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Alexa Thymes #2
Alexa Thyme: Suiting Up
Patience, dedication, persistence, these are but some of the qualities that form a hero. While each hero ultimately walks a different path of ascension, they all strive to reach the same destination.
Alexa is no different, in her path to become a hero. Striving forward in her academic life, she balances her personal relationships, her hidden addictions, and her ever emerging dual personalities. Constantly battling between the person who she has always been, versus the person she wishes to be, all while being forced to walk a far more treacherous path than anyone has ever had to stride before in order to become a hero.
Forced to fight necromancers, corrupting elves, diabolical orcs, and far more insidious creatures of the night; Alexa finds herself striding forward, silently leading the way through the darkness. All while trying to find who she truly wishes to be when her journey is over.
This is a story of magic, trying to understand love, and finding hope.
Alexa is no different, in her path to become a hero. Striving forward in her academic life, she balances her personal relationships, her hidden addictions, and her ever emerging dual personalities. Constantly battling between the person who she has always been, versus the person she wishes to be, all while being forced to walk a far more treacherous path than anyone has ever had to stride before in order to become a hero.
Forced to fight necromancers, corrupting elves, diabolical orcs, and far more insidious creatures of the night; Alexa finds herself striding forward, silently leading the way through the darkness. All while trying to find who she truly wishes to be when her journey is over.
This is a story of magic, trying to understand love, and finding hope.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2024
123 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 6, 2024
DNF 25%
Ultimately the writing style is not for me and I had enough of this brainfart of a series.
Annoying: There is no table of contents in the kindle version.
Italic sound description? Why? This is not a comic:
"Gasps.
The gnomes around the room gasped as they saw..." Why an extra Gasps. it doesn't make any sense...
The constant PoV switches are annoying and hard to follow.
The worldbuilding and logic is severely lacking.
Like in the first one there is always this weird ass male/female talk. Writing man/woman, boy/girl appears to be a too hard. Nobody says "Yeah, just look for the only female who looks like they can dunk.". I had hoped that would be edited out going forward.
The brother not knowing, that his parents are heroes is a MAJOR breach in trust, especially if his sister knows. Just cringe, that he is horny for his mothers hero persona. Also, hiding your hero persona from your own kids impossible.
The whole secret identity thing is flimsy at best and only works, because the plot wants it to.
The Enchanter Polyglot forgets to ward the windows when locking down a room... really... literally everybody but Alexa act like total amateurs... And she is the actual amateur/beginner.
The quarantine of a previously with Necromancy infected person is in a school... Quarantine... Because she might infect others in the next 90 days... And they put her in quarantine... In a school... With others... Bro wtf... literally everybody acts without thought or basic logic...
Ultimately the writing style is not for me and I had enough of this brainfart of a series.
Annoying: There is no table of contents in the kindle version.
Italic sound description? Why? This is not a comic:
"Gasps.
The gnomes around the room gasped as they saw..." Why an extra Gasps. it doesn't make any sense...
The constant PoV switches are annoying and hard to follow.
The worldbuilding and logic is severely lacking.
Like in the first one there is always this weird ass male/female talk. Writing man/woman, boy/girl appears to be a too hard. Nobody says "Yeah, just look for the only female who looks like they can dunk.". I had hoped that would be edited out going forward.
The brother not knowing, that his parents are heroes is a MAJOR breach in trust, especially if his sister knows. Just cringe, that he is horny for his mothers hero persona. Also, hiding your hero persona from your own kids impossible.
The whole secret identity thing is flimsy at best and only works, because the plot wants it to.
The Enchanter Polyglot forgets to ward the windows when locking down a room... really... literally everybody but Alexa act like total amateurs... And she is the actual amateur/beginner.
The quarantine of a previously with Necromancy infected person is in a school... Quarantine... Because she might infect others in the next 90 days... And they put her in quarantine... In a school... With others... Bro wtf... literally everybody acts without thought or basic logic...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2024
This book needs an editor.
November 18, 2024
Fun but unhealthy relationships
So while I did enjoy this book, I will say that it doesn't make sense at times and it does have a odd mix of genres that don't really go together but seem more done in phases from apocalypse integration to super hero to dungeon diving.
A main concern is stuff like the MC knows a big world changing event is coming and she needs to be stronger but...she still goes to school? What is she going to school for. The world is going to be forever changed in 2 months. Does she need a degree or something? She could go up north and start raiding wild dungeons for all she needs for 2 months. This whole. I need to go to classes thing makes NO sense. Especially for a character who is all about logic. Going to school for no real reason is more an emotional choice. Friends, Family all that? Logically not at all important compared to getting strong enough to survive. So she should be abandoning that all to go find wild dungeons to raid.
Now that all aside. Let's talk about the unhealthy stalker friend? The one who is obsessed with Alexa and calls her in her mind 'my Alexa' and even reads people's mind to find out information about them related to Alexa. So first mind reading? That should be criminal to read people's minds. Violating their personal thoughts. Mind grape is what that is. That aside? Super creepy. Maybe it's the gender that makes people think it's okay but imagine it's a male with feelings for a female friend. A female friend who flatly states they have platonic feelings for the other and are just friend. But the male twists everything to make it romantic, thinks of them as 'Their Alexa' and actively tries to keep any other people interested in the female away. That would be called and obsessed unhealthy stalker creep. So yes. Gina (sp?) The female friend with romantic feelings who pushes her feelings on Alexa when she doesn't return them and has explained she can't return feelings especially romantic ones. Is super unhealthy.
Remember John from book one? He just remarked that she makes fake emotions to set people at ease and Alexa called him out as unhealthy knowing too much about her and creepy for it. Yet he wasn't calling her 'his alexa' in his mind or chasing off other guys. He doesn't do half the things the obsessed woman is doing.
So not really into how this book promotes gender inequality and unhealthy obsessions, or making it okay to force romantic feelings on someone who plainly shows they only have platonic ones in returns. That isn't romantic, that isn't 'don't give up' there is hope. No. That is just wrong. Flat out. Wrong. Worse than Twilight 100 year old guy dating barely 18 year old girl in grooming. The obsessed girl if she was Alexa's true friend would respect that Alexa has no romantic feelings and not try to twist everything to make it romantic and push her own feelings on Alexa. Would move on and accept.
I don't know if the Author is going to try to do the whole. Alexa gets feelings and sees how the girl loves her and how everyone thinks they are dating to suddenly be like. "Oh I like you" promoting the if a person doesn't like you, just keep trying until they give in idea. But I hope not.. That is not a healthy thing to promote.
(Sidenote) Not sure about the brother. First Alexa says in book one that all boys stare at women's rears. Even her brother stared at her rear. Then her brother has a thing for Judge not knowing they are his mother. Honestly weird thing to throwing there. Then how he goes from worried about his sister at times to not caring at all when she doesn't show up to classes even though she never misses classes. It just feels like no solid personality. Like this is a guy who wants to be a sport player but without spoilers he gets something that goes totally against physical sports. Yet doesn't at all mention that? Just...this character isn't well done or is just creepy at times.
In total while I do like the world, the main character and what it's building up to. Not a fan of some of the unhealthy things promoted. Just because it's a girl doing it another girl doesn't make it any less wrong. Nor do all the actions and choices of people make sense. At times it's clear the author is doing things for the plot rather than realistic reasons. Lke I said, realistic. Instant the MC found about 'induction' which any 12 year old could figure out what that meant. She'd be telling her police employer and having it spread to every head of state that hey in 2 months the world is going to end. Not randomly keeping it to herself or acting like it's no big deal and going to classes. AT the very least this power obsessed battle junkie would be ditching classes and going to find dungeons to raid. Wild dungeons in the north if she has to or other countries with healing to get in , tons of ways to do it.
Or logically if it's that important. Just walking in. No guard is going to be strong enough to stop her. If the world is ending in 2 months. She can literally just go on the run for 2 months power leveling.
So yes. Fun read but...a bit forced at times.
So while I did enjoy this book, I will say that it doesn't make sense at times and it does have a odd mix of genres that don't really go together but seem more done in phases from apocalypse integration to super hero to dungeon diving.
A main concern is stuff like the MC knows a big world changing event is coming and she needs to be stronger but...she still goes to school? What is she going to school for. The world is going to be forever changed in 2 months. Does she need a degree or something? She could go up north and start raiding wild dungeons for all she needs for 2 months. This whole. I need to go to classes thing makes NO sense. Especially for a character who is all about logic. Going to school for no real reason is more an emotional choice. Friends, Family all that? Logically not at all important compared to getting strong enough to survive. So she should be abandoning that all to go find wild dungeons to raid.
Now that all aside. Let's talk about the unhealthy stalker friend? The one who is obsessed with Alexa and calls her in her mind 'my Alexa' and even reads people's mind to find out information about them related to Alexa. So first mind reading? That should be criminal to read people's minds. Violating their personal thoughts. Mind grape is what that is. That aside? Super creepy. Maybe it's the gender that makes people think it's okay but imagine it's a male with feelings for a female friend. A female friend who flatly states they have platonic feelings for the other and are just friend. But the male twists everything to make it romantic, thinks of them as 'Their Alexa' and actively tries to keep any other people interested in the female away. That would be called and obsessed unhealthy stalker creep. So yes. Gina (sp?) The female friend with romantic feelings who pushes her feelings on Alexa when she doesn't return them and has explained she can't return feelings especially romantic ones. Is super unhealthy.
Remember John from book one? He just remarked that she makes fake emotions to set people at ease and Alexa called him out as unhealthy knowing too much about her and creepy for it. Yet he wasn't calling her 'his alexa' in his mind or chasing off other guys. He doesn't do half the things the obsessed woman is doing.
So not really into how this book promotes gender inequality and unhealthy obsessions, or making it okay to force romantic feelings on someone who plainly shows they only have platonic ones in returns. That isn't romantic, that isn't 'don't give up' there is hope. No. That is just wrong. Flat out. Wrong. Worse than Twilight 100 year old guy dating barely 18 year old girl in grooming. The obsessed girl if she was Alexa's true friend would respect that Alexa has no romantic feelings and not try to twist everything to make it romantic and push her own feelings on Alexa. Would move on and accept.
I don't know if the Author is going to try to do the whole. Alexa gets feelings and sees how the girl loves her and how everyone thinks they are dating to suddenly be like. "Oh I like you" promoting the if a person doesn't like you, just keep trying until they give in idea. But I hope not.. That is not a healthy thing to promote.
(Sidenote) Not sure about the brother. First Alexa says in book one that all boys stare at women's rears. Even her brother stared at her rear. Then her brother has a thing for Judge not knowing they are his mother. Honestly weird thing to throwing there. Then how he goes from worried about his sister at times to not caring at all when she doesn't show up to classes even though she never misses classes. It just feels like no solid personality. Like this is a guy who wants to be a sport player but without spoilers he gets something that goes totally against physical sports. Yet doesn't at all mention that? Just...this character isn't well done or is just creepy at times.
In total while I do like the world, the main character and what it's building up to. Not a fan of some of the unhealthy things promoted. Just because it's a girl doing it another girl doesn't make it any less wrong. Nor do all the actions and choices of people make sense. At times it's clear the author is doing things for the plot rather than realistic reasons. Lke I said, realistic. Instant the MC found about 'induction' which any 12 year old could figure out what that meant. She'd be telling her police employer and having it spread to every head of state that hey in 2 months the world is going to end. Not randomly keeping it to herself or acting like it's no big deal and going to classes. AT the very least this power obsessed battle junkie would be ditching classes and going to find dungeons to raid. Wild dungeons in the north if she has to or other countries with healing to get in , tons of ways to do it.
Or logically if it's that important. Just walking in. No guard is going to be strong enough to stop her. If the world is ending in 2 months. She can literally just go on the run for 2 months power leveling.
So yes. Fun read but...a bit forced at times.
November 4, 2024
[Comments refer to the serial as a whole, the first three eBooks and then the RoyalRoad chapters which I believe will comprise volume 4.]
The world is a kind of gentle system apocalypse where, decades ago, dungeons began opening and heroes "awakened" to special powers earned therein. Our heroine, Alexa Thyme, has a preternatural focus deriving from her alexithymia [*groan*], a condition of repressed emotions, which leads to snowballing power as she starts dungeon diving, heads to superhero school, then becomes the vanguard against an apocalyptic invasion as the countdown to "integration" looms.
This combination superhero/dungeon crawl LitRPG/system apocalypse feels like kind of cross-genre deep-dive only possible from an author steeped in web novel subgenres and probably also best for that kind of reader. What I most enjoyed were the twists on these familiar elements (e.g. the nature of the conflict between the orcs and elves) and reversal of certain tropes. Alexa is so overpowered that there is almost no genuine tension; even potential threats are often defanged in advance, such as when one character is revealed as a sinister rune master only for Alexa to acquire a hard counter before they ever come into conflict.
Setting aside the awful pun, I also have some misgivings about the framing of Alexa's neurodivergence, which feels like a cross between the murderhobo trope and the popular vision of those on the autism spectrum as genius savants. It feels less like a character trait and more like social license for a Mary Sue to behave badly, noting that she is able to perfectly mask (when narratively required) and understand others' emotions (when narratively required).
It's fun enough for genre fans.
The world is a kind of gentle system apocalypse where, decades ago, dungeons began opening and heroes "awakened" to special powers earned therein. Our heroine, Alexa Thyme, has a preternatural focus deriving from her alexithymia [*groan*], a condition of repressed emotions, which leads to snowballing power as she starts dungeon diving, heads to superhero school, then becomes the vanguard against an apocalyptic invasion as the countdown to "integration" looms.
This combination superhero/dungeon crawl LitRPG/system apocalypse feels like kind of cross-genre deep-dive only possible from an author steeped in web novel subgenres and probably also best for that kind of reader. What I most enjoyed were the twists on these familiar elements (e.g. the nature of the conflict between the orcs and elves) and reversal of certain tropes. Alexa is so overpowered that there is almost no genuine tension; even potential threats are often defanged in advance, such as when one character is revealed as a sinister rune master only for Alexa to acquire a hard counter before they ever come into conflict.
Setting aside the awful pun, I also have some misgivings about the framing of Alexa's neurodivergence, which feels like a cross between the murderhobo trope and the popular vision of those on the autism spectrum as genius savants. It feels less like a character trait and more like social license for a Mary Sue to behave badly, noting that she is able to perfectly mask (when narratively required) and understand others' emotions (when narratively required).
It's fun enough for genre fans.
October 4, 2024
Outstanding
These books just keep getting better and better. I'm not very good at giving reviews all I can is let you know how much fun I am having reading these books. OK two down one more to go. Actually I really hope there will be more than one more. I not only like the main character I also am having fun trying to figure out the underlying mystery. I know it's a type of "who done it" , however at this time I don't have enough clues. My compliments to this author as I haven't had this much fun reading a book in years. Do yourself a favor and give this series a try, I honestly don't think you'll be disappointed.
These books just keep getting better and better. I'm not very good at giving reviews all I can is let you know how much fun I am having reading these books. OK two down one more to go. Actually I really hope there will be more than one more. I not only like the main character I also am having fun trying to figure out the underlying mystery. I know it's a type of "who done it" , however at this time I don't have enough clues. My compliments to this author as I haven't had this much fun reading a book in years. Do yourself a favor and give this series a try, I honestly don't think you'll be disappointed.
September 6, 2025
The story is engrossing
Unfortunately, I have never read such a fascinating story that begs for an editor over and over. The author chooses words that sound impressive but don't mean what they think they mean. Sentences are malformed, making the act of reading an act of annoyance. Please find a good editor. I think you have a knack for crafting interesting stories and have a bright future as an author. I'm sure that editors would jump at the chance to work with you. I know I would.
Unfortunately, I have never read such a fascinating story that begs for an editor over and over. The author chooses words that sound impressive but don't mean what they think they mean. Sentences are malformed, making the act of reading an act of annoyance. Please find a good editor. I think you have a knack for crafting interesting stories and have a bright future as an author. I'm sure that editors would jump at the chance to work with you. I know I would.
October 19, 2024
Has crossed the line from OP power fantasy to Mary Sue.
Without any solid base to the system or powers, this has crossed over into ridiculous. The main character is now just protected through convenient plot armor. Several side characters have barely been explored and seem tacked on fir no good reason.
Without any solid base to the system or powers, this has crossed over into ridiculous. The main character is now just protected through convenient plot armor. Several side characters have barely been explored and seem tacked on fir no good reason.
November 12, 2025
blender
Superhero, magical girl, apocalyptic litRPG, dungeon crawling story that throws everything at the wall.
A bit juvenile, and some of the scenes require stretching your imagination to fill in the gaps.
Points for originality.
Superhero, magical girl, apocalyptic litRPG, dungeon crawling story that throws everything at the wall.
A bit juvenile, and some of the scenes require stretching your imagination to fill in the gaps.
Points for originality.
August 3, 2024
This says a lot about society.
September 10, 2024
The plot is still really fun -- it manages to continue having an OP protagonist without being boring. I think the writing quality is worse than the first book, though.
January 19, 2025
This series is so good! Highly recommend:)
January 26, 2025
I understand that this is a power fantasy where the character gains silly amounts of power very quickly, but even in this context of this series the magic sharing ritual is a little ridiculous.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews