Enduring Spencer, the excessively whiny protagonist, feels like sandpaper eroding my patience. As someone with a touch of OCD, I usually feel compelled to finish what I start, even if it’s unenjoyable, but this might be an exception. I find myself wishing the author would write Spencer out of the story entirely.
While listening, Spencer’s constant complaints grate on my nerves. I’m about 20 minutes into the third book and had forgotten how insufferably self-absorbed he is. He spends roughly 50% of his time second-guessing himself, 40% dwelling on improbable scenarios he doesn’t even try to address—just whines about—and only 10% on meaningful thought.
The author attempts to introduce secondary characters, but their lack of depth reduces them to mere shallow foils, underdeveloped outlines of what could have been. The book, with Spencer at its core, is a challenging listen. But what do I know?