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Heavenly Chaos #2
Fighting Past Pain: Heavenly Chaos, Book 2
Life changed the moment the Heavens granted Benedict his Regeneration Sphere.
Stepping out of the abusive cycle he'd known all his life, Benedict entered the Gilfle Academy. Getting help from his therapist, Agatha Carper, he was ready to try his new lease on life. It wasn't without its bumps and setbacks, but he wasn't going to give up on this second chance.
Benedict's first bump was his new roommate, Atropos Foxglove. The young woman had a painful past that'd colored her view of life, especially when it came to men. The two stumbled and even argued but eventually found their footing to coexist. That coexistence even turned into a friendship that grew as the semester went on.
It was the second bump that almost ended Benedict's new life prematurely. Ellen Rox had long hated Atropos, and she wasn't above hurting others. Seeing Benedict with Atropos, Ellen chose to use him as her pawn and bring more grief into Atropos' life. That all culminated in Benedict being accused of sexual assault, a fabrication put on by Ellen and her cronies.
The false charges were stopped only with some help, but they also led Atropos and Benedict to become closer. Friendship forged through adversity—including their own past traumas—made for a bedrock to build on.
They wouldn't be building their friendship alone, though, as they'd both found peers who they could count on. Their best mutual friend was named Sadie Somnius, a slightly older woman who was also their gym coach. She might be brash and far more aggressive than either Benedict or Atropos, but she also helped bring the two of them closer.
With the semester at an end, the three friends were separated for the tournament that the Academy held with its contemporaries. Benedict and Atropos would be facing the best of each Academy in a mock war. After that, they'd strive to delve into the Pockets and pull out more rewards than anyone else. Winning one or both could propel them farther along their path of ascending to the Heavens.
Stepping out of the abusive cycle he'd known all his life, Benedict entered the Gilfle Academy. Getting help from his therapist, Agatha Carper, he was ready to try his new lease on life. It wasn't without its bumps and setbacks, but he wasn't going to give up on this second chance.
Benedict's first bump was his new roommate, Atropos Foxglove. The young woman had a painful past that'd colored her view of life, especially when it came to men. The two stumbled and even argued but eventually found their footing to coexist. That coexistence even turned into a friendship that grew as the semester went on.
It was the second bump that almost ended Benedict's new life prematurely. Ellen Rox had long hated Atropos, and she wasn't above hurting others. Seeing Benedict with Atropos, Ellen chose to use him as her pawn and bring more grief into Atropos' life. That all culminated in Benedict being accused of sexual assault, a fabrication put on by Ellen and her cronies.
The false charges were stopped only with some help, but they also led Atropos and Benedict to become closer. Friendship forged through adversity—including their own past traumas—made for a bedrock to build on.
They wouldn't be building their friendship alone, though, as they'd both found peers who they could count on. Their best mutual friend was named Sadie Somnius, a slightly older woman who was also their gym coach. She might be brash and far more aggressive than either Benedict or Atropos, but she also helped bring the two of them closer.
With the semester at an end, the three friends were separated for the tournament that the Academy held with its contemporaries. Benedict and Atropos would be facing the best of each Academy in a mock war. After that, they'd strive to delve into the Pockets and pull out more rewards than anyone else. Winning one or both could propel them farther along their path of ascending to the Heavens.
Audible Audio
First published October 30, 2024
About the author
Daniel Schinhofen
70 books1,342 followersDaniel James Schinhofen is a self-published author in the burgeoning genre of LitRPG/Gamelit. He published his first book, Last Horizon: Beta, in October of 2016, and has recently published his fifteenth book. A best-selling author on Amazon multiple times, his four series have achieved name recognition in the genre. When not slavishly typing away at the next book, Daniel tries to unwind with video games, playing with his dog Sugar, or going for walks around his neighborhood. His books can be found easily via his website http://schinhofenbooks.com/. Daniel can be found via Twitter using the handle @DJSchinhofen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
November 2, 2024
not a lot happens
The plot is interesting, as are most of Daniel’s books. That’s sadly where most of my compliments end. So much of this story is the same couple conversations repeated, sometimes verbatim just to a different character, that it gets old quickly.
I understand that the trauma these characters went through would take years to recover from, that doesn’t mean it needs to be brought up every couple of paragraphs with the same words. Either the MC is being self-deprecating, worrying about being a perfect ‘nice guy’ gentleman, or the FMC is agonizing over how perfect the MC is except for his recovering trauma, while also hating herself and her reactions from her own trauma. Or the third option of one of the few side characters getting a little bit of info and feeling sympathetic towards the MC. These three conversations, either spoken or internal monologue (or both) happen at least every couple of paragraphs.
If there is more than two pages in this book without one of those three things happening, I would be shocked. Even in the middle of a combat/action scene, the MC or FMC become filled with self doubt and self hatred at the most random things, when realistically they would be so focused/distracted by what was happening they wouldn’t have the time to think about other things until it was over.
A repeated criticism I have for Daniel’s books is that he brushes past so much of the actual action. His books are unfortunately tell, not show, which is the opposite of what they should be. You’ll have whole scenes of nothing more than the main group talking back and forth about nothing more than the fact that the MC always loses in video games (a fact that is brought up every single time the group takes a break and plays games). I wish the author would describe more of the scenes than just the FMC’s clothing of the day. It feels like the only times we get descriptions of what is happening is to tell us the dress/tights/sweater/hair and eye combo of the FMC.
The last book covered the first semester. This book covers the break between semesters. Which feels like such a short period timeline wise. If you took out the scenes/conversations that were repeated again and again, this book would be at least half the size, if not smaller.
My final critique is that sooo much of this story feels like a copy of Paths of Ascension. They even introduce something called Heaven’s Path, which seems to be a government sponsored way to advance, just like PoA. Combined with outer, inner, and core skill slots, adventuring into ‘pockets’ (rifts in PoA) and even getting a rift reward of essence and items/stones. So many similarities. Yes, there are differences, it’s clearly not a carbon copy, but it has definitely been extremely influenced by that story. Even the MC who is orphaned, and essentially operates as an unstoppable tank/defender and pairs up with an FMC who comes from an important family is the same. It’s hard to read this after being current with all PoA chapters, and not see the many, many, many similarities.
I really enjoy the ideas behind Schinhofen’s books, but am always left disappointed by the actual execution. If they were not on Kindle Unlimited, I would most likely not read them.
The plot is interesting, as are most of Daniel’s books. That’s sadly where most of my compliments end. So much of this story is the same couple conversations repeated, sometimes verbatim just to a different character, that it gets old quickly.
I understand that the trauma these characters went through would take years to recover from, that doesn’t mean it needs to be brought up every couple of paragraphs with the same words. Either the MC is being self-deprecating, worrying about being a perfect ‘nice guy’ gentleman, or the FMC is agonizing over how perfect the MC is except for his recovering trauma, while also hating herself and her reactions from her own trauma. Or the third option of one of the few side characters getting a little bit of info and feeling sympathetic towards the MC. These three conversations, either spoken or internal monologue (or both) happen at least every couple of paragraphs.
If there is more than two pages in this book without one of those three things happening, I would be shocked. Even in the middle of a combat/action scene, the MC or FMC become filled with self doubt and self hatred at the most random things, when realistically they would be so focused/distracted by what was happening they wouldn’t have the time to think about other things until it was over.
A repeated criticism I have for Daniel’s books is that he brushes past so much of the actual action. His books are unfortunately tell, not show, which is the opposite of what they should be. You’ll have whole scenes of nothing more than the main group talking back and forth about nothing more than the fact that the MC always loses in video games (a fact that is brought up every single time the group takes a break and plays games). I wish the author would describe more of the scenes than just the FMC’s clothing of the day. It feels like the only times we get descriptions of what is happening is to tell us the dress/tights/sweater/hair and eye combo of the FMC.
The last book covered the first semester. This book covers the break between semesters. Which feels like such a short period timeline wise. If you took out the scenes/conversations that were repeated again and again, this book would be at least half the size, if not smaller.
My final critique is that sooo much of this story feels like a copy of Paths of Ascension. They even introduce something called Heaven’s Path, which seems to be a government sponsored way to advance, just like PoA. Combined with outer, inner, and core skill slots, adventuring into ‘pockets’ (rifts in PoA) and even getting a rift reward of essence and items/stones. So many similarities. Yes, there are differences, it’s clearly not a carbon copy, but it has definitely been extremely influenced by that story. Even the MC who is orphaned, and essentially operates as an unstoppable tank/defender and pairs up with an FMC who comes from an important family is the same. It’s hard to read this after being current with all PoA chapters, and not see the many, many, many similarities.
I really enjoy the ideas behind Schinhofen’s books, but am always left disappointed by the actual execution. If they were not on Kindle Unlimited, I would most likely not read them.
November 7, 2024
These are OK but the characters are written in such broad strokes it can feel like caricature. They repeat the same stuff so often that you start rolling your eyes. Yes, yes, Ben and co are the bravest, gentlest, kindest, etc. I get it. Yes, everyone loves them except cackling, monologuing villains. You can stop now, we noticed all that! No that doesn’t mean put in more descriptions of people chopping lettuce.
November 11, 2024
The concept for the series is good, however there are a couple of themes in the book which detract from the overall concept. Case in point is that the main character likes "cooking". What should be a side show, turns out to dominate the book. I ended up skipping the cooking or food related scenes, problem is it turns out to be just about half the book! It feels almost like the cooking element of the book is purely to fill pages. Doesn't add any value to the overall story and if seems as if the author, who likely has an interest in cooking is just filling up pages. Don't get me wrong, cooking can be interesting, but there is a cook-books genre all just for that!
Another element that is a bit off-putting is that the author is clearly pushing a Woke Agenda, but if you don't have any inclination towards or interest in gay sex and inuendo and normalisation thereof, then this book will be very off-putting. Once again, there are genre's dedicated just to this.
Good concept, ruined by misplaced side-shows...
Another element that is a bit off-putting is that the author is clearly pushing a Woke Agenda, but if you don't have any inclination towards or interest in gay sex and inuendo and normalisation thereof, then this book will be very off-putting. Once again, there are genre's dedicated just to this.
Good concept, ruined by misplaced side-shows...
October 30, 2024
Same sappy story as Dungeon Walkers
People with issues don't need to be weak. The amount of trauma and the emotional baggage are repeats of the failed Dungeon Walker series.
People with issues don't need to be weak. The amount of trauma and the emotional baggage are repeats of the failed Dungeon Walker series.
November 1, 2024
Book two
For as mentally abused as both the MC's are, it is nice to see them slowly making headway in healing the damage that has been done to them.
The author has done a wonderful job of bringing them both to life. Third character in their party feels like an add-on to me. She just isn't as deep or as well known as the other two. That will probably change in book three.
I enjoyed the flirting in the story. I fear that once the characters reach the point of sleeping together that there will be lewd and graphic sex, which will make me drop the story that I have highly enjoyed. I have a small hope that it will be fade to black. We will see when the time comes.
Not being a girl I do have a hard time understanding the aversion that she has to people staring at her. Especially when they are the last ones to enter a room. Nobody was being lewd, so the fact that he got so angry I also didn't understand. When you enter a room whether a party or a restaurant people are going to look and some will stare. Especially if you are all dressed up.
Other then that I didn't find any mistakes.
9/10 I look forward and dread the next book. Please be fade to black!
For as mentally abused as both the MC's are, it is nice to see them slowly making headway in healing the damage that has been done to them.
The author has done a wonderful job of bringing them both to life. Third character in their party feels like an add-on to me. She just isn't as deep or as well known as the other two. That will probably change in book three.
I enjoyed the flirting in the story. I fear that once the characters reach the point of sleeping together that there will be lewd and graphic sex, which will make me drop the story that I have highly enjoyed. I have a small hope that it will be fade to black. We will see when the time comes.
Not being a girl I do have a hard time understanding the aversion that she has to people staring at her. Especially when they are the last ones to enter a room. Nobody was being lewd, so the fact that he got so angry I also didn't understand. When you enter a room whether a party or a restaurant people are going to look and some will stare. Especially if you are all dressed up.
Other then that I didn't find any mistakes.
9/10 I look forward and dread the next book. Please be fade to black!
October 31, 2024
Teenage angst, trauma and simp behavior
The first book wasn’t bad and made some level of sense, but this one doubles down on the trauma and teenage angst… Very little plot progression, and the main character is essentially a drama survivor, and a Simp… Make some hard to like, and the fact that this book also spent 60% of its time talking abouttheir struggles with drama, makes it hard to care
The first book wasn’t bad and made some level of sense, but this one doubles down on the trauma and teenage angst… Very little plot progression, and the main character is essentially a drama survivor, and a Simp… Make some hard to like, and the fact that this book also spent 60% of its time talking abouttheir struggles with drama, makes it hard to care
October 30, 2024
Lots of mush, not enough action.
I've noticed that Daniel Schinhofen tends to drag his stories out to deal with interpersonal relationships over action. I found myself skipping the "what's Ben cooking now" scenes. There's too much therapy drama for me, and by book 3 only 60% of the story will be cooking and feelings if we're lucky.
I've noticed that Daniel Schinhofen tends to drag his stories out to deal with interpersonal relationships over action. I found myself skipping the "what's Ben cooking now" scenes. There's too much therapy drama for me, and by book 3 only 60% of the story will be cooking and feelings if we're lucky.
November 15, 2024
Disappointing
If you thought this was going to be like the first one you’re wayyyy off the mark. Huge focus on these weird poly pushing relationships. less fighting and a lot more of the MC coming to terms with his emotions?? Just an odd way to develop the series and I genuinely had to push myself to finish it.
If you thought this was going to be like the first one you’re wayyyy off the mark. Huge focus on these weird poly pushing relationships. less fighting and a lot more of the MC coming to terms with his emotions?? Just an odd way to develop the series and I genuinely had to push myself to finish it.
February 9, 2025
Too much weeping 2 and a half
I don't know if I'm tired of Daniel Schinhofen -or- if I'm tired of Andrea Parsneau (Narrator) but I'm sure as hell tired of listening to the characters in this book cry.
Where book 1 covered a year, this one covers summer break -and that's it. This is just as long as book one but stuffed with filler. YES I consider teen angst to be filler.
I don't know if I'm tired of Daniel Schinhofen -or- if I'm tired of Andrea Parsneau (Narrator) but I'm sure as hell tired of listening to the characters in this book cry.
Where book 1 covered a year, this one covers summer break -and that's it. This is just as long as book one but stuffed with filler. YES I consider teen angst to be filler.
November 3, 2024
emotions
I understand adding depth to characters. But the ham-handed emotional strings being pulled or mentioned in every other sentence takes away from the book.
Rating : 1.5/5
Cover 4/5
Narration: na
Favorite Line: na
I understand adding depth to characters. But the ham-handed emotional strings being pulled or mentioned in every other sentence takes away from the book.
Rating : 1.5/5
Cover 4/5
Narration: na
Favorite Line: na
November 24, 2024
Soap Opera in sword and sorcery land
The book doesnt really go anywhere. They cook they kiss they have a couple of duels but its honestly like greys anatomy not what you expect from this genre.
The book doesnt really go anywhere. They cook they kiss they have a couple of duels but its honestly like greys anatomy not what you expect from this genre.
August 2, 2025
550 pages and flew through it and couldn't stop reading. This one mostly covers the two tournaments, the Mock Wars and the delving ones. It looks like this was written as one story and then broken up into three books. In any case, this was a joy to read and I enjoyed it completely. Let's see how the story develops. Ben is someone big, so let's learn that and Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put, I love reading, so I have made it my motto to Forever Keep on Reading. I love reading everything except self-help books, which I occasionally enjoy. I read almost all the genres, but YA, Fantasy, and Biographies are the most read. My favorite series is Harry Potter, but then there are many more books I adore. I have bookcases filled with books that are waiting to be read, so I can't stay and spend more time on this review. Remember, I loved reading this and love reading more. You should also read what you love, and then just Keep on Reading.
People who don't read generally ask me my reasons for reading. Simply put, I love reading, so I have made it my motto to Forever Keep on Reading. I love reading everything except self-help books, which I occasionally enjoy. I read almost all the genres, but YA, Fantasy, and Biographies are the most read. My favorite series is Harry Potter, but then there are many more books I adore. I have bookcases filled with books that are waiting to be read, so I can't stay and spend more time on this review. Remember, I loved reading this and love reading more. You should also read what you love, and then just Keep on Reading.
November 18, 2024
***DNF***
I wish I loved this. I loved book one and had high hopes for book 2. Unfortunately I found I disliked it for the same reason I hate most harem books. I can skip the graphic parts, but when the whole book is focused on relationship drama there isn’t enough left to have what it takes to have a good story.
The second problem I had was that this story was suspiciously similar to C. Mantis’ “Path of Ascension” in a ton of ways. I don’t think the author was doing anything malicious or even realized the similarities, but it is close enough that he might want to consider changing some aspects of the story. Like how they move skills to different parts of their soul for different benefits, how they are pursuing the path of ascension, and the dynamics of the main two party members.
I wish I loved this. I loved book one and had high hopes for book 2. Unfortunately I found I disliked it for the same reason I hate most harem books. I can skip the graphic parts, but when the whole book is focused on relationship drama there isn’t enough left to have what it takes to have a good story.
The second problem I had was that this story was suspiciously similar to C. Mantis’ “Path of Ascension” in a ton of ways. I don’t think the author was doing anything malicious or even realized the similarities, but it is close enough that he might want to consider changing some aspects of the story. Like how they move skills to different parts of their soul for different benefits, how they are pursuing the path of ascension, and the dynamics of the main two party members.
March 23, 2025
The author has no idea what makes a man strong or weak. The ability to deal with physical pain is the least of it. The MC didn't deal with his trauma, he became his trauma.
This is even before we set into every relationship being some variation of the alphabet people. Non- monogamous relationships do not work, ever. Compound that with all three of them being deeply broken people and it would never work outside of a fictional universe.
There is no story line to write about as 80% of the book is trauma, 15% cooking, and 5% progression. I'm dropping this series and putting the author on my ban list.
This is even before we set into every relationship being some variation of the alphabet people. Non- monogamous relationships do not work, ever. Compound that with all three of them being deeply broken people and it would never work outside of a fictional universe.
There is no story line to write about as 80% of the book is trauma, 15% cooking, and 5% progression. I'm dropping this series and putting the author on my ban list.
August 19, 2025
The combat, skill growth, and friendships were fantastic and well written like the first book, but good Lord, the incessant back and forth over the two MCs having the big sad was starting to give me the big mad. We get it, childhood trauma sucks, but you know what else sucks, 200 extra pages reminding us it sucks.
I’ll still read the third book as I’m invested, but please let’s get back to politics, combat, and building relationships and less “I’m a badass fighter with the big bad sad!”
/end rant
I’ll still read the third book as I’m invested, but please let’s get back to politics, combat, and building relationships and less “I’m a badass fighter with the big bad sad!”
/end rant
July 9, 2025
I’m invested in this series. It has a lot more sexual tension than I’m usually comfortable with, so it is odd that I’m continuing this.
I relate to Atropos far more than I expected to. I usually avoid male authors when stories have main characters who are female, especially in the science fiction and LitRPG genres. They are, in my experience, often opportunistic and provide shallow and over-sexualised female characters.
This author is doing pretty good. While I’m often uncomfortable, due to my own issues, I am finding the female characters to be well conceived. The depth to which I am relating to Atropos is shocking to me. I find her character authentic and, in many ways, realistic.
While the relationship between the three main characters isn’t something I can identify with, I appreciate the building of the relationship, community building and communication modeling to be admirable & something we need more of in the real world. The story is written well enough the relationship is simply part of the story and helpful, and healthy (so far…?) for these characters.
I relate to Atropos far more than I expected to. I usually avoid male authors when stories have main characters who are female, especially in the science fiction and LitRPG genres. They are, in my experience, often opportunistic and provide shallow and over-sexualised female characters.
This author is doing pretty good. While I’m often uncomfortable, due to my own issues, I am finding the female characters to be well conceived. The depth to which I am relating to Atropos is shocking to me. I find her character authentic and, in many ways, realistic.
While the relationship between the three main characters isn’t something I can identify with, I appreciate the building of the relationship, community building and communication modeling to be admirable & something we need more of in the real world. The story is written well enough the relationship is simply part of the story and helpful, and healthy (so far…?) for these characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2026
FIGHTING PAST PAIN — WHEN THE ENEMY LEARNS WHERE THE OLD WOUNDS ARE BURIED
Rating: ★★★★☆ — 4/5 for the story; 5/5 for Andrea Parsneau’s narration.
Content note: abuse, bullying, self-gaslighting, shutdown, false accusation, grief, trauma, and spoilers. Kiba Snowpaw lines are mine, not the novel’s.
ESSENTIAL
Fighting Past Pain by Daniel Schinhofen is the second Heavenly Chaos novel, continuing Benedict and Atropos’s journey through Gilfle Academy while bringing Sadie into their relationship. Andrea Parsneau narrates the ten-hour-and-twelve-minute unabridged audiobook. This sequel improves on Heavenly Chaos through a stronger external structure: a sabotaged mock-war, tournament combat, Rank Four Pocket delving, rivals, and new Spheres force the characters to demonstrate trust. Benedict’s Regeneration Sphere repairs his body, but his mind still expects kindness to conceal a future blow. Atropos can poison through touch, making intimacy a negotiated risk, while Sadie’s confidence hides fear of exclusion. My verdict is four stars. The action is better, the character work can be devastating, and the slow relationship has genuine care, but repeated reassurance, culinary detail, and therapy-shaped dialogue sometimes turn psychological depth into formula. The novel opened sealed rooms in me, yet emotional impact cannot make every scene structurally successful.
HOOK AND THESIS
The title carries two meanings. “Fighting past pain” can mean battling beyond suffering, but also continuing while pain remains. Benedict embodies both during the mock-war. When an armored opponent knocks him down and pounds his shield, the posture returns him to helplessness: injured beneath someone stronger, awaiting another strike. His new life briefly feels false. Then buried anger becomes usable heat, and he refuses to remain the child on the ground. That is not a cure; it is a different choice inside old terror. My thesis is that Fighting Past Pain succeeds whenever combat, touch, progression, and teamwork make recovery behavioral, but weakens whenever correct words appear to perform years of healing in minutes. “The wolf who expects abandonment will sometimes bite the bridge before anyone can cross it,” is how Kiba Snowpaw describes its danger. Love cannot cross by demanding trust. It must survive the frightened wolf testing whether the boards will break.
That struck me because I know the difference between recognizing fear and controlling it. Around fourteen, I could lock inside my head while knowing the room was safe. Pressure made thoughts circle until my head burned, vision blackened, words vanished, and the world resembled an open-eyed dream. I could question my fear without stopping it. I call that self-gaslighting only about my experience: an internal courtroom where I was witness, accused, and prosecutor, arguing pain was false because I understood it. Sometimes pain felt safer than uncertainty, not because it was good, but because it did not lie; it proved I could feel. I occasionally pulled myself downward for that certainty. Benedict and Atropos touched those mechanisms so hard that I fought to remain controlled rather than lie down and cry, yet no triggered memory has stopped an audiobook. “I knew the shadow came from me, but knowing who cast it did not make the night brighter.” This sequel approaches that truth.
BASIC PLOT SUMMARY
Benedict and Atropos enter Gilfle Academy’s mock-war expecting their Rank Three partnership to earn skills and Spheres. Instead, corruption places them behind enemy lines without an assigned Watcher, where teams ambush them. The scheme follows Ellen Rox’s Book One attempt to drug Benedict and frame him for rape; punishment did not end the hatred, and a powerful family turns training into revenge. They refuse relocation, converting danger into opportunity. They ambush attackers, survive brutal injuries, use terrain and diplomacy, and discover what their abilities mean when plans collapse. Benedict’s regeneration makes him a terrifying wall, but Atropos’s judgment prevents that wall from becoming his grave. Their victory is not merely power fantasy. It is two people learning that reliance is not weakness. Nuan Lee’s investigation matters because courage inside corruption does not excuse those who exposed them. Even when the heroes choose danger, the institution owes accountability.
The sharpest crisis comes after Benedict saves Atropos from hypothermia. She wakes naked beneath a blanket, reading the scene through old fears, while he thinks saving her destroyed their trust. Neither response is ridiculous: she must learn why her clothes were removed, and the false accusation makes explanation terrifying for him. The story moves through Pocket delving, Rank Four, bloodline clues, and the Benedict–Atropos–Sadie relationship. A boardwalk date establishes the triad; Benedict and Atropos’s solo date lets their bond exist without Sadie as its only bridge. After winning both competitions, they enter the Terita family’s week of champions, turn opponents into friends, spar, undertake therapy, and spend rewards. Atropos gains the Death Sphere; Benedict moves Blood Healing into his core and gains Chained Aggression; together they secure Might and Teleport for Sadie. The ending is intimate: two damaged people kiss carefully and prepare a shared suite where three relationships must grow.
PRAISE AND CRITIQUE
The mock-war improves the sequel by converting personality into tactics. Benedict absorbs hits, and the system rewards Durability and regeneration; emotionally, that instinct becomes self-erasure. Atropos anticipates betrayal, making her lethal but prone to reading care as control. Their victories occur when neither dominates. Benedict holds position until Atropos returns, while she prevents endurance from becoming martyrdom. Terrain, deception, timing, and cooperation matter more than numbers. In the duel with Rebba, Benedict cannot match years of technique, so he turns water and flaming blades into scalding steam. Action reveals him better than another confidence talk. “A shield becomes another cage when it never lets the wolf beside it choose the danger,” I would tell him. Schinhofen understands that protection must preserve agency. Atropos is not luggage behind a male tank; poison, intelligence, anger, alchemy, and ugly decisions make her essential.
The romance deserves more credit than “harem” suggests. Sadie is not Benedict’s prize, and Atropos need not disappear inside his desire. The book distinguishes Benedict–Atropos, Benedict–Sadie, Atropos–Sadie, and the triad: not one bond multiplied by three, but bonds with different speeds, boundaries, and fears. Touch makes that tangible. Atropos’s poisonous body means a glove, hand, or kiss carries risk; resistance becomes skill and metaphor for remaining oneself near another. The strongest scenes negotiate danger rather than cure it through passion. Sadie’s directness helps Benedict and Atropos name what caution hides, while their slowness forces Sadie to practice patience. Compared with romances where intimacy arrives as loot, this makes consent, separate dates, jealousy, and communication part of advancement. Its limitation is that everyone eventually speaks so clearly that frightened young people sound like graduates of one therapy seminar, weakening individual voices.
The supporting cast broadens the story. Nuan gives the corrupted mock-war an institutional witness; Victor, Hanz, and Franz offer friendship that is neither romantic nor transactional; Rebba, Dalia, and Hilda grow from dangerous opponents into peers capable of learning. That matters where Benedict expects encounters to end in possession or violence: rivalry can become respect. The week of champions exposes class difference because elite Families possess training, estates, knowledge, and political access spontaneous Holders never received. Unfortunately, the larger setting—the Kingdom’s assassinations, rival nations, Collective Sects, Unholy Empire, Heaven’s Path, and powerful Families—does not receive equal development. Reviewers praising the worldbuilding respond to real potential, while those asking for more worlds are equally justified. Schinhofen builds an inviting framework, then spends more time on meals and reassurance than examining a government treating assassination as routine. The private emotional world is rich; the public world remains an outline waiting for later volumes.
CRITICISM
My largest criticism is not excessive trauma. Three hurt people meeting is plausible, and pain should not be rationed. The problem is differentiation. Benedict’s abuse, Atropos’s poisonous isolation and fear of sexual threat, and Sadie’s manipulative family should create distinct defenses, yet processing follows one rhythm: anxiety rises, someone asks carefully, everyone names hidden fear, reassurance follows, and the scene resolves with cuddling, food, or promises. Recurrence is realistic; recovery circles. Fiction must make each circle descend into a new layer or rise toward a changed response. Otherwise repetition becomes restatement. This explains why some readers find healing while others see “angst.” I stand between them. The feeling is sincere, but language is too polished for frightened young people in distress. People also go quiet, misdirect anger, perform normality, lose concentration, or understand episodes days later. More confused aftermath would strengthen breakthroughs and individual psychology.
The hypothermia scene shows strength and weakness. Atropos’s interpretation fits her history, and Benedict’s condemnation fear connects to Ellen’s framing. Their conversation respects both, but shame falls too heavily on Atropos after his innocence is clear. Her reflex was not a moral crime; she awakened exposed and disoriented. Benedict saved her, yet safety needs more than proof of intention. The book approaches that complexity, then turns toward reassurance and cooking. After therapy, Benedict is correctly emotionally exhausted although physically perfect. That is among the series’ truest details: healing one system does not replenish another. I wanted more scenes there—numbness after danger, difficulty enjoying victory, delayed reactions, or conversations without certainty. Grounding, affection, and explanation can return someone to the present, but restored function is not resolved alarm. The prose knows the answer before the characters have repeated it enough for their bodies to believe.
Cooking creates another pacing problem. Benedict’s food has purpose: he makes predictable pleasure, serves without demanding payment, and turns survival skill into hospitality. Meals become language when emotion is difficult. I understand that through caregiving, yet quantity overwhelms function. Ingredients, shopping, breakfasts, restaurants, and recipes occupy space where the Academy, other worlds, bloodline, or conspiracy could breathe. One reviewer calls it Schinhofen’s “food porn”; another says little happens beyond cooking and skills. That exaggerates—the competitions contain real action—but identifies imbalance. The bloodline also remains unresolved even as Blood, Regeneration, Cell, and healing reveal its broad direction. Mystery becomes postponement when readers name its shape long before the story does. A tighter novel could keep food as care, both dates, therapy, tournaments, and Rank Four progression while removing repetition. Warmth does not require excess, and detail becomes depth only when it reveals something new.
COMPARISON
Compared with Heavenly Chaos, this sequel turns promises into events. The mock-war no longer waits beyond the ending, progression reaches Rank Four, romance becomes commitment, and hierarchy gains faces. Compared with The Path of Ascension, the scaffolding feels familiar—ranks, worlds, delves, state investment, and advancing partners—but Schinhofen is more domestic and therapeutic. The Path of Ascension uses relationships to support widening adventure; Heavenly Chaos uses adventure to test relationships. Compared with Schinhofen’s Alpha World, healing conversations feel concentrated and mechanical, as if every injury must become a principle. That makes Fighting Past Pain unusually gentle for combat fantasy, yet explains why action-focused readers feel the plot stops for reassurance. I value the attempt. I would rather criticize a flawed novel treating wounds as consequential than praise a smooth story using abuse as decoration, but ambition does not excuse repetition or replace distinctive voices.
IMPACT AND EVALUATION
Benedict’s refusal to stay down reached deepest. I had no Regeneration Sphere; recovery cost exhaustion and another argument with myself. At my lowest points, however tired I became or however much I hated life, I stood, took one step, then another. I am here because movement remained when hope did not. The mock-war beating mattered more than statistics. Benedict does not claim the old child vanished; he feels that child beneath the shield and moves. I recognize the danger of making endurance an identity. Someone praised only for surviving may believe value lies in absorbing damage rather than deserving life beyond it. Kiba Snowpaw, Alpha Ice Wolf of HowlStrom, was built as language for that contradiction: white fur for numbness containing feeling, claws for boundaries I could not voice, the pack for loyalty, and the blizzard for thoughts erasing the horizon. “An Ice Wolf rises from the snow, but wisdom is learning that he was never required to sleep in the storm.”
Food affected me through the same contradiction. I have cooked for myself since eighteen and still hate the motion. I follow recipes but often skip something, change direction, or improvise because that result feels mine. Music or an audiobook stays in my ears so I can endure. Caring for my father during his final five years taught me that love becomes practical before poetic: meals, schedules, errands, vigilance, chores, and presence when no speech changes the ending. I believe Benedict when he cooks as care, but I do not find every breakfast comforting. Sometimes food is another duty between exhaustion and the next necessary hour. That makes my evaluation personal, not arbitrary. Schinhofen sees domestic labor as safety; I see care and burden. The best passages allow both. Weaker ones assume another detailed meal automatically creates intimacy. Care is demonstrated through consistency, attention, and choice, not the number of ingredients named.
AUDIOBOOK EVALUATION
Andrea Parsneau gives the novel more range than its prose always earns. She separates Benedict’s gentleness, Atropos’s defensive sharpness, Sadie’s confidence, Agatha’s professionalism, Nuan’s competence, and the rivals’ entitlement. Breathing and pauses make retreat audible; dialogue narrows until trapped behind the teeth. That is one reason the book hit me hard. Printed words wait on a page, but a skilled voice enters the room and gives pain timing. Parsneau also keeps the mock-war clear through ambushes, powers, injuries, and shifting teams. I listen around two to two-and-a-half times speed because slower narration lets attention drift, and her diction stays clear. My reservation is familiarity, not failure: after many Schinhofen audiobooks, recurring vocal textures summon characters from other series and make crowded casts harder to anchor. She restores intensity to repeating conversations, improving the experience while exposing the prose’s dependence on performance. Five stars for narration; four for the story it carries.
CONCLUSION
Fighting Past Pain is a stronger sequel, meaningful progression story, and imperfect psychological novel. It earns praise for tactical combat, Rank Four, negotiated touch, polyamory built from separate bonds, opponents becoming friends, and therapy leaving Benedict exhausted after his body heals. It earns criticism for circular reassurance, voices converging into therapy language, culinary excess, thin politics, and an overextended bloodline mystery. The divided reviews make sense. Readers calling it uplifting respond to genuine tenderness; readers buried under angst and cooking respond to genuine structural excess. Both are true. My four stars are an evaluation, not compromise: the book makes invisible survival important and gives action emotional consequence, yet explains its heart so often that I sometimes hear machinery instead of heartbeat. Trauma deserves patience, but scenes require transformation. Repetition should return with a new wound exposed, a new choice attempted, or a different consequence—not merely another correct reassurance followed by breakfast.
Kiba Snowpaw was built from walls, buried anger, loyalty, caregiving, grief, and the part of me that walked when language failed. HowlStrom is the inner ice world where those experiences gained weather, claws, and a pack; it is not literal invulnerability. An Alpha is not a wolf who feels nothing, but one recognizing when strength becomes silence and protection becomes a cage. Before HowlStrom’s gate, I would tell them, “Trust is not lowering every wall at once; it is building one gate and deciding together who holds the key.” I recommend this to listeners wanting character-driven progression, trauma-focused romance, slow polyamory, found family, and tactical action, not nonstop dungeon advancement or little emotion. It reopened pain, and I kept listening. “You do not defeat the past by denying its teeth; you defeat it each time you choose where your next paw lands.” Four stars for the wounded path, five for the voice guiding me across it.
Rating: ★★★★☆ — 4/5 for the story; 5/5 for Andrea Parsneau’s narration.
Content note: abuse, bullying, self-gaslighting, shutdown, false accusation, grief, trauma, and spoilers. Kiba Snowpaw lines are mine, not the novel’s.
ESSENTIAL
Fighting Past Pain by Daniel Schinhofen is the second Heavenly Chaos novel, continuing Benedict and Atropos’s journey through Gilfle Academy while bringing Sadie into their relationship. Andrea Parsneau narrates the ten-hour-and-twelve-minute unabridged audiobook. This sequel improves on Heavenly Chaos through a stronger external structure: a sabotaged mock-war, tournament combat, Rank Four Pocket delving, rivals, and new Spheres force the characters to demonstrate trust. Benedict’s Regeneration Sphere repairs his body, but his mind still expects kindness to conceal a future blow. Atropos can poison through touch, making intimacy a negotiated risk, while Sadie’s confidence hides fear of exclusion. My verdict is four stars. The action is better, the character work can be devastating, and the slow relationship has genuine care, but repeated reassurance, culinary detail, and therapy-shaped dialogue sometimes turn psychological depth into formula. The novel opened sealed rooms in me, yet emotional impact cannot make every scene structurally successful.
HOOK AND THESIS
The title carries two meanings. “Fighting past pain” can mean battling beyond suffering, but also continuing while pain remains. Benedict embodies both during the mock-war. When an armored opponent knocks him down and pounds his shield, the posture returns him to helplessness: injured beneath someone stronger, awaiting another strike. His new life briefly feels false. Then buried anger becomes usable heat, and he refuses to remain the child on the ground. That is not a cure; it is a different choice inside old terror. My thesis is that Fighting Past Pain succeeds whenever combat, touch, progression, and teamwork make recovery behavioral, but weakens whenever correct words appear to perform years of healing in minutes. “The wolf who expects abandonment will sometimes bite the bridge before anyone can cross it,” is how Kiba Snowpaw describes its danger. Love cannot cross by demanding trust. It must survive the frightened wolf testing whether the boards will break.
That struck me because I know the difference between recognizing fear and controlling it. Around fourteen, I could lock inside my head while knowing the room was safe. Pressure made thoughts circle until my head burned, vision blackened, words vanished, and the world resembled an open-eyed dream. I could question my fear without stopping it. I call that self-gaslighting only about my experience: an internal courtroom where I was witness, accused, and prosecutor, arguing pain was false because I understood it. Sometimes pain felt safer than uncertainty, not because it was good, but because it did not lie; it proved I could feel. I occasionally pulled myself downward for that certainty. Benedict and Atropos touched those mechanisms so hard that I fought to remain controlled rather than lie down and cry, yet no triggered memory has stopped an audiobook. “I knew the shadow came from me, but knowing who cast it did not make the night brighter.” This sequel approaches that truth.
BASIC PLOT SUMMARY
Benedict and Atropos enter Gilfle Academy’s mock-war expecting their Rank Three partnership to earn skills and Spheres. Instead, corruption places them behind enemy lines without an assigned Watcher, where teams ambush them. The scheme follows Ellen Rox’s Book One attempt to drug Benedict and frame him for rape; punishment did not end the hatred, and a powerful family turns training into revenge. They refuse relocation, converting danger into opportunity. They ambush attackers, survive brutal injuries, use terrain and diplomacy, and discover what their abilities mean when plans collapse. Benedict’s regeneration makes him a terrifying wall, but Atropos’s judgment prevents that wall from becoming his grave. Their victory is not merely power fantasy. It is two people learning that reliance is not weakness. Nuan Lee’s investigation matters because courage inside corruption does not excuse those who exposed them. Even when the heroes choose danger, the institution owes accountability.
The sharpest crisis comes after Benedict saves Atropos from hypothermia. She wakes naked beneath a blanket, reading the scene through old fears, while he thinks saving her destroyed their trust. Neither response is ridiculous: she must learn why her clothes were removed, and the false accusation makes explanation terrifying for him. The story moves through Pocket delving, Rank Four, bloodline clues, and the Benedict–Atropos–Sadie relationship. A boardwalk date establishes the triad; Benedict and Atropos’s solo date lets their bond exist without Sadie as its only bridge. After winning both competitions, they enter the Terita family’s week of champions, turn opponents into friends, spar, undertake therapy, and spend rewards. Atropos gains the Death Sphere; Benedict moves Blood Healing into his core and gains Chained Aggression; together they secure Might and Teleport for Sadie. The ending is intimate: two damaged people kiss carefully and prepare a shared suite where three relationships must grow.
PRAISE AND CRITIQUE
The mock-war improves the sequel by converting personality into tactics. Benedict absorbs hits, and the system rewards Durability and regeneration; emotionally, that instinct becomes self-erasure. Atropos anticipates betrayal, making her lethal but prone to reading care as control. Their victories occur when neither dominates. Benedict holds position until Atropos returns, while she prevents endurance from becoming martyrdom. Terrain, deception, timing, and cooperation matter more than numbers. In the duel with Rebba, Benedict cannot match years of technique, so he turns water and flaming blades into scalding steam. Action reveals him better than another confidence talk. “A shield becomes another cage when it never lets the wolf beside it choose the danger,” I would tell him. Schinhofen understands that protection must preserve agency. Atropos is not luggage behind a male tank; poison, intelligence, anger, alchemy, and ugly decisions make her essential.
The romance deserves more credit than “harem” suggests. Sadie is not Benedict’s prize, and Atropos need not disappear inside his desire. The book distinguishes Benedict–Atropos, Benedict–Sadie, Atropos–Sadie, and the triad: not one bond multiplied by three, but bonds with different speeds, boundaries, and fears. Touch makes that tangible. Atropos’s poisonous body means a glove, hand, or kiss carries risk; resistance becomes skill and metaphor for remaining oneself near another. The strongest scenes negotiate danger rather than cure it through passion. Sadie’s directness helps Benedict and Atropos name what caution hides, while their slowness forces Sadie to practice patience. Compared with romances where intimacy arrives as loot, this makes consent, separate dates, jealousy, and communication part of advancement. Its limitation is that everyone eventually speaks so clearly that frightened young people sound like graduates of one therapy seminar, weakening individual voices.
The supporting cast broadens the story. Nuan gives the corrupted mock-war an institutional witness; Victor, Hanz, and Franz offer friendship that is neither romantic nor transactional; Rebba, Dalia, and Hilda grow from dangerous opponents into peers capable of learning. That matters where Benedict expects encounters to end in possession or violence: rivalry can become respect. The week of champions exposes class difference because elite Families possess training, estates, knowledge, and political access spontaneous Holders never received. Unfortunately, the larger setting—the Kingdom’s assassinations, rival nations, Collective Sects, Unholy Empire, Heaven’s Path, and powerful Families—does not receive equal development. Reviewers praising the worldbuilding respond to real potential, while those asking for more worlds are equally justified. Schinhofen builds an inviting framework, then spends more time on meals and reassurance than examining a government treating assassination as routine. The private emotional world is rich; the public world remains an outline waiting for later volumes.
CRITICISM
My largest criticism is not excessive trauma. Three hurt people meeting is plausible, and pain should not be rationed. The problem is differentiation. Benedict’s abuse, Atropos’s poisonous isolation and fear of sexual threat, and Sadie’s manipulative family should create distinct defenses, yet processing follows one rhythm: anxiety rises, someone asks carefully, everyone names hidden fear, reassurance follows, and the scene resolves with cuddling, food, or promises. Recurrence is realistic; recovery circles. Fiction must make each circle descend into a new layer or rise toward a changed response. Otherwise repetition becomes restatement. This explains why some readers find healing while others see “angst.” I stand between them. The feeling is sincere, but language is too polished for frightened young people in distress. People also go quiet, misdirect anger, perform normality, lose concentration, or understand episodes days later. More confused aftermath would strengthen breakthroughs and individual psychology.
The hypothermia scene shows strength and weakness. Atropos’s interpretation fits her history, and Benedict’s condemnation fear connects to Ellen’s framing. Their conversation respects both, but shame falls too heavily on Atropos after his innocence is clear. Her reflex was not a moral crime; she awakened exposed and disoriented. Benedict saved her, yet safety needs more than proof of intention. The book approaches that complexity, then turns toward reassurance and cooking. After therapy, Benedict is correctly emotionally exhausted although physically perfect. That is among the series’ truest details: healing one system does not replenish another. I wanted more scenes there—numbness after danger, difficulty enjoying victory, delayed reactions, or conversations without certainty. Grounding, affection, and explanation can return someone to the present, but restored function is not resolved alarm. The prose knows the answer before the characters have repeated it enough for their bodies to believe.
Cooking creates another pacing problem. Benedict’s food has purpose: he makes predictable pleasure, serves without demanding payment, and turns survival skill into hospitality. Meals become language when emotion is difficult. I understand that through caregiving, yet quantity overwhelms function. Ingredients, shopping, breakfasts, restaurants, and recipes occupy space where the Academy, other worlds, bloodline, or conspiracy could breathe. One reviewer calls it Schinhofen’s “food porn”; another says little happens beyond cooking and skills. That exaggerates—the competitions contain real action—but identifies imbalance. The bloodline also remains unresolved even as Blood, Regeneration, Cell, and healing reveal its broad direction. Mystery becomes postponement when readers name its shape long before the story does. A tighter novel could keep food as care, both dates, therapy, tournaments, and Rank Four progression while removing repetition. Warmth does not require excess, and detail becomes depth only when it reveals something new.
COMPARISON
Compared with Heavenly Chaos, this sequel turns promises into events. The mock-war no longer waits beyond the ending, progression reaches Rank Four, romance becomes commitment, and hierarchy gains faces. Compared with The Path of Ascension, the scaffolding feels familiar—ranks, worlds, delves, state investment, and advancing partners—but Schinhofen is more domestic and therapeutic. The Path of Ascension uses relationships to support widening adventure; Heavenly Chaos uses adventure to test relationships. Compared with Schinhofen’s Alpha World, healing conversations feel concentrated and mechanical, as if every injury must become a principle. That makes Fighting Past Pain unusually gentle for combat fantasy, yet explains why action-focused readers feel the plot stops for reassurance. I value the attempt. I would rather criticize a flawed novel treating wounds as consequential than praise a smooth story using abuse as decoration, but ambition does not excuse repetition or replace distinctive voices.
IMPACT AND EVALUATION
Benedict’s refusal to stay down reached deepest. I had no Regeneration Sphere; recovery cost exhaustion and another argument with myself. At my lowest points, however tired I became or however much I hated life, I stood, took one step, then another. I am here because movement remained when hope did not. The mock-war beating mattered more than statistics. Benedict does not claim the old child vanished; he feels that child beneath the shield and moves. I recognize the danger of making endurance an identity. Someone praised only for surviving may believe value lies in absorbing damage rather than deserving life beyond it. Kiba Snowpaw, Alpha Ice Wolf of HowlStrom, was built as language for that contradiction: white fur for numbness containing feeling, claws for boundaries I could not voice, the pack for loyalty, and the blizzard for thoughts erasing the horizon. “An Ice Wolf rises from the snow, but wisdom is learning that he was never required to sleep in the storm.”
Food affected me through the same contradiction. I have cooked for myself since eighteen and still hate the motion. I follow recipes but often skip something, change direction, or improvise because that result feels mine. Music or an audiobook stays in my ears so I can endure. Caring for my father during his final five years taught me that love becomes practical before poetic: meals, schedules, errands, vigilance, chores, and presence when no speech changes the ending. I believe Benedict when he cooks as care, but I do not find every breakfast comforting. Sometimes food is another duty between exhaustion and the next necessary hour. That makes my evaluation personal, not arbitrary. Schinhofen sees domestic labor as safety; I see care and burden. The best passages allow both. Weaker ones assume another detailed meal automatically creates intimacy. Care is demonstrated through consistency, attention, and choice, not the number of ingredients named.
AUDIOBOOK EVALUATION
Andrea Parsneau gives the novel more range than its prose always earns. She separates Benedict’s gentleness, Atropos’s defensive sharpness, Sadie’s confidence, Agatha’s professionalism, Nuan’s competence, and the rivals’ entitlement. Breathing and pauses make retreat audible; dialogue narrows until trapped behind the teeth. That is one reason the book hit me hard. Printed words wait on a page, but a skilled voice enters the room and gives pain timing. Parsneau also keeps the mock-war clear through ambushes, powers, injuries, and shifting teams. I listen around two to two-and-a-half times speed because slower narration lets attention drift, and her diction stays clear. My reservation is familiarity, not failure: after many Schinhofen audiobooks, recurring vocal textures summon characters from other series and make crowded casts harder to anchor. She restores intensity to repeating conversations, improving the experience while exposing the prose’s dependence on performance. Five stars for narration; four for the story it carries.
CONCLUSION
Fighting Past Pain is a stronger sequel, meaningful progression story, and imperfect psychological novel. It earns praise for tactical combat, Rank Four, negotiated touch, polyamory built from separate bonds, opponents becoming friends, and therapy leaving Benedict exhausted after his body heals. It earns criticism for circular reassurance, voices converging into therapy language, culinary excess, thin politics, and an overextended bloodline mystery. The divided reviews make sense. Readers calling it uplifting respond to genuine tenderness; readers buried under angst and cooking respond to genuine structural excess. Both are true. My four stars are an evaluation, not compromise: the book makes invisible survival important and gives action emotional consequence, yet explains its heart so often that I sometimes hear machinery instead of heartbeat. Trauma deserves patience, but scenes require transformation. Repetition should return with a new wound exposed, a new choice attempted, or a different consequence—not merely another correct reassurance followed by breakfast.
Kiba Snowpaw was built from walls, buried anger, loyalty, caregiving, grief, and the part of me that walked when language failed. HowlStrom is the inner ice world where those experiences gained weather, claws, and a pack; it is not literal invulnerability. An Alpha is not a wolf who feels nothing, but one recognizing when strength becomes silence and protection becomes a cage. Before HowlStrom’s gate, I would tell them, “Trust is not lowering every wall at once; it is building one gate and deciding together who holds the key.” I recommend this to listeners wanting character-driven progression, trauma-focused romance, slow polyamory, found family, and tactical action, not nonstop dungeon advancement or little emotion. It reopened pain, and I kept listening. “You do not defeat the past by denying its teeth; you defeat it each time you choose where your next paw lands.” Four stars for the wounded path, five for the voice guiding me across it.
December 16, 2024
Oh boy.....this was an interesting one.....Loved all the action in it. Loved the character building and I'm very interested in the systems and character futures. But holy cow the trauma dumps were brutal. It's a major theme of the book and while I enjoyed the uniqueness of the trauma bond the characters formed in book 1, this was way, way, too much. The boardwalk section was also so insanely boring I almost didn't finish this. Which is a shame because the action picked back up at the end and it was awesome! There's lots of promise with this series but the author has to tone down the trauma stuff. It's very important to the story and the MC but it doesn't need to be a huge percentage of the book.
December 20, 2024
Triple the overdone hormonal whininess, mental anguish, and teen angst that was annoying from book 1, remove the novelty and most of the plot/power fun, and you get book 2. I'll probably read book 3 but I'm going to need more story development and less nonsense or that will likely be the last one in this series for me.
June 7, 2025
Great series entry, with minor reservations
Alternate universe, cultivation, LitRPG light, battered characters, harem slow burn
Ben and Atropos continue to adventure and level up, and at Sadie's prompting, they agree to date each other. The kicker is Atropos has a poison touch, hence the slow build while two members of the triad work to gain a poison tolerance.
Mental health is an oft neglected topic in adventure fantasy fiction, and that three emotionally stunted young people find and dare to take a chance is great. Going over self doubts and constant reassurances came pretty close to being repetitive, and over and over the three were gushing over their new feelings of growing affection and fears of rejection it began to border on melodrama. Decades of abuse and conditioning take time to cure. But there is magic, or powerful skills that should help speed the progress, especially those with mind magic and related skills, but apparently these aren't all that effective?
Fifth star because the author constantly delivers, and hoping there's a bit less sense of fragility about the MC and his two lady partners in the next novel, which is already out.
Excellent editing. Quibble, it was redundant to review their stats, and then do it again two pages later. The action is well done, and it's a slow build as our protagonists complete six months of training and skill building at their academy after two novels. Moving on...
Alternate universe, cultivation, LitRPG light, battered characters, harem slow burn
Ben and Atropos continue to adventure and level up, and at Sadie's prompting, they agree to date each other. The kicker is Atropos has a poison touch, hence the slow build while two members of the triad work to gain a poison tolerance.
Mental health is an oft neglected topic in adventure fantasy fiction, and that three emotionally stunted young people find and dare to take a chance is great. Going over self doubts and constant reassurances came pretty close to being repetitive, and over and over the three were gushing over their new feelings of growing affection and fears of rejection it began to border on melodrama. Decades of abuse and conditioning take time to cure. But there is magic, or powerful skills that should help speed the progress, especially those with mind magic and related skills, but apparently these aren't all that effective?
Fifth star because the author constantly delivers, and hoping there's a bit less sense of fragility about the MC and his two lady partners in the next novel, which is already out.
Excellent editing. Quibble, it was redundant to review their stats, and then do it again two pages later. The action is well done, and it's a slow build as our protagonists complete six months of training and skill building at their academy after two novels. Moving on...
June 11, 2026
This is horrible
The writing is so bad. The female characters only exist for the MC to show how heroic or respectful he is, constantly. The MC acts like an idiotic 10 year old that's never been outside or dealt with another person. The author keeps bringing up how he was beaten, but he the purpose for that seems to highlight how heroic the MC is for surviving?
They have mind readers that just exist to exonerate the hero and seems everyone else gets left to plot their evil schemes or be belittled by their families over false accusations.
The story is so predictable it hurts, just constant hearing about how great the MC is because he managed not to look at the damsel in distress in a lewd manner.
Its just utter cringe. Its like its made for children who won't question why the author writes about how hot a chick is, just so that he can write about how great Ben is for not ogling her.
All the characters are one dimensional and I can't count how many times I rolled my eyes or had to put the book down due to some of the dumbest lines I've ever seen put on page.
If you are an adult who has ever interacted with people, don't waste your time on this drivel. If you are a 10 year old who is terminally online, maybe the lack of real world experience will let you tolerate this story, but even then, there is much better stuff out there.
The writing is so bad. The female characters only exist for the MC to show how heroic or respectful he is, constantly. The MC acts like an idiotic 10 year old that's never been outside or dealt with another person. The author keeps bringing up how he was beaten, but he the purpose for that seems to highlight how heroic the MC is for surviving?
They have mind readers that just exist to exonerate the hero and seems everyone else gets left to plot their evil schemes or be belittled by their families over false accusations.
The story is so predictable it hurts, just constant hearing about how great the MC is because he managed not to look at the damsel in distress in a lewd manner.
Its just utter cringe. Its like its made for children who won't question why the author writes about how hot a chick is, just so that he can write about how great Ben is for not ogling her.
All the characters are one dimensional and I can't count how many times I rolled my eyes or had to put the book down due to some of the dumbest lines I've ever seen put on page.
If you are an adult who has ever interacted with people, don't waste your time on this drivel. If you are a 10 year old who is terminally online, maybe the lack of real world experience will let you tolerate this story, but even then, there is much better stuff out there.
November 5, 2024
An excellent series about 2 broken people finding hope in trusting each other.
Ben was physically abused while Atropos was emotionally scarred, but they found safety in each other. Along with Sadie who's family has mental puppeteering skills, they started a triad relationship. Ben and Atropos delve dungeons to level and reach the top in their class. However, an entitled family tries to put the fix in to have them wasted. It doesnt work and they actually gain influencial allies.
An impressive part of the storyline was all the foodie content as Ben is a chef in training. A major part of the story is the residual strongholds resulting from their negative experiences. Ben is reluctant to stand out because the exposed nail gets hammered, in his experience. Whereas Atropos has severe body modesty and trust issues, along with an acerbic personality and a poisonous body.
I did a re-read of book 1 before starting this book and really enjoyed the depth of the dive into the characters. I have read most of the author's series and have always been impressed with the depth of his worldbuilding. I look forward to additional installments in this series as well as the Antecedents legacy series.
Ben was physically abused while Atropos was emotionally scarred, but they found safety in each other. Along with Sadie who's family has mental puppeteering skills, they started a triad relationship. Ben and Atropos delve dungeons to level and reach the top in their class. However, an entitled family tries to put the fix in to have them wasted. It doesnt work and they actually gain influencial allies.
An impressive part of the storyline was all the foodie content as Ben is a chef in training. A major part of the story is the residual strongholds resulting from their negative experiences. Ben is reluctant to stand out because the exposed nail gets hammered, in his experience. Whereas Atropos has severe body modesty and trust issues, along with an acerbic personality and a poisonous body.
I did a re-read of book 1 before starting this book and really enjoyed the depth of the dive into the characters. I have read most of the author's series and have always been impressed with the depth of his worldbuilding. I look forward to additional installments in this series as well as the Antecedents legacy series.
May 31, 2026
Had to read the follow up immediately
In my review of the first book, I noted that I had skipped this series so many times and boy was I wrong for doing so. If you’ve read the first book of the series this picks up right where it left off. Here we see the MC grow more. We learn more about the mental struggles he’s dealing with and we get a better feel for his class potentially the skills he’ll use. We see more fighting we get more action, but as I said above, we also get to experience the mental trauma. Truly, a wonderful read truly enjoyable from the beginning until the end. Now I have to rush and read the third book in the series because I am hooked and if you read the first book, I’m sure you’re already hooked as well.
Message To the Author
I really don’t have nothing to say here. I got a much better feel for the characters and how the stats work in this book. I did think the end took a little bit too long to wrap up. Maybe there was a bit too long of a gap between fighting sequences and drama sequences near the end but it wasn’t that bad not enough to where I wanted to knock the book for it. I just did some speed reading to get through it. Overall enjoyable overall I have to get to the next book in the series.
In my review of the first book, I noted that I had skipped this series so many times and boy was I wrong for doing so. If you’ve read the first book of the series this picks up right where it left off. Here we see the MC grow more. We learn more about the mental struggles he’s dealing with and we get a better feel for his class potentially the skills he’ll use. We see more fighting we get more action, but as I said above, we also get to experience the mental trauma. Truly, a wonderful read truly enjoyable from the beginning until the end. Now I have to rush and read the third book in the series because I am hooked and if you read the first book, I’m sure you’re already hooked as well.
Message To the Author
I really don’t have nothing to say here. I got a much better feel for the characters and how the stats work in this book. I did think the end took a little bit too long to wrap up. Maybe there was a bit too long of a gap between fighting sequences and drama sequences near the end but it wasn’t that bad not enough to where I wanted to knock the book for it. I just did some speed reading to get through it. Overall enjoyable overall I have to get to the next book in the series.
November 5, 2024
I've enjoyed this series, though a little less than some of the author's other works.
The MC continues to be a hot mess, with all the mental issues you would expect of a 18/19yr old that suffered years of childhood abuse. To say he has PTSD is an understatement. And that makes him difficult to identify with. I like him to an extent, but it can wear on you if you aren't in a good mood that day. And if you are someone that suffered abuse, this book could be triggering. Quite frankly, I don't think the backstory benefits the book.
The women the MC is involved with are also troubled. The one is literally poison to anyone who touches her, and the other has mind control abilities that can passively affect people. Trying to watch 3 broken people come together is painful at times. The MC can barely kiss the one before being violently ill, and the other is waiting out of respect of the first.
I do look forward to the next book, but I also hope the author lets the characters move on faster than the current pace. It will end up being a real slog if they are still fighting so many internal demons in book 4 or 5.
The MC continues to be a hot mess, with all the mental issues you would expect of a 18/19yr old that suffered years of childhood abuse. To say he has PTSD is an understatement. And that makes him difficult to identify with. I like him to an extent, but it can wear on you if you aren't in a good mood that day. And if you are someone that suffered abuse, this book could be triggering. Quite frankly, I don't think the backstory benefits the book.
The women the MC is involved with are also troubled. The one is literally poison to anyone who touches her, and the other has mind control abilities that can passively affect people. Trying to watch 3 broken people come together is painful at times. The MC can barely kiss the one before being violently ill, and the other is waiting out of respect of the first.
I do look forward to the next book, but I also hope the author lets the characters move on faster than the current pace. It will end up being a real slog if they are still fighting so many internal demons in book 4 or 5.
September 22, 2026
Hovering dangerously close to a 1 star and never touch the series again. I keep hoping maybe they'll finally be over all the "OMG someone looked at me, I'm traumatized!" or "OMG I looked at her too long, I hope she doesn't hate me now!" Give me a break.
Stealing actual names from other litrpg series doesn't make copying them ok. Although, Hans and Franz made me laugh the first time I met them in the story, so one slightly positive point I guess?
And let's admit, aside from having a ridiculously foreshadowy name, Atropos is a horrible human being. Her whole life is defined by her "trauma" but I guess that means she also gets to be a terrible person because of it, too? She has absolutely no redeeming qualities, yet people still want to be her friend. I have no idea why, she deserves to be alone and shunned, even with all the trauma.
If the third book is nothing but trauma again, I'll be done even if I'm a sucker for progression litrpg. This is barely one step above unreadable trash, and I know I should just stop here before I get more disappointment.
Stealing actual names from other litrpg series doesn't make copying them ok. Although, Hans and Franz made me laugh the first time I met them in the story, so one slightly positive point I guess?
And let's admit, aside from having a ridiculously foreshadowy name, Atropos is a horrible human being. Her whole life is defined by her "trauma" but I guess that means she also gets to be a terrible person because of it, too? She has absolutely no redeeming qualities, yet people still want to be her friend. I have no idea why, she deserves to be alone and shunned, even with all the trauma.
If the third book is nothing but trauma again, I'll be done even if I'm a sucker for progression litrpg. This is barely one step above unreadable trash, and I know I should just stop here before I get more disappointment.
October 30, 2024
Liked it to some extent but there are some issue here and there that bring the rating down.
An early story based one: Hypothermia doesn't work like that.
An early story based one: Hypothermia doesn't work like that.
November 2, 2024
Another masterpiece
Daniel seems to be very good at delving into the mental anguish of the characters as they battle with self doubt and self loathing while learning to trust their team and potential friends. The mental injuries the two main characters of this book work to diminish, are some raw emotions that can be impacting to the reader, highs and lows can be experienced when you are immersed in the story. Failures and triumphs intertwine in this book which felt a little shorter than some of his other books, that or I just smashed through this book too quickly. This is a dungeon delving, skill battle progression story with harem aspects slowly emerging. Nothing close to sex scenes in this series so far, and I am guessing the characters will need to grow and mentally heal more before anything beyond simple affection will happen. An enjoyable read. More please.
Daniel seems to be very good at delving into the mental anguish of the characters as they battle with self doubt and self loathing while learning to trust their team and potential friends. The mental injuries the two main characters of this book work to diminish, are some raw emotions that can be impacting to the reader, highs and lows can be experienced when you are immersed in the story. Failures and triumphs intertwine in this book which felt a little shorter than some of his other books, that or I just smashed through this book too quickly. This is a dungeon delving, skill battle progression story with harem aspects slowly emerging. Nothing close to sex scenes in this series so far, and I am guessing the characters will need to grow and mentally heal more before anything beyond simple affection will happen. An enjoyable read. More please.
November 2, 2024
A bit too much of a cooking show
As usual Schinhofen writes an amusing slice of life yarn, this one is all about the feels and an inept immature abused MC and his girlfriend with massive potentials taking another step on their path to being overpowered.
It’s a rather slow story, but wouldn’t have been underwhelming if it didn’t turn into more of a cooking show instead of staying an adventure story. There’s more time spent on food, cooking, and meals than on anything else in this book. Nothing wrong with the writing about food and cooking, but it’s pretty damn boring and not something expected when picking up a book like this. The author always tends towards over describing meals but this book takes that to a noticeable extreme.
As usual Schinhofen writes an amusing slice of life yarn, this one is all about the feels and an inept immature abused MC and his girlfriend with massive potentials taking another step on their path to being overpowered.
It’s a rather slow story, but wouldn’t have been underwhelming if it didn’t turn into more of a cooking show instead of staying an adventure story. There’s more time spent on food, cooking, and meals than on anything else in this book. Nothing wrong with the writing about food and cooking, but it’s pretty damn boring and not something expected when picking up a book like this. The author always tends towards over describing meals but this book takes that to a noticeable extreme.
October 31, 2024
Fantastic!
As with any Daniel Schinhofen book, it was an absolutely stunning read!
Once I started, I couldn't stop until I read every page, and it still leaves me wanting more!
The change from delving to the mock war tournament was a fun and exciting challenge, needing to fight against other holders, and a vendetta from an old enemy rears its head.
But it was the banquet of champions where the book truly shines!
With Ben and Atropos taking steps forward in their development, and their relationship, while making new friends and antagonizing new rivals.
Loving this series with each new book and hoping for more!
As with any Daniel Schinhofen book, it was an absolutely stunning read!
Once I started, I couldn't stop until I read every page, and it still leaves me wanting more!
The change from delving to the mock war tournament was a fun and exciting challenge, needing to fight against other holders, and a vendetta from an old enemy rears its head.
But it was the banquet of champions where the book truly shines!
With Ben and Atropos taking steps forward in their development, and their relationship, while making new friends and antagonizing new rivals.
Loving this series with each new book and hoping for more!
November 7, 2024
I thought i had an elegant review saved to the clipboard and now its gone.
It was elegant and you would have been impressed. :P
I love this series. I loved the progress that was made with trauma and relationships and cultivation. Daniel is not breezing through the trauma. The character Ben is taking his time and working with a therapist and pushing to work through his trauma. I love that the relationships are slow and not immediate like so many other books in this genre.
I highly recommend this series.
It was elegant and you would have been impressed. :P
I love this series. I loved the progress that was made with trauma and relationships and cultivation. Daniel is not breezing through the trauma. The character Ben is taking his time and working with a therapist and pushing to work through his trauma. I love that the relationships are slow and not immediate like so many other books in this genre.
I highly recommend this series.
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