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The skies of the Dark Continent teem with ravening beasts. Thousands of refugees are at the gates of Foreston seeking salvation from a mysterious scourge.

The Wastes are infested with herds of bloodthirsty necromorphs that devour every living thing in their path. A Dark Gateway has opened in the Stone Forest, allowing a horde of otherworldly monsters to come flooding through.

Adversaries from time immemorial are gathering armies and amassing forces. Ancient enemies are forming alliances. The world of the Great System stands once again on the precipice of change. A new war is coming.

1 pages, Audio CD

First published September 16, 2021

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About the author

Alexey Osadchuk

38 books549 followers
Alexey Osadchuk was born in 1979 in the Ukraine. In the late 1990s his family moved to the south of Spain where they still live today.

Alexey was an avid reader from an early age, devouring adventure novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jack London and Arthur Conan Doyle. In 2010 he wrote his first fantasy novel which was immediately accepted for publication.

He also used to be a passionate online gamer which prompted him to write the story of a man who joins an MMORPG game hoping to raise money for his daughter’s heart surgery. The first book of Mirror World was published In 2013. The English translation of the series is now available on Amazon in its entirety, prompting a reviewer to call Alexey “one of the best LitRPG authors to date”.

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5 stars
307 (50%)
4 stars
175 (28%)
3 stars
99 (16%)
2 stars
18 (2%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Liviu.
2,616 reviews716 followers
March 28, 2026
Eric builds more and more powers to fight the dark storm arriving and while he has great success to begin with, he is sorely underestimating what's coming - the hint is that despite being super dee duper champion of light, creator of unbelievably powerful spells etc etc legendary king Nydas still fell to the darkness forces as Eric (who is now getting close to the king's level) actually observed in the Labyrinth of Fright; however Eric has one extra card - he can use strong darkness magic too though of course at a huge personal cost and since it seems that light's ability to fight darkness has limits, but mighty darkness can be at least stopped by even mightier darkness, Eric may need to pay the price...

Fun book avoiding just by a tiny bit a true cliffhanger ending and setting things up for the final showdown

As with the other series books a mixture of listening and reading - the audio narration is excellent and adds a lot to the enjoyment
Profile Image for Akshay.
1,041 reviews5 followers
February 16, 2025

Book Review: Arbiter (Underdog, #7) by Alexey Osadchuk



Arbiter is the seventh book in the Underdog series, continuing the thrilling LitRPG saga that fans of the genre have come to love. Alexey Osadchuk delivers another action-packed installment that deepens the lore, develops the characters, and moves the overarching plot towards an epic climax. As with previous books in the series, Arbiter maintains a delicate balance of character progression, world-building, and intense combat sequences, keeping readers hooked until the very end.



Genre: LitRPG, Fantasy, Adventure


Plot Summary:


In this book, we follow Dirk as he continues his quest in the dangerous world of Disgardium. The stakes are higher than ever as Dirk, who has now assumed the mantle of the Arbiter, finds himself facing new enemies, powerful alliances, and moral dilemmas. With the looming threat of annihilation over the world, the choices he makes have far-reaching consequences, not just for him but for everyone in Disgardium.



As an Underdog, Dirk is once again pitted against overwhelming odds, but his new role as Arbiter grants him powers and responsibilities that challenge his very identity. The story expertly blends personal development with large-scale conflicts, giving readers both intimate moments with the characters and epic battles that shape the fate of entire nations.



Key Strengths of the Book:



Character Growth: Dirk’s journey from an underdog to the Arbiter is one of the most compelling arcs in LitRPG. His transformation feels natural, and his internal struggles add depth to his character.
World-Building: Osadchuk continues to expand the rich world of Disgardium, introducing new regions, factions, and threats. The political intrigue and shifting alliances keep the narrative fresh and exciting.
Combat and Strategy: The battles in Arbiter are not just physical; they require strategic thinking, and the RPG elements are well-integrated. The power-ups, skills, and equipment continue to play a central role in the story, making it a satisfying read for gamers.
Emotional Depth: The relationships between the characters, especially Dirk’s connections with his friends and allies, are explored more deeply in this book. These emotional stakes make the reader invested in their fates.


Weaknesses:



Pacing Issues: At times, the book can feel a bit slow, especially during the buildup of certain political plotlines. Some readers might feel these moments drag the action down slightly.
Complexity: For readers who are not deeply familiar with the mechanics of LitRPG, the game-like elements (stats, levels, abilities) might feel overwhelming. While this is a genre staple, newcomers may find it hard to follow.


Themes and Reflections:


One of the most powerful themes in Arbiter is the exploration of power and responsibility. As Dirk ascends to the role of Arbiter, he is no longer just a player trying to survive. He is a leader, a decision-maker, and his actions have repercussions on a global scale. The moral dilemmas he faces reflect real-world issues of governance, leadership, and the weight of authority. Additionally, the series delves into themes of friendship, loyalty, and the question of whether it is worth sacrificing the few for the many.


Final Thoughts:


Arbiter (Underdog, #7) is a thrilling continuation of an already captivating series. Alexey Osadchuk’s world-building, character development, and skillful incorporation of LitRPG mechanics keep this book engaging for both fans of the genre and readers who enjoy epic fantasy adventures. Despite occasional pacing issues, the overall story arc, emotional depth, and action sequences make Arbiter a highly recommended read for LitRPG enthusiasts.



Rating: 4/5


Overall, Arbiter is an exciting entry in the Underdog series, continuing the tradition of epic storytelling, complex character arcs, and a detailed RPG-driven world. For those who have been following Dirk’s journey, this book is a must-read, while new readers are encouraged to start from the beginning to fully appreciate the intricacies of the story.



Profile Image for Andrew G.
206 reviews24 followers
July 28, 2026
What an up and down series. Big downer.

What a difference a single book can make to a series. Way to take an interesting story and stomp it into the dirt. The skills and powers are so just whatever suits the author’s intentions in the moment. Another cliffhanger showing again a lack of comprehension of what does and doesn’t work in this genre.

Instead of a progression series being about progression, it’s about contrivances, OP powers from nowhere, rug pulls and plot devices.

In this book power boosts rain down on the MC. Who he can defeat and who he can’t waffles based on the author’s plans and not on any contextual basis in the story. Basically it boils down to which powers totally nerf the opponents powers. For most of this book, it’s the MCs nerfing threats many times higher leveled than his rough approximation. In the last fight, it’s the opposite. Completely contrived.

The author forgets entire elements of prior world building, not getting a single spirit from 900 other world beasts.

The author’s abuse of the oath system again contradicts itself, for instance how come slaves don’t have oaths making them so?

Why do the bad guys even need an army at all? It serves no purpose based on the discrepancy in power at the end of this book.

And now the MC has been nerfed so that he can once again have fortune rain down on him so he can get revenge I guess?

This may be the worst part of the series, the main character. He’s like 16-17 years old. He calls people his age “kid”. He gets this cocksureness and sage wisdom about how the world works from grand strategy to petty politics with ZERO context for how he acquired this wisdom. The MC has simply morphed into the classic Taylor Sheridan trope of a protagonist who is simply better than everyone at everything and everything they know and do is right. Further, there’s ZERO context in this story for what motivates him. What drives him. Why does he want to save the world? Why does he care?

He supposedly driven by revenge but he was literally laughing at the antics of the debt collectors cleaning out his house after his parents died. That’s not a guy who is angry. His character has always just accepted situations and his overall motivations have never once been contextualized.

Further, there’s a lot of contradictions in this book. Little things like say forgetting his has an armor set that boosts his stats based on percentage, meaning when he absorbs a tablet and gets only 10 points, he should have gotten 16 based on the 60% boost. That’s not reflected in the stats. It’s forgotten. Other things like author says MC’s parents died and he was evicted on the same day, but I read the book this week, it was a like three days later.

Finally, when thinking over the magic system of this series, the light skills should be trump cards. And the strategy to overcome them should be the cool downs. Forcing anyone with this abilities to use them, then overpowering them after. That’s not what happens in this book, instead the bad guys power which is extremely vulnerable to light magic is just stronger I guess than the light power?

How did the Steel King or his predecessors even lose the wars before? Like they lost the wars but NONE of their primordials died? Then how did they lose the war? How did the Steel Kings family lose the empire with those resources at their disposal? If the Steel King Udon became emperor, what was the goal then? To then just pretend they’re human and live like people instead of whatever from their world? What’s the point of any of these wars? Supposedly he used the dark forces to take over then turned on the dark forces, so why are they on his side again?

None of it makes ANY SENSE!

If these fortresses of the hunters can generate weapons and potions and food and water and whatever, why can’t they generate the spell orbs too? Why does the order even need alchemists/crafters at all if these “plans” can build everything from scratch?

Contraction after contradiction.

Just so much sloppiness. And the translation is abysmal. I can’t believe someone was paid to do this who in the same book, calls the Steel King’s race “ironborn” in one sentence, the “steelborn” in the next, then “ironborn” again after that. Ticks are Mites and Mites are Ticks and their powers are all over the place.

In the end, the high from the long awaited and delicious payoffs from the last book gets totally cast aside with the sloppiness, most contradictory book in the series so far. I’m gonna finish it, because there’s one book left. But it will have to SERIOUSLY impress me if I’m going to ultimately recommend this series.
Profile Image for Sydney.
1,358 reviews68 followers
April 23, 2022
4 Something Very Long Forgotten Stars

Arbiter is the seventh book in the Underdog series by Alexey Osadchuk.

While it is true that Eric has gained many allies throughout his year of transformation. It has become terribly clear they would not stand beside him, as he would them, through the end of the world. They continue to offer mere tokens of tribute, as a show of support. Lacking in true commitment. So many of them talk of a common enemy, and yet still squabble amongst themselves for tries at power. While the humans of this world have proven themselves so easily controlled and prone to betrayal or twisting their oaths to suit their own machinations. The other races and species have shown they are not immune to these same blunders.

The System has indeed saw fit to grant our null long lost powers of Light. But it is yet unclear how this Great System is planning to use our protag to cleanse their world of Darkness. Perhaps it is as Eric seems to be thinking at the end of this book. That all his work to rebuild the Order of Hunters was only the first step, in concert with his resurrection of the Hearts of the Forest. However, now it is time for cast aside the two powers to welcome in what will bring him true strength: His path as a Renegade, and possibly even leveled at that.

I find myself most happy for Mee and his fellow gremlins. Their futures look bright. A resurrection of their people. The only consequence being his divergent path from our Mc. He is one of few characters that I can say without question will came to Eric's aid, no matter how far their paths split from each other.

It saddens how many foxfolk and Order Hunters bravely, yet foolishly, stayed behind to lose their lives so uselessly. They merely wanted to stand beside their leader, in support of his sacrifice. I simply can't help but imagine the good they could have done joining the rest of their forces at their other strongholds.

I wonder what will become of all his blood oaths, that relied on his position as a Hunter and Arbiter? Will his change in status render them void? It will not be a new sensation for him, to be alone in the world yet again. While he will have his summons hopefully? I can easily imagine his 'allies' using his lack of such a strong title to excuse their future inaction.

I wonder where the next book will take us, and if it will be the resolution for this continuous adventure? Or if it just a continuation, and not the end of the series....
Profile Image for Clint Young.
849 reviews
September 24, 2021
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”

I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. I am simply saying that I liked it. I would like you to read it and make your own decision. After all, you are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.

I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.

Cheers
1,336 reviews17 followers
June 2, 2022
This series is truly a mixed bag.

On the one hand i loved the story how the weakest of the weak struggles against impossible seeming odds, some twists and would give the series 4,5 stars. On the other a truly horrible translator with only rudimentary knowledge of English (permanently mixed times, half sentences, made up phrases that ruined my reading experience throughout the ENTIRE series) and a too trusting and often stupidly generous MC. Given the shortness of the books the price of the single books is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!

Therefore only 2 stars.
Profile Image for Karl  Ben-Shachar .
102 reviews3 followers
October 13, 2021
Didn't care for this one

Seriously, what happened! This book felt so rushed! The editing was terrible, and the dialogue, worse. This felt like kids playing with action figures and a Saturday morning cartoon with how cartoonish and childish it was. Another reviewer noted that, there were zero stats in the book, and I can confirm that that's spot on. Not sure what the author is doing here.
Profile Image for Johnny.
2,282 reviews88 followers
February 7, 2022
Book seven

Mistakes: I sent a detailed list of mistakes to the editing team after reading the ARC and checking for translation errors. They either didn't bother with my list or only did part of it. I still found nine mistakes. I listed them on Goodreads.

Plot: The battle picks up against the Steel King and the forces of darkness.

Characters: The MC is one of my favorites.

7/10 Looking forward to book eight.
Profile Image for Murtah Blake.
101 reviews
June 28, 2022
I've just finished book 8 in the Underdog series, which means I've read the entire series now and I absolutely loved it. Some nights I could barely put the book down to go to sleep for work in the morning. I'd always say to myself just one more chapter. I enjoyed seeing our main man Eric go from a literal zero to something amazing and very interesting in constantly unexpected ways. Thank you Alexey Osadchuk! Thank you.
1 review
October 2, 2021
can’t wait for the next one

I remember when there was just the first book out. It looked interesting but didn’t quite catch my eye. I’m so glad that when there was 2-3 books out that I gave it a shot and started reading them. This story has progressed so much further then I thought it would, when I first read the bio on book 1.
Profile Image for Travis.
3,219 reviews55 followers
November 14, 2021
Wow. For those of you keeping up with the series, you're going to like this one. Lot of action here, plenty of building (I like building), serious battles where everything is on the line, and a fairly decent ending, though it does feel a bit abrupt). In any case, there's certainly the promise of more in the series, and that's a good thing. A good way to spend several hours.
Profile Image for Lubos Elexa.
471 reviews3 followers
February 12, 2023
Opäť kniha naberá megalomanské rozmery, do ktorých pribúdajú ďalšie postavy a línie, pričom tie predchádzajúce neboli uzavreté. Fakt, že je hlavná postava -násťročný chlapec, ktorý sa šmahom ruky stáva taktickým a strategickým géniom a motivuje prejavmi na úrovni Napoleona, degraduje potešenie z čítaného...
29 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2021
Good and gives you what you expect

The Grammer. Hallelujah the small mistakes with punctuation, spelling, capitalization and grammar really brings you out of immersion but besides that more or less good. You're 7 books in don't kid yourself into thinking your going to stop.
Profile Image for Kevin.
1,892 reviews32 followers
April 18, 2022
Not as much adventuring with his pals and smacking people that wronged him as I liked, but it was okay enough.

I will pick up the next book. I wonder when this series will end. It feels like I'm reading an anime at times.

3/5 Stars
323 reviews3 followers
July 25, 2024
Pretty big dip in the series

Definitely did not enjoy this book as much as a lot of prep for the next book and much less growth for the protagonist. He either gets completely demolished or completely demolished sovere he's fighting every single time and it's just a little meh
Profile Image for Grant Merrifield.
744 reviews16 followers
September 23, 2021
Woot great book.

Could not pit it down.
I really liked this whole series of books.. I can't wait until the next 2 or 3 come out.
559 reviews
September 24, 2021
Good

A good entry into the book series, I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book released.
6 reviews
Read
September 24, 2021
Love it

Hands down one of my favorite books when the next one coming out the characters progression is great and the overall story is starting to come to a head.
71 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2021
Excellent!

I do so love this series. Each time a new book comes out I finish it in one day. Unfortunately that means a whole lot of waiting for the next one.
210 reviews3 followers
September 24, 2021
out of this world

Could t put the book down. Looked up and it was 3 am. Started reading and was immediately hooked and dragged along an instance ride. Amazing story. Read it!!
1,228 reviews10 followers
September 25, 2021
Excellent!

Wow - top flight LitRPG.

Huge amount of action in a series that helped create the entire genre. Great addition.
Profile Image for Sean Hall.
Author 8 books5 followers
January 12, 2022
Good book

Again this is a translation so the grammar and syntax can be off. Otherwise its a good story and I look forward to the next one
166 reviews
February 18, 2022
Excellent book

I found the story very interesting and look forward to seeing the next installment of this series of books. The story was also unique.
Profile Image for Brad.
251 reviews
December 28, 2022
good read

The mc keeps doing everything to win. Can’t decide if it’s worth it but he keeps going anyway.
Good read
Profile Image for Leather.
632 reviews13 followers
November 27, 2025
When the valiant little tailor, alone against everyone, becomes an all-powerful warlord, surrounded by dozens of companions and allies, I fall asleep.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews