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Primer for the Apocalypse #2
The Approach of Dawn: Primer for the Apocalypse Book Two
To protect those she loves from an unwanted fate, Emie Mercer has returned to the past. Her actions have already created ripples and changed the trajectory of her future. She has gained early access to the system and magic, and is now working with Alliance personnel in an effort to leverage her knowledge of the future to help others.
With the aid of her boss and new mentors, Emie will continue to grow and learn, expanding the gap between herself and the rest of the natives of Earth. But by making herself exceptional, she risks the very safety she hoped to create.
With the aid of her boss and new mentors, Emie will continue to grow and learn, expanding the gap between herself and the rest of the natives of Earth. But by making herself exceptional, she risks the very safety she hoped to create.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
523 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2024
145 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 6, 2024
This is second in a system non-pocalypse and picks up right after the first. Read in order.
The webserial roots of the story show somewhat in this story. There's a lot of bead-on-a-string plot while Emie prepares for the coming transition of Earth into a mana-rich environment. And you know more or less what to expect since you've read the first book. She's overtly working with the aliens (human, mostly, but from off-planet) who are trying to prepare the Earthborn for what is coming. This is how we get to know that most of them are honestly trying to help. Except for the crazy researcher Sir Eri'Non who I hated more than a little.
I was fully engaged with Emie which made this a fun read. She's working to become stronger and to innovate things to make the transition easier for people. I like that she is innovative and dedicated. I like that she is careful and skeptical, though the author cheats a little by giving her a "sense intention" skill to know that spies aren't exactly on the up-and-up.
And I liked how she is trying to do better this go-round than she originally did by looking after her family and strengthening those bonds, even with her extended family. I loved all the relationships with friends and family developed in this book.
What I hated, more than a little, is that .
Anyway, this was four stars of fun and I'm glad I picked this up when the author released it. Which was totally a choice since I'm way ahead in the story by following it on Royal Road. So this was more of a nostalgia read to visit Emie before she, um, reaches the next phase of the plot in book three...
A note about Chaste: Emie is pretty driven and has things she wants to get done when the portals to the rest of the Alliance open up. So she isn't interested in creating relationships that would have a built-in expiration date. I'm good with that. So this is extremely chaste.
The webserial roots of the story show somewhat in this story. There's a lot of bead-on-a-string plot while Emie prepares for the coming transition of Earth into a mana-rich environment. And you know more or less what to expect since you've read the first book. She's overtly working with the aliens (human, mostly, but from off-planet) who are trying to prepare the Earthborn for what is coming. This is how we get to know that most of them are honestly trying to help. Except for the crazy researcher Sir Eri'Non who I hated more than a little.
I was fully engaged with Emie which made this a fun read. She's working to become stronger and to innovate things to make the transition easier for people. I like that she is innovative and dedicated. I like that she is careful and skeptical, though the author cheats a little by giving her a "sense intention" skill to know that spies aren't exactly on the up-and-up.
And I liked how she is trying to do better this go-round than she originally did by looking after her family and strengthening those bonds, even with her extended family. I loved all the relationships with friends and family developed in this book.
What I hated, more than a little, is that .
Anyway, this was four stars of fun and I'm glad I picked this up when the author released it. Which was totally a choice since I'm way ahead in the story by following it on Royal Road. So this was more of a nostalgia read to visit Emie before she, um, reaches the next phase of the plot in book three...
A note about Chaste: Emie is pretty driven and has things she wants to get done when the portals to the rest of the Alliance open up. So she isn't interested in creating relationships that would have a built-in expiration date. I'm good with that. So this is extremely chaste.
January 1, 2026
Book two
I was originally reading this on royal road as it was being written. For some reason I dropped it, and not too long ago I saw an ad for the books so I decided to pick up where I left off on book 2. Now I remember why I dropped the series. For me the filling is that the MC is a traitor to humanity. She works with the aliens To help them sabotage Nuclear weapons Not necessarily a bad thing but she's working against humanity, in order to help humanity but still.
This is 1 of my least liked and least favorite regressor series because even though she regressed to the past in order to try to make things better she does very little to actually prepare her family and friends Just helps herself. Yes I find her to be a traitor to humanity she she actually says that 1 point that she is embarrassed to be human or something close to that. Because humans are panicking over the edge of the apocalypse Entitlement to other places and make it whole society of people hate us. Never be ashamed of where you come from or who you are!
5/10 The writing is absolutely fine I don't have a problem with that it's the storytelling I have a problem with so it didn't get as high marks as it could have. The MC is just not that likable to me.
I was originally reading this on royal road as it was being written. For some reason I dropped it, and not too long ago I saw an ad for the books so I decided to pick up where I left off on book 2. Now I remember why I dropped the series. For me the filling is that the MC is a traitor to humanity. She works with the aliens To help them sabotage Nuclear weapons Not necessarily a bad thing but she's working against humanity, in order to help humanity but still.
This is 1 of my least liked and least favorite regressor series because even though she regressed to the past in order to try to make things better she does very little to actually prepare her family and friends Just helps herself. Yes I find her to be a traitor to humanity she she actually says that 1 point that she is embarrassed to be human or something close to that. Because humans are panicking over the edge of the apocalypse Entitlement to other places and make it whole society of people hate us. Never be ashamed of where you come from or who you are!
5/10 The writing is absolutely fine I don't have a problem with that it's the storytelling I have a problem with so it didn't get as high marks as it could have. The MC is just not that likable to me.
July 2, 2024
Hoping for more installments
I liked the inclusion of enchanting along with crafting. The balance was kept between enchanting/crafting and magic rpg gaming/leveling elements. If this last book (2) was meant to be the end then it might have been nicer for the MC to have been rewarded with voiding her contract and being returned to her home so she could Shepard her family. Many litrpg books written add in false gods like trying to doctor bland food with a seasoning. By avoiding that pitfall this story "leveled up".
I liked the inclusion of enchanting along with crafting. The balance was kept between enchanting/crafting and magic rpg gaming/leveling elements. If this last book (2) was meant to be the end then it might have been nicer for the MC to have been rewarded with voiding her contract and being returned to her home so she could Shepard her family. Many litrpg books written add in false gods like trying to doctor bland food with a seasoning. By avoiding that pitfall this story "leveled up".
January 1, 2026
Good start, got lost to politics
In the first book, the author did a good job of character development in writing an interesting book about people. There was relevant fighting scenes and stats development, but it didn’t detract from the story.
That started to wear thin at the end of the first book and is completely gone in book two.
A quick comment: I want to recognize it’s possible that the author is a master of the subtle, slow build process meant to show the gradual decline of personal values and character in the face of the enticement of power and an alien system slowly overwriting your brain using advanced technology, propaganda, and conditioning. It’s possible, but conflicting evidence suggest it’s not probable.
My core complaint is that our “ hero” came back in time to save her friends and family. And while she keeps making mouth noises about saving her family, anytime she’s offered power or position for herself at the cost of delaying saving her family and not positioning them to survive long-term she takes that power. It’s important to remember that this character has spent nearly 15 to 20 years with her friends from the previous world, she owed her life to them multiple times over. She’s been back in the “New World” for less than 1-3 years (depending on the part of the book) and she has completely forgotten her obligation to her friends, in favor of some new friends she’s made. Mind you this is the mind of a 30 to 40-year-old woman, who’s hanging out with 14 to 18-year-old children with a few 200 year old aliens mixed in. These are not her peers, they’re not her mental equals. They’re either juvenile, or for more senior than she is. She would not be forming strong friendships with these people. There is some lip service to the recognition that she currently inhabit the body of a 16 to 18-year-old and has hormone problems because of it., which is completely valid and an interesting thing to explore. But we never explore that, it just gets mentioned in passing.
Then let’s talk about the aliens. There’s a sociopath who’s kidnapping humans and functionally murdering them using legal loophole. Everyone just shrugs and goes “eh, it happen”. if this is the merciful and kind System that’s coming, then all of the “bad” people who are resisting it are in the right and our heroes support of the system just makes her one more guard at camp Auschwitz.
And the system itself is unstable, in one moment it’s capable of reading your intent, and judging the morality for actions to prevent you from gaming the system, in the next, it can’t tell that someone in power is using wholesale murder and slaughter of people of a lower level (a major violation of System rules) to try to increase their own power and prestige. That’s not how this works. It’s one of the other either.
There is a growing disconnect between our hero and the people around her, including her family who she came back in time to save, as she starts conforming to the thinking of the wider universe and the value of assimilation and struggle, versus her job to protect, defend and support her family in growing slowly into power.
Her “master” is willing to throw a completely untrained disciple who is the best candidate he’s found in more than 2000 years into a grinder that has a 90% chance of killing her, because it will improve his reputation or the standing of his sect, right before he dies/ascends, if she lives. That’s the behavior of a sociopath, not a good mentor who wants to help you grow in strength overtime. He also wants to take a young girl, less than 10% of his age him when he ascends for companionship. Creepy grooming anyone?
Let’s talk about the overall system inconsistencies. Our chief villain is a single 5000-year-old elf. an old researcher, who’s accrued political power. In the other corner, we have a planet that suddenly delivers a flood of dual affinity candidates. Every major house, sect, kingdom, and company would have sent thousands of recruiters to tap into this vast pool of talent that could be mentored up.
And the elf been kidnapping and murdering these high value recruits , and hiding the evidence, with the full support of the government of the aliens, and the awareness of the local administrator. How does that make sense?
The three affinity side character, is per the book a once in 10,000 year event, and a precursor to then causing major changes to the universe. And the elf wanted to kidnap experimented on and then murdered her, because he could get away with it. Let’s do the math: in a wider universe with tens of trillions of peoples, and possibly 1 million or more, 4000-year-old elves, this single three affinity human, would’ve had thousands of high level bodyguards show up day, one to protect her, as every species tried to win her to their side.
Overall, skip this series. It started out good, but the author world got inconsistent. And the characters become dislikable.
In the first book, the author did a good job of character development in writing an interesting book about people. There was relevant fighting scenes and stats development, but it didn’t detract from the story.
That started to wear thin at the end of the first book and is completely gone in book two.
A quick comment: I want to recognize it’s possible that the author is a master of the subtle, slow build process meant to show the gradual decline of personal values and character in the face of the enticement of power and an alien system slowly overwriting your brain using advanced technology, propaganda, and conditioning. It’s possible, but conflicting evidence suggest it’s not probable.
My core complaint is that our “ hero” came back in time to save her friends and family. And while she keeps making mouth noises about saving her family, anytime she’s offered power or position for herself at the cost of delaying saving her family and not positioning them to survive long-term she takes that power. It’s important to remember that this character has spent nearly 15 to 20 years with her friends from the previous world, she owed her life to them multiple times over. She’s been back in the “New World” for less than 1-3 years (depending on the part of the book) and she has completely forgotten her obligation to her friends, in favor of some new friends she’s made. Mind you this is the mind of a 30 to 40-year-old woman, who’s hanging out with 14 to 18-year-old children with a few 200 year old aliens mixed in. These are not her peers, they’re not her mental equals. They’re either juvenile, or for more senior than she is. She would not be forming strong friendships with these people. There is some lip service to the recognition that she currently inhabit the body of a 16 to 18-year-old and has hormone problems because of it., which is completely valid and an interesting thing to explore. But we never explore that, it just gets mentioned in passing.
Then let’s talk about the aliens. There’s a sociopath who’s kidnapping humans and functionally murdering them using legal loophole. Everyone just shrugs and goes “eh, it happen”. if this is the merciful and kind System that’s coming, then all of the “bad” people who are resisting it are in the right and our heroes support of the system just makes her one more guard at camp Auschwitz.
And the system itself is unstable, in one moment it’s capable of reading your intent, and judging the morality for actions to prevent you from gaming the system, in the next, it can’t tell that someone in power is using wholesale murder and slaughter of people of a lower level (a major violation of System rules) to try to increase their own power and prestige. That’s not how this works. It’s one of the other either.
There is a growing disconnect between our hero and the people around her, including her family who she came back in time to save, as she starts conforming to the thinking of the wider universe and the value of assimilation and struggle, versus her job to protect, defend and support her family in growing slowly into power.
Her “master” is willing to throw a completely untrained disciple who is the best candidate he’s found in more than 2000 years into a grinder that has a 90% chance of killing her, because it will improve his reputation or the standing of his sect, right before he dies/ascends, if she lives. That’s the behavior of a sociopath, not a good mentor who wants to help you grow in strength overtime. He also wants to take a young girl, less than 10% of his age him when he ascends for companionship. Creepy grooming anyone?
Let’s talk about the overall system inconsistencies. Our chief villain is a single 5000-year-old elf. an old researcher, who’s accrued political power. In the other corner, we have a planet that suddenly delivers a flood of dual affinity candidates. Every major house, sect, kingdom, and company would have sent thousands of recruiters to tap into this vast pool of talent that could be mentored up.
And the elf been kidnapping and murdering these high value recruits , and hiding the evidence, with the full support of the government of the aliens, and the awareness of the local administrator. How does that make sense?
The three affinity side character, is per the book a once in 10,000 year event, and a precursor to then causing major changes to the universe. And the elf wanted to kidnap experimented on and then murdered her, because he could get away with it. Let’s do the math: in a wider universe with tens of trillions of peoples, and possibly 1 million or more, 4000-year-old elves, this single three affinity human, would’ve had thousands of high level bodyguards show up day, one to protect her, as every species tried to win her to their side.
Overall, skip this series. It started out good, but the author world got inconsistent. And the characters become dislikable.
December 21, 2024
The chill apocalypse
This book, like the first one, is a mix of Slice of Life and a longer overarching story that unfolds over an extended time span. We get to follow the protagonist's everyday challenges for a few chapters, then jump ahead to see how her daily life evolves and what new challenges the world presents.
I greatly enjoyed the setting, universe, and especially the main character, but I feel a warning might be necessary. If you're looking for action-packed sequences or detailed fight scenes, this book might not meet your expectations. Instead, it focuses heavily on plot development and the MC's personal journey. Perhaps "slow burn, strong-to-strong" is an apt description.
If I were to assign percentages to the different aspects of the book, it would look something like this:
Slice of Life: 60%
World-building: 10%
LitRPG mechanics/magic: 20%
Action/Adventure: 10%
This book, like the first one, is a mix of Slice of Life and a longer overarching story that unfolds over an extended time span. We get to follow the protagonist's everyday challenges for a few chapters, then jump ahead to see how her daily life evolves and what new challenges the world presents.
I greatly enjoyed the setting, universe, and especially the main character, but I feel a warning might be necessary. If you're looking for action-packed sequences or detailed fight scenes, this book might not meet your expectations. Instead, it focuses heavily on plot development and the MC's personal journey. Perhaps "slow burn, strong-to-strong" is an apt description.
If I were to assign percentages to the different aspects of the book, it would look something like this:
Slice of Life: 60%
World-building: 10%
LitRPG mechanics/magic: 20%
Action/Adventure: 10%
August 17, 2024
This is a continuation of the previous book, though there are quite a few time skips, enough that we get to the point where the portals open and Emie leaves Earth. Personally I feel like it would have been nice to take it slower. Having more details about the apocalypse would have been interesting. That said, I can also see that being a bit boring, so it's not a big deal. My main issue, and the reason I didn't give it 5 stars, is the ending. It's really frustrating, and it also has me concerned that most/all of the remainder of the series will be very same-y, with Emie being very railroaded. . I fully intend to continue reading the series on RoyalRoad. Hopefully I'm wrong and it turns out well.
November 10, 2025
OP timelord
Emmie is motivated to use this second chance to not only better herself, but also her family and Earth as well.
What little we learn about the primary timeline through the prologue and occasional mention of Emmie’s previous crew, she was a powerful self-taught mage and enchanter; now she’s even more powerful and found access to a good education, strong patrons, and a drive to save as many people from the apocalypse as possible.
In this world of might makes right, there are people who will help her and people who will hinder her.
Why monarchy? Maybe with an AI, it’s all LARP, but you’d think a different system of self rule would arise when trying to wrangle people with godlike power. Maybe Earth culture will influence Atlantis.
Emmie is motivated to use this second chance to not only better herself, but also her family and Earth as well.
What little we learn about the primary timeline through the prologue and occasional mention of Emmie’s previous crew, she was a powerful self-taught mage and enchanter; now she’s even more powerful and found access to a good education, strong patrons, and a drive to save as many people from the apocalypse as possible.
In this world of might makes right, there are people who will help her and people who will hinder her.
Why monarchy? Maybe with an AI, it’s all LARP, but you’d think a different system of self rule would arise when trying to wrangle people with godlike power. Maybe Earth culture will influence Atlantis.
July 4, 2024
Gaining momentum
Though I liked the first book, it felt a bit slow and bland at times. This book had almost none of that, and left me eager for the third. the characters are engaging and likeable, when their supposed to be. Time feels a bit nebulous at points, and
×minor spoilers?×
its not particularly clear what she has learned from her two mentor/masters, but I anticipate we will see the results of her training blossom in book 3. Also the epilogue's events made me happy :)
Though I liked the first book, it felt a bit slow and bland at times. This book had almost none of that, and left me eager for the third. the characters are engaging and likeable, when their supposed to be. Time feels a bit nebulous at points, and
×minor spoilers?×
its not particularly clear what she has learned from her two mentor/masters, but I anticipate we will see the results of her training blossom in book 3. Also the epilogue's events made me happy :)
February 2, 2025
wonderful slice of life story
This is a slice of life story continuation. The writing is above average quality for self published works. This is not at its heart an action adventure story, it is more of a day in the life of working student narration.
I really enjoyed the first 75% of book, but the author gets a bit “wand wavy” after the 75% mark in, for me at least, a very clunky set of events to get to where they wanted the story to go. It was bad. That said once you get through that section the ending is decent.
This is a slice of life story continuation. The writing is above average quality for self published works. This is not at its heart an action adventure story, it is more of a day in the life of working student narration.
I really enjoyed the first 75% of book, but the author gets a bit “wand wavy” after the 75% mark in, for me at least, a very clunky set of events to get to where they wanted the story to go. It was bad. That said once you get through that section the ending is decent.
June 28, 2024
Good book
I really enjoyed the next book in this series. It moves faster with multiple short tine skips, so you see more plot progress, but it doesn't sacrifice any of the important details. There's a significant change in the direction of the story that should lead to a lot more action in the next book as the training environment is over. Looking forward to the next book.
I really enjoyed the next book in this series. It moves faster with multiple short tine skips, so you see more plot progress, but it doesn't sacrifice any of the important details. There's a significant change in the direction of the story that should lead to a lot more action in the next book as the training environment is over. Looking forward to the next book.
July 27, 2024
Not a fan
This was kind of tough for me to get through. These little time jump cuts in the story were a little jarring. Maybe a date header or something might have helped. Otherwise a very interesting read
This was kind of tough for me to get through. These little time jump cuts in the story were a little jarring. Maybe a date header or something might have helped. Otherwise a very interesting read
August 21, 2024
Great character driven story
Unlike most of the genre, Primer for the Apocalypse is a well written and well paced character-driven story that doesn't read as a wish fulfillment powertrip.
Unlike most of the genre, Primer for the Apocalypse is a well written and well paced character-driven story that doesn't read as a wish fulfillment powertrip.
December 7, 2024
Great book
I read both books in the series in just two days. It was so interesting, I was incapable of putting it down. The story is well written and the storyline is different from others in this genre.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I read both books in the series in just two days. It was so interesting, I was incapable of putting it down. The story is well written and the storyline is different from others in this genre.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
March 15, 2025
This is an excellent continuation of the story, building towards the reintegration with a well-foreshadowed and interesting plot twist in the last quarter of the book. I am jumping into the next one immediately.
August 3, 2024
I like it
I like this do over of the main character, the story, and the world building. I look forward to the next book. Good job!
I like this do over of the main character, the story, and the world building. I look forward to the next book. Good job!
August 10, 2024
Well Done
Boy, this is getting good. I definitely appreciate Emie as a character. Hopefully, the next installment comes out soon. There are so many paths this could take.
Boy, this is getting good. I definitely appreciate Emie as a character. Hopefully, the next installment comes out soon. There are so many paths this could take.
December 8, 2024
A nice continuation. I'm looking forward to the next book. I am excited to explore the relationship between Emie and Kai.
January 3, 2025
fun
I like how fun this book is. I like that for the most part it is first person but we still get some snippets of other people’s/ aliens point of view. I love the two books.
I like how fun this book is. I like that for the most part it is first person but we still get some snippets of other people’s/ aliens point of view. I love the two books.
January 28, 2025
Way too much in this book.
March 8, 2025
so it begins
I liked it. I will be getting the next book immediately.
Interesting setup for the apocalypse, which finally arrives in the latter half of the book.
I liked it. I will be getting the next book immediately.
Interesting setup for the apocalypse, which finally arrives in the latter half of the book.
July 18, 2025
highly enjoyable
Much stronger writing than book one!
I really enjoyed this.
I really want to read book three so I’ll write a proper review later!
Much stronger writing than book one!
I really enjoyed this.
I really want to read book three so I’ll write a proper review later!
November 16, 2025
This is so good! What a satisfying finish.
Characters 6
Writing 7
Plot 8
Entertainment 7
7★
Characters 6
Writing 7
Plot 8
Entertainment 7
7★
November 28, 2025
Good writer
This is some of the best writing I have read on the past year. The theme is common, but the protagonist is not. Binge reading!
This is some of the best writing I have read on the past year. The theme is common, but the protagonist is not. Binge reading!
July 1, 2024
Not as much new material, but pace and characterization improved. Still worth the the read and now wanting more.
January 22, 2026
See my review for book 1.
November 20, 2025
Great Read
Love this new series. Excellent characters, world building and a great magic system. Master Kairos I especially loved....hope to here moreabout him. Eagerly awaiting nook 3.
Love this new series. Excellent characters, world building and a great magic system. Master Kairos I especially loved....hope to here moreabout him. Eagerly awaiting nook 3.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews