Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint #1

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, Vol. 1

Rate this book
The global hit fantasy novel finally coming to print in English! 

Struggling office worker Dokja Kim’s sole joy in life is an online novel so obscure that he’s it’s only reader. Then one day the story comes to an end...and so does the world. Horrific monsters, ordinary people forced to kill or be killed, and Goblins gleefully streaming the carnage to a celestial audience—with the apocalypse straight out of his favorite novel unfolding around him, Dokja is the only one who can see this story to the finale! 

260 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2025

378 people are currently reading
1574 people want to read

About the author

singNsong

93 books751 followers
Associated Names:
* singNsong / sing N song (official on published book)
* Singshong / Sing Shong (unofficial digital version)
* 싱숑

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
1,049 (66%)
4 stars
400 (25%)
3 stars
104 (6%)
2 stars
19 (1%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
Profile Image for Ash(eaux).
87 reviews13 followers
other
August 26, 2025
Disclaimer, I have not read this official tl version of the novel and I don't plan to anytime soon so I will not be commenting on the translation, writing style or anything like that.

What I'm here to say is that I'm really tired of companies selling translated webnovels, known for their length mind you, with a total amount of pages reaching almost as small as novella length for certain volumes.
I've complained about this to so many of my friends already but it is getting ridiculous, I already noticed such a tendency with 7s reducing their page count from around 500 to ~360. Now it seems we're getting 260 for a novel that has around 6000 pages in total lmao.
(Though I will add the official Korean version doesn't have huge volumes either, but they at least have around +100-200 pages)
And I get it, I'm not surprised they'd decide to milk the content of these pages for as much as possible, more volumes means more money, I wouldn't be as mad about it if I didn't think this type of publishing does a huge disservice to ORV particularly, especially when it comes to introducing the novel to new readers who have not read the fan tl nor the Webtoon.
260 pages can barely even be called an introduction and while I'm not certain which chapter/episode this volume stops at, I could not blame new readers for dropping the series after finishing this book. I can easily imagine it hard to get attached to the (so far small) cast presented in it, remain confused with the worldbuilding, and overall just not finding yourself invested enough after seeing so little. Paying 15 to 20€ to get barely 5% of progress in the main story each time doesn't sound really appealing either (even more so when we don't know how much of that money goes to the authors).
I need publishing companies to realize that this selling method can be a double edged sword when it comes to attracting new readers, (I find it frankly insulting to fan tl readers as well).
If you aren't a webnovel reader, it makes sense you'd need a little more to go on, and ORV isn't as popular internationally as it is in South Korea, even if its fandom has been steadily growing.
That's all I wanted to rant about.
The cover is really pretty I'm so happy for Blackbox <3.


(Edit : Folded when I saw it in the bookstore like I have to hand it to Izepress that cover is absolutely gorgeous, not sure if/when I'll ever get the rest but I'm satisfied with just the one to put on my shelves 🤧)
Profile Image for vin.
67 reviews
July 26, 2025
As a fan of 4 years, I love Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint to death. I consider this one of the best pieces of fiction there is. I’m absolutely grateful to re-read my favorite story, now officially being translated. My only grievance is that everything has to be westernized? Including the names?? I consider this as absolute brain-dead behavior, not gonna lie…

In Episode 1, Yu Sangah lists the authors she had read, “You know, like Murakami Haruki, Raymond Carver, Han Kang…” In that same section, another character Han Myeongoh was introduced as “...Manager Myeongoh Han from finance.” ‘Han’ is a surname in both cases, and traditionally used before the first name but the inconsistency is apparent here and pretty unprofessional in my opinion.

Moving on, there’s another significant error in ‘translation’ “Dokkaebis” being translated as “goblins” when [Doggaebi (Korean: 도깨비), also known as dokkaebi or togabi, is a mythical creature in Korean folklore] Going as far as translating a mythical creature’s name to fit your western fantasy, not only is this blatant belittling of reader’s imagination but most importantly being disrespectful of the cultural significance and it’s portrayal in the source material, when a two lines of footnote would’ve done the job, just saying.

Otherwise, ORV is easily 5/5 ⭐
Profile Image for ir.
280 reviews50 followers
May 27, 2025
one of the greatest works of fiction ever made… will be instantly getting this volume (even though it’s very short and at this point, there’s gonna be a million volumes - it’s worth it).

considering its length, not my favourite moments will be included in this volume and the beginning wasn’t that captivating nor unique for me, but defo picks up a lot in later volumes.

the already-existing english translation is extremely good and this is more so fully translated so the ordering of the first and last names and some korean things will be done in a more english way which bothers me but otherwise, this is gonna be lovely!
Profile Image for hope.
500 reviews332 followers
January 4, 2026
One world has died, and another has been born. And I’m the only one who knows how this world ends.

HOLY SHFHFSHGHGKFGJ WHY WAS THIS SO GOOD???? i feel like i found my new solo leveling 😍✨🫠 the whole reason why i was interested in reading this in the first place was because i saw a video where it said if you loved solo leveling, you need to read this. AND I WAS NOT PREPARED TO GET HOOKED THAT FAST. i feel like since finishing solo leveling nothing matches up and i've been in the biggest slump ever since i finished it a couple months ago. but here i am THANK GODDESS.

some notes:
- i love the idea of the main character having to level up their stats. the video game plot has honesntly become one of my favs
- bihyung??? tell me why that goblin was funny AS FUCK. he had me cracking up so hard and he's the one allowing all these "scenarios" to go down (so he's one of the bad guys i guess), so i don't know what that says about me but i loved him.
- the constellations. what a freaking mood they were 😂 the little commentary we get was hilarious. for a series that has a darker plot, the comedic relief was there in spades. THANKFUL FOR THAT 😭🥰
- junghyeok......the "main character". PLEASE TELL ME HE WILL BE IN IT MORE. the first time his name came up in the character profile and it said "pro gamer" I WAS 🫠🤭😛😛😍 he has me super intrigued and i NEED more of him.

Junghyeok closed his eyes in disappointment. He’d move forward on his own once again. No allies. It wasn’t a big deal. He’d always been alone.
~ this quote of him already had me so sad and i barely know anything about him. but as soon as he got introduced i immediately loved him.

AND ONLY 2 VOLUMES ARE RELEASED SO FAR??? and there’s supposedly going to be around 20? what have i got myself into 🤦‍♀️ IM THE MOST IMPATIENT PERSON EVER
Profile Image for James &#x1f9a4;.
164 reviews3 followers
June 25, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Ize Press for the arc!

Worth noting, this is my first experience reading ORV, so I'm coming at this not actually knowing much about the series.

I love Gilyoung so much if anything happens to this little boy I'm killing myself and everyone in this room.

That said, I can already tell this is going to be incredibly interesting! My main issue with this particular version is I really do not like how short this volume is. I do think it was enough to get me invested in the story, but Part I of ORV alone--if novels stay at this length--will end up being 4-5 volumes. While I do think this is mainly going to be big among people already into ORV, for people like me who are experiencing it for the first time through this translation it's a kind of disjointed experience. I don't think I'd particularly like it regardless because this is an insanely long story it's going to be long anyway, I really don't like having volumes under 300 pages.

A more minor gripe for me personally, but I also wish they hadn't changed the character names to fit the Western first name last name. I feel like we're at a point where Western audiences can understand the inverse.
Profile Image for aurei.
102 reviews2 followers
November 18, 2025
As someone who has read the entirety of ORV almost 4 years ago, I was so happy to finally get my hands on the official translated version! ^^ I miss early kim-co , and when bihyung was actually an enemy lmao
Profile Image for ⋆ asya.
72 reviews7 followers
November 2, 2025
reading orv as a physical copy in my hand was another experience. Still I am mad at ize press for making volumes so short for profit and that they didn't keep the original chapter headings' designs.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
4,361 reviews69 followers
October 28, 2025
3.5 rounded up. It's astounding how much better this is than the adaptation - it reads more smoothly and even the thrice-damned stat screens make more sense. I basically inhaled this, and while I'd hesitate to call it plain old "good," it's incredibly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Jen.
3,488 reviews27 followers
October 13, 2025
Wow. What can I say about this book? I loved it so much! I admit, I am reading the manhwa as well, so while this wasn't new to me, it was more fleshed out, as light novels tend to be when compared with the manga/manhwa to which they are related.

I like the light novels, because you get more into the heads of the character/s, as well as they have excellent cross-over appeal to sci-fi/fantasy readers who don't already read manga or manhwa. Light novels are the gateway to more amazing books! Since this one has more manhwa volumes out then light novels, I can see many readers getting impatient for the next light novel and jump over to the manhwa, while still wanting to continue with the light novels as well. I know I am doing that myself. :D

I admit, I was recommending this to fellow customers at the Yen/Ize booth at NYCC this year, lol. I just had to share how awesome it is! I also recommend it at my store, but I have been recommending it out in the wild as well, it's just that good!

Though it is DARK. Premise is that the MC read the entire web novel of this End of the World story, and it came to fruition after he finished the last chapter. Basically, humanity has become entertainment for bored aliens/beings/entities, and violence is one of those things that entertains other sentient species too, so this is violent. Humans being humans, so some give in to the darker side, some hold fast to morality and ethics. No one is perfect, but I can't help but cheer the MC on. I so want him and his rag-tag group of survivors to make it to the end in one piece!

5, I can't enthuse enough about this book, stars!

My thanks to NetGalley and Yen Press/Ize Press for an eARC of this book to read and review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mangrii.
1,145 reviews486 followers
November 3, 2025
Eres el único lector de una webnovel con más de 3000 capítulos publicados. Entonces, un día, la historia llega a su fin... y el mundo también. Sin embargo, ese fin del mundo lo conoces bien: ya lo has leído.

Mezcla un isekai, Solo leveling y Carl el Mazmorrero et voilà.
Profile Image for Tori Tecken.
Author 5 books928 followers
November 7, 2025
Really enjoyed this! As someone new-ish to LitRPG, I'm always skeptical when starting a new series because I worry that the mechanics and statistics will drown the story and characters. Not so with this one.
We're dropped into a sudden post-apocalyptic game style world with our main character, a la Dungeon Crawler Carl, but this one mixes in a bit more vibes from something like Alice in Borderland. The humor is more sparse, but when it's utilized I found it very entertaining. The story doesn't take itself too carefully, and even pokes fun at common archetypes and tropes in a very self-aware manner.
The characters still feel a bit distant as we are getting to know them and the world and game rules all at the same time, but I really enjoyed this first installment and I look forward to jumping into book 2 later this month!
Profile Image for Christina.
69 reviews2 followers
December 7, 2025

4.25 ⭐️ Vol 1 of ORV only covers a few chapters, but it already hits some tropes I enjoy—especially that survival-game energy. It even gives me a bit of Dungeon Crawler Carl vibes.
Profile Image for Ope.
94 reviews25 followers
July 4, 2025
I received an ARC for the first volume of the novel from IZE Press and it was freaking fantastic!!

I’d tried reading the series when it started getting serialized on webtoon but fell off waiting for weekly updates. My second try was with the physical print of the webtoon and I figured I could just pick it up as it was released but that didn’t work either, there wasn’t enough in the first volume to get me invested in the story 😅

The novel however is that sweet spot between an introduction to the world of the novel, with just enough information to keep readers wanting more. Kim Dokja’s decisions and actions show that there’s a reason he was the sole reader of TWSA. He wasn’t a passive reader and actively uses his knowledge of the story to navigate the world in a way that’s interesting and captivating, not just for the readers, but also for beings known as constellations in this world. I look forward to reading the rest of the series, either as it gets released or through a hunt for a fan translation 😂
Profile Image for sal.
31 reviews
October 4, 2025
orv is a really dear story to me, nothing comes close to it so it is a 5 star. however i do have some issues with this official english version that dont have anything to do with the story itself, hence my rating.

first of all, the translation. i dont know if saying anything more is necessary considering how many people have pointed it out but is really a shame that such a pretty edition of this otherwise fantastic novel is getting this treatment.

the second thing is the page count… this volume has around 250 pages. when an eng edition of orv was announced i was imagining some thick books but instead they are selling these pamphlets. like i know they are greedy but damn 😍 how many volumes is this going to have??

anyway is nice to have orv on my shelf, but i REALLY wished for it to be in better conditions. i saw the official english print as a good opportunity to draw more people to the story but now im a bit scared it might actually drive people away. i hope im just pessimistic as im seeing this from a different perspective than someone who would pick it up in this way i guess..
Profile Image for Steph ✨.
701 reviews1,623 followers
August 2, 2025
3.5 stars

Thank you to IZE Press for sending me an advanced copy of this. I really enjoyed this. If you're a fan of Solo Leveling and/or Dungeon Crawler Carl, I think you'll like this one. Looking forward to vol 2.
Profile Image for Andrew Watson.
Author 5 books604 followers
August 12, 2025
3.5. The plot and world building is great but I struggled to connect to the characters
Profile Image for hannah⁷.
177 reviews
July 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read this!

What initially drew me to this book was the interesting premise. Being thrown into your favorite novel and an apocalypse is such a cool concept, but I didn't find myself enjoying it as much as I'd expected.

It started off strong, and I was hooked by the first couple of pages. As I kept reading, I couldn't stop thinking about other books I've read/movies, or TV shows I've seen that felt so similar to this, which made it a little predictable.

I found it very difficult to connect with any of the characters as well. I know this series is meant to be pretty long, but I feel as though we should have gotten to know the main character a lot better. I also believe the way the story is set up keeps it from reaching its full potential. Because the main character already knows everything about the story and the situation at hand, it left me feeling left out. There was a decent chunk of information being thrown at us, and it was frustrating when the main character instantly knew what to do.

With that being said, this resulted in a lack of conflict. Yes, there was a lot of conflict, but the issue was that our MC had all the knowledge necessary to resolve the conflicts too quickly; therefore, he was too powerful.

Honestly, given the interesting concept, I could see how this would appeal to video game and sci-fi fans, but unfortunately, it was not for me.
Profile Image for Bec.
228 reviews6 followers
September 6, 2025
4.5
Our main character is generally good, but he has some morally gray moments, and his knowledge of the novel becomes his way to survive, and even alter the story. Reading has saved his life, not just because this story he's read is playing out in real life, but because it had become a form of comfort and way to escape before. The characters are all developed well, and I know there will be continued character growth/development as the series continues.
Profile Image for  Theia.
83 reviews
July 22, 2025
The novel's physical release is yet another excuse for me to re-read the entire thing again.... hehe.
Profile Image for Kaden Love.
Author 5 books160 followers
July 7, 2025
oddly reminiscent of dungeon crawler Carl. Take out the humor, add an Isekai tone, and you've got ORV.
Profile Image for Marie H.D..
Author 1 book26 followers
October 24, 2025
5 stars ⭐️—While the webtoon is visually scary, you miss the creepy drawings/scenes in the novel, but the narrative depth makes up for it.

Moving into the text is less about action and more about living inside Kim Dokja's chaotic but brilliant mind, which is the real thrill. The author spends their time exploring complex philosophical ideas about destiny, making the whole "power of stories" concept feel earned, not cheesy. If you listen to the audiobook, the sheer length is actually a gift, allowing every precise detail and dark reflection to sink in properly.
Profile Image for Mies.
123 reviews9 followers
September 26, 2025
This was so incredibly fast passed that you didn't even get the chance to get the know the main character. Everything happens without any breathing moment. Nobody was likeable or unlikable, they did not have enough personality for that. The sense of danger was non-existent because the main character was too overpowering.

Also felt like this book was too short, considering how long this webnovel is.
Profile Image for пташатко.
606 reviews12 followers
January 11, 2026
(3.25)

цілком пристойний та місцями навіть захопливий вступ до історії, але поки що нічого особливого. не бачу (поки?), що так вирізняє цей твір з-поміж купи інших в жанрі, але, звісно, рано судити та казати про якісь серйозні враження, коли томик (з міркувань жадібності) зробили таким манюсіньким. але шо вже тут.

мене трохи корьожила дослівність перекладу — ледь не кожну фразу тут можна було зі стовідсотковою точністю вернути до оригінальної корейської (особливо до цього не чіплятимусь, бо хз, як то все прийнято робити на професійному рівні і кажу лише за особисте сприйняття). однак, мушу визнати, що при такому дотошному підході до перекладу вск ж ще дурніше виглядає відсутність honorifics. вот ду ю мін, ви не могли зберегти автентичність парою звертань та, можливо, присутністю бодай якихось оригінальних назв (принаймні тих же токкебі), але текст лишили таким дубовим? також я терпіти не можу цю перетасовку прізвища й імені, але це взагалі окрема тема...

одним словом, це було entertaining enough, але не настільки, щоб я аж рвалась за продовженням. втім, все ж цікаво, куди рухатиметься сюжет та хочеться спостерігати за персо��аж_ками далі.

p.s. у фізичних примірників дуже симпатичний дизайн обкладинки
Profile Image for Daphnosio.
8 reviews
January 6, 2026
5 ⭐️s - not very surprising.

ORV is just easily one of the most intriguing stories out there. The characters are fun and relatable, but deep and interesting at the same time. The world-building is top-notch and the whole system of the Star Stream and the dokkaebis is unique and mysterious but not too complex or difficult to understand.

I know this is just the beginning of a long, arduous and incredibly compelling journey of both the characters and the readers, but if any story is worth your time then it's this (ofc only if you're in for a long running story).

Trust me on this one: you'll love it.
Profile Image for Nuzhat.
390 reviews11 followers
September 25, 2025
I’ve never read a light novel before—Is this a light novel? I assume it is but I am no expert—but this was FUN. Obviously not the most elegant writing by any means, but it was fast, compulsively readable, and read like watching someone play a video game, which is the only way I enjoy video games.

Love the concept—apocalypse aliens death games play felt both well-trod and totally unique to me. And I LOVE a death games.

I definitely want to read future volumes! Maybe I’ll check out the manwha too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.