Great Start to an incredible series. I read one of Matt's older series...which he left unfinished darn him, and it had some interesting twists and somGreat Start to an incredible series. I read one of Matt's older series...which he left unfinished darn him, and it had some interesting twists and some really solid characters but I felt was missing something. This book delivers that something and more.
If you read the premise and you are doubtful this sounds...really cheesy like something you would find watching a B movie...well yes, if that B movie had extremely solid character writing, well setup twists and a strong ability to rachet up tension and keep cranking. Also while it has the lit-rpg setting it's not a vomit of my character got more levels thus stronger and instead leans a bit more into how can the character build some crazy contraption or exploit the system in some crazy way just to survive this death game.
There is a lot that's very very good about this series that I don't want to reveal too much as I feel the author does a great job of dragging you along with the protagonist, as the situation gets worse and worse, however this doesn't lead into misery porn or depression but the protagonist gritting through it and planning his next moves.
I highly recommend this series and personally feel the first book is the weakest of the bunch...and I bounce between giving it a 4/5 and a 5/5...so depending on when you check this rating might be different.
Audiobook is fantastic and if you listen to books at all that would be my recommendation....more
So first of all, this is a book I recommend to people now. As a good introduction for a western reader to the genre of Xianxia.
To go into it a bit morSo first of all, this is a book I recommend to people now. As a good introduction for a western reader to the genre of Xianxia.
To go into it a bit more Xianxia is a Chinese fantasy genre that made it over to the west in terms of fan-translation some of which are extremely good some are quite bad. It's a fairly popular genre but it's also very much not a literary genre. This book is that but written from a western author so it avoids common problems such as bad translation, difficult to translate concepts, blatant racism, complete disregard for the value of human life, nothing happening stretches as this is commonly a web-serial genre as well in China.
Now for this book, it was fairly tight and fast moving and leaving room for LOTS of sequels. It featured many of the things I like in a genre including a constantly under powered protagonist who acts shamelessly in order to survive and get ahead in a rough world. It features tons of treasures and the stealing of such treasures, and an absolutely over the top setting that if you havn't read XianXia before will strike you probably as extremely unique.
Overall it's a very solid entry into the genre and honestly has one of the strongest starts of the genre that takes itself seriously instead of as a goofy parody....more
GAhhhhhh, cliff hanger ending. I'll give this a very strong 4 pretty close to a 5 actually. This was not what I was expecting. I read a ton of lit-RPGGAhhhhhh, cliff hanger ending. I'll give this a very strong 4 pretty close to a 5 actually. This was not what I was expecting. I read a ton of lit-RPG/portal fantasy into game world, and this was easily one of the stronger entries. Basically instead of overly focusing on grinding/gaining skills. Those just kind of happen as the main character is desperately trying to survive as he finds out it is a trap and the admins don't want him alive and/or sane. The fact that it's a sci-fi setting is a nice change of pace as well. But this is actually recommended to everyone not just lit-RPG fans....more
Fantastic, it was a bit info dumpy at times but it never lasted that long and it always kept my interest. The dynamic contrast between Yang and the GoFantastic, it was a bit info dumpy at times but it never lasted that long and it always kept my interest. The dynamic contrast between Yang and the Golden Brat is stark along with the powerful depiction of the 2 nations that are falling apart from decades of corruption and glut really presents a story that feels like it was written today. That's probably because history is known to repeat itself over and over again and this is more of a story about how nations collapse and how 2 different characters react to large amounts of power being handed to them. Near the end of the book when Yang says, "I can feel the temptation" it's a powerful line, because he is thinking about compromising some of his principles for the purpose of winning and he realizes that is exactly what he is doing and how many leaders in history have fallen for it. Combine this with constant action and almost never a dull moment the entire book this gets a 5 from me, I doubt all of the next books will maintain this level of quality but overall I'm satisfied....more
Woah, I know this guy is probably the #2 western webnovel author after wildbow, but still holy crap this was way better and more enjoyable then I thouWoah, I know this guy is probably the #2 western webnovel author after wildbow, but still holy crap this was way better and more enjoyable then I thought. It's actually more of a parody/comedy pen and paper rpg fantasy novel then it is serious or dark or anything and the gags work quite well. At the end of the day I loved it....more
Loved it all the way though only a 4.5/5 but still it was consistently good enough though-out to round up to a 5 I feel. Great opening book to a new sLoved it all the way though only a 4.5/5 but still it was consistently good enough though-out to round up to a 5 I feel. Great opening book to a new space opera....more
Wow my opinion of this book went straight up over time. It started at a 2/5 kind of dull boring like it had stuff going for it but a bit slow then somWow my opinion of this book went straight up over time. It started at a 2/5 kind of dull boring like it had stuff going for it but a bit slow then some plot twists okay this is going places, then some more development and boom it's pretty darn great. A weak 4/5 mostly for the slow start....more
Quite good military space opera the space battle descriptions were top notch. It was pretty cheesy but it was a fun/awesome cheesy and the admiral at Quite good military space opera the space battle descriptions were top notch. It was pretty cheesy but it was a fun/awesome cheesy and the admiral at the end really set it over the top for me. It doesn't really do anything new/original but it's fun....more
Wow...It's not often I read a completely original book. Not only that it's quite satisfying and good. I'm normally not big on brutal dark fantasy stufWow...It's not often I read a completely original book. Not only that it's quite satisfying and good. I'm normally not big on brutal dark fantasy stuff but this really made it work, the audible narration for this is also recommended as the narrator does a good job....more
If I was just rating the last 300 pages or so I would probably give this a 4, overall looking forward to the next book.
Edit: After a retrospective rerIf I was just rating the last 300 pages or so I would probably give this a 4, overall looking forward to the next book.
Edit: After a retrospective reread/rethinking of this book I'm going to give it a 4, just because when it was good it was really good, and I find myself liking the theming and symbolism of the book....more
It has a bit of a slow start I would say 3.5/5-4/5 for just fantastic characters but not much plot then you get about 1/2 way though the book and WOAHIt has a bit of a slow start I would say 3.5/5-4/5 for just fantastic characters but not much plot then you get about 1/2 way though the book and WOAHHHHHHHHHHHHH, completely fantastic from there forward....more
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