What do you think?
Sponsored System #1
Primal Forest
What do you do when you're given advance notice that your planet is about to be inducted into a System in thirty days? When the announcement is made by people whose species have only been seen in stories and games? When these same people offer a chance to a select few, those who can afford it on short notice, to be inducted into the System early and grow in power before the System even arrives on Earth?
Strange arches show up all over the world, and no-one quite knows what's going on, although theories abound. Mike and his grandfather, Collin, try to investigate one of these arches, setting off a kerfluffle that leads to the people who have arrived having to announce themselves earlier than intended. The same incident also gets Mike in trouble with law enforcement as he posts video of some things the government would prefer not be released to the general public.
With the announcement that the training offered will take place on a planet already inducted into the System, and that only those who can afford the price of an ounce of gold will be allowed through the portals to the training planet, Mike loses hope. Collin, who's been a prepper for years, comes through, surprising Mike with a gold Krugerrand that will allow him to pass through the portal to train. Dodging the cops, Mike makes it to the local portal just in time for the first group.
The training is simple, but brutal, and one of the trainers, a rather unruly orc, seems to take an unhealthy interest in Mike. That interest turns to hatred as Mike refuses to be scammed. The conflict between the two has Mike fleeing into the forest outside of the Safe Zone used for training, a forest that looks like it has been untouched for thousands of years and is full of monsters, ruins, and more.
By the time Mike makes it home, he's gained a class, a group, and has grown in power more than most of the trainees taking the safer route with the trainers. Things on Earth are falling apart, with riots and burning cities from the panicking people who stayed home. On top of that, the arrival of the System also triggers the arrival of the monsters.
Mike and his group have trained for this, now it's time to put that training to work.
This story is approximately 160,000 words long and DRM free.
Strange arches show up all over the world, and no-one quite knows what's going on, although theories abound. Mike and his grandfather, Collin, try to investigate one of these arches, setting off a kerfluffle that leads to the people who have arrived having to announce themselves earlier than intended. The same incident also gets Mike in trouble with law enforcement as he posts video of some things the government would prefer not be released to the general public.
With the announcement that the training offered will take place on a planet already inducted into the System, and that only those who can afford the price of an ounce of gold will be allowed through the portals to the training planet, Mike loses hope. Collin, who's been a prepper for years, comes through, surprising Mike with a gold Krugerrand that will allow him to pass through the portal to train. Dodging the cops, Mike makes it to the local portal just in time for the first group.
The training is simple, but brutal, and one of the trainers, a rather unruly orc, seems to take an unhealthy interest in Mike. That interest turns to hatred as Mike refuses to be scammed. The conflict between the two has Mike fleeing into the forest outside of the Safe Zone used for training, a forest that looks like it has been untouched for thousands of years and is full of monsters, ruins, and more.
By the time Mike makes it home, he's gained a class, a group, and has grown in power more than most of the trainees taking the safer route with the trainers. Things on Earth are falling apart, with riots and burning cities from the panicking people who stayed home. On top of that, the arrival of the System also triggers the arrival of the monsters.
Mike and his group have trained for this, now it's time to put that training to work.
This story is approximately 160,000 words long and DRM free.
648 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2025
About the author
Tom Larcombe
36 books262 followersTom Larcombe was introduced to fantasy books at a young age. Those that were aimed more at children hooked him in, but not well enough for him to remember their names at this point in his life. Their draw led him to books aimed more for the adult reader and so he found himself, at around age eight, starting in on the Steven R Donaldson 'Thomas Covenant' series and the Hobbit, followed shortly thereafter by The Lord of the Rings books.
His reading tastes have never looked back, although they have broadened to include science fiction and the occasional non-fiction book.
He lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with his wife, two daughters, three cats, and a variable number of chickens.
His reading tastes have never looked back, although they have broadened to include science fiction and the occasional non-fiction book.
He lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with his wife, two daughters, three cats, and a variable number of chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
May 5, 2025
grrr
I…liked it…I suppose. A little pedantic and info-dumpish at times. But it maintains a decent momentum.
I was mostly aggravated at how the MC *DOESN’T USE THE STORAGE RING*. How should we get these deer we hunted back to base? Carry them! How should I move these corpses? Drag them!
[sigh]
I will likely keep reading, because I *do* like Mr Larcombe’s work. But this was not his best start to a series.
I…liked it…I suppose. A little pedantic and info-dumpish at times. But it maintains a decent momentum.
I was mostly aggravated at how the MC *DOESN’T USE THE STORAGE RING*. How should we get these deer we hunted back to base? Carry them! How should I move these corpses? Drag them!
[sigh]
I will likely keep reading, because I *do* like Mr Larcombe’s work. But this was not his best start to a series.
October 19, 2025
A lot of potential but an extremely indecisive author
Unfortunately, this author can’t seem to make up his mind on what kind of main character he’s writing about. If you’re looking for an alpha main character who can make decisions and lead a group, well… sometimes that’s him and many others he’s indecisive and needs group consensus to help him pick out his own power buildout structure. He’s also distracted, forgetful, and a self called idiot. I can’t even count how many times he’s forgotten that he has a storage ring even though he just pulled his weapon out of it. I’m not sure if the author thinks he’s being funny or if he too is an idiot. Despite this author annoying writing choices, there is still much potential with this series. The scam option was an interestingly modern choice pulled right from today’s society. certainly one everybody can relate to.
Unfortunately, this author can’t seem to make up his mind on what kind of main character he’s writing about. If you’re looking for an alpha main character who can make decisions and lead a group, well… sometimes that’s him and many others he’s indecisive and needs group consensus to help him pick out his own power buildout structure. He’s also distracted, forgetful, and a self called idiot. I can’t even count how many times he’s forgotten that he has a storage ring even though he just pulled his weapon out of it. I’m not sure if the author thinks he’s being funny or if he too is an idiot. Despite this author annoying writing choices, there is still much potential with this series. The scam option was an interestingly modern choice pulled right from today’s society. certainly one everybody can relate to.
May 30, 2026
This is very much a survivalist type story. There is some first contact, of course the ubiquitous System that comes with the aliens, a male main character who is a loner figure yet somehow alluring to all the young women (which are few) in his vicinity, and a cat.
Honestly, it feels a bit repetitive (the story itself even references plenty of other similar works, e.g. Donut from Dungeon Crawler Carl) if you've read anything like this already. I think where this one shines, however, is on more of the slice-of-life (perhaps not cozy per se) level.
Mike, our main character, is your typical anti-authoritarian survivalist expert who plays a lot of video games, so actually perfect for adapting to this scenario. His grandpa, Colin, however, is far more of an interesting character to read about (if you ask me). Colin is the one who taught Mike everything he knows, after all. And while he might be seen as a doosmday prepper pre-System, he's perfectly prepared for when all the shit goes down.
On a writing level this story is fairly okay. No major glaring errors, but you do notice that characters often do things for the story, and not especially what we already learned about them and would expect them to do. E.g. Grandpa Colin early on derides Mike's video game habits as being a waste of time and later in the novel it Colin confesses he's actually been playing video games most of his life and no one questions it.
Another question I have is why are some orcs sentient trainers that have System access, but then for the rest of the book orcs are mindless monsters who need to be farmed? And no one ever thinks about this? Not one of the characters minds potentially killing sentients?
These deeper questions are never addressed. Maybe in future books. This book is very focused on progression, survival, and of course the hot elf girl Mike saved from eternal sleep.
Honestly, it feels a bit repetitive (the story itself even references plenty of other similar works, e.g. Donut from Dungeon Crawler Carl) if you've read anything like this already. I think where this one shines, however, is on more of the slice-of-life (perhaps not cozy per se) level.
Mike, our main character, is your typical anti-authoritarian survivalist expert who plays a lot of video games, so actually perfect for adapting to this scenario. His grandpa, Colin, however, is far more of an interesting character to read about (if you ask me). Colin is the one who taught Mike everything he knows, after all. And while he might be seen as a doosmday prepper pre-System, he's perfectly prepared for when all the shit goes down.
On a writing level this story is fairly okay. No major glaring errors, but you do notice that characters often do things for the story, and not especially what we already learned about them and would expect them to do. E.g. Grandpa Colin early on derides Mike's video game habits as being a waste of time and later in the novel it Colin confesses he's actually been playing video games most of his life and no one questions it.
Another question I have is why are some orcs sentient trainers that have System access, but then for the rest of the book orcs are mindless monsters who need to be farmed? And no one ever thinks about this? Not one of the characters minds potentially killing sentients?
These deeper questions are never addressed. Maybe in future books. This book is very focused on progression, survival, and of course the hot elf girl Mike saved from eternal sleep.
May 11, 2025
Book one
It wasn't terrible but, A bunch of rich folks can't tell it's all a scam? I would have believed them all turning into raging Ken's and Karen's.
Deckard started off liking the MC And then he goes to just plain old freaking hate me It didn't really make a lot of sense. Nor did a bunch of rich folks trying to hunt them down make any sense. The rich folks they don't do that they hire people to kill for them.
His reluctance to have a relationship with the wood elf Also didn't make any sense he's 20 years old his hormones are out of control and he wants to talk OK dude whatever that made no sense at all.
I do think that book 2 will be much better because the inconsistencies in the start of the story will no longer be affecting the rest of the story. So I'm gonna give this a 5 out of 10.
5/10 I do think book two will improve.
It wasn't terrible but, A bunch of rich folks can't tell it's all a scam? I would have believed them all turning into raging Ken's and Karen's.
Deckard started off liking the MC And then he goes to just plain old freaking hate me It didn't really make a lot of sense. Nor did a bunch of rich folks trying to hunt them down make any sense. The rich folks they don't do that they hire people to kill for them.
His reluctance to have a relationship with the wood elf Also didn't make any sense he's 20 years old his hormones are out of control and he wants to talk OK dude whatever that made no sense at all.
I do think that book 2 will be much better because the inconsistencies in the start of the story will no longer be affecting the rest of the story. So I'm gonna give this a 5 out of 10.
5/10 I do think book two will improve.
May 2, 2025
But this book.
If you have read and enjoyed any of Tom Larcombe's book , you don't need my recommendation to buy this book, you know. To everyone else, this is a truly enjoyable litrpg lite character driven story you won't regret buying. Spoiler there's cultivation! To Tom, I'm sorry to hear about JB. I also have all his books and when I read about his passing I was devastated. So I have to say "NOTHING CAN HAPPEN TO YOU. Seriously, I have almost all your books and this series is looking to be another I will be collecting, so no bad things ok.
If you have read and enjoyed any of Tom Larcombe's book , you don't need my recommendation to buy this book, you know. To everyone else, this is a truly enjoyable litrpg lite character driven story you won't regret buying. Spoiler there's cultivation! To Tom, I'm sorry to hear about JB. I also have all his books and when I read about his passing I was devastated. So I have to say "NOTHING CAN HAPPEN TO YOU. Seriously, I have almost all your books and this series is looking to be another I will be collecting, so no bad things ok.
June 9, 2025
Primal Forest. Sponsored system book 1
Well, I have got to say this was one check of a book 1! Aliens, new planets, dungeons, monsters, oh my!
Earth gets a System. Could you imagine Trump getting hit with all this, and him not controlling it! Whee!
Thank you to the author and the editer(s).
Well, I have got to say this was one check of a book 1! Aliens, new planets, dungeons, monsters, oh my!
Earth gets a System. Could you imagine Trump getting hit with all this, and him not controlling it! Whee!
Thank you to the author and the editer(s).
June 18, 2025
Pyramid schemes seem to be a reality wide phenomenon
Of course scam artists would get to earth before the system’s arrival on planet and try to take advantage of the earthlings lack of knowledge. Enter our MC, Mike, who isn’t up for the scam portion of the training trip he paid an ounce of gold for, well his grandpa loaned him the gold.
His grandpa ends up sponsoring a set of twins that Mike spoke to and they arrive later but follow Mike’s example and refuse to sign class contracts that demand a 10% tithe until the get 10 others to sign up. Mike and the others are run out of camp and end up finding a spot to hide and level in the Forest. They also discover some artifacts of the previous residents and one resident remains in a plant based stasis pod until Mike and his party with the twins, Alex and Tim, awaken here and learn her name is Arella.
Soon they must return to earth and expecting trouble at the training camp’s portal, they decide to rush the portal in the early morning after sneaking over the wall.
Once they finally return to earth things get crazier as Mike’s trainer that started the problems when Mike refused the class contract has decided to come find him on earth.
Of course scam artists would get to earth before the system’s arrival on planet and try to take advantage of the earthlings lack of knowledge. Enter our MC, Mike, who isn’t up for the scam portion of the training trip he paid an ounce of gold for, well his grandpa loaned him the gold.
His grandpa ends up sponsoring a set of twins that Mike spoke to and they arrive later but follow Mike’s example and refuse to sign class contracts that demand a 10% tithe until the get 10 others to sign up. Mike and the others are run out of camp and end up finding a spot to hide and level in the Forest. They also discover some artifacts of the previous residents and one resident remains in a plant based stasis pod until Mike and his party with the twins, Alex and Tim, awaken here and learn her name is Arella.
Soon they must return to earth and expecting trouble at the training camp’s portal, they decide to rush the portal in the early morning after sneaking over the wall.
Once they finally return to earth things get crazier as Mike’s trainer that started the problems when Mike refused the class contract has decided to come find him on earth.
May 31, 2025
I’ll tell you why
Seemed like the blind leading the blind with everyone having a hive mind mentality. All the characters had the same type of thoughts and ideas with no fresh ideas or outside the box thinking. Telling your captors what you’re doing is stupid. Throughout the book I felt mansplained at like, "I poked it with the pointy end of the spear to be more effective." Every action had to have a thought justification behind it. We know why you killed the monster, you don't have to justify your thoughts to us on why you did it. Overall had cheesy thoughts and dialogue like a bad B movie. All that to say the target audience is middle school to young adult and that isn't me.
Seemed like the blind leading the blind with everyone having a hive mind mentality. All the characters had the same type of thoughts and ideas with no fresh ideas or outside the box thinking. Telling your captors what you’re doing is stupid. Throughout the book I felt mansplained at like, "I poked it with the pointy end of the spear to be more effective." Every action had to have a thought justification behind it. We know why you killed the monster, you don't have to justify your thoughts to us on why you did it. Overall had cheesy thoughts and dialogue like a bad B movie. All that to say the target audience is middle school to young adult and that isn't me.
November 11, 2025
Wanted to like it
This one fell flat for me. I've read Tom's other works and those at least had drive and interest. This one was just bland. There was no impetus. No driving force. No threat.
From the start the MC never feels like there isn't anything he can't do. Nothing he faces that's too strong or has a reason to grow stronger. Every level he gains one or two spells, so by level 20 he'll have like 40 spells. He gains levels in the spell skills but they never feel like they grow more powerful nor does he feel like levels matter.
At one point he's a level 3 but uses a spell that is able to bind a level 20 something that should have 40 skillls/spells too. Yet somehow his level 3 spell stops a level 20 something with over 40 skills?
Then there is the MC's soft heart. Every time he's threatened by other people he just does something flashy to scare them off. As if they don't have their own flashy stuff. Example also is one time someone shows up at his house to kill him. Instead of you know, killing the person. No one even suggests it. Instead the suggestion is RUN AWAY. really? Run away. This is the MC I root for? A guy who when faced with a problem his solution is ...run away? ..not just run away but run away and leave everyone undefended. It's pure plot armor that the guy wanting to kill him follows and doesn't you know...go into the house and kill everyone there. Like any sensible bad guy. The MC should have returned to find his whole family slaughtered for his cowardice. Instead of the pivotal moment where the MC learns he'll need to kill to protect his family and be driven to grow stronger to protect them. He just...runs away and leads the bad guy off..
From then on, still nothing they can't handle with ease. Levels seem to mean nothing as they never find anything that isn't weak enough to fight. Skills and spells all feel of the same power level and never really seem to get better.
No class evolution he's shooting for, no legendary classes. No world bosses threatening them. No evil warlords he'll need to fight.
It's basically slice of life in the system. I won't even say Apocalypse as all technology still works.
It's just hey there are monsters and we have magic now. Yet guns still work so the military should show up and mow all this down.
It just feels boring. Pointless and Boring. As if the only real plot is the MC's love interest story.
Maybe others find this casual progression that doesn't seem to matter, fun? But I didn't.
This one fell flat for me. I've read Tom's other works and those at least had drive and interest. This one was just bland. There was no impetus. No driving force. No threat.
From the start the MC never feels like there isn't anything he can't do. Nothing he faces that's too strong or has a reason to grow stronger. Every level he gains one or two spells, so by level 20 he'll have like 40 spells. He gains levels in the spell skills but they never feel like they grow more powerful nor does he feel like levels matter.
At one point he's a level 3 but uses a spell that is able to bind a level 20 something that should have 40 skillls/spells too. Yet somehow his level 3 spell stops a level 20 something with over 40 skills?
Then there is the MC's soft heart. Every time he's threatened by other people he just does something flashy to scare them off. As if they don't have their own flashy stuff. Example also is one time someone shows up at his house to kill him. Instead of you know, killing the person. No one even suggests it. Instead the suggestion is RUN AWAY. really? Run away. This is the MC I root for? A guy who when faced with a problem his solution is ...run away? ..not just run away but run away and leave everyone undefended. It's pure plot armor that the guy wanting to kill him follows and doesn't you know...go into the house and kill everyone there. Like any sensible bad guy. The MC should have returned to find his whole family slaughtered for his cowardice. Instead of the pivotal moment where the MC learns he'll need to kill to protect his family and be driven to grow stronger to protect them. He just...runs away and leads the bad guy off..
From then on, still nothing they can't handle with ease. Levels seem to mean nothing as they never find anything that isn't weak enough to fight. Skills and spells all feel of the same power level and never really seem to get better.
No class evolution he's shooting for, no legendary classes. No world bosses threatening them. No evil warlords he'll need to fight.
It's basically slice of life in the system. I won't even say Apocalypse as all technology still works.
It's just hey there are monsters and we have magic now. Yet guns still work so the military should show up and mow all this down.
It just feels boring. Pointless and Boring. As if the only real plot is the MC's love interest story.
Maybe others find this casual progression that doesn't seem to matter, fun? But I didn't.
June 23, 2025
On paper, the stakes in this book were high: Earth was about to be integrated into the System. I was expecting chaos, danger, and tension.
What I got could be called cozy. Nothing bad happens to the main character or those around him. There was absolutely no chance that anyone would die.
Mike went through a portal to another world for training. It turned out to be a scam, and he's pretty much the only one to figured that out. He ended up in a dangerous jungle, but no real danger.
He got a super awesome class, and super awesome spells, and a super awesome girlfriend etc... etc... etc...
The writing itself was straightforward and well edited. Overall, the book was entertaining with a few humorous moments. Mike was a good guy, but I wish he'd had to work harder for all the bounty he got.
What I got could be called cozy. Nothing bad happens to the main character or those around him. There was absolutely no chance that anyone would die.
Mike went through a portal to another world for training. It turned out to be a scam, and he's pretty much the only one to figured that out. He ended up in a dangerous jungle, but no real danger.
He got a super awesome class, and super awesome spells, and a super awesome girlfriend etc... etc... etc...
The writing itself was straightforward and well edited. Overall, the book was entertaining with a few humorous moments. Mike was a good guy, but I wish he'd had to work harder for all the bounty he got.
August 26, 2025
A good introduction to System style books
The style of writing felt simplified compared to other System style books. The only way I can explain is if you are used to reading books written for adults and then accidentally opened a book written for teens. Very easy read, finished in one day.
Mike is an interesting somewhat deep character. He is a bit of a loner but has natural leadership potential. The rest of the characters are very typical in their personalities for their classes. The grandfather Collin is sort of an anti hero, doesn't always do things because it is the right thing but is also selfish at times. Mike's mom doesn't have a class? It isn't mentioned.
Anyway, have fun!!
The style of writing felt simplified compared to other System style books. The only way I can explain is if you are used to reading books written for adults and then accidentally opened a book written for teens. Very easy read, finished in one day.
Mike is an interesting somewhat deep character. He is a bit of a loner but has natural leadership potential. The rest of the characters are very typical in their personalities for their classes. The grandfather Collin is sort of an anti hero, doesn't always do things because it is the right thing but is also selfish at times. Mike's mom doesn't have a class? It isn't mentioned.
Anyway, have fun!!
February 1, 2026
Nice guy
The MC in this is just way too nice to the point he doesn't make sense. Am I the only one who didn't wonder why he didn't run his former trainer over with the car when he had a chance? We need to have a talk about our moral values and expectations said the almost naked man to the almost naked woman in his bed. I imagine some saint at some point in history has said this. Also he might be the only druid ever who can't talk to animals or plants. I can't blame him for not taking them as one of his choices but it should be a natural part of his class. I like the world the author has built and the way his system operates. Really hoping to get an explanation as to why the system exists and what it's goals are.
The MC in this is just way too nice to the point he doesn't make sense. Am I the only one who didn't wonder why he didn't run his former trainer over with the car when he had a chance? We need to have a talk about our moral values and expectations said the almost naked man to the almost naked woman in his bed. I imagine some saint at some point in history has said this. Also he might be the only druid ever who can't talk to animals or plants. I can't blame him for not taking them as one of his choices but it should be a natural part of his class. I like the world the author has built and the way his system operates. Really hoping to get an explanation as to why the system exists and what it's goals are.
June 20, 2026
This is a fantasy LitRPG series featuring a system apocalypse set on Earth. Mike gets early training and uses his class/skills to setup safe zones in his town. Mike is not OP but his class does seem way more useful/flexible than others. This is a low stakes series where the focus is mostly on a single American town. One of the interesting things about this series is that the aliens supposedly helping Earthlings with their system induction don't actually have their best interests at heart.
Kudos to the author for including good summaries at the beginning of each book. This author also wrote a similar series called Wormhole Mana but I liked this one better.
Kudos to the author for including good summaries at the beginning of each book. This author also wrote a similar series called Wormhole Mana but I liked this one better.
August 23, 2026
I liked the way the MC figured out the trainers scam and basically how he delt with it. Also liked that the MC wasn’t made OP right off hop.
The fact that he’s a little bit of an idiot at times can be forgiven because he’s only 21 and never been in charge of anything. Although I do find it frustrating that he forgets about his dimension rings all the time.
The thing I don’t like is the over explaining of all the spells he is offered. There’s 5-6 and he only picks 2 but we have to read all about the ones he discards. It’s a waste of time and I just scroll through them.
But it’s a decent book and I will read the next book.
Oh and I would give it 31/2 stars
The fact that he’s a little bit of an idiot at times can be forgiven because he’s only 21 and never been in charge of anything. Although I do find it frustrating that he forgets about his dimension rings all the time.
The thing I don’t like is the over explaining of all the spells he is offered. There’s 5-6 and he only picks 2 but we have to read all about the ones he discards. It’s a waste of time and I just scroll through them.
But it’s a decent book and I will read the next book.
Oh and I would give it 31/2 stars
May 19, 2025
Perfectly Acceptable LITRPG Apocalypse
I liked the slow entry into the world, grounding the MC and co in the reasons they'd be more prepared than normal for just such an apocalypse. The system grew easily, abs the book was pretty smoothly written.
Had a problem with identifying which character was which by name, probably because they weren't incredibly different or detailed. Points of for an unnecessary animal companion, as well as an unlikely elf girlfriend.
Will continue to read.
I liked the slow entry into the world, grounding the MC and co in the reasons they'd be more prepared than normal for just such an apocalypse. The system grew easily, abs the book was pretty smoothly written.
Had a problem with identifying which character was which by name, probably because they weren't incredibly different or detailed. Points of for an unnecessary animal companion, as well as an unlikely elf girlfriend.
Will continue to read.
June 10, 2025
a great start for a new series
I am going to get the bad news out of the way Book 2 won’t be coming out until the end of the year. I have read this book three times so far enjoying it every time I really look forward seeing what happens next.
Let me say there are a few books that I have read where at least one person knows the system is coming before hand. The MC finds out for the low-low price of a once of gold he can be initiated a month early… the offered had the feel of a slimy used car salesman come see what happens
I am going to get the bad news out of the way Book 2 won’t be coming out until the end of the year. I have read this book three times so far enjoying it every time I really look forward seeing what happens next.
Let me say there are a few books that I have read where at least one person knows the system is coming before hand. The MC finds out for the low-low price of a once of gold he can be initiated a month early… the offered had the feel of a slimy used car salesman come see what happens
July 20, 2025
A good read
A somewhat different take on a System story. The story moves well and the MC is down to earth. He feels almost like an homage to Jerry Boyd’s work. The MC is not ridiculously overpowered, but he does make decisions that work out really well. The proofreading is better than average for KU, although there is one big continuity problem in Chapter 40, where a character that didn’t get pre-System training explains to the MC about something that happened while MC was away from the training camp.
A somewhat different take on a System story. The story moves well and the MC is down to earth. He feels almost like an homage to Jerry Boyd’s work. The MC is not ridiculously overpowered, but he does make decisions that work out really well. The proofreading is better than average for KU, although there is one big continuity problem in Chapter 40, where a character that didn’t get pre-System training explains to the MC about something that happened while MC was away from the training camp.
August 17, 2025
Primal Forest is the first book in this series, and it's fairly representative of this kind of LitRPG, although there's certainly some aspects of this one that don't appear in very many LitRPG stories I've read, so if you don't mind reading new world gets initiated stories (the kind I like quite a bit), and you want one with some unique aspects to it, then this selection might be a good choice.
February 17, 2026
I liked this author's of series but this one is so boring its i guess you just have to be very patient and remember this is 30+ days before they get the system me personally could have skipped that it picks up when someone tries to steal the mc's stuff and he figures out they are being scammed about a hour in its good just slow and if your like me and kind of hate it when people group up you might not like this im not really feeling this the 2 people he chooses to team up with are slowing him and the story down plus they have plans to team up when the training is over uggg dnf
May 10, 2025
Another system apocalypse
I liked this take on the system apocalypse theme. Aliens came a month in advance selling training. There were all sorts of issues there. Then the MC came home. More issues, just different flavor. Still, this was more a group type than the MC trying to become the strongest. I enjoyed that. And his group was made up of just regular people who had their own issues. I am looking forward to more books in this series. I want to see where it goes.
I liked this take on the system apocalypse theme. Aliens came a month in advance selling training. There were all sorts of issues there. Then the MC came home. More issues, just different flavor. Still, this was more a group type than the MC trying to become the strongest. I enjoyed that. And his group was made up of just regular people who had their own issues. I am looking forward to more books in this series. I want to see where it goes.
May 15, 2025
Always fun read by this author
A new series by author I enjoy. Fun story with a lot of twists and turns a little light on many details. The magic and the system are somewhat nebulous. The book is mostly about interactions between the people and the people and their environment, etc. Many of the battles are just like monsters came out of the woods, and they killed them. However, there is a lot of room to grow and still a fun read..
A new series by author I enjoy. Fun story with a lot of twists and turns a little light on many details. The magic and the system are somewhat nebulous. The book is mostly about interactions between the people and the people and their environment, etc. Many of the battles are just like monsters came out of the woods, and they killed them. However, there is a lot of room to grow and still a fun read..
May 18, 2025
Unique take on aliens ahead of a system apocalypse.
Good book thats well written and interesting. It is similar to the author Tom Larcombe’s system apocalypse and wormhole mana series’ but different enough to still be interesting. It was very interesting that the alien help offered in this series turned out to be skimming money and XP, but it could have been much worst, say if they were outright slavers.
Good book thats well written and interesting. It is similar to the author Tom Larcombe’s system apocalypse and wormhole mana series’ but different enough to still be interesting. It was very interesting that the alien help offered in this series turned out to be skimming money and XP, but it could have been much worst, say if they were outright slavers.
June 13, 2025
Good beginning l
This was a good first book and a pretty good beginning to a new series. The MC is interesting but a little too cocky at times, his class is different from what I'm used to reading but I like it. My problem is that by the end of the book his spell list is a bit much, by the time he hits higher levels he'll have way too many spells. Their should be a way to either combine them or something.
This was a good first book and a pretty good beginning to a new series. The MC is interesting but a little too cocky at times, his class is different from what I'm used to reading but I like it. My problem is that by the end of the book his spell list is a bit much, by the time he hits higher levels he'll have way too many spells. Their should be a way to either combine them or something.
July 28, 2025
Meh soso
I'm not sure why obnoxious characters have to be added a sidekicks to the protagonist in so many let RPG stories but I don't like them and other ones and I don't like them in this one.
All in all it's okay that's about the best I can give it. A lot of details are just lost over by the author but it's definitely readable It starts off great just doesn't keep going great I guess but it's definitely readable better than a lot of this other stuff out there.
I'm not sure why obnoxious characters have to be added a sidekicks to the protagonist in so many let RPG stories but I don't like them and other ones and I don't like them in this one.
All in all it's okay that's about the best I can give it. A lot of details are just lost over by the author but it's definitely readable It starts off great just doesn't keep going great I guess but it's definitely readable better than a lot of this other stuff out there.
September 27, 2025
Well, it's not Dostoevsky, but I wasn't looking for old Fyodor when I pulled it up. What it is is a very readable, fun, story, with characters that are logically consistent, likeable, and not stupid. It is set in a possible (but I hope a wildly unlikely) near future that is also logically consistent, and is being fleshed out quickly, but without feeling contrived.
I think this may become my favorite of Larcombe's series.
I think this may become my favorite of Larcombe's series.
October 3, 2025
Good book
I enjoyed the book. It has a good story, okay system, good action, and so so loot and fantasy.
Some of the story elements dealing with society just didn't make sense. Mainly the explanation for why there was a complete breakdown of society and the description of that break down and is results didn't seem very realistic or plausible.
Dispute that I still enjoyed the book. It did have some profanity in it. It didn't have graphic sex or nudity.
I enjoyed the book. It has a good story, okay system, good action, and so so loot and fantasy.
Some of the story elements dealing with society just didn't make sense. Mainly the explanation for why there was a complete breakdown of society and the description of that break down and is results didn't seem very realistic or plausible.
Dispute that I still enjoyed the book. It did have some profanity in it. It didn't have graphic sex or nudity.
March 9, 2026
Decently written and edited. Fairly extensive vocabulary and knowledge base.
Some interesting new angles for a litRPG/ apocalypse novel, but it felt really flat. The characters are all pretty 2D, same with world building. It feels like the author tried to give them more personality, but it just didn’t work.
I will read the next in the series, to see what happens, and see if the story grows on me.
Some interesting new angles for a litRPG/ apocalypse novel, but it felt really flat. The characters are all pretty 2D, same with world building. It feels like the author tried to give them more personality, but it just didn’t work.
I will read the next in the series, to see what happens, and see if the story grows on me.
April 29, 2026
Excellent start to a new series!
I have really enjoyed Larcombe's other series and put this one off so that I could read several volumes all at once. For me, this is one of those series that just sucks you in; I will get up from reading to use the restroom or get food and be confused about what is going on around me because I will have been so very enthralled in the story it mixes with reality for awhile after I finish reading.
Well worth the read!
I have really enjoyed Larcombe's other series and put this one off so that I could read several volumes all at once. For me, this is one of those series that just sucks you in; I will get up from reading to use the restroom or get food and be confused about what is going on around me because I will have been so very enthralled in the story it mixes with reality for awhile after I finish reading.
Well worth the read!
July 3, 2026
One of the few stories in this genre that manages the rare feat of making the Apocalypse boring.
Aliens, magic, portals, fighting, elf who lost everyone she's known... nope lets treat it like just another Tuesday. Even the "bad guys" (if you can even really call them that) are just a fairly tame pyramid scheme.
Mc's powers are all over the place and don't make much sense, the system itself isn't especially interesting,... just not really a reason to stick with this.
Aliens, magic, portals, fighting, elf who lost everyone she's known... nope lets treat it like just another Tuesday. Even the "bad guys" (if you can even really call them that) are just a fairly tame pyramid scheme.
Mc's powers are all over the place and don't make much sense, the system itself isn't especially interesting,... just not really a reason to stick with this.
August 24, 2026
Novel take on the System Apocalypse
Instead of a knock on the door with System calling, Earth gets a head's up and the ability to do some training ahead of time, for a price.
While the aliens say they're here to help, they need a small donation...
I enjoyed seeing this different take on the System Apocalypse. This book saw our hero go from 0 to 10 and I look forward to the next volume.
Instead of a knock on the door with System calling, Earth gets a head's up and the ability to do some training ahead of time, for a price.
While the aliens say they're here to help, they need a small donation...
I enjoyed seeing this different take on the System Apocalypse. This book saw our hero go from 0 to 10 and I look forward to the next volume.
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