of interesting characters and more character development for those we already know. It also provides increased reflection on what he is doing in the time loop as well as what the exit strategy will be. Looking forward to what comes next! 4.5 stars.
October 9, 2025
Kolejny tom solidnej rozrywki. Poznajemy lepiej ten niezwykle dopracowany i rozbudowany świat, są nowi bohaterowie i więcej interakcji ze starymi ulubieńcami. No i przede wszystkim mamy tutaj więcej postępów, więcej magii i nowe problemy, które pojawiają się po rozwiązaniu wcześniejszych. Problemy do rozwiązania dla Zoriana i Zacha w kolejnej części przedstawiają się fascynująco, mam nadzieję, że szybko dowiem się co będzie dalej.
W pierwszej części książki opuściliśmy szkołę i była to pożądana zmiana w stosunku do pierwszego tomu, ale po pewnym czasie, żałowałam, że nie jesteśmy dalej w akademii, w bardziej znanym mi środowisku. Na szczęście w dalszej części wróciliśmy do Cyorii i na w miarę wytarte tory postępu. Niby ciągle czyta się o tym samym, ale naprawdę, ma to swój urok i wyjątkowy rytm.
W pierwszej części książki opuściliśmy szkołę i była to pożądana zmiana w stosunku do pierwszego tomu, ale po pewnym czasie, żałowałam, że nie jesteśmy dalej w akademii, w bardziej znanym mi środowisku. Na szczęście w dalszej części wróciliśmy do Cyorii i na w miarę wytarte tory postępu. Niby ciągle czyta się o tym samym, ale naprawdę, ma to swój urok i wyjątkowy rytm.
August 7, 2025
nadal fajna zabawa i duuużo kombinowania. choć trochę tempo siada. ale będę czytać dalej :D
May 29, 2022
This was a struggle
I will start by saying I enjoyed arc 1. This one was heavier going. Easily half the book is completely unnecessary. Exposition galore. Coupled with the author’s tendency to tell rather than show and finishing this book became an act of will.
I understand from other comments that story is already complete and was released some while ago as a free serial. That explains some of the issues with this volume but also lowers my hope that the writing will improve. I am unlikely to read the rest.
I will start by saying I enjoyed arc 1. This one was heavier going. Easily half the book is completely unnecessary. Exposition galore. Coupled with the author’s tendency to tell rather than show and finishing this book became an act of will.
I understand from other comments that story is already complete and was released some while ago as a free serial. That explains some of the issues with this volume but also lowers my hope that the writing will improve. I am unlikely to read the rest.
May 28, 2022
I'm really enjoying this series. It picks up right where Arc 1 left off and (for me) didn't suffer from the Sequel Slumps. There is a bit of extra world-building that happens in this book, but considering we are in a time loop story, the world-building also serves to progress the plot in a lot of ways.
There are probably some readers that will feel like the pace slows down a bit, and that's arguably true, but I remained interested in everything and enjoyed exploring the areas surrounding Cyoria and the Academy, and getting to know the new characters. This caused a few Arc 1 characters to move to the backseat of the plot (Zach, Quantach-Ichl, some of the classmates, etc.), but most characters made at least small appearances so the reader won't forget about them entirely.
One thing I really enjoy about this story is how well the author translates the DnD inspiration into a functional magic system, which isn't the easiest thing to do considering the extremely old-fashioned Vancian magic that DnD uses. It shows how much care and effort went into the world-building compared to the borderline cut-and-paste job that many litrpg and gamelit authors use.
This is probably my favorite story for both the progressive fantasy and time-loop genres. Many time-loop stories fall on their face from lack of good characterization and a lot of progressive fantasies lose all sense of balance when the power creep gets out of control and the MC gets way too OP.
It's really satisfying to see how Zorian is growing throughout this story and getting to show his new strength while also regularly being humbled and put back in his lane. It's a delicate balance, and this story is handling it well.
Readers familiar with three-act structure won't be too surprised by how this Arc ends, but also likely won't feel disappointed either. It gives me a sense of confidence that we as readers are in capable hands as we head into the conclusion of the trilogy. I can't wait for the next book!
There are probably some readers that will feel like the pace slows down a bit, and that's arguably true, but I remained interested in everything and enjoyed exploring the areas surrounding Cyoria and the Academy, and getting to know the new characters. This caused a few Arc 1 characters to move to the backseat of the plot (Zach, Quantach-Ichl, some of the classmates, etc.), but most characters made at least small appearances so the reader won't forget about them entirely.
One thing I really enjoy about this story is how well the author translates the DnD inspiration into a functional magic system, which isn't the easiest thing to do considering the extremely old-fashioned Vancian magic that DnD uses. It shows how much care and effort went into the world-building compared to the borderline cut-and-paste job that many litrpg and gamelit authors use.
This is probably my favorite story for both the progressive fantasy and time-loop genres. Many time-loop stories fall on their face from lack of good characterization and a lot of progressive fantasies lose all sense of balance when the power creep gets out of control and the MC gets way too OP.
It's really satisfying to see how Zorian is growing throughout this story and getting to show his new strength while also regularly being humbled and put back in his lane. It's a delicate balance, and this story is handling it well.
Readers familiar with three-act structure won't be too surprised by how this Arc ends, but also likely won't feel disappointed either. It gives me a sense of confidence that we as readers are in capable hands as we head into the conclusion of the trilogy. I can't wait for the next book!
August 7, 2024
First series in a long time that I want to move on to the next book immediately. Absolutely amazing and entertaining! If you like fantasy these are a must read!
March 7, 2023
I loved the first arc, but I think this second arc probably worked better as a web serial than a full book. Each individual part is ok, but seen as a whole, this book is at last double the length it needed to be.
December 5, 2025
"Good morning, Brother!"
Arc 2 starts almost straight away from where Book 1 left off. This is the nature of a web serial, it has that quality that makes it very difficult to stop once started. So, it doesn’t feel like you’re reading the beginning of a new book but simply the next chapter of the previous one. Which differs from traditional publishing in many cases (not all). As I continue on my journey, I’m surprised this isn’t read more widely by adult fantasy readers. It has the traits and qualities to it I can see being very engaging to many readers.
This review will be very brief, because I don’t believe there’s much that can be said from a non-spoiler perspective that differs from my previous review, and it all feels like one big book. Arc 2 is where we explore the world outside Cyoria's magical academy, and it’s great. I do think the setting of Cyoria’s magical academy is still the best because of the cast that resides there, but the world outside is fascinating. Like the previous book, I’m surprised by the sense of momentum with each chapter. How we slowly learn about the mystery of Zorian’s circumstances without feeling unnatural. It’s extremely well plotted, especially for a web serial, with minor incidents or lines of dialogue previously getting recontextualized into their natural conclusion.
Book 1's greatest strength is the same for Book 2. Kurmaic's capability to not make this series feel repetitive despite the very nature of its setting. How revelations transpire, with characters that were originally two-dimensional merely due to Zorian’s shallow reading of them having more depth than he originally thought. Or his ability to improve as a mage not only increases his combat prowess but also makes Zorian a better person. The difference between pre-time loop and post couldn’t be further apart but was done so organically. Everything ends up feeling cohesive. It’s a progression fantasy in every sense and never feels stagnant from the plot nor characters. The narration is still fantastic, and how Zorian is written can overcome the times where the author does his occasional information dumps.
Book 2's ending does have a massive cliffhanger, which makes perfect sense in hindsight, but also made me immediately start Book 3. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.
7.5/10
March 27, 2025
Another excellent installment in the world. I am kinda addicted to how every loop is going in a completely unique direction while being tied to the larger plot seamlessly. These are so quick to read too it's just fabulous.
I'm really glad I picked this series up. These are very close to 5 stars for me I'm having a great time with them!
I'm really glad I picked this series up. These are very close to 5 stars for me I'm having a great time with them!
November 17, 2023
Ha ha, it's still a very slow burn, very slow character development, too slow overall for my tastes. But it is progressing. Great cliffhanger ending. So I'm reading the next one.
November 25, 2024
I liked the first arc a little more but this was very good as well and I'm excited to read the next one.
March 22, 2022
The first arc was good, but I didn’t think it was a game changer. But that’s changed in this arc.
For one, the author is creating a huge world with a whole ridiculous level of detail. That detail is very well explored here and everything seems to somehow tie up. There’s often a lot of foreshadowing that makes a lot of sense many chapters later. Another interesting thing is that this is actually a large series (each chapter is really long).
Through this vast, detailed world, the author manages to convey a real sense of progress for our characters over time. This isn’t done through pre-established levels which would ideally be simpler (and maybe fun too) but through the things our characters are able to achieve over time. It’s amazing just how much the characters grow through the series.
Another continuously interesting aspect for me are the explorations of the character relationships. Because of how much our main characters evolve over time, and the different behaviors during the loops, the different sides of characters are explored. They all feel very real, with many distinct facets to their personality. The trauma of losing an established relationship isn’t very deeply explored but I think that’s fine. That kind of exploration would likely derail the story quite a bit.
The other interesting part is the richness of the world. As the story progresses, the world and the magic system keeps getting clearer and clearer and that much more interesting for it.
Other than these, I especially enjoyed few poignant moments here and the few really outrageously funny moments (well, one in particular).
The most exciting part for me however, is the huge, mind boggling reveal. There have been hints but I could never have predicted those explanations. In the last few chapters, they keep coming nonstop and while I really enjoyed the story until then, now it’s probably moving to vie for my top 3 series of all time list. This is honestly as good as some of the best series I’ve read so far.
Can’t wait to pick the next one up!
For one, the author is creating a huge world with a whole ridiculous level of detail. That detail is very well explored here and everything seems to somehow tie up. There’s often a lot of foreshadowing that makes a lot of sense many chapters later. Another interesting thing is that this is actually a large series (each chapter is really long).
Through this vast, detailed world, the author manages to convey a real sense of progress for our characters over time. This isn’t done through pre-established levels which would ideally be simpler (and maybe fun too) but through the things our characters are able to achieve over time. It’s amazing just how much the characters grow through the series.
Another continuously interesting aspect for me are the explorations of the character relationships. Because of how much our main characters evolve over time, and the different behaviors during the loops, the different sides of characters are explored. They all feel very real, with many distinct facets to their personality. The trauma of losing an established relationship isn’t very deeply explored but I think that’s fine. That kind of exploration would likely derail the story quite a bit.
The other interesting part is the richness of the world. As the story progresses, the world and the magic system keeps getting clearer and clearer and that much more interesting for it.
Other than these, I especially enjoyed few poignant moments here and the few really outrageously funny moments (well, one in particular).
The most exciting part for me however, is the huge, mind boggling reveal. There have been hints but I could never have predicted those explanations. In the last few chapters, they keep coming nonstop and while I really enjoyed the story until then, now it’s probably moving to vie for my top 3 series of all time list. This is honestly as good as some of the best series I’ve read so far.
Can’t wait to pick the next one up!
October 6, 2022
On the first Arc I said it would be rude of me not to give the book 5 stars. With this I am going to be rude and pity and not give 5 stars 😎. 4 is still good though
This story is the kind that makes me wonder how a human can possibly create all this and put into words for ME another human to read and imagine. The plot is mind-blowing and the characters go through such wonderful development, it can be seamless sometimes the changes they go through, like it's not forced or anything.
I loved our main guy Zorian in this Arc, I mean I liked him in the 1st book but now I just feel like I spent SO MUCH time with him (this feeling makes sense if you read the story), so I know him 😂😂.
Just like the 1st arc, my favorite moments is when he spent time with others. Creating relationships and we get to be with other characters. Because Zorian as amazing as he is, is a bit much.
✨✨ "it was hard not to feel like a villain" ✨✨
The last star is because of the writing and unnecessary extra information that makes the book more heavy than it is. I mean I do recognize the hard work it takes to create this magic system and plot with ALL of its complications but damn man, sometimes I felt like I was out of breath.
I understand that our dear Zorian loves magic and learning about it, therefore with his POV we can witness his character traits and experience them, but duuuuude sometimes it felt like the author himself likes to make a one sentence point be three paragraphs.
Other than that I have no complaints. Even with all this it's worth it, with how complicated and amazing the story is. But again ... I struggled 👀.
Anyways onto the next arc and with the words of Zorian "Well, fuck" 😲
This story is the kind that makes me wonder how a human can possibly create all this and put into words for ME another human to read and imagine. The plot is mind-blowing and the characters go through such wonderful development, it can be seamless sometimes the changes they go through, like it's not forced or anything.
I loved our main guy Zorian in this Arc, I mean I liked him in the 1st book but now I just feel like I spent SO MUCH time with him (this feeling makes sense if you read the story), so I know him 😂😂.
Just like the 1st arc, my favorite moments is when he spent time with others. Creating relationships and we get to be with other characters. Because Zorian as amazing as he is, is a bit much.
✨✨ "it was hard not to feel like a villain" ✨✨
The last star is because of the writing and unnecessary extra information that makes the book more heavy than it is. I mean I do recognize the hard work it takes to create this magic system and plot with ALL of its complications but damn man, sometimes I felt like I was out of breath.
I understand that our dear Zorian loves magic and learning about it, therefore with his POV we can witness his character traits and experience them, but duuuuude sometimes it felt like the author himself likes to make a one sentence point be three paragraphs.
Other than that I have no complaints. Even with all this it's worth it, with how complicated and amazing the story is. But again ... I struggled 👀.
Anyways onto the next arc and with the words of Zorian "Well, fuck" 😲
June 1, 2022
The story starts just like any other start of Zorian’s loop, by his little sister pouncing on him. But this time, Zorian decides to get out of the city since he has no real reason to stay there anymore without the aranea. He also has a fear of Red Robe finding his family by tracking him to their home and killing them all permanently. Zorian assumes an adventurer role, working odd jobs to make a little cash and he grabs a firearm since like in the United States they are the easiest weapon to come by. It absolutely kills me how regular firearms have a fighting change against magic in this world, it brings amusement by being mundane and gives a scale of how powerful some abilities are. In these voyages he encounters the priest Alanic, who even though they have a moment where Zorian says ACAB Alanic scolds Zorian for not shooting innocent people in the back, he helps by finding out that Zorian has a marker stamped onto his soul. Zorian learns that this marker is what dragged him into the time loop, and acts as a tracking chip. With this part of his puzzle solved, Zorian goes on more adventures in strengthening his mind magic so he can open the memory packet from Spear of Resolve. This involves training with schoolmates and tracking down other aranea colonies. There’s really so much training that goes on in this book. Big training arc time. Finally after Zorian’s brain is big and juicy and wet he runs into Zach one more time and they learn the secret of the time loop, as well as some secrets that don’t bode well for their fates.
February 15, 2022
The arc focuses more on worldbuilding. Its focus is less on Cyoria and on the world around it. The protagonist will explore these places to find new allies and unravel further mysteries about the situation they find themselves in.
It takes a rather slower pace compared to the first arc. Then again, the first arc thrusts the reader right into the action. Which can be extremely disorienting due to the fast pace. The arc might feel boring and slow, but there will be there for the first few chapters. I implore such a reader to read on, after all, the questions raised in the first arc will then only be answered :)
It takes a rather slower pace compared to the first arc. Then again, the first arc thrusts the reader right into the action. Which can be extremely disorienting due to the fast pace. The arc might feel boring and slow, but there will be there for the first few chapters. I implore such a reader to read on, after all, the questions raised in the first arc will then only be answered :)
April 7, 2023
Loved it
July 18, 2022
Another entry into an incredible series.
Just read it. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s the peak of profession fantasy novels. You won’t regret it. The story is already complete so you won’t be waiting long for the last two books.
Just read it. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s the peak of profession fantasy novels. You won’t regret it. The story is already complete so you won’t be waiting long for the last two books.
April 30, 2024
3.5⭐
Maybe only the 3rd or 4th fiction audiobook I've listened to and I'm not calibrated for good storyline retention, so it was a bit hard to follow at times. But it was still good! I will continue the series.
Maybe only the 3rd or 4th fiction audiobook I've listened to and I'm not calibrated for good storyline retention, so it was a bit hard to follow at times. But it was still good! I will continue the series.
November 21, 2023
If you read the first book, you get the idea. Lost in a time loop, Zorian struggles to find out what is going on.
What I really appreciate is all of the little details showing the progress that Zorian is making in learning magic. You can see his incremental improvements and how huge challenges become big challenges and eventually become minor inconveniences.
I assume this is part two of three, where the antagonists, the stakes, and the path forward become clear. As I did when part 1 was released, I will finish the book from where it left off. When part 3 is released, I will read part 1 and 2 again.
What I really appreciate is all of the little details showing the progress that Zorian is making in learning magic. You can see his incremental improvements and how huge challenges become big challenges and eventually become minor inconveniences.
I assume this is part two of three, where the antagonists, the stakes, and the path forward become clear. As I did when part 1 was released, I will finish the book from where it left off. When part 3 is released, I will read part 1 and 2 again.
July 25, 2025
The first 2/3rds of this book was super boring and I missed the setting and side characters of the previous one. There's only so much side quest leveling and grinding I can take! Thank God for the last third and for the welcome return to Cyoria.
A would be 2 star book but it gets a whole extra star for Zack punching Zorian.
A would be 2 star book but it gets a whole extra star for Zack punching Zorian.
January 26, 2023
Goooood morning brother!!
March 30, 2025
It's a slog to read through. First book had potential but things are going nowhere with this book.
August 4, 2023
I only discovered the internet-success that the Mother of Learning seems to be through a kickstarter last year and finally read the first book of the now-quadrology earlier this year. When I finished the book back then, I was very tempted to dive straight into the next one. But as always, other books happened.
But now it was high-time to get to the second part of this crazy progression-fantasy time-loop-adventure. Quick recap: Zorian Kazinsky is a young student at a mage academy and is stuck in some sort of time-loop: He gets to experience the same month over and over again, but keeps his memories and all the skills he learned as one of very few people.
The story continues right were we left off at the end of the first part. SPOILER: So, Zorian is forced to find out more about the time-loop and why he is affected by it. This leads him into a different part of the country and so the world around Zorian grows, new characters and parties are introduced. This was a nice change of scenery and of course this also meant to experience the restarts completely different from the ones at school from the first book. Nevertheless, for me the story really picked up again when Zorian decides to go back to school. Maybe this is because we are already familiar with the scenery and could spot the differences and changes in each restart even easier to spot. But also, because he interacts with people we already know. And he does interact a lot more with also a lot more people and becomes more sociable. He continues to hone and expand his magical skills. And he investigates very different angels and in very different approaches to learn more about his predicament.
Of course, the story is repetitive in a way which only makes sense given the nature of this story and also considering that it was developed originally as a web-series. Still, I would have liked the pacing to pick up a little more every now and then to move the plot forward a little faster. On the other hand, sometimes it’s really the minor changes in the repetitions that are the most interesting.
What I really enjoy here is the character-change or rather growth that Zorian is experiencing. Zorian naturally evolves and changes through his experiences and the additional knowledge he is able to secure. But since he changes, he also changes his way of interacting with the people around him – and so the other characters change, too. And some of them even feel a little ‘rounder’ now as they get more stage time which is especially the case for his sister Kirielle.
In a nutshell, it’s a good continuation of the story and despite the repetition it keeps the readers on their toes because of all the smaller and bigger changes. I just wish to press fast forward every once in a while.
But now it was high-time to get to the second part of this crazy progression-fantasy time-loop-adventure. Quick recap: Zorian Kazinsky is a young student at a mage academy and is stuck in some sort of time-loop: He gets to experience the same month over and over again, but keeps his memories and all the skills he learned as one of very few people.
The story continues right were we left off at the end of the first part. SPOILER: So, Zorian is forced to find out more about the time-loop and why he is affected by it. This leads him into a different part of the country and so the world around Zorian grows, new characters and parties are introduced. This was a nice change of scenery and of course this also meant to experience the restarts completely different from the ones at school from the first book. Nevertheless, for me the story really picked up again when Zorian decides to go back to school. Maybe this is because we are already familiar with the scenery and could spot the differences and changes in each restart even easier to spot. But also, because he interacts with people we already know. And he does interact a lot more with also a lot more people and becomes more sociable. He continues to hone and expand his magical skills. And he investigates very different angels and in very different approaches to learn more about his predicament.
Of course, the story is repetitive in a way which only makes sense given the nature of this story and also considering that it was developed originally as a web-series. Still, I would have liked the pacing to pick up a little more every now and then to move the plot forward a little faster. On the other hand, sometimes it’s really the minor changes in the repetitions that are the most interesting.
What I really enjoy here is the character-change or rather growth that Zorian is experiencing. Zorian naturally evolves and changes through his experiences and the additional knowledge he is able to secure. But since he changes, he also changes his way of interacting with the people around him – and so the other characters change, too. And some of them even feel a little ‘rounder’ now as they get more stage time which is especially the case for his sister Kirielle.
In a nutshell, it’s a good continuation of the story and despite the repetition it keeps the readers on their toes because of all the smaller and bigger changes. I just wish to press fast forward every once in a while.
December 3, 2022
Picking up where book 1 left off, Zorian is still looping through the same month of his life, over and over again, with no apparent end in sight. Though Zorian is still using the time to learn as much as he can, and he is definitely going to be avoiding Red Robe by staying away from the academy for a while, he still doesn't know why he is in the time loop or how to possibly stop it.
While many of Zorian's classmates and other characters that we saw in the first book do tend to take a bit of a backseat in this story, many of them do have cameo appearances so we don't forget who they are. The worldbuilding also continues, providing more information and filling out the plot in several places. I will say that after the ending of the first book, the start of this one can seem a bit slow.
It's true that the pace does slow down a bit, but it does so in a way that suits the story. And while Zorian does continue studying and learning as much magic as he can, the author does a good job of balancing that growth with increased difficulty, which helps prevent the power creep that many progressive fantasy characters tend to have. At the same time, we see a great deal of character development for Zorian as he experiences the time loops, and he grows from a somewhat whiny teenager to an introspective character who learns from his failures. Even with his ability, he has experiences that help him realize that he's not always the best, and that helps humble him and keep his ego in check.
I liked the way this story ended, though it wasn't as big of a surprise as the end of the first book. I am definitely looking forward to seeing how Zorian handles the new information and moves forward.
As with the first book, I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Jack Voraces. He again gave a great performance, and I will absolutely be continuing to listen to the audiobook going forward.
While many of Zorian's classmates and other characters that we saw in the first book do tend to take a bit of a backseat in this story, many of them do have cameo appearances so we don't forget who they are. The worldbuilding also continues, providing more information and filling out the plot in several places. I will say that after the ending of the first book, the start of this one can seem a bit slow.
It's true that the pace does slow down a bit, but it does so in a way that suits the story. And while Zorian does continue studying and learning as much magic as he can, the author does a good job of balancing that growth with increased difficulty, which helps prevent the power creep that many progressive fantasy characters tend to have. At the same time, we see a great deal of character development for Zorian as he experiences the time loops, and he grows from a somewhat whiny teenager to an introspective character who learns from his failures. Even with his ability, he has experiences that help him realize that he's not always the best, and that helps humble him and keep his ego in check.
I liked the way this story ended, though it wasn't as big of a surprise as the end of the first book. I am definitely looking forward to seeing how Zorian handles the new information and moves forward.
As with the first book, I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by Jack Voraces. He again gave a great performance, and I will absolutely be continuing to listen to the audiobook going forward.
August 27, 2024
"It was hard not to feel like a villain."
Extreme detailing and wholesome world building.
I felt that the story can't get better but I was so wrong. And there are many reasons for which it will become one of the most loved fantasy series. I know that I had enjoyed the first book more but this book becomes more practical.
The general direction of the story: When I read the first arc, I thought this is a All You Need Is Kill 1 plus Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone combo. However, the story evolves into a more epic world. Zorian, our MC, explores more locations and options to understand the time loop and one important thing which he is carrying from arc one. Yes. It was super detailed. Yes. It was complicated. Yet, it was entertaining. The buildup for the action is worth the wait. We get to know more about Zorian's new skills, which I believe, will be crucial to the time loop conclusion.
Character Development: The story was so good that the brilliant character development was overshadowed. I could see so many layers to Zorian's character. He was way different to what he was at the beginning of arc two. Moreover, there are a couple of major developments in a few side characters, which is a pleasant surprise. Additionally, there are a couple of new characters whom I have found interesting and looking forward to see them more in the next two arcs.
Overall, a good build up to the arc three.
Extreme detailing and wholesome world building.
I felt that the story can't get better but I was so wrong. And there are many reasons for which it will become one of the most loved fantasy series. I know that I had enjoyed the first book more but this book becomes more practical.
The general direction of the story: When I read the first arc, I thought this is a All You Need Is Kill 1 plus Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone combo. However, the story evolves into a more epic world. Zorian, our MC, explores more locations and options to understand the time loop and one important thing which he is carrying from arc one. Yes. It was super detailed. Yes. It was complicated. Yet, it was entertaining. The buildup for the action is worth the wait. We get to know more about Zorian's new skills, which I believe, will be crucial to the time loop conclusion.
"Fortunately, he was a mage. He had a way of having his cake and eating it too."
Character Development: The story was so good that the brilliant character development was overshadowed. I could see so many layers to Zorian's character. He was way different to what he was at the beginning of arc two. Moreover, there are a couple of major developments in a few side characters, which is a pleasant surprise. Additionally, there are a couple of new characters whom I have found interesting and looking forward to see them more in the next two arcs.
Overall, a good build up to the arc three.
June 1, 2022
Rating 3.5 stars
This one started off VERY slow. The first 6 hours of the audiobook were a slog. Nothing much happened. Nothing interesting anyway. There were times I felt I was sitting through an hour long history lecture about a land I know or care nothing about. Zorian decides to avoid the town he was in after what happened in the last book and goes off exploring. He states he is going to get information and new skills to help him but again it seemed like nothing happened for a long time. It wasn't until he came back to school when I started to enjoy the story again. Despite living he same day over and over again, there was always something a little new that happened. He started to slowly build his power and skill again. There were some weird choices Overall it was good enough for me to continue but not great. If you can get past the first 5 or 6 hours and you liked the first book, you should like this one as well.
This one started off VERY slow. The first 6 hours of the audiobook were a slog. Nothing much happened. Nothing interesting anyway. There were times I felt I was sitting through an hour long history lecture about a land I know or care nothing about. Zorian decides to avoid the town he was in after what happened in the last book and goes off exploring. He states he is going to get information and new skills to help him but again it seemed like nothing happened for a long time. It wasn't until he came back to school when I started to enjoy the story again. Despite living he same day over and over again, there was always something a little new that happened. He started to slowly build his power and skill again. There were some weird choices Overall it was good enough for me to continue but not great. If you can get past the first 5 or 6 hours and you liked the first book, you should like this one as well.
May 7, 2025
what an absolute reading experience rollercoaster. please ignore the fact that it took me more than a month to finish this book i got distracted playing stardew valley and i am slowly piecing my hobbies back together.
i think this further cements the fact that i am not a progression fantasy fan but i am a sucker for good fantasy worldbuilding with intricate mysteries to unravel. like i said the reading experience was absolutely insane because the beginning and end were such peak fiction but the middle 40% made me want to drop the series altogether. that shouldn't be allowed. how exactly does the author accomplish this?? overall i rated it a 4 stars just because the good parts were really good so i guess they made up for the bad parts and now im really excited to read books 3 and 4.
one unfortunate downside of fantasy is the sheer amount of worldbuilding that's often necessary but i fear in this case there's a bit too much? there's really no need for several pages of paragraphs to explain something that only serves as entertaining lore only to provide little to no context for the events of the story. or maybe they will in the coming 2 books but at that point surely i wont remember because i was hella zoning out while reading all the history lessons in my casual time loop book. sigh.
also zach and zorian are really similar names apparently i only focus on the first letter of names when identifying who is talking because i got really confused when they had dialogue together.
i think this further cements the fact that i am not a progression fantasy fan but i am a sucker for good fantasy worldbuilding with intricate mysteries to unravel. like i said the reading experience was absolutely insane because the beginning and end were such peak fiction but the middle 40% made me want to drop the series altogether. that shouldn't be allowed. how exactly does the author accomplish this?? overall i rated it a 4 stars just because the good parts were really good so i guess they made up for the bad parts and now im really excited to read books 3 and 4.
one unfortunate downside of fantasy is the sheer amount of worldbuilding that's often necessary but i fear in this case there's a bit too much? there's really no need for several pages of paragraphs to explain something that only serves as entertaining lore only to provide little to no context for the events of the story. or maybe they will in the coming 2 books but at that point surely i wont remember because i was hella zoning out while reading all the history lessons in my casual time loop book. sigh.
also zach and zorian are really similar names apparently i only focus on the first letter of names when identifying who is talking because i got really confused when they had dialogue together.
October 19, 2022
Arc 2 of Mother of Learning impresses me with how it does not suffer from the middle book syndrome (Mostly).
I enjoyed this book , even though it was noticeably more difficult to read than Arc 1, due to the author giving too much details in areas I am not particularly interested in, or overexplaining the scene or a certain topic, which I understand cuz we are perceiving the story from the goggles of one Zorian Kazinski. However, the fight scenes, progression and even characters still made it a very pleasant cruise to undertake, with the occasional bumpy wave.
One of my favorite scenes of this book was when Zorian decided to tell Xvim about the timeloop due to Xvim confronting him about his absurd knowledge and skill in shaping exercises. The exchange was just so good that I was giggling like a middle-school girl after her senpai noticed her.
Did I mention that I love Xvim? I knew the dude is a tough love kind of person, and when he explained that he treats new students that way to weed out the week and build character, I really got more respect for his teaching methods.
Alanic was another cool character that got involved in this arc, love me a mage who specializes in something, especially fire, he had a nice array of cool, shiny and hot fire skills that were a joy to witness in my brain theatre.
Cool scenes I liked:
-Alanic testing Zorian on when he will finally begin resorting to lethal moves was cool.
-I thoroughly enjoyed the concept and the explanation of the Sovereign gate and the lore behind it
-Zorian casting magic missile endlessly to master it was perfection
-Taiven crying when she confronted Zorian and told him how unfair it was that he was so good at everything was a fantastic scene that made me feel bad for poor Taiven
-Xvim is an ARCHMAGE, or close to it. So coooool. Knew that this guy is just too cold to be a normal tutor
-The garbage of a human being who is Zach's caretaker is scum and deserved the thrashing he got from Zach at the start of some timeloops
-Zach's meeting with Zorian and punching him and then becoming buddies was a long awaited scene that I of course enjoyed
-The battle at Iasku Manstion against that mayor lunatic guy was cool. Loved how Alanic immediately took the matter seriously
I enjoyed this book , even though it was noticeably more difficult to read than Arc 1, due to the author giving too much details in areas I am not particularly interested in, or overexplaining the scene or a certain topic, which I understand cuz we are perceiving the story from the goggles of one Zorian Kazinski. However, the fight scenes, progression and even characters still made it a very pleasant cruise to undertake, with the occasional bumpy wave.
One of my favorite scenes of this book was when Zorian decided to tell Xvim about the timeloop due to Xvim confronting him about his absurd knowledge and skill in shaping exercises. The exchange was just so good that I was giggling like a middle-school girl after her senpai noticed her.
Did I mention that I love Xvim? I knew the dude is a tough love kind of person, and when he explained that he treats new students that way to weed out the week and build character, I really got more respect for his teaching methods.
Alanic was another cool character that got involved in this arc, love me a mage who specializes in something, especially fire, he had a nice array of cool, shiny and hot fire skills that were a joy to witness in my brain theatre.
Cool scenes I liked:
-Alanic testing Zorian on when he will finally begin resorting to lethal moves was cool.
-I thoroughly enjoyed the concept and the explanation of the Sovereign gate and the lore behind it
-Zorian casting magic missile endlessly to master it was perfection
-Taiven crying when she confronted Zorian and told him how unfair it was that he was so good at everything was a fantastic scene that made me feel bad for poor Taiven
-Xvim is an ARCHMAGE, or close to it. So coooool. Knew that this guy is just too cold to be a normal tutor
-The garbage of a human being who is Zach's caretaker is scum and deserved the thrashing he got from Zach at the start of some timeloops
-Zach's meeting with Zorian and punching him and then becoming buddies was a long awaited scene that I of course enjoyed
-The battle at Iasku Manstion against that mayor lunatic guy was cool. Loved how Alanic immediately took the matter seriously
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 367 reviews