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Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Overworld (Dragon Mage Saga #1) by Rohan M. Vider (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
* EDIT: 15th April 2026 * What a difference novelty can make to your experience of reading a book. When I first read this book, I had only just discovered the LitRPG genre and hadn't experienced the plethora of considerably superior books out ther ...more
Apr 15, 2026 08:09AM · 2 likes · like · see review
Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Mark of the Fool 10 (Mark of the Fool, #10) by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aaarggh... I so wanted to award this book a 5-star rating, because a series this good deserves at least one 5-star book. However, I can't do so and remain objective in this review. Instead, I will have to settle for saying that this series is a case ...more
Apr 13, 2026 04:40AM · like · see review
Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Mark of the Fool 9 (Mark of the Fool, #9) by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mark of the Fool 9 is another solid edition in a great series, but again, it has enough flaws to keep it from being 5-star material. This is frustrating because the story being told here is genuinely fantastic, but there are significant issues that c ...more
Apr 13, 2026 04:40AM · 3 likes · like · see review
Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Mark of the Fool 8 (Mark of the Fool #8) by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
At this point in the series, I need to clarify what makes a 5-star story for me. I am not seeking perfection. Aside from not making any glaringly obvious writing errors, I am seeking a story that: 1. Is well balanced and well paced to keep me engaged ...more
Apr 13, 2026 04:38AM · 1 like · like · see review
Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Mark of the Fool 7 (Mark of the Fool #7) by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was essentially the Games of Roal episode 2, providing a chance to see just how far our heroes have come in the last four books. On the one hand, this is a fun idea to give the audience a chance to revel in the progression of these characters an ...more
Apr 13, 2026 04:36AM · 1 like · like · see review
Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Mark of the Fool 6 (Mark of the Fool #6) by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is the closest I have come to awarding 5 stars to a book in this series. After complaining about the lack of pacing in this series for a while now, this book opens with an explosion of activity that moves this story forward at a breakneck pace. ...more
Apr 13, 2026 04:34AM · like · see review
Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Mark of the Fool 5 (Mark of the Fool #5) by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This was another solid step forward for this series... but sadly, it was only one step. By that, I mean that this series continues to struggle with story pacing. This is the second book in a row that has delivered a quality story that I have enjoyed ...more
Apr 13, 2026 04:32AM · 1 like · like · see review
Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Mark of the Fool 4 (Mark of the Fool #4) by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Finally, this book is what this series needed. The last book felt like it was treading water a little, offering a lot of action but failing to deliver any meaningful character growth or progress the overarching story all that much. This book rectifie ...more
Apr 13, 2026 04:30AM · 1 like · like · see review
Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Mark of the Fool 3 (Mark of the Fool, #3) by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
While a lot happened in this book, it didn't really feel all that meaningful to the big picture of the series. Most of this book takes place between school years, and it serves more as a way for the characters in this series to show how far they have ...more
Apr 13, 2026 04:28AM · 1 like · like · see review
Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it Mark of the Fool 2 (Mark of the Fool, #2) by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book was much more focused than the last one and, therefore, much more enjoyable. That focus went a long way towards making this book feel more fast-paced and engaging. That being said, though, I'm still not quite as engaged with this series as ...more
Apr 13, 2026 04:25AM · 2 likes · like · see review

Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it

Overworld (Dragon Mage Saga #1)
by Rohan M. Vider (Goodreads Author)

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*** EDIT: 15th April 2026 ***

What a difference novelty can make to your experience of reading a book. When I first read this book, I had only just discovered the LitRPG genre and hadn't experienced the plethora of considerably superior books out ther ...more

Gareth Otton rated a book really liked it

Mark of the Fool 10 (Mark of the Fool, #10)
by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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Aaarggh... I so wanted to award this book a 5-star rating, because a series this good deserves at least one 5-star book. However, I can't do so and remain objective in this review. Instead, I will have to settle for saying that this series is a case Aaarggh... I so wanted to award this book a 5-star rating, because a series this good deserves at least one 5-star book. However, I can't do so and remain objective in this review. Instead, I will have to settle for saying that this series is a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Each individual outing may objectively be a 3-4-star rating, but when combined, I can happily rate this a 5-star series and call it one of my favourite series of all time.

This book enters this series into an extremely exclusive club of long-running series that stick the landing. I have lost count of how many series I have loved over the years, but either fizzled out into irrelevance or, worse, actively ruined their endings in ways that tainted my love for the series as a whole. I am extremely pleased to say that this is not the case here.

Maybe one of the strongest compliments I can give this series is that it is remarkably consistent. It consistently suffers from the flaw of imbalance, which at times kills the pacing, but it also filled with epic moments, consistently moves the story forward, does the characters justice, and never forgets to deliver on its promises.

That last point might be the most important; fulfilling promises in satisfying ways.

There were so many moments in this last book where every character in this series (including seemingly throw-away tertiary characters) have a moment to shine. I can't think of a single promise that had been set up somewhere in this series that wasn't fulfilled, and every single time it was done in a satisfying way that brought a smile to my face.

Most impressively of all, though, this is a series that never once forgot to deliver on the biggest promise of all. This story started out by promising us that Alex would overcome the limitations of the Mark of the Fool and go on to amazing things. In every book, it delivers on that promise, never forgetting that he was the star of the show, that this was his story, and that he should never be outshone. The author managed to do every character justice in this series without ever forgetting that the main character is the one we were here to follow in the first place. It is remarkable how many authors forget just whose story they are telling, and how much that dilutes the impact of their stories.

In this series in particular, this was no easy feat to accomplish. With characters like Baelin around, it was far too easy to either let them overshadow Alex, or diminish their characters so that Alex could shine. This book did neither. It gives those larger-than-life characters tasks worthy of their characters, but it still gives Alex moments that outshine even them.

Overall, this was a book filled with awesome moments that kept me grinning from ear to ear for long stretches. It was a near-perfect ending for such a great series, with a satisfying conclusion beyond the climax that properly puts the story to bed (something many series fail to do, to my everlasting frustration). Probably my only criticism here is my main criticism of the entire series; pacing.

This novel can basically be broken down into 3 chunks. The first is the story taking some victory laps, revelling in how far it has come while setting up the final battle. This takes up the first third of the book. Then there is the final battle, something that takes up almost all of the remaining novel, save the last 10% or so. In a book this size, that is quite the chunk, and I won't lie, it does drag at times. However, finally, there is the final 10%, which is basically an extended epilogue that nicely wraps up every last loose thread of this story, leaving you not just satisfied that the story has been told, but also satisfied that you get a good feeling for where these characters' lives will take them now that this story is over.

So overall, this was a fitting ending for a great series. Not perfect, but well worth the time invested. Going forward, this will definitely become one of the rare series that I will revisit many times after it has finished, and I am sure that as the years go by, even the pacing will become less of an issue for me as I just enjoy bingeing a truly great series.

So my final verdict is that, while this might not be a series of 5-star books, it is a 5-star series nonetheless. ...more

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Mark of the Fool 9 (Mark of the Fool, #9)
by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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Mark of the Fool 9 is another solid edition in a great series, but again, it has enough flaws to keep it from being 5-star material. This is frustrating because the story being told here is genuinely fantastic, but there are significant issues that c Mark of the Fool 9 is another solid edition in a great series, but again, it has enough flaws to keep it from being 5-star material. This is frustrating because the story being told here is genuinely fantastic, but there are significant issues that can't be ignored.

The problem with this book is that everything is way too drawn out. Information that should be delivered in a single page instead spans multiple chapters. Moments of high intensity grind to a halt as a character navel-gazes about their decisions and everything leading to that moment. The main fight scenes that would be epic if they lasted only a few chapters get dragged out over tens of chapters. What should be moments of nostalgia as characters reflect how far they have come, leading into the final book, instead take up a third of the novel.

Considering the subject matter, this book should have been the most satisfying in this series. So many promises made in this series are fulfilled here, but it dragged out so much it was a chore to read at times.

The Alex Verus series by Benedict Jacka is an Urban Fantasy, but I can't help comparing it to this book. That series also has a character fighting out of his weight class until the penultimate book, where he finally reaches the potential the series has been promising for so long. The way in which that potential is reached occurs with many of the same story beats to the point where I couldn't help but think of that story as I was reading this one. The big difference is that where this book draws the climax of that particular arc out over hundreds of pages, that book condensed all of that awesomeness into one of the most satisfying chapters I have read in any series ever.

I once heard writing advice on Brandon Sanderson's Writing Excuses podcast where the hosts pointed out one of the most common differences between experienced and inexperienced writers, and one of the most profound ways to make stories more impactful. If you have multiple high-impact events in a story, an inexperienced writer's instinct is to devote a chapter to each one to let it stand proud alone and prolong a period of high emotion in the reader. Experienced writers know that heightened emotions can't be sustained for such long periods in readers without feeling artificial and diluting the impact of these events. An experienced writer knows it is better to bring these moments as close together as possible, concentrating the impact of all the events at once, and delivering a big bang of emotion to the reader that is much more memorable.

Since hearing this advice maybe 10-15 years ago, I have kept it in mind while reading thousands of novels and watching hundreds of movies, and this rule plays out true every time. It seems counterintuitive, but condensing books down and fighting the instinct to let each moment stand proud on its own does wonders for novels, and it would have helped here massively.

Overall, this book should have been 5 stars. The events chronicled here are everything I have been hoping to see in this series for a while. The execution, however, significantly diminished the experience. Ultimately, I think this was a 3.5-star book that I will round up to 4. It is enjoyable, but I was hoping for more.

That said, the underlying story is in a great place, and I have high hopes that this series will finish strong in the next book. I can't wait to read it. ...more

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Mark of the Fool 8 (Mark of the Fool #8)
by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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At this point in the series, I need to clarify what makes a 5-star story for me. I am not seeking perfection. Aside from not making any glaringly obvious writing errors, I am seeking a story that:

1. Is well balanced and well paced to keep me engaged ...more

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Mark of the Fool 7 (Mark of the Fool #7)
by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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This was essentially the Games of Roal episode 2, providing a chance to see just how far our heroes have come in the last four books. On the one hand, this is a fun idea to give the audience a chance to revel in the progression of these characters an This was essentially the Games of Roal episode 2, providing a chance to see just how far our heroes have come in the last four books. On the one hand, this is a fun idea to give the audience a chance to revel in the progression of these characters and provide the characters with an opportunity to show off the things about them that make them special. On the other hand, this goal could have been accomplished much quicker, and as a result, the tournament arc drags on.

It's a shame because this series has reached a point where I am utterly hooked on it now. I love the story, I love how the overarching series is progressing, and I am fascinated to find out what comes next. I also love the slice-of-life/empire-building elements, as it explores a really fun aspect of Alex's character, especially his ability to hack the Mark of the Fool to give him power beyond straightforward martial might. It nicely binds the author into a situation where he needs to be creative to keep Alex in a position of believable competence in facing his foes, and it makes for a much more interesting story.

The perfect example of this is Alex's plan to make himself so valuable within Generasi that they will have his back when Thameland finally learns of his secret and comes looking for him. It's a creative solution to a huge problem in Alex's life, and it makes for fascinating reading.

Speaking of fascinating reading, this novel ended with a bang that leaves you salivating to read what comes next.

Given that I enjoy this series so much, it pains me that I haven't been able to award this series a 5-star rating yet. However, while there is so much that I love in this series, I also can't ignore the filler/side-quest story arcs that suck the momentum out of every book. I've said it a million times before, but action for the sake of action is far less interesting than a book without any action but filled with meaningful story progression.

Overall, like most books in this series, this is an enjoyable 4-star book that is just that one last step away from 5-star brilliance. ...more

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Mark of the Fool 6 (Mark of the Fool #6)
by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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This is the closest I have come to awarding 5 stars to a book in this series. After complaining about the lack of pacing in this series for a while now, this book opens with an explosion of activity that moves this story forward at a breakneck pace. This is the closest I have come to awarding 5 stars to a book in this series. After complaining about the lack of pacing in this series for a while now, this book opens with an explosion of activity that moves this story forward at a breakneck pace. The first half of this book is easily the most fun I have had with this series, and I was sure that this would be the first 5-star read.

However, the adventures in the Hells started to appear, and my hopes were dashed. One of the biggest issues with this series has been the author inserting action and adventure where it isn't needed. I enjoy action and adventure as much as the next fantasy fan, but only if it serves the story. In this series, it often feels like it is included because the author feels it has been too long since the last action set piece, and he is worried that the rest of his story can't support the story on its own. As a result, we get what feel like self-contained, meaningless side quests, and it brings the story's momentum to a halt.

To be clear, I am not saying this series shouldn't have any action in it, but rather, that it should only have action that is relevant to the overarching story. Fighting the Ravener in Thameland is a good example of where action is a welcome addition to this series, especially when it moves that storyline forward while advancing the characters in the process. While not entirely meaningless (and even serving to deliver up one central plot point to the overarching series), the adventures in the Hells in this book didn't consistently achieve this purpose, and they fell flat as a result.

What is worse is that these side-quests interrupted the momentum of other stories that were much more relevant in moving the story forward (view spoiler). It made about a third of this book quite frustrating to read because I would much rather spend that time back on the other stories I was enjoying so much.

This is still a solid book, though, and it is easily my favourite in this series so far. I am eagerly looking forward to book 7 to see where this story goes from here. ...more

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Mark of the Fool 5 (Mark of the Fool #5)
by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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This was another solid step forward for this series... but sadly, it was only one step.

By that, I mean that this series continues to struggle with story pacing. This is the second book in a row that has delivered a quality story that I have enjoyed This was another solid step forward for this series... but sadly, it was only one step.

By that, I mean that this series continues to struggle with story pacing. This is the second book in a row that has delivered a quality story that I have enjoyed reading, but I am still frustrated at the lack of development in these books. There are so many story threads that were introduced earlier in the series, some in the very first books, that barely get touched on here. The characters are growing, but only one step per book at best, when it should be multiple steps per book. The overarching story is moving forward, but again, only one step per book when it should be multiple.

(view spoiler)

Putting this aside, though, this series has definitely got me hooked now. There is so much about it that I love (the characters, their relationships, the exploration of new and creative magic) that I can't wait to pick up the next book in this series. I just wish the author could be a little more efficient in how he writes. It feels like there's so much story left to tell that there's no point in dragging things out for the sake of it.

Overall, this series is settling into a rhythm of four-star books now (with book 3 being the only hiccup). It's delivering a consistently quality story that frustrates me in how slow it moves at times, but on a binge re-read of the series, it becomes much more enjoyable. If you've liked this series to this point, then I can happily recommend this book to you, as I don't think it'll let you down. ...more

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Mark of the Fool 4 (Mark of the Fool #4)
by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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Finally, this book is what this series needed. The last book felt like it was treading water a little, offering a lot of action but failing to deliver any meaningful character growth or progress the overarching story all that much. This book rectifie ...more

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Mark of the Fool 3 (Mark of the Fool, #3)
by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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While a lot happened in this book, it didn't really feel all that meaningful to the big picture of the series. Most of this book takes place between school years, and it serves more as a way for the characters in this series to show how far they have While a lot happened in this book, it didn't really feel all that meaningful to the big picture of the series. Most of this book takes place between school years, and it serves more as a way for the characters in this series to show how far they have come than to actually advance the overarching story.

Alex, especially, was a disappointment. The key thing about his character that is interesting is his drive to constantly be moving forward and excel, especially in the area of magic. This book still has a magic focus, but it is less about exploring new things and pushing himself as it is about just getting more comfortable with what they have already done.

I'm not going to go so far as to call this filler, but it was headed in that direction. This is still an easy-reading series with some fun characters I have grown attached to, but if it is ever to elevate beyond that, it needs to double down on what it does best and focus more on achieving meaningful story progression.

** Edit: 20th March 2025 **

On a re-read of this series, I will cross that line into calling this one filler. It's enjoyable filler, maybe, but it doesn't meaningfully move anything forward. For the most part, it's a pretty self-contained story, which wouldn't be an issue for me if more progress were made in growing the characters (both as characters and their abilities).

This is less of an issue when bingeing this series, though, as this was not so bad as to make you want to skip it on future reads. It's enjoyable enough that I was tempted to bump the review to 4 stars, but I don't think it quite crosses that threshold.

** Edit: 22nd April 2026 **

On yet another re-read of this series in preparation for the final book, this one bothered me way less and I will finally be bumping that score up to 4-stars. Truth be told, I don't think there's any book in this series frustrating enough to be only 3-stars. Yes, this one is slower than the rest and it deals with something that feels more of a side story rather than an adventure that advances the overall plot, but it's still enjoyable spending time with Alex, his friends and his family. ...more

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Mark of the Fool 2 (Mark of the Fool, #2)
by J.M. Clarke (Goodreads Author)

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This book was much more focused than the last one and, therefore, much more enjoyable. That focus went a long way towards making this book feel more fast-paced and engaging.

That being said, though, I'm still not quite as engaged with this series as This book was much more focused than the last one and, therefore, much more enjoyable. That focus went a long way towards making this book feel more fast-paced and engaging.

That being said, though, I'm still not quite as engaged with this series as I would need to be to rate it anywhere close to 5-stars. Everything just seems a little shallow to me. Whether it's the character work, the descriptions, the plot, the stakes... pretty much every element feels like it could do with another pass to add depth and impact. It's frustrating because there's an interesting story here, just one that is slightly missing the mark.

That being said, though, something this story does well is that it revels in the wonder of magic, which is a huge plus for this reader. Magic and wonder are what I come to fantasy for, and it's always good to find a series where the author treats magic as a miracle and not some overlooked maguffin.

The other thing this story does well is the relationship between Alex and his sister. I like their chemistry, and I also like how, in most cases, Alex is putting her first and foremost in his decision-making. His efforts to spend time with his sister and make her part of his work/story in this book goes a long way towards showing how much he cares for her, and it's the one relationship in this book that stands out to this reader.

In fact, it is a good example of the kind of character work that is lacking elsewhere. He and his sister are shown to rely on each other, to work hard to keep each other happy, and to look for shared interests to improve their relationship. Other relationships in the book tend to just exist because the story needs them to, and not because of the work and effort that is shown in this one. It makes this one feel real, while the others are hollow.

Overall, this was an easy reading novel that, thanks to its focus in comparison to the previous book, was a much more engaging read. It still has a long way to go, but it's a solid 3.5-star read that I have rounded up because of how much I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the next book and hope that there will be another jump in quality there as well. ...more

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