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Arcane Pathfinder #3
Arcane Pathfinder: Book 3: Evolution
Sam's adventures continue!
Join Sam as she explores the Beastlands in a quest to find a way off planet Hallista. Nothing ever comes easy for the enigmatic Arcane Pathfinder, though. Things get complicated quickly when Nara's world quest leads her back to Sam, and they discover the true intentions of the church.
Sam and her eclectic group are pushed to their limits when faced with encounters outside their control, like meddling goddesses, a crashed spaceship dungeon, deadly trees, a dungeon break, an attack on an elven mega city, and brutal battles against increasingly powerful foes. But Sam's biggest surprises come from an unexpected declaration of love from an unlikely source and when she finally meets her ultimate avatar.
Sam knows she must evolve if she wants to stand a chance in the greater multiverse, and she intends to do just that. She just wishes it didn't have to hurt so much...
Join Sam as she explores the Beastlands in a quest to find a way off planet Hallista. Nothing ever comes easy for the enigmatic Arcane Pathfinder, though. Things get complicated quickly when Nara's world quest leads her back to Sam, and they discover the true intentions of the church.
Sam and her eclectic group are pushed to their limits when faced with encounters outside their control, like meddling goddesses, a crashed spaceship dungeon, deadly trees, a dungeon break, an attack on an elven mega city, and brutal battles against increasingly powerful foes. But Sam's biggest surprises come from an unexpected declaration of love from an unlikely source and when she finally meets her ultimate avatar.
Sam knows she must evolve if she wants to stand a chance in the greater multiverse, and she intends to do just that. She just wishes it didn't have to hurt so much...
- GenresFantasy
645 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2025
113 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 8, 2025
This is third in an isekai LitRPG series you'll want to read in order.
At this point, you should know what you're getting, including the antics and personalities of Sam's fanclub. This one is all about the Beastlands and throwing off the shackles of the obscene slavers of the Church of Light.
Two things to note in this one. First, we get more love in Sam's relationship than I expected. I should scare quote that. "Love". I mean, it's on par with any other harem fantasy with a Mary Sue lead. Pronouncedly so, frankly. I didn't expect that due to Sam's whole "I'm a wanderer" schtick that's actually enforced by her class. Indeed, by the end of this book, she's starting to feel the strain of being in the same country for so long so love proclamations caught me off guard.
Second, did I say harem? I admit that I didn't see this coming even though Sam hasn't exactly been monogamous so far. She has been exclusive with her main squeeze for a couple of books now. So having an explicit "hey, we're starting a harem here, ain't that fun" crowbarred in was a bit of a twist I hadn't seen coming. True love declarations are made, followed up by "I can't wait to see who you bring back for us to play with". That's one way to square the leaving love behind strain I hadn't considered...
Okay, one more thing, and this one is something that bothers me. The bad guys in this have a lot of unearned wins. I hate when the author ramps the bad guy factions to maintain them as an ongoing threat even as Sam grows. It doesn't help that the Church of Light is such a despicable organization on every level so seeing them with author-fiat wins disgruntles me.
Anyway, this is the same whacky adventure as the others, at least in tone. It's a fast paced power fantasy with Sam taking on increasingly powerful foes, struggling to defeat them, but pulling the W in the end to much astonishment and trepidation. I actually like some of the developments with the authors not hesitating to alter foundation assumptions occasionally that nonetheless fit the character and plot arc. It's still three stars, and that only because I am still entertained. It is by no means high quality (even a semi-competent editor could have caught a slew of minor annoyances, I think). Still, I'll move on to the next one without hesitation and not because there's anything stupid like a cliffhanger (um, to be clear, there is no cliffhanger).
A note about Steamy: There's one and a half explicit scenes that are a bit lame, frankly. For all this seems headed to a harem story, the steam doesn't seem to be the motivating factor. It's really low on my steam tolerance though I wish the authors weren't so all-in on the dom/sub theme.
At this point, you should know what you're getting, including the antics and personalities of Sam's fanclub. This one is all about the Beastlands and throwing off the shackles of the obscene slavers of the Church of Light.
Two things to note in this one. First, we get more love in Sam's relationship than I expected. I should scare quote that. "Love". I mean, it's on par with any other harem fantasy with a Mary Sue lead. Pronouncedly so, frankly. I didn't expect that due to Sam's whole "I'm a wanderer" schtick that's actually enforced by her class. Indeed, by the end of this book, she's starting to feel the strain of being in the same country for so long so love proclamations caught me off guard.
Second, did I say harem? I admit that I didn't see this coming even though Sam hasn't exactly been monogamous so far. She has been exclusive with her main squeeze for a couple of books now. So having an explicit "hey, we're starting a harem here, ain't that fun" crowbarred in was a bit of a twist I hadn't seen coming. True love declarations are made, followed up by "I can't wait to see who you bring back for us to play with". That's one way to square the leaving love behind strain I hadn't considered...
Okay, one more thing, and this one is something that bothers me. The bad guys in this have a lot of unearned wins. I hate when the author ramps the bad guy factions to maintain them as an ongoing threat even as Sam grows. It doesn't help that the Church of Light is such a despicable organization on every level so seeing them with author-fiat wins disgruntles me.
Anyway, this is the same whacky adventure as the others, at least in tone. It's a fast paced power fantasy with Sam taking on increasingly powerful foes, struggling to defeat them, but pulling the W in the end to much astonishment and trepidation. I actually like some of the developments with the authors not hesitating to alter foundation assumptions occasionally that nonetheless fit the character and plot arc. It's still three stars, and that only because I am still entertained. It is by no means high quality (even a semi-competent editor could have caught a slew of minor annoyances, I think). Still, I'll move on to the next one without hesitation and not because there's anything stupid like a cliffhanger (um, to be clear, there is no cliffhanger).
A note about Steamy: There's one and a half explicit scenes that are a bit lame, frankly. For all this seems headed to a harem story, the steam doesn't seem to be the motivating factor. It's really low on my steam tolerance though I wish the authors weren't so all-in on the dom/sub theme.
April 2, 2025
lost the connection
If there is one concept I could abolish from novels it would be harem (and all its derivatives) and subservience/kowtowing. The authors have lost it for me. Way too many side characters plus the fact everyone wants to sleep with the main character and bows to her is annoying. I hate it when I read it with male MCs and it burns even worst with female MCs because I feel like they would better understand being regaled to a boring objectified simpleton sidekick better then men (causing them to sympathize and not have it in their environment). The crass rebellious attitude is no longer entertaining either. The moment it goes from understandable to her being wholly unreasonable most of the time because the authors can’t write a more complex personality, it becomes redundant and predictable. The only reason I’m not give one star is because the magic system and over arching plot of the story is interesting. Unfortunately the unlikable MC and her gaggle of mindless shadows that can’t help their hormones is demoralizing at best.
If there is one concept I could abolish from novels it would be harem (and all its derivatives) and subservience/kowtowing. The authors have lost it for me. Way too many side characters plus the fact everyone wants to sleep with the main character and bows to her is annoying. I hate it when I read it with male MCs and it burns even worst with female MCs because I feel like they would better understand being regaled to a boring objectified simpleton sidekick better then men (causing them to sympathize and not have it in their environment). The crass rebellious attitude is no longer entertaining either. The moment it goes from understandable to her being wholly unreasonable most of the time because the authors can’t write a more complex personality, it becomes redundant and predictable. The only reason I’m not give one star is because the magic system and over arching plot of the story is interesting. Unfortunately the unlikable MC and her gaggle of mindless shadows that can’t help their hormones is demoralizing at best.
December 3, 2025
Evolution is the third book in this series, and while the story itself was fine, I can't help but wonder what's up with the ending. It just up and ended rather abruptly. Almost as if the main character were in the middle of a sentence. I had to look a second time to ensure it only ended after she was done talking. A rather odd spot to end the book, but what the heck, it's not my decision on where books end, so... shrug
In any case, before that little surprise, I thought the story was going well. I'm now less inclined to read the next one, because of that rather abrupt ending, but chances are that I'll read it at some point. I'm just no longer fired up to do so, so it'll wait for a while I think.
There are some interesting developments in this book, and we do get to see more behind the scenes stuff, but for the most part, the story moves along fairly well, right up to the end where you get slapped in the face by a slamming door. I don't mind telling you it shocked and surprised me in equal parts. Especially since nothing of the sort had happened in the previous books.
But, anyway, disgarding the ending, the book was pretty good, and if you liked the other books in the series, this one will probably be a decent read for you. Just watch that ending, it's a bit startling when you're minding your own business, reading right along, then bam! end-of-book with zero indication it's coming.
Definitely points lost for style if nothing else.
In any case, before that little surprise, I thought the story was going well. I'm now less inclined to read the next one, because of that rather abrupt ending, but chances are that I'll read it at some point. I'm just no longer fired up to do so, so it'll wait for a while I think.
There are some interesting developments in this book, and we do get to see more behind the scenes stuff, but for the most part, the story moves along fairly well, right up to the end where you get slapped in the face by a slamming door. I don't mind telling you it shocked and surprised me in equal parts. Especially since nothing of the sort had happened in the previous books.
But, anyway, disgarding the ending, the book was pretty good, and if you liked the other books in the series, this one will probably be a decent read for you. Just watch that ending, it's a bit startling when you're minding your own business, reading right along, then bam! end-of-book with zero indication it's coming.
Definitely points lost for style if nothing else.
July 12, 2025
.. This is an overall weaker continuation to the story than the prior two books imho.
Plot and character actions and behaviour feel even more contrived weird and limited at times. 🙄🙄🙄🙄Eyeroll factor is excessive.
The quality of the audible audiobook is also.. not good. At first I found it acceptable for a Virtual Voice recording, but at some point the quality seems to drop.. As if errors were edited out to some extent in the first XX% but then the effort was dropped. Maybe I'm just imagining things .. Anyway its also a step down already from books one and two.
Switching narration is also a big no no adding to that how its a downgrade with VVoice..
Plot and character actions and behaviour feel even more contrived weird and limited at times. 🙄🙄🙄🙄Eyeroll factor is excessive.
The quality of the audible audiobook is also.. not good. At first I found it acceptable for a Virtual Voice recording, but at some point the quality seems to drop.. As if errors were edited out to some extent in the first XX% but then the effort was dropped. Maybe I'm just imagining things .. Anyway its also a step down already from books one and two.
Switching narration is also a big no no adding to that how its a downgrade with VVoice..
May 31, 2025
Interesting
Another page turner. I am definitely enjoying this story all the books hit you with a LOT. This one as I suspected gave insight into a lot of different story lines, however it then hits you with different ones. It's a thinkers book or should I say a Mystery. I recommend the whole series.
Now I have to wait for the next book to come out.
Another page turner. I am definitely enjoying this story all the books hit you with a LOT. This one as I suspected gave insight into a lot of different story lines, however it then hits you with different ones. It's a thinkers book or should I say a Mystery. I recommend the whole series.
Now I have to wait for the next book to come out.
August 19, 2025
Great addition
This is a wonderful addition to the series, and I look forward to future installments to this series. I can't wait to see what S.A.M. gets up to next. Hopefully she can find a way to relieve loupi from the contract so they can figure out that there lover is not forced.
This is a wonderful addition to the series, and I look forward to future installments to this series. I can't wait to see what S.A.M. gets up to next. Hopefully she can find a way to relieve loupi from the contract so they can figure out that there lover is not forced.
January 20, 2026
Stop the dang sex already
I read LitRPG for the adventure, while these books offer decent amounts of adventure they also offer way to much sex, lesbian sex at that. If I wanted a steamy romance novel that’s what I’d read, if the next book in the series is like this one it will be the last I read by these authors!
I read LitRPG for the adventure, while these books offer decent amounts of adventure they also offer way to much sex, lesbian sex at that. If I wanted a steamy romance novel that’s what I’d read, if the next book in the series is like this one it will be the last I read by these authors!
October 20, 2025
not a one woman girl
Magitech (or spelljamming) abounds as Sam and her summons (SAMmons?) continue to explore the beastlands, fight the Church, and discover more about the nature of the verse, reality and the System that controls so much.
Magitech (or spelljamming) abounds as Sam and her summons (SAMmons?) continue to explore the beastlands, fight the Church, and discover more about the nature of the verse, reality and the System that controls so much.
June 19, 2025
Awesome yarn
This story is so incredible I could not stop.
Waiting g with bated breath for the next installment
I look forward to the next and any other creations
This story is so incredible I could not stop.
Waiting g with bated breath for the next installment
I look forward to the next and any other creations
July 1, 2025
End?
Feels like just 1/10 of a plot. if this really is the end then it’s a bit forced in my opinion.
Feels like just 1/10 of a plot. if this really is the end then it’s a bit forced in my opinion.
December 26, 2025
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews