The Grave of Valor: A Reincarnation Progression Fantasy

Adelheid #4

by D.C. Haenlien, Chris Ford (editor)

War is but an Opportunity

After experiencing death and an irreversible transformation, Adelheid must juggle between hiding her new inhuman nature with her wish to become the next ruler of the Vuldar Empire. Her greatest rival for the throne, William von Vuldar, has already joined the battlefield, but she has to play catch up. She must use all resources and grab every opportunity to join the war and rise above.

However, Adelheid would learn that everything has a cost.

Genres: Fantasy, Action, Fiction

381 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2024

Reviews

[A S · Rating 5 out of 5]

bridge volume done well

There aren’t as many major events in this book, but it wraps up the last arc well, showing the ramifications and how Addie’s life in the castle has changed as she prepares for war, working to improve her merits during the war with the Beastman nation. Addie’s brilliance as an overall strategist continues to be impressive and even though the world is mostly against her, she continues to deliver face slaps to her doubters and enemies.

[Linus Larsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arguably the weakest book so far in the series. Has some very nonsensical choreographed fights that just threw me off with how the author describes the scenes and the environment. Unnecessarily long and drawn out experiments on enemies while her own subjects are waiting nearby, all for little gain and nobody even questioning the odd behaviour. Finds Deus Ex Machina tier item and then is as quickly forgotten as it was introduced, its effects also seemingly forgotten along with it, despite being incredibly prominent mere pages before.

Overall this book just has me questioning Adelheid more and more. The previous book peaked with the sudden twist, but it feels like this has just spun it too far in one direction without much motivation or reflection.

I still like the political shenanigans and world building, but it feels like Adelheid and her cohorts are getting the short straw of development. Matilda barely matters aside from a few "spidy senses tingling" moments, Sophia is bordering a rampaging succubus, but has otherwise lost her personality completely since being turned by Adelheid. The rest of the cast among her knights just felt like statpadding.

One of the stronger points of previous volumes were in fact the characters, but here it's taken a step back to focus mostly on her brother and his fighting at the border, which culminates in a fade to black killing of his opponent. Something that makes you question why you even bothered focusing so hard on it.

I hope the next volume makes up for the shortcomings of this one and that we finally get something from Adelheid and her supporting cast, along with the political cloak and daggers plot moving forward.

[Levia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steady paced read

I enjoyed the first few books in this series, and I do like this one. It seems to be getting complicated though, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I don't agree with turning and keeping Sofia, and her lack of obedience may cause problems. I think Matilda is starting to suspect a bigger issue, but she's also incredibly obsessed with strength, battle-all the knight ideals. I'm not sure if Adelheid will embrace villainy or just become OP because she can. It's developing into a nice story, but it really only has some plot spikes thrown in to a slow read.

[Jonathan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly I find the vampire thing kind of boring and the battle scenes just kind of badly written and nonsensical. The first few books were reasonably fun and intriguing and had interesting world building and schemes but it's gotten a bit more boring over time and I don't have much interesting in continuing. It doesn't help that there is zero character growth despite the years of in universe time between the first book and this. It also feels like less and less is happening in each book. :(

[M L Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of book for little progress

This book could have been shortened quite a lot and still covered the same ground, they went to war, Addie did some training and gained some more knights, she foiled some bandits and she delivered supplies. Still a good read.

[Non Sequiter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seriously can't root for MC

MC being a little edgy/grimdark is fine, but by the halfway point of book 4 I would have been happy with a surprise ending such as: Adelheid was executed for being evil and William became emperor, the end.

[Jack Jurdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book.

I would recommend this book. I was so happy to see the next book was out. I really like the characters and like the story arc, looking forward to the next book.

[Gritwald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I really like this book and I'm definitely reading the next book when it comes out. I highly recommend this series.

[Dantegideon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlike Anakin Skywalker, embracing the dark side has made her more tedious rather than less. Maybe she’d be a good villain but I can’t root for her as the protagonist any more.