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Warmaster #4
Sorrowvale
Will Aderyn's patience and compassion be enough to survive the team’s greatest challenge yet?
Aderyn and her friends can tackle any challenge they'll encounter on their eight-week trek across the continent. They’re ready for monsters, bandits, unexpected quests, and lost dungeons. But nothing could prepare them for the greatest challenge of escorting a whiny, self-absorbed fledgling adventurer through the wilderness to Guerdon Deep.
The Pathseer Jessemia’s hostility and antagonism turn everyone against her—everyone but Aderyn, who sees Jessemia’s potential to be a true adventurer. But when Jessemia’s selfish stupidity endangers the team, will even Aderyn’s patience reach an end?
Aderyn and her friends can tackle any challenge they'll encounter on their eight-week trek across the continent. They’re ready for monsters, bandits, unexpected quests, and lost dungeons. But nothing could prepare them for the greatest challenge of escorting a whiny, self-absorbed fledgling adventurer through the wilderness to Guerdon Deep.
The Pathseer Jessemia’s hostility and antagonism turn everyone against her—everyone but Aderyn, who sees Jessemia’s potential to be a true adventurer. But when Jessemia’s selfish stupidity endangers the team, will even Aderyn’s patience reach an end?
- GenresFantasy
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2024
13 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Melissa McShane
94 books860 followersMelissa grew up a nomad, following her family all over the United States, and ended up living in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains with her husband, four kids, and three very needy cats. Her love of reading was always a constant during those uncertain years, and her love of writing grew out of that. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, and was surprised at how much she liked it. She loves the fantasy genre and how it stretches the imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 22, 2024
This is fourth in an adventure series that builds over time. Read in order.
My non-standard standard disclaimer applies, as it does for all of Melissa's books. I love being her first reader and seeing her create such wonderful stories out of nothing but imagination and her sense of character. Plus, she continues not to commit crimes in India even though I'd be the one legally responsible if she did so (according to the documents we had to sign to live here).
Aaaanyway. This is the fourth in the series and you should know the characters and story well enough to know what you are getting. Only this story adds Jessemia. We got a bit of a taste of her in the previous book so picking up on their escort the spoiled darling quest looks to be as exasperating as you'd expect. And then we get a catalytic moment and everyone has to make choices about who they want to be. And that hits Jessemia as hard as it should have. And everything I want to rave about is spoilerific so I'll just say that I love how well this is done. It's a travel story because the party is en route somewhere else the whole book, but even more, it's a journey of personal growth and discovery. Yes, most notably by the spoiled darling, but not a little bit by the rest of our friends as they explore the bounds of kindness and faith in someone they have no reason to like, or even tolerate.
I think I'll leave it there with my five stars that you are free to ignore for the disclaimer above. I love all of the developing relationships and particularly the deepening love between Aderyn and Owen.
A note about Dungeons: You may have noticed by now that each book is named after a dungeon central to the story. Sorrowvale is a new level of creepy and disturbing, giving it a personality you couldn't wait to .
A note about Chaste: Owen and Aderyn are together. It's clear that they are sexually active, though there is little actually on page. There are a few mentions of the fun times, but nothing explicit. So I consider this pretty chaste, but others may disagree.
My non-standard standard disclaimer applies, as it does for all of Melissa's books. I love being her first reader and seeing her create such wonderful stories out of nothing but imagination and her sense of character. Plus, she continues not to commit crimes in India even though I'd be the one legally responsible if she did so (according to the documents we had to sign to live here).
Aaaanyway. This is the fourth in the series and you should know the characters and story well enough to know what you are getting. Only this story adds Jessemia. We got a bit of a taste of her in the previous book so picking up on their escort the spoiled darling quest looks to be as exasperating as you'd expect. And then we get a catalytic moment and everyone has to make choices about who they want to be. And that hits Jessemia as hard as it should have. And everything I want to rave about is spoilerific so I'll just say that I love how well this is done. It's a travel story because the party is en route somewhere else the whole book, but even more, it's a journey of personal growth and discovery. Yes, most notably by the spoiled darling, but not a little bit by the rest of our friends as they explore the bounds of kindness and faith in someone they have no reason to like, or even tolerate.
I think I'll leave it there with my five stars that you are free to ignore for the disclaimer above. I love all of the developing relationships and particularly the deepening love between Aderyn and Owen.
A note about Dungeons: You may have noticed by now that each book is named after a dungeon central to the story. Sorrowvale is a new level of creepy and disturbing, giving it a personality you couldn't wait to .
A note about Chaste: Owen and Aderyn are together. It's clear that they are sexually active, though there is little actually on page. There are a few mentions of the fun times, but nothing explicit. So I consider this pretty chaste, but others may disagree.
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September 8, 2024This series delights me more with each book. The LitRPG component continues to be inventive, so there is no sense of the same sort of dungeon to be conquered each time. I'm not really into monster fighting or dungeon conquering; what keeps me reading is the character development. Everyone on the team is transforming, but central is a quest to escort an annoying person. What happens to this annoying person, and the quest, forms the core of the story, and the resolution delighted me. Another thing I get a kick out of is the wry voice of the unknown game boss, or computer in charge. In the early books it started out detached, providing data neutrally, but in each succeeding voice there is a sense of a mind there.
New readers ought not to begin with this book, however. There is a lot of good character establishment in the previous volumes that really ought to be read first!
Forgot to add: this is an advance copy, but my opinions are entirely my own.
New readers ought not to begin with this book, however. There is a lot of good character establishment in the previous volumes that really ought to be read first!
Forgot to add: this is an advance copy, but my opinions are entirely my own.
Read
August 22, 2024The subtitle for this one should be "The Redemption of Jessemia" because, let's face it, it's really a series of episodes as Aderyn & Co. travel across the continent on foot since they couldn't afford magical transportation, and Jessemia's arc connects all of them. I don't think I had this subplot in mind when I introduced her in book 3; I'm pretty sure I just wanted an entitled, self-absorbed daddy's girl who believed she was the Fated One. It wasn't until the end of Warmaster 3: Gamboling Coil that I realized she would persist into the next book.
Writing a story about someone's change of heart is difficult, if only because the balancing is tricky. You have to gauge how far you can go keeping the character annoying: too far, and readers get annoyed; not far enough, and the redemption isn't believable. Based on my first readers' reactions, I didn't go too far, or at least none of them said they got sick of Jessemia's constant whingeing. I think it worked, but I'm just the writer, what do I know?
Jessemia's story satisfies me because there's a part of me that enjoys taking an unlikeable character and making them, if not beloved, at least not someone you want to leave for the wolves to devour. So I hope I succeeded there.
The other thing I wanted was an evil dungeon.
By now it's obvious that each book is titled for the dungeon that plays the most important role in the book (although in book five, The Glory Games is a sideways reference to the dungeon). So far, the team has encountered dungeons that, while not exactly kind and friendly, are at least just acting according to their natures when they present the team with challenges. So... why not a corrupted dungeon?
It was hard work writing the Sorrowvale section. I felt grimy and unsettled after every session. I didn't realize until much later that there weren't any monsters there, and that I'd subconsciously omitted them because monsters are a thing you can defeat, and I wanted the sense of helplessness that goes with every haunted house story I've ever read. There are also hints here to the true nature of the system, something my first readers have been speculating about since at least book 2. And that's all I will say about that.
I hate writing travel, in general, because unless the travel is integral to the character growth or plot, I'd rather just say "and three weeks later they crested the hill overlooking the ocean" or whatever. This book, and the final third of Pretender to the Crown, are my exceptions.
I hope readers enjoy this, and that I succeeded at one or more of my goals. Next up: gladiator games and a whole bunch of tiny dungeons!
Writing a story about someone's change of heart is difficult, if only because the balancing is tricky. You have to gauge how far you can go keeping the character annoying: too far, and readers get annoyed; not far enough, and the redemption isn't believable. Based on my first readers' reactions, I didn't go too far, or at least none of them said they got sick of Jessemia's constant whingeing. I think it worked, but I'm just the writer, what do I know?
Jessemia's story satisfies me because there's a part of me that enjoys taking an unlikeable character and making them, if not beloved, at least not someone you want to leave for the wolves to devour. So I hope I succeeded there.
The other thing I wanted was an evil dungeon.
By now it's obvious that each book is titled for the dungeon that plays the most important role in the book (although in book five, The Glory Games is a sideways reference to the dungeon). So far, the team has encountered dungeons that, while not exactly kind and friendly, are at least just acting according to their natures when they present the team with challenges. So... why not a corrupted dungeon?
It was hard work writing the Sorrowvale section. I felt grimy and unsettled after every session. I didn't realize until much later that there weren't any monsters there, and that I'd subconsciously omitted them because monsters are a thing you can defeat, and I wanted the sense of helplessness that goes with every haunted house story I've ever read. There are also hints here to the true nature of the system, something my first readers have been speculating about since at least book 2. And that's all I will say about that.
I hate writing travel, in general, because unless the travel is integral to the character growth or plot, I'd rather just say "and three weeks later they crested the hill overlooking the ocean" or whatever. This book, and the final third of Pretender to the Crown, are my exceptions.
I hope readers enjoy this, and that I succeeded at one or more of my goals. Next up: gladiator games and a whole bunch of tiny dungeons!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2025
This is book 4 in a series. My review does not contain spoilers, but does expect that you’ve read the previous 3 books.
I adore this series. It is so much fun! It is my first LitRPG series and I am hooked! Each book feels like unlocking a new area in a game. I am a casual gamer, and I really enjoy the game elements throughout, but you don’t need to be a fan of gaming to enjoy this series. It has unique environments, dynamic characters and a big question carried through the series.
Things I loved:
When we met Jessemia in Book 3, I immediately wanted to see more of her. She was obnoxious and horrible; my ideal antagonist, just itching to grow as a person or die a painful gruesome death. In any case, I was elated when the team needed to escort her to the safe-zones for this book. And without spoilers, she does not disappoint!
Aside from Jessemia, there are many perilous scenarios throughout, with several unexpected turns and satisfying surprise outcomes. I love a surprise!
The titular dungeon was incredible (no spoilers!). I love how each area our team encounters offers unique challenges and the team keeps growing and learning. As with each of the previous books, I love how the team works together and respects each other. They set an example of excellent community and teamwork without homogenizing their characteristics, preferences and quirks. Everyone is allowed to be themselves and grow individually and together.
Best of all, there’s more! Book 5 is coming! So read this one so you can read the next one.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I adore this series. It is so much fun! It is my first LitRPG series and I am hooked! Each book feels like unlocking a new area in a game. I am a casual gamer, and I really enjoy the game elements throughout, but you don’t need to be a fan of gaming to enjoy this series. It has unique environments, dynamic characters and a big question carried through the series.
Things I loved:
When we met Jessemia in Book 3, I immediately wanted to see more of her. She was obnoxious and horrible; my ideal antagonist, just itching to grow as a person or die a painful gruesome death. In any case, I was elated when the team needed to escort her to the safe-zones for this book. And without spoilers, she does not disappoint!
Aside from Jessemia, there are many perilous scenarios throughout, with several unexpected turns and satisfying surprise outcomes. I love a surprise!
The titular dungeon was incredible (no spoilers!). I love how each area our team encounters offers unique challenges and the team keeps growing and learning. As with each of the previous books, I love how the team works together and respects each other. They set an example of excellent community and teamwork without homogenizing their characteristics, preferences and quirks. Everyone is allowed to be themselves and grow individually and together.
Best of all, there’s more! Book 5 is coming! So read this one so you can read the next one.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 22, 2024
Another 5 star story in the RPG fantasy by Melissa McShane. They have to deal with a horrible dungeon that changes without notice. I couldn't have done it. On top of that, they're escorting a bossy, angry, whiny adventurer with little to no skills, across the wilderness to another city. Plus, she think's she's the Chosen One. It tries their patience and tests their determination. But they learn as they go and the surprise at the end has nothing to do with the adventure itself, but with the way the adventure changes people.
Great story! I loved it. There is fantasy violence. Everyone gets hurt. Mild language. Closed door intimacy. Recommended for older teens and adults. 5 stars.
Great story! I loved it. There is fantasy violence. Everyone gets hurt. Mild language. Closed door intimacy. Recommended for older teens and adults. 5 stars.
August 16, 2024
I loved that this book in the series moved away a bit from conquering dungeons and killing monsters (although there was still plenty of that!) and focused on the transformative change a person can go through when someone around them chooses to believe that change is possible and treats them accordingly. We also see the original team maturing and changing, finding their focus, and making difficult choices. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still lots of action and adventure, but this installment of the story leads us towards what will clearly be the climax…in the next book. Can’t wait!
I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC, but reviews are optional and all opinions are my own.
I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC, but reviews are optional and all opinions are my own.
April 23, 2025
By far the worst part so far. I do not see the logic in constantly tracking down a person that keeps insulting everyone and then running away, only for a lousy 10.000 exp. They got more that in one fight against some wolves. I feel like there should have been another motivation. Maybe a contract clause that compels them to at least try and get her back.
Especially Aderyns constant attempts to be nice to her, only to get angered in return were frustrating and hard to read. Like a person constantly banging their head against a wall and wondering where the headache is coming from. At some point I stopped caring about Jessemia and just skipped her parts.
If anything, Aderyn constantly whining to Owen about how terrible Jessemia was, only to try all over again made her annoying as well. Her actions at the inn were the worst. That was when I actually started disliking Aderyn. Screaming at Jessemia, that she got them in the situation, when it was actually Aderyns own fault. Can’t believe Owen didn’t get angry at her and even let Jessemia stay. They just swept it aside. Honestly the whole story this time was forced and disappointing. Had to stop reading as it was getting ridiculous.
Especially Aderyns constant attempts to be nice to her, only to get angered in return were frustrating and hard to read. Like a person constantly banging their head against a wall and wondering where the headache is coming from. At some point I stopped caring about Jessemia and just skipped her parts.
If anything, Aderyn constantly whining to Owen about how terrible Jessemia was, only to try all over again made her annoying as well. Her actions at the inn were the worst. That was when I actually started disliking Aderyn. Screaming at Jessemia, that she got them in the situation, when it was actually Aderyns own fault. Can’t believe Owen didn’t get angry at her and even let Jessemia stay. They just swept it aside. Honestly the whole story this time was forced and disappointing. Had to stop reading as it was getting ridiculous.
August 21, 2024
Every tiny decision took 30 mins of retrospection
Rating: 2/5
Cover: 5/5
Narration: 5/5
Favorite line: na
Rating: 2/5
Cover: 5/5
Narration: 5/5
Favorite line: na
August 26, 2024
Not just RPG
McShane is a much more skillful writer than the LitRPG genre usually seems to attract, and it shows in the surprising detail and depth of these stories.
McShane is a much more skillful writer than the LitRPG genre usually seems to attract, and it shows in the surprising detail and depth of these stories.
April 20, 2025
Good stuff. 👍🏽👍🏽
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews