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Infinite Realm #5
The Aspects
Hastur is dead.
But his armies and generals remain.
While the factions struggle to recover from the chaos in the wake of Hastur's influence on the world, the Sects gather in hope of defeating the threat once and for all.
In the fires of struggle and war legends are born, and secrets of the Aspects revealed.
This book contains RPG mechanics and tables, cultivation, profanity, gore, mature themes, unconventional morality, and multiple complicated main characters. This story follows several main characters, both male and female, who are introduced into the story at different times. This story is a mix of LitRPG and Xianxia, and it will have Classes as well as Cultivation systems.
Author's
This story is the e-book version of my webserial.
But his armies and generals remain.
While the factions struggle to recover from the chaos in the wake of Hastur's influence on the world, the Sects gather in hope of defeating the threat once and for all.
In the fires of struggle and war legends are born, and secrets of the Aspects revealed.
This book contains RPG mechanics and tables, cultivation, profanity, gore, mature themes, unconventional morality, and multiple complicated main characters. This story follows several main characters, both male and female, who are introduced into the story at different times. This story is a mix of LitRPG and Xianxia, and it will have Classes as well as Cultivation systems.
Author's
This story is the e-book version of my webserial.
1196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2023
245 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Ivan Kal
42 books384 followersIvan Kal writes science fiction and fantasy, and is the author of the space opera series Rise of the Empire.
For most of his life he had been studying in the fields of electronics, IT, and web design.
But because of his great love for books and his need to tell stories, he decided to start writing.
His other interests include martial arts, movies and tv, and gaming.
For most of his life he had been studying in the fields of electronics, IT, and web design.
But because of his great love for books and his need to tell stories, he decided to start writing.
His other interests include martial arts, movies and tv, and gaming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 9, 2023
frustrating
This book was very light on actual story. There was so much discussion on how to cultivate and so many pages of stat sheets it was hard to move the plot forward.
Also the story is told from way to many view points .
Finally, I wish they’d kill Zach off. He really is a loser. His poor decisions get people killed. He’s mediocre at best, yet he gets all these cool powers. Which he then uses poorly.
This book was very light on actual story. There was so much discussion on how to cultivate and so many pages of stat sheets it was hard to move the plot forward.
Also the story is told from way to many view points .
Finally, I wish they’d kill Zach off. He really is a loser. His poor decisions get people killed. He’s mediocre at best, yet he gets all these cool powers. Which he then uses poorly.
April 3, 2023
broad attack
Still enjoying the massive scale of creation. The ever increasing cast is…less enjoyable. It becomes difficult to remember which person is related to who that may be alive or dead, and possibly only temporarily…
I appreciated the way some of the character sheets were set apart as chapters. Made it easy to skip. Especially given the sheer size and the fact that some characters I care about less.
I will likely continue with the series, but…I don’t think I can recommend it to others.
Still enjoying the massive scale of creation. The ever increasing cast is…less enjoyable. It becomes difficult to remember which person is related to who that may be alive or dead, and possibly only temporarily…
I appreciated the way some of the character sheets were set apart as chapters. Made it easy to skip. Especially given the sheer size and the fact that some characters I care about less.
I will likely continue with the series, but…I don’t think I can recommend it to others.
April 17, 2023
Book five
Well the writing is definitely improving. Less mistakes in this book. Didn't skip as much as in the other four books. I still skipped some, chapters that just didn't interest me.
Zach is becoming more interesting, I still don't like that character though.
Combat can be over detailed and become tedious. Stat pages need to be condensed. One persons stats can take up an entire chapter. I'd rather just see what changes.
If you have made it this far you can read more on Royalroad.
6/10
Well the writing is definitely improving. Less mistakes in this book. Didn't skip as much as in the other four books. I still skipped some, chapters that just didn't interest me.
Zach is becoming more interesting, I still don't like that character though.
Combat can be over detailed and become tedious. Stat pages need to be condensed. One persons stats can take up an entire chapter. I'd rather just see what changes.
If you have made it this far you can read more on Royalroad.
6/10
October 6, 2023
DNF: Moderately speaking, this book has potential, but there's a pronounced emphasis on statistics over narrative. As an avid LitRPG enthusiast, I appreciate when authors seamlessly integrate stats into the storyline. Overwhelming readers with raw numbers can be jarring and detracts from the immersion. It would be more effective to elaborate on skills or weapons when they're pertinent to the plot. If a statistic isn't enhancing the story, perhaps it's best left unsaid.
November 7, 2023
IMHO, this is easily the worst of the series and it really didn't do much to progress the story at all. Zach now has a reasonably interesting series of events happening to him... but his story still ends up being pretty boring/predictable.
I will likely read the next in the series, but if it keeps trending downward I will likely drop the series, which is a shame since it has potential.
I will likely read the next in the series, but if it keeps trending downward I will likely drop the series, which is a shame since it has potential.
December 6, 2023
I really enjoy how this series has people switch morality. The goodie two shoes whiteknight had to get his hands dirty, and the uncaring killer starts to love and save people.
I find it amusing that I'm five books into the series, and I still don't want to read Zach chapters. Even though he has changed so much.
I'm still peeved that terrorist keeps getting away and causing more problems. Hopefully he is taken care of in the next book.
This wasn't too bad.
It was long, but I enjoyed most of it.
Will see how the sequel goes.
3/5 Stars
I find it amusing that I'm five books into the series, and I still don't want to read Zach chapters. Even though he has changed so much.
I'm still peeved that terrorist keeps getting away and causing more problems. Hopefully he is taken care of in the next book.
This wasn't too bad.
It was long, but I enjoyed most of it.
Will see how the sequel goes.
3/5 Stars
August 15, 2024
There is so much good things in this book, interesting characters, exciting events and so on. I love reading about the sects and it is very interesting to see Twilight Melody sect involve themselves more with other sects and their politics. Ryun keeps growing and is becoming more and more likable.
On the other hand, I kind of hate Zach. He was a one-dimensional bore for the first few books. In the last book he was starting to redeem himself slightly (Neha is a great companion). But in this book we got chapter after chapter of "madness" and circular thoughts on time. [What I read/hear: Time is time or was it time or will it be time? Tiiiiiiime. Time.] Slightly better at the end, but he still feels very one-dimensional and it also feels like his powers are just landing in his hands without work. He even reflects himself about how little he understands (he be dumb) and then presto: new evolution of power.
I would love of the author could separate the two characters now. Let each of them have their own series in the infinite realms. Because I want to see what happens in the world and how Ryun and his friends in Twilight Melody carries on, but I'm note sure how much more Zach and "madness" I can take.
Lastly, I fully understand that this is a fantasy world, and that the madness is caused by imbalance, but for me it feels like they "catch madness" like they would catch a cold. Mental illness is real and maybe someone who is mad wouldn't be thinking "Uh-oh, that's just a bit of my madness popping up making me think this"?
On the other hand, I kind of hate Zach. He was a one-dimensional bore for the first few books. In the last book he was starting to redeem himself slightly (Neha is a great companion). But in this book we got chapter after chapter of "madness" and circular thoughts on time. [What I read/hear: Time is time or was it time or will it be time? Tiiiiiiime. Time.] Slightly better at the end, but he still feels very one-dimensional and it also feels like his powers are just landing in his hands without work. He even reflects himself about how little he understands (he be dumb) and then presto: new evolution of power.
I would love of the author could separate the two characters now. Let each of them have their own series in the infinite realms. Because I want to see what happens in the world and how Ryun and his friends in Twilight Melody carries on, but I'm note sure how much more Zach and "madness" I can take.
Lastly, I fully understand that this is a fantasy world, and that the madness is caused by imbalance, but for me it feels like they "catch madness" like they would catch a cold. Mental illness is real and maybe someone who is mad wouldn't be thinking "Uh-oh, that's just a bit of my madness popping up making me think this"?
October 31, 2024
Book 5 of the Infinite Realms. The small reviews cannot do justice to these books as they’re very in-depth and keeps the action rolling. I loved the various character growth lines. These books are longer than most and so can really spend the time on the little details that really highlight the growth and motivation of several characters. The ending was satisfying leaving space for the next book in the series. The change in roles from the beginning to now is interesting and the themes that reoccurs that: you are not your past mistakes, you can be who you choose to become, and taking advantage of the time you have and never becoming comfortable thinking you’ll always have time are wonderful and well addressed. Warning about strong language and adult situations that make this more appropriate for a mature audience.
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com
August 30, 2023
Here is the secret to reading the series or each 1,000-page-plus individual volume: you only have to read 40% to 50% of each book. Skip the chapters on stats (yes, whole chapters) or debates about which skill/perq or whatever they "should" take. No one could possibly remember all of them and it is much more effective to see skills and powers in action. So skim until you notice that the plot is actually moving forward. Still, these serial series that originate on RoyalRoad.com have a problem of never ending. I am not sure anything is leading to some sort of conclusion for Ryun and Zach (the sole survivors from our world that are sent to a new one called "the Infinite Realm"). It can feel at times like a long-running soap opera.
August 26, 2024
Author: Ivan Kal
Book: The Aspects
NO SPOILERS.
I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying Hastur is dead. It is in the book's synopsis. But still, it was a lot to deal with it.
This is a rare series. It truly has captured my attention. And this is Book 5 of the Infinite Realm. Some, at that point, get muddled. Lose some of the appeal. But Ivan Kal has continued to layer the personalities of the characters with such depth and relatability. Both Zach and Ryun are changed, growing in such ways that they were mere children in book 1 and book 2. And both have plans. Actionable grand plans.
Will they pull them off? We will have to read and see.
Book: The Aspects
NO SPOILERS.
I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying Hastur is dead. It is in the book's synopsis. But still, it was a lot to deal with it.
This is a rare series. It truly has captured my attention. And this is Book 5 of the Infinite Realm. Some, at that point, get muddled. Lose some of the appeal. But Ivan Kal has continued to layer the personalities of the characters with such depth and relatability. Both Zach and Ryun are changed, growing in such ways that they were mere children in book 1 and book 2. And both have plans. Actionable grand plans.
Will they pull them off? We will have to read and see.
October 6, 2023
LitRPG containing mainly:
Lists of stats
Lists of skills
Lists of skill effects
Lists of techniques
Lists of items
Lists of items stats
List of item effects
Lists of items can be placed in storage
Lists of essences
Lists of skills activated in combat and lists of their effects
Lists of actions and lists of what is needed to used said actions
Lists of effects of stats have on skills
Lists of how someone has offended someone else
Lists of actions taken
List of sights, Lists of smells, and lists of sounds
Lists of stats
Lists of skills
Lists of skill effects
Lists of techniques
Lists of items
Lists of items stats
List of item effects
Lists of items can be placed in storage
Lists of essences
Lists of skills activated in combat and lists of their effects
Lists of actions and lists of what is needed to used said actions
Lists of effects of stats have on skills
Lists of how someone has offended someone else
Lists of actions taken
List of sights, Lists of smells, and lists of sounds
May 28, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - in a sense this book felt like the end of a chapter in the series. a lot of loose threads were finally thread together and though zach and ryun have changed irrevocably, i feel like they're both back to being displayed equal to one another in power and personal growth. with all the small hints kal has been dropping about the infinite realm, i'm very excited about the next few books in this series and seeing how the domes, the yeti, the eigth rankers and more trials thrown by the dealmaker end up playing out
October 31, 2023
This book felt a bridge between two big bads. A lot of things happened in this but it really just felt like development for the next book. The last 20% when by very quickly though, in a good way. Still feel pretty bad about what happened to Zach but he’s definitely strong AF now.
Also I give absolutely zero fucks about Kaels chapters, 3 was way too many. He’s there literally just to introduce the next bad but he’s such a shit person
Also I give absolutely zero fucks about Kaels chapters, 3 was way too many. He’s there literally just to introduce the next bad but he’s such a shit person
March 31, 2023
Another great installment in a series that I enjoyed enough to have kept up with on patreon.
One thing I really appreciate about this series is that, while Zach and Ryun are absolutely very powerful, they are part of a world where both their allies and enemies and also powerful and competent in their own rights. I thought that was particularly true in this book.
One thing I really appreciate about this series is that, while Zach and Ryun are absolutely very powerful, they are part of a world where both their allies and enemies and also powerful and competent in their own rights. I thought that was particularly true in this book.
April 3, 2023
My All Time Favorite Series
As the title says, this is my all time favorite. I’ve never found a book that was so similar to my thoughts about the aspects, and yet is so different. I relate to Ryun on a completely different level sometimes. What I would give to have a conversation with him.
As the title says, this is my all time favorite. I’ve never found a book that was so similar to my thoughts about the aspects, and yet is so different. I relate to Ryun on a completely different level sometimes. What I would give to have a conversation with him.
April 18, 2023
Decent Addition
So you’ll enjoy this book if you’ve read the others, but it doesn’t read like a typical novel. It’s just the book version of a web series with several typos that only occasionally break the immersion of the story. It’s not for everyone, but I thought the author did reasonably well. Solid 3.5, rounding up to a 4.
So you’ll enjoy this book if you’ve read the others, but it doesn’t read like a typical novel. It’s just the book version of a web series with several typos that only occasionally break the immersion of the story. It’s not for everyone, but I thought the author did reasonably well. Solid 3.5, rounding up to a 4.
October 29, 2023
I have been a little frustrated with the last two books, but the author did a great job here. I also loved how there were so many interconnected stories and how every character gets attention from the author to further develop. I feel too many litrpgs focus way to much on the mc’s journey to power and we don’t get to see the characters as real people. Ivan Kal did a great job with this book
December 26, 2023
I'd like this series more if there was a destination in sight. As each challenge is surpassed another rises. Without an over-arching objective, it becomes a never-ending cycle of getting stronger to defeat the latest threat.
We have interesting characters, a unique world, complex magic, and good pacing. So it's still an easy read. Am I greedy for wanting more?
We have interesting characters, a unique world, complex magic, and good pacing. So it's still an easy read. Am I greedy for wanting more?
June 6, 2024
Another great book in the series
The continued story of Ryun and Zach in the Infinite Realm. They continue to expand and grow while the realm fights them at every step. The story is interesting and intricate. Sometimes the character sheets are a bit too detailed but that isn't really a complaint.
The continued story of Ryun and Zach in the Infinite Realm. They continue to expand and grow while the realm fights them at every step. The story is interesting and intricate. Sometimes the character sheets are a bit too detailed but that isn't really a complaint.
July 31, 2024
fun
This is a great continuation of the series. Zac and Riun get more powerful and prominent in the world. And events are set in motion for intense interactions in future books. I loved it, please enjoy
This is a great continuation of the series. Zac and Riun get more powerful and prominent in the world. And events are set in motion for intense interactions in future books. I loved it, please enjoy
April 8, 2023
amazing
Ivan kal has done it again!! The book is packed with action and character development. It’s a an exciting read that you just can’t get enough of!
Ivan kal has done it again!! The book is packed with action and character development. It’s a an exciting read that you just can’t get enough of!
April 8, 2023
Excellent!
Well worth the wait.
Ryan is only getting better and better.
Still don't care or like Zack though.
The Twilight Moon Sect just jumped up in ranks.
Well worth the wait.
Ryan is only getting better and better.
Still don't care or like Zack though.
The Twilight Moon Sect just jumped up in ranks.
April 14, 2023
Excellent
Another great book. Always very engaging and reads smoothly. Looking forward to reading more on the adventures of Ryun, Nayla and Kri.
Another great book. Always very engaging and reads smoothly. Looking forward to reading more on the adventures of Ryun, Nayla and Kri.
April 24, 2023
Amazing
This book was completely amazing. Felt like I was reading more then one book. Cant wait for the next one. 5 stars!!
This book was completely amazing. Felt like I was reading more then one book. Cant wait for the next one. 5 stars!!
October 16, 2023
8.5/10
November 1, 2023
I am pretty sure the plural of focus is foci.
November 7, 2023
More of the same, nothing new.. Zack is less boring and Ryun is approaching the top power, well see how it goes but nothing wrong with this, if you liked the others its just another chapter.
December 19, 2023
Love this series, can not wait to see what happens in book six.
January 30, 2024
DNF @ 60%.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews