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The Runic Artist #3
A Shade Closer
Triumphing in the Guild Tournament, despite outside interferences, Nate has gained entry to the Etruan Royal University.
With his System Challenge over and a path to learning more about magic and the System he exists within, he is hoping for a quiet year or two during which he can grow. That growth however is drawing attention to him and unknown enemies lurk in the shadows, waiting for the opportunity to pounce.
Can Nate rise to the challenge, or will he finally meet his end at the hands of those that covet his gifts?
With his System Challenge over and a path to learning more about magic and the System he exists within, he is hoping for a quiet year or two during which he can grow. That growth however is drawing attention to him and unknown enemies lurk in the shadows, waiting for the opportunity to pounce.
Can Nate rise to the challenge, or will he finally meet his end at the hands of those that covet his gifts?
- GenresFantasy
554 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2025
115 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 24, 2025
I love this series. Perfect mix of crafting, a unique class with awesome progression, and an awesome story to boot. Can’t wait for the next book!
November 20, 2025
This author has written an addictively compelling, villainous masterpiece...
I am alternately confused, suffering boredom, & helplessly addicted to Nate's rather chaotic journey that features his being constantly targeted for misadventure, submission, or death, on the heels of his initial accidental stumble through a carelessly unattended/unprotected portal belonging to a wandering alien god. From book one, I was caught up with Nate's awkward likability, innocent cluelessness, & constantly humorous, fumbling (but successful!!!) attempts to stay alive.
This installment ramped up the mystery and danger to Nate, whereupon his Guildmaster & key supporters rally to keep him as safe as possible. While the myriad skill & class descriptions along with Nate's inner monologuing are seemingly endless, the multiple plot twists served as the primary impetus to just. Keep. Reading. This author is rather brilliant at keeping readers hooked! I absolutely recommend the saga of Nate, the Runic Artist & Runemaster who continuously proves he's far more than any title, class, or skill he might possess. I offer the maximum allowable number of stars and my humble review.
I am alternately confused, suffering boredom, & helplessly addicted to Nate's rather chaotic journey that features his being constantly targeted for misadventure, submission, or death, on the heels of his initial accidental stumble through a carelessly unattended/unprotected portal belonging to a wandering alien god. From book one, I was caught up with Nate's awkward likability, innocent cluelessness, & constantly humorous, fumbling (but successful!!!) attempts to stay alive.
This installment ramped up the mystery and danger to Nate, whereupon his Guildmaster & key supporters rally to keep him as safe as possible. While the myriad skill & class descriptions along with Nate's inner monologuing are seemingly endless, the multiple plot twists served as the primary impetus to just. Keep. Reading. This author is rather brilliant at keeping readers hooked! I absolutely recommend the saga of Nate, the Runic Artist & Runemaster who continuously proves he's far more than any title, class, or skill he might possess. I offer the maximum allowable number of stars and my humble review.
June 5, 2025
Keeps getting better
The third book is even better than the last. The story continues to evolve and grow while still keeping the character growth and depth front and center. Devoured it in days after release. Can’t wait for more!
The third book is even better than the last. The story continues to evolve and grow while still keeping the character growth and depth front and center. Devoured it in days after release. Can’t wait for more!
August 15, 2025
A very good read
This book is well worth a read it is very well written and skilfully put together and the story is unpredictable witch is something that puts this book above so many a dam good book.
This book is well worth a read it is very well written and skilfully put together and the story is unpredictable witch is something that puts this book above so many a dam good book.
June 6, 2025
I liked it
A good continuation of the story from books one and two. No cliffhanger but there are unresolved issues. I look forward to the next book.
A good continuation of the story from books one and two. No cliffhanger but there are unresolved issues. I look forward to the next book.
June 9, 2025
Now I am having fun! Pretty sure he is going to turn into an actual god tho!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2025
A good read
Hope more to come AND soon. A well written book with good plot and characters. Not more to say other than I really enjoyed the read
Hope more to come AND soon. A well written book with good plot and characters. Not more to say other than I really enjoyed the read
June 4, 2025
nothing missed
Following the advice of another reviewer I skipped the overshare detailed parts and it didn’t affect the story. I didn’t miss anything. Overall it is only the crafting that sets this book apart but not by much.
Following the advice of another reviewer I skipped the overshare detailed parts and it didn’t affect the story. I didn’t miss anything. Overall it is only the crafting that sets this book apart but not by much.
June 3, 2025
outstanding read
Really enjoyed this third installment. Looking forward to book 4. A few typos and spotted a couple of inconsistencies, but nothing that impeded the story.
Really enjoyed this third installment. Looking forward to book 4. A few typos and spotted a couple of inconsistencies, but nothing that impeded the story.
November 9, 2025
Too much time on progress, little story
Ultimately this was largely boring. The main problem is too much endless detailing of skill paths and options that slow down the story and practically mire it in quicksand. There is a fanatical attention to possible paths of evolution that would be fine for an actual game but is over the top for a book.
Ultimately this was largely boring. The main problem is too much endless detailing of skill paths and options that slow down the story and practically mire it in quicksand. There is a fanatical attention to possible paths of evolution that would be fine for an actual game but is over the top for a book.
June 28, 2025
I suppose the word to describe this story is juvenile. I'm not particularly referring to the main characters and their relationships. They are supposed to be young, earnest and transparent. It's the whole world around them, the support characters, and even the power system that feels undercooked, immature and simplistic. It's also dragging.
June 22, 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.
June 23, 2025
The writing is better than in the previous books. The book is more plot focused, instead of endless talking about skill stuff. There is better pacing, there is better conversation.
This is not something I expected on the 3rd book in a series. I was almost ready to quit the series after the 2nd book... but now i'm glad I didn't.
Stopped reading series at Chapter 194
This is not something I expected on the 3rd book in a series. I was almost ready to quit the series after the 2nd book... but now i'm glad I didn't.
Stopped reading series at Chapter 194
June 15, 2025
Great book
Great story. The world is getting deeper with the MC inadvertently getting involved with nobility and the want and fears. Unfortunately for him, they don't fear him... but they should. Very descriptive skill advances and crunchy states but not overwhelming. The MCs thought process for advancement is revealed, and some of his friends are as well. I'm totally enjoying this series. Hope to be short wait for next book.
Great story. The world is getting deeper with the MC inadvertently getting involved with nobility and the want and fears. Unfortunately for him, they don't fear him... but they should. Very descriptive skill advances and crunchy states but not overwhelming. The MCs thought process for advancement is revealed, and some of his friends are as well. I'm totally enjoying this series. Hope to be short wait for next book.
June 10, 2025
Great story and very well written
Great story and very well written. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. This is a very well thought out series.
Great story and very well written. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. This is a very well thought out series.
October 24, 2025
magical university
What better way to level up a crafting class than to go to get concentrated knowledge about how the world works? So our young, innocent, trusting artist follows the lead of his mother figure, wins a scholarship and starts absorbing knowledge (what knowledge isn’t held captive by guilds, nobles and other clannish interests) enough to diverge on his Path.
The matrix: Nate has a paranoia crisis finding out the System can read minds and intent. What if all people live in a digital world, their programs and their stat blocks can affect the digital universe, also the overall System can read their whole code. What if runes are coding and Runecrafting is programming reality?
Nate/Kiri = Britt/Null, Britt is Nate’s best friend, like Nate is Kiri’s best friend, is it possible that Nate and Null may have some romantic sparks? Can’t tell if Nate is setting up for a pan/poly awakening, or if he’s really more ace, his true love is Art, and he’s surrounded by horndogs and following along to fit in. He has had it pretty rough all his life.
What better way to level up a crafting class than to go to get concentrated knowledge about how the world works? So our young, innocent, trusting artist follows the lead of his mother figure, wins a scholarship and starts absorbing knowledge (what knowledge isn’t held captive by guilds, nobles and other clannish interests) enough to diverge on his Path.
The matrix: Nate has a paranoia crisis finding out the System can read minds and intent. What if all people live in a digital world, their programs and their stat blocks can affect the digital universe, also the overall System can read their whole code. What if runes are coding and Runecrafting is programming reality?
Nate/Kiri = Britt/Null, Britt is Nate’s best friend, like Nate is Kiri’s best friend, is it possible that Nate and Null may have some romantic sparks? Can’t tell if Nate is setting up for a pan/poly awakening, or if he’s really more ace, his true love is Art, and he’s surrounded by horndogs and following along to fit in. He has had it pretty rough all his life.
July 27, 2025
I am really enjoying this series. My only problem with progression/growth books is that I get tired reading all of the growth description and start skimming or skipping them. Other than that, everything else is great.
November 29, 2025
This book and series has become a entire bore fest with a epic ton of inner monologuing and not enough showing the reader. I mean no real adventuring going on, he found one city and stopped exploring.
September 6, 2025
Excellent read
Another great book in the series. Good arcs with interesting characters and exciting buildup I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Another great book in the series. Good arcs with interesting characters and exciting buildup I can't wait for the next book in the series!
January 12, 2026
Bueno pero un poco menos bueno que las anteriores, al subir las apuesta y la escala se filtra un poco de lo que lo hace excelente.
January 17, 2026
I enjoyed this. The author balanced the POVs perfectly, compared to the lst book.
Will pickup the sequel. I see things will soo go crazy from now on.
3/5 Stars
Will pickup the sequel. I see things will soo go crazy from now on.
3/5 Stars
June 6, 2025
Power scaling issue
I don’t like it when authors start breaking the mechanics of their world in order to suite the main character. Having a mythic class and gaining legendary and mythic abilities is supposed to be near impossible almost unheard of. I don’t mind that the MC can achieve it because extraordinary circumstances led to him being granted that but Kiri character grinds my gears. Not only the random jump in abilities but also she is written as a pure support character to the MC. Her life is lived and catered wholly around the MCs life. It’s annoying and makes her a waste of space as far as characters go. There is also hints in this book that the MC will be able to raise others class rarities and if that happens it will invalidate was was turning out to be an interesting world.
I don’t like it when authors start breaking the mechanics of their world in order to suite the main character. Having a mythic class and gaining legendary and mythic abilities is supposed to be near impossible almost unheard of. I don’t mind that the MC can achieve it because extraordinary circumstances led to him being granted that but Kiri character grinds my gears. Not only the random jump in abilities but also she is written as a pure support character to the MC. Her life is lived and catered wholly around the MCs life. It’s annoying and makes her a waste of space as far as characters go. There is also hints in this book that the MC will be able to raise others class rarities and if that happens it will invalidate was was turning out to be an interesting world.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews