The City We Became

I was so disappointed.

Keep in mind, personally when I read a story, its characters will always be the most important element to me.

That being said:
1. The characters here have no agency. They never get an opportunity to do what they want to do rather it's always what they HAVE to do.
2. They are barely three dimensional, they all feel like caricatures, especially the villains.
3. There is no chemistry between any of them, it's even expressed multiple times that they dislike one another.
4. There is MINIMAL character development for each of them.

Other complaints include:

A lot of exposition through dialogue. Like, a lot.

A lot of “how do I know that? I guess I just do.” THAT IS NEVER EXPLAINED.

There are no clear rules to the magic in this universe, including the use of the character's powers. It's just whatever is convenient for the the plot at the time.

Just a nitpick at this point, but there were a lot of “quirky” one liners or lines that were clearly put in to feel heavy and badass but just feels flat and unearned in the context of the story.

Speaking of trying to be badass, GOD that ending was cheese. To have all the buildup then be saved by divine intervention? Climax killer. RIP.

It's not garbage but I had much much higher expectations and was let down less than gently.