The Fifth Sorceress

I came across this book and while investigating, I read a lot of bad reviews. Instead of running away, I got curious whether it was that bad.
Some kind of a twisted version of disaster tourism.

Spoiler alert: yes it is that bad!

Suppose ChatGPT was there in 2002..
“Dear ChatGPT, can you write a book with the following requirements:
• Epic fantasy because that is the popular thing around nowadays.
• Take ALL the fantasy tropes you can think of.
• Create some Disney-animation-like slapstick scenes, for example a horse that nudges someone over a cliff or playing fetch...just think of something.
• Add some fairy tales from the Grimm brothers into the mix
• Don't bother too much creating a coherent magic system
• Patch plot holes with the deus-ex-machina style figure
• Don't bother too much with character development, card board figures are good enough.
• Excessive info dumping via endless monoloques or flahsbacks are preferred.
• Mysogyny, sexism and homophobia are not an issue at all, it might even spice it up a bit.
• It needs to be at least 600-700 pages, no matter how you do it.
• Add some gore and excessive violence.
• Leave room to expand to a trilogy”

“Dear Mr Newcomb and publisher, please find the requested book, shall I just go ahead and publish?”

“Dear ChatGPT, go ahead, it looks great. Couldn't have done a better job myself.”

And the rest is history.

Is there really nothing positive to mention? Yes, I was able to push my speed reading practice to the limit without being afraid loosing comprehension.

If you are like me and want to check it out yourself, go ahead. For the readers who are less masochistic, I would strongly advise to skip it.