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Nightmare Realm Summoner #1
Nightmare Realm Summoner
An action-packed new LitRPG apocalypse perfect for fans of The Primal Hunter, Hell Difficulty Tutorial, and 1% Lifesteal.
The System warned them. The world panicked. Alex prepared.
In college for a degree he didn’t care about, the promise of the System creating a world where magic and challenge awaited—even at the risk of death—was the best news Alex possibly could have imagined.
Yeah, Alex was ready for a new life. He wasn’t, however, ready for his only friend to shove him through a portal into hell the moment the apocalypse started.
Instead of getting to hunt rabbits and farm wolves to start out, Alex finds himself stranded in a warped world where everything, including the bugs, is stronger than he is. Even with a Summoner Class that gains the powers of its monsters, most people would have died.
Alex didn’t get the memo. He loves the challenge. Where others might have seen certain death, he finds something
Opportunity.
Don't miss the start of this action-packed LitRPG Apocalypse series by Actus, bestselling author of Return of the Runebound Professor and Rise of the Living Forge. It's perfect for fans of The Primal Hunter, Hell Difficulty Tutorial, and 1% Lifesteal.
The System warned them. The world panicked. Alex prepared.
In college for a degree he didn’t care about, the promise of the System creating a world where magic and challenge awaited—even at the risk of death—was the best news Alex possibly could have imagined.
Yeah, Alex was ready for a new life. He wasn’t, however, ready for his only friend to shove him through a portal into hell the moment the apocalypse started.
Instead of getting to hunt rabbits and farm wolves to start out, Alex finds himself stranded in a warped world where everything, including the bugs, is stronger than he is. Even with a Summoner Class that gains the powers of its monsters, most people would have died.
Alex didn’t get the memo. He loves the challenge. Where others might have seen certain death, he finds something
Opportunity.
Don't miss the start of this action-packed LitRPG Apocalypse series by Actus, bestselling author of Return of the Runebound Professor and Rise of the Living Forge. It's perfect for fans of The Primal Hunter, Hell Difficulty Tutorial, and 1% Lifesteal.
- GenresFantasy
710 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2025
1365 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Actus
59 books197 followersActus has been writing fantasy stories since the age of twelve, and he's been telling them since he could talk. He's currently working on three main series - Morcster Chef, Steamforged Sorcery, and My Best Friend is an Eldritch Horror. You can find his works on RoyalRoad & Patreon as well as on Amazon.
In addition to his passion for writing, Actus is capable of clearing a two story building with a single jump. That isn't true, but writing about himself in third person gives Actus delusions of grandeur.
In addition to his passion for writing, Actus is capable of clearing a two story building with a single jump. That isn't true, but writing about himself in third person gives Actus delusions of grandeur.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 6, 2025
Struggled to hit 20%
First I DNF this one. I hit 20% and realized I didn’t care from about 10%. The MC is about as interesting as paint drying. His class is boring and he is psychotic in wanting to make everything harder for more “experience”. That system in itself is just weird, the system subjectively determines if something is hard and gives more energy…. Even the MC pointed out how that could be gamed.
Nothing about this book drew me in. The beginning made no sense, his best friend suddenly decided to try and kill him? No explanation. Anomalies apparently aren’t so rare since they keep popping up, and there’s possibly some Highlander thing with them killing each other? No real information and it wasn’t interesting enough to keep reading to find out.
Honestly, in my opinion, comparing this to hell level tutorial and 1% life steal was accurate because I hated both of those books, and this one follows suit. Definite lie to compare it to primal hunter though.
First I DNF this one. I hit 20% and realized I didn’t care from about 10%. The MC is about as interesting as paint drying. His class is boring and he is psychotic in wanting to make everything harder for more “experience”. That system in itself is just weird, the system subjectively determines if something is hard and gives more energy…. Even the MC pointed out how that could be gamed.
Nothing about this book drew me in. The beginning made no sense, his best friend suddenly decided to try and kill him? No explanation. Anomalies apparently aren’t so rare since they keep popping up, and there’s possibly some Highlander thing with them killing each other? No real information and it wasn’t interesting enough to keep reading to find out.
Honestly, in my opinion, comparing this to hell level tutorial and 1% life steal was accurate because I hated both of those books, and this one follows suit. Definite lie to compare it to primal hunter though.
didn-t-like-it
October 16, 2025Note to self: it's fine, but made it 40% in and got annoyed by the same issue happening again. Time to move on, life's too short too willingly be annoyed by entertainment.
The MC is an adrenaline junkie who masquerades as a minmaxer. His choices seem to be about optimizing risk and reward, but in reality it's all risk, little reward. It comes off as a character who seems to know they're the main character in the story, and have a multiple book deal so they are safe.
It seems reckless, it seems unsafe, they read like they're taking deadly risks... but you know they're the MC, it's the beginning of the book, so they can't really die. So, the tension is not really there.
And a personal pet peeve, it's characters with poorly used classes. If you're a summoner, but are somehow a better combatant than your summon and are, in fact, stronger when your summon dies? That's kind of a crap summoner.
Imagine pokemon, but every time your pokemon faints you go and beat up the other pokemon with your bare hands.
The MC is an adrenaline junkie who masquerades as a minmaxer. His choices seem to be about optimizing risk and reward, but in reality it's all risk, little reward. It comes off as a character who seems to know they're the main character in the story, and have a multiple book deal so they are safe.
It seems reckless, it seems unsafe, they read like they're taking deadly risks... but you know they're the MC, it's the beginning of the book, so they can't really die. So, the tension is not really there.
And a personal pet peeve, it's characters with poorly used classes. If you're a summoner, but are somehow a better combatant than your summon and are, in fact, stronger when your summon dies? That's kind of a crap summoner.
Imagine pokemon, but every time your pokemon faints you go and beat up the other pokemon with your bare hands.
Read
October 7, 2025DNF. About 40%
Zero originality. Will scratch someone's itch, but it's undistinguishable from so many other books just like it.
Sadly it was too long and too uninteresting to keep me entertained, so I gave up. The story, the characters and world are your run of the mill apocalypse system integration litrpg. The main character's try at min maxing paints him as slightly psychotic and plain stupid without the author bothering for a justification as to why, at least as far as I read. The integration error (or anomaly here) is a trite and tired trope yet still serviceable in my opinion, but the author managed to make it boring. One good point is that there are no pages and pages of stats, but it makes it even more baffling how the author managed to hold back anything interesting about the main character and the world building for so long.
Zero originality. Will scratch someone's itch, but it's undistinguishable from so many other books just like it.
Sadly it was too long and too uninteresting to keep me entertained, so I gave up. The story, the characters and world are your run of the mill apocalypse system integration litrpg. The main character's try at min maxing paints him as slightly psychotic and plain stupid without the author bothering for a justification as to why, at least as far as I read. The integration error (or anomaly here) is a trite and tired trope yet still serviceable in my opinion, but the author managed to make it boring. One good point is that there are no pages and pages of stats, but it makes it even more baffling how the author managed to hold back anything interesting about the main character and the world building for so long.
December 5, 2025
Too many subplots
Just no. Author is all over the place. Too many subplots and no harem aspect to the story. Just bored. Really bored.
Just no. Author is all over the place. Too many subplots and no harem aspect to the story. Just bored. Really bored.
dnf
December 15, 2025Dnf'ed @ 28%
November 27, 2025
This was a really fun and enjoyable read and I feel it is a very solid 4.5 star story.
The world and system are similar but still unique enough to give everything a fresh feel. The characters are their own people, and mostly consistent in their abilities (more on that later) through the entire book. The scale and scope keeps changing at a quick pace, and makes me want to read more to see what is going to happen both with the world and the characters.
The main character can come across as a bit of an adrenaline junky early on, but I feel this was more the author getting loopholes filled before they would get too big in later parts. It was completely necessary with how the system is built here, and it didn’t bother me because it was pretty clear what was happening, and why it was needed.
One aspect I really enjoyed was the way meditation is handled. Normally it is a boring thing, and that lack of action is transferred into the reader. However in this series the meditation takes place in its own different setting, and within that setting there is progress and change which makes those parts actually interesting. I wish more authors would do this in their books.
The only issue I had was some inconsistencies with some characters, and what they can do. They would do something earlier in the book, then when that same thing would make future fights easier they just blanked and didn’t do it. It pulled me out and felt like an unjustified handicap on the characters to increase suspense, and I’m not a fan of that method of falsely raising the tension.
Overall I really enjoyed this and can’t wait for book two to come out next month. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was very pleasantly surprised.
Note on other reviews I’ve seen on here
People are criticizing this for being like other popular series in the genre, and if you are one of those then you probably won’t like it, and should switch to a different genre. The tropes and similar things are what the vast majority of people who read LitRPG are looking for. The important thing is if the author can get out of their own way and write a good story, and that is done here in my opinion.
The world and system are similar but still unique enough to give everything a fresh feel. The characters are their own people, and mostly consistent in their abilities (more on that later) through the entire book. The scale and scope keeps changing at a quick pace, and makes me want to read more to see what is going to happen both with the world and the characters.
The main character can come across as a bit of an adrenaline junky early on, but I feel this was more the author getting loopholes filled before they would get too big in later parts. It was completely necessary with how the system is built here, and it didn’t bother me because it was pretty clear what was happening, and why it was needed.
One aspect I really enjoyed was the way meditation is handled. Normally it is a boring thing, and that lack of action is transferred into the reader. However in this series the meditation takes place in its own different setting, and within that setting there is progress and change which makes those parts actually interesting. I wish more authors would do this in their books.
The only issue I had was some inconsistencies with some characters, and what they can do. They would do something earlier in the book, then when that same thing would make future fights easier they just blanked and didn’t do it. It pulled me out and felt like an unjustified handicap on the characters to increase suspense, and I’m not a fan of that method of falsely raising the tension.
Overall I really enjoyed this and can’t wait for book two to come out next month. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was very pleasantly surprised.
Note on other reviews I’ve seen on here
People are criticizing this for being like other popular series in the genre, and if you are one of those then you probably won’t like it, and should switch to a different genre. The tropes and similar things are what the vast majority of people who read LitRPG are looking for. The important thing is if the author can get out of their own way and write a good story, and that is done here in my opinion.
October 18, 2025
The writing quality is objectively terrible. Simple items are over described never to be seen again. Similes and metaphors are awkwardly, inappropriately and over used. To explain better, in starting writing classes or even YouTube videos one of the very first topics is not using these writing tools where they are not needed. In this sense, Actus reminds me of a middle schooler writing based on a prompt that requires at least five metaphors or similes. Only he really wanted to go above and beyond.
An example of this in Actus’s work here is: “It was so silent that he could hear the thump of his heart like a metronome.” Just use the word steady. Like a metronome does absolutely nothing here. “It was so silent that he could hear the steady thumping of his heart” if you want to be flowery “only the steady thumping of his heart broke through the silence.”
“Thin black clouds were rising from it that aimed to claw its way into the heavens” what? So in other words smoke? Smoke that you know… drifts and bellows. Clawing is an extremely violent and desperate action so how would a cloud claw? And why even ADD IT! “Thin black clouds were rising from it.” There. That’s all you need. Not every single thing has to be over the top.
And my favorite example of the awful quality: “No known available classes are available…” are you kidding me. Did no one proof read this? No know classes are available… there fixed it.
This is not a new author. He should know and do better. These examples are in the first TWO chapters alone. It doesn’t matter how good a story is if you can’t even tell it.
An example of this in Actus’s work here is: “It was so silent that he could hear the thump of his heart like a metronome.” Just use the word steady. Like a metronome does absolutely nothing here. “It was so silent that he could hear the steady thumping of his heart” if you want to be flowery “only the steady thumping of his heart broke through the silence.”
“Thin black clouds were rising from it that aimed to claw its way into the heavens” what? So in other words smoke? Smoke that you know… drifts and bellows. Clawing is an extremely violent and desperate action so how would a cloud claw? And why even ADD IT! “Thin black clouds were rising from it.” There. That’s all you need. Not every single thing has to be over the top.
And my favorite example of the awful quality: “No known available classes are available…” are you kidding me. Did no one proof read this? No know classes are available… there fixed it.
This is not a new author. He should know and do better. These examples are in the first TWO chapters alone. It doesn’t matter how good a story is if you can’t even tell it.
October 3, 2025
Actus is golden! Every book he writes I swear, is the best book evarrr! And Nightmare Realm Summoner is no exception I loved it every mesmerizing minute!!! I've found books about Summoners are generally very much like deck-building litRPG's and I simply adore the deck-building aspect! Of the few Summoner books I've read this is the most like one of them. Alex the MC even carries a box on his hip that holds his mirror cards. And yah know, I love that! Right off the bat Alex finds himself trapped in the Mirrorlands with a quest to escape or die. In the Mirrorlands everything is warped and twisted where everything is trying to kill you even the trees. While doing just what the quest demanded, he stumbles across Claire a Dhampir Warrior a woman from another world and together they've made an uneasy alliance in order to make their escape! Afterwards it's all about fighting and leveling. And man! Glint, Alex's first summoned monster is a doozy!!! You really gotta meet 'em! And the other two are som'min else too!
So yeah grab the audiobook because Robb Morrow is AwesomeSauce!
Here's some quotes for yah:
"Alex took a bite of frozen pizza. It tasted like wet cardboard that someone had slapped with a sausage."
"The woman’s voice was bubbly and energetic. There was a nonzero chance she’d pounded back a few dozen espresso shots before showing up to her shift."
"You were staring off into the sky like you watched someone punt your gopher into the atmosphere.”
So yeah grab the audiobook because Robb Morrow is AwesomeSauce!
Here's some quotes for yah:
"Alex took a bite of frozen pizza. It tasted like wet cardboard that someone had slapped with a sausage."
"The woman’s voice was bubbly and energetic. There was a nonzero chance she’d pounded back a few dozen espresso shots before showing up to her shift."
"You were staring off into the sky like you watched someone punt your gopher into the atmosphere.”
October 22, 2025
A FUN, IF SIMPLISTIC, LITRPG WITH A POKEMON FLAIR.
Nightmare Realm Summoner, firstly, is a very strong 3.5 Star read for me.
It was nothing incredible, but if you set aside the simple prose and plot then the gimmick that holds the story together is genuinely entertaining - that gimmick being a main character who can summon and strengthen monsters to fight for him, much like Pokémon or Spectrobes or any number of other Monster Tamer games.
I mean sure, I'm a bit of a geek for those types of games, so seeing it in LitRPG form was particularly awesome for me. Still, that small bias notwithstanding, I liked the read and I'll definitely pick up Book Two on release.
I do think the plot and prose need to take it up a notch for me to continue reading past the sequel, and I wouldn't mind some improvements with the writing as it pertains to the characters and how they act. There were times I felt like the cast made their decisions because the plot called for it, not because it's something they would do on their own.
Ultimately, if you're looking for a fun read with an enjoyable gimmick at its core and don't mind that there's room for growth with the writing, Nightmare Realm Summoner could be a great read for you!
Nightmare Realm Summoner, firstly, is a very strong 3.5 Star read for me.
It was nothing incredible, but if you set aside the simple prose and plot then the gimmick that holds the story together is genuinely entertaining - that gimmick being a main character who can summon and strengthen monsters to fight for him, much like Pokémon or Spectrobes or any number of other Monster Tamer games.
I mean sure, I'm a bit of a geek for those types of games, so seeing it in LitRPG form was particularly awesome for me. Still, that small bias notwithstanding, I liked the read and I'll definitely pick up Book Two on release.
I do think the plot and prose need to take it up a notch for me to continue reading past the sequel, and I wouldn't mind some improvements with the writing as it pertains to the characters and how they act. There were times I felt like the cast made their decisions because the plot called for it, not because it's something they would do on their own.
Ultimately, if you're looking for a fun read with an enjoyable gimmick at its core and don't mind that there's room for growth with the writing, Nightmare Realm Summoner could be a great read for you!
October 15, 2025
Made it to about 55% then just couldn't read another page.
A bunch of thing I couldn't stand happened but these are the ones that come to mind first:
When Ben got attacked at the beginning of the system event, the description of it seemed to go on for 10 pages but the MC and Claire seemingly stood there and just watched it happen?
When Ogre was at the top of the leaderboard and it was obvious that it was Diego but the MC just had no clue who it could have been.
When Claire "Died".
I thought Kaze was being built up to have an actual role but was killed off faster than Diego.
There were also just general power level issues. The adept that chased him in the Mirrorlands not catching him immediately even though he was only a novice? The power level of his summons also seemed way off, especially the second summon. They seemed to be functionally useless no matter what level they go to.
A bunch of thing I couldn't stand happened but these are the ones that come to mind first:
When Ben got attacked at the beginning of the system event, the description of it seemed to go on for 10 pages but the MC and Claire seemingly stood there and just watched it happen?
When Ogre was at the top of the leaderboard and it was obvious that it was Diego but the MC just had no clue who it could have been.
When Claire "Died".
I thought Kaze was being built up to have an actual role but was killed off faster than Diego.
There were also just general power level issues. The adept that chased him in the Mirrorlands not catching him immediately even though he was only a novice? The power level of his summons also seemed way off, especially the second summon. They seemed to be functionally useless no matter what level they go to.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2025
The protagonist consistently makes stupid decisions. He’s constantly seeking out life-threatening situations in the name of advancement, and doing foolish things like taking on a dungeon without help from his friend because he thinks it will give him better rewards.
It’s not even clear that he *is* getting better rewards for all his risk-taking. Unlike most LitRPGs, he doesn’t get notifications of exactly how much XP he’s getting for what he’s doing, it’s just a vague feeling of receiving “energy.” This is a story in which killing monsters doesn’t drop any kind of loot, so it’s definitely not that either.
Worst is that he decides mid-way through the book to pretend to be an offworlder for no apparent reason, a decision which constantly lands him in hot water with the actual offworlders, and seems to benefit him not at all. I’m not a big fan of characters who tell pointless lies.
I finished it, but I have no interest in continuing the series.
It’s not even clear that he *is* getting better rewards for all his risk-taking. Unlike most LitRPGs, he doesn’t get notifications of exactly how much XP he’s getting for what he’s doing, it’s just a vague feeling of receiving “energy.” This is a story in which killing monsters doesn’t drop any kind of loot, so it’s definitely not that either.
Worst is that he decides mid-way through the book to pretend to be an offworlder for no apparent reason, a decision which constantly lands him in hot water with the actual offworlders, and seems to benefit him not at all. I’m not a big fan of characters who tell pointless lies.
I finished it, but I have no interest in continuing the series.
October 12, 2025
just the middle of the road book with a middle of the road MC.
If you like summoners, you might like this book. I found it tedious, boring. Maybe it’s because I do not like summoners. They have to have the monsters fight for them. Also, what’s with the Claire character having to always drink the MC‘s blood. The world building is interesting but basically the MC isn’t. In my opinion, he’s weak and ineffectual. Like I said, I do not like summoners basically because they don’t fight their own battles but you may enjoy this book, I did not. Did not finish it either. Stopped at 45 percent. I read the authors other series and enjoy them immensely this one just did not hit it for me.
If you like summoners, you might like this book. I found it tedious, boring. Maybe it’s because I do not like summoners. They have to have the monsters fight for them. Also, what’s with the Claire character having to always drink the MC‘s blood. The world building is interesting but basically the MC isn’t. In my opinion, he’s weak and ineffectual. Like I said, I do not like summoners basically because they don’t fight their own battles but you may enjoy this book, I did not. Did not finish it either. Stopped at 45 percent. I read the authors other series and enjoy them immensely this one just did not hit it for me.
November 11, 2025
This book does a lot right with very little that you could even consider wrong. A summoner book that doesn't get too into the weeds? No over-exhaustive stat listings every other chapter that span tens of pages? What is this and how is this in the LitRPG genre!
Seriously, if you're interested in a summoner-type MC, you're going to like this. The author definitely struggled with getting into the groove at first and it's reflected in some other reviews (grammar, over-explaining arbitrary things, etc) but he pulls himself together the longer you read. While I'm usually someone who advocates AGAINST sloughing through a tough part of a book or a bad book in an overall good series, I don't regret doing it n this case.
Seriously, if you're interested in a summoner-type MC, you're going to like this. The author definitely struggled with getting into the groove at first and it's reflected in some other reviews (grammar, over-explaining arbitrary things, etc) but he pulls himself together the longer you read. While I'm usually someone who advocates AGAINST sloughing through a tough part of a book or a bad book in an overall good series, I don't regret doing it n this case.
December 12, 2025
Why did they introduce Derek so late :(
One of the best Litrpg books that I have read. The system is sleek without all the numbers weighing it down, it helps that it leans more towards a cultivation system than a game based one.
Characters are funny and feel human, for the main cast anyway. The introduction of new characters as the story progressed kept it from stagnating which was lovely.
Honestly, I had expected it to start dragging and becoming samey near the end as most in the genree do, but it was entertaining and fresh until the end. The continued world building kept me reading and the multiple unanswered questions throughout have set up the next book nicely.
Derek was my favourite character.
One of the best Litrpg books that I have read. The system is sleek without all the numbers weighing it down, it helps that it leans more towards a cultivation system than a game based one.
Characters are funny and feel human, for the main cast anyway. The introduction of new characters as the story progressed kept it from stagnating which was lovely.
Honestly, I had expected it to start dragging and becoming samey near the end as most in the genree do, but it was entertaining and fresh until the end. The continued world building kept me reading and the multiple unanswered questions throughout have set up the next book nicely.
Derek was my favourite character.
October 8, 2025
Clever Premise
I picked up this book because I liked the author's other books and was not surprised when I enjoyed it. The premise hooked me right away, refreshingly different from the usual summoner stories. I especially loved the use of the mirror realm; it added a layer of eerie tension and clever strategy that kept me turning the pages.
It's half the fun is guessing how Alex and Claire are going to outwit the outworlders next. I’m genuinely excited to see how his schemes evolve in the next instalment. If you enjoy a mix of intrigue, smart magic systems, and a protagonist who doesn’t always play nice, give this one a shot.
I picked up this book because I liked the author's other books and was not surprised when I enjoyed it. The premise hooked me right away, refreshingly different from the usual summoner stories. I especially loved the use of the mirror realm; it added a layer of eerie tension and clever strategy that kept me turning the pages.
It's half the fun is guessing how Alex and Claire are going to outwit the outworlders next. I’m genuinely excited to see how his schemes evolve in the next instalment. If you enjoy a mix of intrigue, smart magic systems, and a protagonist who doesn’t always play nice, give this one a shot.
October 14, 2025
Wonderful Read
I really liked Alex, but he should've been more way of Claire. After everything she told him about The Court, the finding out she lied, he still shared things with her. There's no way to tell if she was being truthful unless she let something slip again. But the fights were wonderful and I really liked the way that the System made them get more skills and levels. And Derek was just too funny, but the ending made frustrated because it was getting so good. I wanted to see how he was going to keep the key from Orchid and then from Absolution. Im definitely ready for book 2; I can't wait till December.😥
I really liked Alex, but he should've been more way of Claire. After everything she told him about The Court, the finding out she lied, he still shared things with her. There's no way to tell if she was being truthful unless she let something slip again. But the fights were wonderful and I really liked the way that the System made them get more skills and levels. And Derek was just too funny, but the ending made frustrated because it was getting so good. I wanted to see how he was going to keep the key from Orchid and then from Absolution. Im definitely ready for book 2; I can't wait till December.😥
October 17, 2025
Not a strong enough hook.
The author has always created good stories but he fundamentally lacks the ability to create characters that has substance. The main character lacks any real depth and lacks interesting qualities that would make the reader commit to the story. The MC is a battle junkie...but doesn't feel like a battle junkie. More like a suicidal idiot, jumping into the jaws of monsters in the pretense of overcoming a great challenge. Some of the plot isn't properly explained and the setting (location of the new worlds) seems to feel empty, that are filled with dull AI. I got bored 30 % into the story. Not worth the investment.
The author has always created good stories but he fundamentally lacks the ability to create characters that has substance. The main character lacks any real depth and lacks interesting qualities that would make the reader commit to the story. The MC is a battle junkie...but doesn't feel like a battle junkie. More like a suicidal idiot, jumping into the jaws of monsters in the pretense of overcoming a great challenge. Some of the plot isn't properly explained and the setting (location of the new worlds) seems to feel empty, that are filled with dull AI. I got bored 30 % into the story. Not worth the investment.
October 6, 2025
Good read. Well paced and interesting, held my attention throughout. The secondary characters are well done too, with attention paid to their development. Minor spoiler follows.
I have probably been reading too much harem-lit, but Claire being an energy vampire, I see another way for her to get the MC's energy-rich body fluids without biting him. That this story didn't go there shows that this isn't that kind of book. I do kinda hope they hook up and make that discovery, but I doubt it.
I have probably been reading too much harem-lit, but Claire being an energy vampire, I see another way for her to get the MC's energy-rich body fluids without biting him. That this story didn't go there shows that this isn't that kind of book. I do kinda hope they hook up and make that discovery, but I doubt it.
October 7, 2025
a book full of tired litrpg tropes. the chosen one mc, the masochistic battle junkie that trying to make things harder for himself, just happens to find super powerful beings that just like the mc for some reason and don't flatten him, otherworlders cheating the system looking for power on a new planet and by the first 15% two Supreme beings have his number on speed dial and given him their business card, so to speak.
editing and writing are excellent and i liked the fmc but the plot and mc not so much.
editing and writing are excellent and i liked the fmc but the plot and mc not so much.
November 6, 2025
Hesitant
I'll be honest, I was hesitant to read this series. Not for any particular reason, I was just hesitant. However, I'm in limbo waiting for new books to come out from other series that I've started so decided to give Nightmare Realm Summoner a chance and I'm really glad I did. I love the length of the book, the mix of magic systems, character development, etc. the MC is strong but not OP, he's winging it as he goes along, learning and growing instead of knowing everything already. It resonates with life. Can't wait for the second book.
I'll be honest, I was hesitant to read this series. Not for any particular reason, I was just hesitant. However, I'm in limbo waiting for new books to come out from other series that I've started so decided to give Nightmare Realm Summoner a chance and I'm really glad I did. I love the length of the book, the mix of magic systems, character development, etc. the MC is strong but not OP, he's winging it as he goes along, learning and growing instead of knowing everything already. It resonates with life. Can't wait for the second book.
October 9, 2025
This is definitely a must-read for fans of the genre! I've been devouring it and am positively giddy to get the next book. Main character is easy to digest, the story is well written, captivating, the world is well built, comprehensive and amazingly imaginative (especially the detailed monster descriptions - really gets you in there). Derek is just perfect! And my favorite quote about Orchid is "a glorified nightlight with a mild toaster function."
October 9, 2025
An interesting system with a pretty solid meta plot.
So the system is light, and feels like its a cultivation/LitRPG mashup in that it mentions Qi and domains etc. but then there are system screens and rankings/levels. Though no stats. The MC feels like his power set is based off of Yu-Gi-Oh, with cards for summons etc. Definitely a decent setup for the future, I'll pick up book 2 to see where things go for sure.
So the system is light, and feels like its a cultivation/LitRPG mashup in that it mentions Qi and domains etc. but then there are system screens and rankings/levels. Though no stats. The MC feels like his power set is based off of Yu-Gi-Oh, with cards for summons etc. Definitely a decent setup for the future, I'll pick up book 2 to see where things go for sure.
October 18, 2025
It got better
I originally wanted to give it 3 stars, but gave it four in the end. I must admit that at first this wasn’t my cup of tea. A bunch of survivors that are all psychotic in one way or another and a System that promotes slaughter of the meek is not a fun read for me. And where are all the elderly and the children? Are they all dead?
What saved the book for me was the friendships that are established, growing, as well as the sudden twists.
I originally wanted to give it 3 stars, but gave it four in the end. I must admit that at first this wasn’t my cup of tea. A bunch of survivors that are all psychotic in one way or another and a System that promotes slaughter of the meek is not a fun read for me. And where are all the elderly and the children? Are they all dead?
What saved the book for me was the friendships that are established, growing, as well as the sudden twists.
October 20, 2025
Just not for me
I gave up at around 25%. I font really like the summoner class that is all the rage right now with authors. For me, it kink of makes the MC boring having to always rely on the summon's power instead of their own. This had a slight twist that may have been interesting, but in the end, turned out to be just a way for the author to keep inserting himself to save the day.
I gave up at around 25%. I font really like the summoner class that is all the rage right now with authors. For me, it kink of makes the MC boring having to always rely on the summon's power instead of their own. This had a slight twist that may have been interesting, but in the end, turned out to be just a way for the author to keep inserting himself to save the day.
October 26, 2025
For some reason couldnt hold my attention
There was never a break from the action. No place in the story to digest. Although to be honest i only made it to 40%. I just couldnt figure out why i should care about the characters. I was looking for more depth. The mc meets this girl in the mirror land so she starts tagging along. I get it that she cant get home but why is she so easy going? She just does whatever the mc says.
There was never a break from the action. No place in the story to digest. Although to be honest i only made it to 40%. I just couldnt figure out why i should care about the characters. I was looking for more depth. The mc meets this girl in the mirror land so she starts tagging along. I get it that she cant get home but why is she so easy going? She just does whatever the mc says.
October 27, 2025
Kind of interesting but overall not worth it
This could have been interesting but I constantly found myself not wanting to bother finishing it. It's the typical trope where everything just works out for the Mc. He beats everything and everyone for no logical reason. He had zero training or anything but is just better than people who've lived their entire live in preparation for it. It's just not good. Debating if I'll bother with the next book
This could have been interesting but I constantly found myself not wanting to bother finishing it. It's the typical trope where everything just works out for the Mc. He beats everything and everyone for no logical reason. He had zero training or anything but is just better than people who've lived their entire live in preparation for it. It's just not good. Debating if I'll bother with the next book
November 11, 2025
Better Than Expected
Not much fluff, good, not great story. The progression system was a little hard to understand at times. The story bogged a little with the introduction of outworlders, and lacked more details on that subject. Really good, and likable MC, and sidekick, Claire. Overall most characters were interesting and the story was interesting. I would recommend this book, I have reordered the next in the series.
Not much fluff, good, not great story. The progression system was a little hard to understand at times. The story bogged a little with the introduction of outworlders, and lacked more details on that subject. Really good, and likable MC, and sidekick, Claire. Overall most characters were interesting and the story was interesting. I would recommend this book, I have reordered the next in the series.
November 12, 2025
A Captivating Adventure!
What happens when someone falls through the cracks at the beginning of a System Apocalypse? This is the adventures of such a person.
The growth mechanic is a complex blend of Qi and Levels that works well in this setting.
The characters are complex and grow on you as the story progresses.
The humor is found mostly in one side character and it fits the world.
Look for Derick.
I’ve already preordered the second book.
What happens when someone falls through the cracks at the beginning of a System Apocalypse? This is the adventures of such a person.
The growth mechanic is a complex blend of Qi and Levels that works well in this setting.
The characters are complex and grow on you as the story progresses.
The humor is found mostly in one side character and it fits the world.
Look for Derick.
I’ve already preordered the second book.
November 30, 2025
Riveting and Excellent
Not only is it a great story in a completely different world (well, worlds) but it is delightfully edited and very entertaining. This is the type of book that keeps you up reading all night just to see what happens next. Lastly but certainly not least, the book is wonderfully long! In a world of quick reads this one will also keep you going for a good while. Marvelous.
Not only is it a great story in a completely different world (well, worlds) but it is delightfully edited and very entertaining. This is the type of book that keeps you up reading all night just to see what happens next. Lastly but certainly not least, the book is wonderfully long! In a world of quick reads this one will also keep you going for a good while. Marvelous.
December 11, 2025
Book is good. Audible narration makes it great.
This book is good. It is long, but the story is novel enough to keep me reading. Plus I got the audible narration and that narrator deserves an award. He brings the story to life. I highly recommend both. And I was so happy with the book, I jumped forward from page 510 to the end, just so I could leave this review. Now to get to the rest of the book.
This book is good. It is long, but the story is novel enough to keep me reading. Plus I got the audible narration and that narrator deserves an award. He brings the story to life. I highly recommend both. And I was so happy with the book, I jumped forward from page 510 to the end, just so I could leave this review. Now to get to the rest of the book.
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