The Tenth Muse: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure

Divine Apostasy #10

by A.F. Kay

"The Tenth Muse" follows Ruwen, a Divine Apostasy, in his relentless pursuit of balance in a universe teetering on the brink of annihilation.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction

546 pages, Paperback

First published July 5, 2024

About the author

AFK is the pen name of Ripht, a monk still wandering the Crypt of Dalnir looking for the Lumpy Goo that refuses to drop his Fighting Baton. Some of AFK's best memories happened online, and the Divine Apostasy, a LitRPG series, is his attempt to relive those days in some small part. He hopes you find a piece of yourself in this series and join him on the journey.

Reviews

[Fernando · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t too excited reading this one. A lot of new settings and skills get explored but it’s overwhelming. I’m still getting familiar with the new things from the previous book. Hopefully the next one slows down the vertical progression and focuses more on the horizontal one.

[lorem · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy past other complains, then;

I found the previous book confusing and gutsy, instead of finishing the series on a high point - Will Wight / Cradle style - the universe and magic systems got massively increased in scope. The series used to feel like a Ferrari and now its ground down to explanations of new systems and after this book another full reset. Now the series is meandering, lacking focus.

I wish the author parked his inspiration for another series and gave rune the finish he deserved. I mean the system IS interesting, but slap on a few new characters and that would have been a new series in its on right.

I'll give the series one last chance next book.

[Mella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruwen is taking some time out for a vacation. The only kind of vacation he does - a working one. Under Miranda's direction and with the rest of the gang, Ruwen heads for the home of the Nine Muses, looking to complete the Grand Alchemist quest. It starts out just fine until Ruwen gets into the sort of trouble only he can.

I'm now ten books into this series - I really have no choice but to continue. That said, I enjoyed this one more than I have the last two. I was even more lost than I was given the three months or so that have passed. I was pleasantly surprised to find detailed summaries of the books on A.F. Kay's website - I just wish I had found them before I'd started reading and not once I'd finished.

I really love Ruwen and while I'm not thrilled with the direction the plot has taken I still enjoy reading this series. I love the banter between Ruwen and Sift, the affection between Ruwen and Rami and the general friendships with the rest of the gang. I like the action and the sheer ridiculousness of the antics they all get in to. I'm not much for existential crap but I can deal. This book eased up on it a little bit and having the whole Outerverse as more of a peripheral player made it easier to tolerate.

There wasn't as much focus on stats or math in this book. My favourite parts are when Ruwen has a project or is practicing a skill only he could've picked up, so it was disappointing to find little of that, but the book kept my attention and I didn't feel as exhausted as I did reading the last two books. I'm not sure if that's because the book was better though or I just let it go. There was still a lot of jumping from one thing to another but it wasn't as overwhelming.

I'll be continuing with the next book - I only hope by the time it comes out I can remember what actually happened. Either way a decent addition to a generally pretty good series. 3.5 stars, rounded to 3 stars.

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book

I have been following this author since his third book of this series. They are all great and the end of this book has an unexpected twist at the end and leaves you wanting to know what happens next. Of course it’s the main character’s own fault Shade’s first Rule: “you only have yourself to blame”. And you should be blaming yourself if you don’t read this series it’s fun

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book in the series. As I write this, however, the 11th book is not out yet nor will it come out for a few more months. Why do I keep reading incomplete series?
I wish this had a little more on the actual alchemy competition. For it being the setting of the book, a lot of other things happened and the alchemy quest was more of a side plot.
More new concepts, abilities, and things to leave you feeling confused on what is happening if you are not paying attention. The first seven-ish books built up a system on how things work, the last few, book 8, 9, 10 has taken this system and turned it up to 11,000.

[Michael Schwartz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nonsense

Complete and totally nonsense, these last two books were trash. It's like a trash can fruit pie where you put as many fruits including tomatoes and avocado into the mess and expect something other than a mess. I can't even call it a real plot since it was all over the place. It was half measures all the way. 50 % stupid kids acting like adults 50% boring 50% bad writing 100% chaos. Yeah I know that adds up to 300% which is my point, how can you just drop new elements into the book then dead end it. Honestly I think the series deserves a reboot and take some of the books aspects and edit a very large portion out.

[CK · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book felt too much a filler and threading for next books.

Too many (old) story lines left open, not addressed, forgotten, put on hold (as if reality can wait)

Too many (new) things came up, magic systems/capabilities heretofore unknown to any. Why introduce now, and place the MC’s at ‘level one’ again? Why nerf them so?

Was just annoying, as previous books were quite good.

Seems writer is suffering from creativity exhaustion or something, or plot is dried up and he’s looking for other plots/hooks.

Bummer

[Richard Lasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm truly impressed

This series was a sneaky, delightful trip through so many emotions and scenarios. Ruwen becoming himself is truly marvelous. I still can't figure out how everything is going to really flow. I'm kinda low key annoyed with this cliffhanger, though, especially considering this just released. So I have no idea how long I'm going to have to wait. You know what, never mind that nonsense I'll go investigate patreon or however it's spelt.

[Howard S. Hechler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much. Just too much.

It feels as though the author has a file cabinet somewhere with 10 different magic systems and world-building scenarios that he’s saved up over the years. But instead of finishing this story, he decided to resurrect and jam them all together. Parts of this book are good. Parts of this are tedious. If you’re already on book 10, you’ll probably read book 11 too, as will I.

[Eugene Ligman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is still moving after 10 books

How too many authors of these serial books these days, seem to spend endless time on world building and magic systems and all kinds of description but the story stopped moving all together. This one not only keeps moving. It actually develops a hell of a twist that I never would’ve seen coming.
The story is well worth the time to read. I would recommend it to my friends.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable

I can't express enough how much I enjoy the interactions between all of the characters. The comraderie is so relatable that I express genuine emotion as I'm reading. It's an experience really. I laugh so hard at the antics between Ruwen and Sift, and everyone's reactions to their antics. I commend the author on this important aspect that is missing from a lot of stories.

[William Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moar powah

Okay, so, this whole thing has gone so far off the rails from where it started. Really not surprising, as we are now in the 10th book.

Still the same hijinks between the MC and his best friend. Pastries remain an odd topic. And the MC continues to grow.

I still love this stuff. I will pre-order 11 as soon as it is available.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

irritating, wait for the next one, read together.

Terrible ending. This ending over one that could have felt like an actual conclusion better be necessary! Some readers act like we’ve enjoyed this series, shouldn’t it be over already? Because it’s getting to complicated. I get it. This series is a lot. Isn’t this everything litRPG is meant to be though?

[Tj Penn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has become my favorite. This book is a love letter to all the characters and their relationships in the series. Really showcasing how far Ruwen has come with his friends and his powers. The ending was a bit abrupt and I wish I could say out of character for Ruwen but that's the issue with escalation

[Rob Enderle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd been away from the series for a while and it took me a bit to catch up. But once I did (book 9) I was hooked again and the only problem is book 11 isn't here yet and I didn't see an ETA (and book 10 ends on a bit of a cliffhanger). Only other thing is maybe a bit too much world building which slows down the action but otherwise a great read and this is one of my favorite series.

[Patrick Lacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing!!

This started this book was a bit slow, but overall, I love the authors writing style. The world building is amazing and he keeps expanding in Ways that I never would’ve thought of. The possibilities are endless in each world He introduces has a completely different system. I can’t wait to see what he does next.

[Emmanuel Obi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story

Love how the books always end up leaving the reader anticipating the next book. If you’ve managed to read this far, you already know that the MC is Over Powered and continues to grow even more. Awesome adventure looking forward to the comedic duo of Ruwen and Swift.

[Randy Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series just keeps getting better and better. Has now become my number three best LitRPG series, just behind 'The Grand Game' and 'Dungeon Crawler Carl"

Now I have to wait six months for the next book, which sucks!

[David M Drewry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get Better Every Book

As usual this book continues to give more on how the main characters grows in his abilities to Devine as well as his friends. Took a twist at the end and looking forward to see how this story continues on.

[Jennifer Reznicek · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can’t be over already!

As long as the book is, it was over way too fast. I love all the characters and gore they all have stories that could each be a series of its own. This is the best series of the genre by far!!!!

[Harrison Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting and explosive

Once again Ruwen does the impossible but I don't see a way he can get out of the consequences this time. I am very interested in what comes next for the group.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

Great cliff hanger of an ending. Every time I think we’re getting to the end of an arc, and we did, a whole new level opens up. The planning and pure scale of this story just amazes me. Divine Apostasy is one of the greats.

[Tony Hinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think we've passed the point where the gains in authenticity, granted by a complex magic system, outweigh the effort needed to remember and follow those complexities. I love the characters but prefer a more streamlined reading experience.

[Ryan Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

significantly better than book nine

I am sad because abuse when it said book 10 of 10 I thought that meant this would conclude the series. That being said, this was the best of the last several books.

[Darrin Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of wanted the series to end, having enjoyed the positivity. It didn't. I'm not sure where it is going to be honest. Humble god is still cool but would love to be more involved. Enemy gods / grand masters who are overly arrogant is a bit played out.

[Josiah Ploeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Excellent Entry

Ruwen and friends continue to get up to nonstop trouble. Loved the book and am excited to see where the next takes us.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

So so

Not the best of additions to the story. It really feels like a story that should have ended by now.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent addition to the series.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

What a twister! I like this book. I'm excited to see what happens next. The story has great pacing and world building.

[Alec Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending felt abrupt