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Jackal Among Snakes #1
Jackal Among Snakes, Book 1
In a world on the brink, survival isn’t just a game—it’s the only game. But when only one soul holds all the cards, they get to play however they want.
Argrave, the royal bastard of House Vasquer, went into his magic apprenticeship cruel and awkward, yet left it with a neat dignity and an acerbic wit. But beneath the veneer of self-assurance, the body’s new soul is wrestling with the dread of existence in a reality that once existed only in the pages of fantasy.
In the blink of an eye, a wiki editor’s deep and somewhat unhealthy understanding of a game becomes useful, usable knowledge when he inexplicably replaces the once-cruel royal bastard. Before he can start to push his frail body to use his deep understanding of the lore to handle the imminent apocalypse, or go off to stop an invasion, there’s a more personal task he needs to handle first.
His cousin has a knife in her hand and death in her eyes.
Argrave, the royal bastard of House Vasquer, went into his magic apprenticeship cruel and awkward, yet left it with a neat dignity and an acerbic wit. But beneath the veneer of self-assurance, the body’s new soul is wrestling with the dread of existence in a reality that once existed only in the pages of fantasy.
In the blink of an eye, a wiki editor’s deep and somewhat unhealthy understanding of a game becomes useful, usable knowledge when he inexplicably replaces the once-cruel royal bastard. Before he can start to push his frail body to use his deep understanding of the lore to handle the imminent apocalypse, or go off to stop an invasion, there’s a more personal task he needs to handle first.
His cousin has a knife in her hand and death in her eyes.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2023
375 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
November 20, 2023
I enjoyed the book, but at times the reader of the audible book gives the MC a really goofy voice that is annoying and difficult to discern if the MC is talking to himself or to other characters.
Interesting concept.
Interesting concept.
February 11, 2024
Good book, but why would an audiobook narrator sabotage his voice acting making his main character sound like Kermit the frog when his regular narration is so soothing.Full review soon.
November 28, 2023
A good book, but not a favorite
A mix of isekai and trapped in game, this one starts off a little weirdly in that the MC starts in character and we never learn his name from his life on earth or any more than the fact that he was a college student. So definitely unusual! I enjoyed the book, Argrave(our MC), has a lot of idiosyncrasies that come into play during the book and make for some intriguing moments. And somehow despite rushing from one issue to the next, I never felt a sense of urgency or much action throughout. The plot is cohesive and well paced even so. I wouldn’t put this on my “gotta read it as soon as a new one drops” list, but it’s well worth continuing the series.
A mix of isekai and trapped in game, this one starts off a little weirdly in that the MC starts in character and we never learn his name from his life on earth or any more than the fact that he was a college student. So definitely unusual! I enjoyed the book, Argrave(our MC), has a lot of idiosyncrasies that come into play during the book and make for some intriguing moments. And somehow despite rushing from one issue to the next, I never felt a sense of urgency or much action throughout. The plot is cohesive and well paced even so. I wouldn’t put this on my “gotta read it as soon as a new one drops” list, but it’s well worth continuing the series.
January 9, 2024
Book one
These books were the MC is trapped in a video game always confuse me. Games have scripts and no matter what you do the script is always there, so if you can get outside said script you obviously are not trapped in a video game.
The MC has managed to bust this script wide open. So is he still in a game or is he in a world that the game was just a reflection of?
Good story. Very few mistakes. What I found will be posted on Goodreads.
If you have finished book two then you can find more of the story on Royalroad.
8/10
These books were the MC is trapped in a video game always confuse me. Games have scripts and no matter what you do the script is always there, so if you can get outside said script you obviously are not trapped in a video game.
The MC has managed to bust this script wide open. So is he still in a game or is he in a world that the game was just a reflection of?
Good story. Very few mistakes. What I found will be posted on Goodreads.
If you have finished book two then you can find more of the story on Royalroad.
8/10
April 28, 2024
Out of all the gamelit, isekai, and reincarnation tropes out there, I have a soft spot for the wake up as a character in the game I play premise. And among those, this story might be top of my list.
Character - 8/10, Plot - 8/10, Setting/Game Mechanics - 9/10, Writing - 8/10, Enjoyment - 10/10
I liked the MC overall. He had some fun dialogue, and his wit reminded me a bit of Jason Asano, but dialed down a couple of notches, probably making it less annoying and stale in the long run. A frail, spindly character who is squeamish with blood isn't cut from the typical hero mold, but it worked because the character was a spellcaster more than a fighter. That being said, the spellcasting in this story was up close and personal much of the time. So, it allowed for the realism of a person from modern Earth who was not as equipped to handle the brutality of a medieval fantasy world. But the character still stepped up and did the job, at least for now. There's a potential for a yellow flag there if the character spends too much time despairing at killing in real life, now that it's not a game. Sure, it's realistic, but I don't want realism getting in the way of a good story. Realistically, these characters were pooping and peeing, and we didn't include that, so don't wag your finger at me and talk about realism.
The plot involves a college student who enjoys games and wakes up as one of the playable characters in his favorite RPG. He has to come to terms with his new reality, gather allies and strength, and defeat a world-ending god of judgment due to arrive in a little over 3 years. Luckily, our MC was one of the main Wiki contributors for the game and is intimately familiar with most things he'll need to know.
There's a trend where characters who wake up as people in another world end up in the body of a villain, disliked for various reasons. Most stories fail to follow through with this trope, but this story hit the ground running and put various immediate obstacles in the character's path based on his new identity. Even after dealing with those initial threats, agents in the world were on the move to cause him problems based on his bloodline, not to mention because of his future actions.
The author grounded the game mechanics in realism, and the MC observing the differences in his new life from the original game is one of the main experiences. I enjoyed the way the magic worked. Most of it was small scale, which helped maintain balance with the power curve. While I also enjoy spell-casting like from the Imperial Wizard series, the characters in that one just threw shields up and then fired missiles of various affinities most of the time. The spell casting in this story resembled a swordfight with dodges, deflections, and counters.
The writing was solid, clear, and functional, but also with a nice bit of personality here and there. I liked the extra attention given to things often neglected in gamelit, like how things differ when experienced in person rather than through a game monitor and controller. And not just in a superficial way either, but one that captures the wonder of seeing live magic. It is based on a game the person enjoyed even as pixels after all.
I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it to anyone who's a fan of the genre. You can tell the author knows their way around the tropes and draws inspiration from a few popular games, but gives it their own spin.
Character - 8/10, Plot - 8/10, Setting/Game Mechanics - 9/10, Writing - 8/10, Enjoyment - 10/10
I liked the MC overall. He had some fun dialogue, and his wit reminded me a bit of Jason Asano, but dialed down a couple of notches, probably making it less annoying and stale in the long run. A frail, spindly character who is squeamish with blood isn't cut from the typical hero mold, but it worked because the character was a spellcaster more than a fighter. That being said, the spellcasting in this story was up close and personal much of the time. So, it allowed for the realism of a person from modern Earth who was not as equipped to handle the brutality of a medieval fantasy world. But the character still stepped up and did the job, at least for now. There's a potential for a yellow flag there if the character spends too much time despairing at killing in real life, now that it's not a game. Sure, it's realistic, but I don't want realism getting in the way of a good story. Realistically, these characters were pooping and peeing, and we didn't include that, so don't wag your finger at me and talk about realism.
The plot involves a college student who enjoys games and wakes up as one of the playable characters in his favorite RPG. He has to come to terms with his new reality, gather allies and strength, and defeat a world-ending god of judgment due to arrive in a little over 3 years. Luckily, our MC was one of the main Wiki contributors for the game and is intimately familiar with most things he'll need to know.
There's a trend where characters who wake up as people in another world end up in the body of a villain, disliked for various reasons. Most stories fail to follow through with this trope, but this story hit the ground running and put various immediate obstacles in the character's path based on his new identity. Even after dealing with those initial threats, agents in the world were on the move to cause him problems based on his bloodline, not to mention because of his future actions.
The author grounded the game mechanics in realism, and the MC observing the differences in his new life from the original game is one of the main experiences. I enjoyed the way the magic worked. Most of it was small scale, which helped maintain balance with the power curve. While I also enjoy spell-casting like from the Imperial Wizard series, the characters in that one just threw shields up and then fired missiles of various affinities most of the time. The spell casting in this story resembled a swordfight with dodges, deflections, and counters.
The writing was solid, clear, and functional, but also with a nice bit of personality here and there. I liked the extra attention given to things often neglected in gamelit, like how things differ when experienced in person rather than through a game monitor and controller. And not just in a superficial way either, but one that captures the wonder of seeing live magic. It is based on a game the person enjoyed even as pixels after all.
I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it to anyone who's a fan of the genre. You can tell the author knows their way around the tropes and draws inspiration from a few popular games, but gives it their own spin.
March 7, 2024
I persevered through this book until the end, but unfortunately, I couldn't find any aspect of the story to enjoy.
From the characters to the storyline and the implementation of LitRPG elements, nothing resonated with me.
Surprisingly, I didn't even find myself getting annoyed with anything—it just failed to capture my interest.
Overall, I found it to be an alright story, but it didn't compel me to continue with the series.
From the characters to the storyline and the implementation of LitRPG elements, nothing resonated with me.
Surprisingly, I didn't even find myself getting annoyed with anything—it just failed to capture my interest.
Overall, I found it to be an alright story, but it didn't compel me to continue with the series.
January 13, 2024
This book has all the best features of a regression story with the added feature of a truly weak protagonist. Thus we can enjoy watching as he out-thinks and out-plans his opponents while impressing everyone around him.
There's very little to complain about here aside from the occasional example of clunky grammar. I'm looking forward to continuing this story.
There's very little to complain about here aside from the occasional example of clunky grammar. I'm looking forward to continuing this story.
September 1, 2023
The best royal road story ever 10/10
October 9, 2025
What if the most prolific author of the Elder Scrolls wiki got teleported to a world that matches the the game in every way? What could you do with all that knowledge? Jackal Among Snakes is that story to a T (but completely unrelated to The Elder Scrolls games since that was just an example).
________________________________________
I read the first 1800 pages of this series as a web serial on RoyalRoad in the end of 2022 and then read another 1000 pages in 2023. I got up to chapter... 358-ish? The chapter title is along the lines of, "bringing it all together" maybe?
I'll have to find out which book that chapter / page number is actually in... maybe book 6 if I go by the blurbs.
________________________________________
I read the first 1800 pages of this series as a web serial on RoyalRoad in the end of 2022 and then read another 1000 pages in 2023. I got up to chapter... 358-ish? The chapter title is along the lines of, "bringing it all together" maybe?
I'll have to find out which book that chapter / page number is actually in... maybe book 6 if I go by the blurbs.
November 7, 2023
read via Patreon
December 12, 2023
Jackal Among Snakes is, in my opinion, an example of everything the transmigration sub-genre can be, and indeed should aspire to be. From deeply enjoyable, yet wonderfully flawed characters, to great action both of the traditional sense as well as the political, to even simply setting up for what seems to be one of my favorite 'great, world-destroying evils' in recent memory: there is a LOT to love.
While I wouldn't place it at the top of what the Fantasy genre as a whole has to offer - there are some major giants that are simply too difficult to dislodge from the top of THAT list - it's still one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a good bit of time.
I highly recommend picking up this series if you've ever thought of giving this particular sub-genre a try but weren't sure where to begin; and for those of you who are already fans of transmigration stories, this truly is among the best of the best. You won't be disappointed if you give it a shot.
While I wouldn't place it at the top of what the Fantasy genre as a whole has to offer - there are some major giants that are simply too difficult to dislodge from the top of THAT list - it's still one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a good bit of time.
I highly recommend picking up this series if you've ever thought of giving this particular sub-genre a try but weren't sure where to begin; and for those of you who are already fans of transmigration stories, this truly is among the best of the best. You won't be disappointed if you give it a shot.
May 31, 2022
As of Chapter 158 / 2022-May-31:
A well-executed gamelit isekai with a twist where our protagonist is transported to the now real world of the game where is has extensive knowledge in. Tightly plotted with interesting developments that have so far kept me engaged. The author so far has been quite adept at keeping mini-arc(?) at a nice pace, not too long to feel dragging but just long enough to develop the overall narrative while fleshing our characters.
Speaking of, I think is the main weak point of webnovel, Argrave, our protagonist, is your generic modern isekai good guy caught in a bad situation trying his best to make most of it and prevent the impending apocalypse. He's smart, he's physically weak and he knows how to exploit his knowledge of the game to his advantage and adapt when things change from what he knows but sometimes it feels like he's just a sassy plot generating device. We do get glimpses of his doubts and fears of his responsibility to save the world and his companions are interesting though again, ultimately good guy bodyguards to our protagonist.
I recommend this webnovel for readers familiar with RPG games who want a fun and well written story about improving one's station in life while helping others along the way in order for everyone to come together for a common goal.
A well-executed gamelit isekai with a twist where our protagonist is transported to the now real world of the game where is has extensive knowledge in. Tightly plotted with interesting developments that have so far kept me engaged. The author so far has been quite adept at keeping mini-arc(?) at a nice pace, not too long to feel dragging but just long enough to develop the overall narrative while fleshing our characters.
Speaking of, I think is the main weak point of webnovel, Argrave, our protagonist, is your generic modern isekai good guy caught in a bad situation trying his best to make most of it and prevent the impending apocalypse. He's smart, he's physically weak and he knows how to exploit his knowledge of the game to his advantage and adapt when things change from what he knows but sometimes it feels like he's just a sassy plot generating device. We do get glimpses of his doubts and fears of his responsibility to save the world and his companions are interesting though again, ultimately good guy bodyguards to our protagonist.
I recommend this webnovel for readers familiar with RPG games who want a fun and well written story about improving one's station in life while helping others along the way in order for everyone to come together for a common goal.
February 28, 2024
Was looking for isekai or LitRPG with court intrigue and empire building, something similar to Bastard Last Life by Alexey Osadchuk... Reddit recommend this... I thoroughly enjoyed it. Itch satisfied.
November 9, 2022
Както казах, забавно е да се чете исекаи роман, в който главният герой е пренесен в тялото на някой, който има не особено добра репутация. Toва създава допълнителни трудности пред него и е струя освежаващ въздух сред наблъсканите една до друга хиляди и хиляди фентъзи книги в които героят е толкова непоправимо добър че ти се иска да го халосаш с нещо.
Jackal Among Snakes е добре написан, действието е интересно и забавно. За съжаление към края започва да става скучновато и да се повтаря.
Jackal Among Snakes е добре написан, действието е интересно и забавно. За съжаление към края започва да става скучновато и да се повтаря.
February 2, 2024
Jackal Among Snakes, Book 1 by Nemorosus:
Jackal Among Snakes, Book 1 thrusts readers into a gritty and intricate world of political intrigue, power struggles, and moral ambiguity. Nemorosus crafts a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish, weaving together complex characters and plot twists that leave a lasting impact.
Nemorosus's writing is sharp and evocative, immersing readers in a dark and dangerous world where alliances are forged and broken with the flick of a knife.
In this first installment, we follow the enigmatic protagonist as they navigate the treacherous landscape of a society teetering on the brink of collapse. The plot is intricately woven, with layers of mystery and betrayal that keep readers guessing until the very end.
The world-building in Jackal Among Snakes is rich and detailed, offering readers a glimpse into a society rife with tension and conflict.
Compared to its contemporaries in the fantasy genre, such as The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch or The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, Jackal Among Snakes stands out for its gritty realism and morally gray characters. While other fantasy novels may focus on epic battles or heroic quests, Nemorosus's work delves deep into the intricacies of human nature, exploring themes of power, ambition, and betrayal.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Jackal Among Snakes, Book 1 is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and political intrigue, offering a refreshing take on familiar tropes and themes. Nemorosus's debut is a promising start to what is sure to be an unforgettable series.
July 17, 2024
The voices on the audiobook aren't great. They are blown out and hard to listen to. The reader is using a "funny" voice for everyone. Without realizing that you have to listen to this for over 8 hours and a funny voice pull that much from a huge character isn't interesting after the first 3 mins. Really bad druggy version of Jim Carey impression. Completely distracts from the written content. (just look at this guys billing and he's actually a good reading. I love Iron druid back in the day. He read it. So, this awful read is probably what the author was looking for) [Dear Author, people listen to audiobooks right against there ears for hours sometimes. WEird Jim Carey as main MC's high pitch and weirdness all over the place causes ear fatigue.]
The story itself is ok. I don't care about the MC but I can see how well excuted it is. I don't care that we know so little of the guy but it would be nice to know WHY he loved this game so much he no lifed it. You kinda gotta understand him otherwise don't isekai just start the fantasy with the dood getting a knock on the head and changing. It's not innovating, there's not a moment where I'm having a humanization in the first book. I honestly, could forget this book walk away and not feel I missed much looking for the next. But it's mostly well excuted. It's just, too knowing.
Overall, its well written the MC is extremely knowing instead of intelligent. It would have been more fun if the guy was on the fly intelligent. I'd never reread or recomend it but I understand how people like it. Extreme capablity wish fuffilment. "smartest guy in the room crap" I get it, really do. Not my thing but willing to 4.0
Since it's from the USA possibly, maybe we won't get a harem. YAY
The story itself is ok. I don't care about the MC but I can see how well excuted it is. I don't care that we know so little of the guy but it would be nice to know WHY he loved this game so much he no lifed it. You kinda gotta understand him otherwise don't isekai just start the fantasy with the dood getting a knock on the head and changing. It's not innovating, there's not a moment where I'm having a humanization in the first book. I honestly, could forget this book walk away and not feel I missed much looking for the next. But it's mostly well excuted. It's just, too knowing.
Overall, its well written the MC is extremely knowing instead of intelligent. It would have been more fun if the guy was on the fly intelligent. I'd never reread or recomend it but I understand how people like it. Extreme capablity wish fuffilment. "smartest guy in the room crap" I get it, really do. Not my thing but willing to 4.0
Since it's from the USA possibly, maybe we won't get a harem. YAY
March 16, 2024
Ended up stumbling across this on Reddit, just a random post mentioning how good the series was. Didnt think much of it but added it to my TBR just incase, didnt even realise it was technically gamelit.
Glad I did though because events came together and I thought I'd randomly give it a try despite everything else on my TBR to get around to. Honestly amazing was my impression.
Whilst yes this is gamelit, its more about the MC using his knowledege of the world to manipulate events, and I do love a smart character. If anything its more about how this world is no longer a game and only contains minor game mechanics as things spiral further from the MC's established knowledge.
One of the best things about it is the MC, he doesnt suffer any of the typical hero arrogance. He knows what he's doing but he's constantly riddled with angst from a duty he doesnt want but is forced to bare by his own morality. He's confident with what he knows but is still understandably nervous by combat and anything that he knows how to do but still needs to actually acomplish.
The easiest way to explain it is our MC is charasmatic, knows it but NEVER tips into that self insert arrogance you often see. Which is ridiculously diffcult to avoid.
I've already bought the next volume and I will be looking forward to more.
Glad I did though because events came together and I thought I'd randomly give it a try despite everything else on my TBR to get around to. Honestly amazing was my impression.
Whilst yes this is gamelit, its more about the MC using his knowledege of the world to manipulate events, and I do love a smart character. If anything its more about how this world is no longer a game and only contains minor game mechanics as things spiral further from the MC's established knowledge.
One of the best things about it is the MC, he doesnt suffer any of the typical hero arrogance. He knows what he's doing but he's constantly riddled with angst from a duty he doesnt want but is forced to bare by his own morality. He's confident with what he knows but is still understandably nervous by combat and anything that he knows how to do but still needs to actually acomplish.
The easiest way to explain it is our MC is charasmatic, knows it but NEVER tips into that self insert arrogance you often see. Which is ridiculously diffcult to avoid.
I've already bought the next volume and I will be looking forward to more.
March 16, 2024
A college student wakes up in the body of character in his favorite game. How is this possible? He doesn't know, but he decides to use his extensive knowledge of the game to avert the coming apocalypse!
The beginning was a bit slow, but when it picked up, the action became non-stop. It also culminated with some excellent battles scenes. There was also a lot of activity in between as Argrave, the main character, enacted his plans. His machinations, and manipulations were a lot of fun. I also liked his sense of humor. The humor might not work for everyone.
There was one thing that bothered me, but not enough to bring down my rating. I'm still not sure how I feel about Argrave knowing everything. The author handled it well, for the most part, because Argrave's plans didn't always work out the way he wanted them to. As the series progresses, I can see the world changing in ways that Argrave didn't plan for, so I'm looking forward to that.
I want to mention the side characters. Very well rounded, distinct personalities, and I can't wait to see what happens to them in the next book.
The beginning was a bit slow, but when it picked up, the action became non-stop. It also culminated with some excellent battles scenes. There was also a lot of activity in between as Argrave, the main character, enacted his plans. His machinations, and manipulations were a lot of fun. I also liked his sense of humor. The humor might not work for everyone.
There was one thing that bothered me, but not enough to bring down my rating. I'm still not sure how I feel about Argrave knowing everything. The author handled it well, for the most part, because Argrave's plans didn't always work out the way he wanted them to. As the series progresses, I can see the world changing in ways that Argrave didn't plan for, so I'm looking forward to that.
I want to mention the side characters. Very well rounded, distinct personalities, and I can't wait to see what happens to them in the next book.
December 4, 2023
Transported into a game-turned-reality that our protagonist has explored extensively, Nemorosus has breathed life and magic into this captivating and deadly fantasy realm and its characters. The narrative unfolds with depth, weaving intricate lore, political intrigue, well-crafted adversaries. The journey is marked by exploration, adventure, and a sense of urgency that helps to push the plot forward.
This work invites readers to unravel the many layers of an immersive and creative world. Whether you are drawn to the world building, political machinations, magical growth, witty banter and intelligent characters or the thrill of exploration, this series offers a satisfying blend that is sure to satisfy most.
Not to knock Isekai too much but there have been a rather small number to really blow my socks off in pushing my enjoyment and appreciation of the genre forward, Dragon Heart by Kirill Klevanski and Azerinth Healer come to mind among a few others, I can safely add this series to the top of that list. If any of the above interests you I suggest giving this series a try.
This work invites readers to unravel the many layers of an immersive and creative world. Whether you are drawn to the world building, political machinations, magical growth, witty banter and intelligent characters or the thrill of exploration, this series offers a satisfying blend that is sure to satisfy most.
Not to knock Isekai too much but there have been a rather small number to really blow my socks off in pushing my enjoyment and appreciation of the genre forward, Dragon Heart by Kirill Klevanski and Azerinth Healer come to mind among a few others, I can safely add this series to the top of that list. If any of the above interests you I suggest giving this series a try.
January 29, 2024
I'm reviewing the unabridged Audible version.
This book was entertaining for the first half, then it became annoying. The constant insistent (and that's NO exaggeration) of the sarcasm and inane banter makes this droll. A bit was humorous ... however was fast outpaced by boring, and finally surpassed by ANNOYING!
This could have easily been a 4 star rating had a little restraint been shown. The characters are interesting ... though the MC is a disaster of a likeable person (I could find FEW redeeming qualities and doubt ANYONE would want to be his friend ... or near him). The premise, though cliche, was interesting. The plot okay, but full of annoying plot mice. And the magic system, intriguing. The LitRPG aspect was a waste and what little there was a reach that served no purpose.
But the meat of the whole review is this: When you start wanting a book to JUST be over, then you get a 2 star rating.
Always remember, that reviews are opinions and this represents mine: Obnoxious and annoying.
This book was entertaining for the first half, then it became annoying. The constant insistent (and that's NO exaggeration) of the sarcasm and inane banter makes this droll. A bit was humorous ... however was fast outpaced by boring, and finally surpassed by ANNOYING!
This could have easily been a 4 star rating had a little restraint been shown. The characters are interesting ... though the MC is a disaster of a likeable person (I could find FEW redeeming qualities and doubt ANYONE would want to be his friend ... or near him). The premise, though cliche, was interesting. The plot okay, but full of annoying plot mice. And the magic system, intriguing. The LitRPG aspect was a waste and what little there was a reach that served no purpose.
But the meat of the whole review is this: When you start wanting a book to JUST be over, then you get a 2 star rating.
Always remember, that reviews are opinions and this represents mine: Obnoxious and annoying.
December 19, 2023
It's supposed to be fun if you get sucked into a game. But for Argrave, the bastard son of the ruling family, this game is anything but. "Fun" for players means events. Wars. Plagues. Apocalypses. Decisions you can make in an open world to engage with various characters and plots. But when you're stuck living in a game where the end of the world is just over the horizon, suddenly it feels a lot more stressful . . .
It's hard to describe just how good this is. Heroes of Berendar sounds similar to many modern open-world RPGs: a large selection of playable characters, a plot that unfolds in various ways depending on which quests you engage in and which factions you support, and a lot of worldly (and godly) chaos to tackle. But all that stuff only sounds good when you're on the OTHER side of the screen.
For Argrave, this is just one long nightmare.
Argrave was never one of the playable characters, although the man who took over his body knows a fair amount about him. This puts him somewhat outside the usual plotlines, which gives him some degree of freedom. And his status as a sort-of royal can be useful, when it isn't garnering him enemies because his family is a pit of vipers. Between his vestige of status, his knowledge of the game world (fueled by thousands of hours spent compiling a wiki for said game), and his general unwillingness to let the world burn, he's hoping he has what it takes. The problem is, he's got dismal physical strength and a fairly negative reputation.
This is such a realized world. I love how Argrave frankly discusses the pros and cons of the upcoming civil war, and how having a terrible king (and an even worse heir to the throne) doesn't necessarily mean siding with the rebels is better. There are problems with both paths. Nikoletta and Elias may be "good" characters, but Argrave can't do more than attempt to steer them in the right direction---they distrust him on principle, and he's not invested enough in just them to explain more than he has to.
No, Argrave finds the best help is hired help. I love his complicated relationship with the vampire Viking-elf mercenary Galamon. Galamon doesn't ask too many questions, since a job is a job, and Argrave pays well. And then he starts to get some idea of what Argrave is REALLY up to and regrets everything. But once he learns everything, it's far too late to back out. Galamon really carries the book once he's introduced. It's so much fun to watch his disbelief turn to total faith that Argrave can actually pull this off if anyone can.
Overall, this is a great fantasy, with a solid plot, engaging characters, and several laughs despite the serious content. I rate this book Highly Recommended.
It's hard to describe just how good this is. Heroes of Berendar sounds similar to many modern open-world RPGs: a large selection of playable characters, a plot that unfolds in various ways depending on which quests you engage in and which factions you support, and a lot of worldly (and godly) chaos to tackle. But all that stuff only sounds good when you're on the OTHER side of the screen.
For Argrave, this is just one long nightmare.
Argrave was never one of the playable characters, although the man who took over his body knows a fair amount about him. This puts him somewhat outside the usual plotlines, which gives him some degree of freedom. And his status as a sort-of royal can be useful, when it isn't garnering him enemies because his family is a pit of vipers. Between his vestige of status, his knowledge of the game world (fueled by thousands of hours spent compiling a wiki for said game), and his general unwillingness to let the world burn, he's hoping he has what it takes. The problem is, he's got dismal physical strength and a fairly negative reputation.
This is such a realized world. I love how Argrave frankly discusses the pros and cons of the upcoming civil war, and how having a terrible king (and an even worse heir to the throne) doesn't necessarily mean siding with the rebels is better. There are problems with both paths. Nikoletta and Elias may be "good" characters, but Argrave can't do more than attempt to steer them in the right direction---they distrust him on principle, and he's not invested enough in just them to explain more than he has to.
No, Argrave finds the best help is hired help. I love his complicated relationship with the vampire Viking-elf mercenary Galamon. Galamon doesn't ask too many questions, since a job is a job, and Argrave pays well. And then he starts to get some idea of what Argrave is REALLY up to and regrets everything. But once he learns everything, it's far too late to back out. Galamon really carries the book once he's introduced. It's so much fun to watch his disbelief turn to total faith that Argrave can actually pull this off if anyone can.
Overall, this is a great fantasy, with a solid plot, engaging characters, and several laughs despite the serious content. I rate this book Highly Recommended.
October 1, 2024
Jackal Among Snakes was definitely an interesting read. The MC, Argrave, is quite the witty one, armed with a silver tongue and plenty of humor. After finding himself inside a game he used to write a wiki for in his previous life, he’s thrust into battles and ends up living out the story firsthand.
What makes it particularly engaging is how Argrave’s knowledge of the game world, its people, and the outcomes gives him a unique edge, having played the game countless times before.
I highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers! If you enjoy a chatty, quick-witted protagonist, this one’s for you. The banter had me laughing more often than not.
And it’s not just Argrave—every character is well-developed, with their own distinct traits that really bring the story to life.
Thanks for reading my review, and happy reading! 🤎
What makes it particularly engaging is how Argrave’s knowledge of the game world, its people, and the outcomes gives him a unique edge, having played the game countless times before.
I highly recommend it to all fantasy lovers! If you enjoy a chatty, quick-witted protagonist, this one’s for you. The banter had me laughing more often than not.
And it’s not just Argrave—every character is well-developed, with their own distinct traits that really bring the story to life.
Thanks for reading my review, and happy reading! 🤎
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2024
Finished. Fine writing skills, decent plot, very slow slice of life grind though. I kept wanting to put it down. It felt like a slog to read but author had just enough content to keep me invested. It was like this for most the subsequent books in this series. I ended up dnf-ing midway through book 5. Just too slow and boring. Main protagonisy rarely fights, knows all world secrets, and has little-to-no character progression-- just quest progression after quest progression. I was quite irked after a few days because the author categorized this series as gamelit. Felt misleading because i was hoping for something for litrpg ie stats and numbers. oh well. back to searching for a replacement series to binge read.
June 27, 2024
It started well.
"I was reincarnated into the villain of my preferred light novel but I won't make the same mistakes". Classic Shoujo manga stuff.
I don't hate the formula, if it's handled deftly.
But two issues plagued this audiobook for me.
1. The narrator overdid the voices to the point of distraction. It got irritating very, very fast.
2. The story got boring. I can't say it any other way. It's hard investing empathy in a tale where the NPCs are so... NPC-like, you know? Repeating over and over that "it's real life" isn't going to inject verisimilitude into the world. Little details, things that happen independently from the MCs involvement, those are what gives shape to the world. I didn't get enough of those here, so, as I often say, the world didn't coalesce into my mind.
Besides those issues, it's an Okay book.
I'm stopping here, but YMMV.
"I was reincarnated into the villain of my preferred light novel but I won't make the same mistakes". Classic Shoujo manga stuff.
I don't hate the formula, if it's handled deftly.
But two issues plagued this audiobook for me.
1. The narrator overdid the voices to the point of distraction. It got irritating very, very fast.
2. The story got boring. I can't say it any other way. It's hard investing empathy in a tale where the NPCs are so... NPC-like, you know? Repeating over and over that "it's real life" isn't going to inject verisimilitude into the world. Little details, things that happen independently from the MCs involvement, those are what gives shape to the world. I didn't get enough of those here, so, as I often say, the world didn't coalesce into my mind.
Besides those issues, it's an Okay book.
I'm stopping here, but YMMV.
August 12, 2025
A hard book to rate. I'm pretty sure this is a great book, and probably a great series, but it wasn't the book I was looking for.
Interesting world, interesting characters, interesting premise, interesting everything really. A fun spin on the LitRPG tropes.
But I was hoping for something a bit…warmer. Softer. Happier, maybe. This is a story about high stakes trying to prevent the end of the world and…I dunno, it didn't quite hit for me.
Do I give it 1 stars because I gave up halfway through after not having enjoyed it? 5 stars because I'm pretty sure if this book is your cup of tea you're going to love it? Feh.
Interesting world, interesting characters, interesting premise, interesting everything really. A fun spin on the LitRPG tropes.
But I was hoping for something a bit…warmer. Softer. Happier, maybe. This is a story about high stakes trying to prevent the end of the world and…I dunno, it didn't quite hit for me.
Do I give it 1 stars because I gave up halfway through after not having enjoyed it? 5 stars because I'm pretty sure if this book is your cup of tea you're going to love it? Feh.
December 1, 2025
first off, as others have stated, the narrator completely sabotaged this book from being great by his baffling performance of the MC. he used a similar voice for a side character in iron forged, and it was annoying then but I guessed he was going for a stoner surfer dude vibe, and it was just a side character so whatever, but this continuously took me out of the book.
Second, I haven't enjoyed books that take place in games for a long time, books where they're just playing a game or even ones where they're stuck like sword art online. however this premise was enough for me to get immersed and truly enjoy it. despite the narrator, I will continue this series.
Second, I haven't enjoyed books that take place in games for a long time, books where they're just playing a game or even ones where they're stuck like sword art online. however this premise was enough for me to get immersed and truly enjoy it. despite the narrator, I will continue this series.
December 6, 2023
Jackal Among Snakes
The world is coming to the edge where calamity after calamity will lead it to the apocalypse. Fortunately, that is when a gamer and wiki editor finds himself transposed into the body of a minor villain NPC of his favorite game. This world seems to be an almost exact copy of the game. Having played this game so many times, he knows the secrets inside and out. The problem is that the NPC he now inhabits has his own enemies. Not to mention, it’s a lot easier and less painful when you are sitting behind a keyboard.
This was a really fun mixing of genres. It has the game aspects of a VRMMO story, the future knowledge of a regression story, and the Isekai character. Argrave is an interesting character. He’s trying to play off his NPC as being a haughty noble bastard. He comes across as a 90’s level of sarcasm. I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next! Luke Daniel’s does a fantastic job narrating.
Content warning: none
The world is coming to the edge where calamity after calamity will lead it to the apocalypse. Fortunately, that is when a gamer and wiki editor finds himself transposed into the body of a minor villain NPC of his favorite game. This world seems to be an almost exact copy of the game. Having played this game so many times, he knows the secrets inside and out. The problem is that the NPC he now inhabits has his own enemies. Not to mention, it’s a lot easier and less painful when you are sitting behind a keyboard.
This was a really fun mixing of genres. It has the game aspects of a VRMMO story, the future knowledge of a regression story, and the Isekai character. Argrave is an interesting character. He’s trying to play off his NPC as being a haughty noble bastard. He comes across as a 90’s level of sarcasm. I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next! Luke Daniel’s does a fantastic job narrating.
Content warning: none
June 26, 2024
For me, this book's beginning was excellent. I was so intrigued, so pulled in.
So basically, he has knowledge of this world, unparallelled knowledge... So, with all the knowledge, couldn't our boy rise high in this world? No... Apparently he will need 3 books just to get himself an upgrade on his body. Its just TOO SLOW... it got boring. I was so excited but alas. Perhaps I will pick it back up in book 6 or 7 or wherever he begins the 'kingdom building' that I read about. I love kingdom building, but there is none of that in the first books as far as I understand.
So basically, he has knowledge of this world, unparallelled knowledge... So, with all the knowledge, couldn't our boy rise high in this world? No... Apparently he will need 3 books just to get himself an upgrade on his body. Its just TOO SLOW... it got boring. I was so excited but alas. Perhaps I will pick it back up in book 6 or 7 or wherever he begins the 'kingdom building' that I read about. I love kingdom building, but there is none of that in the first books as far as I understand.
September 5, 2025
Multiple people recommended that I should give this a read, so here we go.
Hmm. This was "okay". It's one of those "trapped in my favourite game" type of novels. Where the protag uses his insider knowledge to get ahead.
The story wasn't really to my liking, but I don't mind reading the sequel.
Tall and gangly, doesn't seem overly strong (yes, I know power fantasy rotted my brain). He doesn't even try to import some knowledge from earth into his new world. Maybe pressed for time?
We will see.
3/5 Stars
Hmm. This was "okay". It's one of those "trapped in my favourite game" type of novels. Where the protag uses his insider knowledge to get ahead.
The story wasn't really to my liking, but I don't mind reading the sequel.
Tall and gangly, doesn't seem overly strong (yes, I know power fantasy rotted my brain). He doesn't even try to import some knowledge from earth into his new world. Maybe pressed for time?
We will see.
3/5 Stars
February 22, 2024
SOLID
Unique among the gamelit genre in that it doesn't lean heavily on the gameification of the world... for anyone but the main character. Even then, the RPG elements are minimally present, and the book stands on its own as a well written story with grounded, reasonable characters and an easy humor. It does get rather dark at times, but doesn't dwell in the grimdark.
Great read.
Unique among the gamelit genre in that it doesn't lean heavily on the gameification of the world... for anyone but the main character. Even then, the RPG elements are minimally present, and the book stands on its own as a well written story with grounded, reasonable characters and an easy humor. It does get rather dark at times, but doesn't dwell in the grimdark.
Great read.
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