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Outsider #3
Bastion
Dare's adventures have led him and his companions to the frontier region of Bastion, on the kingdom's northern border.A largely wild and untamed land, it's the perfect place for a party of adventurers to find opportunities. Beyond that, looking out at the rugged beauty of the land he believes he can find a home here, at least for a time.There's no telling what the future holds for him on this new world, but his harem is growing and he wants to eventually be able to provide more for them than a life on the road. Someday, in the distant future, he even dreams of a place where they can settle down and raise a family together.But until then the wilds call, rich with opportunities for levels, monster loot, and the possibility of new friends to be made on the way. And maybe even new companions who might be interested in more than just friendship.Be Bastion is part of a harem series, and features numerous explicit scenes involving multiple partners. It is intended for adults.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2023
208 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 3, 2025
Introduction
Bastion by Aiden Phoenix is the third book in the Outsider series, published July 1, 2023. This volume brings Dare and his companions to the northern frontier—a region of wilderness, harsher monsters, new challenges, and the first real chance at building a home. With its blend of harem dynamics, adult content, frontier exploration, leveling, and relationship drama, this entry continues the momentum of the series while also introducing new tensions that readers either love or strongly disagree with. It’s a transitional book—bigger world, more responsibility, but also more emotional friction.
Plot Summary
Leaving behind the earlier regions, Dare and his companions push into Bastion, a raw frontier filled with higher-level monsters, roaming bandits, and opportunities for progression. Along the way they save a caravan under attack, meet a new potential companion, and begin the search for a permanent base. With children on the way and their party growing, Dare finally faces the reality that life on the road isn’t sustainable forever.
The tone shifts from pure adventuring to balancing survival, leveling, romance, settlement planning, and morality. Bastion is less about rushing from fight to fight and more about grounding the characters—choosing where to live, who to trust, and how to navigate a rapidly growing found-family dynamic.
The Author
Aiden Phoenix is known for fast-paced gamelit, heavy adult scenes, harem dynamics, and light RPG elements that don’t overwhelm the story. His writing tends to prioritize character relationships, sexual energy, and steady progression over deep mechanical detail. In *Bastion*, Phoenix leans even harder into romance, emotional conflict, and the consequences of Dare’s choices, especially regarding pregnancy, responsibility, and loyalty.
The prose remains straightforward and readable, with a clear focus on keeping momentum high even when the plot slows down.
Characters
Dare: still evolving—powerful, loyal, sometimes morally conflicted, and still clinging to old Earth values despite living in a world where culture works differently. His desire to treat every companion kindly sometimes crosses into indecisiveness or emotional hesitancy, which splits readers: some see empathy, others see weakness.
Leillana: slow-burn romance, tsundere tension, heavy emotional buildup—some readers found the delay excessive.
Zuri & Pella: existing partners who now face pregnancy, forcing Dare to reconsider his casual approach to intimacy.
New companion: controversial addition—some readers loved her, others strongly disliked her personality, energy, or effect on group dynamics.
As Kiba Snowpaw—I see Dare as someone who wants to protect everyone like an alpha but hesitates too much to lead decisively. A wolf that wants a pack but overthinks every step.
Structure
The book follows a familiar rhythm:
- early action and danger
- a slower central portion focused on settlement, relationships, and emotional decisions
- lore expansion and world-building
- leveling opportunities with frontier monsters
- a dungeon exploration segment
- late-book romantic payoff and group consolidation
Compared to the earlier books, the pacing is steadier but occasionally drags—especially around confession tension, internal debates, and Dare’s moral wrestling.
Themes & Analysis
Major themes include:
- frontier exploration and carving out a home
- responsibility after intimacy
- cultural differences vs Earth morals
- forming a family in a dangerous world
- building trust
- leveling and progression
- polyamory and emotional honesty
One of the strongest thematic threads is Dare’s internal conflict: wanting to respect boundaries and do the right thing, but also living in a world where biology, magic, culture, and expectations are completely different from Earth. This tension creates both character depth and reader frustration.
Scenes
The novel mixes:
- fast action sequences
- dangerous wilderness encounters
- spicy multi-partner scenes
- emotional conversations
- settlement planning
- dungeon fights
Adult scenes are explicit and frequent. The romance is both physical and emotional, with a stronger focus on long-term relationships than in standard harem stories. Some scenes (especially related to pregnancy consequences) shift the tone toward realism and responsibility.
World-Building
The frontier of Bastion offers:
- harsher monsters and higher-level threats
- wilderness survival challenges
- new settlements, cultures, and races
- a dungeon that finally gives the party a “classic” RPG-style adventure
- hints of political and territorial complexity for future books
Compared to Books 1–2, the world expands significantly, giving room for long-term arcs about home-building, family, and power consolidation.
Praise & Critique
Strengths:
- engaging party dynamics
- emotional development between Dare and Leillana
- strong action sequences
- fun dungeon exploration
- growing world and new opportunities
- spicy scenes executed with confidence
- sense of progress toward a real home
Weaknesses:
- Dare’s morality loops sometimes make him appear indecisive
- pacing slows heavily in the middle
- new companion can feel abrasive or polarizing
- some readers dislike the casual sex mixed with harem-building
- certain plot beats feel delayed purely for tension
- RPG mechanics remain light—some want more depth or numerical systems
Comparison
Compared to Collisa and Kovana:
- Bastion has more emotional stakes
- Less pure action than #1
- More responsibility and world-building than #2
- More drama, more romance, and more long-term planning
- Still smoother and more cohesive than many gamelit harem series
Among the broader harem LitRPG landscape (Bruce Sentar, Marvin Knight, Virgil Knightley), this series sits on the lighter-RPG, higher-romance end of the spectrum.
Personal Evaluation
As Kiba Snowpaw—an Ice Alpha who values loyalty, strength, and emotional honesty—I see Dare as someone trying to be a leader without embracing the full responsibility of being one. He wants a pack, he wants a home, he wants connection, but he still worries too much about the rules of a world he no longer lives in. His hesitation feels human, but sometimes it slows the story.
Still, *Bastion* is enjoyable—comforting, spicy, adventurous, emotional, and filled with promise. It's the kind of book you read when you want progression without torture, romance without cruelty, and adventure with warmth.
Conclusion
Bastion is a strong continuation of the Outsider series—more emotional, more grounded, and more focused on long-term arcs than the earlier volumes. While not perfect, it delivers satisfying action, character growth, adult romance, and the beginning of a true home for Dare’s growing family. Fans of the series will enjoy it, and readers who appreciate progression, spice, and found-family energy will find plenty to love.
Rating: 7.8/10 — A heartfelt, spicy, frontier-expansion chapter with emotional weight and occasional pacing issues, but a worthy step forward in the series.
July 7, 2023
No just no just just no
This is not a great book. I guess the story started off great in the 1st book but in this book I have I have just lost respect for the main character because he has behavior with the demon. He is not a strong main character and he has become nothing but a whiny Immature individual who doesn't know how to make up his own mind. He is constantly whining about equality and about = opportunities and everyone having their own decision. I can tell you this from experience that the general who is the head and leader of a group may take advice for people but he does not win around from them to make the decisions before the leader actually Makes the decision. This main character is not a leader he has no word near a leader has none of the qualities of a leader and it's too busy wringing his hands about everybody else's feelings before even tries to make a decision. And the whole concept of getting everyone pregnant that was the last girl I'm done. I do not recommend this book it is not a good fantasy book it is not even a good harem book. I believe everyone should take a hard pass on this story line.
This is not a great book. I guess the story started off great in the 1st book but in this book I have I have just lost respect for the main character because he has behavior with the demon. He is not a strong main character and he has become nothing but a whiny Immature individual who doesn't know how to make up his own mind. He is constantly whining about equality and about = opportunities and everyone having their own decision. I can tell you this from experience that the general who is the head and leader of a group may take advice for people but he does not win around from them to make the decisions before the leader actually Makes the decision. This main character is not a leader he has no word near a leader has none of the qualities of a leader and it's too busy wringing his hands about everybody else's feelings before even tries to make a decision. And the whole concept of getting everyone pregnant that was the last girl I'm done. I do not recommend this book it is not a good fantasy book it is not even a good harem book. I believe everyone should take a hard pass on this story line.
August 16, 2023
pretty good but the awkward AI art doesn’t compliment the writing.
In fact, the AI artwork in the pages greatly detracts from the writing. Even if it were skillfully crafted by hand, the artwork would do well to not be included.
Almost hate to do it but that’s a loss of one star on its own.
In fact, the AI artwork in the pages greatly detracts from the writing. Even if it were skillfully crafted by hand, the artwork would do well to not be included.
Almost hate to do it but that’s a loss of one star on its own.
October 6, 2023
EDIT: DROPPED THIS STORY, IN BOOK SIX THE MC IS TURNED INTO A CUCK AND WAS BETRAYED AND HAD NO ISSUES WITH HIS PREGNANT LOVER HAVING SEX WITH ANOTHER MAN UNDER HIS ROOF WHILE HE PROVIDES A ROOM, FOOD, LIQUOR FOR THE MAN AND HIS PARTY WHILE HIS LOVER GETS POMMELED WILLINGLY AND SHE HAS NO QUALMS ABOUT HOW THE MC FEELS OR THINKS. BE WARNED.
July 6, 2023
No just No
Lost all respect for main character. Treating woman with respect is very good. Being a wiping boy for them is not. And no I am not talking about the demon.
Lost all respect for main character. Treating woman with respect is very good. Being a wiping boy for them is not. And no I am not talking about the demon.
November 8, 2023
Do gooder
Well.... Its an interesting story but then author has his protagonist written up as a very b strange individual. May I be honest ......on one hand he can screw anything female.he comes upon bit has a terrible time having bedded a married human . He will bed any female on the new planet which to him is ok as long as his harem is ok with it. Now.the author is the one who brings up marriage as the no no . Obviously the hero man swing his
Belief that screwing a married woman is against his moral earth standards. I guess my question is how come with such high moral.standards the hero is having sex outside of.marriage which is sin according to earth's God and polyamorous relationships which runs against earth's law . Since our hero is having sex with more than one woman and both are pregnant he now has the chance to impregnate the flower girl with a seed and a butterfly girl with a.baby and he is hesitating . Basically the hero is a horn dog that will screw anything in his path but but doesn't Always follow earth's laws when it comes to.women .e an though he thinks he is right
He would be .thrown in jail on earth ,or shot one the other ,,,and he thinks he is a nice guy. Its pretty much the same.thing in all 3 books although I skipped chapters on book 3 and shall..stop reading this series . When the hero has 2 steady lovers and beds who he wants to ,....if he doesn't he is thinking about it and he plans on screen g two others ,it doesn't make him look any better by playing hard ball and being. A goody to shoes by feeling guilty about doing as the flower girls and her friend ask. If screwing a married woman is wrong and he'll bent he is already there for I'll the other stuff he has done but feels.no guilt . The hero lives with hypocrisy ,pure BS
Well.... Its an interesting story but then author has his protagonist written up as a very b strange individual. May I be honest ......on one hand he can screw anything female.he comes upon bit has a terrible time having bedded a married human . He will bed any female on the new planet which to him is ok as long as his harem is ok with it. Now.the author is the one who brings up marriage as the no no . Obviously the hero man swing his
Belief that screwing a married woman is against his moral earth standards. I guess my question is how come with such high moral.standards the hero is having sex outside of.marriage which is sin according to earth's God and polyamorous relationships which runs against earth's law . Since our hero is having sex with more than one woman and both are pregnant he now has the chance to impregnate the flower girl with a seed and a butterfly girl with a.baby and he is hesitating . Basically the hero is a horn dog that will screw anything in his path but but doesn't Always follow earth's laws when it comes to.women .e an though he thinks he is right
He would be .thrown in jail on earth ,or shot one the other ,,,and he thinks he is a nice guy. Its pretty much the same.thing in all 3 books although I skipped chapters on book 3 and shall..stop reading this series . When the hero has 2 steady lovers and beds who he wants to ,....if he doesn't he is thinking about it and he plans on screen g two others ,it doesn't make him look any better by playing hard ball and being. A goody to shoes by feeling guilty about doing as the flower girls and her friend ask. If screwing a married woman is wrong and he'll bent he is already there for I'll the other stuff he has done but feels.no guilt . The hero lives with hypocrisy ,pure BS
September 19, 2025
This book there is a bit of attempt at some sort of reverse romance between Dare and the Dusk Elf Liliana. Dare finds out that in-spite of using a protection spell, because of his high fertility basically any woman he had sex with, he got her pregnant. That includes Zuri and Pella. This puts a little bit of a damper on his desire to bed any unattached women, and especially bed one of each of the different races of women. However they learn that Zuri will learn a higher prevent pregnancy spell when she reaches level 20. They then put her leveling as a priority, because heaven forbid that there be consequences for him being able to have sex with numerous women.
Since they are now expecting children, it is time to find a place to settle down. So they move into the next county Bastion and look for a place that they can call home base and raise a family. Bastion is closer to the frontier and therefore the monsters that spawn are of higher level and there are more opportunities to level. There are more adventures along the way and even a dungeon to explore.
Since they are now expecting children, it is time to find a place to settle down. So they move into the next county Bastion and look for a place that they can call home base and raise a family. Bastion is closer to the frontier and therefore the monsters that spawn are of higher level and there are more opportunities to level. There are more adventures along the way and even a dungeon to explore.
July 24, 2023
Pretty Good
Still as good as the previous two. I think the dragging out of the confession between Leillana and Dare was a bit overdone, could have easily happened at 75-80% into the book, not 97%. would have allowed for some more tender scenes between them. I'm also still not sure how I feel about the casual sex. At least with the flower and butterfly girls, he plans to visit and I'm guessing he'll take the seed of his daughter and plant it somewhere near the manor, while Ellania said she will visit with their child. But all the others and the ones he plans for the future, just seems a little weird to be building a harem with women dedicated to him, but then also having random flings with other women that have no dedication to anything other than his dick.
Still as good as the previous two. I think the dragging out of the confession between Leillana and Dare was a bit overdone, could have easily happened at 75-80% into the book, not 97%. would have allowed for some more tender scenes between them. I'm also still not sure how I feel about the casual sex. At least with the flower and butterfly girls, he plans to visit and I'm guessing he'll take the seed of his daughter and plant it somewhere near the manor, while Ellania said she will visit with their child. But all the others and the ones he plans for the future, just seems a little weird to be building a harem with women dedicated to him, but then also having random flings with other women that have no dedication to anything other than his dick.
July 10, 2023
Dare with his two companions come across a caravan under attack from bandits .
As Dare an his two companions leave their former area behind striking out for a new area and new territory toward the wilderness an frontier of Bastion . They run across bandits attacking a caravan so they pursue the bandits an help kill them off to save lives of innocent children and mother's an also rescue one stray female fighting in the forest nearby part of the caravan . Dare's life changes again with that simple deed . recommend reading excellent series .
As Dare an his two companions leave their former area behind striking out for a new area and new territory toward the wilderness an frontier of Bastion . They run across bandits attacking a caravan so they pursue the bandits an help kill them off to save lives of innocent children and mother's an also rescue one stray female fighting in the forest nearby part of the caravan . Dare's life changes again with that simple deed . recommend reading excellent series .
November 24, 2023
great book
Continuing the series, Dare progresses in this new life and adds more to his list.
Love the pacing and the surprises. Felt natural to transition to finding a home.
Dare, however, can be disappointing at times. He's overly cautious and considerate when it comes to partners that it makes him look weak--Especially since he's living in a different world with different cultures that he should adapt to. But instead he holds on to his earthly principles for a higher moral ground that is unnecessary.
Continuing the series, Dare progresses in this new life and adds more to his list.
Love the pacing and the surprises. Felt natural to transition to finding a home.
Dare, however, can be disappointing at times. He's overly cautious and considerate when it comes to partners that it makes him look weak--Especially since he's living in a different world with different cultures that he should adapt to. But instead he holds on to his earthly principles for a higher moral ground that is unnecessary.
July 13, 2023
This series was hanging by a thread after book 2, but it turns out that book 3 was better. The MC has most of a clue about how to operate in the world now, but the tsundere elf was a bit of a chore, as was no doubt intended.
Female characters are uneven, but better than 2D so not critical. Leaves off in a place that opens the scope up a bit, so I remain sufficiently interested to check out book 4.
Female characters are uneven, but better than 2D so not critical. Leaves off in a place that opens the scope up a bit, so I remain sufficiently interested to check out book 4.
July 8, 2023
Unfortunate choice
The fairly unpleasant new companion was added to the party in this novel that made reading the novel more unpleasant than it otherwise would have been, especially since for awhile it felt like the mcs harem was cheating on him since they were both sleeping with the new girl, but she didn't do anything with the mc for a significant amount of time.
The fairly unpleasant new companion was added to the party in this novel that made reading the novel more unpleasant than it otherwise would have been, especially since for awhile it felt like the mcs harem was cheating on him since they were both sleeping with the new girl, but she didn't do anything with the mc for a significant amount of time.
July 4, 2023
Alright
Started off with a nice amount of action and then slowed down quiet a bit. Would like the leveling and skills system be a little more involved with actual numbers and graphs.
Started off with a nice amount of action and then slowed down quiet a bit. Would like the leveling and skills system be a little more involved with actual numbers and graphs.
July 5, 2023
Good book
It's been a hell of a good time with the series so far, and it just gets better as the series goes on. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and more from the author 😀
It's been a hell of a good time with the series so far, and it just gets better as the series goes on. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and more from the author 😀
July 17, 2023
Love this series
Stumbled across this series and have to say that it is a ton of fun to read. RPG elements without really pushing it at you. Lots of excellent adult content and some great character progression and letting you get to know the cast of characters in the book.
Stumbled across this series and have to say that it is a ton of fun to read. RPG elements without really pushing it at you. Lots of excellent adult content and some great character progression and letting you get to know the cast of characters in the book.
July 26, 2023
A great series!!!
This has been a wonderfully enjoyable series!!! I've always enjoyed the stories that build up to a powerful MC and family and this series hasn't disappointed!!! A steady progression with just enough fantasy OP in limited areas to make the story a joy to read!!!
This has been a wonderfully enjoyable series!!! I've always enjoyed the stories that build up to a powerful MC and family and this series hasn't disappointed!!! A steady progression with just enough fantasy OP in limited areas to make the story a joy to read!!!
September 25, 2023
quite a story
Really liked the different characters and how they developed. Also it’s the first time I have seen a character in these types of books be celibate and be charitable. Really enjoyed seeing the care the mc had for his companions
Really liked the different characters and how they developed. Also it’s the first time I have seen a character in these types of books be celibate and be charitable. Really enjoyed seeing the care the mc had for his companions
October 11, 2023
Third in a great series!
The storytelling doesn't let up with it's attention to detail and just plain gray world building. I look forward to the fourth novel and will stay up the rest of the night. I love a good fantasy story and this one doesn't disappoint.
The storytelling doesn't let up with it's attention to detail and just plain gray world building. I look forward to the fourth novel and will stay up the rest of the night. I love a good fantasy story and this one doesn't disappoint.
October 14, 2023
Excellent Series
I'm really enjoying this series filled with action adventure and spicy time. Now things are growing more interesting as the harem grows and a new home, things are moving along. What will happen next?
I'm really enjoying this series filled with action adventure and spicy time. Now things are growing more interesting as the harem grows and a new home, things are moving along. What will happen next?
March 14, 2024
I like this series but....
Dare is a moron elegidly dare was given peak intelligence when he's reborn but I've never seen him display even slightly above average intelligence he misses the most obvious things its just annoying.
Dare is a moron elegidly dare was given peak intelligence when he's reborn but I've never seen him display even slightly above average intelligence he misses the most obvious things its just annoying.
July 2, 2023
Peace!
Finally looks like a little. Peace may be on our little group😀Dare looks like he is happy with his group but hope springs forth that he may add to it!
Finally looks like a little. Peace may be on our little group😀Dare looks like he is happy with his group but hope springs forth that he may add to it!
July 26, 2023
Very enjoyable read
The characters and their respective relationships continued to develop in what felt like an organic manner. Also we get our first real look at a dungeon.
The characters and their respective relationships continued to develop in what felt like an organic manner. Also we get our first real look at a dungeon.
January 28, 2024
Loving the series
Great pacing as Dare continues his adventure. Can't wait to read book 4. Really fun read. Wonder who joins the group next.
Great pacing as Dare continues his adventure. Can't wait to read book 4. Really fun read. Wonder who joins the group next.
January 31, 2024
Excellent!
A lot of fun, good action, a few good laughs and a lot of spicy sexy time, very well done, I had a hard time putting it down
A lot of fun, good action, a few good laughs and a lot of spicy sexy time, very well done, I had a hard time putting it down
April 8, 2024
great story
I really look forward to the next book in the series. I really is an enjoyable read Keep them coming!
I really look forward to the next book in the series. I really is an enjoyable read Keep them coming!
August 11, 2023
loved the book the story is one i hope goes for a while
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews