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The Order of Architects #8
The Order of Architects #8
Dark clouds continue to gather over the small principality of Liechtenstein. Or, more precisely, over its citizens, the common people. The aristocrats and authorities have been weaving their little schemes, and the rebels are still pursuing their own ends. All of them hide behind eloquent slogans, but in reality, they are totally uninterested in the people’s welfare.
Fortunately, however, the citizens of Liechtenstein have a protector — me, Theodore the Babylonian, along with my friends and my guard regiment.
Fortunately, however, the citizens of Liechtenstein have a protector — me, Theodore the Babylonian, along with my friends and my guard regiment.
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 20, 2026
Finally something happens! 8 Books in ... The narrator is the only thing holding my interest at this point. Maybe some world-building, but even that is eroding.
The last three books were illogical nonsense. I am pretty sure the author used AI. And he did it in this way:
Prompt for a scene. Adjust, fix. Prompt for next scene. Adjust, forget to fix. Continue...
So many times has there been a very weird cut between scenes. Sometimes they are suddenly somewhere else in the next sentence without explanation and sometimes they're time-traveling or something: Like that one time where his parents were flying from Russia to Austria-Hungary for like a whole week. The timeline was as follows: Russia sends his parents "with gold" in a plane, Theodore fights some skirmish which exhausts him and he sleeps for days. Then we follow Theodore around for a while and fights again, again getting exhausted. At that point about a whole week has passed; As he tends to sleep for days and we are being told days go by. Then the plane his parents are in is captured by some fantastic fly trap done up between mountains, not kidding, and a chapter later he gets a call.
Then it happens often that details are forgotten and people suddenly do something else than what they said they'd do a scene before.
Then sometimes the sentences make absolutely no sense. (The narrator doesn't even seem to notice - or he did sometimes, I can't know if he fixed something on-the-fly as I don't have the written book.) Simple example ch.20: "Hand me a torch, Boris." I asked. "You stay up here." No. No you didn't "ask". You ordered. Or this nonsense: When they find out that the Swiss have infiltrated some old tunnel network: "We've only got one option: Blow the tunnels to kingdom come." Grimrock replied. "But then we wouldn't just take out the enemy, we'd lose some strategically important communications too. So the situation is pretty messed up, Theodore". What do you MEAN?? They're old tunnels, not an antenna complex! You don't even communicate with the Swiss at all; Least of all through some old tunnels. What? This kind of stuff happens a lot. (And how is that situation even a problem? Just literally walk over there and temporarily close the tunnels with them inside! You can open them again!!! You can make tunnels all over!)
Then his powers are always "changing". Like, why doesn't he enclose his enemies in domes of stone? Why isn't he destroying their guns anymore? He stopped doing that in like book 5 for no reason. Then he made a big deal out of lifting his Scarab-tank: He said it's the first time he used "anti-gravity" magic, but he has been hovering stones over that generals head in the fortress he build without it?? Why isn't he throwing stones at people using this power? Why isn't he hovering stones around him as shields?? Why doesn't he have an army of golem-rats with video recording capabilities running through the whole city, finding the Shadow-guy, recording the Prince in his office talking about treason ...
Thinking about this while reading the Bank heist scene is torture: He could just fucking walk through the streets together with the Journalist while she films everything, walk straight into the Bank without issues, isolate the hostages with domes, destroy every weapon and incapacitate the robbers, walk down into the cellar where the Prince is, show everyone he is currently robbing the bank live on camera, and just arrest him. No problem, if you think about it. (ignoring the barons)
But no. And at the end of the heist scene he just ignores the prince and lets him escape even though he could kill him in his car within 20ms from inside the Bank. How can he even escape? The fight with the shadows seemed to be over within seconds, but he is already gone far away ON FOOT??
Same again at the very end of this book: He just lets them go again! WHY? Suddenly Mr. Wanks-A-Lot (Self-aggrandizing narcissist) is impotent. What idiocy.
Other thing: The important people always have to go somewhere to talk. They never use tele-conference equipment to talk. Heck, a laptop camera would put you where you have to be basically the same way as if you were there. Why is nobody using TECHNOLOGY
The timeline tends to be fucked. The continuity tends to be whack. The sentence structure tends to be obviously broken sometimes. And on top of that the cover art is certainly AI as well - or the artist on which the AIs train has made them.
This is all a sign of AI use while writing or, for the benefit of the doubt, he used AI for the translation from Russian - if it isn't originally English. (imo)
Even if it isn't AI, the fact that it is badly written and didn't have an editor is self-evident.
The last three books were illogical nonsense. I am pretty sure the author used AI. And he did it in this way:
Prompt for a scene. Adjust, fix. Prompt for next scene. Adjust, forget to fix. Continue...
So many times has there been a very weird cut between scenes. Sometimes they are suddenly somewhere else in the next sentence without explanation and sometimes they're time-traveling or something: Like that one time where his parents were flying from Russia to Austria-Hungary for like a whole week. The timeline was as follows: Russia sends his parents "with gold" in a plane, Theodore fights some skirmish which exhausts him and he sleeps for days. Then we follow Theodore around for a while and fights again, again getting exhausted. At that point about a whole week has passed; As he tends to sleep for days and we are being told days go by. Then the plane his parents are in is captured by some fantastic fly trap done up between mountains, not kidding, and a chapter later he gets a call.
Then it happens often that details are forgotten and people suddenly do something else than what they said they'd do a scene before.
Then sometimes the sentences make absolutely no sense. (The narrator doesn't even seem to notice - or he did sometimes, I can't know if he fixed something on-the-fly as I don't have the written book.) Simple example ch.20: "Hand me a torch, Boris." I asked. "You stay up here." No. No you didn't "ask". You ordered. Or this nonsense: When they find out that the Swiss have infiltrated some old tunnel network: "We've only got one option: Blow the tunnels to kingdom come." Grimrock replied. "But then we wouldn't just take out the enemy, we'd lose some strategically important communications too. So the situation is pretty messed up, Theodore". What do you MEAN?? They're old tunnels, not an antenna complex! You don't even communicate with the Swiss at all; Least of all through some old tunnels. What? This kind of stuff happens a lot. (And how is that situation even a problem? Just literally walk over there and temporarily close the tunnels with them inside! You can open them again!!! You can make tunnels all over!)
Then his powers are always "changing". Like, why doesn't he enclose his enemies in domes of stone? Why isn't he destroying their guns anymore? He stopped doing that in like book 5 for no reason. Then he made a big deal out of lifting his Scarab-tank: He said it's the first time he used "anti-gravity" magic, but he has been hovering stones over that generals head in the fortress he build without it?? Why isn't he throwing stones at people using this power? Why isn't he hovering stones around him as shields?? Why doesn't he have an army of golem-rats with video recording capabilities running through the whole city, finding the Shadow-guy, recording the Prince in his office talking about treason ...
Thinking about this while reading the Bank heist scene is torture: He could just fucking walk through the streets together with the Journalist while she films everything, walk straight into the Bank without issues, isolate the hostages with domes, destroy every weapon and incapacitate the robbers, walk down into the cellar where the Prince is, show everyone he is currently robbing the bank live on camera, and just arrest him. No problem, if you think about it. (ignoring the barons)
But no. And at the end of the heist scene he just ignores the prince and lets him escape even though he could kill him in his car within 20ms from inside the Bank. How can he even escape? The fight with the shadows seemed to be over within seconds, but he is already gone far away ON FOOT??
Same again at the very end of this book: He just lets them go again! WHY? Suddenly Mr. Wanks-A-Lot (Self-aggrandizing narcissist) is impotent. What idiocy.
Other thing: The important people always have to go somewhere to talk. They never use tele-conference equipment to talk. Heck, a laptop camera would put you where you have to be basically the same way as if you were there. Why is nobody using TECHNOLOGY
The timeline tends to be fucked. The continuity tends to be whack. The sentence structure tends to be obviously broken sometimes. And on top of that the cover art is certainly AI as well - or the artist on which the AIs train has made them.
This is all a sign of AI use while writing or, for the benefit of the doubt, he used AI for the translation from Russian - if it isn't originally English. (imo)
Even if it isn't AI, the fact that it is badly written and didn't have an editor is self-evident.
September 12, 2026
I've listened to and read up to this point (I just started this book), and one of the best things about this series, in my opinion, is the way the "bad guys" react to the MC. Their reactions and interactions are often the highlight.
The problem is the MC himself—and this is a common problem with books that try to portray their protagonist as "smart."
He isn't.
We're repeatedly told, directly or indirectly, that he's intelligent, but his actions often make absolutely no sense. For example, he's challenged to duels to the death, only for the challengers to use replacements. If he wins, why doesn't he demand that the actual challenger pay the price? If the whole point is that these are supposedly deadly duels, why is he so willing to let the people behind them walk away?
Then there are the "main" opposition forces. They repeatedly try to hurt or kill the MC and his followers. He survives, they come back, and he lets them try again. And again.
The last book had the whole blood path situation, where the MC and his forces killed a huge number of soldiers. Yet much of that bloodshed could have been avoided if he had simply dealt with the people actually commanding those forces in the first place.
The books constantly describe most of the nobles as corrupt and terrible, while, of course, the MC is one of the "good" ones. I even remember him using the rallying cry "for all that is good and precious." Fine—but then his decisions need to actually reflect the supposedly intelligent and morally superior character we're being told he is.
This is what frustrates me most: don't write a character as a genius if you're going to repeatedly make him ignore obvious solutions.
I actually like a lot about this series, and the reactions of the antagonists are genuinely entertaining. But the MC's supposed intelligence is becoming harder and harder to take seriously.
The problem is the MC himself—and this is a common problem with books that try to portray their protagonist as "smart."
He isn't.
We're repeatedly told, directly or indirectly, that he's intelligent, but his actions often make absolutely no sense. For example, he's challenged to duels to the death, only for the challengers to use replacements. If he wins, why doesn't he demand that the actual challenger pay the price? If the whole point is that these are supposedly deadly duels, why is he so willing to let the people behind them walk away?
Then there are the "main" opposition forces. They repeatedly try to hurt or kill the MC and his followers. He survives, they come back, and he lets them try again. And again.
The last book had the whole blood path situation, where the MC and his forces killed a huge number of soldiers. Yet much of that bloodshed could have been avoided if he had simply dealt with the people actually commanding those forces in the first place.
The books constantly describe most of the nobles as corrupt and terrible, while, of course, the MC is one of the "good" ones. I even remember him using the rallying cry "for all that is good and precious." Fine—but then his decisions need to actually reflect the supposedly intelligent and morally superior character we're being told he is.
This is what frustrates me most: don't write a character as a genius if you're going to repeatedly make him ignore obvious solutions.
I actually like a lot about this series, and the reactions of the antagonists are genuinely entertaining. But the MC's supposed intelligence is becoming harder and harder to take seriously.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2025
I received a review copy of this book.
The Order of Architects is book #8 in this series, and woo boy is there some serious happenings in this book. If you've been wondering when the borders would be attacked, or when the prince would finally get some pay back, then this is the book for you. This is definitely a must read for fans of the series.
The Order of Architects is book #8 in this series, and woo boy is there some serious happenings in this book. If you've been wondering when the borders would be attacked, or when the prince would finally get some pay back, then this is the book for you. This is definitely a must read for fans of the series.
December 10, 2025
quick read
I am grateful for the extensive collection of works available in this series and others by the author. However, the current pricing may be challenging for some readers. The books are an excellent read for those who can afford them. I highly recommend exploring this series, but it might be wise to wait for discounts or promotions to become available.
I am grateful for the extensive collection of works available in this series and others by the author. However, the current pricing may be challenging for some readers. The books are an excellent read for those who can afford them. I highly recommend exploring this series, but it might be wise to wait for discounts or promotions to become available.
December 13, 2025
There are a lot of big battles in this books and the MC bevame ridiculously op. Once again i lamented the lacking comedic relief although i was amused about the parents' hostage scene.
The kidnapping plot was interesting although i wondered why Russia didn't use this unit to get a hold of Boschield earlier..
The kidnapping plot was interesting although i wondered why Russia didn't use this unit to get a hold of Boschield earlier..
May 4, 2026
I enjoyed it. It's good progress for the story and the MC's power levels. I also really appreciate that the story hasn't become the MC simping for his romantic interest like has happened in some other Sapphire books. My only small complaint is that the bad guys always escape to do bad guy stuff in the next book. It seems a little episodic. Still, good read.
December 18, 2025
Lost 2 stars for NOT writing a Recap.
I think every reader needs to start doing this to force authors to write a quick Recap chapter, which readers can skip if they remember, and those who don't won't stop reading the series.
I think every reader needs to start doing this to force authors to write a quick Recap chapter, which readers can skip if they remember, and those who don't won't stop reading the series.
January 15, 2026
A lot happened
While a lot has happened and the story has moved forward, my one gripe is the fact that none of the internal enemies have been killed. Not the prince and not the shadow Rebel leader, which sucks I think the prince should have been killed
While a lot has happened and the story has moved forward, my one gripe is the fact that none of the internal enemies have been killed. Not the prince and not the shadow Rebel leader, which sucks I think the prince should have been killed
December 9, 2025
Excellent
Great addition to the series as the power of hour hero Theodore becomes more apparent to all the worlds powers.
Great addition to the series as the power of hour hero Theodore becomes more apparent to all the worlds powers.
December 12, 2025
Great read
These authors produce some of progression fantasy series. Including this one I have just about all of them going including the latest Drone Lord. Super fun.
These authors produce some of progression fantasy series. Including this one I have just about all of them going including the latest Drone Lord. Super fun.
December 13, 2025
Great book
Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
January 7, 2026
lots of action
Theodore fights on every level, evil prince, shadows, silly Austria Hungarians….. surprises! Who’s an ally? And who isn’t?
Good read.
Theodore fights on every level, evil prince, shadows, silly Austria Hungarians….. surprises! Who’s an ally? And who isn’t?
Good read.
January 14, 2026
So much!
From one thing to another, it keeps getting more and more involved until your. He!ad feels like it's going to explode!
From one thing to another, it keeps getting more and more involved until your. He!ad feels like it's going to explode!
January 30, 2026
I would love to be able to build things as an Architect. The power and ability to construct things so fast could make a big difference in the world.
June 1, 2026
1.5☆ had to stop at 50%
June 22, 2026
Kind of a boring one in this series
October 12, 2026
Book is fun…..not a huge fan of how it portrays women or at least the female lead.
October 17, 2026
It seems this is the "protag is enemy #1" stage of the series.
I didn't like all the running around, but still enjoyed the story.
Will pick up the sequel.
3/5 Stars
I didn't like all the running around, but still enjoyed the story.
Will pick up the sequel.
3/5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews