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Battleforged #4
First Clear
A promise he would keep at all costs.When Eric found out that the girl he had fallen for had been taken hostage by his enemies, he swore to himself that he would rescue her, no matter how powerful his foes might be.
Even if the battleground would be the field of politics and intrigue, not the crimson fields of battle that he favored.
When his mother makes it clear that his sister’s entire alliances rests on how well he can negotiate at the bargaining table, he’s forced to accept that it’s time to sheath his blade and enter the arena his political foes favor above all others.
But if his sworn foes think they can break their oaths and make backroom deals behind the scenes, maneuvering for his execution while catching him unawares... he’ll give them 16,000 reasons to think again.
And those reasons are hungry.
Almost as hungry as him.
But before he sets foot in any arena favored by his foes, he’ll add a couple wildcards of his own to his hand. Because what better way to increase his bargaining position than by earning a First Clear Title by taking on a territory no other Contender would dare? And it certainly doesn't hurt that if he actually manages to accomplish his perilous goal, he'll be more powerful than his foe's worst nightmares.
Assuming he survives!
Because the monsters that spell certain death for almost anyone else are the perfect tools for any Necromancer's arsenal! And if the corrupt Northeast Council fears his orc revenants and cannons, just wait till they get a load of his DINOSAUR COLLECTION!
Eric can't wait to show them off!
Even if the battleground would be the field of politics and intrigue, not the crimson fields of battle that he favored.
When his mother makes it clear that his sister’s entire alliances rests on how well he can negotiate at the bargaining table, he’s forced to accept that it’s time to sheath his blade and enter the arena his political foes favor above all others.
But if his sworn foes think they can break their oaths and make backroom deals behind the scenes, maneuvering for his execution while catching him unawares... he’ll give them 16,000 reasons to think again.
And those reasons are hungry.
Almost as hungry as him.
But before he sets foot in any arena favored by his foes, he’ll add a couple wildcards of his own to his hand. Because what better way to increase his bargaining position than by earning a First Clear Title by taking on a territory no other Contender would dare? And it certainly doesn't hurt that if he actually manages to accomplish his perilous goal, he'll be more powerful than his foe's worst nightmares.
Assuming he survives!
Because the monsters that spell certain death for almost anyone else are the perfect tools for any Necromancer's arsenal! And if the corrupt Northeast Council fears his orc revenants and cannons, just wait till they get a load of his DINOSAUR COLLECTION!
Eric can't wait to show them off!
- GenresFantasy
723 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2024
247 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 28, 2024
A bit weaker overall than the preceeding volume, but about what I expect. I don't know why I find these books worth my spare time when there are so any elements of them that bother me, but life is full of mysteries.
Case in point: if you know that the negotiations you are going into are magically rigged against you, and you have a force capable of destroying all of those looking to fuck you over, why would you negotiate without improving your bargaining position first?
It seems the author engineers situations for the various MCs to make some pointless sacrifice, often for people he doesn't know. The finale of this is one such situation, and let's just say I would have handled that differently.
Whatever. The bogging down in various expositions and highly scripted, thesaurus mangling conversations is the real element that bothers me, as does any element of any book that inspires me to skip pages to get back to the actual story. For this reason I was far more surprised that the last book nearly got a 5 from me than that this one is a solid 4. We'll see what book 5 has to offer us Decemberish.
Case in point: if you know that the negotiations you are going into are magically rigged against you, and you have a force capable of destroying all of those looking to fuck you over, why would you negotiate without improving your bargaining position first?
It seems the author engineers situations for the various MCs to make some pointless sacrifice, often for people he doesn't know. The finale of this is one such situation, and let's just say I would have handled that differently.
Whatever. The bogging down in various expositions and highly scripted, thesaurus mangling conversations is the real element that bothers me, as does any element of any book that inspires me to skip pages to get back to the actual story. For this reason I was far more surprised that the last book nearly got a 5 from me than that this one is a solid 4. We'll see what book 5 has to offer us Decemberish.
August 17, 2024
Amazing
I love the story, the myth in the making. The world or worlds being created! Its the plot holes.... The comment editing mistakes, whole words missing, or incorrect. This is absolutely a five star series, ill keep rereading it for years. But it could be a series I pay for a hardback book, if not for the easy editor mistakes.
I love the story, the myth in the making. The world or worlds being created! Its the plot holes.... The comment editing mistakes, whole words missing, or incorrect. This is absolutely a five star series, ill keep rereading it for years. But it could be a series I pay for a hardback book, if not for the easy editor mistakes.
July 31, 2024
Better than book 3. Hardcore adventuring, then negotiating with top-tier opponents.
Bit of a cliff-hanger ending, but it was the best spot to break the action.
Still quite verbose and repetitive. Still cool concepts.
I will read book 5.
Bit of a cliff-hanger ending, but it was the best spot to break the action.
Still quite verbose and repetitive. Still cool concepts.
I will read book 5.
August 5, 2024
I'm going to start by saying ALL of the books i have read by M.H have been as creative and engrossing a story as I could hope, including this series. I struggle sometimes with the writing style, but it grows on you. The world mechanics and magic system are top notch.
August 15, 2024
Battle Forge book 4
Oh this book didn't disappoint just like all the rest. I'm looking forward to the next book but number five. He has really got to sell them to a pickle now let's see how it turns out.
Oh this book didn't disappoint just like all the rest. I'm looking forward to the next book but number five. He has really got to sell them to a pickle now let's see how it turns out.
August 30, 2024
Crap
Don't know what everyone is going on about but this one was crap. It's should I even read more levels of horrible.
So this independent 'real' characters with flaws and worries who did his best to be free and spends the first 3 books swearing not to get under his mother's thumb and become her agent.
BECOMES HER AGENT! He literally spends the whole book doing what ever his mother tells him to and conquering all the territories to help his sister out. He is no longer his own agent and is just a sylvan alliance champion in all but name.
As for romance? The girl he fell for in book one, spent all the rest of the books worrying about suddenly becomes unimportant as our romantic, all the girls were worthless flings before and now sees what love is. Suddenly starts a harem because his mother said so and she wants grand kids for her own sick twisted designs?
This book basically feels like it was written by a different author. Book 1-3 got one character and book 4 you got playboy mommasboy OP harem MC..
Unless it turns out that his mother is using some mind trick control on him and he breaks free to refuse to do anything she says, then I think this series has gone downhill hard. Like really she's invading everything he does, from his businesses to his training, controlling anything he wants and 'guiding' him down her paths. Someone needs to behead her and let him just live his life.
Like book 3 had this whole she's villain ending then suddenly it's all reversed retconned at the start of book 4 like it was a movie series who got a new director midway through. It feels like The Star Wars sequel where the first guy had a vision and set all this stuff up then the last movie the guy comes in and just tears it all down and changes it. That's this book.
Congrats M.H Johnson, you made your book into the worst of the star wars movies. Get this hollywood playboy yes mom MC out of this series and give us back out does what he wants, when he wants and won't let anyone direct his path character back.
Don't know what everyone is going on about but this one was crap. It's should I even read more levels of horrible.
So this independent 'real' characters with flaws and worries who did his best to be free and spends the first 3 books swearing not to get under his mother's thumb and become her agent.
BECOMES HER AGENT! He literally spends the whole book doing what ever his mother tells him to and conquering all the territories to help his sister out. He is no longer his own agent and is just a sylvan alliance champion in all but name.
As for romance? The girl he fell for in book one, spent all the rest of the books worrying about suddenly becomes unimportant as our romantic, all the girls were worthless flings before and now sees what love is. Suddenly starts a harem because his mother said so and she wants grand kids for her own sick twisted designs?
This book basically feels like it was written by a different author. Book 1-3 got one character and book 4 you got playboy mommasboy OP harem MC..
Unless it turns out that his mother is using some mind trick control on him and he breaks free to refuse to do anything she says, then I think this series has gone downhill hard. Like really she's invading everything he does, from his businesses to his training, controlling anything he wants and 'guiding' him down her paths. Someone needs to behead her and let him just live his life.
Like book 3 had this whole she's villain ending then suddenly it's all reversed retconned at the start of book 4 like it was a movie series who got a new director midway through. It feels like The Star Wars sequel where the first guy had a vision and set all this stuff up then the last movie the guy comes in and just tears it all down and changes it. That's this book.
Congrats M.H Johnson, you made your book into the worst of the star wars movies. Get this hollywood playboy yes mom MC out of this series and give us back out does what he wants, when he wants and won't let anyone direct his path character back.
January 7, 2025
Increasingly poor execution
Started strong, but by book 4 the flaws have become something you can’t ignore. I love the idea for the story, but the writing is flawed. Some main points:
1. Dialogue is bad. So much exposition drops that it makes the dialogue stilted and uncanny. Very, “People don’t talk like that.” This has been a common thread from book 1, but it has gotten worse.
2. Cultivation aspect is just filler. Needless filler that just bloats the word count. It doesn’t matter to the story beyond, “You shouldn’t be able to do this,” or some excuse to make MC OP. I skipped all sections of it and missed nothing.
3. I am so disappointed by the villains. I was pumped for the confrontation against the goblins, and ouch, was it bad. Lots of screaming and childish politics. I loved the idea of a villain weak in strength, but a master of manipulation. Strength through politics and deception with a dash of intelligence the hero has to overcome through struggle and hardships.
Not here. Turns out everyone is as bright as a child and just throws a tantrum when things don’t go their way (literally). The goblins are incompetent, yet the reader is told they are master manipulators solely to make the hero look better than he is. It is incredibly lazy writing and killed all desire to read. I read all 4 books in a week, but the last few chapters of this book took almost a month to struggle through. I nearly deleted the book right then and there when the winter queen prattled on and on about exposition stuff IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MERTING. All the children guards (so many children 14-18 in this) suddenly see their parents as evil and switch sides…
It’s just messy and poorly executed. Definitely going to stop here and unfollow. Super disappointed in how far it fell.
Started strong, but by book 4 the flaws have become something you can’t ignore. I love the idea for the story, but the writing is flawed. Some main points:
1. Dialogue is bad. So much exposition drops that it makes the dialogue stilted and uncanny. Very, “People don’t talk like that.” This has been a common thread from book 1, but it has gotten worse.
2. Cultivation aspect is just filler. Needless filler that just bloats the word count. It doesn’t matter to the story beyond, “You shouldn’t be able to do this,” or some excuse to make MC OP. I skipped all sections of it and missed nothing.
3. I am so disappointed by the villains. I was pumped for the confrontation against the goblins, and ouch, was it bad. Lots of screaming and childish politics. I loved the idea of a villain weak in strength, but a master of manipulation. Strength through politics and deception with a dash of intelligence the hero has to overcome through struggle and hardships.
Not here. Turns out everyone is as bright as a child and just throws a tantrum when things don’t go their way (literally). The goblins are incompetent, yet the reader is told they are master manipulators solely to make the hero look better than he is. It is incredibly lazy writing and killed all desire to read. I read all 4 books in a week, but the last few chapters of this book took almost a month to struggle through. I nearly deleted the book right then and there when the winter queen prattled on and on about exposition stuff IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MERTING. All the children guards (so many children 14-18 in this) suddenly see their parents as evil and switch sides…
It’s just messy and poorly executed. Definitely going to stop here and unfollow. Super disappointed in how far it fell.
October 6, 2024
annoying and lazy
The author frequently pivots the story between training montage and self destruction. The only thing that cuts through the main characters plot armor is the character (Eric)not (Alex) himself. Author frequently ups the skills and stats to ridiculous and over powered levels. Then has his MC hamstring himself for the sole purpose of adding more words to a story with amazing potential that sorta waters it down and breaks the flow and immersion he has achieved. Which sorta destroys the book for me as the effort and time the author has but into this book really made me want to read more. Until the end of this book. Where yet again the protagonist becomes a pissy lil pre-teen who can’t get over his mommy issues. AGAIN and only because the author wants to end it like that. Despite clearly telling the readers that Eric will collars himself. Clearly setting the story arc to self sacrifice or self destruction. But wait. Pivot to its all mommies fault. And yet again we stripped the story down to only a few OP skills and a I hate mommy boner any therapist would make a fortune off of. Can wait for book 5 hopefully by then the author will add some daddy drama too. As I’m “sure” that would totally make the story even better lol
The author frequently pivots the story between training montage and self destruction. The only thing that cuts through the main characters plot armor is the character (Eric)not (Alex) himself. Author frequently ups the skills and stats to ridiculous and over powered levels. Then has his MC hamstring himself for the sole purpose of adding more words to a story with amazing potential that sorta waters it down and breaks the flow and immersion he has achieved. Which sorta destroys the book for me as the effort and time the author has but into this book really made me want to read more. Until the end of this book. Where yet again the protagonist becomes a pissy lil pre-teen who can’t get over his mommy issues. AGAIN and only because the author wants to end it like that. Despite clearly telling the readers that Eric will collars himself. Clearly setting the story arc to self sacrifice or self destruction. But wait. Pivot to its all mommies fault. And yet again we stripped the story down to only a few OP skills and a I hate mommy boner any therapist would make a fortune off of. Can wait for book 5 hopefully by then the author will add some daddy drama too. As I’m “sure” that would totally make the story even better lol
January 14, 2025
Strong Story Line—Too Much Profanity
M.H. Johnson is a strong writer that creates a strong character line, great supporting characters for the protagonist, and keeps the story going. The attention to details, in depth gaming sense, and constant moments of humor are captivating.
BUT…his use of so much profanity gets in the way of a good writer. If I could make one recommendation after 40 years in the military…just do not use the profanity.
Can you write as good or better of a book without it? Are you able to articulate your character’s feelings, thoughts, etc. without it?
Can you make a good book better by utilizing the language to its fullest without the excessive profanity?
I believe you can and should. I also believe your audience would increase as most readers (I suggest) do not read books for the profanity but the storyline.
M.H. Johnson is a strong writer that creates a strong character line, great supporting characters for the protagonist, and keeps the story going. The attention to details, in depth gaming sense, and constant moments of humor are captivating.
BUT…his use of so much profanity gets in the way of a good writer. If I could make one recommendation after 40 years in the military…just do not use the profanity.
Can you write as good or better of a book without it? Are you able to articulate your character’s feelings, thoughts, etc. without it?
Can you make a good book better by utilizing the language to its fullest without the excessive profanity?
I believe you can and should. I also believe your audience would increase as most readers (I suggest) do not read books for the profanity but the storyline.
August 23, 2024
Please, for the love of god, get an editor!
The book is fun, the worldbuilding complex, but please try considering some updates to the writing?
Learn the difference between "discrete" and "discreet", "sight" and "site", and many other homophones.
Try to stop writing 50-word sentences with multiple clauses and 5 or 6 runs of multisyllabic adjectives, when it's not needed.
Consider only saying something once, rather than three or four times, and trust your readers to remember.
But mostly, for the love of god, get yourself a bloody editor, and listen to them!
The book is fun, the worldbuilding complex, but please try considering some updates to the writing?
Learn the difference between "discrete" and "discreet", "sight" and "site", and many other homophones.
Try to stop writing 50-word sentences with multiple clauses and 5 or 6 runs of multisyllabic adjectives, when it's not needed.
Consider only saying something once, rather than three or four times, and trust your readers to remember.
But mostly, for the love of god, get yourself a bloody editor, and listen to them!
September 2, 2024
MC’s NAME
Ok so I don’t know if it’s accident or what but in the middle of all these series books you change the name of your Main Character Eric into Alex! It’s annoying please fix.
Ok so I don’t know if it’s accident or what but in the middle of all these series books you change the name of your Main Character Eric into Alex! It’s annoying please fix.
September 19, 2024
Amazing and epic
Well done, as always this author strives for and reaches epic world building, full of awesome characters, emotion, magic, action, and everything else that makes a story truly unforgettable. Keep up the great work!!!
Well done, as always this author strives for and reaches epic world building, full of awesome characters, emotion, magic, action, and everything else that makes a story truly unforgettable. Keep up the great work!!!
September 29, 2024
So Good
Eric just can't seem to get a break as things seem to conspire against him, but the prizes being a contender can get for Earth's future are so very cool. Great writing and of course the story progression we have seen so far is great and long may it continue.
Eric just can't seem to get a break as things seem to conspire against him, but the prizes being a contender can get for Earth's future are so very cool. Great writing and of course the story progression we have seen so far is great and long may it continue.
July 29, 2024
Great one sitting read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
July 29, 2024
Delicious
Beautiful, stunning, wonderful. I loved this book, and can't wait for more! If you liked the previous two, this one will be right up your alley!
Beautiful, stunning, wonderful. I loved this book, and can't wait for more! If you liked the previous two, this one will be right up your alley!
July 30, 2024
Excellent
Wow - what an amazing book. I hope book 5 comes out soon. What an amazing relationship between Eric and his mother…
Wow - what an amazing book. I hope book 5 comes out soon. What an amazing relationship between Eric and his mother…
July 30, 2024
so so so good
I am in awe of this book, and the whole series too. This last book left me literally in a state of mourning when I finished it. So so so good!
I am in awe of this book, and the whole series too. This last book left me literally in a state of mourning when I finished it. So so so good!
August 3, 2024
Good
Well written and enjoyable book, with a nice balance of action and world building, just the right amount of stat's.
Well written and enjoyable book, with a nice balance of action and world building, just the right amount of stat's.
August 6, 2024
enjoyable
Book was a stop over but turns out I enjoyed it tremendously. Story line is good with twist and turns
Book was a stop over but turns out I enjoyed it tremendously. Story line is good with twist and turns
August 10, 2024
Awesome Stuff
This story of a guy in another world was a very interesting entertaining read that I really enjoyed reading that was so much an action packed fantastic book.
This story of a guy in another world was a very interesting entertaining read that I really enjoyed reading that was so much an action packed fantastic book.
August 18, 2024
awesome
Another great addition to the series. Plenty of action and growth. Can’t wait to read more about Eric’s journeys will definitely get the next one.
Another great addition to the series. Plenty of action and growth. Can’t wait to read more about Eric’s journeys will definitely get the next one.
October 28, 2024
good
Good story and action with plot twists and settings. Looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens.
Good story and action with plot twists and settings. Looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews