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The Healer’s Way #1
The Healer’s Way #1
I was the most powerful healer in my world — the best, having devoted my entire life to mastering the art of healing. And yet, for whatever reason, my brother feared that I sought to claim his throne, and he marshaled his forces against me.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter, all the same I’d been planning on trying out a certain ritual and now...
I’m in another world altogether!? And this body I’m inhabiting, well, it’s not mine, but some young guy’s! And what’s it mean that in this world the gift of the healer is downright pathetic?
Apparently, they simply don’t know how to handle power.
Well, I’ll show them...
Anyway, it doesn’t matter, all the same I’d been planning on trying out a certain ritual and now...
I’m in another world altogether!? And this body I’m inhabiting, well, it’s not mine, but some young guy’s! And what’s it mean that in this world the gift of the healer is downright pathetic?
Apparently, they simply don’t know how to handle power.
Well, I’ll show them...
497 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2023
1247 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
February 15, 2024
Go back, it's a traaaaap! I'll get to that in its own section near the end. Meanwhile, while I can't say that this is the biggest Gary Stu in the world, that's only because I haven't read every book in the world. It's certainly the biggest Gary that I am aware of. And since I can't remember the protagonist's name (and can't find it in a simple search of the book's page), I'm just going to call him Gary.
So Gary is betrayed by his brother and sent into the body of a weak healer in a new world. Since he's a kickin' healer on his own world, he knows more about what can be done with the healer's art than absolutely everybody and he spends the entire story killing people to prove it. Seriously, this power fantasy is all about proving what a stud Gary is and how everyone else is helpless before him. All of it, every time. There is no challenge that stumps him for more than a minute. Gary. Stu.
And the worldbuilding would need to advance a level or two to reach "slap-dash". Seriously, the author starts off pretty medieval but once Gary escapes the monks who threw them into their dungeon, we learn that he's in a mostly-modern-day Russia with cars and phones and machine guns and also magic. So the author can lean into all the tropes without respect to era. And he does.
I almost would have been able to justify a second star for the sheer unashamed power fantasy if the author hadn't ended on a cliffhanger. Yeah, it's minor, maybe more of a molehill-hanger, but it didn't have a lot going for it before that, so one star it is.
A note about being a trap: In addition to a cliffhanger, the rest of the series is not in KU and the author wants $8 per book. Or, at least, for book two and I'm extrapolating from there. So he's using KU to hook you into an overpriced Gary story and you might as well save your time now.
A note about origin and craft: I take it the original was in Russian and this is a translation. The author should have found a better translator. This one has many errors a native speaker would have never perpetrated. And I wonder if all the telling came from the translator or the original. Seriously, it's all tell, very little show in this story. Which serves to Gary up the Stu.
A note about Chaste: Gary is a sexist pigdog, but doesn't get it on with any of the women in this story; in the most notable case, it was only because he would have had to cure all the STDs they had first and he didn't want to sign up for that chore. So this is pretty chaste, but, um, not exactly in a nice way.
So Gary is betrayed by his brother and sent into the body of a weak healer in a new world. Since he's a kickin' healer on his own world, he knows more about what can be done with the healer's art than absolutely everybody and he spends the entire story killing people to prove it. Seriously, this power fantasy is all about proving what a stud Gary is and how everyone else is helpless before him. All of it, every time. There is no challenge that stumps him for more than a minute. Gary. Stu.
And the worldbuilding would need to advance a level or two to reach "slap-dash". Seriously, the author starts off pretty medieval but once Gary escapes the monks who threw them into their dungeon, we learn that he's in a mostly-modern-day Russia with cars and phones and machine guns and also magic. So the author can lean into all the tropes without respect to era. And he does.
I almost would have been able to justify a second star for the sheer unashamed power fantasy if the author hadn't ended on a cliffhanger. Yeah, it's minor, maybe more of a molehill-hanger, but it didn't have a lot going for it before that, so one star it is.
A note about being a trap: In addition to a cliffhanger, the rest of the series is not in KU and the author wants $8 per book. Or, at least, for book two and I'm extrapolating from there. So he's using KU to hook you into an overpriced Gary story and you might as well save your time now.
A note about origin and craft: I take it the original was in Russian and this is a translation. The author should have found a better translator. This one has many errors a native speaker would have never perpetrated. And I wonder if all the telling came from the translator or the original. Seriously, it's all tell, very little show in this story. Which serves to Gary up the Stu.
A note about Chaste: Gary is a sexist pigdog, but doesn't get it on with any of the women in this story; in the most notable case, it was only because he would have had to cure all the STDs they had first and he didn't want to sign up for that chore. So this is pretty chaste, but, um, not exactly in a nice way.
January 14, 2024
Rating 3.0 stars
It started off pretty well. I liked it. It then became kind of monotonous. The same thing over and over again. Nothing really pushed to plot forward. An amazing healer from another world comes to this world after his brother betrays him. It didn't work the way he thought and now he is in a new weaker body. The people of this world think that healers are weak. On his own world, everyone knew to respect and fear healers. He is going to show this world why healers aren't the weakest type of magic user but the strongest.
It started off pretty well. I liked it. It then became kind of monotonous. The same thing over and over again. Nothing really pushed to plot forward. An amazing healer from another world comes to this world after his brother betrays him. It didn't work the way he thought and now he is in a new weaker body. The people of this world think that healers are weak. On his own world, everyone knew to respect and fear healers. He is going to show this world why healers aren't the weakest type of magic user but the strongest.
February 17, 2025
Hard book to review. So:
The setting and premise is pretty decent. Odd (maybe even a bit cracked), but good. Kind of a reverse-isekai in a way; rather than a normal guy getting thrown into a world of magic and having to learn how to be a bad-ass, an extremely powerful and experienced mage from a world of magic is thrown into a much less magical world, and has to gather resources so he can apply his existing knowledge of how to be a bad ass. Decent trope inversion.
And the "less magical world" he gets thrown into is also odd; he shows up in what seems to be current day Russia (there's the internet, cell phones, helicopters...), except there's also magic, and also the political setting is wildly different (Russia is ruled by feuding princes, the Normans are still a viable political force, the Mongols are running around), and ALSO portals are opening to other worlds and monsters are coming through to kidnap people. I don't hate it - it's kinda fun in a goofy way - but it's a bit odd. Feels a bit like a standard alternate history setup except there's no obvious cleft point provided?
And I'm not sure whether it's the original authors fault or the translator, but the tone of the book is...odd. It's written from the POV of the protagonists internal monologue, but he's a 300 year old archmagister and apparently a Russian aristocrat, and yet he constantly calls people (inside his head) "dude", and sometimes uses British slang like "telly". It's odd, even jarring (it feels like you're seeing the world from inside the head of a 20 year old British college student, not a fantastically powerful 300 year old mage), but not unpleasant.
All of which are some (mostly) good points! On the other hand:
The world (although interesting and novel) is a bit confusing and not very well fleshed out. The plot meanders. And more importantly, I started reading this book in large part because it was a 5 book series and on Kindle Unlimited. Except only book 1 is on Kindle Unlimited, and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Feels like a pretty transparent attempt to try and get people hooked on the series so they'll buy the rest. Which is a valid tactic, but...I think should be clearly disclosed. I don't mind buying books directly, but I don't like feeling as if I've been tricked.
Not a bad book, but hard to full-heartedly recommend.
The setting and premise is pretty decent. Odd (maybe even a bit cracked), but good. Kind of a reverse-isekai in a way; rather than a normal guy getting thrown into a world of magic and having to learn how to be a bad-ass, an extremely powerful and experienced mage from a world of magic is thrown into a much less magical world, and has to gather resources so he can apply his existing knowledge of how to be a bad ass. Decent trope inversion.
And the "less magical world" he gets thrown into is also odd; he shows up in what seems to be current day Russia (there's the internet, cell phones, helicopters...), except there's also magic, and also the political setting is wildly different (Russia is ruled by feuding princes, the Normans are still a viable political force, the Mongols are running around), and ALSO portals are opening to other worlds and monsters are coming through to kidnap people. I don't hate it - it's kinda fun in a goofy way - but it's a bit odd. Feels a bit like a standard alternate history setup except there's no obvious cleft point provided?
And I'm not sure whether it's the original authors fault or the translator, but the tone of the book is...odd. It's written from the POV of the protagonists internal monologue, but he's a 300 year old archmagister and apparently a Russian aristocrat, and yet he constantly calls people (inside his head) "dude", and sometimes uses British slang like "telly". It's odd, even jarring (it feels like you're seeing the world from inside the head of a 20 year old British college student, not a fantastically powerful 300 year old mage), but not unpleasant.
All of which are some (mostly) good points! On the other hand:
The world (although interesting and novel) is a bit confusing and not very well fleshed out. The plot meanders. And more importantly, I started reading this book in large part because it was a 5 book series and on Kindle Unlimited. Except only book 1 is on Kindle Unlimited, and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Feels like a pretty transparent attempt to try and get people hooked on the series so they'll buy the rest. Which is a valid tactic, but...I think should be clearly disclosed. I don't mind buying books directly, but I don't like feeling as if I've been tricked.
Not a bad book, but hard to full-heartedly recommend.
November 27, 2023
Connections
I am 55 years old and have been an avid reader since I was 12, and this is the first book I have read from these authors, and I am truly impressed. The first book in the series has an unusual connection style of writing, as the story progess the protagonist is constantly building a story that doesn't all look to be relevant but as the story goes it all connects and quite clever how it is summoned up.
I am 55 years old and have been an avid reader since I was 12, and this is the first book I have read from these authors, and I am truly impressed. The first book in the series has an unusual connection style of writing, as the story progess the protagonist is constantly building a story that doesn't all look to be relevant but as the story goes it all connects and quite clever how it is summoned up.
December 15, 2023
The main character is just a jerk and very petty..
He taunts people to attack him so he is “justified” in draining them. Anyone who isn’t completely compliant gets some lifelong illness as punishment. I quit reading when I started rooting for someone to kill him off.
He taunts people to attack him so he is “justified” in draining them. Anyone who isn’t completely compliant gets some lifelong illness as punishment. I quit reading when I started rooting for someone to kill him off.
January 28, 2024
Definitely Words
Reads like… I don’t know what. But it doesn’t read well. It’s a book. The main character is a very dull psycho. Im sure this book will do very well teenage boy readers who just want to read phrases like ‘I gave the receptionist a permanent mustache’.
Reads like… I don’t know what. But it doesn’t read well. It’s a book. The main character is a very dull psycho. Im sure this book will do very well teenage boy readers who just want to read phrases like ‘I gave the receptionist a permanent mustache’.
March 21, 2025
"The Healer's Way Book 1," penned by Oleg Sapphire and Alexey Kovtunov and published in 2024, is a captivating audiobook debut that melds portal fantasy with flair, narrated with finesse by Jonathan Johns. Clocking in at just over 9 hours, this series opener follows Mikhail, a master healer from a world where his skills made him a legend - until his brother’s paranoia drove him to a desperate ritual that flung him into a new realm. Reborn in the body of a young, untested healer, Mikhail finds his once-peerless abilities dismissed as feeble in this strange land. What unfolds is a tale of resilience, reinvention, and sly humor, delivered with a distinctive voice that sets it apart in the genre.
The story kicks off with a jolt: Mikhail’s betrayal and subsequent displacement are rendered with visceral immediacy, his confusion and determination palpable as he grapples with a weaker body and a world that undervalues his craft. Sapphire and Kovtunov waste no time plunging him into conflict - local nobles and scheming foes see his arrival as an opportunity, not a threat. This sets the stage for one of the audiobook’s highlights: Mikhail’s relentless drive to prove his worth. His healing isn’t just mending wounds; it’s a weapon, a bargaining chip, and a middle finger to those who underestimate him. The authors infuse his journey with a subtle comedic edge - think dry quips about incompetent adversaries or the absurdity of his new reality - that keeps the tone buoyant despite the stakes.
Jonathan Johns’ narration is a standout, his Cornish lilt bringing warmth and gravitas to Mikhail’s perspective. He nails the healer’s shift from bewilderment to steely resolve, while his knack for character voices - gruff lords, snivelling lackeys - adds texture to the ensemble. The audio production is clean, letting Johns’ performance shine without gimmicks.
World-building is another strength. This new realm unfolds organically - aristocratic power plays, a magic system that’s tantalizingly vague yet functional, and a society that’s equal parts familiar and alien. Mikhail’s outsider status lets us discover it alongside him, from bustling markets to shadowy conspiracies. His early encounters - like a tense standoff with a rival family - sparkle with intrigue and hint at larger forces at play. The pacing stumbles occasionally, with some expository detours feeling redundant, but the narrative regains momentum as Mikhail starts bending this world to his will. Some of this might be due to the translation into English.
Thematically, it’s a story of identity and adaptability: how do you reclaim greatness when everything’s stripped away? Mikhail’s not a flawless hero; his soft morals and stubbornness make him relatable, even if they irk at times. By the close, he’s carving a path that promises epic clashes ahead, without revealing his ultimate triumph or defeat. It's a fresh take on a crowded genre and Johns’ stellar narration gives this audiobook wit, grit, and a healer who’s anything but conventional.
The story kicks off with a jolt: Mikhail’s betrayal and subsequent displacement are rendered with visceral immediacy, his confusion and determination palpable as he grapples with a weaker body and a world that undervalues his craft. Sapphire and Kovtunov waste no time plunging him into conflict - local nobles and scheming foes see his arrival as an opportunity, not a threat. This sets the stage for one of the audiobook’s highlights: Mikhail’s relentless drive to prove his worth. His healing isn’t just mending wounds; it’s a weapon, a bargaining chip, and a middle finger to those who underestimate him. The authors infuse his journey with a subtle comedic edge - think dry quips about incompetent adversaries or the absurdity of his new reality - that keeps the tone buoyant despite the stakes.
Jonathan Johns’ narration is a standout, his Cornish lilt bringing warmth and gravitas to Mikhail’s perspective. He nails the healer’s shift from bewilderment to steely resolve, while his knack for character voices - gruff lords, snivelling lackeys - adds texture to the ensemble. The audio production is clean, letting Johns’ performance shine without gimmicks.
World-building is another strength. This new realm unfolds organically - aristocratic power plays, a magic system that’s tantalizingly vague yet functional, and a society that’s equal parts familiar and alien. Mikhail’s outsider status lets us discover it alongside him, from bustling markets to shadowy conspiracies. His early encounters - like a tense standoff with a rival family - sparkle with intrigue and hint at larger forces at play. The pacing stumbles occasionally, with some expository detours feeling redundant, but the narrative regains momentum as Mikhail starts bending this world to his will. Some of this might be due to the translation into English.
Thematically, it’s a story of identity and adaptability: how do you reclaim greatness when everything’s stripped away? Mikhail’s not a flawless hero; his soft morals and stubbornness make him relatable, even if they irk at times. By the close, he’s carving a path that promises epic clashes ahead, without revealing his ultimate triumph or defeat. It's a fresh take on a crowded genre and Johns’ stellar narration gives this audiobook wit, grit, and a healer who’s anything but conventional.
December 12, 2023
Book one
First I must let you know that I read this as an ARC.
I was given a copy to check the translation from Russian to English.
The publisher is really good at fixing mistakes, so if you find any that I might have missed don't be afraid to point them out.
The story is pretty good if you like the OP MC. He takes some time to get his power going but it's a decent read.
If I had to pick one thing that I didn't like, the noble that died and passed his title to the MC, why didn't the MC just heal him?
I understand that for the sake of the story he couldn't, but to me it doesn't fit right.
8/I0
First I must let you know that I read this as an ARC.
I was given a copy to check the translation from Russian to English.
The publisher is really good at fixing mistakes, so if you find any that I might have missed don't be afraid to point them out.
The story is pretty good if you like the OP MC. He takes some time to get his power going but it's a decent read.
If I had to pick one thing that I didn't like, the noble that died and passed his title to the MC, why didn't the MC just heal him?
I understand that for the sake of the story he couldn't, but to me it doesn't fit right.
8/I0
December 26, 2023
Weak translation, doesn’t work in English
This book starts out with a standard premise, healer translocated to a new world type of thing, and for the first few chapters the story holds together, probably the preview section being fully edited, but after that it devolves into a total mess. Frankly it comes across as something run through Google Translate and not edited by an English speaker afterwards.
I’d skip this one altogether until it gets edited in English.
This book starts out with a standard premise, healer translocated to a new world type of thing, and for the first few chapters the story holds together, probably the preview section being fully edited, but after that it devolves into a total mess. Frankly it comes across as something run through Google Translate and not edited by an English speaker afterwards.
I’d skip this one altogether until it gets edited in English.
July 31, 2025
The Healer’s Way #1 (The Healer’s Way Book 1) by Oleg Sapphire
Mikhail — Once a respected 300-year-old arch-healer, now inhabiting the weak body of a young novice. He’s arrogant, endlessly confident, and oddly juvenile in tone—talking like a college bro trapped in an aristocrat's skin.
Side Characters — A rotating cast of minor nobles, thieves, guards, and patients. Most exist to be healed, cured, or cursed by Mikhail to demonstrate how absurdly powerful he is. The one standout? A pigeon. Yes, the pigeon becomes a sarcastic sidekick and arguably the most enjoyable presence in the story.
Setting — A genre-blender of high fantasy and weird modernism. Castles and swords exist next to elevators and skyscrapers. Magic systems include runes, portals, and healing-based necromancy. The world’s tone never quite stabilizes—it feels like three ideas mashed into one.
Unique Take on Healing — Mikhail doesn’t just patch wounds. He flexes his magic as a dominating force—deliberately infecting people to showcase his curing ability, breaking social orders, and casually flipping the local healer hierarchy on its head.
Comedy (Sometimes) — While uneven, there are genuinely funny lines. The pigeon companion gets great material, and Mikhail’s over-the-top reactions are so exaggerated they cross into parody.
What Doesn’t Work
Overpowered MC — Mikhail steamrolls every challenge. No stakes, no tension. No one can match him. He essentially has cheat codes from page one.
Strange Tone — Mikhail is centuries old but talks like a frat bro. He’s noble-born but curses casually. The mix of goofy narration and super-serious magic often feels disjointed.
Pacing Issues — The book drifts from scene to scene with little urgency. There's no major antagonist, and the end leans on a cliffhanger to hook readers into the next book—rather than delivering a full arc.
Inconsistent Worldbuilding — The setting mixes Russian aristocracy, Mongolian warlords, and biomancy with cars, portals, and tech—but doesn’t explain how or why. It’s jarring more than immersive.
Final Thoughts
Verdict:
★★★☆☆ — 3 out of 5 stars
A fascinating setup bogged down by tonal whiplash, overpowered pacing, and an identity crisis between comedy, action, and progression fantasy. This is a power fantasy that knows it—and rarely tries to be more.
The story follows Mikhail Bulatov, a legendary healer from another world. After being betrayed by his brother, he casts a forbidden ritual and wakes up in a bizarre parallel world—one that blends medieval kingdoms, healing guilds, Mongol invasions, and... modern tech like smartphones and elevators.
Mikhail — Once a respected 300-year-old arch-healer, now inhabiting the weak body of a young novice. He’s arrogant, endlessly confident, and oddly juvenile in tone—talking like a college bro trapped in an aristocrat's skin.
Side Characters — A rotating cast of minor nobles, thieves, guards, and patients. Most exist to be healed, cured, or cursed by Mikhail to demonstrate how absurdly powerful he is. The one standout? A pigeon. Yes, the pigeon becomes a sarcastic sidekick and arguably the most enjoyable presence in the story.
Setting — A genre-blender of high fantasy and weird modernism. Castles and swords exist next to elevators and skyscrapers. Magic systems include runes, portals, and healing-based necromancy. The world’s tone never quite stabilizes—it feels like three ideas mashed into one.
Unique Take on Healing — Mikhail doesn’t just patch wounds. He flexes his magic as a dominating force—deliberately infecting people to showcase his curing ability, breaking social orders, and casually flipping the local healer hierarchy on its head.
Comedy (Sometimes) — While uneven, there are genuinely funny lines. The pigeon companion gets great material, and Mikhail’s over-the-top reactions are so exaggerated they cross into parody.
What Doesn’t Work
Overpowered MC — Mikhail steamrolls every challenge. No stakes, no tension. No one can match him. He essentially has cheat codes from page one.
Strange Tone — Mikhail is centuries old but talks like a frat bro. He’s noble-born but curses casually. The mix of goofy narration and super-serious magic often feels disjointed.
Pacing Issues — The book drifts from scene to scene with little urgency. There's no major antagonist, and the end leans on a cliffhanger to hook readers into the next book—rather than delivering a full arc.
Inconsistent Worldbuilding — The setting mixes Russian aristocracy, Mongolian warlords, and biomancy with cars, portals, and tech—but doesn’t explain how or why. It’s jarring more than immersive.
Final Thoughts
This book is best approached as light entertainment with absurd stakes. It reads like a parody of isekai healing stories, but often unintentionally. If you enjoy overpowered protagonists, bizarre genre mashups, and don’t mind a chaotic tone—this will probably amuse you.
Verdict:
Goofy fun for fans of power fantasies—but narratively thin and often tonally confused.
June 27, 2025
This book is written like the first novel of a 14-year-old boy with no particular writing talent but lots of energy.
The premise here is that a supremely powerful healer has left his world (under circumstances that are never discussed) and found himself in the body of a recently dead prisoner. The plot proceeds generally as expected for this kind of thing, with the protagonist escaping and raising his position precipitously.
The story isn't terrible, with decent pacing and a reasonable flow. The world is some sort of magical empire in an alternate modern (guns and automobiles) Russia and the book is set in Archangelsk.
And that's pretty much the end of the positives.
I won't comment too much on the sentence and paragraph level writing, as this is a translation and I have no way of assigning culpability to either author or translator. But be assured that there is plenty of culpability to assign.
The denizens of the city don't really react like people, ignoring threats demonstrated to be existential, then just disappearing without much comment when the author is no longer interested in discussing them. Similarly, the protagonist is presented as being very nice to children and animals (because that's what heroes do, obviously), vicious to enemies, and casually vindictive (in untraceable ways) to anyone who treats him badly in any way. Unless he gets bored, in which case, off into the ether with them.
The protagonist is the worst sort of self-regarding Mary Sue: "If I weren't so awesome, this would have been very difficult, but for me it was child's play." (That's not an actual quote; I can't be bothered to listen to the book again to pull quotes. But I think it conveys the writing fairly.) The dialog isn't actually terrible, but the internal monologue is very bad indeed.
And of course the challenges presented for the protagonist are easily overcome. As one might expect for such a paragon of awesometacity.
I'll read the next book, because I already bought it and I had heard from acquaintances that the series isn't bad. I have very low expectations.
Not recommended.
The premise here is that a supremely powerful healer has left his world (under circumstances that are never discussed) and found himself in the body of a recently dead prisoner. The plot proceeds generally as expected for this kind of thing, with the protagonist escaping and raising his position precipitously.
The story isn't terrible, with decent pacing and a reasonable flow. The world is some sort of magical empire in an alternate modern (guns and automobiles) Russia and the book is set in Archangelsk.
And that's pretty much the end of the positives.
I won't comment too much on the sentence and paragraph level writing, as this is a translation and I have no way of assigning culpability to either author or translator. But be assured that there is plenty of culpability to assign.
The denizens of the city don't really react like people, ignoring threats demonstrated to be existential, then just disappearing without much comment when the author is no longer interested in discussing them. Similarly, the protagonist is presented as being very nice to children and animals (because that's what heroes do, obviously), vicious to enemies, and casually vindictive (in untraceable ways) to anyone who treats him badly in any way. Unless he gets bored, in which case, off into the ether with them.
The protagonist is the worst sort of self-regarding Mary Sue: "If I weren't so awesome, this would have been very difficult, but for me it was child's play." (That's not an actual quote; I can't be bothered to listen to the book again to pull quotes. But I think it conveys the writing fairly.) The dialog isn't actually terrible, but the internal monologue is very bad indeed.
And of course the challenges presented for the protagonist are easily overcome. As one might expect for such a paragon of awesometacity.
I'll read the next book, because I already bought it and I had heard from acquaintances that the series isn't bad. I have very low expectations.
Not recommended.
April 16, 2024
Okay and fun but...
This was okay. While the MC is overpowered, he still has to be careful in his new body because doing too much will kill him.
I found the MC to be annoying most of the time. I think it was his manner of speech. This book was a load of side quest before the main quest, and so it got tiring after a while. However, I am curious to see what happens in the next book
This was okay. While the MC is overpowered, he still has to be careful in his new body because doing too much will kill him.
I found the MC to be annoying most of the time. I think it was his manner of speech. This book was a load of side quest before the main quest, and so it got tiring after a while. However, I am curious to see what happens in the next book
March 16, 2024
Good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2024
Loved it!
What a pleasant surprise this story is! Not only did I love the mc and his funny and quick wit but the story itself was new and intriguing. I can’t wait to read the next one!
The only thing I have to say otherwise is please get a better editor. I’ll do it for free!
What a pleasant surprise this story is! Not only did I love the mc and his funny and quick wit but the story itself was new and intriguing. I can’t wait to read the next one!
The only thing I have to say otherwise is please get a better editor. I’ll do it for free!
December 15, 2023
This is like watching a Quentin Tarantino film.
No more need be said. The types of characters, the actions, the converging story lines, it is all very similar.
No more need be said. The types of characters, the actions, the converging story lines, it is all very similar.
April 26, 2024
This is one of the lowest ratings I have ever given to something I enjoyed. The reason for this is that I want to be as objective as possible in my reviews, and objectively speaking, this is a bad novel focused on a subject that I really enjoy right now.
I love the concept of non-traditional fantasy. I have read far too many stories that are essentially the same over the years, so anything different stands out to me. The concept of the premiere healer of a magical planet where healers are the top tier of magic users waking up in a world where there is more technology than magic and healers are the weakest class of magic users is one that really appeals to me.
I don't care that the healer is drastically overpowered to the point where nothing is a physical challenge to him. Physical conflict is not the only conflict that can drive a story, so that isn't an issue. But one of the objective flaws of this story is that there is no other kind of conflict at all. The main character just gets what he wants whenever he wants it, doesn't seem to have anything he needs to overcome, and basically wanders through the plot without a care in the world.
I've said it before with isekai novels, but there is an inbuilt form of internal conflict that comes with the genre. The culture shock of being removed from everything you know, the pain of being removed from everyone you love, the feeling of alienation and isolation of being alone in such a bizarre environment. These are all forms of conflict and obstacles that need to be overcome, and the process of solving such problems is the process of storytelling.
The second issue is that this didn't feel like a book; it felt like the first draft of an author's stream of consciousness. I don't think there was a plan here. I think the author kept asking himself, "What will be fun to do next?" and then just did that. The result is a seriously meandering story of seemingly unrelated encounters that don't mean much to the overarching story.
Here's the proof of what I'm talking about.
That's it. Four meaningful plot points in an entire novel.
With all this said, this is a story I had fun with. Yes, it's juvenile, the descriptions are non-existent, the dialogue is underwhelming, and the main character is Gary Stu. But there's promise of a better story in here that shone through every once in a while, it just never stayed long enough to sink your teeth into.
Ultimately, this story is in dire need of a second draft. For anyone who falls into the same boat as me of kind of liking the story but wishing for more, I recommend Legend of the Arch Magus by Michael Sisa. It has a similar tone and concept to this novel, but it is a bit more of a finished idea. It's still not an objectively great series, but it leans into its concept enough that it becomes so much fun that the flaws are easy to overlook.
For this novel, it's 2 stars, and sadly, I can't recommend it.
I love the concept of non-traditional fantasy. I have read far too many stories that are essentially the same over the years, so anything different stands out to me. The concept of the premiere healer of a magical planet where healers are the top tier of magic users waking up in a world where there is more technology than magic and healers are the weakest class of magic users is one that really appeals to me.
I don't care that the healer is drastically overpowered to the point where nothing is a physical challenge to him. Physical conflict is not the only conflict that can drive a story, so that isn't an issue. But one of the objective flaws of this story is that there is no other kind of conflict at all. The main character just gets what he wants whenever he wants it, doesn't seem to have anything he needs to overcome, and basically wanders through the plot without a care in the world.
I've said it before with isekai novels, but there is an inbuilt form of internal conflict that comes with the genre. The culture shock of being removed from everything you know, the pain of being removed from everyone you love, the feeling of alienation and isolation of being alone in such a bizarre environment. These are all forms of conflict and obstacles that need to be overcome, and the process of solving such problems is the process of storytelling.
The second issue is that this didn't feel like a book; it felt like the first draft of an author's stream of consciousness. I don't think there was a plan here. I think the author kept asking himself, "What will be fun to do next?" and then just did that. The result is a seriously meandering story of seemingly unrelated encounters that don't mean much to the overarching story.
Here's the proof of what I'm talking about.
That's it. Four meaningful plot points in an entire novel.
With all this said, this is a story I had fun with. Yes, it's juvenile, the descriptions are non-existent, the dialogue is underwhelming, and the main character is Gary Stu. But there's promise of a better story in here that shone through every once in a while, it just never stayed long enough to sink your teeth into.
Ultimately, this story is in dire need of a second draft. For anyone who falls into the same boat as me of kind of liking the story but wishing for more, I recommend Legend of the Arch Magus by Michael Sisa. It has a similar tone and concept to this novel, but it is a bit more of a finished idea. It's still not an objectively great series, but it leans into its concept enough that it becomes so much fun that the flaws are easy to overlook.
For this novel, it's 2 stars, and sadly, I can't recommend it.
December 28, 2023
It Alright
I have it a 4/5 but it barely that. It more a 3.5/5. Because though it kept me interested enough to finish it and probably read the sequel if I payed for this id been disappointed. But to start the good: it interesting to see a healer's powers used for combat and I like the main characters not really worried about anything attitude plus his view being a nice guy who will wreck anyone who goes against him. I personally find these qualities are missing too much in stories.
Now the bad: it honestly needs a lot of work in the writing and world building I feel. The world is a mix of magic and science... But it never really explained to what extent I feel and it seems to just be it things are magic or science based on the authors needs with any real planning, and that really how a lot of the story feels, things just happen to make it convenient. Also the fight seems get boring by the end, they just don't feel well described in a way that holds attention... And that a good summary of the book I think: Exciting concept and character but it not written in an exciting way.
In the end, if you like a attacking healer it worth a read if you have kindle unlimited anyway.
I have it a 4/5 but it barely that. It more a 3.5/5. Because though it kept me interested enough to finish it and probably read the sequel if I payed for this id been disappointed. But to start the good: it interesting to see a healer's powers used for combat and I like the main characters not really worried about anything attitude plus his view being a nice guy who will wreck anyone who goes against him. I personally find these qualities are missing too much in stories.
Now the bad: it honestly needs a lot of work in the writing and world building I feel. The world is a mix of magic and science... But it never really explained to what extent I feel and it seems to just be it things are magic or science based on the authors needs with any real planning, and that really how a lot of the story feels, things just happen to make it convenient. Also the fight seems get boring by the end, they just don't feel well described in a way that holds attention... And that a good summary of the book I think: Exciting concept and character but it not written in an exciting way.
In the end, if you like a attacking healer it worth a read if you have kindle unlimited anyway.
January 8, 2024
For some people, this might be a perfectly fine read, but it didn't work well for me at all. Overpowered MC is fairly normal in this genre, but that makes it all the more important that you have a character that is either likeable or relatable, and that is not the case here. Our MC wakes up in a new world in a body that's near death, but this is trivial to him, and none of the bad things that happen to him ever pose any threat, and then he proceeds to spend a lot of time torturing his enemies to death (it's not done done graphically onscreen, at least, but the MC is sure to comment on the horrible things that will happen to them offscreen thanks to the terrible disease he inflicted on them.) The people he's killing aren't good people at all, but the MC is also arrogant, obnoxious, and apparently completely amoral -- there was nothing in the worldbuilding that was so impressive that it made me want to keep reading, there was minimal supporting cast introduced before I lost interest, and I had no interest whatsoever in continuing to read about this character.
Not a book that was worth finishing for me.
Not a book that was worth finishing for me.
November 4, 2023
Help me read more books
I received a review copy of this book.
This was a very interesting book. In most RPG games/stories, the healers are the weak link.
Not so in this story. A good healer can keep a party up while they're pounding on that oboss monster. This healer likes to pay back those swindlers, cheaters, and especially those who try to kill him with interesting afflictions. Love the way this guy handles things like that.
The only complaint I have with the book is that (of course) he doesn't meet the person he was tasked with protecting until the very last paragraph. Considering this tasking happeened in the very beginning of the book, this seems to be a bit of a let down.
Of course, he didn't wait until the end to start protecting this person, only that there was no interaction between them until then.
In fact, the ways he protects her before then are amusing to say the least.
I'm most definitely going to read more books in this series, this one made me laugh many times during reading.
I received a review copy of this book.
This was a very interesting book. In most RPG games/stories, the healers are the weak link.
Not so in this story. A good healer can keep a party up while they're pounding on that oboss monster. This healer likes to pay back those swindlers, cheaters, and especially those who try to kill him with interesting afflictions. Love the way this guy handles things like that.
The only complaint I have with the book is that (of course) he doesn't meet the person he was tasked with protecting until the very last paragraph. Considering this tasking happeened in the very beginning of the book, this seems to be a bit of a let down.
Of course, he didn't wait until the end to start protecting this person, only that there was no interaction between them until then.
In fact, the ways he protects her before then are amusing to say the least.
I'm most definitely going to read more books in this series, this one made me laugh many times during reading.
May 21, 2024
Great book!
I Give the book 4 stars Not because it's not a 5 star book But because most books are not a 5 star book There is always something In this case If I had to have a complaint the 1 thing I would say is I wish there was more of a description of the physical traits of the characters I have no idea what any of these people look like. And I find that takes away from the story That being said This 1st book Has laid all the groundwork for an awesome series That I intend To read If you like this genre Like my myself you've probably read many of Such series Awhile Modern time. The story line is Dark and serious With a ton of humor sprinkled throughout the whole thing on more than 1 occasion I found myself chuckling out loud I highly recommend anybody Book of Shotgun Weather You're an old hat
I Give the book 4 stars Not because it's not a 5 star book But because most books are not a 5 star book There is always something In this case If I had to have a complaint the 1 thing I would say is I wish there was more of a description of the physical traits of the characters I have no idea what any of these people look like. And I find that takes away from the story That being said This 1st book Has laid all the groundwork for an awesome series That I intend To read If you like this genre Like my myself you've probably read many of Such series Awhile Modern time. The story line is Dark and serious With a ton of humor sprinkled throughout the whole thing on more than 1 occasion I found myself chuckling out loud I highly recommend anybody Book of Shotgun Weather You're an old hat
June 19, 2024
LitRPG deserves better plotting, writing and translation
Good RPG starts with a story arc leading to an objective defined by the DM. This story stumbles around like a superhero with bad impulse control. I wouldn’t enjoy playing in this world of arbitrary rules and goals.
To make it “literature”, even at the lowest level, the story must hang together. Instead, the narrative stumbles around from one bad trope to another.
Finally, as a native Russian speaker, I agree with other reviewers who panned the translation as AI-generated. For example, “cover” or “roof” in Russian vernacular means protection in a mafia sense - but instead, the word is translated literally, as in a physical “roof”.
I like the idea of LitRPG as a fusion of SF, fantasy, and RPG play… but this was almost 400 pages of charmless thrashing.
Good RPG starts with a story arc leading to an objective defined by the DM. This story stumbles around like a superhero with bad impulse control. I wouldn’t enjoy playing in this world of arbitrary rules and goals.
To make it “literature”, even at the lowest level, the story must hang together. Instead, the narrative stumbles around from one bad trope to another.
Finally, as a native Russian speaker, I agree with other reviewers who panned the translation as AI-generated. For example, “cover” or “roof” in Russian vernacular means protection in a mafia sense - but instead, the word is translated literally, as in a physical “roof”.
I like the idea of LitRPG as a fusion of SF, fantasy, and RPG play… but this was almost 400 pages of charmless thrashing.
July 14, 2024
A bit like Bram stoker's Dracula but from Dracula's point of view. At least the part where Dracula travels to London, but this time no-one knows he is there.
The world is a interesting mess or medieval, magic and modernity. As if some modern technology was dropped on a medieval world and was competing with magic. It would be intriguing if this jumble was explained well. Maybe this is what post communist Russia felt like? Gangsters, some people trying to do right, tech only available to underfunded government or from the west but understood by only a few?
The English was serviceable. A bit tell not show and occasionally jumping between scenes confusingly.
The first book was free. The two authors appear to be Russian. I don't want to support anyone living in Russia at the moment. I probably won't read any more.
The world is a interesting mess or medieval, magic and modernity. As if some modern technology was dropped on a medieval world and was competing with magic. It would be intriguing if this jumble was explained well. Maybe this is what post communist Russia felt like? Gangsters, some people trying to do right, tech only available to underfunded government or from the west but understood by only a few?
The English was serviceable. A bit tell not show and occasionally jumping between scenes confusingly.
The first book was free. The two authors appear to be Russian. I don't want to support anyone living in Russia at the moment. I probably won't read any more.
April 16, 2025
Take it from someone who has read up to the 5th book, this series is very frustrating to listen to. The series plot moves along at a crawl. Even in the blurb of one of the future books it states the protagonist is playing whack o'l mole with his enemies, It feels like there's no progress, even though there is quantifiable progress. The series presents the protagonist as some sort of centuries old Archmage experienced in warfare, command and estate management, but he constantly fails to eliminate his aristocratic enemies completely and the plot just constructs whatever excuse to make it so he "made the right decision".
The Hunter's Code by the same author is far better in this respect and I feel like this series is just an imitation that changed what I liked about The Hunter's Code so much, which I suppose makes sense since Book 1 of both series were published 1-2 months apart.
The Hunter's Code by the same author is far better in this respect and I feel like this series is just an imitation that changed what I liked about The Hunter's Code so much, which I suppose makes sense since Book 1 of both series were published 1-2 months apart.
November 29, 2023
Conflicting book
This book is a unique read. One one hand this is a really interesting plot line, on the other hand the writers technique needs work.
For example; He cast a spell to interrupt my blood flow but I had already cast a spell in such a way as to block this attempt.
There is no setup as to how, when or even why he would cast that spell. Combat is the same. I moved in such a way that I only took minimal damage. What was the way did he waggle his butt? Did he duck? Who knows. To sum up the M.C. is the greatest guy alive and has already thought of everything but does not show the work as to how he got there.
And finally there is no real explanation on the magic frame work and how it works.
This book is a unique read. One one hand this is a really interesting plot line, on the other hand the writers technique needs work.
For example; He cast a spell to interrupt my blood flow but I had already cast a spell in such a way as to block this attempt.
There is no setup as to how, when or even why he would cast that spell. Combat is the same. I moved in such a way that I only took minimal damage. What was the way did he waggle his butt? Did he duck? Who knows. To sum up the M.C. is the greatest guy alive and has already thought of everything but does not show the work as to how he got there.
And finally there is no real explanation on the magic frame work and how it works.
February 19, 2024
Warning: currently, The Healer's Way 1 is on Kindle Unlimited, but the sequels do not appear to be. This is entirely the author's prerogative, but it's worth knowing before you start the series. In my case, I won't be continuing, unless the price drops significantly lower or it's made available on KU.
I found the writing style to be jarring at first, and there were a number of times where the language used suggested the author was not a native English speaker. Despite that, I found few typos or actual grammar errors.
After only one or two pages, I thought 'this is rubbish' and nearly stopped reading, but I found it improved for me quite quickly after that, and ultimately I rather enjoyed the alternative universe that the author created, and the story to go along with it.
I found the writing style to be jarring at first, and there were a number of times where the language used suggested the author was not a native English speaker. Despite that, I found few typos or actual grammar errors.
After only one or two pages, I thought 'this is rubbish' and nearly stopped reading, but I found it improved for me quite quickly after that, and ultimately I rather enjoyed the alternative universe that the author created, and the story to go along with it.
August 5, 2024
It's a pretty fun story with ok writing. The MC is ok. He gets a little annoying sometimes with his soft morals. Also there are strange injections of feminism and wokeism that are really random and disconnected. Seems as if it was added in irrelevant to the story. But they aren't too frequent. The magic system is really weak and obscure. The personal power levels and how to gain power is unclear and even changing.
There are a lot of mistakes. I listened to this on audio so some of them are amplified. Like since it's narrated the writing makes it difficult to know when the MC is speaking or thinking. Some mistakes are large. Sometimes previously written rules or known facts are changed or forgotten. This is very frustrating to readers.
There are a lot of mistakes. I listened to this on audio so some of them are amplified. Like since it's narrated the writing makes it difficult to know when the MC is speaking or thinking. Some mistakes are large. Sometimes previously written rules or known facts are changed or forgotten. This is very frustrating to readers.
August 27, 2024
Popcorn reading for me. I've read the first 5, which get better little by little, but the author goes off in all directions and links up a lot of actions only to jump to others.
There are mistakes, not everything is logical or interesting, but reincarnation and isekai are a bit my weak points these days so I'm pretending I haven't noticed.
The MC always has a great technique that he remembers at just the right moment, his role is far too preponderant in the totality of the book's actions and as a result all the other characters are gradually relegated to the background.
I'll probably forget to continue this series, but it'll still get an average 3 overall, having managed to provide me with what I needed in the last few days.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
There are mistakes, not everything is logical or interesting, but reincarnation and isekai are a bit my weak points these days so I'm pretending I haven't noticed.
The MC always has a great technique that he remembers at just the right moment, his role is far too preponderant in the totality of the book's actions and as a result all the other characters are gradually relegated to the background.
I'll probably forget to continue this series, but it'll still get an average 3 overall, having managed to provide me with what I needed in the last few days.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Read
September 4, 2024I really love this series! It was a very different kind of read for me but an epic one. I love the whole what I first knew as isakai or transmigration stories but I mostly find those in anime or comics. Most of the time they are all YA centric. However, Portal Progression Fantasy is a new genre terminology for me and I'm excited to read more. But anyway about the story, I love the fact that this one has a very adult feel to it. I just love the gray area the main character fits in. He is a good but also bad guy in a way. However, I love how he is no pushovers. What also kept me in the story was his crazy animal sidekicks that will show up.
If you're looking for something different to read with action and strategic revenge plots with a body count then really give this book a try.
If you're looking for something different to read with action and strategic revenge plots with a body count then really give this book a try.
June 27, 2025
This is a horrible, painful series. Series? Yes, I sat through to book 6 on audible. Don’t do that. The book is read by AI with the most excruciatingly obnoxious cadence, inflection, pauses…it’s insane. For the series itself, it feels like the author is projecting some serious issues with misogyny, sexism, homophobia and ableism. The constant snide remarks he includes is so unnecessary for the plot line. The only reason I stuck with it is because 1) I haaaate to leave something unresolved and 2) the premise is intriguing. I wanted to see where it would go. But it’s so painful. So incredibly painful. Like, wince at sentence structure and unabashedly offensive writing. No, it’s not a character thing; it’s a writer thing. This book series is absolute garbage.
December 1, 2023
Needs some work
*Kindle Unlimited
Okay, not a terrible book. However I would not recommend purchasing to read.
The writing is hard to follow in many cases and the author uses to many filler words, it’s like the protagonist every action has to be explained and justified to the reader. The fact that he is a healer but spends 90% of his time killing or looking for people to kill. And every one he meats save for 5 or 6 people are in the entirety of the book are scum trying to rob or kill him for no reason. It made the reading very repetitive, you can quickly guess what it going to happen next in the book.
*Kindle Unlimited
Okay, not a terrible book. However I would not recommend purchasing to read.
The writing is hard to follow in many cases and the author uses to many filler words, it’s like the protagonist every action has to be explained and justified to the reader. The fact that he is a healer but spends 90% of his time killing or looking for people to kill. And every one he meats save for 5 or 6 people are in the entirety of the book are scum trying to rob or kill him for no reason. It made the reading very repetitive, you can quickly guess what it going to happen next in the book.
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