Responses
As a novel reader I completely agree. Riftan is not developed any better there either (imo) and the character development is... a process, to say the least
Also, not giving any spoilers, but I think you'll really like the book 1 ending at least (which will most likely be this seasons finale)
I like maxi's character because her insecurities are realistic and believable and she wasn't born with some kind of special or innate magical abilities but she achieved lots of things by her own effort (although it was mentioned that some of it is due to her microdosing on the magic after getting beat up when she was being healed repeatedly - still, it made her question her abilities/insecure as this took us tied to her abuse which she wants to grow out of it; this part is also very deep for her characterization). Besides this what really made me like her writing is how she also struggles to and eventually makes strides in improving her speech; this is shown as it is - a disability and it caused her to be abused since childhood but she naturally makes improvements and gains confidence as she continues to just speak to people and communicate, etc.
On the other hand Riftan is such a DULL character dawg like everybody keeps being like "uhh the novel" girl idgaf abt that rn like NO WAY they couldn't characterize him better without his POV?? Like they couldn't show it through subtle things maxi notices which is like a gap in what he appears to others in general Vs what he might be on the inside (for example) or something?? Its a bit weird that the author is able to write her so well but he's a fucking cardboard and I'm tireddd of "the novel-" it's been more than a hundred chapters already