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Prototype: Dark LitRPG Adventure
Wounded, abandoned behind enemy lines, left for dead…
Ajax is one of Earth’s most elite, a Paladin pilot, and trusted to fly the most advanced starfighters humanity ever produced. His carrier and the rest of the fleet have fallen back, the recent damage from the elven betrayal making it impossible to stay in the fight. He knows they’ll return, and they’ll treat this world to the same kind of plasma bombardment that the elves had inflicted on Mother Earth.
The real problem for Ajax, though, is that he’s parachuting down onto it now, his arm broken. He’s got no ship, and only a few months’ worth of hazy memories, after losing them to the purge. He’s got no damned weapons, only the most basic memories of survival training, and absolutely no clue about the planet beyond what he can see floating down. This is going to be a hell of a fight to get back into orbit, but he’ll do it—or he’ll die trying.
They say humanity is only three meals from going feral… it’s time the rest of the galaxy found out just how true that is.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2025
186 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 24, 2025
good book, unique story, a lot of profanity as well as sex.
Like most books this one starts off slow. There are no real RPG elements until chapter 20. The flip-flopping between past and present day is a little bit jarring, but needs to happen so we understand the premise of the story, which is quite unique. Totally over the top, first of all no physical being could take the abuse the author put his MC through. That’s what takes me out of a lot of this author stories. The stories themselves are good but the abuse. The author puts his MC through is horrendous and really it makes me wonder about the authors own mental proclivities. Then there’s the fact that the MC is a pilot, not really a soldier and makes all kind of dumb decisions. You want to like him, root for him, but when he does crazy things or should I say stupid things you just sit there and shake your head. I hope the author decides to write a follow up for this book because it ends on a cliffhanger that’s why I took it down to three stars.
Like most books this one starts off slow. There are no real RPG elements until chapter 20. The flip-flopping between past and present day is a little bit jarring, but needs to happen so we understand the premise of the story, which is quite unique. Totally over the top, first of all no physical being could take the abuse the author put his MC through. That’s what takes me out of a lot of this author stories. The stories themselves are good but the abuse. The author puts his MC through is horrendous and really it makes me wonder about the authors own mental proclivities. Then there’s the fact that the MC is a pilot, not really a soldier and makes all kind of dumb decisions. You want to like him, root for him, but when he does crazy things or should I say stupid things you just sit there and shake your head. I hope the author decides to write a follow up for this book because it ends on a cliffhanger that’s why I took it down to three stars.
April 1, 2025
Hit and miss.
The story seemed to take forever to get to the meat of the premise... a nanite driven super-soldier. Once the protagonist left the forest, the politics seemed hard to swallow. No one told the truth, even to their allies. Morality was out the window. Human experimentation and vivisection was on the menu. There was no stable core.
Ajax was a difficult MC to like. He seemed to flip-flop from a suicidally driven agro-machine to a compliant door-mat. But man, that premise was killer. There were glimpses of where it could have been taken, particularly at the end. I just wish the story had better focus.
I really didn't like the weird turn things took right at the end. After a full book obsessed with nanotech, (which couldn't seem to self-replicate), suddenly we are expected to just accept the metaphysical existence of "soul-energy." Dude, nanotech is magical enough, don't bring souls into a science fiction story.
Note: There is almost no LitRPG in this book.
The story seemed to take forever to get to the meat of the premise... a nanite driven super-soldier. Once the protagonist left the forest, the politics seemed hard to swallow. No one told the truth, even to their allies. Morality was out the window. Human experimentation and vivisection was on the menu. There was no stable core.
Ajax was a difficult MC to like. He seemed to flip-flop from a suicidally driven agro-machine to a compliant door-mat. But man, that premise was killer. There were glimpses of where it could have been taken, particularly at the end. I just wish the story had better focus.
I really didn't like the weird turn things took right at the end. After a full book obsessed with nanotech, (which couldn't seem to self-replicate), suddenly we are expected to just accept the metaphysical existence of "soul-energy." Dude, nanotech is magical enough, don't bring souls into a science fiction story.
Note: There is almost no LitRPG in this book.
January 20, 2025
Wow, just wow!
Action from beginning to end. Sci-fi with fantasy races, space battles, man vs nature, intrigue and betrayal. The MC is a bad boy as many of the author's characters seem to be. He's also loyal and driven to succeed despite how many times he suffers and escapes death by the slimmest of margins.
I've been reading the author's work for a few years and his writing is raw, with some quite creative action, advesaries and solutions. Some of his dialogue is uncomfortably specific... which is dark humor.
I'd be disappointed if this story ends here when the MC is on the brink of turning the tables on one set of enemies and positioning to bring the pain to others. Especially to the backstabbing goverment wankers, lackeys and sycophants that tried to invasively study and control him.
Action from beginning to end. Sci-fi with fantasy races, space battles, man vs nature, intrigue and betrayal. The MC is a bad boy as many of the author's characters seem to be. He's also loyal and driven to succeed despite how many times he suffers and escapes death by the slimmest of margins.
I've been reading the author's work for a few years and his writing is raw, with some quite creative action, advesaries and solutions. Some of his dialogue is uncomfortably specific... which is dark humor.
I'd be disappointed if this story ends here when the MC is on the brink of turning the tables on one set of enemies and positioning to bring the pain to others. Especially to the backstabbing goverment wankers, lackeys and sycophants that tried to invasively study and control him.
December 8, 2023
This might be pretty good in print - but on audio it's not. The narrator spends a lot of time yelling and cursing - which is fine in the right situation. But the way he portrays the character as impatient translates as immature *and* impatient. I don't like him and thus I don't care about what happens to him. There's nothing that's grabbing me and holding my attention.
So - sorry Christopher Boucher (and Jessica Threet), this one's a dud for me.
So - sorry Christopher Boucher (and Jessica Threet), this one's a dud for me.
January 19, 2025
Exciting Chapter
Space battles, nanites, alien races across worlds and Cajiaos usual grit style makes this another exciting series.
As a fan of space opera this touches on a few bases within the LitRPG genre, the stats aren't too heavy and there is a good suspense mixed with some action.
Only negative is this may take a while before we see any more in the series unless more jump on the queue.
Space battles, nanites, alien races across worlds and Cajiaos usual grit style makes this another exciting series.
As a fan of space opera this touches on a few bases within the LitRPG genre, the stats aren't too heavy and there is a good suspense mixed with some action.
Only negative is this may take a while before we see any more in the series unless more jump on the queue.
January 23, 2025
Well done mate! best read in a long time.
Awesome new book from Jez, a rip roaring roller coaster ride of a book! Well paced and thought out, just what I needed after lots of boring slow paced stuff that had me questioning whether I was just a jaded reader that was burnt out. Highly recommended read for those who like action and lots of it!
Awesome new book from Jez, a rip roaring roller coaster ride of a book! Well paced and thought out, just what I needed after lots of boring slow paced stuff that had me questioning whether I was just a jaded reader that was burnt out. Highly recommended read for those who like action and lots of it!
January 20, 2025
Excellent first in a series
Really enjoyed Jez returning to Scifi writing.
Book is well written, characters are entertaining and believable.
Really liked the tech of this universe too.
Really enjoyed Jez returning to Scifi writing.
Book is well written, characters are entertaining and believable.
Really liked the tech of this universe too.
February 6, 2025
Awesome!!!!!
Another hit series in the making!!!!! Please tell us you are going to add more to this story. You keep writing, we'll keep reading!! Thank you for sharing this and all your stories with us!!!
Another hit series in the making!!!!! Please tell us you are going to add more to this story. You keep writing, we'll keep reading!! Thank you for sharing this and all your stories with us!!!
March 2, 2025
Exciting And Original!
I did not know what to expect when I downloaded this book. Outstanding story that flowed just right from beginning to end. Science plus AI that makes it all seem possible. Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Overall outstanding!
I did not know what to expect when I downloaded this book. Outstanding story that flowed just right from beginning to end. Science plus AI that makes it all seem possible. Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Overall outstanding!
January 18, 2025
Is this a republish?
I've read this before, not sure why I'm seeing this again though. It is an interesting world and decent start to a series.
I've read this before, not sure why I'm seeing this again though. It is an interesting world and decent start to a series.
February 6, 2025
awesome
Another awesome story by Jez. Plenty of action and character growth. Really interesting world, looking forward to seeing where he takes it.
Another awesome story by Jez. Plenty of action and character growth. Really interesting world, looking forward to seeing where he takes it.
February 23, 2025
Ride and a half. what a roller coaster.
Dark ride through hell. Stranger in a strange world. I could go on but why waste time. Read and find out.
Dark ride through hell. Stranger in a strange world. I could go on but why waste time. Read and find out.
March 7, 2025
I need more!! Please make this a series 🙏
March 9, 2025
Loved it!
A great first foray from jez cajiao on the sci-fi lit rpg genre. Looking forward to the next one. Awesome!!
A great first foray from jez cajiao on the sci-fi lit rpg genre. Looking forward to the next one. Awesome!!
April 17, 2025
2 1/2 stars.
May 15, 2025
Oh You Bastard!
Book two!
NOW!!!!!!
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q
Book two!
NOW!!!!!!
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q
May 16, 2025
Great book
Stellar work once again from Jez Cajiao! Lots of action and adventure, AI and monsters. Looking forward to the next one.
Stellar work once again from Jez Cajiao! Lots of action and adventure, AI and monsters. Looking forward to the next one.
October 14, 2025
A terrific read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews