What do you think?
Rate this book
Magic Murder Cube Marine - Book One
Francis Francis Francis the 3rd was one hell of a Marine. He died doing what he loved, killing everyone around him.After being vaporized in the line of duty, Francis is transported to a new world full of gods and magic. Too bad Hades is trying to kill him for declining a job offer and System holds a grudge for what happened during character creation. His new patron deity seems nice, but who knows if they can be trusted?
Armed with nothing but his lucky pink booty shorts, a pair of matching flip-flops, and nineteen years’ experience fighting in the Marine Corps, Francis has one find a way home to his fellow grunts, or be listed as KIA forever.
Grunts love this book, and you will too!
Armed with nothing but his lucky pink booty shorts, a pair of matching flip-flops, and nineteen years’ experience fighting in the Marine Corps, Francis has one find a way home to his fellow grunts, or be listed as KIA forever.
Grunts love this book, and you will too!
- GenresFantasy
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2025
33 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Alex Karne
3 books30 followersAlex Karne is a Cuban-American author from Sonoma County, California.
His books include Soul Guardian: A Hellishly Cozy Fantasy, Magic Murder Cube Marine, and Rogue Cultivator.
His books include Soul Guardian: A Hellishly Cozy Fantasy, Magic Murder Cube Marine, and Rogue Cultivator.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Want to read
October 6, 2025This cover is calling to me guys
October 9, 2025
Pure breathless nonstop fun
Over the top, Loony tunes levels of comedic violence, and military jokes.
All in a fantasy world setting with game mechanics and mayhem. You'll know if you like it in the first 3 pages.
Over the top, Loony tunes levels of comedic violence, and military jokes.
All in a fantasy world setting with game mechanics and mayhem. You'll know if you like it in the first 3 pages.
didn-t-like-it
October 14, 2025Note to self: the humor, tone, and MC aren't for me.
August 20, 2025
Title: Mixed Feelings
Content Ratings: Language – MA; Violence – R; Other – MA
This may be the first time I finished a book and started the review without being sure how I'd rate it. On the good side, the MC is "larger than life" and repeatedly succeeds (in a big way) after jumping in with both feet before thinking. There's a lot of fun to be had there, and I'm a fan of that kind of humor - the successful fool, someone who survives the impossible (repeatedly), etc. There are plenty of fun moments, too. I enjoyed that the language the system gives the main is "grunt" - a language that has 100 words for kill and none for salad.
On the "just okay" side, the plot was fairly simple - get isekai'd, a bunch of stuff happens, an adversary is gained, more stuff happens, MC keeps winning. In addition, with the main already OP, there's only a little progression and not a lot of system to learn about. As for the characters, I can remember the MC's name, but I have to stop and think to come up with others. They weren't cardboard, but they weren't particularly memorable. Overall, what comes to mind is popcorn- it's easy to eat, and it's generally enjoyable, but it's not the same as a full meal.
On the down side, I simply didn't connect with the book or its characters, and I'm not a fan of MA content in entertainment.
Summing that up, it probably starts at 4 stars with the "good" and "okay" points, but the "down side" tipped the scales for me. It's kind of like someone mixed rocks into my popcorn instead of salt and butter. I wanted to enjoy it, and did enjoy parts of it very much, but it just didn't work for me. As usual, your mileage may vary. Hint: I kind of figured from the title that I wasn't going to connect with some of it, so if you do connect with the title, then you're more likely to fully enjoy the book.
Content Ratings: Language – MA; Violence – R; Other – MA
This may be the first time I finished a book and started the review without being sure how I'd rate it. On the good side, the MC is "larger than life" and repeatedly succeeds (in a big way) after jumping in with both feet before thinking. There's a lot of fun to be had there, and I'm a fan of that kind of humor - the successful fool, someone who survives the impossible (repeatedly), etc. There are plenty of fun moments, too. I enjoyed that the language the system gives the main is "grunt" - a language that has 100 words for kill and none for salad.
On the "just okay" side, the plot was fairly simple - get isekai'd, a bunch of stuff happens, an adversary is gained, more stuff happens, MC keeps winning. In addition, with the main already OP, there's only a little progression and not a lot of system to learn about. As for the characters, I can remember the MC's name, but I have to stop and think to come up with others. They weren't cardboard, but they weren't particularly memorable. Overall, what comes to mind is popcorn- it's easy to eat, and it's generally enjoyable, but it's not the same as a full meal.
On the down side, I simply didn't connect with the book or its characters, and I'm not a fan of MA content in entertainment.
Summing that up, it probably starts at 4 stars with the "good" and "okay" points, but the "down side" tipped the scales for me. It's kind of like someone mixed rocks into my popcorn instead of salt and butter. I wanted to enjoy it, and did enjoy parts of it very much, but it just didn't work for me. As usual, your mileage may vary. Hint: I kind of figured from the title that I wasn't going to connect with some of it, so if you do connect with the title, then you're more likely to fully enjoy the book.
August 19, 2025
I love this first book in a new series of LitRPG, where we get to meet Francis, a marine who enjoyed killing, and who finds himself on a new world ruled by Gods and magic. He is a real grunt with not much between his ears, however he is loyal and never gives up, a real marine at heart who is ready to make sure no one who is part of his crew gets left behind. So when Hades the god of the underworld starts to attack him and those he got to care for, and the system turns against him too, he goes all out to protect his own, with his beloved Death cleric Willow Wisp watching his back when he gets to fight the titan Stompy, who is Hades' champion. He is also backed by Jack, Chuck, Mac, Hank and others who as Francis gets more powerful they name him their god and start following him. They have taken over the abandoned city of Brexis and when this gets attacked they all rally to defend it and prepare it to recieve the refugees who have had to abandon their own city of Olympus which used to belong to Zeus. The gods back stab other gods as well as everyone else, they use their own champions in battles, but Francis is always in the forefront of every battle not willing to sacrifice any of his friends. I like where this book is going and look forward to reading book 2 which I am sure will be just as exciting a read, and chock full of more adventures. Love the humor in this book too.
September 18, 2025
Stick with this one, it's worth the dive
After the first few chapters I was thinking the plot a little soft and MC a little simple. I was wrong. There is a level of self awareness to this story that really rounds out the humor. Like a brilliant actor playing their best idiot. The characters are likable, the references are clever, and the humor often dips into (a very reflective) ridiculousness. I was impressed by the end and will be grabbing book 2 the second I'm done with this review.
After the first few chapters I was thinking the plot a little soft and MC a little simple. I was wrong. There is a level of self awareness to this story that really rounds out the humor. Like a brilliant actor playing their best idiot. The characters are likable, the references are clever, and the humor often dips into (a very reflective) ridiculousness. I was impressed by the end and will be grabbing book 2 the second I'm done with this review.
October 21, 2025
A good start of a series that suprisingly have kept my interest along the way. Yes it has a bit of DCC vibe with the character , but I think its more obvious in the first half of the book. During the second half it starts to stand on its own legs and as a Pratchett fan I like how the author links some things to Pratchett.
Im curious to see how this series develops and I have high hopes of the author.
Rating 3,5
Im curious to see how this series develops and I have high hopes of the author.
Rating 3,5
August 20, 2025
Holy crap, that was fun.
This was a hell of a ride. It's a solid LitRPG story, but it is, without a doubt, one of the funniest books I've read this year. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Highly recommended.
This was a hell of a ride. It's a solid LitRPG story, but it is, without a doubt, one of the funniest books I've read this year. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Highly recommended.
September 19, 2025
Loved it!
I'm new to the world of lit RPG books. I really enjoyed this story. It reminds me of Terry Pratchett a lot. There's humor, a little bit of intellectual twist here and there and a good storyline.
Thanks Alex, for another good read!
I'm new to the world of lit RPG books. I really enjoyed this story. It reminds me of Terry Pratchett a lot. There's humor, a little bit of intellectual twist here and there and a good storyline.
Thanks Alex, for another good read!
October 25, 2025
Entertaining
I needed something to read after the dungeon crawler Carl series and this is similar genre enough it worked. This is a punny and lighthearted isekai/litrpg and it was ridiculous. Did I love it? Yes I did. I literally read it for the cover and was not disappointed.
I needed something to read after the dungeon crawler Carl series and this is similar genre enough it worked. This is a punny and lighthearted isekai/litrpg and it was ridiculous. Did I love it? Yes I did. I literally read it for the cover and was not disappointed.
January 17, 2026
Really fun read!
Just a fun book to read. The marine angle was unique. Good action light sex, decent world building. Enjoyed it!
Just a fun book to read. The marine angle was unique. Good action light sex, decent world building. Enjoyed it!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews