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Last Life #9
Predestination
The next books of the series!
Breaking Point (Last Life Book #10):
Resistance (Last Life Book #11):
A new ruler is ascending to the throne of Vintervald, and his army is heading to the North to give battle to the Frost Knights. And meanwhile, Princess Astrid is desperate to find new allies.
The King of Astland dreams of an Imperial Crown, and he's waiting for the right moment to hurl his legions into Vestonia.
In Atalia, a shift in the balance of power is already well underway, and the Golden Lion is hungry for revenge.
The King of Claron, Olgerd III the Proud, has fixed his eyes on Bergonia and the Margraviate de Valier.
Carl III's illness seems to have subsided temporarily, leaving him frantically trying to collect new legions.
The Duke de Bauffremont is returning to Herouxville from Atalian captivity, while his rival the Duke de Gondy continues to strengthen his influence.
Meanwhile, Max is returning to Fort de Gris, after vanquishing one of the Elder Hrimthurs. His actions have thrown a wrench into the plans of the Dark Ones, who aim to destroy the world beyond the Barrier.
This world is home to everyone Max holds dear, and he can't let them destroy it. Whether his appearance in this world was Predestination at work, or the result of some sort of complicated web of intrigue, is still a mystery. But one thing is defending his loved ones will require him to act quickly and decisively...
Breaking Point (Last Life Book #10):
Resistance (Last Life Book #11):
A new ruler is ascending to the throne of Vintervald, and his army is heading to the North to give battle to the Frost Knights. And meanwhile, Princess Astrid is desperate to find new allies.
The King of Astland dreams of an Imperial Crown, and he's waiting for the right moment to hurl his legions into Vestonia.
In Atalia, a shift in the balance of power is already well underway, and the Golden Lion is hungry for revenge.
The King of Claron, Olgerd III the Proud, has fixed his eyes on Bergonia and the Margraviate de Valier.
Carl III's illness seems to have subsided temporarily, leaving him frantically trying to collect new legions.
The Duke de Bauffremont is returning to Herouxville from Atalian captivity, while his rival the Duke de Gondy continues to strengthen his influence.
Meanwhile, Max is returning to Fort de Gris, after vanquishing one of the Elder Hrimthurs. His actions have thrown a wrench into the plans of the Dark Ones, who aim to destroy the world beyond the Barrier.
This world is home to everyone Max holds dear, and he can't let them destroy it. Whether his appearance in this world was Predestination at work, or the result of some sort of complicated web of intrigue, is still a mystery. But one thing is defending his loved ones will require him to act quickly and decisively...
497 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2025
242 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Alexey Osadchuk
34 books528 followersAlexey Osadchuk was born in 1979 in the Ukraine. In the late 1990s his family moved to the south of Spain where they still live today.
Alexey was an avid reader from an early age, devouring adventure novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jack London and Arthur Conan Doyle. In 2010 he wrote his first fantasy novel which was immediately accepted for publication.
He also used to be a passionate online gamer which prompted him to write the story of a man who joins an MMORPG game hoping to raise money for his daughter’s heart surgery. The first book of Mirror World was published In 2013. The English translation of the series is now available on Amazon in its entirety, prompting a reviewer to call Alexey “one of the best LitRPG authors to date”.
Alexey was an avid reader from an early age, devouring adventure novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jack London and Arthur Conan Doyle. In 2010 he wrote his first fantasy novel which was immediately accepted for publication.
He also used to be a passionate online gamer which prompted him to write the story of a man who joins an MMORPG game hoping to raise money for his daughter’s heart surgery. The first book of Mirror World was published In 2013. The English translation of the series is now available on Amazon in its entirety, prompting a reviewer to call Alexey “one of the best LitRPG authors to date”.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 3, 2025
somewhat disappointed
Spoiler Alert.
I’ll start by saying that Alexey is one of my favorite authors. I’m a big fan of his Underdog series, and I’ve really enjoyed this one as well. This is the weakest book in the series so far. Not terrible, but only decent. At this point there are too many Barons, Counts and Dukes to keep up with. It’s beginning to detract from the story. More importantly, this story didn’t feel very satisfying. It felt more like a side quest with a little bit of main plot progression. The Verena storyline was quite frustrating. 1) it required Max to be incompetent which is completely out of character. 2) It felt like a huge distraction. 3) The fact that she, who is naive at best, easily manipulated idiot at worst might be an Auring is very disappointing.
More on this last point. In general, it’s really annoying when author builds up an MC and then part way in the series starts giving the abilities that make him special to everyone else. It’s a great way to ruin a series. Additionally, the fact that Astrid who is actually competent fighting for her country ends up partnering with the demons, and Verena who has accomplished less than zero - She has actually been a better negative for the only person who helped her - is getting the special powers doesn’t make much sense.
Spoiler Alert.
I’ll start by saying that Alexey is one of my favorite authors. I’m a big fan of his Underdog series, and I’ve really enjoyed this one as well. This is the weakest book in the series so far. Not terrible, but only decent. At this point there are too many Barons, Counts and Dukes to keep up with. It’s beginning to detract from the story. More importantly, this story didn’t feel very satisfying. It felt more like a side quest with a little bit of main plot progression. The Verena storyline was quite frustrating. 1) it required Max to be incompetent which is completely out of character. 2) It felt like a huge distraction. 3) The fact that she, who is naive at best, easily manipulated idiot at worst might be an Auring is very disappointing.
More on this last point. In general, it’s really annoying when author builds up an MC and then part way in the series starts giving the abilities that make him special to everyone else. It’s a great way to ruin a series. Additionally, the fact that Astrid who is actually competent fighting for her country ends up partnering with the demons, and Verena who has accomplished less than zero - She has actually been a better negative for the only person who helped her - is getting the special powers doesn’t make much sense.
March 1, 2026
The best of the series to date has Max returned victorious and stronger from the Shadow after defeating a powerful demon and recovering golden bruts and much more. However the news from Vestonia is mixed, as despite his victories and healing potions King Carl and his jester adviser Chico distrust him and on one hand the credit for his victories is slowly but surely attributed to Carl's oldest son Prince Phillipe and the Marquis de Gondi his future brother in law, and on the other an unholy alliance of the Duke of Bauffremont (the king's brother in law), the count of Grammont (Max' uncle) and the wealthy merchant Legrand (Max supposed grandfather, though as it is becoming clear, it's highly likely Max is actually from quite a different family on his mother's side) conspire to blacken his name by hiring bandits to attack travelers in the margrave of Valier name. And this is just the start, as Verena's secret has been discovered by the wrong person, various powers plan their moves and the demons from the North are on the move...
So, Max decides to go incognito back to the capital and attaches himself to an acting troupe, relieving his past life's youth as a circus kid in the process. And so it goes, with a lot of fun, conspiracies, magical beings and much more. More players are introduced, and the lines of conflict are starting to be drawn sharply. The ending is just awesome with a show for the ages, a timely rescue, a murder and a dark deal, promising so much more for the next books.
Loved the narration of the audiobook too and while I have to read the available next installment asap, I hope it will also get an audio release soon as that adds quite a lot to the enjoyment.
Overall excellent stuff and a series that just grows in complexity and strength.
So, Max decides to go incognito back to the capital and attaches himself to an acting troupe, relieving his past life's youth as a circus kid in the process. And so it goes, with a lot of fun, conspiracies, magical beings and much more. More players are introduced, and the lines of conflict are starting to be drawn sharply. The ending is just awesome with a show for the ages, a timely rescue, a murder and a dark deal, promising so much more for the next books.
Loved the narration of the audiobook too and while I have to read the available next installment asap, I hope it will also get an audio release soon as that adds quite a lot to the enjoyment.
Overall excellent stuff and a series that just grows in complexity and strength.
February 25, 2026
Predestination (Last Life Book #9) by Alexey Osadchuk
📖 Overview
🧠 What This Volume Does Well
⚖️ Where It Slightly Falters
🎭 Core Themes
📊 Series Context
🔥 Final Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 / 5)
Nine books in, and the question is no longer whether the hero can survive.
It’s whether he can escape what was written for him.
Predestination is not just another installment in the Last Life saga—it’s a philosophical tightening of the series’ core tension. Alexey Osadchuk escalates the narrative beyond combat scaling and into inevitability itself. Fate, agency, consequence—Book Nine sharpens them all.
📖 Overview
By this stage of the series, the protagonist operates at a level where brute force is no longer the primary obstacle. Instead, the battlefield becomes layered with prophecy, manipulation, and long-buried machinations.
Osadchuk pivots from tactical survival toward existential strategy. The external enemies are dangerous—but the looming structure of “predestination” is the true antagonist.
🧠 What This Volume Does Well
1. Thematic Escalation
The series has always flirted with fate-versus-choice undertones. Book Nine brings that tension into the foreground. The protagonist’s awareness of larger forces creates internal friction that feels earned.
2. Strategic Maturity
The growth arc is no longer about gaining power—it’s about deploying it with restraint. Decisions ripple further than ever.
3. Narrative Payoff
Threads planted in earlier volumes tighten here. Alliances are tested. Old assumptions unravel. The long-game storytelling pays dividends.
⚖️ Where It Slightly Falters
1. Density
This installment demands attention. Political maneuvering and layered strategy may feel heavy for readers expecting straightforward action.
2. Familiar Escalation Structure
While the philosophical layer is strong, the structural beats—threat emergence, tactical adaptation, climactic confrontation—remain genre-consistent.
🎭 Core Themes
Fate vs. Free Will: Can knowledge of destiny alter destiny?
Power’s Isolation: The higher the ascent, the fewer true allies remain.
Strategic Patience: Victory comes from positioning, not impulse.
📊 Series Context
Compared to earlier entries, Predestination feels more contemplative. It signals a shift from survival arc to legacy arc.
Where earlier books tested resilience, this one tests philosophy.
🔥 Final Verdict
Predestination proves that long-running progression fantasy can evolve beyond stat sheets and scaling charts.
This is a story about inevitability—and the audacity to challenge it.
Nine books deep, Osadchuk isn’t just escalating power.
He’s interrogating destiny.
And that makes Book Nine one of the series’ most intellectually satisfying entries yet.
October 13, 2025
Rating 4.0 stars
Always takes me a little while to get back into these books. The release dates are pretty far apart and there are a bunch of characters that I have to get reacquainted with. The political maneuvers are also different from one book to another. In the last book, the MC was a hero. In this one, not so much.
Always takes me a little while to get back into these books. The release dates are pretty far apart and there are a bunch of characters that I have to get reacquainted with. The political maneuvers are also different from one book to another. In the last book, the MC was a hero. In this one, not so much.
May 3, 2025
5/5.
A brilliant edition to the series, and one of my favorites so far. It does a great job of balancing worldbuilding, action, mysteries, magical exploration, and ever-evolving politics as the series progresses. We witness Max's return to the capital of Vestonia, Herouxville, but frankly, there are many other important perspectives in this book, across continents, from allies to enemies. Sometimes, Max's POVs may almost seem in the minority, which may irritate some people, but didn't truly bother me; the fact that Max is just one of several powerful players with their own schemes makes the world feel more real and fleshed out. He's finally gotten to a state where most of the continent's major players and several powerful beings have their eyes set on him, for better or for worse, but our wily fox isn't so easily outmaneuvered. There's a long list of enemies he'll have to deal it before he can finally finish off the Hrimthurs, and he makes a great deal of progress in this book. Many loose ends are tied up as new plotlines open and antagonists reveal themselves... And that ending... Can't wait for the next book!
A brilliant edition to the series, and one of my favorites so far. It does a great job of balancing worldbuilding, action, mysteries, magical exploration, and ever-evolving politics as the series progresses. We witness Max's return to the capital of Vestonia, Herouxville, but frankly, there are many other important perspectives in this book, across continents, from allies to enemies. Sometimes, Max's POVs may almost seem in the minority, which may irritate some people, but didn't truly bother me; the fact that Max is just one of several powerful players with their own schemes makes the world feel more real and fleshed out. He's finally gotten to a state where most of the continent's major players and several powerful beings have their eyes set on him, for better or for worse, but our wily fox isn't so easily outmaneuvered. There's a long list of enemies he'll have to deal it before he can finally finish off the Hrimthurs, and he makes a great deal of progress in this book. Many loose ends are tied up as new plotlines open and antagonists reveal themselves... And that ending... Can't wait for the next book!
September 14, 2025
This story is starting to drown in the increasingly complex politics and the many POVs. I may have reached the end of my journey in this world, and I'm sad about it.
September 4, 2025
love the story, needs recaps or at least a character guide.
If you are not reading straight through and actually waiting for the next book, it can be a little hard to remember who everyone is right away. Each story is literally just the next chapters. No recaps, no prologue, just start next chapter of a web series.
If you are not reading straight through and actually waiting for the next book, it can be a little hard to remember who everyone is right away. Each story is literally just the next chapters. No recaps, no prologue, just start next chapter of a web series.
September 2, 2025
I have been waiting anxiously for book 9. Have to say I am disappointed it is a Hot Mess,.Oh so complicated. And the author doesn’t say if there is another several books on the series or if when they will be published sigh..
It’s a great series. It’s also very East European as it has so many different plots outside of the MC’s actions. I was excited to read this book but it simply is full of the different storylines and has little of the MC and more of all the convoluted plots going on around him. I am hoping that the author will try to tie up some of this mess and go with the storyline. It is too complicated to read much more of it. I have mostly stopped reading most of the East European, Russian fiction because they cannot stop themselves from writing massive complicated stories they want War and Peace I think.Tolstoys dead get over it.
It’s a great series. It’s also very East European as it has so many different plots outside of the MC’s actions. I was excited to read this book but it simply is full of the different storylines and has little of the MC and more of all the convoluted plots going on around him. I am hoping that the author will try to tie up some of this mess and go with the storyline. It is too complicated to read much more of it. I have mostly stopped reading most of the East European, Russian fiction because they cannot stop themselves from writing massive complicated stories they want War and Peace I think.Tolstoys dead get over it.
March 5, 2026
Starting to get bored with this series. Story is all over the place and going in different directions at the same time. Stories in stories with no real main pay off.
September 3, 2025
Kinda Meh
I have devoured this series. But this one had too much political machinations. The humor, one-up-man-ship, and MC’s cleverness, not to mention the first born and other characters predominant in previous books was missing. This book seemed too much like filler. I paid $9 for this and should have gotten better for my money. It’s already a bit short, so I’m left a bit disappointed. I will continue the series, but I’ll not be preordering this time, and worse, won’t be waiting in anticipation as before.
I have devoured this series. But this one had too much political machinations. The humor, one-up-man-ship, and MC’s cleverness, not to mention the first born and other characters predominant in previous books was missing. This book seemed too much like filler. I paid $9 for this and should have gotten better for my money. It’s already a bit short, so I’m left a bit disappointed. I will continue the series, but I’ll not be preordering this time, and worse, won’t be waiting in anticipation as before.
September 5, 2025
A great plot but a slightly flawed delivery
The book had a slow start, an okay middle part and a twist and acion packed finale. While i as usual love the intrigues and twists I would have preferred more emphasis on the sabotage part and a less anticlimactic castle defense and main fight.
In my opinion the MC should have dealt with the complete bandit problem as he easily could have done. Allowing it to continue felt cold and wrong. Not showing Legrand's perspective at a critical junction was a missed opportunity.
The king and Iko disappointed me in this book.
Given the complexity of the plot, the books desperately need maps in my opinion! Vestonia has so many neighbours and i have no clue where this bloodlord resides.
The book has several translation and editing issues such as "enemy lines" instead "energy lines"..
The book had a slow start, an okay middle part and a twist and acion packed finale. While i as usual love the intrigues and twists I would have preferred more emphasis on the sabotage part and a less anticlimactic castle defense and main fight.
In my opinion the MC should have dealt with the complete bandit problem as he easily could have done. Allowing it to continue felt cold and wrong. Not showing Legrand's perspective at a critical junction was a missed opportunity.
The king and Iko disappointed me in this book.
Given the complexity of the plot, the books desperately need maps in my opinion! Vestonia has so many neighbours and i have no clue where this bloodlord resides.
The book has several translation and editing issues such as "enemy lines" instead "energy lines"..
September 9, 2025
Too Expensive, Corrupt Marketing
Got caught up in bait and switch, (first book Kindle Unlimited) now I'm in $60 odd and hooked. All the other authors in Osadchuk's little Cabal seem to be Russian and use the same "marketing bait and switch" tool. Amazon appears okay with this "slight" deception because it sells books at a higher commission for them. So bottom line, Amazon again throws its customers under the bus with a wink, wink, nod, nod. All the good words PR spewing towards fair commercial ethics and healthy goodwill towards people (customers)... fluff covering old fashioned corporate greed. And that eventually is Predestination. :-)
ps
At least Temu tells it as it is. $$
pss
Amazon won't publish a review like this
Got caught up in bait and switch, (first book Kindle Unlimited) now I'm in $60 odd and hooked. All the other authors in Osadchuk's little Cabal seem to be Russian and use the same "marketing bait and switch" tool. Amazon appears okay with this "slight" deception because it sells books at a higher commission for them. So bottom line, Amazon again throws its customers under the bus with a wink, wink, nod, nod. All the good words PR spewing towards fair commercial ethics and healthy goodwill towards people (customers)... fluff covering old fashioned corporate greed. And that eventually is Predestination. :-)
ps
At least Temu tells it as it is. $$
pss
Amazon won't publish a review like this
September 7, 2025
good but still some issues
I think the story overall is still moving properly and the book overall met expectations. This one dealt more with the politics of the world and some level of character development so don’t expect too much action. However, considering the authors tendency to go into excessive scene detail at times, I really don’t like how short the books are. It can be read in a day which considering the price is a bit annoying. Guess I’m too used to series like Defiance of the Fall and Hell difficulty tutorial which are almost 3 times longer. A lot of cliff hangers in the end but that is par for the course for series books.
I think the story overall is still moving properly and the book overall met expectations. This one dealt more with the politics of the world and some level of character development so don’t expect too much action. However, considering the authors tendency to go into excessive scene detail at times, I really don’t like how short the books are. It can be read in a day which considering the price is a bit annoying. Guess I’m too used to series like Defiance of the Fall and Hell difficulty tutorial which are almost 3 times longer. A lot of cliff hangers in the end but that is par for the course for series books.
September 21, 2025
Sophia really pissed me off in the book and I’m glad Max left. What kills me she was shock at his reaction like girl you living in your own fantasy. Max never pursue or insinuate anything romantic, honestly he’s barely been around to even develop such connections. Also as soon she finally got some attention or felt important she immediately start changing her tune but of course that’s Carl manipulating her, even though I would like to she truly what to do better and stop being a coward. Idk I just feel like she really jeopardized Max and despite his warnings blaming her moment of weakness over her feeling of him 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2025
So so
Let me start with that this is a well written book with good editing. That’s the pro. The cons is that the tempo is slow and it’s dedicated to bring us some future events without any passion or excitement on the way. It feels more like a coast to coast greyhound than a cruise through the Caribbean, you can sleep on the way because you will not see any spectacular sights on your journey and the food consists of a stale sandwich and tepid water instead of dinner at the captain’s table.
Let me start with that this is a well written book with good editing. That’s the pro. The cons is that the tempo is slow and it’s dedicated to bring us some future events without any passion or excitement on the way. It feels more like a coast to coast greyhound than a cruise through the Caribbean, you can sleep on the way because you will not see any spectacular sights on your journey and the food consists of a stale sandwich and tepid water instead of dinner at the captain’s table.
September 2, 2025
Loved it.
I have read all nine books and love all of them. Well written tale, it flows. No bumps, no hiccups. A good series, I have read each book, at least twice.
I am looking forward to the next book.
I have read all nine books and love all of them. Well written tale, it flows. No bumps, no hiccups. A good series, I have read each book, at least twice.
I am looking forward to the next book.
September 3, 2025
He who dated wins !!
Max heads back into the lions den that is Herouxville stopping to take out some trash on the way ,once there he finds it a cauldron of intrigue where his opportunities for mischief are limitless and he settles a few scores and has to alter his plans somewhat.
Max heads back into the lions den that is Herouxville stopping to take out some trash on the way ,once there he finds it a cauldron of intrigue where his opportunities for mischief are limitless and he settles a few scores and has to alter his plans somewhat.
September 11, 2025
Amazing
I’m very happy to say that this series continues to surprise and entertain! So many series seem to lose track of the overarching storyline and loose their readers. I’m so glad this series has been awesome start to book 9. Keep up the great work.
I’m very happy to say that this series continues to surprise and entertain! So many series seem to lose track of the overarching storyline and loose their readers. I’m so glad this series has been awesome start to book 9. Keep up the great work.
October 10, 2025
I've been following this series for 2 years now, and as much as I enjoy the plot, magic and the likes, it's too short for almost a year's wait.
I demand books 10 and 11 to be out before the end of this year Sir Alexey!
I demand books 10 and 11 to be out before the end of this year Sir Alexey!
November 28, 2025
All the sneaking around is kind of annoying
I get that how paranoid the king is an everything but he should have some trust with him and talk to him and told him of a little bit of what's going on or show that his loyal or something. It just makes things unnecessary complicated
I get that how paranoid the king is an everything but he should have some trust with him and talk to him and told him of a little bit of what's going on or show that his loyal or something. It just makes things unnecessary complicated
January 26, 2026
Fantastic!
The characters are so good. I want to explore so many of them more. But also want to focus more on the MC. It’s becoming a complex web of characters, plots, schemes, goals, and agendas.
Thanks for another great story!
The characters are so good. I want to explore so many of them more. But also want to focus more on the MC. It’s becoming a complex web of characters, plots, schemes, goals, and agendas.
Thanks for another great story!
Want to read
April 22, 2025Eeekkkk! I’m dancing in my seat.
September 2, 2025
solid work
Latest novel in the series, setting up the next phase of the story. I really enjoyed it, focused more on the politics of the world.
Latest novel in the series, setting up the next phase of the story. I really enjoyed it, focused more on the politics of the world.
September 4, 2025
It was great. Length wise it was back to former glory and story is packed with developments. Can't wait for what is waiting down the road for Max.
September 4, 2025
Excellent.
Yet another amazing book. The depth of these books and amazing plot twists always get me hooked. Can't wait for the next one.
Yet another amazing book. The depth of these books and amazing plot twists always get me hooked. Can't wait for the next one.
September 5, 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
September 7, 2025
great book
I really enjoy that book. I think I need a little touch of editing here and there but overall it's like a 5+ enjoyed the characters and the way he writes the story.
I really enjoy that book. I think I need a little touch of editing here and there but overall it's like a 5+ enjoyed the characters and the way he writes the story.
October 3, 2025
sigh........
November 29, 2025
Great story!
Really good book so far! So much going on in the country. I'm surprised that Philip got killed and they figured it out. Can't wait for the next book!
Really good book so far! So much going on in the country. I'm surprised that Philip got killed and they figured it out. Can't wait for the next book!
February 17, 2026
Awesome Stuff
This series of a gypsy being soul transferred to a bastard noble was a very interesting entertaining read that I really enjoyed reading.
This series of a gypsy being soul transferred to a bastard noble was a very interesting entertaining read that I really enjoyed reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews