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Rune Seeker #5
Rune Seeker 5
They thought the Enemy was the worst of their foes. They were wrong.
It was supposed to end with the saving of Fallen Reach, but that was only the beginning. In an apocalyptic battle, a nightmarish monster nearly took everything from one of Hiral's closest friends, and only a great sacrifice saved her life and soul.
As the party reels from the near-loss, one thing becomes clear: they must learn more. Ancient secrets have revealed that the truth they thought they knew was twisted, and they can only save their reality by uncovering the rest of what was hidden.
The Enemy works against them. The Fallen work against them.
But are they the only factions they must worry about, or do dangers lie closer?
The truth might be hidden in the Progenitors’ secrets, and those revelations could shatter everything that Hiral knows about his world.
…and about himself.
Book 5 of a Progression Fantasy series from J.M Clarke, Bestselling Author of Mark of the Fool, written with C.J. Thompson.
Unlock a weak-to-strong progression into power and a detailed LitRPG system with unique classes, skills, dungeons, achievements, survival and evolution. Explore a mysterious world of fallen civilizations, strange monsters and deadly secrets.
It was supposed to end with the saving of Fallen Reach, but that was only the beginning. In an apocalyptic battle, a nightmarish monster nearly took everything from one of Hiral's closest friends, and only a great sacrifice saved her life and soul.
As the party reels from the near-loss, one thing becomes clear: they must learn more. Ancient secrets have revealed that the truth they thought they knew was twisted, and they can only save their reality by uncovering the rest of what was hidden.
The Enemy works against them. The Fallen work against them.
But are they the only factions they must worry about, or do dangers lie closer?
The truth might be hidden in the Progenitors’ secrets, and those revelations could shatter everything that Hiral knows about his world.
…and about himself.
Book 5 of a Progression Fantasy series from J.M Clarke, Bestselling Author of Mark of the Fool, written with C.J. Thompson.
Unlock a weak-to-strong progression into power and a detailed LitRPG system with unique classes, skills, dungeons, achievements, survival and evolution. Explore a mysterious world of fallen civilizations, strange monsters and deadly secrets.
758 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2024
324 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 30, 2024
good but long
The book was a very standard progression of the series and kept up with its high water mark of both intresting story telling and decent lit RPG elements.
Only two big flaws were it felt like two books crammed together due to length and scope and might have been better split in half, and like in the past books most of the fight scenes are heavily repetitive and use similar beats and descriptions of abilities but that kinda comes with the territory.
The book was a very standard progression of the series and kept up with its high water mark of both intresting story telling and decent lit RPG elements.
Only two big flaws were it felt like two books crammed together due to length and scope and might have been better split in half, and like in the past books most of the fight scenes are heavily repetitive and use similar beats and descriptions of abilities but that kinda comes with the territory.
October 2, 2025
I can't believe this book took me so long to read, even when I had over a week off for vacation.
Similar to the previous installment, there were too many details to slog through, and battles and scenarios felt repetitive. The only part that had me excited was the final one right before the book ended.
Debatable if I'll continue this series, but I'm not completely writing it off yet. I'm definitely switching to other books for now though.
Similar to the previous installment, there were too many details to slog through, and battles and scenarios felt repetitive. The only part that had me excited was the final one right before the book ended.
Debatable if I'll continue this series, but I'm not completely writing it off yet. I'm definitely switching to other books for now though.
January 20, 2025
Great Book
I throughly enjoyed this book. It had a good story line and kept me interested throughout the entire story. I recommend reading this book.
I throughly enjoyed this book. It had a good story line and kept me interested throughout the entire story. I recommend reading this book.
March 11, 2025
This volume is a stellar improvement over books 3 & 4. The boss fights are once again creative and fun to read. Rather than just a mindless rotation of skills, we see planning and synergies between the various team members. The backstory of the plot continues to be fleshed out. We are learning more about the PIM system and the Enemy. We are also seeing further interpersonal relationships developing outside of the dungeon adventures.
The one ding I would give this book is that it looks to be written with the assistance of ChatGPT 2.0 They should have sprung for one of the newer varieties that had error checking and error correction. That is a long way of saying there are noticeable editing errors in this book. Duplicated words, words out of order, and even once the misuse of a homonym, all-told / all-tolled .
The one ding I would give this book is that it looks to be written with the assistance of ChatGPT 2.0 They should have sprung for one of the newer varieties that had error checking and error correction. That is a long way of saying there are noticeable editing errors in this book. Duplicated words, words out of order, and even once the misuse of a homonym, all-told / all-tolled .
January 23, 2025
Bad grammar
This book was a step down compared to previous books in the series. A lot of data dumped, and most of it was nonsense.
I'm really frustrated with the grammatical mistakes. If you typed this book into a word processing program it would highlight them for you. Go look up the definition of an adverb.
This book was a step down compared to previous books in the series. A lot of data dumped, and most of it was nonsense.
I'm really frustrated with the grammatical mistakes. If you typed this book into a word processing program it would highlight them for you. Go look up the definition of an adverb.
December 27, 2024
A definite decline in quality
This is the worst book of the series so far. Endless discussions about abilities and stats and fight sequences. Very little plot or character development. I got half way through than gave up. I couldn’t read anymore.
This is the worst book of the series so far. Endless discussions about abilities and stats and fight sequences. Very little plot or character development. I got half way through than gave up. I couldn’t read anymore.
January 23, 2025
Getting better, slowly but surely the characters are not all sounding the same, just most of them. Starting to pay out on his promises of world lore, and building out the main characters. Not really sure where he is going with the MC, as he is moving away from a weapon master to more manipulating forces of nature which is vague and hard to keep up with. And I don't always understand what each rune is used for when he grabs five of them at a time. still interesting, will keep reading but the class/ability editing is a strange turn. Less philosophical this time, I really felt the last book wasted a third wrestling with determinism... Not what I read a litrpg for... You are in a game in a book... You don't need to add on fighting destiny or causality.
This one was good, overall though. Need to find a better balance for the power creep though. So far throwing more armor in front of the blows is just frustrating to read.
This one was good, overall though. Need to find a better balance for the power creep though. So far throwing more armor in front of the blows is just frustrating to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2024
Epic Saga
It just keeps getting better! Clarke has cemented himself as one of my top favorite authors with this one! I cannot get enough of Hiral and crew. The action, the plot twists - the seamless references to Mark of the Fool (another favorite) and Baelin!!! I cannot express the sheer joy i experienced reading this. I cannot wait to see how the party obtains their A rank and more importantly, how they put it to use
It just keeps getting better! Clarke has cemented himself as one of my top favorite authors with this one! I cannot get enough of Hiral and crew. The action, the plot twists - the seamless references to Mark of the Fool (another favorite) and Baelin!!! I cannot express the sheer joy i experienced reading this. I cannot wait to see how the party obtains their A rank and more importantly, how they put it to use
June 3, 2025
I liked the book, a bit too long for the total story progression, but the story progression per book was good.
I loved the Mark Of the Fool's easter eggs, even implying that one of the most pivotal characters in that saga would not have played his role without the eventos ln the book.
Not usually a huge fan of time shenanigans but I liked the approach taken, it knows its weird & complicated and does not try to explain itself.
I loved the Mark Of the Fool's easter eggs, even implying that one of the most pivotal characters in that saga would not have played his role without the eventos ln the book.
Not usually a huge fan of time shenanigans but I liked the approach taken, it knows its weird & complicated and does not try to explain itself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2025
Lots of important information
I will keep it short. The recipe is the same ol same ol. Still lots of action and still badass. Humor is still around but unfortunately no fishing rod still. The biggest reason I personally enjoyed this book is because we have finally unveiled one of the more important tidbits behind this universe. Which only, of course, led to more questions arising which is good cause mystery! 10/10!
I will keep it short. The recipe is the same ol same ol. Still lots of action and still badass. Humor is still around but unfortunately no fishing rod still. The biggest reason I personally enjoyed this book is because we have finally unveiled one of the more important tidbits behind this universe. Which only, of course, led to more questions arising which is good cause mystery! 10/10!
May 18, 2025
Descriptions take pages - then discussion about the description take pages.
Fights take pages and pages and pages - with detailed descriptions of what everyone is thinking, and how each move happens, with tricks and reversals and very rarely end with a clever action but instead with some new gimmick someone invents or evolves on the spot.
Worth skipping about half the book.
Fights take pages and pages and pages - with detailed descriptions of what everyone is thinking, and how each move happens, with tricks and reversals and very rarely end with a clever action but instead with some new gimmick someone invents or evolves on the spot.
Worth skipping about half the book.
December 23, 2024
Didn't see that coming
Still going strong and with some surprises. If you haven't picked up the series yet, you should. It's a sort of coming of age, under dog, litrg, hero stories that still brings something new and some surprises you didn't see coming.
Still going strong and with some surprises. If you haven't picked up the series yet, you should. It's a sort of coming of age, under dog, litrg, hero stories that still brings something new and some surprises you didn't see coming.
December 30, 2024
Great ending and set up for the next book.
This book was a lot slower read and a lot of extra descriptions that at times felt like TMI. But picked up into the last third of the book. Some good relationship building asl well
This book was a lot slower read and a lot of extra descriptions that at times felt like TMI. But picked up into the last third of the book. Some good relationship building asl well
December 23, 2024
How dare this book be over already
Another amazing book in the series. And we're starting to get some big picture answers! I'm SO excited for the net one!
Another amazing book in the series. And we're starting to get some big picture answers! I'm SO excited for the net one!
January 12, 2025
Great series
It's an awesome story read frome the start you'll be glad you did there are also other series by same author well worth a read
It's an awesome story read frome the start you'll be glad you did there are also other series by same author well worth a read
March 4, 2025
BAELINNNNNN!!!!
Fantastic Story. Love all the references to Mark. Highly recommend the entire series to anyone. Excellent litRpg/ Progression fantasy story.
Fantastic Story. Love all the references to Mark. Highly recommend the entire series to anyone. Excellent litRpg/ Progression fantasy story.
June 7, 2025
Started good, then almost immediately slogged then took a while to pick up.
August 31, 2025
3.5 stars
September 19, 2025
Good continuation of the story with more epic battles leading to progression.
March 14, 2025
A science fiction dystopian litrpg with stats, skills and levels and a unique solar powered magic system.
Hiral and his party have reunited with the missing Bonders, discovering their hidden location on the surface. But they only have a limited amount of time before the Raid Zone opens and they'll be fighting for their lives. They need to meet their new team members, run some more dungeons and get ready for the next battle.
I really enjoyed this one. More than the last one. The increased danger, the skirmish nature of their battles and the new team members breathed new life into the narrative. I liked Gran in the last book when she was a member of Nivian and Wule's team, but I liked her a lot more in this one. And I enjoyed finding out her background and who she was in relation to some of the other plot points. As for Romin and Wallop they grew on me. I can't say I really liked Dragh but Romin and Wallop were a good fit for the team.
Plus I loved the competitiveness that was in this one. Having Hiral as raid leader and Seena, Ilrolik and Nivian's teams all competing with each other was great. It was very amusing seeing the struggle to compete for time, damage and bragging rights. The despair about Devison and his lost foot was pretty funny too. The broader range of characters kept things interesting, even if I was sometimes confused about who they were. I did love seeing more of Hiral's family though - his sisters and dad are awesome. The drama with his mum was a bit ridiculous. I kind of just wanted him to slap her down.
I'm pretty sure some of the plot points were just lost on me. There's been a lot of details, a lot of pages and I'm old. The whole progenitors is a bit iffy for me. I can't quite follow who's who but it was enjoyable to read about all the same. I love Li'l Ur. His bouts of amnesia and his thirst for world domination are hilarious.
It won't be for everyone but fans of the series will enjoy reading the revelations of the PIMP and the Cradle and the history of Fallen Reach and the dynamics between new and old characters alike. There's repetitiveness but also competition, silliness, humour and fun. 3 stars.
Hiral and his party have reunited with the missing Bonders, discovering their hidden location on the surface. But they only have a limited amount of time before the Raid Zone opens and they'll be fighting for their lives. They need to meet their new team members, run some more dungeons and get ready for the next battle.
I really enjoyed this one. More than the last one. The increased danger, the skirmish nature of their battles and the new team members breathed new life into the narrative. I liked Gran in the last book when she was a member of Nivian and Wule's team, but I liked her a lot more in this one. And I enjoyed finding out her background and who she was in relation to some of the other plot points. As for Romin and Wallop they grew on me. I can't say I really liked Dragh but Romin and Wallop were a good fit for the team.
Plus I loved the competitiveness that was in this one. Having Hiral as raid leader and Seena, Ilrolik and Nivian's teams all competing with each other was great. It was very amusing seeing the struggle to compete for time, damage and bragging rights. The despair about Devison and his lost foot was pretty funny too. The broader range of characters kept things interesting, even if I was sometimes confused about who they were. I did love seeing more of Hiral's family though - his sisters and dad are awesome. The drama with his mum was a bit ridiculous. I kind of just wanted him to slap her down.
I'm pretty sure some of the plot points were just lost on me. There's been a lot of details, a lot of pages and I'm old. The whole progenitors is a bit iffy for me. I can't quite follow who's who but it was enjoyable to read about all the same. I love Li'l Ur. His bouts of amnesia and his thirst for world domination are hilarious.
It won't be for everyone but fans of the series will enjoy reading the revelations of the PIMP and the Cradle and the history of Fallen Reach and the dynamics between new and old characters alike. There's repetitiveness but also competition, silliness, humour and fun. 3 stars.
April 28, 2025
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews