Novel setting/ability concepts, some quite interesting characterization, but the plot is a bit (a lot?) contrived and illogical. ★★☆ Not bad, but not perfect. The viscountess is the best character, the main female lead is unlikeable, some objectivity regarding practical application is shortcut and overblown... I will continue watching, and look forward to a fairly realistic & effective citybuilding. The mergirl spouse is really cute.Dee and Esparda are quality characters.
Why was the forest dragon taken down with the smaller ballista so inefficiently? He could've done the same thing with the larger ballista: shoot while its grounded by the viscountess' fire magic; he literally just watched it be hit and didn't order an attack again until it flew back up into the air where it could dodge attacks.
'Classic' dumb•••• reverse-plotarmor.

[plotfixing] may be a better term