5/5
Many authors nowadays have a tendency to drag out their work, sometimes not concluding a story arc in a single book. Steven VS is not one of them.
The pacing was excellent, neither too long nor too short. Characters didn't arbitrarily go places or endure events that didn't matter; all of them tied it neatly with the overall plot. The introduction to the story was brief, and readers can get a sense right away that something is going to happen. The plot clearly heads for the conclusion, but with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Steven VS left hints at a possible sequel, but the book can stand on its own as well.
The world building was done phenomenally. Characters acted like they actually lived in this world and didn't explicitly explain parts of the world the protagonist understands. We learn along with him. Of course, the trade off for this is that the first couple dozen pages or so can be a bit hard to follow since we don't know all the terms, but Steven VS never overwhelmed me so much I had to reread whole sections. Often, parts of the world would become clear on their own without explanation, a method I greatly prefer.
As this is Middle Grade (Ages ~10~14) content is light. I think there was only one instance of swearing. Since it's an adventure tale there is obviously violence, but it's never graphic or over the top. Romantic elements are similar. Think about how kids act around these ages and that's what happens. I would give it to a ten year old child without hesitation.
Overall, this was an excellent read and one of the best Middle Grade books that I've read to date. I recommend it to anyone who wants an interesting Fantasy story in a new world that's light on harsh content.
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