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Arcane Merchant #1
Arcane Trader: A Slice-of-Life Adventure
I'm just an ordinary guy, but I'm about to discover a world of magic, danger, and unexpected allies in the enchanted confines of a sleepy town's mysterious magic shop.
When I inherited my grandfather's magic shop, I wasn't exactly thrilled. I have plans, and inheriting a magic shop in a sleepy, mysterious little town isn't one of them.
But when I discover a stunning girl named Elodie, with cat ears atop her head, working at the shop, I can't help but be intrigued.
At first glance, I assume Elodie is just another pretty face working at my grandfather's magic shop. With her sleek hair, mesmerizing green eyes, and curves in all the right places, it's hard not to be distracted by her stunning appearance. But as I soon discover, there's much more to Elodie than meets the eye.
Despite her alluring appearance, I assume Elodie is just another employee until I learn that she's actually a familiar, a magical creature bound to the shop and its owner. With Elodie's help, I discover that I have undiscovered magic powers, which I must master to save the people I love from the clutches of the enemy.
As if that weren't enough, I find myself face-to-face with a waifish, beautiful girl who wants to help even though she's supposed to be on the enemy side and a mysterious genie who wants to grant me my wishes. With the girls by my side, I navigate this new and dangerous world of magic, battling dark forces and uncovering the truth about my own heritage.
Will these beautiful, strange girls be able to help me unlock the secrets of the magic shop and save the little store--and my legacy--from certain doom, or will we fall prey to the forces of darkness that seek to destroy us?
When I inherited my grandfather's magic shop, I wasn't exactly thrilled. I have plans, and inheriting a magic shop in a sleepy, mysterious little town isn't one of them.
But when I discover a stunning girl named Elodie, with cat ears atop her head, working at the shop, I can't help but be intrigued.
At first glance, I assume Elodie is just another pretty face working at my grandfather's magic shop. With her sleek hair, mesmerizing green eyes, and curves in all the right places, it's hard not to be distracted by her stunning appearance. But as I soon discover, there's much more to Elodie than meets the eye.
Despite her alluring appearance, I assume Elodie is just another employee until I learn that she's actually a familiar, a magical creature bound to the shop and its owner. With Elodie's help, I discover that I have undiscovered magic powers, which I must master to save the people I love from the clutches of the enemy.
As if that weren't enough, I find myself face-to-face with a waifish, beautiful girl who wants to help even though she's supposed to be on the enemy side and a mysterious genie who wants to grant me my wishes. With the girls by my side, I navigate this new and dangerous world of magic, battling dark forces and uncovering the truth about my own heritage.
Will these beautiful, strange girls be able to help me unlock the secrets of the magic shop and save the little store--and my legacy--from certain doom, or will we fall prey to the forces of darkness that seek to destroy us?
- GenresFantasyUrban Fantasy
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 20, 2023
208 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 26, 2023
A bit like Penthouse Letters?
Not much to be said about this one. I got through it, and there is a decent idea there, BUT for a MC who presents himself as a good man from modern times the language that he uses says otherwise, and it is written in first person style! The sex scenes are unimaginative and in fact boring, and at least one harem novel series uses the concept as an introduction to the MC and world view.
Skip this if you're actually an adult reader.
Not much to be said about this one. I got through it, and there is a decent idea there, BUT for a MC who presents himself as a good man from modern times the language that he uses says otherwise, and it is written in first person style! The sex scenes are unimaginative and in fact boring, and at least one harem novel series uses the concept as an introduction to the MC and world view.
Skip this if you're actually an adult reader.
December 20, 2023
I must not have been paying enough attention when I picked this title, or else I’d have realized it was a harem story. In my limited experience, everything in that genre reads like bad fan-fiction. I barely made it 15 minutes in before I (temporarily) set it aside for something with better writing.
The dialog can be pretty cheesy. The characterization of the protagonist is a bit hard to swallow (totally unrealistic acceptance of magic and magical happenings, sudden and incredible magical aptitude, action hero casualness to violence and death, too nice and thoughtful especially considering his past mistakes). Occasional misused words that really should have been caught by an editor (pestle instead of mortar, kettle instead of teapot, didactic instead of ?, egress instead of ingress). Constant continuity errors (ie broken glass on the floor despite magically repairing the broken window). Characters “suddenly realizing” things that were literally explained to them a page or two before. And cringy erotica with porn logic (they’re all virgins, they want him right now, they’re amazing in bed and they don’t mind sharing). It’s all pure adolescent sex and power fantasy.
The audiobook has a male and female narrator, and the male narrator is pretty weak. Awkward pauses, underacting, overacting. And it makes the cringy erotica even more embarrassing to listen to.
If power fantasies with a handful of sex scenes are your bag, then ignore my review. I mostly found this title to be dumb and predictable with sub-par writing. I didn’t find it to be intolerable or infuriating or boring.
The dialog can be pretty cheesy. The characterization of the protagonist is a bit hard to swallow (totally unrealistic acceptance of magic and magical happenings, sudden and incredible magical aptitude, action hero casualness to violence and death, too nice and thoughtful especially considering his past mistakes). Occasional misused words that really should have been caught by an editor (pestle instead of mortar, kettle instead of teapot, didactic instead of ?, egress instead of ingress). Constant continuity errors (ie broken glass on the floor despite magically repairing the broken window). Characters “suddenly realizing” things that were literally explained to them a page or two before. And cringy erotica with porn logic (they’re all virgins, they want him right now, they’re amazing in bed and they don’t mind sharing). It’s all pure adolescent sex and power fantasy.
The audiobook has a male and female narrator, and the male narrator is pretty weak. Awkward pauses, underacting, overacting. And it makes the cringy erotica even more embarrassing to listen to.
If power fantasies with a handful of sex scenes are your bag, then ignore my review. I mostly found this title to be dumb and predictable with sub-par writing. I didn’t find it to be intolerable or infuriating or boring.
March 29, 2024
Could have been a great little read for the genre in the hands of a better writer. The whole thing was very cookie cutter and felt juvenile. The writing just wasn't up to the standard for the men's harem fantasy genre; considering we generally accept a dip in quality writing since this genre doesn't pay enough for truly great authors to bother with it, that really says something. While reading it, I assumed the author was just inexperienced, and that may have been the case here. Regardless, the feel of the writing is not on the level that I want so it's a no go for me moving forward. Great premise for a SOL though.
March 21, 2023
There's no telling how many versions of this "mysterious inheritance" trope have been executed over the years, but this one won't stand out in either direction.
Writing was pretty good and the MC clued in faster than many do, so those are plusses. No significant demerits, so if you're in the mood for a book like this one it should work for your light entertainment needs. It stands on its own, but of course it could have a sequel or several. Not sure I'm invested enough to continue, but I won't categorically rule it out.
Writing was pretty good and the MC clued in faster than many do, so those are plusses. No significant demerits, so if you're in the mood for a book like this one it should work for your light entertainment needs. It stands on its own, but of course it could have a sequel or several. Not sure I'm invested enough to continue, but I won't categorically rule it out.
November 4, 2023
MC inherits a small shop and has to learn it is a magic shop and comes with a cat woman and a villain.
Entertaining light story with a bit magic and a bit romance. Of course the MC learns magic too fast, is too powerful and everybody but the villain loves him. Wait - everybody? Well - there are only four character to mention - we don't learn anything about the town - no mayor, no neighbor. There is room for improvement.
Entertaining light story with a bit magic and a bit romance. Of course the MC learns magic too fast, is too powerful and everybody but the villain loves him. Wait - everybody? Well - there are only four character to mention - we don't learn anything about the town - no mayor, no neighbor. There is room for improvement.
April 10, 2023
A great story with good characters
I didn't know what to think of this at first, but I honestly couldn't put it down! It's light hearted, but with some suspense, and the character building is awesome. There's so many books like this that are so dark that I just quit half way and move onto another. But this novel I loved from start to finish. I can't wait for #2!
I didn't know what to think of this at first, but I honestly couldn't put it down! It's light hearted, but with some suspense, and the character building is awesome. There's so many books like this that are so dark that I just quit half way and move onto another. But this novel I loved from start to finish. I can't wait for #2!
October 8, 2023
Another fun read!
I seem to be finding stories that are a lot of fun to read. It could use a bit of proofreading, check that the glass is not still on the floor, after the glass had been fixed. This happened a few times. Plus a few other things that were a little confusing. But, this is a very good story and I look forward to the next book in the series.
I seem to be finding stories that are a lot of fun to read. It could use a bit of proofreading, check that the glass is not still on the floor, after the glass had been fixed. This happened a few times. Plus a few other things that were a little confusing. But, this is a very good story and I look forward to the next book in the series.
April 26, 2023
Another fun story!!
A great beginning to a fun new series!!! Just enough action to keep the story flowing and a wonderful mix of interesting characters!!! I can't wait for the next in this series!!!
A great beginning to a fun new series!!! Just enough action to keep the story flowing and a wonderful mix of interesting characters!!! I can't wait for the next in this series!!!
April 28, 2023
Inspiring!
Good read! Too bad it is not continued or is it. Leaves me to.wonder where it will lead to next?
Good read! Too bad it is not continued or is it. Leaves me to.wonder where it will lead to next?
July 9, 2023
Awesome!
Good slice of life! My only gripe with the whole book is that the art on the cover isn't representative of Elodie, who has black and green hair, not blonde and green.
Good slice of life! My only gripe with the whole book is that the art on the cover isn't representative of Elodie, who has black and green hair, not blonde and green.
March 16, 2024
Fun and enjoyable read
The characters are intriguing and it is easy to become part of their lives and rejoice in their successes and cheer them on during times of trouble.
The characters are intriguing and it is easy to become part of their lives and rejoice in their successes and cheer them on during times of trouble.
January 2, 2025
Great story
Really enjoyed the series so far and look forward to the next book. The story was interesting and intriguing. The characters are all fun and unusual.
Really enjoyed the series so far and look forward to the next book. The story was interesting and intriguing. The characters are all fun and unusual.
July 13, 2023
Another quick book ruined by the main character.
The set up and turn around made no sense. It paints the main character as lackluster then suddenly heroic, all for the sake of an attractive woman. There is no buildup of any sort. This is mediocre writing with an old story concept.
The set up and turn around made no sense. It paints the main character as lackluster then suddenly heroic, all for the sake of an attractive woman. There is no buildup of any sort. This is mediocre writing with an old story concept.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews