DNF
I saw a lot of excited comments about how genius and mind-blowing this book is.

I didn't feel it, to say the least.

I made it through the first 35 pages and I couldn't do it any longer.

If I had a drink every time the main character humblebragged about being wonderful and unsurpassable in everything he's doing, I would get an alcohol poisoning after chapter 1.

Just to give you a few examples of the main character's remark about his favourite person in the world, himself:

"To be a Helldiver, they say your fingers must flicker fast as tongues of fire. My flicker faster"

"It takes a certain kind - and I'm the youngest anyone can remember"

"If elders could do what I can, maybe listening would have its merits"

"Even filled with terror, my hands are not clumsy". Of course, they are not, you self-absorbed idiot.

He is surprisingly conceited and bombastic for someone who leads a supposedly tough life. It's impossible to root for such an insufferable character, you don't want him to succeed, you want him to fall flat on his face in hopes it will teach him some humility.

Then there is a writing style. The author seems to really enjoy inventing new terms, which is understandable, since he's trying to create the whole universe for the book. Unfortunately, he doesn't enjoy providing any explanation to his made-up words nearly as much, and you feel really lost trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Narrating doesn't help either. It shifts from past to present and back, spiced up with abstract rants about mightiness of our protagonist and makes it increasingly difficult to follow the plot. For instance, there was some sort of a prize called Laurel(but it wasn't explained what exactly it is and why it is so important to earn), and the protagonist was sure he was going to get it, but, sadly, the reasons why he was so confident about it were also left unspoken, so you didn't really understand why he was so salty about not getting it after all. And, considering all the mentioned facts, you don't feel really compelled to find it out.

Definitely one of my new favorite plays! I love the wordplay and witty dialogue and how contrived the whole thing is--this play is an example of how to do a comedy of manners in the best way. It felt like an 1800's episode of Drake and Josh, the plot was so silly. It was an amazing read and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read a play but doesn't consider themselves a "play person."