Besides that, the story was surprisingly well conducted in general. The author toAn enjoyable, if sliiiiightly soppy, journey.
The Good.
Andrea Parsneau.
Besides that, the story was surprisingly well conducted in general. The author took their time with establishing shots, and I always appreciate that. The tone was very heart-felt and emotional. It helped give the story depth that this sub-genre generally lacks, with some caveats (see below). I really liked the main antagonist. I found his motivations a delightful change from moronically manichean "Evil". More of that, please!
The Less Good
There are a lot of holes in the plot towards the end. We rushed to the finish line, but a lot of context was dropped on the way (view spoiler)[like why the original Evil Dude is now a prisoner of the Reluctant Bad Guy (hide spoiler)].
The melodramatic flair a times got a little bit too... heavy-handed for my taste. Andrea pulled it off, as she is wont to do, but... I cringed quite a bit.
The Bad
The editing was not to my liking. Especially towards the end, that silly quick back-and-forth thing between POVs irritated me to no end; it was stylistic eye-candy that added nothing to the narration, but instead continuously killed the tension build-up. It was too obvious, and it was ill-advised. Don't do that again.
The Conclusion
I liked this volume, and I'm genuinely curious about what the next step is for this series. Hopefully, the "Evil in the North" trope keeps being downplayed in favour of the much more powerful and interesting Overseer thread. That's a solid 4 stars from me....more
"I was reincarnated into the villain of my preferred light novel but I won't make the same mistakes". Classic Shoujo manga stuff. I donIt started well.
"I was reincarnated into the villain of my preferred light novel but I won't make the same mistakes". Classic Shoujo manga stuff. I don't hate the formula, if it's handled deftly.
But two issues plagued this audiobook for me.
1. The narrator overdid the voices to the point of distraction. It got irritating very, very fast.
2. The story got boring. I can't say it any other way. It's hard investing empathy in a tale where the NPCs are so... NPC-like, you know? Repeating over and over that "it's real life" isn't going to inject verisimilitude into the world. Little details, things that happen independently from the MCs involvement, those are what gives shape to the world. I didn't get enough of those here, so, as I often say, the world didn't coalesce into my mind.
Besides those issues, it's an Okay book. I'm stopping here, but YMMV....more
Let's start with the narration. I discovered Henry Kramer, and he's good! Really good! His performance is pI finished it. And I have thoughts.
The Good
Let's start with the narration. I discovered Henry Kramer, and he's good! Really good! His performance is probably responsible for me finishing the book.
The story is generally well-written, in the sense that I didn't get overly distracted by poor form or needlessly complicated phrasing. That, unfortunately, is NOT a given in this subgenre, so it must be noted and encouraged.
The Less Good
The story is not very interesting, or deep. The tale relies on the MC's quippy personality to manufacture drama, but the world-building is very shallow. Rarities are interesting as a concept (less abilities to manage). I struggled with the convenience of a world without lies where the word "treachery" would still exist.
The Bad
The MC has a massive saviour complex and spends half the book in self-congratulation for his magnanimous deeds and his moral high-grounds. It got old very quickly. I hoped he would be taken to task over it, and several times it seemed like he would, but it appears the author was on a mission. I get it; not my first rodeo with preachy MCs. The obvious harem-but-not-harem situation didn't fool me either. The hypocritically convenient justification for not abusing the bond (control inversion ? ...more
In general, I liked the scope of the story and its stakes. Although it didn't always land properly, I appreciatedWell, this is... problematic.
The Good
In general, I liked the scope of the story and its stakes. Although it didn't always land properly, I appreciated that MC's struggle against inertia and her will to defy established order. As usual (I'm sounding like a broken record by now) Andrea's ability to inject depth into her narration probably gained this book one more star than it really deserves. Someone give this woman an award already!
The Less Good
The story does get repetitive at times, which is intrinsic to the sub-genre so I can forgive it. What I have more of a problem with is the author under-using or contradicting their own setup. The conflict / consequence of being a noble's child was discarded a bit too early As other reviewers have mentioned, there has been as of yet absolutely no value to the MC being "tenseid". That was really frustrating, as I kept waiting for it to matter at some point and it never did. For such a small village, there was an inexplicable lot that the MC and her friend didn't know about their own world (view spoiler)[like living more than 18 years without knowing that their friend's mom goes to the capital from time to time... (hide spoiler)].
The Bad
The resolution was unsatisfactory. Valjean's attitude didn't make sense to me. (view spoiler)[He actually never answered the question: "Why are you letting the town die". Presenting the whole conflict as a misunderstanding felt like a cop out (hide spoiler)]. And I really don't like where the story is headed next.
The Conclusion
I had a lot of fun listening to this audio-book. However, because of how it ended, I know I won't be moving forward with the series....more
I could not finish this book. Mostly because I couldn't get the tone it was going for. The MC is petulant, childish, power-hungry... And we have no ideaI could not finish this book. Mostly because I couldn't get the tone it was going for. The MC is petulant, childish, power-hungry... And we have no idea why. The whole book felt like reading the description of a very long tantrum. I couldn't connect. YMMV...more
Maybe it's saturation... But I didn't enjoy this book half as much as the previous one. Common occurrence, to be sure, but still a tad disappointing.
WhMaybe it's saturation... But I didn't enjoy this book half as much as the previous one. Common occurrence, to be sure, but still a tad disappointing.
While things are clearly being done and macguffins being acquired, I can't help but feel like not much happened in this book.
The Chosen one is his usual unhinged self while his clique is slowly awakening to the truth of the universe. That's good.
The main quest hasn't really progressed in any noticeable way, probably because this volume takes the curious decision to downplay it. That's bad.
On one hand I quite like the premise and the slow introduction to magic. On the other hand I struggle to believe the magic systemMixed bag on this one.
On one hand I quite like the premise and the slow introduction to magic. On the other hand I struggle to believe the magic system. It's too... convenient?
Not much else to say really. It's a decent read and maybe the follow-up volumes will build on it while shedding the issues I have with it....more
There is an aloofness to the author's style that made it impossible for me to find any asperity to hang onto. IThis book didn't work for me after all.
There is an aloofness to the author's style that made it impossible for me to find any asperity to hang onto. I just kept sliding off the book every time I picked it up.
Sometimes, there's just no chemistry. That's ok....more
A worthwhile follow-up to the previous volume, with a very satisfying ending. Not much really happened plot-wise in this volume. MC is slowly leveling A worthwhile follow-up to the previous volume, with a very satisfying ending. Not much really happened plot-wise in this volume. MC is slowly leveling up, which is done rather tactfully. Dialogue is still of excellent facture, especially the banter. Audiobook narration is very competent, even if the voices lacks a bit of variety.
I had 3 issues with this volume.
1. The author has built up resource pool and minion scarcity as a check system. But they ignore the checks when it is inconvenient. MC complains about minions getting destroyed but never runs out somehow. Similarly, top-up crystals don't seem to affect him anymore, although we talk about how nocive they are... Also, are the minions autonomous or not? The author should make their mind because they keep contradicting themselves.
2. It's becoming a pattern to have the MC being pincushionned and brought to the brink of death, just to walk away fine within a few pages. The author constantly wants to scare us with the potential of maiming, but the existence of omnipotent healing magic makes it fall flat. Oh yes, fight timing is a bit too flamboyantly Hollywood for me.
3. Random POV insertion is not helping the story in my opinion. Either the author commits to widening the scope so there's a sense of continuity with the new POVs, or we stop getting the perspective of randoes that actually don't progress the story in any way because the MC gets the info again anyway.
None of the above issues are grave enough to irremediably tarnish my enjoyment of the story. But they are recurring, enough that I do take notice.
I still want to get the next volume when it becomes available, but I really hope the main story starts progressing a bit....more
This is the first LitRPG where the author tries to tackle the PTSD of moving into a world where killing is common. TIt's good for its subgenre.
The Good
This is the first LitRPG where the author tries to tackle the PTSD of moving into a world where killing is common. The banter between the protagonists is quite well written. Nick Podhel's narration is very competent.
The Less Good
It is LitRPG after all; extreme plot armour is unavoidable. Sight. The game system got too obnoxious at times. While it's true that digging into it was important for the protagonists, it got tedious quite fast. While characterisation is quite well done, I didn't really care for the positions of the protagonists. Call it a cultural difference.
The Bad
Nothing really belongs in this category I think.
The Conclusion
I won't go forward with the series. It's well-written and has less of the obvious self-insert stigma so pervasive in the subgenre. Unfortunately, it still rings mostly juvenile to me. But please, pick it up and make your own mind....more
I really don't have that much to say about this series. The author carries a sharp tale with a consistent application of a style of It was quite good!
I really don't have that much to say about this series. The author carries a sharp tale with a consistent application of a style of humour very reminiscent of the Morning wood series, but without the crass. The magic system is central but discreet. The dig on wuxia is appreciated ...more
Since the MC has been guaranteed the strongest plot armour ever, I was expecting the social aspects of the story I finished it, but I'm stopping here.
Since the MC has been guaranteed the strongest plot armour ever, I was expecting the social aspects of the story to take the forefront. Unfortunately, it doesn't get much drabber and cliché than this. The worst issue, in my mind, is forcing me to follow some "can't-we-all-get-along" type of MC imposing her teenage views on a new world because of plot, with zero retribution.
I went into this one with the certainty that it wouldn't fare better than the others in the subgenre. I finished it; that aWell, picture me surprised!
I went into this one with the certainty that it wouldn't fare better than the others in the subgenre. I finished it; that alone should mean something!
The story is ok. Good, not great. Lots of template world-building (ancient civilisation that auto-destroyed, familiars, etc..). The lore gets VERY thin, hanging on lots of quite tenuous concepts, especially the core notion of "under-queen".
The male MC, in his forced shallowness, is the comic relief of a rather more involved tale, which is rare. I rolled my eyes every time he was onscreen and couldn't wait to move on to his female counterpart, where the real intrigue was.
The supporting characters sound life-like, even if they only tend to exist for the benefit of the MCs. Verity is one of such glaring plotholes that the author seems to have... forgotten to address. It's fine, I guess... Manage expectations.
It's clear that the MC is going to keep Deus-ex-machinaing his way to OPdom. The magic system is EXTREMELY convenient. At least the author seems to have him appear to suffer a bit on the way. Just a bit.
The true beauty of this audiobook however, is the narration. A masterful display by both narrators, in every single aspect. This is Andrea Parsneau-level of artistry, and I can give no higher praise.
So I'll grab the next one. For culture, you understand....more
The second volume is a slight improvement on the first one as it goes a bit more into the "meat" of the story: the world-walkers and the mythology. ItThe second volume is a slight improvement on the first one as it goes a bit more into the "meat" of the story: the world-walkers and the mythology. It's still a bit wishy-washy and there's a lot that requires strong disbelief suspenders (especially with the Gods' relation to the system), but nothing critical. The following volumes might retcon some of it for consistency.
This book is leaning into the side of Gamelit that I prefer: political intrigue and base-building over level grinding. I appreciate that A LOT.
I read the story for the plot. I don't identify with the MC at all. I find her quite the hypocrite, with a pernicious superiority complex. I don't know if the author is going to address it eventually (I don't really need him to) or if he's unaware of how she comes across, at least to me; but that trait is actually a boon for the story as it makes it harder to predict, so I'm totally fine with it.
Once again, the book ends without any sense of closure. I really wish they wouldn't do that. I'm guessing it's yet another of those repackaged web novels... Ah well.
I enjoyed the tale. It's rather generic and treads well-trodden paths. It's not a bad thing; it allows for a safely predictable déroulé, which is someI enjoyed the tale. It's rather generic and treads well-trodden paths. It's not a bad thing; it allows for a safely predictable déroulé, which is sometimes comforting, if unadventurous.
I feel like the actual pay-offs didn't live up to their setups. There was a lot hinted at that never coalesced. The MC was a bit one-tracked, the antagonist curiously oblivious. I got too much magic system and not enough world-building to make it all stick.
I'm guessing that the "real" intrigue (the source of the power) will only start being investigated in the next volume, if there ever is. It's a shame because that's where I was expecting the better conflict to come from.
The narration was competent. I wasn't wowed, but I wasn't bothered either. Sometimes, discreet narration works just fine.
This was a middle-of-the-road tale. It works....more
It's a standalone! What a refreshing change from tales that are forced to stretch their own demise ! I appreciate closing a It's good. Mostly.
The Good
It's a standalone! What a refreshing change from tales that are forced to stretch their own demise ! I appreciate closing a story when the tale is told. Thank you for that.
I liked the characters. I found them quite well fleshed out in all their imperfections. Very engaging, Especially the Emerald Wind. The pacing was smooth, given the timeframe. I didn't find any lull in the tale, and it kept gradually building up until the finale.
The plot twist ay then end was enjoyable, even if... I'll get back to it in a moment.
The narration was surprisingly good. While it's clear that Kim Bretton is not familiar with east Asian culture in the numerous prononciation mistakes on common words like yukata, she more than made up for in her skills at narrating battle scenes. I was amazed at how she could inject the speed and fierceness and tension of battle just with inflections. The last fight was spectacular! Hats down!
The Less Good
The plot twist was nice, but created glaring ricochet plotholes, that the author could unfortunately not manage to solve but with a massive info dump that cheapened the whole tale in the end. I would actually have preferred things not be explained at all than getting the offhanded explanation we got.
The Bad
Hmm, I don't think anything really fits into this category.
The Conclusion
I enjoyed the book, almost to the very end. Were it not for the final resolution, it would probably have gotten 5 stars. I'd have loved to complete my reading challenge on such a high note. But it's okay. 4 stars isn't bad at all, if you know me ...more
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