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Outworlder's Blood #1
Blood Shaper: The Splintered Five Saga
Kay's life takes an unexpected turn when he is transported to a mysterious world brimming with unfamiliar Skills, Classes, and a System. As he struggles to comprehend his new reality, he discovers a unique Class that’s never been seen before—a powerful new form of blood magic that allows him to shape and manipulate the life force coursing through his veins.
But the powers that be view Kay as a threat to their authority and dominance and are more than happy to eliminate him to maintain the status quo. Outnumbered and underpowered, if Kay has any hope of survival, he’ll need to level up his Skills, harness the power of his unique Class, and decipher the ever-shifting schemes of his enemies—all while keeping his true potential under wraps.
With a host of deadly new abilities at his disposal, Kay’s going to show them that they should have left him bloody well alone!
But the powers that be view Kay as a threat to their authority and dominance and are more than happy to eliminate him to maintain the status quo. Outnumbered and underpowered, if Kay has any hope of survival, he’ll need to level up his Skills, harness the power of his unique Class, and decipher the ever-shifting schemes of his enemies—all while keeping his true potential under wraps.
With a host of deadly new abilities at his disposal, Kay’s going to show them that they should have left him bloody well alone!
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2023
547 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 22, 2024
This is a relatively standard isekai LitRPG with our protagonist, Kay, being zapped into a world with a system and classes and skills and all. This world knows about "outworlders" and has processes in place to find and help them out. Since outworlders get classes assigned at random, they operate as huge wildcards wherever they land so the process isn't entirely beneficent so much as "evaluate wildcards before they explode".
And hey, it turns out Kay gets assigned a forbidden class of Blood Mage. Only quick thinking, and a binding vow on "the world", keeps him from some serious drawbacks; and changes his class to something a bit more benign, though still suspect. He has become a Blood Manipulator, which means he can only control himself and not other people (which is what made his original class anathema). It's an interesting distinction and the rest of the story is Kay figuring out how to be a good guy with a class that is based on blood manipulation.
I think I was drawn in because I just liked Kay. He's sincere and trying to be a good guy and I like that he's willing to train and get better and learn about the world he has landed in. Some of this is that I really like the woman who became his mentor. Eleniah is powerful and has motives/goals of her own, but mainly she's just very, very lonely. And I liked that Kay saw that and that his empathy engaged strongly as he worked at becoming her friend and not just a protégé. The dynamic worked for me, even as Kay spent time learning to become an adventurer and completing quests with a team of friends he more-or-less just found.
The antagonists are kind of a joke, and are made immediately unsympathetic by being complete racists (human supremacists) and from a country of slavers. There is literally nothing redeemable about the bad guys and it doesn't help that their main representative is a raving lunatic with a hate on for Kay that is completely irrational. They don't play enough of a role in the story that it spoiled my engagement, but there were eye rolls involved at least a little.
And it doesn't help that the serial nature of the writing shows through a bit where Kay makes a decision only to remake it later on (I'm thinking specifically about being willing to kill bandits which came up, like, three times even after he had already decided that murdering rapists trying to kill him didn't need to weigh his conscience much). So that and the cardboard antagonists keep this down to four stars. Still, I was completely engaged and will be looking up the next in the series.
A note about Chaste: Kay's relationship with Eleniah is on course for eventual intimacy. Maybe. In this one, however, Kay is pretty busy growing and learning and not so much on the prowl for sex. So this is very chaste.
And hey, it turns out Kay gets assigned a forbidden class of Blood Mage. Only quick thinking, and a binding vow on "the world", keeps him from some serious drawbacks; and changes his class to something a bit more benign, though still suspect. He has become a Blood Manipulator, which means he can only control himself and not other people (which is what made his original class anathema). It's an interesting distinction and the rest of the story is Kay figuring out how to be a good guy with a class that is based on blood manipulation.
I think I was drawn in because I just liked Kay. He's sincere and trying to be a good guy and I like that he's willing to train and get better and learn about the world he has landed in. Some of this is that I really like the woman who became his mentor. Eleniah is powerful and has motives/goals of her own, but mainly she's just very, very lonely. And I liked that Kay saw that and that his empathy engaged strongly as he worked at becoming her friend and not just a protégé. The dynamic worked for me, even as Kay spent time learning to become an adventurer and completing quests with a team of friends he more-or-less just found.
The antagonists are kind of a joke, and are made immediately unsympathetic by being complete racists (human supremacists) and from a country of slavers. There is literally nothing redeemable about the bad guys and it doesn't help that their main representative is a raving lunatic with a hate on for Kay that is completely irrational. They don't play enough of a role in the story that it spoiled my engagement, but there were eye rolls involved at least a little.
And it doesn't help that the serial nature of the writing shows through a bit where Kay makes a decision only to remake it later on (I'm thinking specifically about being willing to kill bandits which came up, like, three times even after he had already decided that murdering rapists trying to kill him didn't need to weigh his conscience much). So that and the cardboard antagonists keep this down to four stars. Still, I was completely engaged and will be looking up the next in the series.
A note about Chaste: Kay's relationship with Eleniah is on course for eventual intimacy. Maybe. In this one, however, Kay is pretty busy growing and learning and not so much on the prowl for sex. So this is very chaste.
July 30, 2023
This has several issues.
The most glaring is the two main characters are a docile sheep and pawn. The entire story feels as is it occurred off screen. The setting had potential but was horribly used. The narrative was never driven by the main character, he is the definition of pointless. Anyone else could have been in his place and nothing would have changed. There is a lot of potential here but now of it is being used.
The most glaring is the two main characters are a docile sheep and pawn. The entire story feels as is it occurred off screen. The setting had potential but was horribly used. The narrative was never driven by the main character, he is the definition of pointless. Anyone else could have been in his place and nothing would have changed. There is a lot of potential here but now of it is being used.
November 19, 2023
Isekai, summoned to another world, nerd with a twist.
This is a typical isekai, summoned to another world (without any apparent reason), fantasy novel series. The twist is that is starts by mentioning the need for isekai (victims) to have a kind of support group, but what about the readers?? When have we been taken into account for a isekai reader support group?? Have the readers ever had a say about "liking or preferring "isekai's"??? (I have never read anybody openly attracted to reading isekai's). Even successful and funny "parodies" of Isekai's like Konosuba, for instance, mock the whole trope that deal with Isekai-ed-themed stories.
Then, there is a unfounded belief that blood mages are cool?? Powerful?? OP (Over-Powered)??? Which I have never really believed liked or understood??. The thing is blood is smelly, it's messy (Carrie, "bloodbath"-messy!) It takes about 14-20% blood loss for it to be life-endangering... and unless the "magic-energy" is carried in the blood, which none of the "Blood-Mage" books explain, there is really no point/advantage to using the scarce blood (1.2 to 1.5 gallons in an average adult). Again, if you lose/use over 20% then you are getting dizzy, fainting, and endangering your life, or your blood-doner's life by using blood as a magical conduit. Why not have a regular water mage??? Isn't Water, H2O?? 2 Molecules of Hydrogen and one of Oxygen?? Isn't it readily available everywhere?? Water just makes everything wet, but never dirty...messy, or bloody??? Blood Mages are illegal in this "Fantasy Other World", so then, why create a "Blood Mage" then?? They tend to be "evil" and manipulate/kill off their victims by using their "scarce blood"??? Again, why a "Blood-Mage" then??? Unless, the blood is tainted by a Sexually Transmitted Disease (AIDS, etc.) has blood been considered "dangerous"/"deadly.
The second thing about this isekai-fantasy book and series, is that the protagonist is called Kenneth Davis, but the author nicknames/names him KAY??? Isn't KAY a girl's name? Nickname for all of the Katherine's of this World?? According to most of the name's websites Kay, has Greek Origin, and it means "Rejoice", but it's always a girl's name??? What geek/Greek would like to have a girl's name/nickname to be his own??? "Please don't call me Kenneth, call me Kay??? And it's not "K" but KAY??? That some people in India and Sweden use Kay as a proper male name (wouldn't it be spelled Key then, like Rey (pronunciation)?? Or even Kai, like in Cobra Kai?? (Japanese pronunciation)... but then why name him Kenneth and use Kay as a nickname??? What ever happened to Kenny, Ken, to be given such a bad rap and fall from grace??
This first book story is basically a bunch of side-stories placed one after another. It does have a lot of training for the main character. But his "teacher" Eleniah Selthoran, is never there?? Every time Kenneth gets into trouble, encounters monsters, bandits, evil cultists??? The author tries too hard for Kenneth to be his Teacher's best friend?? Is that even/ever a thing?? But the teacher is never there??? Is it a Self-Study/Home-Study/distance-learning thing?? and if so, then why does Kenneth live at his teacher's home?? So if the Teacher, doesn't instruct, supervise or protect her pupil well?? What is the point of them living together and eating together and be "besties" (best-friends)???
The last thing, there is a point where the guard captain and the Adventurer Chief, have a "Binding-Oath" with Kenneth (so as not to be put to death) (Because he is a Blood Mage, and this "profession is prohibited" and they are given an ultimatum: "Die as a Blood Mage or renounce your profession to the system"...), but aren't most "Binding Oath's" called usually "Blood Oath's"??? If the author specifically chose a "prohibited Blood Mage" theme and profession for the main character, then why make it a "Binding-Oath" and not a typical "Blood Oath"??? Being a Blood Mage, Kenneth swears that he will never use the "Blood-Puppetry". But not one drop of blood is used in this "Binding Oath", because apparently the "System" in this place, places word-Oath's above the degree of "Blood-Oaths"??? In a Blood Mage - fantasy isekai, book series "words are stronger than blood"??? Kenneth comes from Earth, and has no real powers/special abilities, on Earth, so there is no real "bond-to-blood" or "any-previous-blood-training" to get the "Blood-Mage" profession... not even a Medical Doctor, registered Nurse or Paramedical training, "vampire-crush" to have the system choose a "Prohibited Blood Mage" profession for him "exclusively"??? So, the "Binding-Oath" was also to keep his "Blood-Mage" profession a "secret" since everybody "hates and fears" the "Blood-Mages" and then the author, has everybody in town, even the little nosy and "bad-mouthed" kid in the street, knows that Kenny, sorry, Kay, is the "Bad-Blood-Mage-Monster"???
At this point, I would use a "pseudonym" too, if I was the author, but wait, WillPowah is a "real name" right?? Is it "indigenous", "cultist" or foreign?? One of those one named-wonders like Sting, Bono, Cher, Madonna, Prince, and later became known as (unique symbol, described as a "Love-Symbol" or formerly called Prince)??...
The Urban Dictionary website defines "Powah" as: "A satiric expression of rebelling due to the fact that real anarchy is ineffective IRL (in real-life)". If this book, series was meant to be an isekai-Parody, I do not think any of it was funny (by the way). Like I mentioned before, Konosuba is a great Isekai parody, but this doesn't even come close...not funny, at all...
The (post-scriptum) (I will stop, I swear) very last thing is, Ken, Kenneth, Kenny, a.k.a. Kay or "Bloody" to his "haters", loves Pizza and Burgers, but has no idea about how to "make" a pizza in this Isekai-Other-World"? REALLY??? Pizza is basically toasted bread with melted cheese and toppings and the main character, and author, have no way to "invent-this" in this other world??? Has fast-food made people today that mentally retarded/so utterly hopeless??? That they can't even come up with "pizza-alternatives-recipes" in another world??? I give up!
All I know is that in this Fantasy-Isekai book and series, Kenny, Ken, Kenneth, can't go back to Earth, chose the worst possible profession and "is a book and a story" I can't ever recommend...
This is a typical isekai, summoned to another world (without any apparent reason), fantasy novel series. The twist is that is starts by mentioning the need for isekai (victims) to have a kind of support group, but what about the readers?? When have we been taken into account for a isekai reader support group?? Have the readers ever had a say about "liking or preferring "isekai's"??? (I have never read anybody openly attracted to reading isekai's). Even successful and funny "parodies" of Isekai's like Konosuba, for instance, mock the whole trope that deal with Isekai-ed-themed stories.
Then, there is a unfounded belief that blood mages are cool?? Powerful?? OP (Over-Powered)??? Which I have never really believed liked or understood??. The thing is blood is smelly, it's messy (Carrie, "bloodbath"-messy!) It takes about 14-20% blood loss for it to be life-endangering... and unless the "magic-energy" is carried in the blood, which none of the "Blood-Mage" books explain, there is really no point/advantage to using the scarce blood (1.2 to 1.5 gallons in an average adult). Again, if you lose/use over 20% then you are getting dizzy, fainting, and endangering your life, or your blood-doner's life by using blood as a magical conduit. Why not have a regular water mage??? Isn't Water, H2O?? 2 Molecules of Hydrogen and one of Oxygen?? Isn't it readily available everywhere?? Water just makes everything wet, but never dirty...messy, or bloody??? Blood Mages are illegal in this "Fantasy Other World", so then, why create a "Blood Mage" then?? They tend to be "evil" and manipulate/kill off their victims by using their "scarce blood"??? Again, why a "Blood-Mage" then??? Unless, the blood is tainted by a Sexually Transmitted Disease (AIDS, etc.) has blood been considered "dangerous"/"deadly.
The second thing about this isekai-fantasy book and series, is that the protagonist is called Kenneth Davis, but the author nicknames/names him KAY??? Isn't KAY a girl's name? Nickname for all of the Katherine's of this World?? According to most of the name's websites Kay, has Greek Origin, and it means "Rejoice", but it's always a girl's name??? What geek/Greek would like to have a girl's name/nickname to be his own??? "Please don't call me Kenneth, call me Kay??? And it's not "K" but KAY??? That some people in India and Sweden use Kay as a proper male name (wouldn't it be spelled Key then, like Rey (pronunciation)?? Or even Kai, like in Cobra Kai?? (Japanese pronunciation)... but then why name him Kenneth and use Kay as a nickname??? What ever happened to Kenny, Ken, to be given such a bad rap and fall from grace??
This first book story is basically a bunch of side-stories placed one after another. It does have a lot of training for the main character. But his "teacher" Eleniah Selthoran, is never there?? Every time Kenneth gets into trouble, encounters monsters, bandits, evil cultists??? The author tries too hard for Kenneth to be his Teacher's best friend?? Is that even/ever a thing?? But the teacher is never there??? Is it a Self-Study/Home-Study/distance-learning thing?? and if so, then why does Kenneth live at his teacher's home?? So if the Teacher, doesn't instruct, supervise or protect her pupil well?? What is the point of them living together and eating together and be "besties" (best-friends)???
The last thing, there is a point where the guard captain and the Adventurer Chief, have a "Binding-Oath" with Kenneth (so as not to be put to death) (Because he is a Blood Mage, and this "profession is prohibited" and they are given an ultimatum: "Die as a Blood Mage or renounce your profession to the system"...), but aren't most "Binding Oath's" called usually "Blood Oath's"??? If the author specifically chose a "prohibited Blood Mage" theme and profession for the main character, then why make it a "Binding-Oath" and not a typical "Blood Oath"??? Being a Blood Mage, Kenneth swears that he will never use the "Blood-Puppetry". But not one drop of blood is used in this "Binding Oath", because apparently the "System" in this place, places word-Oath's above the degree of "Blood-Oaths"??? In a Blood Mage - fantasy isekai, book series "words are stronger than blood"??? Kenneth comes from Earth, and has no real powers/special abilities, on Earth, so there is no real "bond-to-blood" or "any-previous-blood-training" to get the "Blood-Mage" profession... not even a Medical Doctor, registered Nurse or Paramedical training, "vampire-crush" to have the system choose a "Prohibited Blood Mage" profession for him "exclusively"??? So, the "Binding-Oath" was also to keep his "Blood-Mage" profession a "secret" since everybody "hates and fears" the "Blood-Mages" and then the author, has everybody in town, even the little nosy and "bad-mouthed" kid in the street, knows that Kenny, sorry, Kay, is the "Bad-Blood-Mage-Monster"???
At this point, I would use a "pseudonym" too, if I was the author, but wait, WillPowah is a "real name" right?? Is it "indigenous", "cultist" or foreign?? One of those one named-wonders like Sting, Bono, Cher, Madonna, Prince, and later became known as (unique symbol, described as a "Love-Symbol" or formerly called Prince)??...
The Urban Dictionary website defines "Powah" as: "A satiric expression of rebelling due to the fact that real anarchy is ineffective IRL (in real-life)". If this book, series was meant to be an isekai-Parody, I do not think any of it was funny (by the way). Like I mentioned before, Konosuba is a great Isekai parody, but this doesn't even come close...not funny, at all...
The (post-scriptum) (I will stop, I swear) very last thing is, Ken, Kenneth, Kenny, a.k.a. Kay or "Bloody" to his "haters", loves Pizza and Burgers, but has no idea about how to "make" a pizza in this Isekai-Other-World"? REALLY??? Pizza is basically toasted bread with melted cheese and toppings and the main character, and author, have no way to "invent-this" in this other world??? Has fast-food made people today that mentally retarded/so utterly hopeless??? That they can't even come up with "pizza-alternatives-recipes" in another world??? I give up!
All I know is that in this Fantasy-Isekai book and series, Kenny, Ken, Kenneth, can't go back to Earth, chose the worst possible profession and "is a book and a story" I can't ever recommend...
September 5, 2023
Pretty good but some growing pains
Good book with some interesting takes on the isekai genre, but sometimes the MC comes across as a bit of a simpleton. That’s fine as long as he learns from it and that seems to be the case. Let us hope it continues in the next book.
Good book with some interesting takes on the isekai genre, but sometimes the MC comes across as a bit of a simpleton. That’s fine as long as he learns from it and that seems to be the case. Let us hope it continues in the next book.
August 18, 2023
This is pretty good but I was left feeling vaguely unsatisfied by the end. Can’t really put my finger on it. Maybe because he doesn’t really do anything but get pushed about?
October 30, 2024
The moralizing gets to be a bit tedious. The assumption that different races (actually different races, not the Progressive way of dividing humans) would get along is childish at best and just lazy. Evil is evil because it is evil. Good is good cuz duh. I'd like to figure out who the four of the splintered five.are, so I'll give it a few more books.
August 8, 2023
Good but.
Ok so I really like the story. The pacing is good and the characters are enjoyable enough. What I'm really not happy about is the MC seems a bit slow, I wouldn't quite say dumb but just seems slow somehow. The ending also leaves quite a bit to be desired. It didn't really feel like it wrapped things up well but I'm just chalking that up to them leaving things for the next book. We shall see.
Ok so I really like the story. The pacing is good and the characters are enjoyable enough. What I'm really not happy about is the MC seems a bit slow, I wouldn't quite say dumb but just seems slow somehow. The ending also leaves quite a bit to be desired. It didn't really feel like it wrapped things up well but I'm just chalking that up to them leaving things for the next book. We shall see.
November 9, 2023
When picking up this book, I was uncertain what to expect. In the past few years, I've read a lot of books in this genre, and they all almost always follow the same pattern, with the same key characteristics. This book surprised me.
Instead of a main character who was capable of coming to grips with being transported to a new world and easily thrive, I read a character who was what I would expect was an accurate reflection of how most people would react. He was vulnerable, made mistakes, was clueless at times, but was, for lack of a better word, normal. All of the characters have this aspect to them, where they were flawed in a human way rather than in a literary way. This made the story far more enjoyable and relatable.
The book itself is fairly relaxing. There's action, there's a plot, but it's not driven by constant battles and edge of your seat writing. For some people, this may be a downside, but I would argue that this book is a good mix of action and plot driven relaxation.
The author was also able to surprise me at times. There are many moments where Ilthe author subverted my expectations and made something I thought was too convenient actually have rational behind it and a legitimate reason for it to occur.
Is there anything that I felt didn't work? There were some characters introduced that the main character basically forgot about or never interacted with again. Whether this is a plot choice or whether the author had difficulty finding a way to insert them into an already large cast of characters, I don't know, but if they make an appearance in later books, then I will retract this complaint. Other than that, there's not much else that felt wrong about the book. Some have complained that the main character is a bit clueless or stupid, but I argue that he's in a new world and is learning everything for the first time. I have a hard time imagining anyone not acting in a similar manner, no matter what ego might say.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. I enjoyed reading it, felt it added significantly to the genre, and I look forward to continuing the series.
Instead of a main character who was capable of coming to grips with being transported to a new world and easily thrive, I read a character who was what I would expect was an accurate reflection of how most people would react. He was vulnerable, made mistakes, was clueless at times, but was, for lack of a better word, normal. All of the characters have this aspect to them, where they were flawed in a human way rather than in a literary way. This made the story far more enjoyable and relatable.
The book itself is fairly relaxing. There's action, there's a plot, but it's not driven by constant battles and edge of your seat writing. For some people, this may be a downside, but I would argue that this book is a good mix of action and plot driven relaxation.
The author was also able to surprise me at times. There are many moments where Ilthe author subverted my expectations and made something I thought was too convenient actually have rational behind it and a legitimate reason for it to occur.
Is there anything that I felt didn't work? There were some characters introduced that the main character basically forgot about or never interacted with again. Whether this is a plot choice or whether the author had difficulty finding a way to insert them into an already large cast of characters, I don't know, but if they make an appearance in later books, then I will retract this complaint. Other than that, there's not much else that felt wrong about the book. Some have complained that the main character is a bit clueless or stupid, but I argue that he's in a new world and is learning everything for the first time. I have a hard time imagining anyone not acting in a similar manner, no matter what ego might say.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. I enjoyed reading it, felt it added significantly to the genre, and I look forward to continuing the series.
April 29, 2024
This is like a "he who fights monsters" kinda book, except if that book was written by a 12 year old who wanted world peace, the book is super dull, the mc is just plain bad, like i get it, being transported to another world and then getting a banned class, yeah, I would be scared too, except he is so in shock that he never comes out of it kinda, he never adapts properly, but then he becomes a marry sue who gets handed epic stuff for no reason, and the whole power dynamic between tiers is just too vague and wishy washy, like one second a tier 5 is a super big deal and super rare like 1000s in billions, and the next second some low level punk is not afraid to attack the only student of a tier 5, like wtf man, it's just too isolated with convenience, and jokes about how outworlders end up in important places and dangerous fights that help them grow faster just so that the writer can give a vague reason for things happening, lazy.
For example in he who fights monsters , jason ends up in tough shit cause he is from a diffrent world, and his new powers gets to his head and he devlopes a hero complex and put his nose in dangerous stuff, but he also learns from all that and is generally smart at adapting, the mc is this book is like one of those homeless people winning millions , only to be in more debt cause their economical situation changed , but not their mental situation and they basically go back to worse than before.
For example in he who fights monsters , jason ends up in tough shit cause he is from a diffrent world, and his new powers gets to his head and he devlopes a hero complex and put his nose in dangerous stuff, but he also learns from all that and is generally smart at adapting, the mc is this book is like one of those homeless people winning millions , only to be in more debt cause their economical situation changed , but not their mental situation and they basically go back to worse than before.
July 17, 2023
I loved, loved, loved this LitRPG first book in a new series by who, for me is also a new author. Kay a young guy from the US suddenly finds himself transported into a new world, where systems, classes and upgrades are the norm. He is baffled how he got there but realises that he needs to gain in strength if he is to survive. Once he gets his class and realises it is a rare and considered to be a dangerous class, that of a blood mage he has some decisions to take before they are taken for him by the powers that be on Toratia. Blood magic allows him to manipulate and shape the life force coursing through his veins, and the powers that be seek to eliminate him to retain their dominance. He must level his skills, grab hold of the power of his unique class and gain an understanding of the schemes his enemies formulate to overpower him, whilst keeping his own power under wraps. He is given a good teacher and in Eleniah he gains more than just a teacher but a friend. It seems they need each other, she to alleviate her loneliness, and he to gain more knowledge and strength. Together they are a formidable team, as the Graceful Success were soon to find out. No one messes with these two, so no matter all the political intrigue going on they will venture on. This is a most powerful first book and the ending leaves us, the reader wanting to read on to book 2.
August 8, 2023
Blood Shaper is such an awesome mix of isekai LitRPG and blood magic! Right from the beginning, I was hooked as Kay got whisked away to a whole new world.
One of the best parts of the book is Kay's unique Class—a super cool form of blood magic that lets him control his life force. It's explained so well, and stays fresh and exciting throughout.
Kay's character development is on point, and the other characters in the story add depth and make it all feel relatable. Their interactions were so genuine that I couldn't help but root for them.
The story's pace kept me glued to the pages without it feeling rushed. And the world-building was enjoyable, bringing the setting to life in my mind.
As a big fan of blood magic and isekai I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
If you're into isekai LitRPGs with humor, kick-ass magic, and characters you can't help but love, Blood Shaper is a must-read!
One of the best parts of the book is Kay's unique Class—a super cool form of blood magic that lets him control his life force. It's explained so well, and stays fresh and exciting throughout.
Kay's character development is on point, and the other characters in the story add depth and make it all feel relatable. Their interactions were so genuine that I couldn't help but root for them.
The story's pace kept me glued to the pages without it feeling rushed. And the world-building was enjoyable, bringing the setting to life in my mind.
As a big fan of blood magic and isekai I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series.
If you're into isekai LitRPGs with humor, kick-ass magic, and characters you can't help but love, Blood Shaper is a must-read!
September 14, 2023
This started out like any of the typical Isekai litRPG adventure that you might run into... other than maybe taking note that Kay is with friends when it happens, but he unfortunately arrived alone.
(Thank the gods that the silliness at the beginning of the book, about the class descriptions, quickly ended.)
And luckily for Kay he received a class that was unknown and had him entering the players guild to learn about his new ability blood magic. Where he was quickly assigned a mentor, Elainea. And she taught him everything starting with running, up to and including social-policical machinations of his new world and life now.
Fortunately WillPowah along with Kay, Blood Shaper's help is able to set the book apart rising to the top as the book progresses. And I loved it. I loved Elainea, the friends he's made and the quest he has yet to embark on.
I had never heard Eric Bryan Moore before but he was an excellent Sir Kay!
So what's holding you back, go grab the audiobook.
(Thank the gods that the silliness at the beginning of the book, about the class descriptions, quickly ended.)
And luckily for Kay he received a class that was unknown and had him entering the players guild to learn about his new ability blood magic. Where he was quickly assigned a mentor, Elainea. And she taught him everything starting with running, up to and including social-policical machinations of his new world and life now.
Fortunately WillPowah along with Kay, Blood Shaper's help is able to set the book apart rising to the top as the book progresses. And I loved it. I loved Elainea, the friends he's made and the quest he has yet to embark on.
I had never heard Eric Bryan Moore before but he was an excellent Sir Kay!
So what's holding you back, go grab the audiobook.
October 4, 2023
A fun and solid isekai
I enjoyed this for a variety of reasons, firstly because of the effort the author puts into the MC having a realistic reaction and introduction to his new world. It was a nice change of pace! Secondly the characters themselves all recognized that Kay was from another world and both helped him acclimate, as well as teach him more about his new world in a believable fashion.
I enjoyed the stats-lite setup, and while I might have liked a little more progression and action, this was a decent mix overall. The political drama in the background(mainly), was a fun subplot. And the future potential for Kay’s abilities should be fun! Also Eleniah was a well put together mentor and supporting character, with some other interesting potential angles for the future.
I enjoyed this for a variety of reasons, firstly because of the effort the author puts into the MC having a realistic reaction and introduction to his new world. It was a nice change of pace! Secondly the characters themselves all recognized that Kay was from another world and both helped him acclimate, as well as teach him more about his new world in a believable fashion.
I enjoyed the stats-lite setup, and while I might have liked a little more progression and action, this was a decent mix overall. The political drama in the background(mainly), was a fun subplot. And the future potential for Kay’s abilities should be fun! Also Eleniah was a well put together mentor and supporting character, with some other interesting potential angles for the future.
October 2, 2023
Unique
I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others. Specifically, the author does a decent job of showing and not telling which unfortunately is too common in this genre. Also the language is active and not passive which I appreciate greatly. One piece of criticism I would offer is that there isn’t enough of a force pushing the plot along and maybe that’s what the author intended while writing the novel and maybe we will read more of it in later books. There’s enough of a hint by the end that I’m looking forward to reading the next novel and I hope there is more dramatic weight. All in all, it’s unique enough in this saturated genre, and it holds a high enough place on my shelf that I would recommend it to others.
I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others. Specifically, the author does a decent job of showing and not telling which unfortunately is too common in this genre. Also the language is active and not passive which I appreciate greatly. One piece of criticism I would offer is that there isn’t enough of a force pushing the plot along and maybe that’s what the author intended while writing the novel and maybe we will read more of it in later books. There’s enough of a hint by the end that I’m looking forward to reading the next novel and I hope there is more dramatic weight. All in all, it’s unique enough in this saturated genre, and it holds a high enough place on my shelf that I would recommend it to others.
December 15, 2023
The book's narrative suffers from a glaring inconsistency in its protagonist's actions, making it feel as if written by someone lacking depth in character development. The protagonist's acceptance of killing is contradicted later, displaying a lack of continuity and logic. Additionally, the character's immaturity doesn't align with their adult status, as they constantly make illogical decisions, seemingly forced by the plot rather than natural character evolution. The teacher's role in constantly saving and grooming the protagonist raises concerns about the authenticity of their partnership. Overall, the book disappoints due to the author's reliance on contrived actions, illogical character behavior, and a forced plot that detracts from the reading experience.
October 16, 2023
Not bad
Caution Spoilers Ahead.
MC is a bit naive & lots of times a moron who basically blabs his secrets to almost anyone nearby. While the whole take on being uprooted from your home planet was more detailed than most other similar works, the author could have developed MC's talents much more properly & efficiently. Forgetting about displayed class before Tier-ing up feels Suicidal & no sane person does that, especially when you are in a hostile world. World building could have been a bit more detailed but overall, there's still a lot of potential in the series, so looking forward to the next one.
Caution Spoilers Ahead.
MC is a bit naive & lots of times a moron who basically blabs his secrets to almost anyone nearby. While the whole take on being uprooted from your home planet was more detailed than most other similar works, the author could have developed MC's talents much more properly & efficiently. Forgetting about displayed class before Tier-ing up feels Suicidal & no sane person does that, especially when you are in a hostile world. World building could have been a bit more detailed but overall, there's still a lot of potential in the series, so looking forward to the next one.
November 9, 2023
Pretty good
I liked the realism of the main character's struggles. Minor characters were interesting and well-executed. I was all set to give this four stars... and then I read the epilogue. I have no idea why some authors think they need to introduce a whole new problem/villian at the end of a perfectly good book. If the book is good enough, we'll be back for more. Introducing an unlikeable villian in the epilogue is rather pointless and distasteful. Thankfully, the rest of the story was well executed and interesting, so I'll be looking for the next book (in spite of the epilogue).
I liked the realism of the main character's struggles. Minor characters were interesting and well-executed. I was all set to give this four stars... and then I read the epilogue. I have no idea why some authors think they need to introduce a whole new problem/villian at the end of a perfectly good book. If the book is good enough, we'll be back for more. Introducing an unlikeable villian in the epilogue is rather pointless and distasteful. Thankfully, the rest of the story was well executed and interesting, so I'll be looking for the next book (in spite of the epilogue).
August 28, 2023
Book one
This was a bit of a short read for me. I'm getting used to 600 page books coming off of Royalroad.
I really like how the MC needed time to adjust to being in a new world with so many races.
At the same time I was disappointed in how little the MC has done with his class.
I'd have been all over trying to experiment and trying to see what I could get the class to do.
Couple of small mistakes that don't really hurt the story much, but might throw you out of your immersion.
Mistakes will be listed on Goodreads.
7/10
This was a bit of a short read for me. I'm getting used to 600 page books coming off of Royalroad.
I really like how the MC needed time to adjust to being in a new world with so many races.
At the same time I was disappointed in how little the MC has done with his class.
I'd have been all over trying to experiment and trying to see what I could get the class to do.
Couple of small mistakes that don't really hurt the story much, but might throw you out of your immersion.
Mistakes will be listed on Goodreads.
7/10
April 23, 2024
Idyllic and cute
Things kind of start with a passive person becoming someone who won't keep letting others force him to their chosen paths. Eleniah is honestly deity-sent because she forces him to actively live his life. There are quite a few intriguing tidbits that are dropped and left mysterious, which is a nice teaser without being obnoxious. I will say that up to this point I don't think Kay should trust anyone besides his mentor. The young friends he made had some funny obvious advice in that direction at the end.
Things kind of start with a passive person becoming someone who won't keep letting others force him to their chosen paths. Eleniah is honestly deity-sent because she forces him to actively live his life. There are quite a few intriguing tidbits that are dropped and left mysterious, which is a nice teaser without being obnoxious. I will say that up to this point I don't think Kay should trust anyone besides his mentor. The young friends he made had some funny obvious advice in that direction at the end.
dnf
May 9, 2024Age gap and grooming problem.
This is the main hurdle of this book. The MCs mentor is 500 years old and she said that she was lonely and will make a companion from scratch so that she doesn't get lonely. The MC is 24 years old.
If you can get passed this and do some mental gymnastics like "both adults" bullshit it's a meh book. Will get you pass an afternoon of reading as bottom of the bookshelf last resort.
Since 2021, I disliked giving bad reviews but I made an exception for this one because of the questionable ethics that crosses my line.
This is the main hurdle of this book. The MCs mentor is 500 years old and she said that she was lonely and will make a companion from scratch so that she doesn't get lonely. The MC is 24 years old.
If you can get passed this and do some mental gymnastics like "both adults" bullshit it's a meh book. Will get you pass an afternoon of reading as bottom of the bookshelf last resort.
Since 2021, I disliked giving bad reviews but I made an exception for this one because of the questionable ethics that crosses my line.
December 6, 2023
Entertaining Read
Kay was transported from Earth to another world with magic and a game like system. He tests out higher in magic than most first time magic users. He is fortunate to be assigned a high level teacher who also happens to be hot. He gains classes and levels up. He begins taking jobs that include eradicating monsters and bandits that put him in danger. I like the action, humor, intrigue, and magic. I look forward to the next book.
Kay was transported from Earth to another world with magic and a game like system. He tests out higher in magic than most first time magic users. He is fortunate to be assigned a high level teacher who also happens to be hot. He gains classes and levels up. He begins taking jobs that include eradicating monsters and bandits that put him in danger. I like the action, humor, intrigue, and magic. I look forward to the next book.
December 22, 2024
This was a really good book, I enjoyed the real feeling of the MC coming into a new world, the anxiety, the fear, all of the uncertainty and poor mental health issues that he experienced when he first arrived.
The story develops further from there with a lot of detail, and the feeling of being a human in a new world with all of the excitement, fear, loneliness and newness of seeing all of these other races and such.
The story develops further from there with a lot of detail, and the feeling of being a human in a new world with all of the excitement, fear, loneliness and newness of seeing all of these other races and such.
July 27, 2023
Solid start
It's a good start for a book one... Interesting class progression.. Doing the multi classes, merging of classes... Makes things novel... Wish nothing but success and beautiful energy.. Then of course shadow alley... Always beautiful to see them find good things.. Recommend
JD Glasscock
Author of the Series Blood Brothers and the Dream
It's a good start for a book one... Interesting class progression.. Doing the multi classes, merging of classes... Makes things novel... Wish nothing but success and beautiful energy.. Then of course shadow alley... Always beautiful to see them find good things.. Recommend
JD Glasscock
Author of the Series Blood Brothers and the Dream
January 27, 2024
Different, Interesting, Good Characters
Enjoyed the MCs and the story. For me, I dropped a star because of all the technical information about classes and skills. It was pretty boring and really didn't add much to the overall progress of the book. The author is really hung up on racism and supremacism, mentions that a lot in this book.
Enjoyed the MCs and the story. For me, I dropped a star because of all the technical information about classes and skills. It was pretty boring and really didn't add much to the overall progress of the book. The author is really hung up on racism and supremacism, mentions that a lot in this book.
September 10, 2023
Great first book to a new series I hope. I want to thank the author for putting this on audio format, I know it's costly but in the long term it's worth it I think.
Solid story, solid narrator. Yes it is a isakai but not a horrible cringe fest.
Solid story, solid narrator. Yes it is a isakai but not a horrible cringe fest.
September 15, 2023
Funny and fantastical
An interesting take on a genre known for cool headed heroes. This book has no problem showing a hero having a panic attack. Funny, silly, and quick read.
Have fun!!
An interesting take on a genre known for cool headed heroes. This book has no problem showing a hero having a panic attack. Funny, silly, and quick read.
Have fun!!
September 16, 2023
Good start. I liked the premise. The magic system was cool and had some unique features. The class felt novel and led to an original build. I enjoyed the story. I’ll definitely read the next book in the series.
Read
October 15, 2023I really liked it
This is a nice take on an American Outworlder. Book 1 Got me wanting more. The Adventures were good, the leveling system was interesting. I can't wait to see what more happens in the world, and with Kay and his adventures.
This is a nice take on an American Outworlder. Book 1 Got me wanting more. The Adventures were good, the leveling system was interesting. I can't wait to see what more happens in the world, and with Kay and his adventures.
October 28, 2023
it is ok, lot of not subtle politics
Racism racism racism the bad people are racist. Pretty well written, but having racist every third page took some of ability to lose one’s self in the actual story.
Racism racism racism the bad people are racist. Pretty well written, but having racist every third page took some of ability to lose one’s self in the actual story.
November 26, 2023
Good Beginning
Enjoyed this much more realistic take on what it would look like to get yeeted into an alternative world. Great character development and hoping to see things pick up more in the next!
Enjoyed this much more realistic take on what it would look like to get yeeted into an alternative world. Great character development and hoping to see things pick up more in the next!
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