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A review by fulltimefiction
Glow-worm by Wildbow
Update 12/1/2021: 22-42% S9 ARC (11-15).
This is my favorite arc so far and although I have finished it and started the next one, the part I’m reading now is underwhelming by comparison. My initial plan was to finish this book this month. But I’m not as invested once the s9 arc ended… so I’m going to take another break for now, or at least not focus on this book anymore.
Since spoilers are long overdue, I can’t write my thoughts about this part without spoilers. But first I want to say how much Taylor’s character has developed and what a smart person she actually is. She can control bugs... Uhm okay, but how can this make her stand out... well by finding creative ways to use her powers and strategizing. Also helps that she’s a good improviser. Well, she’s a natural.
Spoilers can be read even if one didn’t read interlude 11. They don’t spoil the S9 plot.
The Slaughterhouse Nine chapters were amazing. Chapeau bas, seriously. Wildbow proved his solid storytelling in those chapters and I give them a full 5/5. In fact, starting from the S9 (#11) interludes, my rating increased to 5 stars for this part.
I loved learning more about different characters, many interests me especially Weld, Legend, Alexandria, and the Cauldron leaving that message to Baterry??? Simply amazing how he’s planning everything considering this is a web serial. Not a book he can edit and work on. I have heard that some plotlines don’t go anywhere and so far, almost halfway through this book, I haven’t come upon such a thing. Sure there are “bonus” stories that don’t exactly advance the plot, but they add more background to the city and the characters so I don’t mind that at all.
The Slaughterhouse eight members' backstories (at least the parts we know) were very interesting and the group reminded me of the Phantom Troupe from hunter x hunter (but waaaaaay more savage and bloodthirsty). I didn’t hate them, although they were the real villains this time. They fascinated me. The fights with them didn’t bore me at all (and yes the length of the fighting scenes didn’t change). I was fixated on every word. And with what happened at the end, I’m more curious than ever about the role they’re going to play later on.
I know people take pride in loving anti-heroes and morally gray characters (AND THIS BOOK IS FULL OF THEM), I’m a hero kind of girl through and through. But Lisa, Brian, Rachel, and even Alec, grew on me considerably in this arc. We get a closer look at who they truly are. I’m also very interested in Noelle’s abilities now… honestly, the travelers seem like a nice bunch of people -even if villains. I like Genesis and Sundancer.
It’s difficult to talk about this without spoiling anything but the hunt, fights, and battles in this arc were simply fantastically executed. I couldn’t stop reading. It was the first time that I felt a real compulsion to read this web serial. I was living the story which the characters (and this is something I very much care about). I truly now understand why Worm is so popular.
04/01/2021 update: I wrote this mini-review at 23% then read more before posting it (until 29%) so I have to separate opinions:
Interlude 11a-h and Plague (arc 12) 5 STARS (22-29%)
WOW!! This is getting very good and I can finally understand now why it's popular. The introduction of S9 raised the stakes immensely and now everything is more interesting. I also loved the anniversary bonus interludes. I'm starting to appreciate more and more chapters told from povs other than hers. Not that I don't love but I want some new voices. I also didn't mind the fights here, I'm not sure if there were shorter or if I was too invested in the book to care.
I sadly read a major spoiler. Basically, I know now the ending which really sucks and this usually makes me lose interest a bit in the books I'm reading. I still have a long way to go and this book here obviously about the journey and not just the end. Still, now I won't be shocked which is shame.
From 10-22% ~around 4.5 arcs (ending with 11.8 Infestation)
I finished the first 5 arcs disappointed by Taylor’s decision and while I’m still not ok with it, I can see now that it was necessary to move the plot forward. Also, we got the best explanation for Emma’s behavior that we’re ever going to get I guess… I won't say I'm satisfied but it's better than nothing.
This will be vague because I want my updates to remain spoiler-free (except for the hidden spoilers).
This web serial is definitely growing on me. At one point, I didn’t read for weeks but I’m glad I’m reading again and things picked up. Arc 6-7 weren’t favorites, not necessarily bad but not great either. Fun enough. A great battle takes place in arc 8 and I enjoyed it a lot! It was nice to see all the action. If this serial was made into a series of books, I believe the first book would end here. It would be suitable.
Yet again, Taylor ended that arc too with a decision I don’t like but I know it’s necessary to what the author has in mind. I would’ve been more interested inseeing her with the Wards but I guess the author is into “unconventional methods”.
Arc 9 was one of my favorites so far. I expected I will find it boring but I was very interested in reading the story from the Wards’ perspectives. So far only the interludes had points of view (third person while Taylor’s part is told from first) so I appreciated that they had their own arc. Another favorite was the Shadow Stalker part, I found it well done. Well, I believe anyone reading Worm would like that part.
Now, at 22%, I know what’s my biggest problem with Worm is: the action scenes. They’re so damn detailed that I’m bored. Arc 8 excluded, I found myself struggling with any “battle” (not a skirmish => on a bigger scale). This is my first web serial and I think waiting for one issue after the other makes it ok for the battle scenes to be so long. But all at once? They become boring/uninteresting anymore. I will probably skim through them sadly because I noticed that every time I stopped reading for more than a few days, it was during a battle (surprisingly).
But overall, I’m enjoying this part much better than the first 10% especially since now I’m invested in more characters like Weld, Flechette, Dragon, and others. The stakes now after arc 8 are much higher.
First 10%; rating: 3.5 stars
It didn’t feel like reading 600-700 pages. It’s obvious that this is just the beginning and maybe that’s why time passed fast while reading the first 5 arcs. One might assume that this web serial will have a slow start but nope. It immediately sucks you in and keeps you wanting to read more.
Taylor finds herself with the Undersiders, one of the villains, hoping to infiltrate them and get the heroes' info about their boss. Little she knows that they're also very normal and might see them as friends. Or want to genuinely befriend them. Of course, we've met lots of capes so far and I can't keep track of everyone's abilities. And this is only the start.
It’s very enjoyable so far and I like the characters. I can already see why it’s popular.
My main issue, however, is with the last arc (#5) I read. I was disappointed with Taylor’s decision and while I know that her position wasn’t to be envied, I don’t have to like it.
Something I won’t turn a blind eye to is Emma’s bullying. Some bullying can be simply dismissed, never needing to be explained because kids are mean. But not this extreme type from Taylor’s best friend. Why Emma suddenly started bullying Taylor? Why did she hate her? Why is she acting like this out of nowhere? This isn’t the kind of bullying that has no explanation. So far, it doesn’t seem like we’re getting one. Taylor also made several important choices based on it.
These are the only complaints that sadly made me want to take a short break. I’m taking my time reading it anyway.
-----
I'm finally reading this web serial, it's been on my radar for a while now, and truthfully, I never read unpublished work not on Wattpad, not web serials, nothing. I think I'm taking "go big or go home" a little bit to the extreme?
Nonetheless, I'm excited (AND SCARED) to be starting this giant almost 7000 pages book that I know will be the biggest book I'll ever read (if I made it to the end).
It's divided into 30 parts so I'll be reviewing a few as I go along (I will hide spoilers, of course) and then a general review at the end (if I ever get there before I died).
Since I have no stable job, unsure if I'm going to enroll in uni (yeah for some reason my old university didn't start yet -not sure what they're waiting for), I figured no better time than the present.
This is my favorite arc so far and although I have finished it and started the next one, the part I’m reading now is underwhelming by comparison. My initial plan was to finish this book this month. But I’m not as invested once the s9 arc ended… so I’m going to take another break for now, or at least not focus on this book anymore.
Since spoilers are long overdue, I can’t write my thoughts about this part without spoilers. But first I want to say how much Taylor’s character has developed and what a smart person she actually is. She can control bugs... Uhm okay, but how can this make her stand out... well by finding creative ways to use her powers and strategizing. Also helps that she’s a good improviser. Well, she’s a natural.
Spoilers can be read even if one didn’t read interlude 11. They don’t spoil the S9 plot.
The Slaughterhouse Nine chapters were amazing. Chapeau bas, seriously. Wildbow proved his solid storytelling in those chapters and I give them a full 5/5. In fact, starting from the S9 (#11) interludes, my rating increased to 5 stars for this part.
I loved learning more about different characters, many interests me especially Weld, Legend, Alexandria, and the Cauldron leaving that message to Baterry??? Simply amazing how he’s planning everything considering this is a web serial. Not a book he can edit and work on. I have heard that some plotlines don’t go anywhere and so far, almost halfway through this book, I haven’t come upon such a thing. Sure there are “bonus” stories that don’t exactly advance the plot, but they add more background to the city and the characters so I don’t mind that at all.
The Slaughterhouse eight members' backstories (at least the parts we know) were very interesting and the group reminded me of the Phantom Troupe from hunter x hunter (but waaaaaay more savage and bloodthirsty). I didn’t hate them, although they were the real villains this time. They fascinated me. The fights with them didn’t bore me at all (and yes the length of the fighting scenes didn’t change). I was fixated on every word. And with what happened at the end, I’m more curious than ever about the role they’re going to play later on.
I know people take pride in loving anti-heroes and morally gray characters (AND THIS BOOK IS FULL OF THEM), I’m a hero kind of girl through and through. But Lisa, Brian, Rachel, and even Alec, grew on me considerably in this arc. We get a closer look at who they truly are. I’m also very interested in Noelle’s abilities now… honestly, the travelers seem like a nice bunch of people -even if villains. I like Genesis and Sundancer.
It’s difficult to talk about this without spoiling anything but the hunt, fights, and battles in this arc were simply fantastically executed. I couldn’t stop reading. It was the first time that I felt a real compulsion to read this web serial. I was living the story which the characters (and this is something I very much care about). I truly now understand why Worm is so popular.
04/01/2021 update: I wrote this mini-review at 23% then read more before posting it (until 29%) so I have to separate opinions:
Interlude 11a-h and Plague (arc 12) 5 STARS (22-29%)
WOW!! This is getting very good and I can finally understand now why it's popular. The introduction of S9 raised the stakes immensely and now everything is more interesting. I also loved the anniversary bonus interludes. I'm starting to appreciate more and more chapters told from povs other than hers. Not that I don't love but I want some new voices. I also didn't mind the fights here, I'm not sure if there were shorter or if I was too invested in the book to care.
I sadly read a major spoiler. Basically, I know now the ending which really sucks and this usually makes me lose interest a bit in the books I'm reading. I still have a long way to go and this book here obviously about the journey and not just the end. Still, now I won't be shocked which is shame.
From 10-22% ~around 4.5 arcs (ending with 11.8 Infestation)
I finished the first 5 arcs disappointed by Taylor’s decision and while I’m still not ok with it, I can see now that it was necessary to move the plot forward. Also, we got the best explanation for Emma’s behavior that we’re ever going to get I guess… I won't say I'm satisfied but it's better than nothing.
This will be vague because I want my updates to remain spoiler-free (except for the hidden spoilers).
This web serial is definitely growing on me. At one point, I didn’t read for weeks but I’m glad I’m reading again and things picked up. Arc 6-7 weren’t favorites, not necessarily bad but not great either. Fun enough. A great battle takes place in arc 8 and I enjoyed it a lot! It was nice to see all the action. If this serial was made into a series of books, I believe the first book would end here. It would be suitable.
Yet again, Taylor ended that arc too with a decision I don’t like but I know it’s necessary to what the author has in mind. I would’ve been more interested in
Arc 9 was one of my favorites so far. I expected I will find it boring but I was very interested in reading the story from the Wards’ perspectives. So far only the interludes had points of view (third person while Taylor’s part is told from first) so I appreciated that they had their own arc. Another favorite was the Shadow Stalker part, I found it well done. Well, I believe anyone reading Worm would like that part.
Now, at 22%, I know what’s my biggest problem with Worm is: the action scenes. They’re so damn detailed that I’m bored. Arc 8 excluded, I found myself struggling with any “battle” (not a skirmish => on a bigger scale). This is my first web serial and I think waiting for one issue after the other makes it ok for the battle scenes to be so long. But all at once? They become boring/uninteresting anymore. I will probably skim through them sadly because I noticed that every time I stopped reading for more than a few days, it was during a battle (surprisingly).
But overall, I’m enjoying this part much better than the first 10% especially since now I’m invested in more characters like Weld, Flechette, Dragon, and others. The stakes now after arc 8 are much higher.
First 10%; rating: 3.5 stars
It didn’t feel like reading 600-700 pages. It’s obvious that this is just the beginning and maybe that’s why time passed fast while reading the first 5 arcs. One might assume that this web serial will have a slow start but nope. It immediately sucks you in and keeps you wanting to read more.
Taylor finds herself with the Undersiders, one of the villains, hoping to infiltrate them and get the heroes' info about their boss. Little she knows that they're also very normal and might see them as friends. Or want to genuinely befriend them. Of course, we've met lots of capes so far and I can't keep track of everyone's abilities. And this is only the start.
It’s very enjoyable so far and I like the characters. I can already see why it’s popular.
My main issue, however, is with the last arc (#5) I read. I was disappointed with Taylor’s decision and while I know that her position wasn’t to be envied, I don’t have to like it.
Something I won’t turn a blind eye to is Emma’s bullying. Some bullying can be simply dismissed, never needing to be explained because kids are mean. But not this extreme type from Taylor’s best friend. Why Emma suddenly started bullying Taylor? Why did she hate her? Why is she acting like this out of nowhere? This isn’t the kind of bullying that has no explanation. So far, it doesn’t seem like we’re getting one. Taylor also made several important choices based on it.
These are the only complaints that sadly made me want to take a short break. I’m taking my time reading it anyway.
-----
I'm finally reading this web serial, it's been on my radar for a while now, and truthfully, I never read unpublished work not on Wattpad, not web serials, nothing. I think I'm taking "go big or go home" a little bit to the extreme?
Nonetheless, I'm excited (AND SCARED) to be starting this giant almost 7000 pages book that I know will be the biggest book I'll ever read (if I made it to the end).
It's divided into 30 parts so I'll be reviewing a few as I go along (I will hide spoilers, of course) and then a general review at the end (if I ever get there before I died).
Since I have no stable job, unsure if I'm going to enroll in uni (yeah for some reason my old university didn't start yet -not sure what they're waiting for), I figured no better time than the present.