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A Soldier's Life #2
Sobral City
The politics of the Telhian Empire are on display as Eryk and the company navigates the dangers within the Empire. The wayward hero thinks he is going to have time to relax after the harrowing experience in Macha. Things are never that simple as Eryk continues to grow and mature as a soldier.
474 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
February 6, 2025
This is second in an isekai LitRPG series you'll want to read in order. Or not because it's a trap! See below for details.
I've been worried that Eryk would do a runner or something else to abandon his troop. I've grown to like them and their various personalities, including his Mage commander. I'm not entirely sure why they don't abandon him, though.
Frankly, I don't get Eryk's motivations throughout this story. He's an otherworlder and completely afraid to take anyone into his confidence. So he's sneaking magic resources and practice and hiding his abilities and acts like a complete paranoid nutter, even about some basic things. This irks me because his commander is going out of her way to show him trust and give him training and help him in ways that she knows would only help him abandon them in the future should he choose. So it's honest and appears non-self-interested. And yet Eryk never, not even a little, extends any trust himself.
At the same time, he's the biggest idiot about doing and saying things that risk outing him as an otherworlder. He's almost recklessly casual about idioms and phrases and even when people are all "what's that mean?" he's all like, shrugging it off and not even trying to restrain himself.
It's the weirdest dichotomy and makes me hate him just a little bit. You see, I like his friends and cohort. I could almost join him in a tightly clenched paranoia if he wants to see it that way because the stakes couldn't be higher. But he, himself, is not taking those stakes seriously. He's both acting like he's in the biggest danger imaginable and acting like he's surrounded by morons who can't add two and two to get four.
Still, the story was fun, the pace is good, and I liked both the new friends he finds and the continuing relationship with his current friends. Oh. Except for Konstantin. Eryk's almost casually dismissive of the trainer who actually likes and trusts him and I don't get that at all.
Anyway, I'm going to go with four stars even if the trap makes me want to tank the rating just so others aren't fooled. It's a trap! Go back now! Still, I had fun reading it even if I refuse to fall into the trap and read the rest.
A note about Steamy: Eryk is an idiot but eventually falls to temptation with a willing woman. There's not much steam at all, but there's enough that I'm flipping the tag. I also don't like his treatment of her on the trust/don't trust front as, again, he's completely unreasoned about it with her as well. Do or don't but pick one, please.
It's a trap!!!: So it turns out that this is a four-book (so far) series with the author ramping up the price by a dollar with each book. What's that you say? It's on Kindle Unlimited so you don't care? Not so fast my binge-reading friend! Only the first two books are in Kindle Unlimited. The third is a hefty $7 and the fourth is $8. You might want to take this into account if you decide to start this series.
I've been worried that Eryk would do a runner or something else to abandon his troop. I've grown to like them and their various personalities, including his Mage commander. I'm not entirely sure why they don't abandon him, though.
Frankly, I don't get Eryk's motivations throughout this story. He's an otherworlder and completely afraid to take anyone into his confidence. So he's sneaking magic resources and practice and hiding his abilities and acts like a complete paranoid nutter, even about some basic things. This irks me because his commander is going out of her way to show him trust and give him training and help him in ways that she knows would only help him abandon them in the future should he choose. So it's honest and appears non-self-interested. And yet Eryk never, not even a little, extends any trust himself.
At the same time, he's the biggest idiot about doing and saying things that risk outing him as an otherworlder. He's almost recklessly casual about idioms and phrases and even when people are all "what's that mean?" he's all like, shrugging it off and not even trying to restrain himself.
It's the weirdest dichotomy and makes me hate him just a little bit. You see, I like his friends and cohort. I could almost join him in a tightly clenched paranoia if he wants to see it that way because the stakes couldn't be higher. But he, himself, is not taking those stakes seriously. He's both acting like he's in the biggest danger imaginable and acting like he's surrounded by morons who can't add two and two to get four.
Still, the story was fun, the pace is good, and I liked both the new friends he finds and the continuing relationship with his current friends. Oh. Except for Konstantin. Eryk's almost casually dismissive of the trainer who actually likes and trusts him and I don't get that at all.
Anyway, I'm going to go with four stars even if the trap makes me want to tank the rating just so others aren't fooled. It's a trap! Go back now! Still, I had fun reading it even if I refuse to fall into the trap and read the rest.
A note about Steamy: Eryk is an idiot but eventually falls to temptation with a willing woman. There's not much steam at all, but there's enough that I'm flipping the tag. I also don't like his treatment of her on the trust/don't trust front as, again, he's completely unreasoned about it with her as well. Do or don't but pick one, please.
It's a trap!!!: So it turns out that this is a four-book (so far) series with the author ramping up the price by a dollar with each book. What's that you say? It's on Kindle Unlimited so you don't care? Not so fast my binge-reading friend! Only the first two books are in Kindle Unlimited. The third is a hefty $7 and the fourth is $8. You might want to take this into account if you decide to start this series.
October 22, 2025
4/5 sólido y alto. Estoy disfrutando mucho estos libros!
Gracias a Chefo JL por ponérmelos en el radar, ha sido un completo acierto.
Por complementar un poco la reseña del primero, es una mezcla de fantasía y acción en un entorno (algo así como) romano pero con magia y criaturas. Además tiene un toque de secretos, intrigas políticas, traiciones etc... Muy completo, muy divertido, muy recomendable.
Peeero repito que cada libro no es independiente sino una agrupación de capítulos. El primero es del 1 al 60, el segundo del 61 al 120 y el tercero empieza en el 122. Es una sola historia seguida... y un enganche!
Gracias a Chefo JL por ponérmelos en el radar, ha sido un completo acierto.
Por complementar un poco la reseña del primero, es una mezcla de fantasía y acción en un entorno (algo así como) romano pero con magia y criaturas. Además tiene un toque de secretos, intrigas políticas, traiciones etc... Muy completo, muy divertido, muy recomendable.
Peeero repito que cada libro no es independiente sino una agrupación de capítulos. El primero es del 1 al 60, el segundo del 61 al 120 y el tercero empieza en el 122. Es una sola historia seguida... y un enganche!
July 10, 2024
The tension is high throughout this book. Eryk is determined to maintain his freedom by growing in power/abilities but must remain hidden from all but the most trusted allies. That's not easy with an incipient war, on top of overt political maneuvers that could kill him at any time.
I inhaled this book in one day. Loving it!
I inhaled this book in one day. Loving it!
June 11, 2024
Sebuah novel bergenre isekai (tercampak ke dunia lain) dan high fantasy. Recommended untuk peminat genre ni. Seperti buku pertama, plot dan world building novel ni menarik serta menghiburkan. Menyambung kisah Eryk yg tercampak ke dunia fantasi dan terpaksa hidup sebagai seorang askar.
August 13, 2025
fun
The narrative wanders widely, but the MC is armored enough. Not even a year and he’s fought giants, a wyvern, and manticores.
Going to buy 3 now.
The narrative wanders widely, but the MC is armored enough. Not even a year and he’s fought giants, a wyvern, and manticores.
Going to buy 3 now.
February 24, 2025
I'm really enjoying this series as it scratches so many itches. Not only does it provide the experience I normally associate with military sci-fi, but it's one of the few fantasy stories I've read that manages to draw influence heavily from Dungeons & Dragons without overdosing on "critical fail" scenarios that would result from rolling a 1. While those situations may make for great entertainment when playing tabletop, it's usually not what I want when I'm reading a gamelit unless the story is upfront about being a comedy from the start.
This volume fleshes out many of the characters as we fill in more of their backstories and specific roles within Castile's company. Eryk manages to unclench a little bit as well as he gets more acclimated to the new reality and his pov has a bit more humor to it in this volume.
I've seen some complaints from some people who get upset that Eryk has special affinities and that now he's a typical OP character. I can see how people looking for the pure footsoldier experience might feel a little let down, but rather than being an OP character, Eryk is more of a skilled soldier with an OP trump card. This itself brings many difficulties as keeping this trump card secret is essential and yet he finds himself in situations requiring its use more often.
I feel like the next couple volumes will ramp up the tension with regard to Eryk's secret powers and the question will be whether he can develop them to an extent that he can defend himself before the top political powers get too interested in him.
I can't wait to see where things go in the next volume and then I guess it will be a bit of a wait for volume 4 later this summer.
This volume fleshes out many of the characters as we fill in more of their backstories and specific roles within Castile's company. Eryk manages to unclench a little bit as well as he gets more acclimated to the new reality and his pov has a bit more humor to it in this volume.
I've seen some complaints from some people who get upset that Eryk has special affinities and that now he's a typical OP character. I can see how people looking for the pure footsoldier experience might feel a little let down, but rather than being an OP character, Eryk is more of a skilled soldier with an OP trump card. This itself brings many difficulties as keeping this trump card secret is essential and yet he finds himself in situations requiring its use more often.
I feel like the next couple volumes will ramp up the tension with regard to Eryk's secret powers and the question will be whether he can develop them to an extent that he can defend himself before the top political powers get too interested in him.
I can't wait to see where things go in the next volume and then I guess it will be a bit of a wait for volume 4 later this summer.
August 6, 2024
A Soldiers Life - Book 1and 2_
I was somewhat remiss by somehow forgetting to leave a review after book 1, but I do want to assure people that this has been a thoroughly enjoyable read in both books. Well worth investing the time and effort in to read and enjoy!
Thank you!
I was somewhat remiss by somehow forgetting to leave a review after book 1, but I do want to assure people that this has been a thoroughly enjoyable read in both books. Well worth investing the time and effort in to read and enjoy!
Thank you!
February 14, 2025
What an ending. This series does a great job of adding more and more issues for the protagonist to figure out how to resolve.
September 3, 2025
Popcorn read, a quick palate cleanser with no difficult characters or high-level writing, just a very easy read which doesn't require too much focus.
January 15, 2025
As good as the first book, on to book three.
July 12, 2024
An even better entry in the series than the last. Had a few spelling and grammar errors, but nothing to seriously detract from the spell-binding nature of the story and compelling narrative.
Definitely looking forward to Book 3 in December and Book 4 at some point in 2025, although apparently the author has all of book 3 done and published on their Patreon page and began publishing a couple chapters of book 4 every week starting back in May.
Definitely looking forward to Book 3 in December and Book 4 at some point in 2025, although apparently the author has all of book 3 done and published on their Patreon page and began publishing a couple chapters of book 4 every week starting back in May.
October 31, 2025
Book 2 keeps the grit but adds brains to the brawn. The legion’s campaigns take a back seat to intrigue, training, and the slow mastery of magic. Eryk’s growth as both soldier and mage is steady and believable, full of setbacks and quiet victories. The shifting politics of the empire and the power plays among its rulers give the story a more strategic, layered tone.
The blend of discipline, danger, and discovery makes it hard to put down. The ending hints that Eryk’s secrets are beginning to draw attention, setting the stage for trouble ahead.
The blend of discipline, danger, and discovery makes it hard to put down. The ending hints that Eryk’s secrets are beginning to draw attention, setting the stage for trouble ahead.
August 5, 2024
Better than the first book
But man, this main character is not a likeable guy. He has no redeeming qualities and he isn't learning any. The MC is static. Not trying to change anything, just doing the bare minimum to get by and whining everytime he has to do something. He steals and cheats from his friends. I would much rather follow a different character.
But man, this main character is not a likeable guy. He has no redeeming qualities and he isn't learning any. The MC is static. Not trying to change anything, just doing the bare minimum to get by and whining everytime he has to do something. He steals and cheats from his friends. I would much rather follow a different character.
June 30, 2024
still going strong
The story is still sticking with a strong slice of life isekai theme. Got a little worried at the beginning it was going to be a let down but book 2 didn't disappoint as it went on. Good binge read
The story is still sticking with a strong slice of life isekai theme. Got a little worried at the beginning it was going to be a let down but book 2 didn't disappoint as it went on. Good binge read
April 1, 2025
A much improved book to the first, but still filled with contradictions and sloppiness.
What does this series do well so far? Well the story is engaging even if the stakes are relatively low and centered around our MC, Eryk. I hate that spelling and so does autocorrect so I’m just gonna refer to him as an MC moving forward. This low level of stakes is refreshing in progressive fantasy, as almost very series starts at the best part, the beginning stages where we see our mains react to their magical situation, choose a path, make friends and reveal enemies, and then the series just snowballs inevitably to bigger and bigger bads and bigger and bigger stakes to the point they all feel quite similar. That’s not that many series following this trope don’t distinguish themselves, usually by one or a combination of: interesting plot, great characters, engaging pace, detailed and logically consistent magical system that avoids plot devices, and/or fantastic combat. All that set up to say that I like this low key pace. It’s still a progression series, so not lowkey like slice of life, but just more the stakes center around an individual making his way in a dangerous and strange new world.
One of the things the author also does really well is its cast of characters. They are well rounded with depth. They aren’t all lovable, some we view with suspicion or apathy, that’s good writing.
The pace isn’t a steamroller but it never really loses my attention either, so it’s in the sweet spot.
The magic system is growing more and more detailed and is mostly logically consistent if it does suffer from this ether recharge rate which has never been firmly established and seems to recharge at the rate needed for the plot to take place. There is no leveling nor is there a system, which I don’t mind either. I kind of like the engrained approach as it’s more believablez
The combat is interesting, certainly different as it’s much less magic focused and more mundane focused, at least so far. That’s a pretty big departure from the genre at large, and not in a bad way. And the fights are generally reasonably high paced and relatively short which is fair because that’s how real melee combat works. And the boss battles that include many soldiers take longer like a real battle. All in all this gets a thumbs up from me but I wouldn’t say it stands out as fantastic.
Now to the bad stuff. It makes sense that the MC is so careful about keeping his affinities and much of the extent of his abilities or his outright abilities completely to himself to protect himself from the fact that outworlders are seen as a threat in this world. That exposing himself would lead to his enslavement or death, at a minimum a loss of agency. It is very serious, so I don’t mind that MC is so untrusting even of his closest comrades especially his leader Castile, despite her deducing he is an outworlder, he keeps the extent of his talents to himself alone. It makes sense he is this way given the plot, and its intricate cast of characters with their various masters and motivations. What makes ZERO SENSE is that this careful person who is tirelessly and secretly working on extending his abilities and building his backstory would also carelessly use phrases and idioms from another language! In the context of the series, he’s speaking a form of Latin with everyone. Phrases and idioms rarely make sense in other languages as they rely on a myriad of factors from specific cultural references to spellings to similarity to other words and phrases and so on. The constant use of these phrases that make no sense to his fellow soldiers should make him stand out, exactly what he doesn’t want to happen. And the worst part is in this book, one of his fellow soldiers uses an English phrase not previously established as used by and so picked up from MC. That’s sloppy.
Also in this book when injured, the MC says he’s not sure which organ is which that he doesn’t have much of an understanding of medical stuff. Didn’t the author establish him as a resident physician in the opening of the first book? I’m too lazy to go back and double check. I know he used the word resident, but maybe I misunderstood the context at the time.
So all in all this isn’t top shelf progression, but it does what it does well enough and unique enough to keep me turning pages, so I’m gonna stick with it and would recommend the series to any fans of progression fantasy.
What does this series do well so far? Well the story is engaging even if the stakes are relatively low and centered around our MC, Eryk. I hate that spelling and so does autocorrect so I’m just gonna refer to him as an MC moving forward. This low level of stakes is refreshing in progressive fantasy, as almost very series starts at the best part, the beginning stages where we see our mains react to their magical situation, choose a path, make friends and reveal enemies, and then the series just snowballs inevitably to bigger and bigger bads and bigger and bigger stakes to the point they all feel quite similar. That’s not that many series following this trope don’t distinguish themselves, usually by one or a combination of: interesting plot, great characters, engaging pace, detailed and logically consistent magical system that avoids plot devices, and/or fantastic combat. All that set up to say that I like this low key pace. It’s still a progression series, so not lowkey like slice of life, but just more the stakes center around an individual making his way in a dangerous and strange new world.
One of the things the author also does really well is its cast of characters. They are well rounded with depth. They aren’t all lovable, some we view with suspicion or apathy, that’s good writing.
The pace isn’t a steamroller but it never really loses my attention either, so it’s in the sweet spot.
The magic system is growing more and more detailed and is mostly logically consistent if it does suffer from this ether recharge rate which has never been firmly established and seems to recharge at the rate needed for the plot to take place. There is no leveling nor is there a system, which I don’t mind either. I kind of like the engrained approach as it’s more believablez
The combat is interesting, certainly different as it’s much less magic focused and more mundane focused, at least so far. That’s a pretty big departure from the genre at large, and not in a bad way. And the fights are generally reasonably high paced and relatively short which is fair because that’s how real melee combat works. And the boss battles that include many soldiers take longer like a real battle. All in all this gets a thumbs up from me but I wouldn’t say it stands out as fantastic.
Now to the bad stuff. It makes sense that the MC is so careful about keeping his affinities and much of the extent of his abilities or his outright abilities completely to himself to protect himself from the fact that outworlders are seen as a threat in this world. That exposing himself would lead to his enslavement or death, at a minimum a loss of agency. It is very serious, so I don’t mind that MC is so untrusting even of his closest comrades especially his leader Castile, despite her deducing he is an outworlder, he keeps the extent of his talents to himself alone. It makes sense he is this way given the plot, and its intricate cast of characters with their various masters and motivations. What makes ZERO SENSE is that this careful person who is tirelessly and secretly working on extending his abilities and building his backstory would also carelessly use phrases and idioms from another language! In the context of the series, he’s speaking a form of Latin with everyone. Phrases and idioms rarely make sense in other languages as they rely on a myriad of factors from specific cultural references to spellings to similarity to other words and phrases and so on. The constant use of these phrases that make no sense to his fellow soldiers should make him stand out, exactly what he doesn’t want to happen. And the worst part is in this book, one of his fellow soldiers uses an English phrase not previously established as used by and so picked up from MC. That’s sloppy.
Also in this book when injured, the MC says he’s not sure which organ is which that he doesn’t have much of an understanding of medical stuff. Didn’t the author establish him as a resident physician in the opening of the first book? I’m too lazy to go back and double check. I know he used the word resident, but maybe I misunderstood the context at the time.
So all in all this isn’t top shelf progression, but it does what it does well enough and unique enough to keep me turning pages, so I’m gonna stick with it and would recommend the series to any fans of progression fantasy.
September 23, 2024
Direct sequel to A Soldier's Life, the book picks up where the other ended and has Eryk and his friends preparing for the trial of their commander - the shenanigans of senior Imperial Duke Octavian make testifying in mage Castille's defense tricky, while the trial seems to be hopelessly rigged, but Octavian's niece, young and ambitious Duchess Veronica, favorite granddaughter of the Emperor and recently elevated to the title and granted an impoverished fief, has different ideas.
Of course, help from the high and mighty doesn't come free and Castille has no choice but to accept Veronica's deal so her much-reduced company including Eryk, has to go to Veronica's capital Sobral ostensibly on a show the flag, delimitate the borders of the new Duchy mission, but of course in reality to further the Duchess' ambitions at any cost...
In the meantime, the Emperor's brutal plan for the much-suffering border town where the company recently fought and shed their blood, proves effective - costly for sure in lives and material, but dealing a blow to their neighboring kingdom whom the Imperials have been warring with for centuries - unfortunately, some highly powerful elves of said kingdom who already have a blood feud with the Emperor add to their grievances after this, so they decide to strike back and devastate the Empire with bad weather, summoned monsters and the like and of course it so happens that a good insertion point where to do their mischief is in a sparsely populated area, fairly far from the border where the Imperial armies and mages are located, and one guesses easily which is that place...
And so it goes with the same matter-of-fact narration, intrigues, fights with monsters, enemies and Eryk's miraculous powers of survival get more and more scrutiny...
Another good ending at a tbc point and volume 3 (scheduled for December) is another asap book. Excellent stuff so far and highly recommended.
Of course, help from the high and mighty doesn't come free and Castille has no choice but to accept Veronica's deal so her much-reduced company including Eryk, has to go to Veronica's capital Sobral ostensibly on a show the flag, delimitate the borders of the new Duchy mission, but of course in reality to further the Duchess' ambitions at any cost...
In the meantime, the Emperor's brutal plan for the much-suffering border town where the company recently fought and shed their blood, proves effective - costly for sure in lives and material, but dealing a blow to their neighboring kingdom whom the Imperials have been warring with for centuries - unfortunately, some highly powerful elves of said kingdom who already have a blood feud with the Emperor add to their grievances after this, so they decide to strike back and devastate the Empire with bad weather, summoned monsters and the like and of course it so happens that a good insertion point where to do their mischief is in a sparsely populated area, fairly far from the border where the Imperial armies and mages are located, and one guesses easily which is that place...
And so it goes with the same matter-of-fact narration, intrigues, fights with monsters, enemies and Eryk's miraculous powers of survival get more and more scrutiny...
Another good ending at a tbc point and volume 3 (scheduled for December) is another asap book. Excellent stuff so far and highly recommended.
September 30, 2024
This book starts where the first book ended, so the cliffhanger is resolved within a couple of chapters. We get more travel, more adventure, and more of Eryk meeting engaging characters. We also get less of Castile. She has so many secret plans in the works, I'm dying to find out what she's up to.
But I did enjoy the action, and many of the other characters. Unfortunately, Eryk is getting on my nerves. I don't like how many risks he's taking. These aren't well though out, strategic risks, but lazy and stupid. He keeps doing dumb things that can reveal his identity, even though he knows that there are spies everywhere.
Glimpses of the a few characters from the enemy empire kept me intrigued. And finally seeing both supernatural creatures as well as non-human people was enjoyable. The world building is still keeping my interest. Seems like I'm enjoying everything but Eryk. I'll take some time before the next book. Looks like some more supernatural stuff coming up.
But I did enjoy the action, and many of the other characters. Unfortunately, Eryk is getting on my nerves. I don't like how many risks he's taking. These aren't well though out, strategic risks, but lazy and stupid. He keeps doing dumb things that can reveal his identity, even though he knows that there are spies everywhere.
Glimpses of the a few characters from the enemy empire kept me intrigued. And finally seeing both supernatural creatures as well as non-human people was enjoyable. The world building is still keeping my interest. Seems like I'm enjoying everything but Eryk. I'll take some time before the next book. Looks like some more supernatural stuff coming up.
August 30, 2025
Excellent series, and I'm enjoying it a lot.
My principal criticism, and the only reason it falls short of five stars, is that it falls into the trap of making an inconsistently paranoid MC; he's ultra-paranoid about revealing anything about himself, except ... he's completely carefree every time he opens his mouth and asks another spectacularly stupid question that all but advertises he's a literal alien. "Hi, I'm from Canada. What is all this white, cold stuff on the ground?"
I would disagree with the MC's decision not to extend any trust, even to people who have more than earned it by this point, but I would respect that as a totally reasonable decision for someone to make for themselves, provided they acted consistently in accordance with that belief. That's the disconnect for me here.
There's a great story here, but there's an annoying thread of thoughtlessness that spoils many of the otherwise great moments.
My principal criticism, and the only reason it falls short of five stars, is that it falls into the trap of making an inconsistently paranoid MC; he's ultra-paranoid about revealing anything about himself, except ... he's completely carefree every time he opens his mouth and asks another spectacularly stupid question that all but advertises he's a literal alien. "Hi, I'm from Canada. What is all this white, cold stuff on the ground?"
I would disagree with the MC's decision not to extend any trust, even to people who have more than earned it by this point, but I would respect that as a totally reasonable decision for someone to make for themselves, provided they acted consistently in accordance with that belief. That's the disconnect for me here.
There's a great story here, but there's an annoying thread of thoughtlessness that spoils many of the otherwise great moments.
December 27, 2025
3.5 stars. Overall it is a good continuation of book 1, but there were too many side quests for my liking. I really enjoyed that book 1 moved the story along by going from point A to B without 10,000 things happening along the way.
Eryk... falls for every cute face and a smile. why not just killed the elf girl. I excused it the first time it happened, but twice. It makes no sense besides the fact that she's "cute". I really dislike when MCs make the dumbest decisions because of a semi-cute girl. Bad writing.
Also, I dislike when authors let super powerful enemies learn the secrets of the MC. There was no reason for the uber-powerful summoner with a a hatd-on for revenge to learn anything about MC. Bad writing.
The ending was good. Flavius needs to be dealt with soon. He's a true backstabber. But I'm so over the essence collector hunt. First it's the Mage commander, then brother, then fellow solider... now the Empire. Like come on
Eryk... falls for every cute face and a smile. why not just killed the elf girl. I excused it the first time it happened, but twice. It makes no sense besides the fact that she's "cute". I really dislike when MCs make the dumbest decisions because of a semi-cute girl. Bad writing.
Also, I dislike when authors let super powerful enemies learn the secrets of the MC. There was no reason for the uber-powerful summoner with a a hatd-on for revenge to learn anything about MC. Bad writing.
The ending was good. Flavius needs to be dealt with soon. He's a true backstabber. But I'm so over the essence collector hunt. First it's the Mage commander, then brother, then fellow solider... now the Empire. Like come on
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2024
Solid but not as good as the first
Where are the first book really excelled at the progression of time and not giving us every menu should detail of every single day this book kind of bombed in that.
There was a lot of petty details that really weren't important You need enough to make the story flashed out but this was just too much and I think only a few weeks at most transpired maybe two months in this book where is the first was about 7 months.
The first book also had several sections to it the protagonist arrival his training in a few other things after that this book primarily dealt with just one event maybe two.
I can't say I'm not disappointed It was still a decent story and it was still some very very very limited growth but all in all much worse than the first.
I gave it four stars but it was really probably like a 3.7.
Where are the first book really excelled at the progression of time and not giving us every menu should detail of every single day this book kind of bombed in that.
There was a lot of petty details that really weren't important You need enough to make the story flashed out but this was just too much and I think only a few weeks at most transpired maybe two months in this book where is the first was about 7 months.
The first book also had several sections to it the protagonist arrival his training in a few other things after that this book primarily dealt with just one event maybe two.
I can't say I'm not disappointed It was still a decent story and it was still some very very very limited growth but all in all much worse than the first.
I gave it four stars but it was really probably like a 3.7.
January 12, 2025
Four stars given for the potential that it had. I liked the introduction of the drakes and wyverns, and the addition of new characters.
There wasn't a lot of conflict going on in the first book but the sequel added the potential for conflict. Up until a certain point in the end I was fully expecting a big showdown between multiple people. For truths to be revealed and for all the setup to pay off with lines being drawn in the sand and some serious fights and worldbuilding.
It didn't happen, but it was well paced and the momentum carried me through the massive disappointment at the end which would have been a DNF point for me otherwise.
There wasn't a lot of conflict going on in the first book but the sequel added the potential for conflict. Up until a certain point in the end I was fully expecting a big showdown between multiple people. For truths to be revealed and for all the setup to pay off with lines being drawn in the sand and some serious fights and worldbuilding.
It didn't happen, but it was well paced and the momentum carried me through the massive disappointment at the end which would have been a DNF point for me otherwise.
July 22, 2024
Book two
So the story continues. I was disappointed with the camp making as they never seemed to build a legion camp. If I remember school history correctly, we were taught that a Legion could build a fortified camp in just a few hours and that every man carried a bundle of sharpened stakes in their kit that was used to build the spike wall. I can't imagine that would stop happening just because they have magic.
Still a good fun read. Editing wasn't as good. Couple of weirdly written sentences that I didn't mark, but everything else will be on Goodreads. Remember this is also being written on Royalroad.
7/10
So the story continues. I was disappointed with the camp making as they never seemed to build a legion camp. If I remember school history correctly, we were taught that a Legion could build a fortified camp in just a few hours and that every man carried a bundle of sharpened stakes in their kit that was used to build the spike wall. I can't imagine that would stop happening just because they have magic.
Still a good fun read. Editing wasn't as good. Couple of weirdly written sentences that I didn't mark, but everything else will be on Goodreads. Remember this is also being written on Royalroad.
7/10
January 6, 2025
I had another book I wanted to read before this... But the damn cliffhanger that book one ended on had this at the back of my mind. I will put my mind at ease and read this.
Well the itch was scratched. While I did enjoy this, and will pick up the sequel in the future, I don't think I will have it at the back of my mind all the time.
The protag isn't "OP", but he does have the ability to become so in time. I will be happy to see where this series goes. Already have some thoughts.
3/5 Stars
Well the itch was scratched. While I did enjoy this, and will pick up the sequel in the future, I don't think I will have it at the back of my mind all the time.
The protag isn't "OP", but he does have the ability to become so in time. I will be happy to see where this series goes. Already have some thoughts.
3/5 Stars
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June 26, 2025I read LitRpg Genre for some reasons, leveling system and magical system.
I can forgive some error in world building or poor character building, in this story there is major issue to me The worst is the "one touch killing" and the gary sue character, it's easy to see than the author pick up some creature from d&d goliath wyvern or drake and so one no problem but if you do that pick the whole system because the magical system is very very poor ..
damn you can't have a magical spell who kill 100% of the time in one touch
I can forgive some error in world building or poor character building, in this story there is major issue to me The worst is the "one touch killing" and the gary sue character, it's easy to see than the author pick up some creature from d&d goliath wyvern or drake and so one no problem but if you do that pick the whole system because the magical system is very very poor ..
damn you can't have a magical spell who kill 100% of the time in one touch
July 5, 2024
I loved the first book. I loved the second book. In some ways its your basic fantasy fan fiction. Dude leaves modern world for fantasy land and slowly becomes super powerful. Cheesy and done to death but... It's a big but. It's great. It's fun. It's fast paced. The main character is extremely likeable. When I pick up a book to read sometimes I want something that makes me think but 90% of the time I want fun adventure. This is that 1000%.
July 18, 2024
Who knew Eryk would be the settle down one woman kinda man? His little tanty with Lareen had me giggling. I love how Eryk meets friends wherever he goes... unless they're after his secrets, that is. This book had me on edge 'cause I was so scared that Eryk's little escapades would be found out but luckily, all is good in Desia.
I can't believe I gotta wait until December for the next book though. BOO!
I can't believe I gotta wait until December for the next book though. BOO!
November 22, 2024
Legion-esque, Lions, Legendarium!
The Elves, The Giants, The Hobgoblins; the opponents are wild, varied & many!
The legion of the Lion are called upon to be elite at what they do and Castiles’ Mage Company are always being messed with by someone.
Our Hero has much to contend with, not least a scum bag colleague he’s been good to! The author has written the AH so well, I actually despise him! That is top quality writing; eliciting emotions from readers!
The Elves, The Giants, The Hobgoblins; the opponents are wild, varied & many!
The legion of the Lion are called upon to be elite at what they do and Castiles’ Mage Company are always being messed with by someone.
Our Hero has much to contend with, not least a scum bag colleague he’s been good to! The author has written the AH so well, I actually despise him! That is top quality writing; eliciting emotions from readers!
December 6, 2024
pretty good sequel
This was a solid read. It wasn’t as good as book one but still enjoyable. Eryk’s character had progression but it was random and directionless. Was more of a progression fantasy since without any screens or levels all growth was non-quantifiable.
Where book one had a definite direction and goal, this was more of a slice of life novel. Still fun, just a change of pace that took a little getting used to.
This was a solid read. It wasn’t as good as book one but still enjoyable. Eryk’s character had progression but it was random and directionless. Was more of a progression fantasy since without any screens or levels all growth was non-quantifiable.
Where book one had a definite direction and goal, this was more of a slice of life novel. Still fun, just a change of pace that took a little getting used to.
June 17, 2025
These are solid, enjoyable books. Not the best ever written but just a nice classic fantasy with a D&D type points system. Which at first I didn't like (book 1 it was used too much) but book 2 has used it sparingly, helping the reader follow the "growth" of the main character. The main character has 1 move (dimensional space much) I would like to see him rely less on magic and more on his skills but I get it.
August 26, 2025
NO SPOILERS.
A Soldier's Life, Book 2 is not your usual LITRPG. For a story that comes across as a day-to-day tale of a soldier's life, book 2's appeal did not wane from book 1. The action was there. The humor. And the thrill of what's around the corner kept me glued to the story. Couldn't stop. Our Legionnaire finds ways to get in and out of trouble. And that's part of the appeal. Another great story.
A Soldier's Life, Book 2 is not your usual LITRPG. For a story that comes across as a day-to-day tale of a soldier's life, book 2's appeal did not wane from book 1. The action was there. The humor. And the thrill of what's around the corner kept me glued to the story. Couldn't stop. Our Legionnaire finds ways to get in and out of trouble. And that's part of the appeal. Another great story.
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