What do you think?
Rate this book
Madness Re-Incarnate #1
Hollow
From the author of Awaken Online comes a different kind of progression fantasy LITRPG...
What if reincarnation was real? What if you could remember?
Would that be a blessing... or a curse?
Nyx was born Hollow. An empty vessel in a world of spirits. Normally, that was a death sentence, yet somehow he survived. He's always been stubborn like that.
He's also always been a bit crazy. Which is why, in another life, he did something reckless. He sent himself a message -- his memories. Threw them into the Flow from which all spirits return.
Besides, Nyx believed in asking hard questions. Like, was reincarnation real? Would this half-ass plan actually work? And if it did, could his life really get any worse?
Turns out... it could.
What to
What if reincarnation was real? What if you could remember?
Would that be a blessing... or a curse?
Nyx was born Hollow. An empty vessel in a world of spirits. Normally, that was a death sentence, yet somehow he survived. He's always been stubborn like that.
He's also always been a bit crazy. Which is why, in another life, he did something reckless. He sent himself a message -- his memories. Threw them into the Flow from which all spirits return.
Besides, Nyx believed in asking hard questions. Like, was reincarnation real? Would this half-ass plan actually work? And if it did, could his life really get any worse?
Turns out... it could.
What to
Audible Audio
Published July 25, 2024
384 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Travis Bagwell
20 books2,051 followersI live in Austin, Texas with my wife and our three dogs. I'm an attorney by day and an avid video game enthusiast by night. Writing fiction had been a secret dream of mine for a while. However, between school and work, that dream seemed impossible to squeeze in. A couple of years ago, I had a bit more time on my hands and I finally decided to put my nerdy interests to work by trying my hand at writing science fiction and fantasy.
I never expected the wildly positive response to my work. I am truly blown away and humbled and I only hope to be able to continue sharing my stories.
You can find me here:
https://travisbagwell.com/
https://www.facebook.com/da3strikes/
https://twitter.com/da3strikes
https://www.patreon.com/da3strikes
Or come check out our awesome fangroup and meet some cool people!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AO.Or...
I never expected the wildly positive response to my work. I am truly blown away and humbled and I only hope to be able to continue sharing my stories.
You can find me here:
https://travisbagwell.com/
https://www.facebook.com/da3strikes/
https://twitter.com/da3strikes
https://www.patreon.com/da3strikes
Or come check out our awesome fangroup and meet some cool people!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AO.Or...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 1, 2025
The main character has me feeling like you are rooting for the Joker with genuine sympathy, plus some funny bits.
3/5 Good! And Weird.
The audible version is slow as the reader has a strange cadence and the perspective is erratic.
Some hours into the book and you realize it's the main characterss descent into (more) madness. The first few hours were a slog however and the last few wrap up chapters wanting. But the middle is a fun.
If the pacing were better it'd have a higher score.
3/5 Good! And Weird.
The audible version is slow as the reader has a strange cadence and the perspective is erratic.
Some hours into the book and you realize it's the main characterss descent into (more) madness. The first few hours were a slog however and the last few wrap up chapters wanting. But the middle is a fun.
If the pacing were better it'd have a higher score.
July 31, 2024
Who?
I haven't read any of Travis's works in a while, but this doesn't even feel like the same author. The flow of perspective was painful, and I regret ruining my impression of the author by trying to read this book.
I haven't read any of Travis's works in a while, but this doesn't even feel like the same author. The flow of perspective was painful, and I regret ruining my impression of the author by trying to read this book.
October 15, 2024
The first LitRPG I read (listened to), but it was great fun and hilarious, everything made sense and comes together in the end. Narrator 5/5.
May 12, 2025
I know this whole genre has a large teen element but this is too bubblegum teen for me.
August 9, 2024
Absolute insanity (in the best way possible)
Like a Terry Pratchett novel if he was a fan of Eric Andre.
I hesitated starting this book because I didn’t really know what to expect from the description, I’d read previous works by this author, and I assumed it would be at best a bit of a quirky read. However, once I got into the meat of the novel I was absolutely blown away. Whereas in most LitRPG the characters are the weakest part of the story, just a silhouette to move through the story and apply stats to, the characters here are the shining star on the top of an absolutely absurd Christmas tree. Every single character here is immensely flawed, yet the author makes you fall in love with them not in spite of their faults but because of their faults. The sheer absurdity of the story only makes the tears of laughter and of sadness somehow overlap with each other even more often. The LitRPG aspects inherently make this more of a niche read, but I cannot overstate just how excellent this book is in terms of both storytelling and humor.
This is not some paint by numbers LitRPG, this is peak fiction that I would recommend to anyone, somehow in the category of LitRPG.
Like a Terry Pratchett novel if he was a fan of Eric Andre.
I hesitated starting this book because I didn’t really know what to expect from the description, I’d read previous works by this author, and I assumed it would be at best a bit of a quirky read. However, once I got into the meat of the novel I was absolutely blown away. Whereas in most LitRPG the characters are the weakest part of the story, just a silhouette to move through the story and apply stats to, the characters here are the shining star on the top of an absolutely absurd Christmas tree. Every single character here is immensely flawed, yet the author makes you fall in love with them not in spite of their faults but because of their faults. The sheer absurdity of the story only makes the tears of laughter and of sadness somehow overlap with each other even more often. The LitRPG aspects inherently make this more of a niche read, but I cannot overstate just how excellent this book is in terms of both storytelling and humor.
This is not some paint by numbers LitRPG, this is peak fiction that I would recommend to anyone, somehow in the category of LitRPG.
March 15, 2025
Honestly it's the book version of deadpool
My brain feels like Fang after an argument with nyx over skill gems. The amount of Sass, comedy and just WTF factor this book had I wasn't expecting how deep this story actually went.
This book had me laughing! (It wasn't a cute laugh more like that laugh you make when you know it's socially not okay to laugh at it) I was crying at the unjust of the world, no matter how much nyx brought it on himself, remember "we aren't paranoid!" For a book that spoke so much about gore, killings and eating of one's eye balls, it was all dealt with comedic relief that doesn't just seem like trying too hard to be funny. Throw in a whole existential crisis, trying to save one's sister and level up through killing of murder babies cousins, and you start to understand why crazy is the new normal.
Couldn't recommend this book anymore. Ever wonder how breaking the 4th wall would work in a book, you need to read this and see the genius of it in action.
My brain feels like Fang after an argument with nyx over skill gems. The amount of Sass, comedy and just WTF factor this book had I wasn't expecting how deep this story actually went.
This book had me laughing! (It wasn't a cute laugh more like that laugh you make when you know it's socially not okay to laugh at it) I was crying at the unjust of the world, no matter how much nyx brought it on himself, remember "we aren't paranoid!" For a book that spoke so much about gore, killings and eating of one's eye balls, it was all dealt with comedic relief that doesn't just seem like trying too hard to be funny. Throw in a whole existential crisis, trying to save one's sister and level up through killing of murder babies cousins, and you start to understand why crazy is the new normal.
Couldn't recommend this book anymore. Ever wonder how breaking the 4th wall would work in a book, you need to read this and see the genius of it in action.
October 8, 2024
I liked this book a lot and it was very hard to put it aside and go to sleep :).
Looking forward for the next one.
8/10
Looking forward for the next one.
8/10
December 31, 2024
Umm, what? I mean WHAT?
Travis is an amazing good writer. But what twisted part of his payche did this absolute gem of a crazy book come from?
I'm not even sure I can leave a review of something so, monumentally unbalanced?
I think I can post one of my favorite lines with out spoiling anything, because you HAVE to read the book to understand the meaning of it.
"This is exactly why you shouldn’t co-parent murder babies with an introverted sadist."
Travis is an amazing good writer. But what twisted part of his payche did this absolute gem of a crazy book come from?
I'm not even sure I can leave a review of something so, monumentally unbalanced?
I think I can post one of my favorite lines with out spoiling anything, because you HAVE to read the book to understand the meaning of it.
"This is exactly why you shouldn’t co-parent murder babies with an introverted sadist."
August 10, 2024
Lots of potential, but the deeper layer underrepresented
The story starts well. World building is super. Protagonist is likeable, but at the same time enough of a bastard to make for an interesting backstory. Magic system based on symbiotic spirits is also quite innovative and interesting.
Switching to the corrupted gate is also great as it allows the MC to power level and overcome his innate handicap. But then the story kind of stalls in an endless dungeon crawl. It's not boring per se, and the increasing madness of Nyx and Fang is cool. But the whole concept of reincarnated spirit, as advertised in the book description, is no part of the story. Only in the epilogue it is kind of mentioned.
As a result, the story lacks the deeper layer that it clearly could have had and would have made the story more interesting. You feel that it plays a major role in the way it has shaped the character of Nyx and his sister, but it never leads to a deeper understanding. That being said, Bagwell clearly has the skill to pull something like that off, so I'm looking forward to seeing the reincarnation concept of the story and its impact on the Flow being more prominent in the second book.
The story starts well. World building is super. Protagonist is likeable, but at the same time enough of a bastard to make for an interesting backstory. Magic system based on symbiotic spirits is also quite innovative and interesting.
Switching to the corrupted gate is also great as it allows the MC to power level and overcome his innate handicap. But then the story kind of stalls in an endless dungeon crawl. It's not boring per se, and the increasing madness of Nyx and Fang is cool. But the whole concept of reincarnated spirit, as advertised in the book description, is no part of the story. Only in the epilogue it is kind of mentioned.
As a result, the story lacks the deeper layer that it clearly could have had and would have made the story more interesting. You feel that it plays a major role in the way it has shaped the character of Nyx and his sister, but it never leads to a deeper understanding. That being said, Bagwell clearly has the skill to pull something like that off, so I'm looking forward to seeing the reincarnation concept of the story and its impact on the Flow being more prominent in the second book.
September 19, 2025
I may be becoming a bit mad, myself, but this book really grew on me. Like a tumor.
I mean, the first half felt more like a really tragic, sad fantasy story where we could expect this poor kid to get SOME kind of hand, but that ship has sailed by the time he jumps into the portal. Death dungeon with his bromance-partner the trash goblin and demon rat babies.
Oh, yeah. It quickly lost any semblance to a normal, healthy LitRPG at that point. When all his relationships are seen through blackmail and paranoia and co-dependency and the dark, dark, dark side of relationship therapy as expressed as going through full murder-hobo, literally swimming in a handcrafted pool of blood and viscera, you can say that "healthy" is a thing of the distant past.
It's also funny. It took a hot minute to get into the book, mind you, but by the end, I'm totally in the mood for more of this absolute gorepunk masquerading as a LitRPG.
Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Arctunn.com
I mean, the first half felt more like a really tragic, sad fantasy story where we could expect this poor kid to get SOME kind of hand, but that ship has sailed by the time he jumps into the portal. Death dungeon with his bromance-partner the trash goblin and demon rat babies.
Oh, yeah. It quickly lost any semblance to a normal, healthy LitRPG at that point. When all his relationships are seen through blackmail and paranoia and co-dependency and the dark, dark, dark side of relationship therapy as expressed as going through full murder-hobo, literally swimming in a handcrafted pool of blood and viscera, you can say that "healthy" is a thing of the distant past.
It's also funny. It took a hot minute to get into the book, mind you, but by the end, I'm totally in the mood for more of this absolute gorepunk masquerading as a LitRPG.
Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Arctunn.com
August 11, 2024
The writing and litrpg elements are decent, the world building and setting is intriguing, characters have some dimensionality (at least some do). The dialogue can be witty and occasionally meta though I wasn’t always feeling the wacky humor and random antics.
Honestly I came into this story wanting to like it as the premise sounded delectable and I somewhat did however the dungeon/gate delving segment became rather repetitive and one note to me after a time, it improved eventually but it did somewhat hamper an otherwise enjoyable reading experience, especially coupled with the antics/humor that didn’t always land for me and the somewhat excessive internal monologuing. Overall though it’s a fine read as far as litrpg’s go and I’ll likely be picking up the sequel as the writing, setting and premise are neat just with a few caveats. If you’re expecting awaken online though this is a very different read from that.
Honestly I came into this story wanting to like it as the premise sounded delectable and I somewhat did however the dungeon/gate delving segment became rather repetitive and one note to me after a time, it improved eventually but it did somewhat hamper an otherwise enjoyable reading experience, especially coupled with the antics/humor that didn’t always land for me and the somewhat excessive internal monologuing. Overall though it’s a fine read as far as litrpg’s go and I’ll likely be picking up the sequel as the writing, setting and premise are neat just with a few caveats. If you’re expecting awaken online though this is a very different read from that.
August 17, 2024
I'm concerned
Travis Bagwell wrote this book while snorting nimbus gems and you can't change my mind. I'm not going to lie... at first I was not a fan. The main character was hard to care about. The personality was a little flat on all the characters featured at first. Somewhere around the middle though things started to change. The characters became more dimensional in through various internal ramblings and hijinx and i started to really enjoy it. By 3/4ths of the way I was wondering how quickly Travis could churn out another book... and by the end? Well, I was wondering if I need to consult a [therapy]ist while also wishing I could give a 6th star. If you buy this book, see it through to the end. It's well worth it.
Travis Bagwell wrote this book while snorting nimbus gems and you can't change my mind. I'm not going to lie... at first I was not a fan. The main character was hard to care about. The personality was a little flat on all the characters featured at first. Somewhere around the middle though things started to change. The characters became more dimensional in through various internal ramblings and hijinx and i started to really enjoy it. By 3/4ths of the way I was wondering how quickly Travis could churn out another book... and by the end? Well, I was wondering if I need to consult a [therapy]ist while also wishing I could give a 6th star. If you buy this book, see it through to the end. It's well worth it.
August 4, 2024
Chaos
It's kind of like reading whatever happened to make deadpool go crazy and then getting really inside that little brain of his. The flow of the book is rather good, a weak, angry man, being tortured by not only the people around him but by his own mind.
Then, eventually, he really opens up the floodgates of insanity and it's honestly just... good. It's really good. Entertaining!
Once I started, I didn't want to put it down. Made me laugh out loud many times.
The fight scenes are thought out, the character development is smooth and often humorous.
Looking forward to more Nyx madness.
It's kind of like reading whatever happened to make deadpool go crazy and then getting really inside that little brain of his. The flow of the book is rather good, a weak, angry man, being tortured by not only the people around him but by his own mind.
Then, eventually, he really opens up the floodgates of insanity and it's honestly just... good. It's really good. Entertaining!
Once I started, I didn't want to put it down. Made me laugh out loud many times.
The fight scenes are thought out, the character development is smooth and often humorous.
Looking forward to more Nyx madness.
August 3, 2024
A total mind melt
What can I say about this book. Ummm it is really twisted, funny, chaotic, insane, and just fun. Nyx is a young man who is Hollow, meaning he cannot bind to a spirit like most everyone else. However the universe is also out to get him. All he wants to do is live and protect his sister and through a long series of unfortunate events he may have a chance to get the power he needs for it. The actual story is so much crazier than that, but that's the gist. Just read the book already!
What can I say about this book. Ummm it is really twisted, funny, chaotic, insane, and just fun. Nyx is a young man who is Hollow, meaning he cannot bind to a spirit like most everyone else. However the universe is also out to get him. All he wants to do is live and protect his sister and through a long series of unfortunate events he may have a chance to get the power he needs for it. The actual story is so much crazier than that, but that's the gist. Just read the book already!
August 3, 2024
Had high hopes-- Knocked out of the ballpark.
I knew only a little about what to expect going into this book, based on the web series and description, and I am an avid reader of Bagwell's primary series, Awaken Online, so I had pretty high hopes going in.
And WOW! I got hooked very quickly, and ended up reading the whole thing in just a couple sessions. I loved the ways in which more information was revealed about the world and characters, and the humor kept me chuckling.
Great read!
I knew only a little about what to expect going into this book, based on the web series and description, and I am an avid reader of Bagwell's primary series, Awaken Online, so I had pretty high hopes going in.
And WOW! I got hooked very quickly, and ended up reading the whole thing in just a couple sessions. I loved the ways in which more information was revealed about the world and characters, and the humor kept me chuckling.
Great read!
August 6, 2024
Fantastic
I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book when I first started it. The beginning was a little chaotic and it took me a moment to get my bearings but that's mostly because I'm used to the way the Awaken Online books are written and this book comes at you in a slightly different format. However! Once I got my bearings I just couldn't put it down and it was fantastic! I really hope there's more to come because otherwise I'm going to have to stalk...ahem... Poke at the author about where the rest is.
I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book when I first started it. The beginning was a little chaotic and it took me a moment to get my bearings but that's mostly because I'm used to the way the Awaken Online books are written and this book comes at you in a slightly different format. However! Once I got my bearings I just couldn't put it down and it was fantastic! I really hope there's more to come because otherwise I'm going to have to stalk...ahem... Poke at the author about where the rest is.
August 3, 2024
original and so much fun
There is so much going on in this book it’s hard to start a review. Mostly OMG give this book a chance is what I got.
Technically litrpg but low key on it. If you like endless debate on what to do with skill points this isn’t a book for you.
Super interesting world building. Very in-depth and fun with WTF tossed in.
Take a chance, see if you like it. I did.
There is so much going on in this book it’s hard to start a review. Mostly OMG give this book a chance is what I got.
Technically litrpg but low key on it. If you like endless debate on what to do with skill points this isn’t a book for you.
Super interesting world building. Very in-depth and fun with WTF tossed in.
Take a chance, see if you like it. I did.
August 18, 2024
The book starts out very slow. It is marketed as a LitRPG, but it is more than a third of the way into the book before we see any of the classic RPG elements such as stats and skills. I would have liked to see this long intro edited way down to get to the action sooner.
The book is dark, gory, and funny, with insane characters. It is much more mature than most books in the genre, touching on deeper subjects like relationships and mental health, and is a lot of fun to read.
The book is dark, gory, and funny, with insane characters. It is much more mature than most books in the genre, touching on deeper subjects like relationships and mental health, and is a lot of fun to read.
January 12, 2025
Fantastic book. You get a relatively weak MC who can't catch a break who evolves into a crazy bad ass. Is he mad? Is he paranoid? Does this feel like Deadpool got isekiad into a litrpg?
You seriously need to this and find out.
The narration for the audiobook was really well done. Great voice acting.
10/10 would listen again and I'm champing at the bit for the second audiobook to come out.
You seriously need to this and find out.
The narration for the audiobook was really well done. Great voice acting.
10/10 would listen again and I'm champing at the bit for the second audiobook to come out.
April 20, 2025
wow just wow
You wrote a litrpg in one of the most refreshing and crazy versions I have ever seen, heard about, or …. You know read. The craziest part is a didn’t care one bit about the litrpg part. I just wanted to know what other crazy stuff you were going to say, from every characters perspective. It was beautifully crazy and got me hooked, just like another book about a crazy s ranked girlfriend. /shiver. Anyways, you make these books and I’ll read every, single, one.
You wrote a litrpg in one of the most refreshing and crazy versions I have ever seen, heard about, or …. You know read. The craziest part is a didn’t care one bit about the litrpg part. I just wanted to know what other crazy stuff you were going to say, from every characters perspective. It was beautifully crazy and got me hooked, just like another book about a crazy s ranked girlfriend. /shiver. Anyways, you make these books and I’ll read every, single, one.
September 2, 2024
Ya gotta stick with this one!
A weird, fun ride! Different than I'm used to, but so surprising once you regain your wits. It's definitely a WTF at first, but everything comes together extremely well. Stick with this one. I promise that by the end you'll be looking forward to the next. Highly recommend!
A weird, fun ride! Different than I'm used to, but so surprising once you regain your wits. It's definitely a WTF at first, but everything comes together extremely well. Stick with this one. I promise that by the end you'll be looking forward to the next. Highly recommend!
September 21, 2024
AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!
Holy crap this is absolutely amazing. I was a little iffy about it from the blurb and the first couple chapters were a bit odd to set the setting, but them bam it hit like a freight train and just kept getting better. I absolutely can't wait to read the next book.
Holy crap this is absolutely amazing. I was a little iffy about it from the blurb and the first couple chapters were a bit odd to set the setting, but them bam it hit like a freight train and just kept getting better. I absolutely can't wait to read the next book.
September 27, 2024
Hilarious, crazy, wonderful.
You never quite know what you're going to get from a Travis Bagwell book, and to be honest from the blurb of the book I wasn't sure I even wanted to read "Hollow". I'm super glad I did though! Parts of the story line are so outrageous, that you just need to read it to appreciate the weirdness.
You never quite know what you're going to get from a Travis Bagwell book, and to be honest from the blurb of the book I wasn't sure I even wanted to read "Hollow". I'm super glad I did though! Parts of the story line are so outrageous, that you just need to read it to appreciate the weirdness.
November 6, 2024
Phenomenal!
Entertaining, hilarious, captivating, creative, and overall an experience that has you asking all the questions. The characters each have personalities that bring uniqueness to the plot. Without a doubt, a high contender for being one of my all-time favorite fantasy series. Can't wait for the sequel!
Entertaining, hilarious, captivating, creative, and overall an experience that has you asking all the questions. The characters each have personalities that bring uniqueness to the plot. Without a doubt, a high contender for being one of my all-time favorite fantasy series. Can't wait for the sequel!
November 30, 2024
Tiresome repeated sarcastic lines. Clever works once sometimes twice but by the 20th time I decided to call it on this book. I read books specifically that have humor in them but this book/author tries too hard. More story progression and less attempts of sarcasm would have worked better in my opinion. I will not continue this series.
December 25, 2024
Batshit nuts
The MC is nuts. And so is everyone else around him. This had great world-building, engaging characters. It also features Deadpool-esque narrating. The narration gets a little annoying sometimes, but I thought it worked with the tone of the book as it covers some pretty dark stuff and insanity.
The MC is nuts. And so is everyone else around him. This had great world-building, engaging characters. It also features Deadpool-esque narrating. The narration gets a little annoying sometimes, but I thought it worked with the tone of the book as it covers some pretty dark stuff and insanity.
February 1, 2025
Cuckoo! Cuckoo!
A fantasy story told from the perspective of a character who appears to be going nutso from all the terrible things that happen to him over the years. But the story has him exploring his paranoia while being chased and hunted. He talks to himself A LOT.
Somehow the paranoid rambling remind me of Robyn Hitchcock’s fun ramblings between songs at his concerts.
A fantasy story told from the perspective of a character who appears to be going nutso from all the terrible things that happen to him over the years. But the story has him exploring his paranoia while being chased and hunted. He talks to himself A LOT.
Somehow the paranoid rambling remind me of Robyn Hitchcock’s fun ramblings between songs at his concerts.
February 10, 2025
Big fan of the AO series so was excited to see something new from Travis. Definitely different, but Timeless was also a bit of a shift in terms of storytelling, which I enjoyed.
The overall idea is very enjoyable. Initially Nyx’s ramblings were a bit long, but they get a lot better as his character develops, especially the whole co-parenting thing with Fang.
Looking forward to more books!
The overall idea is very enjoyable. Initially Nyx’s ramblings were a bit long, but they get a lot better as his character develops, especially the whole co-parenting thing with Fang.
Looking forward to more books!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
Deadpool became a Battle Daddy!!!
This book is absolutely crazy, and will mess with your head like you just watched a Deadpool marathon with unrestricted access to his inner thoughts with all the fun that it entails.
Funny commentary, wacky friendships, and crazy therapy, this is a great book for Deadpool fans!
This book is absolutely crazy, and will mess with your head like you just watched a Deadpool marathon with unrestricted access to his inner thoughts with all the fun that it entails.
Funny commentary, wacky friendships, and crazy therapy, this is a great book for Deadpool fans!
August 6, 2024
A Wild Ride
A story that keeps the manic energy from beginning to end. Even the “slice of life” potions of this are riddled with energy. A welcome change of pace in the LitRPG arena.
A story that keeps the manic energy from beginning to end. Even the “slice of life” potions of this are riddled with energy. A welcome change of pace in the LitRPG arena.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews