We Hunt Monsters 8

This is a reasonably entertaining series, but I'm starting to actively dislike the main character a lot. I get why he acts the way he does in terms of rudeness, abruptness, “everything for the mission,” etc. And why he doesn't want to form any attachments to people. He has a valid reason for all of that in the world in which the story takes place.

That doesn't mean it is fun to read. He's a dick, and he uses people with very little regard for their feelings. You would think that someone with as much interpersonal experience as he has would know that being nice to people is often more effective than being a jerk, but apparently the author has chosen to make him ignore all of that experience and sprint for the finish line of his “quest” despite having spent so long on it already.

Speaking of that, if you've read to this point none of this will be spoilers, but the being is literally named The Trickster. You just know the ending isn't going to be a happy one. Either all of that time he has been alive will have elapsed and his family is long dead, or something else will bamboozle him. Assuming that no actual time elapses, why is he in such a rush now? I get being frustrated at spending like 400 years apart, but what are a few more at this point? Same with his refusal to get into any sort of relationship. I get how having to watch people grow old and die time after time is probably horrible, but he's turned into an unfeeling asshole because of it, and his family isn't going to recognize him if they ever are actually reunited.

I don't know man, I'm getting really tired of reading characters that are difficult to sympathize with. Would it have killed him to form relationships with people? I really liked Alicia, and pushed ahead to the books where she'd be in them...but no, she's barely there and he treated her like shit when she was. Again, I see that he has valid reasons that he gives in the books, but they absolutely suck to deal with as a reader. It feels like I'm being dragged down into being miserable along with him. Hell, his companions ALL tell him what a jerk he is, and maybe he eases up for 3 minutes, but then right back to being a jerk. I'll keep reading, but I am starting to hope The Trickster really screws him at the end just because he's clearly not learned how to be a better person.

I wonder if the author realizes that many of us only keep reading for the side characters and events, and if Keith were to die and somehow the story kept going on, we'd probably be happier?

Oh, and the maniac driving thing...ugh. I hate every moment of it, and it is beyond stupid. It is too late to end it without feeling weird, but come on. It is just as dumb as his other philosophies on life, that no matter how much anyone gives him advice on, he ignores. He's the dumbest 400 year old person ever, and I am starting to actively hate him. Please stop, and lighten him up just a little.