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Melody of Mana #5
Melody of Mana 5: A Progression Fantasy
Political plots, kingly coups, and unexpected affairs keep bardic mage Alana on her toes in the fifth installment of this character-driven fantasy series.
Since waking up from a terrible accident on Earth to find herself in the Kingdom of Bergond almost twenty years ago, Alana has faced more than her fair share of challenges. Most recently, she’s been commissioned by Emperor Durin to set up a magical portal that will connect the capital city of Ermath to the far northern reaches of his domain in Linden. Only, the journey to Linden is plagued from the outset. It seems someone knows about the mission and will do whatever it takes to prevent its completion.
As if that weren’t enough, Alana’s Earthly past seems determined to catch up with her—with potentially catastrophic consequences. Now, she’ll have to untangle a tricky conundrum of time and space to get the gates operational, all the while contending with shadowy threats to her safety as well as dangerous rumors that could expose her otherworldly origins.
Filled with metaphysical puzzles, dangerous escapes, irresistible relationship drama, and fascinating courtly intrigue, Melody of Mana 5 is a page-turning conclusion to this tightly plotted isekai series.
The fifth volume of the hit progression-fantasy series—with almost four million views on Royal Road—now available on Audible and wherever ebooks are sold!
Since waking up from a terrible accident on Earth to find herself in the Kingdom of Bergond almost twenty years ago, Alana has faced more than her fair share of challenges. Most recently, she’s been commissioned by Emperor Durin to set up a magical portal that will connect the capital city of Ermath to the far northern reaches of his domain in Linden. Only, the journey to Linden is plagued from the outset. It seems someone knows about the mission and will do whatever it takes to prevent its completion.
As if that weren’t enough, Alana’s Earthly past seems determined to catch up with her—with potentially catastrophic consequences. Now, she’ll have to untangle a tricky conundrum of time and space to get the gates operational, all the while contending with shadowy threats to her safety as well as dangerous rumors that could expose her otherworldly origins.
Filled with metaphysical puzzles, dangerous escapes, irresistible relationship drama, and fascinating courtly intrigue, Melody of Mana 5 is a page-turning conclusion to this tightly plotted isekai series.
The fifth volume of the hit progression-fantasy series—with almost four million views on Royal Road—now available on Audible and wherever ebooks are sold!
209 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2024
50 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 19, 2024
I reviewed this as a series. It was really good. Details at the review of the first.
June 22, 2024
royal road for last part of story - 240 - as of 6/22/2024 it's not out yet on amazon.
If the story had ended on like book 3ish it would have been a better story. The last 2 books kind of ruin the stakes, pacing, and more. You get this blah and this blah and that blah and more. Instead of working through it with moviation and mystery. And there's a way to write these last 3 books in the seires as more of an epilogue with a big event happening. But it leaves a poor taste in the mouth.
This kind of falls apart not in a good way. Where it's wonderfully thoughtfully broken ending filled with the uncertainty of life. That all choices don't equal happy ever after and empire is a give or take type thing but it doesn't make it a bad thing. Like the bad news bears.
the shadow empire is the most sus of sus. Like don't even know what to do with this last book.
The romace is hamfisted. You need a redeeming moment for a male lead. Not simply a nice guy but compellingly interesting. And a connection (not simply knowing her secret) truly connecting on a human level. IE- the way she did with her girlfriend but also investing in that moment and bringing it forward which the author didn't do. I'd have rather she got another really good friend. Instead of the oh I needa boyfriend thing. It treats relationships not as an emotional connection and instead as a fill in take a handbag like everyone else. Would have been better off not attempting it.
Overall 3 - good, interesting story ok but it's such a bag drop it gets distracting in section. It turns away from what drew you in. And everytime she was solo the story was actually better which is just a weakness to the way this author writes side characters. You don't ever feel like the MC is stronger as she uses the people around her well and improves the people around her. Instead you get the feeling that everyone around her is some level of dumb. IE- call back to second book and her simply thinking the noble guy trying to make a connection with her is simply dumb. Which makes no sense because bards are stronger in concert. my frustration for this story.
wrap up part 2: I still give the series as a whole 5 stars. those first 3 books were just so well excuted.
If the story had ended on like book 3ish it would have been a better story. The last 2 books kind of ruin the stakes, pacing, and more. You get this blah and this blah and that blah and more. Instead of working through it with moviation and mystery. And there's a way to write these last 3 books in the seires as more of an epilogue with a big event happening. But it leaves a poor taste in the mouth.
This kind of falls apart not in a good way. Where it's wonderfully thoughtfully broken ending filled with the uncertainty of life. That all choices don't equal happy ever after and empire is a give or take type thing but it doesn't make it a bad thing. Like the bad news bears.
the shadow empire is the most sus of sus. Like don't even know what to do with this last book.
The romace is hamfisted. You need a redeeming moment for a male lead. Not simply a nice guy but compellingly interesting. And a connection (not simply knowing her secret) truly connecting on a human level. IE- the way she did with her girlfriend but also investing in that moment and bringing it forward which the author didn't do. I'd have rather she got another really good friend. Instead of the oh I needa boyfriend thing. It treats relationships not as an emotional connection and instead as a fill in take a handbag like everyone else. Would have been better off not attempting it.
Overall 3 - good, interesting story ok but it's such a bag drop it gets distracting in section. It turns away from what drew you in. And everytime she was solo the story was actually better which is just a weakness to the way this author writes side characters. You don't ever feel like the MC is stronger as she uses the people around her well and improves the people around her. Instead you get the feeling that everyone around her is some level of dumb. IE- call back to second book and her simply thinking the noble guy trying to make a connection with her is simply dumb. Which makes no sense because bards are stronger in concert. my frustration for this story.
wrap up part 2: I still give the series as a whole 5 stars. those first 3 books were just so well excuted.
July 5, 2024
that is not a conclusion
April 9, 2025
This volume has some odd pacing, with the event I expected coming much earlier than I expected and the after-effects being somewhat minimal.
I think it's the characterization that puts this series at good rather than great for me. Part of it might be a symptom of Alana being so independent and always wanting to stay on the move. I hate to say it, but maybe she also comes across as a bit basic to me. It just seems like her wants and desires usually boil down to really typical things that anyone in her predicament would want and I can't really say I've gotten much in the way of unique flavor from her personality.
While there's a large cast of characters, it also seems like none of them really go beyond two-dimensional. I don't remember seeing many of the head-scratching contradictions that usually come with being human. Most characters were what they were more than who they were and their wants and desires usually stayed pretty tight to their role.
The worldbuilding and magic system are the main interest for me, but I guess it needs a bit more help from the other categories like character and plot to boost it up to that 5th star. I've generally enjoyed everything so far, but I don't have any specific scenes that I remember vividly the way I normally would with a character I was more into or a plot that had more twists.
At the end of the day, even if this stays firmly in 4-star territory, it was a fun series with some interesting magic. I'm curious to see where the story finishes in the next volume.
I think it's the characterization that puts this series at good rather than great for me. Part of it might be a symptom of Alana being so independent and always wanting to stay on the move. I hate to say it, but maybe she also comes across as a bit basic to me. It just seems like her wants and desires usually boil down to really typical things that anyone in her predicament would want and I can't really say I've gotten much in the way of unique flavor from her personality.
While there's a large cast of characters, it also seems like none of them really go beyond two-dimensional. I don't remember seeing many of the head-scratching contradictions that usually come with being human. Most characters were what they were more than who they were and their wants and desires usually stayed pretty tight to their role.
The worldbuilding and magic system are the main interest for me, but I guess it needs a bit more help from the other categories like character and plot to boost it up to that 5th star. I've generally enjoyed everything so far, but I don't have any specific scenes that I remember vividly the way I normally would with a character I was more into or a plot that had more twists.
At the end of the day, even if this stays firmly in 4-star territory, it was a fun series with some interesting magic. I'm curious to see where the story finishes in the next volume.
November 9, 2025
It’s been a while since I read this series, so frankly, I had forgotten most of the cast of characters. I don’t feel like that mattered tremendously. I was either able to piece it out by context, or the reference was really just in passing. And, somewhat a criticism of the character, Alana is very practical, pragmatic and dispassionate. As such, despite lots of commentary about the importance of family and friends, I never felt particularly emotionally attached to the other characters.
The plot of this novel was better than the last, though the ‘progression’ has largely disappeared from this ‘progression fantasy.’ The realignment of Alana’s mission is not something I saw coming.
Overall, decent page-turner, and it put me in the mood to continue to the next volume.
The plot of this novel was better than the last, though the ‘progression’ has largely disappeared from this ‘progression fantasy.’ The realignment of Alana’s mission is not something I saw coming.
Overall, decent page-turner, and it put me in the mood to continue to the next volume.
April 12, 2025
This was more engaging than the fourth, so I was generous in rating it. I started to lose interest with the rough handling of yet another kidnapping and the male voiced interruptions were slightly confusing, and not enjoyable. But my interest picked up in the last third. Still, not nearly as grand as the first two episodes. The ending was fun, when she realized she could really have something she wanted.
October 6, 2025
Review
I honestly do love this series, the one dislike I'd have is how jumps/skips time without any clear indication. Most series will do "?? Years Later" in bold text with a line/divider to separate it but these time skips aren't separated and makes it confusing. I also really don't like how fast how the MCs relationship (won't spoil) gets really serious really fast without any progression or build up. It makes me really dislike the guy because of it.
I honestly do love this series, the one dislike I'd have is how jumps/skips time without any clear indication. Most series will do "?? Years Later" in bold text with a line/divider to separate it but these time skips aren't separated and makes it confusing. I also really don't like how fast how the MCs relationship (won't spoil) gets really serious really fast without any progression or build up. It makes me really dislike the guy because of it.
December 23, 2025
This series has really gone downhill. Book four was pretty bad, barely a book at all. This book is somewhat better, but it just wasnt interesting. MC isn't as smart as she thinks she is. She's terrible at hiding things. She's not great at making decisions. And in this book, we just get lost in her trying do stuff with the gates. It really fails the "show, don't tell" saying.
The books have become shorter and just worse...
The books have become shorter and just worse...
March 14, 2024
It is confusing that it says this book is the conclusion when it is clearly not. That should be reworded and the book finished very abruptly
April 21, 2024
This may be the best one yet. Alana was put under a lot of pressure and had to pull out all the stops. Good stuff!
May 1, 2024
Great addition 4.5/5
January 16, 2025
These books got progressively shorter and shorter since book one.
I still don't know how this series will end, but will pick up the sequel.
3/5 Stars
I still don't know how this series will end, but will pick up the sequel.
3/5 Stars
May 1, 2025
This was an adventurous continuation of the series with quite a bit of action and intrigue taking place. At one point Alana is kidnapped and has to find a way to escape. She ends up saving the life of the emperor while doing this and ending the life of a former teacher which wins her more trust than she may have otherwise had. This part of the series has more romantic elements to it than previous books and i definitely appreciate the relationship between Alana and her partner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews