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The Mechanical Mage: A Run 'em Over LitRPG
While delivering a parcel, Ben and his van are isekaied.
Suddenly, Ben is surrounded by a horde of giant scorpions who are hell-bent on his demise. Not knowing where he is and having no combat experience, he is forced to use his driving experience to run them over. That's when his system unlocks a Mechanical Mage Class.
What this story
Third-Person POVSlow start, but picks upThe MC will run things over with a van! Medieval Fantasy Setting with some Science-FictionAlso Some Crafting, and Kingdom Building!
Suddenly, Ben is surrounded by a horde of giant scorpions who are hell-bent on his demise. Not knowing where he is and having no combat experience, he is forced to use his driving experience to run them over. That's when his system unlocks a Mechanical Mage Class.
What this story
Third-Person POVSlow start, but picks upThe MC will run things over with a van! Medieval Fantasy Setting with some Science-FictionAlso Some Crafting, and Kingdom Building!
498 pages, ebook
Published July 25, 2025
298 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 13, 2025
A mixed bag
The first bit is a 'stranger comes calling' story, with Ben arriving in his new world. Stuff happens, and Ben runs 'em over, as the title suggests.
The next bit is a training montage where Ben gets training to be a knight, or maybe a mage. Kind of hard to say. There is a dearth of running'em over during this section. This section is either too long, or too short and would have benefited from a rewrite or 2 to tighten it up, or expand.
Then there's the town building bit. I liked it fine. Progress is too rapid, but that is pretty standard in the genre, and slower than most mixed town building+other stuff books. Again, no motorized mayhem.
The finale has plenty of running 'em down. I do wish that more was done with the mini boss. He would have been a good reoccurring character. And alls well that ends well.
Realistically this should have been at least 2 books of this length, or had one of the 2 non run ' em down bits left out. Still, worth a read. Tom out
The first bit is a 'stranger comes calling' story, with Ben arriving in his new world. Stuff happens, and Ben runs 'em over, as the title suggests.
The next bit is a training montage where Ben gets training to be a knight, or maybe a mage. Kind of hard to say. There is a dearth of running'em over during this section. This section is either too long, or too short and would have benefited from a rewrite or 2 to tighten it up, or expand.
Then there's the town building bit. I liked it fine. Progress is too rapid, but that is pretty standard in the genre, and slower than most mixed town building+other stuff books. Again, no motorized mayhem.
The finale has plenty of running 'em down. I do wish that more was done with the mini boss. He would have been a good reoccurring character. And alls well that ends well.
Realistically this should have been at least 2 books of this length, or had one of the 2 non run ' em down bits left out. Still, worth a read. Tom out
August 20, 2025
Enjoyable
As a first book it's enjoyable and gets down to the action very quickly thestory arc is well thought out and the protagonist is likable a loner transported to another world with his van he uses to squash his enemies, hopefully people buy this good book and the author can get a book two out as I think this story has legs if not a flying van in the future.
As a first book it's enjoyable and gets down to the action very quickly thestory arc is well thought out and the protagonist is likable a loner transported to another world with his van he uses to squash his enemies, hopefully people buy this good book and the author can get a book two out as I think this story has legs if not a flying van in the future.
September 5, 2025
Book one
I've heard the British do the stiff upper lip thing but this is ridiculous. No emotion from the MC at all. New planet no reaction, giant bugs, slightest reaction.
Makes a deal with the first faction that he meets. Is basically having to tell the commander of the group how to kill undead frog monsters.
Still zero emotional reaction.
Also the story needs more editing for missing words and some wrong words being used.
I'm dropping the story. I just can't with the MC being so emotionless.
3/10 I knew I was done when I started skipping page after page.
I've heard the British do the stiff upper lip thing but this is ridiculous. No emotion from the MC at all. New planet no reaction, giant bugs, slightest reaction.
Makes a deal with the first faction that he meets. Is basically having to tell the commander of the group how to kill undead frog monsters.
Still zero emotional reaction.
Also the story needs more editing for missing words and some wrong words being used.
I'm dropping the story. I just can't with the MC being so emotionless.
3/10 I knew I was done when I started skipping page after page.
January 13, 2026
Trust your gut
So my gut said this was going to be stupid and it was. Protagonist instantly realizes what is going on when he's transported to a magical world. And then proceeds to be shocked and amazed by absolutely everything Even after he's already seen things like magic and monsters he still shocked at amazed at magic and monsters. The plot armor is heavy The whole concept would be really challenging to do well.
So my gut said this was going to be stupid and it was. Protagonist instantly realizes what is going on when he's transported to a magical world. And then proceeds to be shocked and amazed by absolutely everything Even after he's already seen things like magic and monsters he still shocked at amazed at magic and monsters. The plot armor is heavy The whole concept would be really challenging to do well.
August 16, 2025
This was rather confusing. He’d say one thing and then contradict himself a few sentences later. “He hadn’t missed anything… He must have missed something…” (paraphrasing). The story was very silly as well. I gave up when he drove his camper van up a sand dune. Having four wheel drive doesn’t turn a giant van into a hovercraft!
September 25, 2025
This had a hook to pull you in, which is quickly discarded. That leaves this as nothing more than a generic settlement builder. It's a very boring one at that. His class is irrelevant, the van is an afterthought, and the combat is boring.
October 20, 2025
not enough road rage
About 60% of the way through he kind of just forgets he has a van and it becomes a boring normal isakai.
About 60% of the way through he kind of just forgets he has a van and it becomes a boring normal isakai.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews