The Jack-of-all-trades Kicked Out of the Hero’s Party ~ The Swordsman Who Became a Support Mage Due to Party Circumstances, Becomes All Powerful

My Thoughts on The Jack-of-all-trades Kicked Out of the Hero’s Party ~ The Swordsman Who Became a Support Mage Due to Party Circumstances, Becomes All Powerful

This title is a mouthful, but I dove in hoping for a fresh take on the overdone "kicked out of the party" trope. While it has its moments, the journey's been a bit of a mixed bag.

First Impressions

Initially, I was hooked. The setup is familiar: our MC, Orn, gets the boot from his hero party. But the story hints at deeper reasons for his expulsion, and I appreciated the attempt to ground the world-building with plausible explanations for magic, labyrinths, and character strength. I was eager to see where this "deeper conspiracy" would lead.

What Works Well

The strongest aspect, for me, is the potential for character development and world-building. The author seems to be making an effort to create a believable world with intricate details. I also liked the focus on Orn building new relationships and finding his place in a clan, moving beyond the typical "woe is me" phase often seen in these stories. The mystery surrounding Orn's background and the foreshadowing of him becoming even more powerful definitely piqued my interest.

Areas of Concern

However, as I read on, some issues started to surface. Some readers found the plot to be boring, with the MC being excessively praised and the world conveniently bending to his will. I can see where they're coming from. The lack of genuine stakes made it harder to stay invested. I also noticed some inconsistencies in character motivations, particularly with Orn's former party members. Their actions sometimes felt illogical, serving the plot rather than stemming from believable personalities and relationships. The detailed descriptions of skills and battle sequences sometimes felt like a JRPG log, bogging down the narrative.

Final Verdict

"The Jack-of-all-trades Kicked Out of the Hero’s Party" has potential, but it needs to address some key issues to truly stand out. The detailed world-building and focus on character relationships are definite strengths. However, the story needs to raise the stakes, avoid excessive praise for the MC, and ensure character motivations are consistent. If the author can address these concerns, this could evolve into a truly engaging fantasy novel. For now, I'd say it's a decent read, but not quite a standout in the genre.