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Falling with Folded Wings #1
Falling with Folded Wings: A LitRPG Progression Fantasy: Book 1
Stranded on a hostile planet, one man finds himself thrust into a fight for survival that could decide the fate of an entire world . . .
As an engineer on the arkship Pilgrim-9, bound for the Tau Ceti solar system, Morgan Hall thought his life would revolve around maintaining and repairing the ship and supporting the needs of the five thousand colonists aboard. But when he’s roused early from a 240-year stasis, he’s confronted with chaos.
Along with his shipmates, Morgan is brought down to a planet teeming with peril. Forced to fight for their survival without any of their tech to hand, they must adapt quickly to overcome countless threats in a world where magic is as real as science. Eventually, they begin to create a new existence for themselves.
But just as they’re beginning to feel at home, Morgan and his fellow humans discover the planet is already inhabited by intelligent life-forms—and this native species is cunning, powerful, and all too lethal . . .
From the author of Victor of The first volume of the hit LitRPG adventure series—with more than 400,000 views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
As an engineer on the arkship Pilgrim-9, bound for the Tau Ceti solar system, Morgan Hall thought his life would revolve around maintaining and repairing the ship and supporting the needs of the five thousand colonists aboard. But when he’s roused early from a 240-year stasis, he’s confronted with chaos.
Along with his shipmates, Morgan is brought down to a planet teeming with peril. Forced to fight for their survival without any of their tech to hand, they must adapt quickly to overcome countless threats in a world where magic is as real as science. Eventually, they begin to create a new existence for themselves.
But just as they’re beginning to feel at home, Morgan and his fellow humans discover the planet is already inhabited by intelligent life-forms—and this native species is cunning, powerful, and all too lethal . . .
From the author of Victor of The first volume of the hit LitRPG adventure series—with more than 400,000 views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
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First published October 17, 2022
450 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Plum Parrot
26 books124 followersPlum Parrot is the pen name of author MC Gallup, who grew up in Southern Arizona and spent much of his youth wandering around the Sonoran Desert, hunting imaginary monsters and building forts. He studied creative writing at the University of Arizona and, for a number of years, attempted to teach middle schoolers to love literature and write their own stories. If he's not out walking his Airedale Terrier, you can find Gallup writing, reading his favorite authors, or playing D&D with friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
January 3, 2023
I'm really struggling with LitRPG these days. I think I may have reached my saturation point with the genre.
I bailed out of this tale at chapter 68 of 100. I just couldn't take it anymore.
The Good
An intriguing premise. Isekai colony instead of Isekai hero. An amoral and parasitic system. Why not.
The Bad
The POV jumping was really a distraction. It would have made sense if all the POVs were developed equally, but as it is, the huge skew in Morgan's favour makes the others into irritating time wasters that don't even manage to bring any particular weight to the story.
The settlement building was lackluster and tensionless. The side characters were unidimensional.
The Ugly
Everything bad about LitRPG. Gratuitous and unexplained OPness, plot armour galore, waifus, caricature antagonists, convenient magic system... You name it, it's in there.
The Conclusion
Meh 😑
I bailed out of this tale at chapter 68 of 100. I just couldn't take it anymore.
The Good
An intriguing premise. Isekai colony instead of Isekai hero. An amoral and parasitic system. Why not.
The Bad
The POV jumping was really a distraction. It would have made sense if all the POVs were developed equally, but as it is, the huge skew in Morgan's favour makes the others into irritating time wasters that don't even manage to bring any particular weight to the story.
The settlement building was lackluster and tensionless. The side characters were unidimensional.
The Ugly
Everything bad about LitRPG. Gratuitous and unexplained OPness, plot armour galore, waifus, caricature antagonists, convenient magic system... You name it, it's in there.
The Conclusion
Meh 😑
November 24, 2022
Written like it came from Royal Road
The biggest, and only flaw in this novel is the ridiculous quantity of perspective changes among characters. It's obvious this was either a distinct choice on the authors part, or this originally came from Royal Road and he needed filler chapters.
The POV changes means that there's almost no immersion in the book as it's constantly broken by the shifting, it also means that while the book itself is a good length, you're really only getting 1/3 of the actual story as every character is a main character and the author feels the need to tell what they've been up to. Character development is extremely weak, and emotional/mental growth is non existent as well. Simply put, there's too many main characters and they all lose value and substance because of it. What the readers are left with are a bunch of low tier, C grade characters that belong on the value menu.
Due to sheer amount of POV changes, this five star book drops to 3 stars. Barely. It honestly is in 2 star territory. I'm truly sad I had to write this review, the story was excellent, the premise was unique, and I enjoyed the themes. It also didn't feel too tropey. Everything about this book deserves to be 5 stars, it really does. However, the POV shifts are such a major detriment to the story and quality that I honestly cannot recommend this book.
Conclusion: The failure of this book lies soley in the authors lap due to his decisions. I'm genuinely angry that the author has destroyed his own story, which had such a strong potential to be one of the best series in the genre.
The biggest, and only flaw in this novel is the ridiculous quantity of perspective changes among characters. It's obvious this was either a distinct choice on the authors part, or this originally came from Royal Road and he needed filler chapters.
The POV changes means that there's almost no immersion in the book as it's constantly broken by the shifting, it also means that while the book itself is a good length, you're really only getting 1/3 of the actual story as every character is a main character and the author feels the need to tell what they've been up to. Character development is extremely weak, and emotional/mental growth is non existent as well. Simply put, there's too many main characters and they all lose value and substance because of it. What the readers are left with are a bunch of low tier, C grade characters that belong on the value menu.
Due to sheer amount of POV changes, this five star book drops to 3 stars. Barely. It honestly is in 2 star territory. I'm truly sad I had to write this review, the story was excellent, the premise was unique, and I enjoyed the themes. It also didn't feel too tropey. Everything about this book deserves to be 5 stars, it really does. However, the POV shifts are such a major detriment to the story and quality that I honestly cannot recommend this book.
Conclusion: The failure of this book lies soley in the authors lap due to his decisions. I'm genuinely angry that the author has destroyed his own story, which had such a strong potential to be one of the best series in the genre.
February 27, 2025
Title: Falling with Folded Wings (Falling with Folded Wings #1)
Author: Plum Parrot
Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult / Magical Realism
Rating: ⭐⭐✰✰✰ (2/5 stars)
Falling with Folded Wings (Falling with Folded Wings #1) by Plum Parrot is the opening book in a fantasy series that mixes elements of magical realism, personal growth, and adventure. While the novel sets out to tell an emotionally driven coming-of-age story within a fantastical framework, it struggles to balance its ambitions, leading to an uneven reading experience.
Plot Summary:
The story follows Olivia, a young woman trapped between two worlds—her mundane life and a magical realm where she discovers her heritage as part of a winged people. As Olivia navigates the challenges of her new life, she must also confront her personal insecurities and inner turmoil. However, her wings, a symbol of freedom and power, remain folded, reflecting her internal conflict and the emotional weight she carries. The novel chronicles Olivia’s journey to self-acceptance, empowerment, and discovery of her true potential.
Pros:
Original Premise: The concept of Olivia’s wings serving as a metaphor for her personal growth is intriguing and holds promise. This metaphor could have been an excellent vehicle for exploring themes of self-identity and empowerment, making it stand out in the crowded young adult fantasy genre.
Emotional Themes: The novel touches on important themes such as overcoming self-doubt, dealing with loss, and finding one's place in the world. Readers who connect with the emotional struggles of the protagonist may appreciate these aspects of the story.
Cons:
Poor World-Building: One of the biggest weaknesses of the novel is its lack of sufficient world-building. The magical realm that Olivia finds herself in feels underdeveloped and lacks the richness or depth needed to create a sense of wonder. The rules governing this world, the history of the winged people, and the societal structures are left vague, making it difficult for readers to fully immerse themselves in the setting. In comparison to other fantasy novels, such as Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone, where winged beings are portrayed with complexity, Falling with Folded Wings feels incomplete.
Weak Characterization: Olivia, as the protagonist, lacks complexity. While her internal struggles are central to the story, she often comes across as passive and reactive, rather than driving her own narrative. Her decisions are motivated by external circumstances rather than true character development. Additionally, supporting characters are flat and serve mostly as plot devices rather than fully realized individuals. This weak characterization makes it hard for readers to become emotionally invested in the story.
Pacing Issues: The novel suffers from significant pacing problems. The first half drags as it focuses on Olivia’s repeated inner monologues, while the second half feels rushed. Key plot points and emotional moments, such as Olivia’s discovery of her heritage and her growth toward accepting her wings, are glossed over or lack the emotional weight they deserve.
Overreliance on Metaphor: While the metaphor of Olivia’s folded wings is intriguing, the novel overuses it to the point of redundancy. Rather than allowing Olivia’s growth to unfold naturally through her actions and experiences, the narrative continually circles back to the metaphor in a heavy-handed way, slowing down the story’s progression.
Writing Style:
Plum Parrot’s writing is lyrical but inconsistent. At times, the prose feels beautifully descriptive, capturing Olivia’s emotional landscape in vivid terms. However, the book also frequently slips into over-explanation and repetitiveness, which detracts from the poetic elements. There are moments where the novel seems to focus more on its flowery language than on moving the plot forward, creating a disconnect between style and substance.
Comparison to Contemporaries:
In comparison to its contemporaries in the young adult fantasy genre, such as Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Cycle or Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass, Falling with Folded Wings struggles to find its footing. Both of these works excel at creating immersive worlds, dynamic characters, and tightly plotted narratives. Plum Parrot’s novel, while offering a promising emotional arc, lacks the robust world-building and strong character development that readers of this genre have come to expect.
Another comparison could be drawn to The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton, which also explores themes of magical realism with a focus on emotional growth. However, while Walton’s novel uses lyrical prose and metaphor effectively to enhance the depth of the characters and world, Parrot’s novel tends to falter in balancing its style with substance.
Final Thoughts:
Falling with Folded Wings (Falling with Folded Wings #1) had the potential to be a unique and emotional exploration of self-discovery within a fantasy setting, but it fails to live up to that promise. While the novel offers some interesting themes and metaphorical elements, its lack of detailed world-building, underdeveloped characters, and inconsistent pacing undermine its overall impact. Readers looking for a richly detailed fantasy world or a deeply moving emotional journey may find themselves disappointed.
However, for readers who enjoy metaphor-heavy narratives and are willing to overlook some of the book’s structural weaknesses, Falling with Folded Wings may still offer a reflective, if not entirely satisfying, reading experience.
Rating: ⭐⭐✰✰✰ (2/5 stars)
April 8, 2023
This is the first book I've read from this author and I picked it up from the strength of the title alone. It's very layered and poetic when you think about it. Falling is usually something you would avoid, and in this case, having wings implies you could stop falling if you wanted. But instead, you fold your wings and willingly fall. It could mean so many things. Honestly 10 out of 10 book title.
Character - 6/10, Plot - 7/10, Setting & Game Mechanics - 7.5/10, Writing - 6.5/10, Enjoyment - 5/10
My category ratings are probably skewing compared to reviews I wrote a couple of years ago, but it is what it is. I won't say there is anything objectively wrong with the characters as much as I can say I just didn't like them. I was invested in Morgan, but it was annoying how he kept blundering no matter how much stronger he got or what new skill he had. I found myself wondering how to define the area between Overpowered and Weak/Incompetent. I think Morgan was in that middle ground, which was entirely reasonable considering he's just an engineer who happened to have some previous military service. But I was never satisfied by any of his fights as he grew stronger since he kept getting hit by basic stuff and almost died against every new opponent.
None of the characters really interacted in a way that felt organic and realistic, to put it gently. At worst, they came across awkward and just following a checklist of expected interactions rather than saying anything a normal person in their situation would say.
I liked the story overall. There were a lot of familiar elements but they combined in a way that stayed interesting. The plot followed a colony ship of 5,000 humans on their way to a habitable planet, but they are absorbed into an entity's area of effect and forcibly planted on a different world that has Energy and operates under the rules of a System. Morgan, our first pov character, happened to be awake during the integration while the rest of the colonists were in cryosleep, so he alone is teleported into a crucible proving ground while the rest are sent to the same location on the planet's surface. There they all interact with a handful of other races on that world as they discover the System, and their place in it as a people and individuals.
I thought the setting and game mechanics were pretty good. There was a good mix of lite town building, some fighting from a couple of pov characters, and the development of domestic and interspecies disputes. All the standard levels, skills, and somewhat unique classes made an appearance. The other species had fairly simple societal rules and characteristics, but enough to keep things interesting and stir up turmoil.
The writing was fairly clean as far as mistakes go, but also a bit basic from a style and syntax standpoint with lots of filler words and redundancies. Definitely a let-down for someone like myself coming in hot with excitement from the poetic vibes of the title. But overall this was functional and I would say above genre-average.
My enjoyment was a mixed bag and books like this are hard for me to rate by category. For example, this book had multiple point of view characters, while I prefer to stay with one character ideally. Lots of multiple pov books have won me over despite that, but this book was a bit rough since I was feeling neutral about most of the characters. Especially the whole plotline with Reggie just didn't work for me. I'll also admit that I expected more from this book based on the title. Maybe that's my fault for false expectations, but it is what it is.
I think this is a worthwhile book to check out for gamelit/progressive fantasy fans, but I would expect mixed results. I will probably check out the first book of the author's other series The Pit Fighter and see how the experience differs.
Character - 6/10, Plot - 7/10, Setting & Game Mechanics - 7.5/10, Writing - 6.5/10, Enjoyment - 5/10
My category ratings are probably skewing compared to reviews I wrote a couple of years ago, but it is what it is. I won't say there is anything objectively wrong with the characters as much as I can say I just didn't like them. I was invested in Morgan, but it was annoying how he kept blundering no matter how much stronger he got or what new skill he had. I found myself wondering how to define the area between Overpowered and Weak/Incompetent. I think Morgan was in that middle ground, which was entirely reasonable considering he's just an engineer who happened to have some previous military service. But I was never satisfied by any of his fights as he grew stronger since he kept getting hit by basic stuff and almost died against every new opponent.
None of the characters really interacted in a way that felt organic and realistic, to put it gently. At worst, they came across awkward and just following a checklist of expected interactions rather than saying anything a normal person in their situation would say.
I liked the story overall. There were a lot of familiar elements but they combined in a way that stayed interesting. The plot followed a colony ship of 5,000 humans on their way to a habitable planet, but they are absorbed into an entity's area of effect and forcibly planted on a different world that has Energy and operates under the rules of a System. Morgan, our first pov character, happened to be awake during the integration while the rest of the colonists were in cryosleep, so he alone is teleported into a crucible proving ground while the rest are sent to the same location on the planet's surface. There they all interact with a handful of other races on that world as they discover the System, and their place in it as a people and individuals.
I thought the setting and game mechanics were pretty good. There was a good mix of lite town building, some fighting from a couple of pov characters, and the development of domestic and interspecies disputes. All the standard levels, skills, and somewhat unique classes made an appearance. The other species had fairly simple societal rules and characteristics, but enough to keep things interesting and stir up turmoil.
The writing was fairly clean as far as mistakes go, but also a bit basic from a style and syntax standpoint with lots of filler words and redundancies. Definitely a let-down for someone like myself coming in hot with excitement from the poetic vibes of the title. But overall this was functional and I would say above genre-average.
My enjoyment was a mixed bag and books like this are hard for me to rate by category. For example, this book had multiple point of view characters, while I prefer to stay with one character ideally. Lots of multiple pov books have won me over despite that, but this book was a bit rough since I was feeling neutral about most of the characters. Especially the whole plotline with Reggie just didn't work for me. I'll also admit that I expected more from this book based on the title. Maybe that's my fault for false expectations, but it is what it is.
I think this is a worthwhile book to check out for gamelit/progressive fantasy fans, but I would expect mixed results. I will probably check out the first book of the author's other series The Pit Fighter and see how the experience differs.
November 14, 2022
Meh...
Great writing but has a checklist feel. Ridiculous love interests. Teeters on creative and unique then quickly goes to cookie cutter mass appeal. Targets a mature audience then a childish one. Pedantic and unnatural build, but that's typical of the genre.
Great writing but has a checklist feel. Ridiculous love interests. Teeters on creative and unique then quickly goes to cookie cutter mass appeal. Targets a mature audience then a childish one. Pedantic and unnatural build, but that's typical of the genre.
January 11, 2025
Captivating start. Morgan is by far the best character and I like that we get a glimpse into the system and how it interacts with technology and space as victor did not at all focus on these. Whitestar’s story is rough to get through and it is obvious that Reggie would have been a problem from the start so it is strange that Browyn and Olivia did not do anything about it. The love story for Morgan is forced and feels out of place, however Browyn and Olivia have a great start to their romance so that is hopeful
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2022
Good litrpg but towards the end the CW terribly written romance ruined it for me. You can remove about 6-7 hours worth of the book because of this distraction. Everything else was well thought out.
August 15, 2023
Good first series
Typically i rate 5 or not at all.
This book deserved an explanation.
The world and mechanics are excellent. One of the best Ive read. The plot was also excellent. The character development of the main characters was quite good. I actually enjoyed them.
**spoilers below**
Here are the holes:
Lack of development of Olivia and Arthur.
I understand how hard it can be to develop characters simultaneously. It might have worked to tell their story through dialogue or a similar mechanic. They led the colony attempt. They not only loved full lives, but were top of their fields: Arthur in business and investment, Olivia in science. Neither would have behaved so naively without rational explanation... easily done if the villain had been developed - who i cant remember even his exaggeratedly long name.
The villain needed to be evil. He had the tools. But the colony never felt alive. He never ... prowled, nor did he take advantage of his position. He just... appeared and then died. Which is fine: but you needed colonial development, descriptions, and interactions. Think throw away characters. Maybe the villain could even feed his victims to the undead caves. Or countless other opportunities.
You have a great first draft here. I would rewrite this from the villain perspective. Then merge the two books into a comprehensive narrative.
Finally, last complaint is the dialogue. Its close... but people need personalities when they talk. Its something like specific word choice and phrasing or things some people would say and others wouldn't. But it takes some efforts to get used to slipping into and out of each character.
Good luck. You've a lot of promise. It might help to read some classics from the 19th or early 20th centuries to see how the old masters did it. Especially someone like Mark Twain or Laura Ingalls Wilder or Charles Dickens.
Typically i rate 5 or not at all.
This book deserved an explanation.
The world and mechanics are excellent. One of the best Ive read. The plot was also excellent. The character development of the main characters was quite good. I actually enjoyed them.
**spoilers below**
Here are the holes:
Lack of development of Olivia and Arthur.
I understand how hard it can be to develop characters simultaneously. It might have worked to tell their story through dialogue or a similar mechanic. They led the colony attempt. They not only loved full lives, but were top of their fields: Arthur in business and investment, Olivia in science. Neither would have behaved so naively without rational explanation... easily done if the villain had been developed - who i cant remember even his exaggeratedly long name.
The villain needed to be evil. He had the tools. But the colony never felt alive. He never ... prowled, nor did he take advantage of his position. He just... appeared and then died. Which is fine: but you needed colonial development, descriptions, and interactions. Think throw away characters. Maybe the villain could even feed his victims to the undead caves. Or countless other opportunities.
You have a great first draft here. I would rewrite this from the villain perspective. Then merge the two books into a comprehensive narrative.
Finally, last complaint is the dialogue. Its close... but people need personalities when they talk. Its something like specific word choice and phrasing or things some people would say and others wouldn't. But it takes some efforts to get used to slipping into and out of each character.
Good luck. You've a lot of promise. It might help to read some classics from the 19th or early 20th centuries to see how the old masters did it. Especially someone like Mark Twain or Laura Ingalls Wilder or Charles Dickens.
December 25, 2022
I'm willing to give this a go. I hope them bringing attention to the fact that the protagonist is an engineer in the blurb is relevant to the story. It's why I picked it up. "An engineer trapped in a magic world". I hope this doesn't disappoint.
I'm a couple chapters well into this book, and I'm not liking it much.
So far nothing makes it stand out from other books, the author just used different names and colour palettes for the monsters.
Then there is the fact that this is multiple POVs. When the blurb was written to make it seem like it's a single POV book. I probably wouldn't have picked this up if I knew there were more than one POV.
The engineer hasn't even done anything interesting, and it's already switching the POV.
I will finish this, but if things don't change, I will be dropping the series. If you can't make your story interesting with one character, do you think adding more is going to help?
This was well written, but isn't for me. I did not enjoy it. I actually thought the author would have done something with the engineering (otherwise why mention it?), but no dice.
Nothing that happened here entices me to pick up the sequel.
Maybe things might change in the sequel, but I won't find out.
3/5 Stars
I'm a couple chapters well into this book, and I'm not liking it much.
So far nothing makes it stand out from other books, the author just used different names and colour palettes for the monsters.
Then there is the fact that this is multiple POVs. When the blurb was written to make it seem like it's a single POV book. I probably wouldn't have picked this up if I knew there were more than one POV.
The engineer hasn't even done anything interesting, and it's already switching the POV.
I will finish this, but if things don't change, I will be dropping the series. If you can't make your story interesting with one character, do you think adding more is going to help?
This was well written, but isn't for me. I did not enjoy it. I actually thought the author would have done something with the engineering (otherwise why mention it?), but no dice.
Nothing that happened here entices me to pick up the sequel.
Maybe things might change in the sequel, but I won't find out.
3/5 Stars
July 16, 2023
new to series
Started with Victor of Tucson and meandered to this series. Plum Parrot has created a fascinating world and multiverse. Both series are must reads and great addition to your collection of stories.
Started with Victor of Tucson and meandered to this series. Plum Parrot has created a fascinating world and multiverse. Both series are must reads and great addition to your collection of stories.
January 18, 2024
Excellent !!!!
I really liked the Victor of Tuscon series so I thought, why not try this one. It did not disappoint, now I am hooked on both series. I noticed the race similarities between the two series and wonder if the timelines are the same.
I really liked the Victor of Tuscon series so I thought, why not try this one. It did not disappoint, now I am hooked on both series. I noticed the race similarities between the two series and wonder if the timelines are the same.
November 5, 2022
Didn't think I'd like it, but I did
A twist on the isekai storyline, was a great read. Bring on book 2! Always like to find new authors.
A twist on the isekai storyline, was a great read. Bring on book 2! Always like to find new authors.
December 14, 2022
Good read.
Cultivation Litrpg, some base building. Overall a solid story and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Cultivation Litrpg, some base building. Overall a solid story and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 17, 2022
Good stuff
This is quality work. I'm surprised it's been panned so far. It's definitely worth the read. Mixed cultivation/litrpg with classes. Not too crunchy
This is quality work. I'm surprised it's been panned so far. It's definitely worth the read. Mixed cultivation/litrpg with classes. Not too crunchy
June 21, 2023
You should read this!
Fun semi space based litrpg. Several characters to follow, mysterious villains, treachery and loyalty, love and friendship, what more could one ask?
Fun semi space based litrpg. Several characters to follow, mysterious villains, treachery and loyalty, love and friendship, what more could one ask?
January 1, 2024
Well that's quite the different take on Lit RPGs. Got to say I'm fascinated with this already, and now I'm more curious about what's behind the system.
January 3, 2025
Honestly I‘m not a big fan of pov changes, but still I found this quite captivating. Then again you dont really have to read through every character’s story. I took Morgen‘s path as the main story and regarded the others as side stories, partially even skipping them here and there. There is so much much written that it still results in a full story/book. I can only recommend this as Morgen seems to be the favored main character anyway and his experiences in the new world are the most interesting and adventurous.
I maybe would have liked the pov changes more if the feelings and thoughts of the characters were described. Generally I‘d say inner monologues are more disrupting to the flow of a good book, however in the case of pov-changes they would make the transition from one character to another more smooth and allow the reader to get a better feeling for the different personalities.
As for the plot itself: I liked it quite a lot. Morgen makes for a great protagonist. A good mix between moral principles and knowing that being to soft and empathetic would only harm him. His power level is relatively balanced. He is op compared to the other newly integrated humans and has his fair share of lucky encounters, but ultimately he is fresh meat in this new world and has no extensive training with simple weapons or tons of experience. Thus he meets a few opponents that he barely survives instead of steamrolling them. His relationship with Issa also added quite a lot to the story for me.
Another aspect I appreciate a lot is that the author doesn’t overdramatize everything. Its still exciting, but he doesn’t push the relationship back with cheap cliches, makes obstacles seem insurmountable, only to give plot armor later or stretches desperate situations out forever. The story progresses in a natural way and makes sense in itself. Its engaging through new challenges, location changes, power ups and a very good pacing.
I maybe would have liked the pov changes more if the feelings and thoughts of the characters were described. Generally I‘d say inner monologues are more disrupting to the flow of a good book, however in the case of pov-changes they would make the transition from one character to another more smooth and allow the reader to get a better feeling for the different personalities.
As for the plot itself: I liked it quite a lot. Morgen makes for a great protagonist. A good mix between moral principles and knowing that being to soft and empathetic would only harm him. His power level is relatively balanced. He is op compared to the other newly integrated humans and has his fair share of lucky encounters, but ultimately he is fresh meat in this new world and has no extensive training with simple weapons or tons of experience. Thus he meets a few opponents that he barely survives instead of steamrolling them. His relationship with Issa also added quite a lot to the story for me.
Another aspect I appreciate a lot is that the author doesn’t overdramatize everything. Its still exciting, but he doesn’t push the relationship back with cheap cliches, makes obstacles seem insurmountable, only to give plot armor later or stretches desperate situations out forever. The story progresses in a natural way and makes sense in itself. Its engaging through new challenges, location changes, power ups and a very good pacing.
November 16, 2022
Great fusion of litrpg and cultivation
I really enjoyed the book. It has a nice blend of cultivation and leveling, hitting the right notes of challenge and progression. There are strong cultivation elements with an interesting level and class system (and without excessive exposition on the act of cultivating). Though I found that it takes some inspiration form DoTF, the system (and System) felt most similar to The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound. It also has multiple POVs, though the MC is far more social and not so overpowered. It is also a system apocalypse, though with a neat twist on it.
Overall, I think Plum Parrot pulled off the multiple POV well even if some felt added just for world building. Each POV had a distinct personality, and I liked most of them.
My only concern was with the last quarter of the book. It felt rushed with major things just resolving way quicker than in the first half, which was definitely page-turning. It wasn’t enough to lose a star, but I hope it doesn’t continue that way in the next book.
Otherwise, the writing quality is good. It has some romance (no harems, some LGBT). The romance elements aren’t over the top, and they deepen the characters.
I definitely recommend. One of the better litrpgs released on the last few months.
I really enjoyed the book. It has a nice blend of cultivation and leveling, hitting the right notes of challenge and progression. There are strong cultivation elements with an interesting level and class system (and without excessive exposition on the act of cultivating). Though I found that it takes some inspiration form DoTF, the system (and System) felt most similar to The Legend of Randidly Ghosthound. It also has multiple POVs, though the MC is far more social and not so overpowered. It is also a system apocalypse, though with a neat twist on it.
Overall, I think Plum Parrot pulled off the multiple POV well even if some felt added just for world building. Each POV had a distinct personality, and I liked most of them.
My only concern was with the last quarter of the book. It felt rushed with major things just resolving way quicker than in the first half, which was definitely page-turning. It wasn’t enough to lose a star, but I hope it doesn’t continue that way in the next book.
Otherwise, the writing quality is good. It has some romance (no harems, some LGBT). The romance elements aren’t over the top, and they deepen the characters.
I definitely recommend. One of the better litrpgs released on the last few months.
August 25, 2025
Starts out alright. Then gets bogged down in the typical explanations, training, and a random horrible romance drivel. Plot becomes an afterthought subservient to the worst aspects of the genre.
The romance is bad, really bad. Most juvenile part is the MC fights a boss to unlock his bedroom when he's told he's not ready so he can get laid. The two other strong attractive female characters end up being lesbians because of course they are(at least its not a harem novel), and they end up in a bad will they or wont they romance.
Combat is bad after the point combat "Styles" come to the book, it becomes insert random animal stance here enemy is hurt/maimed/killed.
It just goes downhill fast after the initial dungeon dive and survival tension disappears. It's like a different writer wrote the back half and just started using all the tropes as fast as he could add them.
Maybe I'm burned out on the genre or I've went far enough down the list that the junk food writing isn't entertaining anymore.
The romance is bad, really bad. Most juvenile part is the MC fights a boss to unlock his bedroom when he's told he's not ready so he can get laid. The two other strong attractive female characters end up being lesbians because of course they are(at least its not a harem novel), and they end up in a bad will they or wont they romance.
Combat is bad after the point combat "Styles" come to the book, it becomes insert random animal stance here enemy is hurt/maimed/killed.
It just goes downhill fast after the initial dungeon dive and survival tension disappears. It's like a different writer wrote the back half and just started using all the tropes as fast as he could add them.
Maybe I'm burned out on the genre or I've went far enough down the list that the junk food writing isn't entertaining anymore.
November 17, 2022
Had some good elements, and kept me engaged more than the usual litrpg ware. A problem was the power leveling, humans were too OP, being only in the system for a few weeks and already besting natives that grew up in it.
I was hopeful for the technological based storyline at the beginning, but rhe scifi element was dropped right away and of no bearing to the development of the human colony.
Also did not enjoy the romance subplot at all, and the feeble female voice the narrator put on for her made me want to crawl out of my skin, unbearable.
I also have a problem when there's only one male character and a bunch of women around him. It smacks of harem if the MC never socialites with other men, (aside from fighting them for the girl 🙄). Of course the only hinted at non straight characters are titillating lesbians. Somehow smacks of fragile masculinity.
I was hopeful for the technological based storyline at the beginning, but rhe scifi element was dropped right away and of no bearing to the development of the human colony.
Also did not enjoy the romance subplot at all, and the feeble female voice the narrator put on for her made me want to crawl out of my skin, unbearable.
I also have a problem when there's only one male character and a bunch of women around him. It smacks of harem if the MC never socialites with other men, (aside from fighting them for the girl 🙄). Of course the only hinted at non straight characters are titillating lesbians. Somehow smacks of fragile masculinity.
February 25, 2024
A successful combination of tropes
This novel is in no way revolutionary, but it is satisfying. The classic sci-fi story of a colonization mission from earth, except when the colonists get to the new solar system, it’s been integrated into the system during their voyage. Multiple POVs that don’t really bog down but occasionally keep you from what you’d prefer to be reading (standard mult-POV complaint). The driving story seems to be the romance and partnership between Morgan and Issa, which is satisfying. Doesn’t bog down in system or cultivation explanations.
Pretty standard, down to the main character adopting a katana-like sword and style and a lesbian side-romance that still hasn’t gotten off the ground in the first book. The main characters are compelling enough, however.
This novel is in no way revolutionary, but it is satisfying. The classic sci-fi story of a colonization mission from earth, except when the colonists get to the new solar system, it’s been integrated into the system during their voyage. Multiple POVs that don’t really bog down but occasionally keep you from what you’d prefer to be reading (standard mult-POV complaint). The driving story seems to be the romance and partnership between Morgan and Issa, which is satisfying. Doesn’t bog down in system or cultivation explanations.
Pretty standard, down to the main character adopting a katana-like sword and style and a lesbian side-romance that still hasn’t gotten off the ground in the first book. The main characters are compelling enough, however.
November 21, 2025
Just like his others!
Honestly, it's fantastic to get the story of the colony of humans that Victor met. It's really well done, and you can definitely feel the passion poured into the characters. The characters themselves clearly all grow across the story, and the struggles they have, both mentally and physically, keep them grounded and interesting. It's a good switch from Victor, who essentially overcomes problems with brute force and anger, to someone like Morgan or Olivia, who think things through and plan things out.
Really well done, and I cannot wait for the next one!
Honestly, it's fantastic to get the story of the colony of humans that Victor met. It's really well done, and you can definitely feel the passion poured into the characters. The characters themselves clearly all grow across the story, and the struggles they have, both mentally and physically, keep them grounded and interesting. It's a good switch from Victor, who essentially overcomes problems with brute force and anger, to someone like Morgan or Olivia, who think things through and plan things out.
Really well done, and I cannot wait for the next one!
November 25, 2022
OK story, most of the stories threads wrapped up in this one book. Serviceable.
Good story for a one off book. The execution was bad. Too many points of view too many storylines not enough leveling. The book only should’ve contained the point of view of the MC and bronwyn. The continuing switch of characters was very jarring. The love interest was not necessary. As far as I’m concerned. This book was supposed to be about cultivation and growing the MC’s abilities. Can’t say it wasn’t enjoyable, but it could’ve been a lot better.
Good story for a one off book. The execution was bad. Too many points of view too many storylines not enough leveling. The book only should’ve contained the point of view of the MC and bronwyn. The continuing switch of characters was very jarring. The love interest was not necessary. As far as I’m concerned. This book was supposed to be about cultivation and growing the MC’s abilities. Can’t say it wasn’t enjoyable, but it could’ve been a lot better.
June 4, 2023
Catchy but strangely written
This story seems to very very heavily borrow from existing works, most recently defiance of the fall. The way characters interact with each other is also very odd, language is strange and motivations weird. I think maybe I just read a book partially authored by a chatbot. I'd have liked more of the sci-fi aspects really, other than that it was a bit generic with jarring character transitions. Overall not bad though and I still bought the next one. 3.5/5.
This story seems to very very heavily borrow from existing works, most recently defiance of the fall. The way characters interact with each other is also very odd, language is strange and motivations weird. I think maybe I just read a book partially authored by a chatbot. I'd have liked more of the sci-fi aspects really, other than that it was a bit generic with jarring character transitions. Overall not bad though and I still bought the next one. 3.5/5.
October 25, 2024
So much potential but not recommended
Too much going on too many main characters swapping out to their view and if there was a point I missed it because the book is written like it's stuffing 3 or more books worth of content into just one. The "story" doesn't mix well. It's like saying I want to make a fruit pie, oh I will put apples, pumpkin, prunes, tomatoes (yes they are a fruit) and avocados too oh maybe some watermelon. My point is it's nonsense and doesn't make much sense.
Too much going on too many main characters swapping out to their view and if there was a point I missed it because the book is written like it's stuffing 3 or more books worth of content into just one. The "story" doesn't mix well. It's like saying I want to make a fruit pie, oh I will put apples, pumpkin, prunes, tomatoes (yes they are a fruit) and avocados too oh maybe some watermelon. My point is it's nonsense and doesn't make much sense.
May 8, 2025
A surprisingly mediocre book by an author I have come to enjoy greatly. I suspect my issue here is I came at Plum Parrot's body of work in opposite order - starting with Cyber Dreams, to Victor of Tucson, then Falling with Folded Wings, his first book written, last. This does not help FwFW, as all parts of it are very basic and under-developed. The multiple POVs are jarring and distracting. The dialogue is difficult to read. I don't want to bash the book, I did finish it, but I am not sure I'll continue on to book 2. This just wasn't that engaging or enjoyable.
July 5, 2025
Hmm. Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room yeah? What the hell happened a Whitestar and the bard singing Sweet Home Alabama? Also, who is the main antagonist of this story? Can’t answer? See what’s wrong with this title yet? Well, I guess there is also the lack of emotional stakes or development. One thing that really bugged me was the fact that mc is American and what say things like ‘Bah’. A very asian thing to say. Guess author is influenced by the caltivation stories he reads given the magic/power system. Anyway, other than what I mentioned, this was ok I guess. 3/5.
August 4, 2025
one of the driest reads of my life.
reading this book feels like going over ChatGPT generated session logs for a walkthrough of the most generic RPG game. What a waste of energy!!! Also, this is one of the dullest narrations I've listened to. The wrost combo possible.
this does that, this is red, that is blue, blue got hit, blue dies, red says "nasty fuckers", red moves on, red levels up, red reads status page ... this does that, this [...] this example here is more elaborate than the style of this book.
I want my money back!!!
reading this book feels like going over ChatGPT generated session logs for a walkthrough of the most generic RPG game. What a waste of energy!!! Also, this is one of the dullest narrations I've listened to. The wrost combo possible.
this does that, this is red, that is blue, blue got hit, blue dies, red says "nasty fuckers", red moves on, red levels up, red reads status page ... this does that, this [...] this example here is more elaborate than the style of this book.
I want my money back!!!
December 10, 2022
This was fun but it had one glaring inconsistency.
The set up was quick and direct. The world building is fun and leaves plenty of room for growth. The problem is with the characters. While they are diverse and fleshed out quite well, the though of them being chosen for a colony is ludicrous. The basis for their group does not match the individual quirks. I can enjoy the characters and I can enjoy the set up, but the two together do not mix.
The set up was quick and direct. The world building is fun and leaves plenty of room for growth. The problem is with the characters. While they are diverse and fleshed out quite well, the though of them being chosen for a colony is ludicrous. The basis for their group does not match the individual quirks. I can enjoy the characters and I can enjoy the set up, but the two together do not mix.
December 16, 2022
came outta nowhere
This book was a true surprise. It seemed like an odd synopsis when I saw it but thought, eh, why not give it a try.
Holy Cow. I’m stunned. This book has a feel for the characters and a living touch to the world building that just smacks as a touch more real than 99% of the other authors trying to do the same.
Read this book if you love LITRPG. It’s worth it!
Bravo to the author!
This book was a true surprise. It seemed like an odd synopsis when I saw it but thought, eh, why not give it a try.
Holy Cow. I’m stunned. This book has a feel for the characters and a living touch to the world building that just smacks as a touch more real than 99% of the other authors trying to do the same.
Read this book if you love LITRPG. It’s worth it!
Bravo to the author!
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