Obviously, by book 11, I've found something good in this series. I am anxious to pick up the next.
Why? Because it gives me all the fan service I'd eveObviously, by book 11, I've found something good in this series. I am anxious to pick up the next.
Why? Because it gives me all the fan service I'd ever want with progression novels. Always working hard to that next level up. Sure, we're still on the high E-grade path, with D, C, B, and A still ahead of us, but damn. The promise is there and so is all the incremental additions to his power.
This one had a pretty nice balance between cultivating and action, as most of them do. Story is sometimes interesting, however, or at least a good enoThis one had a pretty nice balance between cultivating and action, as most of them do. Story is sometimes interesting, however, or at least a good enough hook that I just don't care. I love the LitRPG elements more than just about anything else, so it just doesn't matter.
But I should say one thing: I love how he keeps the so much larger OP stakes interesting.
Basically god levels here, but it doesn't matter because there are so many gods. :)...more
I'm still having fun with these LitRPGs. I'll never say they're great literature, but for my video-gaJonah and the Whale? How about a prison breakout!
I'm still having fun with these LitRPGs. I'll never say they're great literature, but for my video-game loving heart, it's a balm. Let's level up some more among monarchs!...more
While I wasn't truly sold on the realm introduced in the previous book, it found a rather cool conclusion here.
In the end, I loved the shorter title-While I wasn't truly sold on the realm introduced in the previous book, it found a rather cool conclusion here.
In the end, I loved the shorter title-hunting stories a lot more.
While these LitRPGs are pretty average, there are some really cool aspects in the cultivation areas. Improving one's soul, for example, is pretty primo here. Actually beautiful. :)...more
While there is just minimal character development, I really don't care that much. The progression part of the fiction, new cores, leveling-up, new powWhile there is just minimal character development, I really don't care that much. The progression part of the fiction, new cores, leveling-up, new powers, skills, and incidental action is enough to keep me pumped up.
I was really quite interested in the system vs heaven levels of the multiverse. The deeper delve into the technological division is getting pretty interesting, too.
Sometimes, wild gaming imagination is all a guy needs. :)...more
Much more than solid this time. We get the full tower raid and aftermath. *YAY* and a return to Earth, decimated incursions, and even a full bloodlineMuch more than solid this time. We get the full tower raid and aftermath. *YAY* and a return to Earth, decimated incursions, and even a full bloodline change.
The one thing long-running LitRPGs have going for them is the sense of increase, of progress, of depth and OP awesomeness.
This one definitely flies with all that. It's now so much better than the beginning....more
Complications with a little dark magic, shaping up to make a real berserker out of Zack. Of course, such an outcome isn't nearly as fun as the normal Complications with a little dark magic, shaping up to make a real berserker out of Zack. Of course, such an outcome isn't nearly as fun as the normal progression fiction. I do so love opening up new Tao and titles.
But frankly, I think I enjoyed going to the leveler's tower the most out of this volume. So many nice complications....more
Interestingly enough, I enjoyed book two more than the first. Maybe it makes up for all the solo brawny axe bits by stakes that make it quite a bit moInterestingly enough, I enjoyed book two more than the first. Maybe it makes up for all the solo brawny axe bits by stakes that make it quite a bit more social. Building a city definitely helps.
Don't get me wrong, though. There's tons of solo leveling and grind, so everything that brought me to the series is still going strong.
Let's get BEAST. Show the System who's really boss.
Back to their original settlement, they discover an army of undead goblins laying waste to everything.
In other words, all normal.
I admit I enjoyed thBack to their original settlement, they discover an army of undead goblins laying waste to everything.
In other words, all normal.
I admit I enjoyed the setting of the prior novel better, but this was also fun. I mean, OP, bad odds, betrayal, AI gods on the field, and to top it all off, titans. No problem.
It's time to squash and be squashed. Defend that settlement!
Funnily enough, this is high-level battle time....more
Oooooooohhhhh I think I love this one. At least to me, I dove head-first into this one, screaming, "Cyberpunk!!!!!" And yes, exactly that game, with aOooooooohhhhh I think I love this one. At least to me, I dove head-first into this one, screaming, "Cyberpunk!!!!!" And yes, exactly that game, with a lot of the great, flashy feel and a great deal of Atom Smasher to boot. :)
I went from "This is okay" to "Oh, I'm DOWN" real quick. Maybe it's not for everyone, but I loved the new class changes and combos and raid rotations as much as the overall developments of the story. But really? It was all the aesthetic. I even stayed up late to read.
At least to me, this LitRPG is finally coming into its own....more
This second book still has all the normal LitRPG goodies. The SF reveals are steadily revealing themselves and the dodge-tanking angle is still going This second book still has all the normal LitRPG goodies. The SF reveals are steadily revealing themselves and the dodge-tanking angle is still going strong.
I think I mainly enjoy these for the comfort factor. I'm getting some flashbacks of a FFXI grind and it's pretty neat. Other than that, it's fairly average -- not that this will stop me from reading more....more
I'm getting into the worldbuilding a bit more now, its SF and now even matrixy base, and I generally enjoy the twist of level fluctuations and restricI'm getting into the worldbuilding a bit more now, its SF and now even matrixy base, and I generally enjoy the twist of level fluctuations and restrictions, if handled well.
Funnily enough, when I originally thought that these books were cribbing a little from, say FFXI, this one cribbed a bit more from both ninja gaiden and rts battle sims. Not bad, even if it's not super original.
On the other hand, LitRPGs generally don't need to be original. They're giving us gamers what we clamor for: nostalgia and pure adventure. ...more
Wow. Just wow. It's done, and it ended spectacularly, with heart, style, and a true wrap-up that gave love to every single character.
I don't say this Wow. Just wow. It's done, and it ended spectacularly, with heart, style, and a true wrap-up that gave love to every single character.
I don't say this that often, but, "DUDE."
All four books together need to be considered one story, or like web-chapters or a Dickensian story arc. From the very start to the post-loop battle, to the wrap-up, it was awesome.
I sat glued to the story without an even slight desire to do anything else at any point in time. I even went to bed late and got up early to spoil myself with more of this story.
When I say it outdoes Groundhog Day, I say it outdoes Groundhog Day. And it's NICE and long and I could keep reading it forever. Fortunately --- I can. Just pretend I'm on a time loop.
I'm truly thrilled with these novels. I'm having so much fun reading them.
This particular one still has the same foundation as the other two, while thI'm truly thrilled with these novels. I'm having so much fun reading them.
This particular one still has the same foundation as the other two, while the MCs are continually growing stronger the more they learn with every iteration, but now we've seen other continents and have been interacting with some rather powerful people -- some to learn from, others to fool -- and I'm here for it all.
So delicious. I just can't get enough of this.
I totally recommend these for anyone who enjoys a Groundhog Day type of fantasy. :)...more
Not only does it continue on in strong form from the first arc, it widens all horizons.
This series can only be I'm frankly blown away by this series.
Not only does it continue on in strong form from the first arc, it widens all horizons.
This series can only be described as a single endless novel. When the journey and character is this strong, a format like this is absolutely WONDERFUL if the writing is great and the dear reader is fully invested.
Fortunately, I am. Indeed, I LOVE a well-made Groundhog Day story and make no bones about the loop being about a month long. It turns this young character's magical learning sessions into something quite instructive. Being the academic sort, myself, I love the idea of becoming an archmage at 15 a wonderful prospect.
The big tragedy that keeps on re-happening is just a nice spur for everything else. As it is here, Zorian's scope is now well beyond the city where everything else had happened. He's developed a few new specialties, but it's his generalism that truly fascinates me.
So much so, I'm giving up on sleep and feel absolutely no desire to do anything else while reading this stuff. Yes, that is high praise....more
Color me surprised to learn that Django Wexler is writing an Isekai!
I've been loving the genre for years now, right alongside its idiot twin, LitRPG,Color me surprised to learn that Django Wexler is writing an Isekai!
I've been loving the genre for years now, right alongside its idiot twin, LitRPG, but I never really considered this kind of thing anything more than plain fun popcorn fiction -- and that's exactly what Django Wexler delivered.
We've got ourselves a Groundhog Day scenario in another world, where Davi had died for like a thousand years trying out every little thing this kingdom can offer, but when a big change comes -- and Davi is meant to become the Dark Lord, it all becomes a cool little adventure to get all the monsters together, build a hoard, have a lot of sex, and go through the trials set up by the Old Ones to officially become THE DARK LORD.
This light novel truly threw me for a loop. All of the other 7 isekais followed a very comforting LitRPG progression, always throwing greater enemies This light novel truly threw me for a loop. All of the other 7 isekais followed a very comforting LitRPG progression, always throwing greater enemies at a stronger hero, but almost at the beginning of this one, it... finished. :)
The rest of the novel pulled off a great Superman storyline, fully grounded in regular life and became thoroughly nostalgic.
That, and it really speaks to those of us who love a good New Game + :)
Delicious continuation. I knew there was going to be a total invasion of the Earth by the Monarchs, and we got a few tastes right away, but the scale Delicious continuation. I knew there was going to be a total invasion of the Earth by the Monarchs, and we got a few tastes right away, but the scale just started breaking like a dam and now the Earth is doomed.
This LitRPG/Isekai is really hitting the spot. It's just going to get so bloody, now....more