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Mage Tank #1
Mage Tank: Book One
A hilarious new Isekai LitRPG adventure perfect for fans of Dungeon Crawler Carl and Full Murderhobo.
Conquer ancient dungeons. Get rewarded. Grow stronger.
After being killed by a high-velocity tree-hug, Arlo is transported to a new world where those brave and talented enough to conquer ancient Delves are rewarded with incredible power and abilities.
Unfortunately for Arlo, there is no tutorial. He is immediately forced to tackle a Delve set to the highest difficulty with a party of adventurers who are not only strangers to him, but strangers to each other as well.
Arlo has no armor, no weapons, no knowledge of the world at large, and his party is growing increasingly suspicious of his lack of preparation and paper-thin excuses for how he got there.
There's also the fact that the System in charge seems to be treating Arlo's situation like a big, cosmic joke.
Determined not to die again, Arlo forgoes putting any points into his highest stat, Intelligence, and instead dumps everything he's got into Fortitude. After all, who needs equipment or fighting skills when you can eat fireballs for breakfast and still ask for more hot sauce?
Mage Tank begins a new Isekai LitRPG adventure that features steady progression, intelligent characters who spend time making intentional build choices, and tons of laughs. It’s not action all-the-time, but Arlo’s life is replete with danger and, more importantly, consequences.
Conquer ancient dungeons. Get rewarded. Grow stronger.
After being killed by a high-velocity tree-hug, Arlo is transported to a new world where those brave and talented enough to conquer ancient Delves are rewarded with incredible power and abilities.
Unfortunately for Arlo, there is no tutorial. He is immediately forced to tackle a Delve set to the highest difficulty with a party of adventurers who are not only strangers to him, but strangers to each other as well.
Arlo has no armor, no weapons, no knowledge of the world at large, and his party is growing increasingly suspicious of his lack of preparation and paper-thin excuses for how he got there.
There's also the fact that the System in charge seems to be treating Arlo's situation like a big, cosmic joke.
Determined not to die again, Arlo forgoes putting any points into his highest stat, Intelligence, and instead dumps everything he's got into Fortitude. After all, who needs equipment or fighting skills when you can eat fireballs for breakfast and still ask for more hot sauce?
Mage Tank begins a new Isekai LitRPG adventure that features steady progression, intelligent characters who spend time making intentional build choices, and tons of laughs. It’s not action all-the-time, but Arlo’s life is replete with danger and, more importantly, consequences.
736 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2025
1199 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
March 14, 2025
A good start with interesting characters. A boring middle that serves as empty filler. An absolutely convoluted ending that was tedious and unsatisfying. This desperately needs context and much better pacing.
March 25, 2025
Started off ok, then started getting into modern political pandering with e female character who decided she wanted to be a boy and then “recreated” themselves. Getting into modern politics in what should be escapism has gotten tedious and hurts authors in the long run.
At least if you are going to do this, put a tag along the line of “modern political topics” or some such like many authors do for their harem books
Other than that, it was just pretty basic and I would say, if you don’t mind the modern political stuff, it’s a filler between other series that you are waiting on the next book. This one throws really hard to be DCCish and similar to other series, but falls flat when compared to the works it tries to emulate
At least if you are going to do this, put a tag along the line of “modern political topics” or some such like many authors do for their harem books
Other than that, it was just pretty basic and I would say, if you don’t mind the modern political stuff, it’s a filler between other series that you are waiting on the next book. This one throws really hard to be DCCish and similar to other series, but falls flat when compared to the works it tries to emulate
July 28, 2025
DCC-lite entertaining enough litrpg. If litrpg / progression stuff is your cup of tea, this is 3.5 stars - nowhere near as good as DCC, or Worm, but it’s decent and better than a lot of other stuff out there. If that’s not your cup of tea, drop a star.
March 26, 2025
Started off really good and engaging with a unique take on the genre. I was a big fan of the Delve system and leveling that occurred through it. Arlo started off interesting and likeable with a humorous but sincere character. I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning as Arlo and gang takes on the first strange Delve.
Things took a sharp turn in the middle of the book as things began to slow. Several plot points came out of nowhere while other aspects were glossed over. The worldbuilding was limited once outside the first Delve which made the whole world feel uninhabited, serving only the main party. Speaking of, I did not find the side characters very engaging, and the way they instantly became friendly was very off-putting. The end of the book while engaging and action packed, was chaotic and grew unwieldy as many things began to get out of hand. By the end of the novel, I just wanted to finish. Arlo became a caricature so quickly that it was grating by the end of the book as he kept making wisecracks every second or so. The banter between characters was serviceable but I feel there was too much especially in serious situations.
Overall, enjoyed certain aspects of the book, the level/system design and certain plot points. Unsure if I will continue with the series.
Things took a sharp turn in the middle of the book as things began to slow. Several plot points came out of nowhere while other aspects were glossed over. The worldbuilding was limited once outside the first Delve which made the whole world feel uninhabited, serving only the main party. Speaking of, I did not find the side characters very engaging, and the way they instantly became friendly was very off-putting. The end of the book while engaging and action packed, was chaotic and grew unwieldy as many things began to get out of hand. By the end of the novel, I just wanted to finish. Arlo became a caricature so quickly that it was grating by the end of the book as he kept making wisecracks every second or so. The banter between characters was serviceable but I feel there was too much especially in serious situations.
Overall, enjoyed certain aspects of the book, the level/system design and certain plot points. Unsure if I will continue with the series.
March 16, 2025
Mage Tank started out great with a great hook and good, grounded combat.
Unfortunately, toward the middle, the threat level skyrocketed with very little build up.
The humor at the beginning is pointed and most of them happened in the protagonist head but toward the middle it became late stage Marvel "comedy", with everyone constantly throwing one-liners at each other.
Unfortunately, toward the middle, the threat level skyrocketed with very little build up.
The humor at the beginning is pointed and most of them happened in the protagonist head but toward the middle it became late stage Marvel "comedy", with everyone constantly throwing one-liners at each other.
August 14, 2025
it’s okay
This was a bit different in the reincarnated type of book. There were a lot of pop culture references to so many anime’s and some genuine funny parts that made me laugh out loud but the story did drag and the main character didn’t really become more than just the dude I have to follow to progress the story.
This was a bit different in the reincarnated type of book. There were a lot of pop culture references to so many anime’s and some genuine funny parts that made me laugh out loud but the story did drag and the main character didn’t really become more than just the dude I have to follow to progress the story.
March 24, 2025
Started well but then got political.....I don't get why fantasy books continuously get into politics....don't we have enough of that BS in real life? Not for me. Onto my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!!
April 2, 2025
fun
Reincarnated as a new dungeon delver with no lead-in or tutorial the MC bounces from from one odd event to another. He be overpowered. Makes friends, gets adopted, and gets wrapped up in gods’ business. Ultimately, he comes out stronger.
It is a humorous story. Good “dad jokes”. The pace is steady, interesting characters and world, the game metrics aren’t heavy handed. And the narrator is highly entertaining. In all it is a great listen. Please enjoy
Reincarnated as a new dungeon delver with no lead-in or tutorial the MC bounces from from one odd event to another. He be overpowered. Makes friends, gets adopted, and gets wrapped up in gods’ business. Ultimately, he comes out stronger.
It is a humorous story. Good “dad jokes”. The pace is steady, interesting characters and world, the game metrics aren’t heavy handed. And the narrator is highly entertaining. In all it is a great listen. Please enjoy
April 20, 2025
Magical Rollercoaster
Loved the magic system, the world building, how quickly everything went, but still taking the time to build the world and the system.
The more spiritual powers and belief systems was neat, and having a character that's had therapy and wasn't all raging toxicity was also very nice.
Loved the magic system, the world building, how quickly everything went, but still taking the time to build the world and the system.
The more spiritual powers and belief systems was neat, and having a character that's had therapy and wasn't all raging toxicity was also very nice.
March 17, 2025
I had fun!
March 25, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this. A fun read
March 31, 2025
I received a review copy of this as an audiobook.
This book was really fun and kept my attention all the way through. There was lots of action and lots of humor. The narration was great. The narrator really passed on the feel of what was going on.
The very start of the book, where Arlo dies and goes through character creation into his new life is slower. But then he's thrown directly into danger.
Humor is good. There are some parallels to Dungeon Crawler Carl, which I'll mention here. Dialogue is snappy. System messages are snarky. Just his messages, not anyone elses... but there's no other indication of being singled out. He ends up wearing something mildly ridiculous. Yes, that's a boa on the cover. But there's a reason for it...
He acquires a companion familiar who is arrogant and funny adding to the fun.
For female readers, there are reasonable female characters in it. And no overt sexism.
This book was really fun and kept my attention all the way through. There was lots of action and lots of humor. The narration was great. The narrator really passed on the feel of what was going on.
The very start of the book, where Arlo dies and goes through character creation into his new life is slower. But then he's thrown directly into danger.
Humor is good. There are some parallels to Dungeon Crawler Carl, which I'll mention here. Dialogue is snappy. System messages are snarky. Just his messages, not anyone elses... but there's no other indication of being singled out. He ends up wearing something mildly ridiculous. Yes, that's a boa on the cover. But there's a reason for it...
He acquires a companion familiar who is arrogant and funny adding to the fun.
For female readers, there are reasonable female characters in it. And no overt sexism.
May 27, 2025
Really enjoyable start. The book reminded me a lot of He Who Fights With Monsters minus all the therapy and over glazing of the main character. The problem is this entire book is a tedious read. It doesn't start right away but slowly creeps up on you. Everything is so wordy. A description of a character's mood take three paragraphs, simple pain takes another two, and fights take several pages. This goes on throughout the book ballooning it's length to unnecessary levels. I had to work to finish the book so I could write this review.
Looking at the main characters and story, I felt the main character was given a clear personality while the others just have traits and that's about it. You never really spend time with the side characters and get to know them they are just there. I felt the story itself wasn't awful but could have used some work. Like some reviews said the ending in convoluted and doesn't really feel like it belongs in a starter book. The middle really feels like filler after it's all said and done. I feel that the story and it's lengthy descriptions are not something I want to stick around for.
Looking at the main characters and story, I felt the main character was given a clear personality while the others just have traits and that's about it. You never really spend time with the side characters and get to know them they are just there. I felt the story itself wasn't awful but could have used some work. Like some reviews said the ending in convoluted and doesn't really feel like it belongs in a starter book. The middle really feels like filler after it's all said and done. I feel that the story and it's lengthy descriptions are not something I want to stick around for.
April 6, 2025
Disclaimer, I have "Full murderHobo" in my top 3 funniest litRPG of all time, along with "Big sneaky barbarian" and "Vainqueur the Dragon". While Carl has a place in my top 10/15.
When I read "Mage Tank"s description and the bold comparison with one of my favs, I pressed the buy button without even reading a single comment.
Reality check
Comparing this story with Full Murderhobo or Dungeon Crawler Carl is like comparing apples with sequoia trees. One is a squishy fruit from a tree in a vast garden, while the others are mighty wonders that stand tall for ages among the few.
The book is not bad, I actually enjoyed it, a lot. And I recommended it.
It's just that you can describe more than half the litRPG genre by the same recipe:
◾young male protagonist
◾is Isekaied upon death
◾choosing an imbalanced stat allocation
◾leading to an OP biuld
◾running dungeons with an OP party
◾and hiding his abilities from the powers at play
◾while tangled in the game of Gods.
No scratch that!
You can use this description for ¾ LitRPG series. :))
Good enough book, better than most out there, but definitely having room for improvement. Will continue the series.
When I read "Mage Tank"s description and the bold comparison with one of my favs, I pressed the buy button without even reading a single comment.
Reality check
Comparing this story with Full Murderhobo or Dungeon Crawler Carl is like comparing apples with sequoia trees. One is a squishy fruit from a tree in a vast garden, while the others are mighty wonders that stand tall for ages among the few.
The book is not bad, I actually enjoyed it, a lot. And I recommended it.
It's just that you can describe more than half the litRPG genre by the same recipe:
◾young male protagonist
◾is Isekaied upon death
◾choosing an imbalanced stat allocation
◾leading to an OP biuld
◾running dungeons with an OP party
◾and hiding his abilities from the powers at play
◾while tangled in the game of Gods.
No scratch that!
You can use this description for ¾ LitRPG series. :))
Good enough book, better than most out there, but definitely having room for improvement. Will continue the series.
April 22, 2025
Too weird.
Battles are very boring and strange. Since all the creatures they fight are strange, they have to be endlessly explained by the author. Dimensional shit is happening, soul sight, traveling through other layers of reality, multiple characters acting, mind attacks.... And it just makes for a really out-of-sorts explanation, instead of something exciting to read. I just end up skim reading every battle.
For example, one battle is against a creature that is a gigantic "hand". It does cartwheels to get around. Like... is that really the battle you want? Against weird hand creatures? Ugh.
There is some good stuff in the book, but you have to wade through a pool of shit to reach it.
Battles are very boring and strange. Since all the creatures they fight are strange, they have to be endlessly explained by the author. Dimensional shit is happening, soul sight, traveling through other layers of reality, multiple characters acting, mind attacks.... And it just makes for a really out-of-sorts explanation, instead of something exciting to read. I just end up skim reading every battle.
For example, one battle is against a creature that is a gigantic "hand". It does cartwheels to get around. Like... is that really the battle you want? Against weird hand creatures? Ugh.
There is some good stuff in the book, but you have to wade through a pool of shit to reach it.
May 7, 2025
Following Arlo is fun, there's no reason to rush it! Everything related to characters was great, especially the dialogue and humor, and the world building and magic system were decent enough, but the plot seemed to escalate way too fast for no real reason and the power scaling paralleled the abrupt rise. what happened at the end is what I feel like should've happened way later in the series and this book should've just introduced everything and I'd be fine if they just did another normal delve or something. anyway, hopefully the author planned the story out, cause I'll be willing to ignore quite a few problems to get to keep following Arlo on his misadventures.
March 10, 2025
Book one
Most of the book is just fine, but towards the end we stop getting loots. This disappointing development was the reason that I only give this three stars.
Starting with the Devour monster/god/avatar we didn't get any more loot until they killed the specter. Wasn't included with the specter loot either.
Any mistakes that I have found will be listed on Goodreads. This story is being written over on Royalroad.
5/10
Most of the book is just fine, but towards the end we stop getting loots. This disappointing development was the reason that I only give this three stars.
Starting with the Devour monster/god/avatar we didn't get any more loot until they killed the specter. Wasn't included with the specter loot either.
Any mistakes that I have found will be listed on Goodreads. This story is being written over on Royalroad.
5/10
January 8, 2026
Many readers describe Mage Tank: A LitRPG Adventure (Book 1) as a fast, engaging LitRPG that wastes little time getting into danger and progression. Reviews often praise how much narrative ground it covers for a first book, the unconventional tank-focused build, and the decision to let worldbuilding emerge naturally through events rather than exposition. A recurring positive is that the party dynamics evolve meaningfully instead of staying static.
Concise Recap (Plot and Characters).
The story follows Arlo, an ordinary man abruptly dropped into a System-driven fantasy world after dying in a freak accident. With no preparation or tutorial, he is pulled into the Creation Delve, where survival immediately depends on teamwork and decision-making rather than raw power. Arlo’s defining choice — investing heavily into Fortitude — makes him unusually durable and positions him as a stabilizing force in chaotic fights.
The early party is shaped by failure as much as success. Varrin begins as an arrogant noble who assumes leadership of the Creation Delve. His overconfidence and poor decisions directly lead to the deaths of two teammates. This failure fundamentally changes him. Wracked with guilt, Varrin steps back from leadership entirely, becomes more cautious and self-aware, and ultimately chooses to follow Arlo’s lead, evolving into a reliable and disciplined teammate rather than a commander.
Xim becomes Arlo’s anchor to the wider world. Coming from a lower plane that others view as a kind of “hell,” her people are marginalized and distrusted. Xim’s family formally adopts Arlo into their clan so he can gain legal residence and protection, effectively making him an adopted clanmate. This decision ties Arlo to a community that is looked down upon, deepening the social and political stakes of his survival.
Nuralie joins later, shaped by circumstance rather than chance. She is from another country and trapped due to an active blockade, which forces her into proximity with Arlo’s group. Her arrival broadens the scope of the story beyond the initial region and introduces external political tensions that hint at a larger world in motion.
Eja (Etja) begins as an enemy — a golem created specifically to fight the group. Rather than destroying her, Arlo and the others free her, discovering she possesses a true soul. Once liberated, Eja becomes a teammate, adding both raw strength and a moral throughline about personhood, autonomy, and the hidden costs of the System’s constructs.
By the end of Book 1, the group has survived far more than a simple introductory arc: deaths, betrayal, political entanglements, and the formation of a found-family party with real emotional weight.
My Review.
I liked this a lot. It’s solidly written and fun, with a distinct, interesting magic and System design that doesn’t feel recycled. I especially appreciated how quickly it throws the reader into action and lets the world reveal itself afterward. A surprising amount happens for a Book 1, and the character arcs — especially Varrin’s and Eja’s — give the story real momentum. I’m very glad I picked it up and will continue the series.
If you want, next time we can keep a running “series memory file” so each new book has a quick, accurate refresher waiting for you.
Concise Recap (Plot and Characters).
The story follows Arlo, an ordinary man abruptly dropped into a System-driven fantasy world after dying in a freak accident. With no preparation or tutorial, he is pulled into the Creation Delve, where survival immediately depends on teamwork and decision-making rather than raw power. Arlo’s defining choice — investing heavily into Fortitude — makes him unusually durable and positions him as a stabilizing force in chaotic fights.
The early party is shaped by failure as much as success. Varrin begins as an arrogant noble who assumes leadership of the Creation Delve. His overconfidence and poor decisions directly lead to the deaths of two teammates. This failure fundamentally changes him. Wracked with guilt, Varrin steps back from leadership entirely, becomes more cautious and self-aware, and ultimately chooses to follow Arlo’s lead, evolving into a reliable and disciplined teammate rather than a commander.
Xim becomes Arlo’s anchor to the wider world. Coming from a lower plane that others view as a kind of “hell,” her people are marginalized and distrusted. Xim’s family formally adopts Arlo into their clan so he can gain legal residence and protection, effectively making him an adopted clanmate. This decision ties Arlo to a community that is looked down upon, deepening the social and political stakes of his survival.
Nuralie joins later, shaped by circumstance rather than chance. She is from another country and trapped due to an active blockade, which forces her into proximity with Arlo’s group. Her arrival broadens the scope of the story beyond the initial region and introduces external political tensions that hint at a larger world in motion.
Eja (Etja) begins as an enemy — a golem created specifically to fight the group. Rather than destroying her, Arlo and the others free her, discovering she possesses a true soul. Once liberated, Eja becomes a teammate, adding both raw strength and a moral throughline about personhood, autonomy, and the hidden costs of the System’s constructs.
By the end of Book 1, the group has survived far more than a simple introductory arc: deaths, betrayal, political entanglements, and the formation of a found-family party with real emotional weight.
My Review.
I liked this a lot. It’s solidly written and fun, with a distinct, interesting magic and System design that doesn’t feel recycled. I especially appreciated how quickly it throws the reader into action and lets the world reveal itself afterward. A surprising amount happens for a Book 1, and the character arcs — especially Varrin’s and Eja’s — give the story real momentum. I’m very glad I picked it up and will continue the series.
If you want, next time we can keep a running “series memory file” so each new book has a quick, accurate refresher waiting for you.
August 21, 2025
This was a really enjoyable read and checks just about all the boxes I enjoy in a litRPG. There are some overdone parallels between this book and He Who Fights With Monsters, and I can only assume it is intentional, but that is pretty normal for this genre. It is different enough, but also hits on some of the same points as HWFWM which also makes it enjoyable for the same reasons. Since so many litRPG novels do this, I don’t see this as a negative.
The main character has an insane level of sarcasm and snark, and it allows for what would otherwise be a dark book light and funny at many points. There are all together too many authors who don’t seem to understand humor, and they don’t put it in their novels. Having it here really helps to round out characters, give them their own unique personalities (including the system), and make you laugh at the same time.
Another side benefit of this sarcasm and silly nature of the main character is making him immune to idiot plots. If he was too strong and competent then any moves that seemed out of the ordinary would scream idiot plot. Here it can just be chalked up to the main character being a bit of a dummy sometimes in a believable way.
Add in a really fast pacing and you have a story that pulls you in and keeps going with almost no break. This is a double edged sword though. At points the plot seems muddled and disjointed. We get world building information all the way through chapter 40, but I believe that is just a result of how fast this is paced. The story could have slowed down to give more earlier, but that would detract from the overall feeling and tone of the story, and it is clear a fast pace was the goal here.
This isn’t groundbreaking, or overly unique, but all the same it is a very enjoyable read. The epilogue gave me worries on starting book two. I guess I’ll find out if those are warranted or not when I start it. So many litRPG books start out with a great book one, then they take a nosedive afterwards, so time to see if this series holds up.
The main character has an insane level of sarcasm and snark, and it allows for what would otherwise be a dark book light and funny at many points. There are all together too many authors who don’t seem to understand humor, and they don’t put it in their novels. Having it here really helps to round out characters, give them their own unique personalities (including the system), and make you laugh at the same time.
Another side benefit of this sarcasm and silly nature of the main character is making him immune to idiot plots. If he was too strong and competent then any moves that seemed out of the ordinary would scream idiot plot. Here it can just be chalked up to the main character being a bit of a dummy sometimes in a believable way.
Add in a really fast pacing and you have a story that pulls you in and keeps going with almost no break. This is a double edged sword though. At points the plot seems muddled and disjointed. We get world building information all the way through chapter 40, but I believe that is just a result of how fast this is paced. The story could have slowed down to give more earlier, but that would detract from the overall feeling and tone of the story, and it is clear a fast pace was the goal here.
This isn’t groundbreaking, or overly unique, but all the same it is a very enjoyable read. The epilogue gave me worries on starting book two. I guess I’ll find out if those are warranted or not when I start it. So many litRPG books start out with a great book one, then they take a nosedive afterwards, so time to see if this series holds up.
January 21, 2026
Usually my reviews are much more detailed than what will follow, but I genuinely mostly have good things to say about this book. It stood neglected in my kindle library for probably close to a full year and thats a bit of a shame, as this is a 4.25 for the LitRPG genre. Arlo is a chill guy: he has a conscience, he is empathetic, he isnt a creep, he is smart and he is exasperating because of his bad jokes. Is he graceful or belly-laugh funny? No, but thats ok. Honestly, for me, the book kinda sours when Arlo acts unlike himself.
The world-building is engaging while remaining only hinting in the first book so as to not overwhelm the reader and there are slow points (for me those mostly consist of the fights, since I am one of the (rare?) readers that dont read LitRPG for that sort of thing), but the characters surrounding Arlo are interesting, and I enjoy being the purv (purveyor not pervert thank you very much!) in their little talks despite the 'banter' being too much sometimes.
The MC is BLATANTLY OVERPOWERED TO FUCK, and maybe the book would have been more interesting where the buffs less OP, but the world-building and pacing for that world that the author has created demands Arlo and his team are super strong.
Overall, I really enjoyed this; pretty good for a LitRPG, a genre that otherwise is 'junk food'. I saw ppl saying this was a worse Dungeon Crawler Carl, and tbh, I dont see it. Are they both LitRPGs? Yes, but thats where the similarities end. Arlo isnt the moster that Carl or his dumbass cat are, he has empathy and actually has regrets which he voices when he kills or injures sentient beings. Arlo also isnt a creep or bigoted towards women lol.
The world-building is engaging while remaining only hinting in the first book so as to not overwhelm the reader and there are slow points (for me those mostly consist of the fights, since I am one of the (rare?) readers that dont read LitRPG for that sort of thing), but the characters surrounding Arlo are interesting, and I enjoy being the purv (purveyor not pervert thank you very much!) in their little talks despite the 'banter' being too much sometimes.
The MC is BLATANTLY OVERPOWERED TO FUCK, and maybe the book would have been more interesting where the buffs less OP, but the world-building and pacing for that world that the author has created demands Arlo and his team are super strong.
Overall, I really enjoyed this; pretty good for a LitRPG, a genre that otherwise is 'junk food'. I saw ppl saying this was a worse Dungeon Crawler Carl, and tbh, I dont see it. Are they both LitRPGs? Yes, but thats where the similarities end. Arlo isnt the moster that Carl or his dumbass cat are, he has empathy and actually has regrets which he voices when he kills or injures sentient beings. Arlo also isnt a creep or bigoted towards women lol.
May 5, 2025
Great beginning... Then got lost in itself.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Character was interesting, world building was fun. About Midway through the main character settled into the main plot line and it became awful. He lost agency, the author started using modern progressive messaging, some were subtle, other times.. messages hit you over the head. Completely ruined the main character as The supporting cast became more of a focus as the main plot and was belittling and/or condescending to the main characters knowledge and experiences. The plot line started to delve and merge with deities, demigods, and computer AI system world building... It felt convoluted and burdensome. The second half of the book really became a MacGuffin hunt for the source of a "bad thing".
The main character was forced to be led around with really no agency. The story started filling with plot holes, tons of plot armor to force the story, identity politics, gender politics, feminism and girl bosses. Most of it was subtle but it took away from the entire first half of the books build up of how creative and resilient the main character was, turning the main character into a convenient plot armor in his own story. I really have no interest to read book 2.
I think the complexities of the story will appeal to some, but I found it burdensen as if it was forcing the plot and checking boxes at the same time.
I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Character was interesting, world building was fun. About Midway through the main character settled into the main plot line and it became awful. He lost agency, the author started using modern progressive messaging, some were subtle, other times.. messages hit you over the head. Completely ruined the main character as The supporting cast became more of a focus as the main plot and was belittling and/or condescending to the main characters knowledge and experiences. The plot line started to delve and merge with deities, demigods, and computer AI system world building... It felt convoluted and burdensome. The second half of the book really became a MacGuffin hunt for the source of a "bad thing".
The main character was forced to be led around with really no agency. The story started filling with plot holes, tons of plot armor to force the story, identity politics, gender politics, feminism and girl bosses. Most of it was subtle but it took away from the entire first half of the books build up of how creative and resilient the main character was, turning the main character into a convenient plot armor in his own story. I really have no interest to read book 2.
I think the complexities of the story will appeal to some, but I found it burdensen as if it was forcing the plot and checking boxes at the same time.
March 17, 2025
Disclaimer:
Due to the nature of Goodreads’ aggregate review system, I only leave 5-star reviews. Please note that a 5-star rating does not mean the book is perfect; it simply means I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. I will try to specify in my review the type of reader who might enjoy the book.
Negative reviews are not something I typically write.
I primarily listen to audiobooks, so I’m not concerned with punctuation or minor editing errors. However, I may comment on the quality of the narration.
Review:
A really enjoyable read for me. The humor was right up my alley. However, humor is subjective and things I find funny might not land for others. The first 5 chapters are still up for free on royal road, so if you want to get a preview to see if it’s for you, go and check it out. The main character’s vitality focused build reminds me a lot of “Outcast in another world”. If you’ve read that book you may enjoy this one, although Arlo doesn’t seem to have nearly as much trouble integrating into society as Rob does. Also, not as much worry about the MC going insane. Mage Tank seems to include the future promise of dungeon building, so if that appeals to you check it out! Narration was spectacular, as per usual.
Due to the nature of Goodreads’ aggregate review system, I only leave 5-star reviews. Please note that a 5-star rating does not mean the book is perfect; it simply means I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others. I will try to specify in my review the type of reader who might enjoy the book.
Negative reviews are not something I typically write.
I primarily listen to audiobooks, so I’m not concerned with punctuation or minor editing errors. However, I may comment on the quality of the narration.
Review:
A really enjoyable read for me. The humor was right up my alley. However, humor is subjective and things I find funny might not land for others. The first 5 chapters are still up for free on royal road, so if you want to get a preview to see if it’s for you, go and check it out. The main character’s vitality focused build reminds me a lot of “Outcast in another world”. If you’ve read that book you may enjoy this one, although Arlo doesn’t seem to have nearly as much trouble integrating into society as Rob does. Also, not as much worry about the MC going insane. Mage Tank seems to include the future promise of dungeon building, so if that appeals to you check it out! Narration was spectacular, as per usual.
October 14, 2025
This was a fun and funny isekai adventure with a reincarnation plot and an overpowered MC. As the name indicates the story revolves around a fish out of water with an odd build. The stat element and leveling was a little lighter than ideal for me, with power ups coming less frequently, at the end of dungeons rather than as a standard level system, but I really did like the system never the less. For anyone looking for another LitRPG series in the vein of Dungeon Crawler Carl I’d say this is the closest in tone that I have read. There is a lot of silly humor and a goofy tough guy main character who is much smarter than he seems at first. The system and worldbuilding felt more distinct than a lot of other series in the genre. I’d definitely put this in the top tier as far as prose, character, and story quality. There was a plot point that felt slightly derivative, and as I said the progression element was lighter than my preference. But I really enjoyed this book, it had plenty of personality, and I will definitely continue this series.
March 26, 2025
unlikable MC
This obsession authors have with writing Neanderthal main characters is annoying, and I can’t wait until this fad passes. The writing isn’t bad and the world building and magic system are actually pretty decent. I want to say I have zero problems with profanity and cuss like a sailor myself. The issue is (as with any writing device) it can be misused to the point of distraction. The MC was a mix of annoying, simple, and unfunny. The author unsuccessfully tried to write the MC as intellectual but the reasoning and staunch buffoonery unfortunately stole the show. The annoying sidekick troupe is also something I hope fades away at some point. NO ONE wants to read a book listening to two characters bicker and tell horrible jokes. The book wouldn’t have been bad if the MC wasn’t so unlikable. What happened to characters with some civility and grace?
This obsession authors have with writing Neanderthal main characters is annoying, and I can’t wait until this fad passes. The writing isn’t bad and the world building and magic system are actually pretty decent. I want to say I have zero problems with profanity and cuss like a sailor myself. The issue is (as with any writing device) it can be misused to the point of distraction. The MC was a mix of annoying, simple, and unfunny. The author unsuccessfully tried to write the MC as intellectual but the reasoning and staunch buffoonery unfortunately stole the show. The annoying sidekick troupe is also something I hope fades away at some point. NO ONE wants to read a book listening to two characters bicker and tell horrible jokes. The book wouldn’t have been bad if the MC wasn’t so unlikable. What happened to characters with some civility and grace?
August 18, 2025
something’s missing
One of the best openings to the story ever. The snarky comments were up to 10% better the second time. They are funny in their own right but the mood of the book and intensity of the situation rendered them as a distraction. Perhaps that was the whole point. Funeral jokes are funny unless you are at a funeral for your mom.
I wasn’t sure where to rank the book so I read it again as a refresher before taking on book 2. And I’m still not sure. There is something missing. I don’t know what that is because it’s missing. Cohesion perhaps? Lack of flow, the callous disregard for life, inconsistency in good decision making, or the fire hose plot the reader was made to drink were all contributors to the discordance.
One of the best openings to the story ever. The snarky comments were up to 10% better the second time. They are funny in their own right but the mood of the book and intensity of the situation rendered them as a distraction. Perhaps that was the whole point. Funeral jokes are funny unless you are at a funeral for your mom.
I wasn’t sure where to rank the book so I read it again as a refresher before taking on book 2. And I’m still not sure. There is something missing. I don’t know what that is because it’s missing. Cohesion perhaps? Lack of flow, the callous disregard for life, inconsistency in good decision making, or the fire hose plot the reader was made to drink were all contributors to the discordance.
September 22, 2025
Almost everything was in place for a 5-star experience, but unfortunately, by the end, it failed to reach that certain level.
The starting point is excellent, and the humor at the beginning is genuinely entertaining. The initial sense of mystery really held my interest, but as fewer and fewer secrets or unanswered questions remained, it began to lose its magic.
Unfortunately, the final delve ended up feeling a bit confusing and uninteresting to me — right at the point when there should have been a twist or another shocking layer awaiting explanation.
So, unfortunately, I finished the novel feeling disappointed. That said, I still think it’s an above-average book within its genre and worth the time invested.
The starting point is excellent, and the humor at the beginning is genuinely entertaining. The initial sense of mystery really held my interest, but as fewer and fewer secrets or unanswered questions remained, it began to lose its magic.
Unfortunately, the final delve ended up feeling a bit confusing and uninteresting to me — right at the point when there should have been a twist or another shocking layer awaiting explanation.
So, unfortunately, I finished the novel feeling disappointed. That said, I still think it’s an above-average book within its genre and worth the time invested.
October 5, 2025
I really like it. Cornman weaves a good story filled with comedic relied by our main character Arlo. But let me tell ya! Arlo recently deceased finds himself listening to a voice asking him if he wants to simply die or keep going? He is offered two capsules red and blue (no he doesn't) suffice it to say he keeps going and he is launched into a Fantasy style after-life on which his denial of dying for a second time makes his choices a bit odd. The adventures that follow are filled with action and fun filled commentary that will have you wondering if this is a comedy or just the weird ramblings of someone struggling to stay alive for the second time.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
November 29, 2025
I wanted to like this book much more than I did! I hate to say it though, but it just seemed like a slightly less good version of He Who Fights with Monsters and DCC. Like I couldn’t help comparing them almost constantly. Overall, I like the transmigration aspect of the book. I think Grotto was my favorite character ultimately- the audio book narrator did a great job with him. I thought Arlo at times had a little too much knowledge on everything- like he was a lawyer in his last life but somehow he also knows things about medicine and states and literature and philosophy? He just seemed a little too perfect at times. Ultimately I did enjoy the story and the characters, I just don’t know if I’ll continue the series when (to me) better versions of almost this exact story already exist.
March 28, 2025
Incongruity Squared
If your reading LitRPG novels you are most likely a player of RPGs too. And if that is the case, the words "Mage" and "Tank" each have certain well know and, almost diametrically opposed, connotations. Thus a title like _Mage Tank_ causes a bit of cognitive dissonance; which is oddly pacified when reading the novel. Well Arlo isn't a "glass cannon" like most mages. He's more akin to cast steel club that fires spells at his enemies.
This is an excellent read, in part because the incongruities inherent in a Mage Tank class are logically solved by the author through the plot development of the novel.
If your reading LitRPG novels you are most likely a player of RPGs too. And if that is the case, the words "Mage" and "Tank" each have certain well know and, almost diametrically opposed, connotations. Thus a title like _Mage Tank_ causes a bit of cognitive dissonance; which is oddly pacified when reading the novel. Well Arlo isn't a "glass cannon" like most mages. He's more akin to cast steel club that fires spells at his enemies.
This is an excellent read, in part because the incongruities inherent in a Mage Tank class are logically solved by the author through the plot development of the novel.
July 21, 2025
Started listening to this on a road trip with my brother, who is a LitRPG fan - I asked for suggestions after I got to the current end of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. This one relies a lot more heavily on game mechanics, and I had a hard time keeping some of the characters straight in my head, but all in all it was pretty entertaining. Pleasantly devoid of the toxic masculinity bullshit one might expect to find in this genre, in much the same way as DCC, and with a sidekick/animal companion/aspiring overlord who is no Princess Donut but is entertaining in his own way. I'll probably read the next, if only to have something to talk to my brother about, but I'm not in any rush about it.
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