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Defiance of the Fall #15
Defiance of the Fall 15
Book 15 of the hit Defiance of the Fall LitRPG Series is coming soon.
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567 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
December 27, 2025
This series has really devolved into a convoluted mess, long on jargon and short on payoffs.
My history with this series has been all over the place. I thought the first novel was really weak, being almost entirely devoid of dialogue. But the final act was engaging enough to warrant reading the next book and it got much better with the following books. I rated most of those early books fairly high for their engaging story, fun progression and interesting elements to Zac’s path.
But the numerous filler novels, where nothing happens and even one where there’s a cliffhanger mid-climax, led me to start to believe this author didn’t really have any clue what they are doing. And after reading this last chance I’m giving to this series, I have to say that theory is confirmed. But to the author’s defense, I think he’s one of many authors (leading in sales) of this new genre facing the exact same problem. They have written themselves into boringness.
That problem is the burden that their world building puts on an author’s ability to tell engaging and relatable stories. And to enjoy the payoffs, we must be able to relate to these characters in some manner.
Because, there is just too much going on, too many elements, too many characters, too many powers and abilities, to be able to even begin to feel like I’m following the narrative. And I am not a dumb man, I read sometimes a hundred novels a year. I’ve read thousands of books and progression fantasy has just been a niche I’ve been into the last couple of years. I’ve noticed this trend as many of these series hit the mid-grades, they really stagnate if not outright tread water.
First, the discrepancies in these magic systems between people at the bottom and at the top is just too much. We go from fights we can easily follow as basically superhuman to dragonball-level of ridiculousness, where literally all that happens is a new foe emerges who’s just slightly stronger than our MC, pushes MC to the brink, MC unlocks new abilities, and MC wins. And with this series, and others, now we are the full-on plot device/armor stage, smashing through mountains.
I don’t think this series is going to get any better. The plot armor is absurd, in a universe where there’s A-ranked immortals, our D-ranked MC (who spent like eight books in E grade!!!) always only seems to find himself pitted against those at or just above his level. The fights aren’t interesting at all, just plot device for this and plot device for that. Popping random natural treasures like candy. Treasures earlier books would have had plot lines to discover and spent detail describing. There’s no stakes. I barely understand who they are fighting, where they even are for this entire novel, or why it matters.
And fundamentally I think this is because the concept of the magic system in this series, and others, is just too cumbersome to tell an interesting story that’s remotely believable anymore. I my opinion, having way less entries, and instead focusing stages of stories between time jumps to pass over the boring progression, may make it possible to tell an interesting overall story in this context. But to me, the flaw is the ranking and magic systems themselves, and the burden that constantly having to maintenance the myriad of skills and abilities, liberally awarded in early novels, puts on an author down the line. Because he’s forced to either ignore these things, kind of like Path of Ascension which doesn’t even try to list them anymore, combine them to make writing and following the story easier (this is the right fix besides not making the mistake in the first place), or devoting a larger and larger share of your writing to upgrading (maintenance) and using these skills in combat to justify them (meaning boring filler and boring fights).
There are series out there that are really good that don’t have “systems”, they have magic but not a “system” entity or whatever. The gaps between the lowest and the highest aren’t like a bacterium versus an immortal deity, it’s more like a homeless person and a billionaire. It’s not unreachable. And in those stories, the skills and abilities are limited in scope, scale and potential. This allows for series to be just as long as one’s like DOTF, but be able to tell lateral stories without rehashing the same DBZ narrative over and over again.
For anyone interested, those series are A Soldier’s Life by AlwaysRollsAOne and Path of the Berserker by Rick Scott. Both of those series are how to do progression fantasy right. Also there is an example of a system style series, working, at that’s because it’s level capped. That series is System Universe by SunriseCV.
All the author of DOTF cares about is riding his cash cow to the bank producing low brow pulp fiction.
And I’m done.
My history with this series has been all over the place. I thought the first novel was really weak, being almost entirely devoid of dialogue. But the final act was engaging enough to warrant reading the next book and it got much better with the following books. I rated most of those early books fairly high for their engaging story, fun progression and interesting elements to Zac’s path.
But the numerous filler novels, where nothing happens and even one where there’s a cliffhanger mid-climax, led me to start to believe this author didn’t really have any clue what they are doing. And after reading this last chance I’m giving to this series, I have to say that theory is confirmed. But to the author’s defense, I think he’s one of many authors (leading in sales) of this new genre facing the exact same problem. They have written themselves into boringness.
That problem is the burden that their world building puts on an author’s ability to tell engaging and relatable stories. And to enjoy the payoffs, we must be able to relate to these characters in some manner.
Because, there is just too much going on, too many elements, too many characters, too many powers and abilities, to be able to even begin to feel like I’m following the narrative. And I am not a dumb man, I read sometimes a hundred novels a year. I’ve read thousands of books and progression fantasy has just been a niche I’ve been into the last couple of years. I’ve noticed this trend as many of these series hit the mid-grades, they really stagnate if not outright tread water.
First, the discrepancies in these magic systems between people at the bottom and at the top is just too much. We go from fights we can easily follow as basically superhuman to dragonball-level of ridiculousness, where literally all that happens is a new foe emerges who’s just slightly stronger than our MC, pushes MC to the brink, MC unlocks new abilities, and MC wins. And with this series, and others, now we are the full-on plot device/armor stage, smashing through mountains.
I don’t think this series is going to get any better. The plot armor is absurd, in a universe where there’s A-ranked immortals, our D-ranked MC (who spent like eight books in E grade!!!) always only seems to find himself pitted against those at or just above his level. The fights aren’t interesting at all, just plot device for this and plot device for that. Popping random natural treasures like candy. Treasures earlier books would have had plot lines to discover and spent detail describing. There’s no stakes. I barely understand who they are fighting, where they even are for this entire novel, or why it matters.
And fundamentally I think this is because the concept of the magic system in this series, and others, is just too cumbersome to tell an interesting story that’s remotely believable anymore. I my opinion, having way less entries, and instead focusing stages of stories between time jumps to pass over the boring progression, may make it possible to tell an interesting overall story in this context. But to me, the flaw is the ranking and magic systems themselves, and the burden that constantly having to maintenance the myriad of skills and abilities, liberally awarded in early novels, puts on an author down the line. Because he’s forced to either ignore these things, kind of like Path of Ascension which doesn’t even try to list them anymore, combine them to make writing and following the story easier (this is the right fix besides not making the mistake in the first place), or devoting a larger and larger share of your writing to upgrading (maintenance) and using these skills in combat to justify them (meaning boring filler and boring fights).
There are series out there that are really good that don’t have “systems”, they have magic but not a “system” entity or whatever. The gaps between the lowest and the highest aren’t like a bacterium versus an immortal deity, it’s more like a homeless person and a billionaire. It’s not unreachable. And in those stories, the skills and abilities are limited in scope, scale and potential. This allows for series to be just as long as one’s like DOTF, but be able to tell lateral stories without rehashing the same DBZ narrative over and over again.
For anyone interested, those series are A Soldier’s Life by AlwaysRollsAOne and Path of the Berserker by Rick Scott. Both of those series are how to do progression fantasy right. Also there is an example of a system style series, working, at that’s because it’s level capped. That series is System Universe by SunriseCV.
All the author of DOTF cares about is riding his cash cow to the bank producing low brow pulp fiction.
And I’m done.
July 20, 2025
Once again i find the book hard to rate. I would give 5 stars for the effort, the complexity and the phantasy but only 2 stars for the overall enjoyment and story progress.
The story goes on and on and everything takes ages. I lost count over how many books the Ultom plot was set up that after this book, hopefully finally will start.
The plot is horribly contrived as the MC is a walking cheat code who constantly gets helped by some of the strongest forces in existence. He is the chosen one with the beeper number for demigods..
Unfortunately, the endless passages about dao and cultivation got tiresome by now as it is clear that the MC will succeed in his struggles anyway no matter the obstacles.
In my opinion, he Kator plot went on too long and became rather ridiculous by the end. On the contrast, i really liked the(sadly all too short) parts about other factions and the encounters with different ancient entities. But all in all, the enjoyable parts of the book were too few for a better rating.
The story goes on and on and everything takes ages. I lost count over how many books the Ultom plot was set up that after this book, hopefully finally will start.
The plot is horribly contrived as the MC is a walking cheat code who constantly gets helped by some of the strongest forces in existence. He is the chosen one with the beeper number for demigods..
Unfortunately, the endless passages about dao and cultivation got tiresome by now as it is clear that the MC will succeed in his struggles anyway no matter the obstacles.
In my opinion, he Kator plot went on too long and became rather ridiculous by the end. On the contrast, i really liked the(sadly all too short) parts about other factions and the encounters with different ancient entities. But all in all, the enjoyable parts of the book were too few for a better rating.
July 16, 2025
Really enjoyed the early books but the series had no apparent end in sight and this felt like it was starting to get bogged in minutiae for me personally .Having read all Malazan books, I'm up for a slog but had to call it on this one as difficult to keep track. I'll sure it will work for those that don't have 10 books on the go at a time.
July 24, 2025
It's now volume 15 of a series with a lot of characters and moving parts: the book desperately need to have a quick recap as introduction.
I've a decent memory but I read a lot of different books and it had been a while since I finished the previous one. By consequence while I could remember most of the main crew and had a good recollection of the plot of volume 14, I'm not ashamed that I was kinda lost for a good while and that I probably didnt understand the ramification of some of the scenes that included characters I entirely forgot.
Plot wise outside of our MC upgrades and the last quarter of the book it feels like not much happen. Skeletor is finally defeated but even that felt kinda flat since we knew from a previous book how much the fight against him could have been technical. Here they fought when everyone was on their last leg so it wasnt very high energy, mostly "nuh uh, my will is so strong I still keep going" twenty times in a row, back and forth.
Hopefully next one has a recap or reintroduce the whole cast competing for the latest plot point (that our hero will win in the end against all odds). Otherwise it will probably just be empty noise for me.
I've a decent memory but I read a lot of different books and it had been a while since I finished the previous one. By consequence while I could remember most of the main crew and had a good recollection of the plot of volume 14, I'm not ashamed that I was kinda lost for a good while and that I probably didnt understand the ramification of some of the scenes that included characters I entirely forgot.
Plot wise outside of our MC upgrades and the last quarter of the book it feels like not much happen. Skeletor is finally defeated but even that felt kinda flat since we knew from a previous book how much the fight against him could have been technical. Here they fought when everyone was on their last leg so it wasnt very high energy, mostly "nuh uh, my will is so strong I still keep going" twenty times in a row, back and forth.
Hopefully next one has a recap or reintroduce the whole cast competing for the latest plot point (that our hero will win in the end against all odds). Otherwise it will probably just be empty noise for me.
July 22, 2025
I’ve been with this series from the beginning and I love the earlier books but these last few are like so boring 80% of the time is just spent explaining. No action just yak yak yak.
November 1, 2025
Yep im done. Gonna call it here. Way too much going on. Not plot progression. Random side quests that fill entire books. Skills that are hard to follow. Concepts that are hard to follow. The story barely moves, buried under endless cultivation talk and power-ups with no real stakes. Zac feels invincible, the plot meanders, and the tension is gone. What used to be exciting progression now reads like a bloated manual. I pushed through out of loyalty, but honestly, I’m done.
July 20, 2025
I really enjoy the series but the books are getting hard to finish, this book follows the formula that made me love the series with some good fights and interesting story lines but i am just tired of no real story progression. at this rate it feels like we will need 40 books to get close to an end point.
July 21, 2025
Excellent, I really enjoyed that. For me, this series waxes and wanes with the amount of cultivation babble in any given book. It didn't bother me at all in this book, and I enjoyed the action and the reveals along the way. Looking forward to the next one and the promise that we finally get to the meat of the Ultom arc.
July 22, 2025
Had to start this listen over because I kept falling asleep 😑 It's a me problem.
Not a fan of long time jumps and missing all that happened, then trying to make connections to catch up to the current timeline 😕
Still a badass listen ❤️❤️❤️
Not a fan of long time jumps and missing all that happened, then trying to make connections to catch up to the current timeline 😕
Still a badass listen ❤️❤️❤️
August 3, 2025
Incredibly disappointing. Barely a single good fight in this book, one fight hyped up for multiple books basically comes down to outside influences. Character interactions are practically non existent and the whole book is an explanation of dao’s and insights as the character go on a road trip without any pay off. I used to be so excited for every release and was personally happy for the series so drag on for years. I’d seen readers complain about the series being dragged out, but I was fine with a guaranteed fun romp each year, but the series has become a slog, no excitement, there hasn’t been a good fight since the perenial vastness and that’s being generous. I don’t know if the author has an editor (in fairness not knocking on quality of writing, that has stayed consistent in quality ) but they need to be harsh, and cut into these books so that we don’t spend 700 pages accomplishing so very little and not even being entertaining on the way. As much as I want to see zac’s journey continue, currently i’m doubtful I’ll continue the series, perhaps I’ll soften by the next release.
August 26, 2025
The author has lost the plot.
I enjoyed the early books in this series. They were easy to engage with, and entertaining to read. Unfortunately, that no longer seems to be the case.
Book 15 was a struggle to get through. It often felt as though entire chapters were missing, or that somehow I skipped Book 14 in the series (I didn’t), and was unable to follow the story as a result.
I hope the author returns to the spirit of the earlier books in the series.
I enjoyed the early books in this series. They were easy to engage with, and entertaining to read. Unfortunately, that no longer seems to be the case.
Book 15 was a struggle to get through. It often felt as though entire chapters were missing, or that somehow I skipped Book 14 in the series (I didn’t), and was unable to follow the story as a result.
I hope the author returns to the spirit of the earlier books in the series.
July 28, 2025
Had the previously been in my top 3 series of all time. These two recently books were awful, we started this for the fun, adventure and characters not for 16 hours of over explaining nonsense. lost his way with this series
August 14, 2025
I really don't know how bad this would be on Royal Road where is first published, as this time I managed to stop myself from reading it there and waited for the book.
Is bad.
It might make sense in the author's mind, but for me it was finally over the top.
Too many and too long explanations of stuff in the middle of the action, culminating with a final battle taking over a dozen chapters with so many "gotcha" moments and so many fake starts and stops that by the end I didn't care about anything the MC did or said.
Too many hidden bad guys hinting at hidden knowledge. Too many hidden explanations that boil down to "Deus ex Machina".
In the end - Is not just I didn't care about what Zac did of suffered, worse than that is that it didn't matter to the end result.
More and more, the MC has no impact on the outcome.
Is bad.
It might make sense in the author's mind, but for me it was finally over the top.
Too many and too long explanations of stuff in the middle of the action, culminating with a final battle taking over a dozen chapters with so many "gotcha" moments and so many fake starts and stops that by the end I didn't care about anything the MC did or said.
Too many hidden bad guys hinting at hidden knowledge. Too many hidden explanations that boil down to "Deus ex Machina".
In the end - Is not just I didn't care about what Zac did of suffered, worse than that is that it didn't matter to the end result.
More and more, the MC has no impact on the outcome.
October 4, 2025
Defiance of the Fall 15 by JF Brink is a course correction, though you might never know it from some of the reviews. If anything, this book had way more happening than earlier iterations. Some spoilers...
The Kator plotline wraps up, Tavza is more closely aligned with Zak & co, there's a civil war brewing in the Undead empire, the Primo is cut off, The Reavers can't seem to decide whether or not they want to kill Zak, Kator had a moment where he either felt like he would turn into Ogras or attempt to overthrow Zak, Zak's plotline is leading him down the direction of, potentially, inheriting a lot of legacies related to the Limitless empire, Zak had his first encounter with the Terminus Council through an encounter with someone who predated Karz and the rest, though we only learn the name from Sandor, we also learn there was a person who set into motion the eras where the Dao is continually refined, we learned more about fate, authority, and providence, Zak's authority is weirdly enmeshed with Iz Tayn's family, Zak's shipbuilders may or may not have betrayed him, they are likely involved with another faction that Iz is now going to war against to compete for Ultum, multiple people can vie for the inheritance and gain recognition so now Zak can aim for it, Esmerelda weakened herself dramatically before going into the courts, the attempt on the part of the Buddhists to capture Zak ended poorly, Sandor's two rescues were used up before the court even started, the plotline around the fragments is partially wrapped up, as is the Be'Zi and A'zu - at least for now, Thea Marshall escaped the Buddhists, the leader of the Heretics might be dead (or at the very least very weakened), Earth is about to buy a whole lot of planets, and the Buddhists are responsible for nearly bringing Zecia to its knees. Let's repeat that: The Buddhists are responsible for the downfall of Zecia, making everything hinge of Zak and his acts of desperation. That's saying nothing of the brief sojourn into the hells, how fate seems to have controlled him and Kator, what's going on the the Imperial Prince, the ghost in the Ensolus Ruins, the technocrats, and what to do with the new imperial ship.
My most major complaint about the series was that plotlines were not resolved or did not move forward, that many chapters seemed to focus on cultivation - often far more than the actual plot. But now? There were a few chapters on the cultivation elements, but that was about it. Zac's time at Hegemony also seems to be coming to an end, with him becoming C-grade likely in a book or two. Some plotlines are definitely wrapped up, and others seem to be coming to a head very soon. And with it, something major is going to change in the story.
Is Zak overpowered? Sure. But that comes with this genre. It is the politics, the strange nature of the system, character interactions, and the more esoteric nature of the magic that are the most refreshing to me. There aren't many like it. Does this clash with some of the more joke-y or less serious attempts at LITrpgs? Sure. But not everything needs to be the Primal Hunter.
The Kator plotline wraps up, Tavza is more closely aligned with Zak & co, there's a civil war brewing in the Undead empire, the Primo is cut off, The Reavers can't seem to decide whether or not they want to kill Zak, Kator had a moment where he either felt like he would turn into Ogras or attempt to overthrow Zak, Zak's plotline is leading him down the direction of, potentially, inheriting a lot of legacies related to the Limitless empire, Zak had his first encounter with the Terminus Council through an encounter with someone who predated Karz and the rest, though we only learn the name from Sandor, we also learn there was a person who set into motion the eras where the Dao is continually refined, we learned more about fate, authority, and providence, Zak's authority is weirdly enmeshed with Iz Tayn's family, Zak's shipbuilders may or may not have betrayed him, they are likely involved with another faction that Iz is now going to war against to compete for Ultum, multiple people can vie for the inheritance and gain recognition so now Zak can aim for it, Esmerelda weakened herself dramatically before going into the courts, the attempt on the part of the Buddhists to capture Zak ended poorly, Sandor's two rescues were used up before the court even started, the plotline around the fragments is partially wrapped up, as is the Be'Zi and A'zu - at least for now, Thea Marshall escaped the Buddhists, the leader of the Heretics might be dead (or at the very least very weakened), Earth is about to buy a whole lot of planets, and the Buddhists are responsible for nearly bringing Zecia to its knees. Let's repeat that: The Buddhists are responsible for the downfall of Zecia, making everything hinge of Zak and his acts of desperation. That's saying nothing of the brief sojourn into the hells, how fate seems to have controlled him and Kator, what's going on the the Imperial Prince, the ghost in the Ensolus Ruins, the technocrats, and what to do with the new imperial ship.
My most major complaint about the series was that plotlines were not resolved or did not move forward, that many chapters seemed to focus on cultivation - often far more than the actual plot. But now? There were a few chapters on the cultivation elements, but that was about it. Zac's time at Hegemony also seems to be coming to an end, with him becoming C-grade likely in a book or two. Some plotlines are definitely wrapped up, and others seem to be coming to a head very soon. And with it, something major is going to change in the story.
Is Zak overpowered? Sure. But that comes with this genre. It is the politics, the strange nature of the system, character interactions, and the more esoteric nature of the magic that are the most refreshing to me. There aren't many like it. Does this clash with some of the more joke-y or less serious attempts at LITrpgs? Sure. But not everything needs to be the Primal Hunter.
July 29, 2025
Rating 3.0 stars
I would still rate the series 4 stars, but this is the second book in a row that I felt was lacking so I had to go down on my star rating. It is just so hard to visualize what is going on. There are so many moving parts, and the story is so convoluted. The biggest problem I have with this book in particular is that I couldn't tell if Zack was doing well or poorly. Usually that is a pretty easy thing to know. Zack does something good and gains in strength and levels. Or something bad happens and he has to find a way to muddle through. In this one, good things seemed to happen, but it still felt like Zacks situation was always dire and he never had enough time, resources to even things out. Overall, I wasn't too happy with the last 2 books in the series. I hope there is some improvement in the next one.
I would still rate the series 4 stars, but this is the second book in a row that I felt was lacking so I had to go down on my star rating. It is just so hard to visualize what is going on. There are so many moving parts, and the story is so convoluted. The biggest problem I have with this book in particular is that I couldn't tell if Zack was doing well or poorly. Usually that is a pretty easy thing to know. Zack does something good and gains in strength and levels. Or something bad happens and he has to find a way to muddle through. In this one, good things seemed to happen, but it still felt like Zacks situation was always dire and he never had enough time, resources to even things out. Overall, I wasn't too happy with the last 2 books in the series. I hope there is some improvement in the next one.
August 5, 2025
Renewed Vigor and Skill
I’ve read every book in this series and this volume is a major shift in pacing, and quality. Narrative tension has always been good throughout the series, but like many litrpg authors, pacing is often a big problem. Not only has the author fixed those issues but raised the overall quality in many ways.
It serves a much cleaner approach to promises and payoffs, as some facets that have been left undefined for 7 or 8 books finally get a clear definition/payoff. Side characters still aren’t well developed but they take some important strides forward in this regard. Overall, there is a much better usage of existing characters versus creating new ones to fit a specific purpose.
If there’s one glaring weakness with this volume it’s the unresolved and undefined issues with the technocrat faction. We get a lot of new information about the peaks of Dao that go into Zac’s connection with the limitless empire but very little on his technocrat heritage.
I’ve read every book in this series and this volume is a major shift in pacing, and quality. Narrative tension has always been good throughout the series, but like many litrpg authors, pacing is often a big problem. Not only has the author fixed those issues but raised the overall quality in many ways.
It serves a much cleaner approach to promises and payoffs, as some facets that have been left undefined for 7 or 8 books finally get a clear definition/payoff. Side characters still aren’t well developed but they take some important strides forward in this regard. Overall, there is a much better usage of existing characters versus creating new ones to fit a specific purpose.
If there’s one glaring weakness with this volume it’s the unresolved and undefined issues with the technocrat faction. We get a lot of new information about the peaks of Dao that go into Zac’s connection with the limitless empire but very little on his technocrat heritage.
September 15, 2025
This series has gotten funky in a unique way. This particular volume is pretty skimpy on character and/or plot, but it MORE than makes up for it in wacky spiritual cultivation stakes, truly OP powerups and a uniquely ever-matching way to power-scale, and a particularly heavy lean into SF for what should ostensibly be an epic fantasy series.
It's not every day that you can have a dude with a sword take on gods, planets (even at full size), or whole dimensional realms. Or that it still remains fraught with close calls.
What this does well, it does very well. But there's absolutely nothing humble about it. lol
Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Arctunn.com
It's not every day that you can have a dude with a sword take on gods, planets (even at full size), or whole dimensional realms. Or that it still remains fraught with close calls.
What this does well, it does very well. But there's absolutely nothing humble about it. lol
Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Arctunn.com
October 5, 2025
Seriously, it is very difficult to recommend the series anymore.
The story telling has become a mess of bla bla bla bla, same old Tapestry this, and "the sky opened" when you are in space and more of that endless word factory.
I think that after 15 books we can tone it down even a little bit.
releasing a page every 2 days (on RR) but having them completely empty of story and just yapping on and on about the sky and the ground and the flowers and hallucinations... whatever, where is the story!?, where are the fights, where is the struggle...
I will still get the next one, and probably the next one after that as it is helping me fall asleep by now. but it would be hard to recommend this series if it keeps going like this.
P.S. I wanted to give 3 stars, but i gave 2 because of the forced upgrade that was completely ridiculous (even for Zac and even for a luck based story)
The story telling has become a mess of bla bla bla bla, same old Tapestry this, and "the sky opened" when you are in space and more of that endless word factory.
I think that after 15 books we can tone it down even a little bit.
releasing a page every 2 days (on RR) but having them completely empty of story and just yapping on and on about the sky and the ground and the flowers and hallucinations... whatever, where is the story!?, where are the fights, where is the struggle...
I will still get the next one, and probably the next one after that as it is helping me fall asleep by now. but it would be hard to recommend this series if it keeps going like this.
P.S. I wanted to give 3 stars, but i gave 2 because of the forced upgrade that was completely ridiculous (even for Zac and even for a luck based story)
August 5, 2025
This is getting really boring which is a shame because for awhile there it was pretty fun. Unfortunately the way battles work in these books is just not viable it is impossible for our hero to win a fight without scrambling his pathways or exhausting this or that so when a fight we really want to see happen it is when our hero is a shell of what he might be.
I have to agree with a few of the reviews here that the author doesn't know what to do with him nowthere is no way that Zack should be this strong regardless of bloodline or luck or talent it is nearly impossible for it to work as it does and the way he half asses his way through the grades is just too much now.
I will keep going because I have come to like a lot of the characters but Zack has some become too ridiculous now.
I have to agree with a few of the reviews here that the author doesn't know what to do with him nowthere is no way that Zack should be this strong regardless of bloodline or luck or talent it is nearly impossible for it to work as it does and the way he half asses his way through the grades is just too much now.
I will keep going because I have come to like a lot of the characters but Zack has some become too ridiculous now.
July 23, 2025
Frantic fun
This book contains a lot of plot. The focus shifts between locations and goal quickly and reveals new twists constantly. The characters get less time to allow for this, but at this point in the series, it's not disruptive for one book. The world building gets more time and (I suspect) is one of the reasons the plot is so frantic.
It seems to me like the author has places they want to go and this book is the transition. Despite that, it's a lot of fun if you accept the ride. The previous books have already created the necessary emotional investment in the characters.
Overall, it's simple, crazy fun.
This book contains a lot of plot. The focus shifts between locations and goal quickly and reveals new twists constantly. The characters get less time to allow for this, but at this point in the series, it's not disruptive for one book. The world building gets more time and (I suspect) is one of the reasons the plot is so frantic.
It seems to me like the author has places they want to go and this book is the transition. Despite that, it's a lot of fun if you accept the ride. The previous books have already created the necessary emotional investment in the characters.
Overall, it's simple, crazy fun.
July 22, 2025
What I love about this series is its Forever Series feel. For example, it’s always fun and full of depth. Since it’s been a while between books, I sometimes forgot characters, their connection to Zac, and parts of the story. The recap at the beginning helped but I wish it had been more detailed. Not remembering everything did affect my enjoyment at times, but that’s partly on me for not doing more rereading beforehand. It was also occasionally unclear when Zac was in his human or undead form, but I still really enjoyed it and am already looking forward to the next book.
July 23, 2025
Excellent Continuation!
An excellent story that keeps the reader very involved. The only issue I have is how many times can the main character go through a major crisis while advancing? If it wasn’t for the main characters, incredible plot armor oh, I’m sorry I mean luck, he would’ve died 1000 times over. Of course that leads to some excitement, but it starts to get old and predictable after so many repetitions of the same old cliché. Despite this, it was a good book. Very much looking forward to the next book.
An excellent story that keeps the reader very involved. The only issue I have is how many times can the main character go through a major crisis while advancing? If it wasn’t for the main characters, incredible plot armor oh, I’m sorry I mean luck, he would’ve died 1000 times over. Of course that leads to some excitement, but it starts to get old and predictable after so many repetitions of the same old cliché. Despite this, it was a good book. Very much looking forward to the next book.
July 31, 2025
I've loved this series until now, and will continue to read it. But a note to the author: Please, stop dragging things out so incredibly much... There's so many good story plots to go through, but this book was just one big stall. So much nonsense about fate, authority, dragging on and on and on and on and on... Half the time I don't even understand what I'm reading anymore. And I don't even think the author does. Please get back on track and back to the story. I love the books, I do. But this was by far the worst yet.
August 14, 2025
protagonist spends almost entire book stuck with antagonist under forced "truce". The climax wasn't super satisfying. I skipped ahead a bunch and dont feel like I missed much. protagonist spends a bunch of time getting his ass kicked but miraculously pulling out tight victories. Thats ok once in a while but I read this series to see the MC kick ass, not spend an entire book barely scraping by and everyone around him seemingly one step ahead of him. One book falling flat out of 15 is a pretty good ratio, hopefully the next installment has more fun in store!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2025
You lost me
I loved this series and gave each book 5 stars which is why I am giving this a 4 instead of a 2. I could not.follow your story telling. I was confused the entire time. I couldn't tell if I just couldn't remember the past books enough to keep up or if you where just rambling or lost in your own head. I feel like I now need someone to translate what I just read and this from a guy who reads 100 books a year. You got too complicated. Kind of a train wreck, but really loved the series itself.
I loved this series and gave each book 5 stars which is why I am giving this a 4 instead of a 2. I could not.follow your story telling. I was confused the entire time. I couldn't tell if I just couldn't remember the past books enough to keep up or if you where just rambling or lost in your own head. I feel like I now need someone to translate what I just read and this from a guy who reads 100 books a year. You got too complicated. Kind of a train wreck, but really loved the series itself.
July 24, 2025
Too much nonsense
I find myself skimming more and more over the almost word salad like nonsense that is supposed to be the cultivating, and core formation etc. it is getting really hard to read, and I find my mind wandering, often to sleep.
The plot used to be good, and when the story sticks to plot, it is engaging, but I think the Buddhist and other bull crap has gotten way out of hand.
I find myself skimming more and more over the almost word salad like nonsense that is supposed to be the cultivating, and core formation etc. it is getting really hard to read, and I find my mind wandering, often to sleep.
The plot used to be good, and when the story sticks to plot, it is engaging, but I think the Buddhist and other bull crap has gotten way out of hand.
July 28, 2025
Is JF Brink an engineer?
The level of cultivation detail, page after page after page, describing…stuff that I can’t possibly remember…was a slog. Felt at times like I was reading a report written by an engineer attempting to make sure I could pass the PhD level exam on Zach’s particular brand of cultivation (or progress or evolution or whatever you want to call it) that was surely coming at the end of the book. Hard read.
The level of cultivation detail, page after page after page, describing…stuff that I can’t possibly remember…was a slog. Felt at times like I was reading a report written by an engineer attempting to make sure I could pass the PhD level exam on Zach’s particular brand of cultivation (or progress or evolution or whatever you want to call it) that was surely coming at the end of the book. Hard read.
July 31, 2025
As always, the book was packed with intense action and plenty of character development for Zac.
Some scenes moved so fast and felt so chaotic that I actually had to go back and reread just to figure out what had happened. A bit of chaos in an action-heavy story works well—but when it starts happening every few chapters, it does get a little exhausting.
That said, the writing itself is great, and I genuinely had a lot of fun reading it.
5/5
Some scenes moved so fast and felt so chaotic that I actually had to go back and reread just to figure out what had happened. A bit of chaos in an action-heavy story works well—but when it starts happening every few chapters, it does get a little exhausting.
That said, the writing itself is great, and I genuinely had a lot of fun reading it.
5/5
August 5, 2025
struggled
At this point the cultivation aspect of this story is sooooo complex some graphics would be helpful. Trying to keep it all straight through seemingly endless pages of explanation is exhausting. I’d put this book at 1/20th action and the rest is explanations of what is happening internally while the MC cultivates or figures out how to use his abilities to overcome the latest impossible scenario.
Disappointing.
At this point the cultivation aspect of this story is sooooo complex some graphics would be helpful. Trying to keep it all straight through seemingly endless pages of explanation is exhausting. I’d put this book at 1/20th action and the rest is explanations of what is happening internally while the MC cultivates or figures out how to use his abilities to overcome the latest impossible scenario.
Disappointing.
September 15, 2025
This will be my last one in the series. Probably should have stoped on the last. The book was too hard to follow. Too much ambiguous terms and not grounded in Reality. The last couple chapters of the book were good. I don’t really know what was accomplished and what the plot really is. One of the reasons I liked this series is it moved forward with definitive progression. This book interlay fails to do that.
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