Bog Standard Isekai: Illusionist: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure

Bog Standard Isekai #2

by Miles English

Seven Witches. One traitor. An army of the dead.

Brin is scarred, but no longer alone. After giving up his evil Rare Class in exchange for the simple and common Glasser, he’s finally been accepted by the people of Hammon’s Bog. But acceptance doesn't guarantee safety. Mirrors and glass spearheads offer little protection against threats both outside and within.

An army of undead is lurking in the surrounding forest, cutting them off from the rest of the world. There’s no rescue in sight, and worse, no one knows why the army is there or when it will attack. Brin's only lead? A chilling the army's movements are controlled by someone inside the town. As tension rises and time runs out, Brin must unmask the traitorous Witch hidden in plain sight before the town is engulfed in darkness.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Dragons, Magic

Audible Audio

First published September 28, 2024

Reviews

[Luke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the first installment in this series. It was well written and interesting. This second one was much less so. It feels like the author was just sort of stuck filling in a sketch of an outline that he had before the first book was a success. It was mostly boring, repetitive, and annoying—filled with Deus Ex Machina, consistency fails, and plot twists that just don't make any sense. Our MC is concurrently OP and completely useless, and there isn't really any cleverness in the application of his powers. At times he struggles fighting enemies lower level than himself even though he is meant to have ridiculous attributes for his level, and at other times he stands head-to-head with those 20+ levels above him. It's just all in service of the plot. Ultimately, I guess I'm looking forward to the next one and hoping it recovers from the second-novel blues that a lot of this genre experiences.

[Dave Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series
Book 2 might be better than book 1, but certain things pay off in book 2 that were set up in book 1 and I freaken' love that! That's an author who has planed ahead and is rewarding you for paying attention. Now I'm even more impressed with the first one. Only problem is that I seem to have picked up this book the month it came out and now I've got a longest possible wait for the next one.

[Tony Hinde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man. The emergence of the hidden evil witch was both epic and gross. I loved it.

[Brighton Marcroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good level up porn

Plot was a little cheesy in this one but honestly way better than the majority of litrpgs. I will be reading the next one and simultaneously want the author to write faster and slow down for a deeper story.

[Matthew Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow!

This was a great read! Miles did an amazing job flushing out the battles and showing growth on the characters! I can't wait for the next one!

[Sören · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last chapters were a Real letdown. Much worse than the first book with nothing much Happening really.

[Steve Naylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.0 stars

Not quite as good as the first one but still very enjoyable. Part of that is because I had more time to think about the world building in this book. I questioned a few more things. In the first book I agreed with almost every decision Brin made. In this one I thought of a few things I would have done differently. How did he never think of using a slingshot for his summoned glass? All he did was throw them. He tried to make arrow heads which was a good idea even though it didn't work but that should have led him to slingshots, which would have been perfect for his situation. This book also contradicted some things in the first book. In the first book it was known that all witches were evil. In this one we find out that there are 7 witches in the Bog, and they are all mostly good. A few of them are friends with Brin. I was looking for more of a conversation of why these people took the class. Everyone thinks that witches are an evil class. What would make a good person choose that class? In the first book the answer would have been power. In this one with the people in question, I don't necessarily think that was the case. What was the overall goal of these witches. Was it just a steppingstone class before they moved on to something else? These are the questions that I wanted to know and didn't get the answers.

There is an army of the undead that is trying to destroy the town. There is still a good balance in this book. Brin spends a decent amount of time crafting with his new class of glasser. He also has a new relationship with his friends since they all have classes themselves. He has to get stronger, and Hog helps him on his path to the illusionist class. There are some setbacks along the way. Hog does a lot with his training. Instead of just telling him the answers. He makes Brin figure things out on his own. He isn't doing this to be a dick but to help train his identify skill. Despite being powerful and gaining levels very quickly, Brin is still in the body of a 13-year-old. I thought the author did a good job of bringing Brin into the action while still showing that he was surrounded by much more powerful people. Having the witch cast a hex and taking out all the most powerful people in town made it much more realistic that Brin would need to be an important part of the fighting. That was one of the things that was frustrating in Harry Potter (the early years). He was a young boy with almost no training. Why was he the only one that could do anything? I did have a strong suspicion about who the witch traitor was, and for the most part I ended up being correct. Overall this was still a very good book and I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a very strong first book, this one sadly falls short. I found Brins class as a Glasser pretty boring, even if it was a stepping stone. Gone was the guy, who decided to live his life full throttle, to get strong and stand at the top. When Brin said, that one of the reasons he wanted Illusionist, is so that he can escape easier and call for help I nearly lost it. His character went through too much of a change. I get he was too op on book 1 and the new class makes the story more exciting in the long run, but that shouldn’t have influenced his established personality. If he wants to be a timid boy, thats not what I was looking for and expecting. He is also struggling way too much against some undead goons. If he can fight people 20 lvls above him at other times or the other kids in the village can fight undeads, then he should have won easily … or the other stuff shouldn’t have happened. What is the worth of all the percentage amplifiers he risked his life for in book 1 if it doesn’t matter and anyone else is still stronger than him? Example: His stats get doubled by his war achievement and he gets 30% bonus for traveller, but still gets outpaced by the others. How? Do they have attributes in the 200s? It doesn’t make sense. Trying to nerve him a bit is one thing, but ignoring the power ups he got so far is just bad writing.

It also bothered me that Brin was more and more treated like a kid his age. Stay away from danger, dont fight … etc. Even Zilly fought more and outleveled him. He has a leveling bonus from his title, for gods sake. Or did that get ignored as well. And for a book called „Illusionist“ Brin definitely doesn’t do enough illusions.
All in all, Brins role was just way too passive in this book. He is not a kid, not really. And don’t want to read about some NPC whose most exciting characteristic is his foster father.
I hope the next one will better and pull Brin out of his bystander role. This was boring.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brin is still in Hammon's Bog and he is training hard in order to become stronger, he has been offered an evil class, that of the scarred one, however he manages to turn this around and he becomes a glasser. Hammon's bog has seven witches supposedly all having the interest of their town at heart, however it seems as though one of these has become a traitor. Brin takes on a challenge to find out who the witches are and to distinguish who the traitor is if possible. An army of undead is out in the surrounding forest prepared to attack their town, and Brin is adamant that he will find the traitor no matter what, and put a stop to this senseless war. This is a very exciting 2nd book in the LitRPG series, it is full of adventure and magic wielding, witches and a group of young people who do their best to save their town amidst the chaos caused by the undead, including some of their own fallen friends.

[Martin Canavan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I reviewed book 1 and everything bad about that book got worse in this one. The story in book 1&2 didn't flow it was like reading a dictionary, the writer failed in all his attempts, I didn't care about any of the characters on who lived and died. The good/ evil classes and witches didn't make sense, I hated all the boring filler of glassmaking and playing the lute with davi I'd rather him be ontop of a roof staring at the stars thinking since the world is magic maybe one day he can travel the stars. The author tried to make glass class as a creative and badass build when it's boring pathetic and a common woodworker/crafter class is easily reliable and better. Ps should have made the mc a beast/monster tamer illusionist hybrid( already has a pet snake. A blessing from mommy snake and maybe his chimera armour would have given him buffed attributes without enchanting.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun

Brin enjoys Hammonds Bog. He learns about glass, uncovers mysteries in town, and grows with friends. The Undead creep closer and he discovers that all isn’t as it seems in town. He befriends multiple witches and finds the undead have infiltrated the town. He ultimately finds the witch behind the local problems and resolves the issue. Then his adoptive mother arrives and removes a national threat. He decides he’ll travel with his adoptive father to see the world. Book ends.

This is a really good, humorous story. The characters grow, make mistakes, and the world becomes more detailed. The narrator is a wonder. The pacing is fast and steady. The story is addictive. Please enjoy

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Listened to thisin audiobook form

This is an standout series of litrpg and fantasy that you must read.The first and second book work so well together I recommend reading them back to back. Brin is an excellent protagonist, smart but noa wise ass nor agenius like most progression fantasy likes to make its MCs. The narrator really puts emotion into the voice of each characters, all which are unique and easily recognisable. Only problem, and not a bigproblem, really, more of a nitpick, is that Hoggs voice seems to bleed into every other sentence so, if you're not paying attention you might get confused as to which character is actually speaking.

5/5. Excellent, might jum right into the third audiobook right away

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, a well-written and satisfying story. I say this, despite not enjoying undead and other horrors or battles, across the literary board. The characters appeal to me mightily in this story. I really love Brin's adoptive parents. I found the manner in which the author handled Brin's class--and secondary class--fascinating. The way in which his peers adjusted to their own classes was also of great interest. I sincerely hope Lumina will be a focus on volume three, which I will return to after a break from this genre. Well-done! Talented author!

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author writes well. His logic is pretty substandard, and I want to rate this higher. However, the MC is pretty pathetic. He could have been more active in his own book, but he just kind of follows along. His first class was better, and I wish the author had the fortitude to stick with it. It could have been interesting, but what do I know?

Edit: Oh, and our hero plays the guitar in the big battle. He wants to be able to defend himself, but he grabs the guitar so his friends can hit the bad guy with a staff... Seriously. WTF.

[David Phipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of a fantasy LitRPG series with system and isekai/portal elements. This book is mainly set in a single town where Brin works on his progression/training while also investigating who might be a witch. The main mystery in this book is a literal witch hunt but it was done well and had a satisfying climax that felt more like a self-contained book compared to most LitRPG books. Maybe better written overall but for some reason my interest in this series has declined a bit.

[John Prowse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. In and of itself it is worth reading. As the second book in the series it is about what you would expect. It advances the character and the plot and keeps you entertained throughout and hopefully leaves you wanting to jump into the next book. This does all that and more but again is still the middle book in the series so it doesn't give you that feeling of completion That you will get I suppose by reading the next book....which of course Im starting now lol

[Nick Dillingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive

I am surprised to say that the second book was better than the first. The pacing made it fly by and the twists and turns were very well done. I was honestly surprised by how good it was. There are a few characters like zilly who seem to be either poorly written or it's some setup for the next book. We shall see

[Richard Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than book 1
Mark has taken the name of the body body he was reincarnated into,
Brin Is still living in Hammon's Bog, and hog has given the the task of identifying the 7 witches in town to find the traitor who is working with the undead.
Again on audio book this was a great listen, well narrated.

[Kevin O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most excellent Isekai LitRPG

Just keeps getting better. A tremendous Isekai and a near seamless LitRPG. Characters, system, advancement, done perfectly. The setting is a work in progress but the MC hasn’t left his small town.

[Ta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb conclusion to the first arc! It truly only got better. Exciting, surprising, tragic and incredibly cool. Not certain about the second arc yet, but at this point in story absolutely nothing to complain about.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

a Spy Thriller Fantasy

Whoa, this was Sherlock Holmes-esque plot of uncovering villains while still being a boy - although a talented one.

Rating: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Narration: NA
Favorite line: NA

[Richin109 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this series.

Love this series. I read the latest book when it comes out, even if I am in the middle of another book. I really like the system of classes and how magic works.

[Mike Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Stuff

This story of a dude getting zeked to another world into the body of a twelve year old was fascinating. He ends up in a town by himself with undead every where. He gets rescued by some Heroes and go to an outskirts town to grow.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this

I like the story, the main character, the twists and turns. It has great world building and doesn't really repeat. Each part of the story is different and interesting. Can't wait for book three.

[Jim Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice

Well written all around and not many spelling issues. The best part of the book may be the epilogue. It wraps up most of the issues just leaving a few for the next book and all the characters are left in a safe place with room to breathe.

[Richard Kendrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume is a good deal darker than the first volume, and pretty much missing the cozy feel that popped up there periodically. Still, I was hooked throughout and basically binged it. I will definitely continue the series.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I understand this more than book one.

While this was a whodunit type novel that had the protag running around like a headless chicken, I liked it.

I will pick up the sequel.
I did expect more using Earth knowledge to get ahead with magic. Hopefully the sequel has that.

3/5 Stars

[Devan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story continues to amaze me. I love the unpredictable way in which the MC progresses. Just when I think I know where the story is going to lead next, bam! Complete 180 flip in direction. And the ending! Wow! So good!

[Tom Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The times they are a changing

Kids grow up so fast. It seems like one day they're hiding in the basement from the undead and the next they are smiting witches. At least his clothes are getting better. And such pretty glass. Tom out

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a strong example of how litrpg can be done right. Although the stat blocks going for every character all the time is getting old - but fortunately, in the audible book, the narrator speeds up for it.