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Newt and Demon #1
Newt and Demon
Listening Length 16 hours and 11 minutes
Join the journey to turn the swamp-town of Broken Tusk into a prosperous trade town.
When the apocalypse comes, a mysterious entity grants Theo Spencer the gift of reincarnation.
The gift of a quiet life as an alchemist.
He awakens in a small town in the southern reaches of a small kingdom in a non-human body. Broken Tusk doesn't seem like much, but his legendary alchemy skills will soon turn their fortune.
Experience this cozy, low-stakes, town-building LitRPG perfect for fans of slice of life fantasy like Small-Town Crafter and Legends & Lattes!
Join the journey to turn the swamp-town of Broken Tusk into a prosperous trade town.
When the apocalypse comes, a mysterious entity grants Theo Spencer the gift of reincarnation.
The gift of a quiet life as an alchemist.
He awakens in a small town in the southern reaches of a small kingdom in a non-human body. Broken Tusk doesn't seem like much, but his legendary alchemy skills will soon turn their fortune.
Experience this cozy, low-stakes, town-building LitRPG perfect for fans of slice of life fantasy like Small-Town Crafter and Legends & Lattes!
17 pages, Audible Audio
Published November 19, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 5, 2025
This is exactly what you'd expect from the cover and blurb. And well edited to boot. It's LitRPG so the power fantasy is still there with Theo being isekai'd into a new world with formidable powers nobody has ever seen before. But the setting and challenges are centered around a small backwoods (backswamp?) town that has long been down on its luck so his main concerns are stabilization and growth.
There are some intrusive contrivances, like Theo's backstory and the whole relationship with Tresk (the titular newt) (see note below). And while I'm tallying downsides, the author needs to learn that character names are something of an art and having a bunch of short names starting with T is a pain on your readers. At least, readers like me who slow down on names with similar silhouettes as it takes a second to pull the right character to mind.
Sadly, pretty much anything to do with the plot felt contrived. It's just that it was all interesting enough I was along for the ride anyway. I liked the world building and it was fun seeing a character grow in place while elevating those around him. If you care about intricate systems or are attached to "the way things work" you may find issues here.
I was interested as the author eased into village core territory. That's a subgenre of LitRPG that gets into town building and resource management. As Theo gets more and more involved in the town, and as his special alchemy powers grow and provide him lots of material resources, he ends up taking explicit steps to grow those around him. Eventually, he strongarms his way into town leadership and gains the ability/responsibility to allocate town resources.
Anyway, the issues were minor enough that I enjoyed the story. Or, maybe I should say that I didn't care about the weaknesses and found enough to engage with that I enjoyed myself while reading. And I'll be picking up the next. So a solid four star read, but only because I personally liked what was on offer rather than any kind of objective evaluation.
A note about the low-stakes claim: Big, world affecting things are brewing (heh, he's an alchemist so... heh) and are centered on Theo. This story centers on personal and town growth and Theo isn't directly involved in any life-threatening conflict. So in a sense, this lives up to being low stakes. But that's not where the story is heading. I doubt that Theo is ever going to be on the frontline of a coming cataclysm. But he is definitely a catalyst and he's definitely going to be involved in important, world altering change.
A note about relationships: I was going to put this in my standard Chaste section but I have more to say than just shenanigans stuff. Griffiths invents a magical relationship much like many shifter romances that use "fated mates". And Theo and Tresk fall into this relationship fairly quick. And it's the best thing ever because it's super special. Only, this relationship explicitly abjures all romance on entering. So it's platonic but also exclusive. This gives me the feeling that the author doesn't want to do the messy stuff with hormones and intimacy and stuff and was maybe reaching for an in-text excuse. A feeling reinforced by the kind of superficial intimacy Tresk and Theo develop as their "bond strengthens". It's a bit strange. But I got used to it.
A note about Chaste: Yeah, there's no sex, intimacy, or hormones in this story as per the note above. It feels a bit contrived, but also unimportant.
There are some intrusive contrivances, like Theo's backstory and the whole relationship with Tresk (the titular newt) (see note below). And while I'm tallying downsides, the author needs to learn that character names are something of an art and having a bunch of short names starting with T is a pain on your readers. At least, readers like me who slow down on names with similar silhouettes as it takes a second to pull the right character to mind.
Sadly, pretty much anything to do with the plot felt contrived. It's just that it was all interesting enough I was along for the ride anyway. I liked the world building and it was fun seeing a character grow in place while elevating those around him. If you care about intricate systems or are attached to "the way things work" you may find issues here.
I was interested as the author eased into village core territory. That's a subgenre of LitRPG that gets into town building and resource management. As Theo gets more and more involved in the town, and as his special alchemy powers grow and provide him lots of material resources, he ends up taking explicit steps to grow those around him. Eventually, he strongarms his way into town leadership and gains the ability/responsibility to allocate town resources.
Anyway, the issues were minor enough that I enjoyed the story. Or, maybe I should say that I didn't care about the weaknesses and found enough to engage with that I enjoyed myself while reading. And I'll be picking up the next. So a solid four star read, but only because I personally liked what was on offer rather than any kind of objective evaluation.
A note about the low-stakes claim: Big, world affecting things are brewing (heh, he's an alchemist so... heh) and are centered on Theo. This story centers on personal and town growth and Theo isn't directly involved in any life-threatening conflict. So in a sense, this lives up to being low stakes. But that's not where the story is heading. I doubt that Theo is ever going to be on the frontline of a coming cataclysm. But he is definitely a catalyst and he's definitely going to be involved in important, world altering change.
A note about relationships: I was going to put this in my standard Chaste section but I have more to say than just shenanigans stuff. Griffiths invents a magical relationship much like many shifter romances that use "fated mates". And Theo and Tresk fall into this relationship fairly quick. And it's the best thing ever because it's super special. Only, this relationship explicitly abjures all romance on entering. So it's platonic but also exclusive. This gives me the feeling that the author doesn't want to do the messy stuff with hormones and intimacy and stuff and was maybe reaching for an in-text excuse. A feeling reinforced by the kind of superficial intimacy Tresk and Theo develop as their "bond strengthens". It's a bit strange. But I got used to it.
A note about Chaste: Yeah, there's no sex, intimacy, or hormones in this story as per the note above. It feels a bit contrived, but also unimportant.
January 5, 2025
I found it pretty forgettable. The protagonist pretty much has everything handed to him, and succeeds by doing fairly easy tasks. There's some hint that at some point in the future there might be a crisis, but the crisis never arrives in this book. Presumably it does in some future sequel.
He forms a magical friendship bond with the lizard woman (the "newt" of the title), not because he actually does anything to get to know her, but because the plot says they're magically drawn to each other even though they know absolutely nothing about each other. This magic bond is apparently rare and special, again because everything is handed to the protagonist. It's lazy writing to skip over the part where they form a friendship normally.
The economy of the village he's in doesn't make much sense. For example, for some bizarre reason, the local tannery requires "up to a year" to make hides. Tanning is a slow process, but it takes weeks, not months, and it doesn't really work the way it's described. This of course exists so the protagonist can solve the tannery's problems with his magic skills.
It wasn't exactly a *bad* book, but I found I had little interest in continuing to read the series when I was done.
He forms a magical friendship bond with the lizard woman (the "newt" of the title), not because he actually does anything to get to know her, but because the plot says they're magically drawn to each other even though they know absolutely nothing about each other. This magic bond is apparently rare and special, again because everything is handed to the protagonist. It's lazy writing to skip over the part where they form a friendship normally.
The economy of the village he's in doesn't make much sense. For example, for some bizarre reason, the local tannery requires "up to a year" to make hides. Tanning is a slow process, but it takes weeks, not months, and it doesn't really work the way it's described. This of course exists so the protagonist can solve the tannery's problems with his magic skills.
It wasn't exactly a *bad* book, but I found I had little interest in continuing to read the series when I was done.
May 27, 2025
It does what it says on the cover
This is an interesting, fairly standard isekai with some original touches. Mostly town building, progression fantasy with some platonic friendship stuff that's not too syrupy.
While the claim of "Low-Stakes" might be underselling things, E.M. Griffiths does an excellent job of keeping the anxiety out while actually having some serious stakes. -They just don't make you want to bite your nails. So all in all the claim is accurate in effect while it only differs in the detail.
I enjoyed the balance of laid back with a lot going on, and I bought book two before I got to the end.
-One thing I don't think I've ever seen in a book like this is a cross species bonding with no 'Romance'. It's sweet and effective. That's not something I can recall ever seeing unless you count Legolas & Gimli.
This is an interesting, fairly standard isekai with some original touches. Mostly town building, progression fantasy with some platonic friendship stuff that's not too syrupy.
While the claim of "Low-Stakes" might be underselling things, E.M. Griffiths does an excellent job of keeping the anxiety out while actually having some serious stakes. -They just don't make you want to bite your nails. So all in all the claim is accurate in effect while it only differs in the detail.
I enjoyed the balance of laid back with a lot going on, and I bought book two before I got to the end.
-One thing I don't think I've ever seen in a book like this is a cross species bonding with no 'Romance'. It's sweet and effective. That's not something I can recall ever seeing unless you count Legolas & Gimli.
November 24, 2024
I like a laid-back story but I feel that if your story is character-driven, you should give your characters some character. I didn’t find them interesting in the slightest. But I would suggest that you give it a go and if you’re not bored by 25% you’ll have a great time.
May 29, 2025
Series Info/Source: This is the The Newt and Demon series. I borrowed this on audiobook from Audible.
Thoughts: I am setting this aside at 30% in. There is nothing really wrong with this; it is just boring. This is a town building fantasy where we watch a displaced human (he's been transported to a new world when Earth is destroyed) try to learn to be an alchemist and improve the town he's ended up in. You learn about him making cleaning agents and learning to purify water....things like that.
We read this from Theo's perspective. He is a soldier in post-apoclyptic Earth and when the planet is destroyed an unknown entity gives him a chance to start anew as an alchemist on a different planet.
This is an incredibly character driven story, and I didn't really like any of the characters much. They were all pretty bland. In the end, I just kept finding my mind drifting while listening to this. I was hoping the alchemy elements would draw me in, but you just listen the main character discuss strange fictional ingredients.
I listened to this on audiobook, and the narration isn't great, which added to my dislike. The narrator struggles to pin down characters' voices, and certain characters seem to sound slightly different every time he reads them. He also swapped character voices a few times, which you could tell was a mistake because he would switch voices mid-sentence. I would recommend skipping this on audiobook.
I agree with another review I read: if you like the first 25% of this book, you will love this story. If you enjoy LitRPG like Battle Mage Farmer, I would check this out. However, I liked Battle Mage Farmer a lot better than this book. I actually got through the first three Battle Mage Farmer books before I decided that series was just moving too slow for me.
My Summary (3/5): Overall this was too slow for me and I ended up not finishing it. This is very much a LitRPG fantasy town-building story. If that sounds awesome to you, this is well written. I would recommend skipping the audiobook though because the narration on that wasn't great. If you have read and enjoyed LitRPG series like Battle Mage Farmer (which I did read the first three books in), I think you might enjoy this one. Although keep in mind Battle Mage Farmer does have some dungeon delving and action (which I enjoyed) and this book did not have any of that at the point I stopped reading it.
Thoughts: I am setting this aside at 30% in. There is nothing really wrong with this; it is just boring. This is a town building fantasy where we watch a displaced human (he's been transported to a new world when Earth is destroyed) try to learn to be an alchemist and improve the town he's ended up in. You learn about him making cleaning agents and learning to purify water....things like that.
We read this from Theo's perspective. He is a soldier in post-apoclyptic Earth and when the planet is destroyed an unknown entity gives him a chance to start anew as an alchemist on a different planet.
This is an incredibly character driven story, and I didn't really like any of the characters much. They were all pretty bland. In the end, I just kept finding my mind drifting while listening to this. I was hoping the alchemy elements would draw me in, but you just listen the main character discuss strange fictional ingredients.
I listened to this on audiobook, and the narration isn't great, which added to my dislike. The narrator struggles to pin down characters' voices, and certain characters seem to sound slightly different every time he reads them. He also swapped character voices a few times, which you could tell was a mistake because he would switch voices mid-sentence. I would recommend skipping this on audiobook.
I agree with another review I read: if you like the first 25% of this book, you will love this story. If you enjoy LitRPG like Battle Mage Farmer, I would check this out. However, I liked Battle Mage Farmer a lot better than this book. I actually got through the first three Battle Mage Farmer books before I decided that series was just moving too slow for me.
My Summary (3/5): Overall this was too slow for me and I ended up not finishing it. This is very much a LitRPG fantasy town-building story. If that sounds awesome to you, this is well written. I would recommend skipping the audiobook though because the narration on that wasn't great. If you have read and enjoyed LitRPG series like Battle Mage Farmer (which I did read the first three books in), I think you might enjoy this one. Although keep in mind Battle Mage Farmer does have some dungeon delving and action (which I enjoyed) and this book did not have any of that at the point I stopped reading it.
November 29, 2024
I found this first book a pleasure to listen to and the characters great fun to explore. The world building and the depth of the characters the author wrote are interesting and fun. Narrator does a Great job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline. Can Not wait for the next Audible book in this Series, hopefully it come out very soon.
April 27, 2025
It's a cute book but wow the mc is Way to Nice he gives away his supplies and money 💰 like he's rich and is a push over but it a good read for a slice of life.
December 3, 2024
Slice -of-life, crafting, and city building done right.
In many ways it's a more succinct version of Alvin Atwater's alchemy story. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed that story but felt like it forgot what it wanted to be. I ended up losing track of the story.
In many ways this story is everything that one thought about being, minus the fighting from a highly reluctant MC. There was a genuine focus on alchemy that appears to be ramping up in complexity. Alchemy is actually involved in solving issues. And the MC isn't constantly fighting themselves on everythingmfrom the shop to wanting to help the town.
I enjoy the mundane grind and tension with bouts of the fanastical to help clear those issues. I appreciate not wanting wierd or bad romance to ruin the story, though I don't think a psuedo-marriage with intimacy was necissary. There's no reason the MC finding a romantic partner has to be overly dramatic or filled with steamy scenes... or even references. With that said, I still enjoyed the story despite my preference for wholesome romance, because the story filled the niche of an intimate partner.
TLDR: I definitely recomend this for those looking for a slice-of-life alchemy story with cozy elements. Especially one with less fighting and more crafting. Not to mention town management.
In many ways it's a more succinct version of Alvin Atwater's alchemy story. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed that story but felt like it forgot what it wanted to be. I ended up losing track of the story.
In many ways this story is everything that one thought about being, minus the fighting from a highly reluctant MC. There was a genuine focus on alchemy that appears to be ramping up in complexity. Alchemy is actually involved in solving issues. And the MC isn't constantly fighting themselves on everythingmfrom the shop to wanting to help the town.
I enjoy the mundane grind and tension with bouts of the fanastical to help clear those issues. I appreciate not wanting wierd or bad romance to ruin the story, though I don't think a psuedo-marriage with intimacy was necissary. There's no reason the MC finding a romantic partner has to be overly dramatic or filled with steamy scenes... or even references. With that said, I still enjoyed the story despite my preference for wholesome romance, because the story filled the niche of an intimate partner.
TLDR: I definitely recomend this for those looking for a slice-of-life alchemy story with cozy elements. Especially one with less fighting and more crafting. Not to mention town management.
May 26, 2025
DNF at 46%
While the premise of this book seems fun and cute, the book just doesn't deliver.
For me there are three main issues:
1. The main character. He is the typical straight white american male. He's a solider and has "black ops training". He portrays himself as some kind of saviour figure, who only cares about making his new home, Broken Tusk, a better place... pretty much from day one. He only just arrived, knows basically no-one, but acts like he is the strongest or maybe even only pillar of community. He sets out to make a couple improvements to the town, which are frankly ridiculous. He has exactly one (simple) idea each time and the solution works instantly and perfectly. And apparently no-one before him had any ideas or even tried making things better.
He also soul-bonds to someone within one or two days of meeting them (read platonic? marriage). They are the perfect match and their bond is legendary and only rarely ever seen... Yeah.
2. The Alchemy. It's just... so bland. Every recipe is just: distil an essence of "healing" or "cleaning" from a single ingredient and then put that essence into water together with one catch all catalyst/reagent. There's no variation, no brewing, no challenge - no magic! And then every potion Theo makes is immediately high quality and does whatever job perfectly. Mixing two essences is currently the most exciting thing Theo has done.
3. The Numbers. They just don't add up. The worst offender by far here is the currency. Its worth is horribly inconsistent and nonsensical. Theo pays the exact same for a single meal (except sometimes when it jumps to 5 times the price) at the shoddy tavern as for a whole newly (hand-)crafted chair. Which is to say the lowest amount possible at 1 copper. And then he even gets the amazing 5 chairs for 2 copper discount.
Pretty much everything costs exactly 1 copper. Maybe 10, if it's something expensive. But then people call Theo generous for paying 1-2 copper for services rendered to him and say that that kind of money could feed their family for a whole week.
There's also the thing where tanning a hide apparently takes a whole year (google tells me it's closer to a few weeks in reality), unless when Theo does it with Alchemy. Then it takes literal minutes (seconds?) and the quality is even improved as well.
It's all like this. The system, the levelling process (being level 20 is made out to be a life's worth of work, while Theo gets to level 5 in a few days???), the town and house upgrades, the potion batches and ingredient ratios. Makes one think the author didn't plan out any of this stuff and just put numbers down based on rough vibes.
I had to put the book down when the ego stroking became too much / too dense, to the point of being utterly obnoxious. Really can't recommend.
While the premise of this book seems fun and cute, the book just doesn't deliver.
For me there are three main issues:
1. The main character. He is the typical straight white american male. He's a solider and has "black ops training". He portrays himself as some kind of saviour figure, who only cares about making his new home, Broken Tusk, a better place... pretty much from day one. He only just arrived, knows basically no-one, but acts like he is the strongest or maybe even only pillar of community. He sets out to make a couple improvements to the town, which are frankly ridiculous. He has exactly one (simple) idea each time and the solution works instantly and perfectly. And apparently no-one before him had any ideas or even tried making things better.
He also soul-bonds to someone within one or two days of meeting them (read platonic? marriage). They are the perfect match and their bond is legendary and only rarely ever seen... Yeah.
2. The Alchemy. It's just... so bland. Every recipe is just: distil an essence of "healing" or "cleaning" from a single ingredient and then put that essence into water together with one catch all catalyst/reagent. There's no variation, no brewing, no challenge - no magic! And then every potion Theo makes is immediately high quality and does whatever job perfectly. Mixing two essences is currently the most exciting thing Theo has done.
3. The Numbers. They just don't add up. The worst offender by far here is the currency. Its worth is horribly inconsistent and nonsensical. Theo pays the exact same for a single meal (except sometimes when it jumps to 5 times the price) at the shoddy tavern as for a whole newly (hand-)crafted chair. Which is to say the lowest amount possible at 1 copper. And then he even gets the amazing 5 chairs for 2 copper discount.
Pretty much everything costs exactly 1 copper. Maybe 10, if it's something expensive. But then people call Theo generous for paying 1-2 copper for services rendered to him and say that that kind of money could feed their family for a whole week.
There's also the thing where tanning a hide apparently takes a whole year (google tells me it's closer to a few weeks in reality), unless when Theo does it with Alchemy. Then it takes literal minutes (seconds?) and the quality is even improved as well.
It's all like this. The system, the levelling process (being level 20 is made out to be a life's worth of work, while Theo gets to level 5 in a few days???), the town and house upgrades, the potion batches and ingredient ratios. Makes one think the author didn't plan out any of this stuff and just put numbers down based on rough vibes.
I had to put the book down when the ego stroking became too much / too dense, to the point of being utterly obnoxious. Really can't recommend.
April 15, 2025
An RPG sandbox with a cozy, slow burn
The Newt and Demon is equal parts relaxing and frustrating. I’m not usually a fan of cozy fantasy or heavy LitRPG mechanics, so this one wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. And yet... I finished it. That says something.
The book follows Theo, a former soldier who reincarnates in a peaceful, gamified world where he ditches all violence and becomes a town-building alchemist. His sudden shift from battle-hardened to community-loving was a bit jarring, and his relentless do-gooder attitude started to wear thin. Still, the whole leveling system and progression-based world scratched the same itch as a good RPG or crafting sim. Watching the town improve and systems unlock had that low-grade dopamine pull—not as good as actually playing a game, but enough to keep me reading for the next level up.
There are some likeable side characters (a few NPC-types that felt grounded and fun), but the titular newt and the whole terahek bonding plot? Weird. Especially when that newt speaks in a whiny, high-pitched voice that made me want to fast-forward. The narrator did a great job otherwise, but that particular voice choice was hard to sit through.
Mechanics are front and center here—skill boosts, system messages, and sudden knowledge downloads when leveling up. If that’s your thing, this book goes all in. Still, the book’s biggest limitation is how much it leans on those systems at the expense of deeper character drama or organic growth. It’s a chill read with decent pacing, good world-building, and just enough hook to maybe, maybe get me to try the sequel if it were handed to me. But it’s not at the top of my list. The writing is well done, but it's just not for me.
I'd give it 3.5 stars—round up if you are a die-hard cozy LitRPG fan who enjoys crafting life sims and slow, low-stakes progression. For everyone else, it's a 3-star book—especially if you’re here for action or character-driven drama—you might want to look elsewhere.
Special thanks to Aethon Books, who provided me with this book at my request.
The Newt and Demon is equal parts relaxing and frustrating. I’m not usually a fan of cozy fantasy or heavy LitRPG mechanics, so this one wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. And yet... I finished it. That says something.
The book follows Theo, a former soldier who reincarnates in a peaceful, gamified world where he ditches all violence and becomes a town-building alchemist. His sudden shift from battle-hardened to community-loving was a bit jarring, and his relentless do-gooder attitude started to wear thin. Still, the whole leveling system and progression-based world scratched the same itch as a good RPG or crafting sim. Watching the town improve and systems unlock had that low-grade dopamine pull—not as good as actually playing a game, but enough to keep me reading for the next level up.
There are some likeable side characters (a few NPC-types that felt grounded and fun), but the titular newt and the whole terahek bonding plot? Weird. Especially when that newt speaks in a whiny, high-pitched voice that made me want to fast-forward. The narrator did a great job otherwise, but that particular voice choice was hard to sit through.
Mechanics are front and center here—skill boosts, system messages, and sudden knowledge downloads when leveling up. If that’s your thing, this book goes all in. Still, the book’s biggest limitation is how much it leans on those systems at the expense of deeper character drama or organic growth. It’s a chill read with decent pacing, good world-building, and just enough hook to maybe, maybe get me to try the sequel if it were handed to me. But it’s not at the top of my list. The writing is well done, but it's just not for me.
I'd give it 3.5 stars—round up if you are a die-hard cozy LitRPG fan who enjoys crafting life sims and slow, low-stakes progression. For everyone else, it's a 3-star book—especially if you’re here for action or character-driven drama—you might want to look elsewhere.
Special thanks to Aethon Books, who provided me with this book at my request.
February 1, 2025
Audio: AWFUL! The character dialog is ok, but the parts it is plain narration the narrator sounds like a 60s radio newscaster.
Story: I felt the characters were not well developed so they are mostly bland one dimensional and we are told what they are instead of letting the reader make up their own mind based on their actions. Therefore, the reader is unable to develop any feelings or connections with them. In other word they are missing HEART, they feel cold, like a game character rather than a book character. This is a 16 hours long book, you would think they will put more effort on developing the characters and the relationship with the reader. For example what is the point of the relationship between the MC and the Pink Salamander? All they do is talk about irrelevant stuff with no value or need for the pink character. They are supposed to be "soul mates" and I can't even remember theor name!
The story was a good idea and I did enjoyed the laid-back no stress story since that is the definition of COZY. However, it is supposed to be focused on alchemy and that is not the case. Midway it starts getting into politics and him becoming the mayor of the town and taking upon himself fixing the town and dealing with the monsters issues instead of alchemy. I would have enjoyed it more if they focused on his alchemy and him traveling with his partner discovering new ingredients and so. Itis an ok read overall, but I'm not planning to continue the series. Onto my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
Story: I felt the characters were not well developed so they are mostly bland one dimensional and we are told what they are instead of letting the reader make up their own mind based on their actions. Therefore, the reader is unable to develop any feelings or connections with them. In other word they are missing HEART, they feel cold, like a game character rather than a book character. This is a 16 hours long book, you would think they will put more effort on developing the characters and the relationship with the reader. For example what is the point of the relationship between the MC and the Pink Salamander? All they do is talk about irrelevant stuff with no value or need for the pink character. They are supposed to be "soul mates" and I can't even remember theor name!
The story was a good idea and I did enjoyed the laid-back no stress story since that is the definition of COZY. However, it is supposed to be focused on alchemy and that is not the case. Midway it starts getting into politics and him becoming the mayor of the town and taking upon himself fixing the town and dealing with the monsters issues instead of alchemy. I would have enjoyed it more if they focused on his alchemy and him traveling with his partner discovering new ingredients and so. Itis an ok read overall, but I'm not planning to continue the series. Onto my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
March 3, 2025
When the sun is about to destroy his world, Theo Spencer is offered the gift of a new and quiet life. He gains a new body and a job as an alchemist. The small village of Broken Tusk is covered in mud and doesn't seem to offer much, but Theo is determined to make it shine. With his special skills and the hard work of his friends, he will put Broken Tusk on the map.
This wonderful cozy fantasy LitRPG is exactly what it promises to be. Broken Tusk is the perfect starter town. It's a little hovel in a swamp and there's mud everywhere. The village hasn't had much growth over the decades until Theo a.k.a. Belgar shows up. He's given a gift of knowing how to distill potions at his first level, and he quickly starts to make a name for himself. He doesn't focus on himself, though, but on the town and everyone in it too. With a nearby dungeon growing, they need to level up the town before more monsters come out, but the question is if it will all be enough. Great details about herbs, ingredients, and aspects of potion making.
This wonderful cozy fantasy LitRPG is exactly what it promises to be. Broken Tusk is the perfect starter town. It's a little hovel in a swamp and there's mud everywhere. The village hasn't had much growth over the decades until Theo a.k.a. Belgar shows up. He's given a gift of knowing how to distill potions at his first level, and he quickly starts to make a name for himself. He doesn't focus on himself, though, but on the town and everyone in it too. With a nearby dungeon growing, they need to level up the town before more monsters come out, but the question is if it will all be enough. Great details about herbs, ingredients, and aspects of potion making.
June 17, 2025
3.5 rounded up.
It's the end of Earth, and Theo finds himself reincarnated (isekai'd) to a new world. His last wish had been to lead a peaceful life, and that's what he gets in Broken Tusk, his new town.
After the sadness of the first few pages, the story is low key/ low stakes. I mean, the stakes are building up, and I expect them to get harder in later books, but for now, it's all about town building, leveling, creating community, making friends, and developing a unique relationship.
The relationship is between Theo and Tresk, who is the "newt" of the title. She's a real cutie, but she's also a rogue, and goes dungeon crawling. Quite a fun character. Theo and Tresk become bonded, but it's a platonic, yet exclusive, relationship. It can be interpreted in a few different ways, but ultimately, no romance.
It's a relaxing book, but everything came just a little too easy for Theo. I would have liked him to struggle more. Also, the money system makes no sense.
I'll keep reading the series when I need a low stress book.
It's the end of Earth, and Theo finds himself reincarnated (isekai'd) to a new world. His last wish had been to lead a peaceful life, and that's what he gets in Broken Tusk, his new town.
After the sadness of the first few pages, the story is low key/ low stakes. I mean, the stakes are building up, and I expect them to get harder in later books, but for now, it's all about town building, leveling, creating community, making friends, and developing a unique relationship.
The relationship is between Theo and Tresk, who is the "newt" of the title. She's a real cutie, but she's also a rogue, and goes dungeon crawling. Quite a fun character. Theo and Tresk become bonded, but it's a platonic, yet exclusive, relationship. It can be interpreted in a few different ways, but ultimately, no romance.
It's a relaxing book, but everything came just a little too easy for Theo. I would have liked him to struggle more. Also, the money system makes no sense.
I'll keep reading the series when I need a low stress book.
December 2, 2024
A perfect reading refresh
The cover hooked me with this romanticized idea of what it might be like to own a shop in the middle of a fantasy realm. I was immediately taken by the main character Theo and his unexpected Journey into this foreign land. Theo drew me in with his establishment as a demon with the opportunity to unlock rare an epic opportunities inside a long abandoned alchemy shop.
By the time he meets his partner, a newt marshling with a unique bonding spell, I knew I was in for a treat. The stats with small things like potions, buildings, and what their properties are has a fun and easy system to get into.
All in all, it was a great story from start to finish with excellent narration, invoking a regal, yet laid-back and entertaining tale of alchemic mastery, friendship, and townbuilding that stays cozy, while offering a glimpse to a very real world of adventurers and dungeons.
The cover hooked me with this romanticized idea of what it might be like to own a shop in the middle of a fantasy realm. I was immediately taken by the main character Theo and his unexpected Journey into this foreign land. Theo drew me in with his establishment as a demon with the opportunity to unlock rare an epic opportunities inside a long abandoned alchemy shop.
By the time he meets his partner, a newt marshling with a unique bonding spell, I knew I was in for a treat. The stats with small things like potions, buildings, and what their properties are has a fun and easy system to get into.
All in all, it was a great story from start to finish with excellent narration, invoking a regal, yet laid-back and entertaining tale of alchemic mastery, friendship, and townbuilding that stays cozy, while offering a glimpse to a very real world of adventurers and dungeons.
May 25, 2025
Cute, fun, easy read LitRPG/isekai fantasy.
I think my favorite part about this is the ‘low stakes’ world building. Yeah, the MC is kinda OP as a crafter, but in a twist for this genre, he doesn’t WANT to be a hero or an adventurer because he actually has PTSD from his first life. That’s definitely a new twist that I am enjoying (not the PTSD, the lack of desire to run around killing things and leveling up).
And while I enjoy Theo as a rather laid-back, easygoing character, it’s really Tresk who steals the show for me. I mean, come on- basically a giant pink axolotl who wants to be an assassin- and is actually pretty badass? That’s like an Ewok mastering kung fu! You can’t NOT love it!
Will this book be winning any prestigious awards? Not likely. Is it enjoyable? I think so. Shakespeare it is not, but then, I never liked Shakespeare and so many people swear by him. So will I be reading the next in the series? I already am.
I think my favorite part about this is the ‘low stakes’ world building. Yeah, the MC is kinda OP as a crafter, but in a twist for this genre, he doesn’t WANT to be a hero or an adventurer because he actually has PTSD from his first life. That’s definitely a new twist that I am enjoying (not the PTSD, the lack of desire to run around killing things and leveling up).
And while I enjoy Theo as a rather laid-back, easygoing character, it’s really Tresk who steals the show for me. I mean, come on- basically a giant pink axolotl who wants to be an assassin- and is actually pretty badass? That’s like an Ewok mastering kung fu! You can’t NOT love it!
Will this book be winning any prestigious awards? Not likely. Is it enjoyable? I think so. Shakespeare it is not, but then, I never liked Shakespeare and so many people swear by him. So will I be reading the next in the series? I already am.
November 26, 2024
This had all the earmarks of a great novel, so I got it. And boy it was soooooooo dang cute! There's just something about a cozy litRPG adventure that hits the right spot! Not only was it a cozy it was also about crafting another favorite bit of lit that I love! Newt and Demon is perfect... Theo was Isekaied straight from the Apocalypse to his new life as a Dronon (basically a Demon) and discovers a partner is already waiting for him. Tresk a Marshling (an axolotl). Theo has an amazing opportunity to be an Alchemist making potions while Tresk is planning on being a rogue a dungeon diver but they both still need to level first. They might even be able to help the town along their journey of leveling. So yeah go grab this audiobook because Christian J Gilliland gives a great nuanced performance and makes E.M. Griffiths book come to life.
May 15, 2025
I like the story, i like the characters (mostly) and i like the progression. MC was a little too generous for my liking though. I'm not saying don't help out your neighbors and the town, but he was just way too nice and generous. Like sickeningly so. Like Ebeneezer Scrooge on Christmas morning.
Also, that Taren Heck bond is confusing and stupid. You could have gotten rid of that subplot and that swampling girl altogether and the story would have been fine. Or just relegate her to being just another townie. But whatever. Mostly a great book.
Oh, and Mc talking about how he needs to find an alchemy reagent that will help the farmers to grow faster crops, and then finding said ingredient not 2 minutes later novel time, that was a bit lame too. Draw that shit out, or save it for the next book, since he didn't even get around to making the growth essence this book anyway.
Also, that Taren Heck bond is confusing and stupid. You could have gotten rid of that subplot and that swampling girl altogether and the story would have been fine. Or just relegate her to being just another townie. But whatever. Mostly a great book.
Oh, and Mc talking about how he needs to find an alchemy reagent that will help the farmers to grow faster crops, and then finding said ingredient not 2 minutes later novel time, that was a bit lame too. Draw that shit out, or save it for the next book, since he didn't even get around to making the growth essence this book anyway.
May 2, 2025
So there's not anything exactly horrible about this book but there is nothing to like either. The characters are less than one-dimensional (in that many of them don't have a single recognizable character trait), the world is painfully generic, the litrpg system is anemic, and the conflict is non-existent.
Now you might think "this is a low-stakes cozy cozy fantasy, it doesn't need conflict" but that's not true. You don't need violence or life-and-deaths risks but you need the character to be trying to achieve something. Unfortunately, here the MC just achieves everything effortlessly almost before he's even decided he wants to do it. There is just nothing here for anyone except for enough text to waste some hour.
Now you might think "this is a low-stakes cozy cozy fantasy, it doesn't need conflict" but that's not true. You don't need violence or life-and-deaths risks but you need the character to be trying to achieve something. Unfortunately, here the MC just achieves everything effortlessly almost before he's even decided he wants to do it. There is just nothing here for anyone except for enough text to waste some hour.
September 27, 2025
Cozy and fun read
It's a cozy and fun read.
I never imagined I could enjoy reading about an average guy, making his potions, and selling them to others. There's a certain charm to this slow moving book that gripped me.
There are no big battles, no arguments and tension in the book.
It's a very slice of life.
It has a bond between the demon and a marshling(kind of dwarfs is what I imagine them to be, but colorful), awesome friendships that he makes along with 'kingdom' building. It's still a long way for it to become a kingdom of its own but I assume they will be in the future.
If you want to forget about the stress of your life and have a relaxing read, this is the one for you.
It's a cozy and fun read.
I never imagined I could enjoy reading about an average guy, making his potions, and selling them to others. There's a certain charm to this slow moving book that gripped me.
There are no big battles, no arguments and tension in the book.
It's a very slice of life.
It has a bond between the demon and a marshling(kind of dwarfs is what I imagine them to be, but colorful), awesome friendships that he makes along with 'kingdom' building. It's still a long way for it to become a kingdom of its own but I assume they will be in the future.
If you want to forget about the stress of your life and have a relaxing read, this is the one for you.
April 18, 2025
If you are into low stakes, overpowered MC, and finding a life partner in the first 3 chapters look no further this book is for you.
Sadly this book focuses more on city building then the alchemy and I found the alchemy to be the best part. It is clearly well thought out and there is an entire system and process designed for it.
Everyone is super kind and helps the main character along which is standard for these books. I feel this one does a poor job of having an overarching problem that pushes the story along.
Personally would love to have seen more focus on the alchemy as that is where this book shines.
Sadly this book focuses more on city building then the alchemy and I found the alchemy to be the best part. It is clearly well thought out and there is an entire system and process designed for it.
Everyone is super kind and helps the main character along which is standard for these books. I feel this one does a poor job of having an overarching problem that pushes the story along.
Personally would love to have seen more focus on the alchemy as that is where this book shines.
July 19, 2025
Solid, Easy-going with lovable characters
Cozy, nice, low stakes, just what I needed to be reading right now… an excellent ensemble of characters. I am looking forward to the entire group meeting the various challenges and making progress together. The writing is decent to good.
My quibbles are exceedingly minor and not note worthy but I felt it necessary to subtract a star. I am new to the “cozy-nice-low stakes-LitRPG” genre so my review standards may be off-base.
I look forward to continuing in the series.
Cozy, nice, low stakes, just what I needed to be reading right now… an excellent ensemble of characters. I am looking forward to the entire group meeting the various challenges and making progress together. The writing is decent to good.
My quibbles are exceedingly minor and not note worthy but I felt it necessary to subtract a star. I am new to the “cozy-nice-low stakes-LitRPG” genre so my review standards may be off-base.
I look forward to continuing in the series.
Read
April 10, 2025Simple low stakes
I love it when THE WORLD IS NOT ENDING, so chill dude.
Interesting enough potion and settlement progression with ok characters. I'm not a fan of litrpg as it can reduce interesting conundrums into blah.
MC's relationship with his soul mate levels up over time and is a bit close to being made a blah if not careful. -Zero romance or even basic affection is a minus for me.
Congratulations your relationship is at 99!! Title awarded: "Cringe".
I love it when THE WORLD IS NOT ENDING, so chill dude.
Interesting enough potion and settlement progression with ok characters. I'm not a fan of litrpg as it can reduce interesting conundrums into blah.
MC's relationship with his soul mate levels up over time and is a bit close to being made a blah if not careful. -Zero romance or even basic affection is a minus for me.
Congratulations your relationship is at 99!! Title awarded: "Cringe".
September 11, 2025
Nicely done cozy fantasy, I especially liked how the magic system made it easier to get things done based on experience and the rarity of cores. Even better was kingdom building aspects and the tools available for it, something that should be more common in litrpg settings. A few things got repetitive and Tresk's character wasn't really fleshed out (given her importance) but overall a good start to the series.
December 1, 2024
Good reading
Not your average hack and slash dungeon book, it has elements of a lot of crafting and town building plus some slice of life parts, if your fed up with the grind of hero slash em ups and want a nice tale of just folk trying to get by with alchemy and world building in a cozy story then this book should be a go to book for you.
Not your average hack and slash dungeon book, it has elements of a lot of crafting and town building plus some slice of life parts, if your fed up with the grind of hero slash em ups and want a nice tale of just folk trying to get by with alchemy and world building in a cozy story then this book should be a go to book for you.
December 27, 2024
Had to buy it before I reviewed it
Totally a book I can get behind. I think the one thing other than the great writing, that I enjoyed was that it wasn’t just the people that you were looking at there abilities sheet. I loved that you were able to see how the Village leveled, buildings leveled, and yes, how the people leveled. It was a fun, interesting, fascinating book.
Totally a book I can get behind. I think the one thing other than the great writing, that I enjoyed was that it wasn’t just the people that you were looking at there abilities sheet. I loved that you were able to see how the Village leveled, buildings leveled, and yes, how the people leveled. It was a fun, interesting, fascinating book.
February 5, 2025
Sometimes you're looking for deep and meaningful works of art and other times you just want to think about a character leveling up in a cozy game.
If you're looking for that second experience, this is the book for you. No pesky romance. No horrible sadness. It's all just leveling and character growth. There's barely a plot. Still good!
If you're looking for that second experience, this is the book for you. No pesky romance. No horrible sadness. It's all just leveling and character growth. There's barely a plot. Still good!
February 24, 2025
Laid back and cozy!
I have been reading a lot of cozy fantasy lately. They are just so easy to read and enjoyable. This is my first CF about an alchemist and I really enjoyed it. Things move a little fast and there wasn’t as much character detail as on some others I have read. (Demon World Boba comes to mind) but still very enjoyable. Highly recommend!
I have been reading a lot of cozy fantasy lately. They are just so easy to read and enjoyable. This is my first CF about an alchemist and I really enjoyed it. Things move a little fast and there wasn’t as much character detail as on some others I have read. (Demon World Boba comes to mind) but still very enjoyable. Highly recommend!
March 5, 2025
Full Demon Alchemist
A chill town building story with a bit of litrpg to even out the wholesomeness. This is a cozy read, like the title implies. There is no romance, no evilness, no grimdark, light drama, no bombastic battles, just a demon who's dedicated to a place and is good at alchemy. It's delightful, and is a good palate cleanser.
A chill town building story with a bit of litrpg to even out the wholesomeness. This is a cozy read, like the title implies. There is no romance, no evilness, no grimdark, light drama, no bombastic battles, just a demon who's dedicated to a place and is good at alchemy. It's delightful, and is a good palate cleanser.
April 30, 2025
This book is just okay. I don't really feel like I have a good idea of who Theo is as a character in the fantasy world. I don't know if it's the writing that feels forced or if it's just me feeling like I need to force myself to read it. The cover art is cute and I like the idea of Tresk. I wonder if she was the main character would I enjoy this more?
May 7, 2025
Great Read
I really enjoyed this book. I found all of the characters intriguing, especially Harbinger and Fenian. I loved that the author didn't push Theo and Freak into a romantic relationship. The bond that he created with them has me invested moreso into the story. This is definitely a series that I will continue to read.
I really enjoyed this book. I found all of the characters intriguing, especially Harbinger and Fenian. I loved that the author didn't push Theo and Freak into a romantic relationship. The bond that he created with them has me invested moreso into the story. This is definitely a series that I will continue to read.
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