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Ruinous Return 1: Empire Builder Isekai
The price for saving the world is the right to rule it.
After saving a faraway world, Lyn Rivers was cast back to Earth. Wanting the admiration, prestige, and glory of saving that world, she forced her way back.
But she was forgotten, and someone else claimed credit for her deeds.
Now, with the power of a deity of destruction, she desires nothing more than to claim her place in history. To do that she will conquer dungeons, make alliances, destroy kingdoms, and build an empire.
After all, why ruin the world when you can bend it to your will?
After saving a faraway world, Lyn Rivers was cast back to Earth. Wanting the admiration, prestige, and glory of saving that world, she forced her way back.
But she was forgotten, and someone else claimed credit for her deeds.
Now, with the power of a deity of destruction, she desires nothing more than to claim her place in history. To do that she will conquer dungeons, make alliances, destroy kingdoms, and build an empire.
After all, why ruin the world when you can bend it to your will?
612 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 3, 2025
321 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 23, 2025
I couldn't make it through the early parts of the story. From the poorly informative execution of world-building, to sex being emphasized as the comfort of all woes, it was just too much. I read haremlit, so I'm comfortable with sexual themes, but, my lord, it was juvenile.
November 24, 2025
Unlikable characters
The only reason the MC isn't the worst character is that the author made a cartoonishly evil Hero who likes to torture people for pleasure. If not for that, the MC with her goal of becoming a oppressive tyrant with giving her people no freedom would be the main bad. Literally it's her way or die, no disagreement allowed. Not even the normal, If you disagree I will listen but in the end it's my choice. Nope. It's , you're all slaves and obey my will or die. They get no choice in it. Yes it is slavery since they can't even speak up against her, do anything against her will and must obey or die. That is slavery. She wants to enslave the entire world to make them all equal but her slaves.
Then you get behavior like the 'stalker' hero. She finds him creepy and perverted for 'lusting' after her. Yet she's fine with anyone else lusting after her. Literally the elf she is sleeping with, the first time they met she was bloody naked and missing a hand, on death's door. The guy was leering at her in lust and after kept always watching her rear and body with lust. When he stares at her with lust she thinks it's hot. When the Archer stares at her body, she thinks it's creepy. It's not that she just has 'tastes' because she seems fine with everyone staring at her in lust and appearing naked before them. She sleeps around a lot, yet that one guy who loves her and lusts after her, is a creep for doing so....okay.
Then she blames him for her never telling him she's not interested. Like he had her shirt after she died and missed her. She found that creepy but to reward him she gave him not another new shirt, no she gave him a set of panties. Who is the creep here? She's the one pretending to be into him and making it all sexual then blaming him for lusting after her. It's just stupid.
Now I will stay the dude was a stalker and creep but she acts like it's okay for everyone else to want her but just not him. Which comes off as weird. Then getting pissed for him lusting for her yet her never telling him she wasn't interest and instead giving signs that she is interested.
It's like if she flashed a guy and then he said 'nice chest' then she starts screaming at him she has a boyfriend. The crazy is unreal.
Then 50 % of this book is flashbacks and PTSD. I get they were highschool kids but come on, most real world soldiers are 18 too and see their friends die. That 20/20 of them all have PTSD to the point of hiding in closests for days crying about safe spaces. Acting like they were at war for a life time, when really it was just 5 years. 5 years of dungeons and training with what the MC says were long breaks.
Dungeons that seem pretty simple as every time the MC goes into one the 'hardest' she ever seen they are just stupid riddles like....What guards a door.. A KEY! ..really? And if they fail, no deadly trap just...try again?
So in conclusion, bad characters unlikable, hypocritical personalities, lots of whining and tons of flash back and side POVs. And a plot of evil empress who doesn't think she's evil wanting to take over the world.
If wasn't interested to see how other places react and how she'll carry it out, would say dropping the series. Will continue but only in half hopes to see if the author changes anything for all the super negative reviews they got.
The only reason the MC isn't the worst character is that the author made a cartoonishly evil Hero who likes to torture people for pleasure. If not for that, the MC with her goal of becoming a oppressive tyrant with giving her people no freedom would be the main bad. Literally it's her way or die, no disagreement allowed. Not even the normal, If you disagree I will listen but in the end it's my choice. Nope. It's , you're all slaves and obey my will or die. They get no choice in it. Yes it is slavery since they can't even speak up against her, do anything against her will and must obey or die. That is slavery. She wants to enslave the entire world to make them all equal but her slaves.
Then you get behavior like the 'stalker' hero. She finds him creepy and perverted for 'lusting' after her. Yet she's fine with anyone else lusting after her. Literally the elf she is sleeping with, the first time they met she was bloody naked and missing a hand, on death's door. The guy was leering at her in lust and after kept always watching her rear and body with lust. When he stares at her with lust she thinks it's hot. When the Archer stares at her body, she thinks it's creepy. It's not that she just has 'tastes' because she seems fine with everyone staring at her in lust and appearing naked before them. She sleeps around a lot, yet that one guy who loves her and lusts after her, is a creep for doing so....okay.
Then she blames him for her never telling him she's not interested. Like he had her shirt after she died and missed her. She found that creepy but to reward him she gave him not another new shirt, no she gave him a set of panties. Who is the creep here? She's the one pretending to be into him and making it all sexual then blaming him for lusting after her. It's just stupid.
Now I will stay the dude was a stalker and creep but she acts like it's okay for everyone else to want her but just not him. Which comes off as weird. Then getting pissed for him lusting for her yet her never telling him she wasn't interest and instead giving signs that she is interested.
It's like if she flashed a guy and then he said 'nice chest' then she starts screaming at him she has a boyfriend. The crazy is unreal.
Then 50 % of this book is flashbacks and PTSD. I get they were highschool kids but come on, most real world soldiers are 18 too and see their friends die. That 20/20 of them all have PTSD to the point of hiding in closests for days crying about safe spaces. Acting like they were at war for a life time, when really it was just 5 years. 5 years of dungeons and training with what the MC says were long breaks.
Dungeons that seem pretty simple as every time the MC goes into one the 'hardest' she ever seen they are just stupid riddles like....What guards a door.. A KEY! ..really? And if they fail, no deadly trap just...try again?
So in conclusion, bad characters unlikable, hypocritical personalities, lots of whining and tons of flash back and side POVs. And a plot of evil empress who doesn't think she's evil wanting to take over the world.
If wasn't interested to see how other places react and how she'll carry it out, would say dropping the series. Will continue but only in half hopes to see if the author changes anything for all the super negative reviews they got.
May 3, 2025
an excellent book in this genre, well worth the read.
I usually don’t read these types of building empire books. But I actually enjoyed this one. The characters are all well done especially the main characters. They all have their motivations, and desires so they’re very well flushed out. Of course, in a builder crafter type book the world building is essential. This one is well done. The MC is likable and I can’t complain about her wishes or thought process. The only thing I don’t particularly care for in these books are the calling out of the spells. That takes me out of the story a bit, but that’s my personal complaint with the story. Going to read the next book if you like this type of book which like I said earlier, I usually don’t, but I like this one and you will too. Going on to read the next book when it’s available.
I usually don’t read these types of building empire books. But I actually enjoyed this one. The characters are all well done especially the main characters. They all have their motivations, and desires so they’re very well flushed out. Of course, in a builder crafter type book the world building is essential. This one is well done. The MC is likable and I can’t complain about her wishes or thought process. The only thing I don’t particularly care for in these books are the calling out of the spells. That takes me out of the story a bit, but that’s my personal complaint with the story. Going to read the next book if you like this type of book which like I said earlier, I usually don’t, but I like this one and you will too. Going on to read the next book when it’s available.
May 6, 2025
I was extremely satisfied with this book. At first it was very boring but once the perspective switches began (early in the book maybe the 5th chapter or so) to happen the book got a lot more interesting. I wish some of it was slowed down so the drama could play out a little more.
Overall the book is a little fast but well written and keeps you interested throughout. There is a lot of sex in this book. It's all fade to black but there is no raunchy scenes at all. It's just said then skips to the next thing.
The characters are extremely well written and you can tell their individual personalities and motives. I personally got the feel this was a more cozy empire building book and so I am assuming the series will be similar but who knows it could change. I say this because while there is conflict throughout the book it is small scale and gets resolved somewhat quickly.
Overall the book is a little fast but well written and keeps you interested throughout. There is a lot of sex in this book. It's all fade to black but there is no raunchy scenes at all. It's just said then skips to the next thing.
The characters are extremely well written and you can tell their individual personalities and motives. I personally got the feel this was a more cozy empire building book and so I am assuming the series will be similar but who knows it could change. I say this because while there is conflict throughout the book it is small scale and gets resolved somewhat quickly.
November 3, 2025
could not get into it.
I made it 10% of the way through and quit.
The main character is not very likable, they’re impulsive, they don’t make good decisions, and they’re not consistent.
I get that the author was working on a dark hero story or something like that , but to make that work, I need to like your hero, or at least you need to pull m me in the world so much that I’m willing to let your hero grow into someone I like.
I feel like I give this book a fair shot but the storytelling didn’t improve, and none of the characters I met were likable or even interesting.
I do not recommend this book. I will not be reading any others in the series.
I made it 10% of the way through and quit.
The main character is not very likable, they’re impulsive, they don’t make good decisions, and they’re not consistent.
I get that the author was working on a dark hero story or something like that , but to make that work, I need to like your hero, or at least you need to pull m me in the world so much that I’m willing to let your hero grow into someone I like.
I feel like I give this book a fair shot but the storytelling didn’t improve, and none of the characters I met were likable or even interesting.
I do not recommend this book. I will not be reading any others in the series.
April 18, 2025
really enjoyed the book
Really enjoyed the first book. Great story and I like how it flips the script on most isekai stories and shows the aftermath of “winning” against the villain. 2 small complaints would be that for every spell a person casts in the story you get a paragraph of gibberish that is super annoying if you are listening to it. I also felt like it changed perspectives a bit too much and amongst too many characters.
Really enjoyed the first book. Great story and I like how it flips the script on most isekai stories and shows the aftermath of “winning” against the villain. 2 small complaints would be that for every spell a person casts in the story you get a paragraph of gibberish that is super annoying if you are listening to it. I also felt like it changed perspectives a bit too much and amongst too many characters.
September 8, 2025
Okay, but doesn't live up to the blurb
This is an okay OP MC kingdom builder story. Nothing here is exceptional, but it's a fun read.
What I was expecting from reading the blurb was a story where the MC returns and has to claw and scheme her way to power to destroy everyone who betrayed her. Instead she comes back, gets an empire for free, forgives close to everyone involved in betraying her instantly and the story turns into a fairly happy kingdom builder.
This is an okay OP MC kingdom builder story. Nothing here is exceptional, but it's a fun read.
What I was expecting from reading the blurb was a story where the MC returns and has to claw and scheme her way to power to destroy everyone who betrayed her. Instead she comes back, gets an empire for free, forgives close to everyone involved in betraying her instantly and the story turns into a fairly happy kingdom builder.
March 22, 2025
Fantastic!
An absolutely incredible new isekai with a fresh take on the hero and magic system. Very solid topics confronted here and incredible personality. World building is a bit rushed-feeling but very expansive. Hope there's at least 2 more books to come in the series.
An absolutely incredible new isekai with a fresh take on the hero and magic system. Very solid topics confronted here and incredible personality. World building is a bit rushed-feeling but very expansive. Hope there's at least 2 more books to come in the series.
July 3, 2025
WOW What a Read
This book is amazing. It kind if a slow start however you get over that quickly. The MC is interesting in that she keeps changing. I will not give up any info because I honestly believe that this book should be experienced !!!
This book is amazing. It kind if a slow start however you get over that quickly. The MC is interesting in that she keeps changing. I will not give up any info because I honestly believe that this book should be experienced !!!
July 25, 2025
Did not finish at 8%
Just want for me, I think. Feels more YA? Not quite sure, but even for Isekai, it felt a bit too tropey. Of you’re super in to hero to villain arcs, though, this may be up your alley.
Just want for me, I think. Feels more YA? Not quite sure, but even for Isekai, it felt a bit too tropey. Of you’re super in to hero to villain arcs, though, this may be up your alley.
June 11, 2025
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression books with lots of action.
October 23, 2025
It was an okay read. It lacks depth to truly shine
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews