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Return of the Runebound Professor #8
Return of the Runebound Professor 8
Wizen is dead.
Noah chased him through the Damned Plains and into the Line itself. But he wasn’t the one that finished Wizen off. At the final moment, the ancient mage chose to sacrifice his life in exchange for the sake of a young demon. A girl by the name of Sticky, whose mere existence was the key to solving an ages-old problem and righting Decras’ greatest failure.
With Wizen gone, there was nothing left keeping Noah and the others in the Damned Plains. He returned victoriously to Arbitage alongside Lee, Moxie, and a whole new host of demonic students. And after ripping apart a few professors who dared try to kill his students, dealing with the Apostles, Reaching Rank 5, and fixing up a bunch of runes, the only thing Noah wants to do is a little rest and recovery.
Unfortunately, Father has different plans.
The old monster has finally made his move. Ancient schemes begin to reveal themselves all too late as the war for Arbalest’s very existence begins — and Father has already readied the finishing move.
Book 8 of the next hit Progression Fantasy series from Actus, bestselling author of My Best Friend is an Eldritch Horror. Featuring a strong, intelligent protagonist, a detailed runic magic system, loads of power progression, and so much more.
With over 10 million views as a webserial, you can experience the definitive version of this smash-hit series on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
Noah chased him through the Damned Plains and into the Line itself. But he wasn’t the one that finished Wizen off. At the final moment, the ancient mage chose to sacrifice his life in exchange for the sake of a young demon. A girl by the name of Sticky, whose mere existence was the key to solving an ages-old problem and righting Decras’ greatest failure.
With Wizen gone, there was nothing left keeping Noah and the others in the Damned Plains. He returned victoriously to Arbitage alongside Lee, Moxie, and a whole new host of demonic students. And after ripping apart a few professors who dared try to kill his students, dealing with the Apostles, Reaching Rank 5, and fixing up a bunch of runes, the only thing Noah wants to do is a little rest and recovery.
Unfortunately, Father has different plans.
The old monster has finally made his move. Ancient schemes begin to reveal themselves all too late as the war for Arbalest’s very existence begins — and Father has already readied the finishing move.
Book 8 of the next hit Progression Fantasy series from Actus, bestselling author of My Best Friend is an Eldritch Horror. Featuring a strong, intelligent protagonist, a detailed runic magic system, loads of power progression, and so much more.
With over 10 million views as a webserial, you can experience the definitive version of this smash-hit series on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
594 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2025
About the author
Actus
56 books257 followersActus has been writing fantasy stories since the age of twelve, and he's been telling them since he could talk. He's currently working on three main series - Morcster Chef, Steamforged Sorcery, and My Best Friend is an Eldritch Horror. You can find his works on RoyalRoad & Patreon as well as on Amazon.
In addition to his passion for writing, Actus is capable of clearing a two story building with a single jump. That isn't true, but writing about himself in third person gives Actus delusions of grandeur.
In addition to his passion for writing, Actus is capable of clearing a two story building with a single jump. That isn't true, but writing about himself in third person gives Actus delusions of grandeur.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 9, 2025
It's stretching on and on
While this series has its strong points. It seems obvious that the author is just milking books now, the amount of character or plot development over this entire book is pitiful.
While this series has its strong points. It seems obvious that the author is just milking books now, the amount of character or plot development over this entire book is pitiful.
June 16, 2026
book 7 was disappointing because it was just all the characters catching up with each other and basically chess pieces being moved around to set up the plot going forward. thankfully it paid off and this book was much better with a lot of plot happening.
I do think there's too many characters at this point, and I've always felt the magic system was kinda limited in scope and that's manifested in the issue of the author having to constantly come up with new ways to "break the rules" or whatever, but it usually takes a lot of book time. it's like in cultivation stories when they spend 50 pages straight pondering on the dao, like in dotf, both are important to the story and can be fine, but if done too much they get tedious. I think those are the biggest issues I can think of, but when they both creep up on the author, it can take a whole book to get back on track (book 7), so hopefully the issue doesn't compound any more.
even with the issues, Actus is so good at making fun characters that interact with each other so entertainingly, that he could have them all start a freaking bowling league (ohhh or a dart throwing league 😂) and I'd tune in at least a few more books to see where it went and have fun with the characters.
I do think there's too many characters at this point, and I've always felt the magic system was kinda limited in scope and that's manifested in the issue of the author having to constantly come up with new ways to "break the rules" or whatever, but it usually takes a lot of book time. it's like in cultivation stories when they spend 50 pages straight pondering on the dao, like in dotf, both are important to the story and can be fine, but if done too much they get tedious. I think those are the biggest issues I can think of, but when they both creep up on the author, it can take a whole book to get back on track (book 7), so hopefully the issue doesn't compound any more.
even with the issues, Actus is so good at making fun characters that interact with each other so entertainingly, that he could have them all start a freaking bowling league (ohhh or a dart throwing league 😂) and I'd tune in at least a few more books to see where it went and have fun with the characters.
December 5, 2025
Best! Book! Evarrr! Best series evarrr!!! Actus rules!!!
Best book evarrr! But I say that for every book Actus' has written! He's! Golden! Not only is this the best book, it's the... Best! Series! Evarrr! Noah and his crew return Arbitage Academy from the Demonic Plains, but Noah didn't come back with just his assistants, and his grimoire, the ever hungry grimoire ready to eat People or Runes. Pus he also arrived with the Demons he's been teaching! Doubling the number of students in his class. And boy the Demons have to work hard if they want to catch up with their human classmates! So yeah training! Not only the students but Noah, Moxie, and Lee hafta train, that is if they wanna keep up with their students levels. However the world seems to have different ideas for Noah! Noah has'ta really think fast if he wants to survive the challenges, maybe even plan a Heist too! It's all about Power! Getting. Stronger!
Best book evarrr! But I say that for every book Actus' has written! He's! Golden! Not only is this the best book, it's the... Best! Series! Evarrr! Noah and his crew return Arbitage Academy from the Demonic Plains, but Noah didn't come back with just his assistants, and his grimoire, the ever hungry grimoire ready to eat People or Runes. Pus he also arrived with the Demons he's been teaching! Doubling the number of students in his class. And boy the Demons have to work hard if they want to catch up with their human classmates! So yeah training! Not only the students but Noah, Moxie, and Lee hafta train, that is if they wanna keep up with their students levels. However the world seems to have different ideas for Noah! Noah has'ta really think fast if he wants to survive the challenges, maybe even plan a Heist too! It's all about Power! Getting. Stronger!
June 26, 2026
Personal pet peeve
All in all, I did not mind this book for about 50% of it. However, I find it profoundly lazy writing when a theme repeats itself over and over and over (get it?) and over....
Theme? Annoying, irritating, or chaos for the sake of chaos (like it feels it isnt organic to the story, but because the author was in their own way).
Allies kidnapping someone for some reason, and it makes things more difficult? "Allies" that essentially kidnap you and kill you several times, which makes things more difficult (but no hard feelings? No promises to out her cuz who cares if u r killed (Riiiight)? Perfectly timed attacks that are there just to make things more difficult by interruptions? I can keep going on. As i said, at LEAST 50% of this book (and tbh, the one or two prior as well) is this, and it is getting old.
All in all, I did not mind this book for about 50% of it. However, I find it profoundly lazy writing when a theme repeats itself over and over and over (get it?) and over....
Theme? Annoying, irritating, or chaos for the sake of chaos (like it feels it isnt organic to the story, but because the author was in their own way).
Allies kidnapping someone for some reason, and it makes things more difficult? "Allies" that essentially kidnap you and kill you several times, which makes things more difficult (but no hard feelings? No promises to out her cuz who cares if u r killed (Riiiight)? Perfectly timed attacks that are there just to make things more difficult by interruptions? I can keep going on. As i said, at LEAST 50% of this book (and tbh, the one or two prior as well) is this, and it is getting old.
December 9, 2025
Series is getting long in the tooth. Still has some charm but seeming more repetitive and stuck in a holding pattern. Hopefully will finish in a book or two.
Has too many characters and consequently none of them really develop.
The "all magic is a pattern and patterns are pattern-y and I am the only person in this world who knows this so I get superpowers" sounds more and more like gobbledygook.
Has too many characters and consequently none of them really develop.
The "all magic is a pattern and patterns are pattern-y and I am the only person in this world who knows this so I get superpowers" sounds more and more like gobbledygook.
January 6, 2026
A bit wordy
Kind of felt like many books when they get this far in a series and they are just filling it with words. I actually skimmed many pages because they didn't add to the story.
Also, it was one thing when Noah started out and had to fight for his power, now he just seems to be overwhelming powerful without earning it. Disappointing. Hopefully the next one is better, or I will most likely not keep reading.
Kind of felt like many books when they get this far in a series and they are just filling it with words. I actually skimmed many pages because they didn't add to the story.
Also, it was one thing when Noah started out and had to fight for his power, now he just seems to be overwhelming powerful without earning it. Disappointing. Hopefully the next one is better, or I will most likely not keep reading.
February 9, 2026
So good I joined Patreon
I've loved this series since I first read it, but this book made me too impatient to wait. The story is amazing, the characters are fun, funny, are interesting. I love both my hypothesis being right and wrong when it comes to this series. You won't regret reading it!
I've loved this series since I first read it, but this book made me too impatient to wait. The story is amazing, the characters are fun, funny, are interesting. I love both my hypothesis being right and wrong when it comes to this series. You won't regret reading it!
April 30, 2026
Author is recycling the same tropes and 'here to kill you' but they aren't, or this character's dead, nope just kidding! BS
I am now starting to skip huge parts of this, some of the dialog is predictable at this point, the characters aren't enough to carry it anymore as the author keeps adding new ones without any development other than them being 'quirky'
I felt like we were getting back on track for the first half, but we went on more random tangents.
I am now starting to skip huge parts of this, some of the dialog is predictable at this point, the characters aren't enough to carry it anymore as the author keeps adding new ones without any development other than them being 'quirky'
I felt like we were getting back on track for the first half, but we went on more random tangents.
December 5, 2025
Best so far by a margin
I was worried that the series would get too convoluted and add more and more until it got lost. That hasn't happened and this was the best so far and have moved this series from a casual read to one I'm looking forward to
I was worried that the series would get too convoluted and add more and more until it got lost. That hasn't happened and this was the best so far and have moved this series from a casual read to one I'm looking forward to
December 11, 2025
Most of the way through, this was sitting at a the start rating just for being repetitive and boring. But near the end, this just got bad. Just another example of a series without direction dragging on far too long.
December 31, 2025
Good continuation
Giving it a 4 because the increasing profanity distracting from the storyline. The characters should be maturing not going backwards. The storyline continues to develop well.
Giving it a 4 because the increasing profanity distracting from the storyline. The characters should be maturing not going backwards. The storyline continues to develop well.
January 30, 2026
Great Series
I have binged read all eight of the books in this series and an impatiently waited for number nine. The series has great characters, in engaging plot, and a created magic system. Very highly recommended.
I have binged read all eight of the books in this series and an impatiently waited for number nine. The series has great characters, in engaging plot, and a created magic system. Very highly recommended.
February 3, 2026
Worth the time
This series caught me by surprise and has kept me hooked. It's worth the read. Highly recommend it. I'm not looking forward to waiting for the next book in the series. Hopefully Actus will publish book 9 soon. 😁
This series caught me by surprise and has kept me hooked. It's worth the read. Highly recommend it. I'm not looking forward to waiting for the next book in the series. Hopefully Actus will publish book 9 soon. 😁
December 10, 2025
Can't put down
This has become one of my all time favorite book series, I wish it would never end, I want to see Noah make it to level 15
This has become one of my all time favorite book series, I wish it would never end, I want to see Noah make it to level 15
January 2, 2026
Great
Another great read. Happy with this series and the direction it is going. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good progression fantasy
Another great read. Happy with this series and the direction it is going. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good progression fantasy
January 6, 2026
Great addition
We learn a lot more about the apostles and life outside the empire in this book. Almost to rank six and feel like the next book should do it.
We learn a lot more about the apostles and life outside the empire in this book. Almost to rank six and feel like the next book should do it.
January 21, 2026
Amazing
This has been an amazing series and I am looking forward to the next book. Love the characters and the story is well written and inventive
This has been an amazing series and I am looking forward to the next book. Love the characters and the story is well written and inventive
June 18, 2026
We have another middle book here with lots of pawn shifting and power ramping.
June 29, 2026
I started this series as audiobook and it was enjoyable. Listening to each book as it released. Enjoyable, but not enthralling. Then Book 5 released and since, I can not get enough. I bought the next 3 books on Kindle and binged everything on RR. The first 4 books were a slower pace. Things happened, but it wasn't _action_ packed. In book 5, that changed. All of the world building and tension finally came to bare fruit. I am absolutely hooked and am about to subscribe on Patreon for those extra chapters.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews