Island Blues

Foodstuffs #5

by Arthur Stone, Michael East (Translator)

The new, detached setting is teeming with “land mines”—highly unusual ones. Plenty of other, deadlier things would be happy to reach out and touch someone anywhere, be it the roof of a skyscraper or a subway tunnel deep underground. Tons of somnambulant extras could swing either cut your throat or help you, purely on a whim. Weapons are as deadly as they are improbable. Deliberately imposed multiple handicaps make any attempts at camouflage meaningless.

It looks like there are way too many top Challenge participants around. Culling time is upon us.

Genres: Fantasy

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2023

About the author

Arthur Stone is the pen name of one Arthur Smirnov, a prolific author in the sci-fi and fantasy genres.
Born in 1973 in Donetsk, Ukraine, Arthur worked as a geologist, and also in the environmental sector and industrial archeology all over the world. He lives and works in Ukraine.
Arthur began writing fiction in 2005 on a bet, and thus his addiction was born. His first book was published in 2006, and by mid - 2025 he had published a total of 84 books in Russian, English and German-speaking markets.

Arthur Stone - email arthurstone2017@gmail.com

Reviews

[John Mulligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Read, just hope the series continues, this Author has a bad habit of just stopping without an ending.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get a look at the under working of the system and see Sinner care for more than those directly attached to him. Nice to see how far the character has come since the beginning.

[Akshay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Title: Island Blues (Foodstuffs #5)
Author: Arthur Stone

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆ ☆ (3/5)

Review Summary:

Island Blues is the fifth installment in Arthur Stone’s popular Foodstuffs series, continuing the adventurous, post-apocalyptic saga in a world where food is not just scarce, but a weapon. In this novel, we follow the journey of survivors as they navigate new threats on a tropical island, dealing with power struggles, scarcity, and the complexities of trust in a world torn apart by famine.

What I Liked:

The world-building: Stone has a talent for creating vivid, immersive settings. The tropical island in Island Blues feels alive with its mix of beauty and danger. From lush jungles to treacherous coastlines, the setting adds an extra layer of tension to the story.
The food-centric plot: The unique twist of survival revolving around food continues to be fascinating. In a genre dominated by dystopian landscapes, the idea of food scarcity being at the center of power dynamics and conflict makes this series stand out.
The character dynamics: Relationships are central to this novel, and the tension between the old crew and new islanders is well-developed. Stone skillfully explores how desperation can bring out both the best and worst in people.
Fast-paced action: The novel doesn’t shy away from heart-pounding scenes. From ambushes in the jungle to political maneuvering within the island’s factions, there’s always something happening to keep the reader engaged.

What Could Have Been Better:

Character depth: While the action and plot are engaging, some of the characters, especially the newcomers, felt a bit underdeveloped. More backstory or motivation would have made them feel more three-dimensional.
Repetitive themes: At times, the series’ themes of survival and scarcity feel a little repetitive by this fifth book. While still compelling, a few fresh narrative elements would have strengthened the story even more.

Memorable Quote:

"It wasn’t hunger that killed men here—it was hope. Hope of something more, something better, when nothing but cold reality awaited."

Spoiler Section:

The tension between the island’s inhabitants and the group of survivors builds throughout the novel, with a shocking betrayal towards the end that upends alliances and sets the stage for a dramatic finale. The twist surrounding the island’s food supply—and the truth of who controls it—was a highlight, injecting fresh danger into the series’ familiar conflicts.

Final Thoughts:

Island Blues delivers another solid entry in the Foodstuffs series, balancing survival, intrigue, and action against a richly detailed backdrop. While it leans on some familiar themes, the new setting and evolving character dynamics keep the narrative fresh. Fans of the series will find plenty to enjoy, while newcomers may want to start with earlier books to fully appreciate the stakes. Overall, a gripping, high-stakes adventure that doesn’t disappoint.

[David Day · Rating 1 out of 5]

Love the series, hate the book

The proper title of the book is Saving Pornobunny. For the record, I don’t care if Pornobunny lives or dies. Generally, death is preferable since all his dialog is annoying. If this sounds mean, please remember he is just a character in the book. Further, every scene with the “sprites” is as annoying as the degenerate Sinner seems to need to save, at least to me.

If that were not enough (and how could it be?) the tasks required are just too outlandish. Arthur Stone far exceeded my ability to suspend disbelief. I did enjoy the prep phase and the initial tall tower battles. Yes they were over the top but Sinner took steps to mitigate the problems. Every scene after he meets with the sprites was either annoying (primarily due to dialog both repetitive and annoying) or too impossible for even a veteran of the foodstuffs series.

So Sinner is with annoying secondary characters doing the impossible all to save the ultra-annoying Pornobunny. Sigh.

I love Arthur Stone as an author. I’ve read everything he has in English since I read about weirdest Noob. But this is a swing and a miss. I hope the next one returns to the quality I am used to.

[William Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

kinetic

As with every new zone, the entry is the first tricky bit. The puppet masters have raised the stakes, *and* the complications.

Still with the occasional confusing sentence. Something about Coke going to town but getting shot by Diet Pepsi? Umm…okay.

Left on a bit of a cliffhanger (surprise!), but I would be interested anyway. Even if I still don’t understand what the overall goal is.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book five

While I love this author books, they do need some editing.
I listed some of what I found on Goodreads.
We are off to tier three as the game continues. We still don't really know what is going on.
Sinner is still making the game look easy.

6/10 Now I have to wait for book six.

[Johnie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good one sitting read

I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who like LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.

[Daniel Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

yep

I always skip the leveling and info bits but otherwise, different, new & very very happy. Four more words required.

[Aaron W Pol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read

great read for the series couldn't put it down I don't lime leaving g reviews so kept it short so if you want read it good book

[Celiane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I have enjoyed all of these books immensely. I hope this isn't the last one written in this series :)

[Lester Covax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loquacious but good