This book started strong. A continuation of funny characters in a light hearted dark fantasy. It’s a fun listen.
Then in the middle the story gets bogged down as the apprentice slowly commits genocide among the locals like a six year old serial killer. Worse it is done in a nonsensical preachy eat the rich sort of way.
The murdering munchkin singles out cultivators, but the story never explains clearly why. The antagonists become nothing more than faceless oppressors to be reaped for the horde along with the occasional bystander. This is unsatisfying nihilistic listen.