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Restarting the Apocalypse #1
Restarting the Apocalypse
They lost the war once. They’re not letting it happen again.
The end of the world wasn’t fire and brimstone—it was guild wars, mutated monsters, collapsing kingdoms, and rifts to realms that should never have been opened. Len and Rick fought through all of it. They watched Harmonia fall. They buried their friends.
Now, they’ve been sent back—130 years before the collapse.
No stats. No skills. No allies.
Just two combat vets with tactical minds, brutal experience, and the complete knowledge of how the world ends.
Mana is only just starting to spread. Nations are still whole. The system is initializing.
Now is the time to prepare for what lays ahead, to build a foundation.
They aren’t here to survive. They’re here to win.
It's time to Restart the Apocalypse....
Restarting the Apocalypse is a gritty, high-stakes Regressor, LitRPG progression fantasy from international bestseller Michael Chatfield.
Expect deep crafting, tactical combat, earned power, and a system that punishes weakness. No cheats. No plot armor. Just two men fighting to rewrite the end of the world.
The end of the world wasn’t fire and brimstone—it was guild wars, mutated monsters, collapsing kingdoms, and rifts to realms that should never have been opened. Len and Rick fought through all of it. They watched Harmonia fall. They buried their friends.
Now, they’ve been sent back—130 years before the collapse.
No stats. No skills. No allies.
Just two combat vets with tactical minds, brutal experience, and the complete knowledge of how the world ends.
Mana is only just starting to spread. Nations are still whole. The system is initializing.
Now is the time to prepare for what lays ahead, to build a foundation.
They aren’t here to survive. They’re here to win.
It's time to Restart the Apocalypse....
Restarting the Apocalypse is a gritty, high-stakes Regressor, LitRPG progression fantasy from international bestseller Michael Chatfield.
Expect deep crafting, tactical combat, earned power, and a system that punishes weakness. No cheats. No plot armor. Just two men fighting to rewrite the end of the world.
Audible Audio
Published August 18, 2025
1045 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Michael Chatfield
69 books1,382 followersMichael Chatfield is a Canadian Army veteran and international bestselling author who writes the kind of books he always wanted to read—character-driven, gritty, tactical, and grounded in reality.
He doesn’t write one-dimensional killers wrapped in plot armor, charging toward an objective without thought. His stories are built for readers who want earned progression, tight, understandable logic, and realistic strategy. Every stat system has structure. Every decision is deliberate (except when there is Jaeger involved).
And the pacing? It's locked at two hundred percent. From alleyway brawls to starship armadas clashing over galactic sovereignty, from tactical dungeon assaults to city-states warring over a continent’s fate—Chatfield commits to every battle like it’s his last.
With millions of books and audiobooks sold, and tens of thousands of reviews his work spans LitRPG, military sci-fi, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic survival. He writes for readers who value systems that make sense, loyalty that lasts, and power that’s earned, not handed out.
Whether you're listening on a long drive, grinding through a shift, or up past midnight planning the next in-game raid—this is where you’ll find sagas to binge. Where strength is earned, logic rules, and camaraderie is forged in fire.
You can connect with him on Patreon and don't forget to follow him on social media!
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/authormichael...
Website: http://michaelchatfield.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authormichael...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormicha...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormichae...
Facebook Group: The Chatfield Connection - https://www.facebook.com/groups/37693...
He doesn’t write one-dimensional killers wrapped in plot armor, charging toward an objective without thought. His stories are built for readers who want earned progression, tight, understandable logic, and realistic strategy. Every stat system has structure. Every decision is deliberate (except when there is Jaeger involved).
And the pacing? It's locked at two hundred percent. From alleyway brawls to starship armadas clashing over galactic sovereignty, from tactical dungeon assaults to city-states warring over a continent’s fate—Chatfield commits to every battle like it’s his last.
With millions of books and audiobooks sold, and tens of thousands of reviews his work spans LitRPG, military sci-fi, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic survival. He writes for readers who value systems that make sense, loyalty that lasts, and power that’s earned, not handed out.
Whether you're listening on a long drive, grinding through a shift, or up past midnight planning the next in-game raid—this is where you’ll find sagas to binge. Where strength is earned, logic rules, and camaraderie is forged in fire.
You can connect with him on Patreon and don't forget to follow him on social media!
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/authormichael...
Website: http://michaelchatfield.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authormichael...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormicha...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormichae...
Facebook Group: The Chatfield Connection - https://www.facebook.com/groups/37693...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 29, 2025
Book one
The author can tell a decent story. However the editing Is terrible. And since you've got 2 main characters Every time they add some points to their stats we get shown not 1Characters table but 2. Because you have 2 characters so you have twice as many stats sheets. And they're shown for every single time they get experience It's not needed.
You also have plenty of I don't wanna call them pot holes but they're more like weird situational stuff A professional editor would be a big help in A professional editor would be a big help in restructuring some of it like there's this 1 part where between 2 lines of talking about armor they slip in a line about the funerals we're taking care of You have another part where they mention cars cars haven't been mentioned in the entire story but like 65% of the way through there was 1 line that mentioned cars. What was the other 1 there was another 1 there was just really odd and felt out of place. Oh I can't think of what it was oh well that's a good enough example between that and the lack of editing I went from giving this a 3 star to a 2 star when he started throwing the lightning that he just pulled out of his butt from nowhere. Will I read book 2 yes like I said the author makes a good story just it needs professional editing from somebody that is good at what they do.
4/10
The author can tell a decent story. However the editing Is terrible. And since you've got 2 main characters Every time they add some points to their stats we get shown not 1Characters table but 2. Because you have 2 characters so you have twice as many stats sheets. And they're shown for every single time they get experience It's not needed.
You also have plenty of I don't wanna call them pot holes but they're more like weird situational stuff A professional editor would be a big help in A professional editor would be a big help in restructuring some of it like there's this 1 part where between 2 lines of talking about armor they slip in a line about the funerals we're taking care of You have another part where they mention cars cars haven't been mentioned in the entire story but like 65% of the way through there was 1 line that mentioned cars. What was the other 1 there was another 1 there was just really odd and felt out of place. Oh I can't think of what it was oh well that's a good enough example between that and the lack of editing I went from giving this a 3 star to a 2 star when he started throwing the lightning that he just pulled out of his butt from nowhere. Will I read book 2 yes like I said the author makes a good story just it needs professional editing from somebody that is good at what they do.
4/10
May 30, 2025
felt super rushed, worst book 1 Chatfield has written
I have enjoyed almost all of the first halves of Chatfield’s series. I think he needs to work on his endings as he adds to many things and then rushes through it all and leaves readers disappointed.
This one however starts like his other series end up. It feels rushed, the sentences are short and choppy, the action is happening so fast that characters have the same conversations less than a page later because they clearly forgot they already had that discussion.
I’m not an expert on AI writing, so I can’t say that is what is going on here. However it does feel like that is a possibility, which would be disappointing.
I enjoy the ideas that Chatfield uses to create his worlds, however this one is not for me.
I have enjoyed almost all of the first halves of Chatfield’s series. I think he needs to work on his endings as he adds to many things and then rushes through it all and leaves readers disappointed.
This one however starts like his other series end up. It feels rushed, the sentences are short and choppy, the action is happening so fast that characters have the same conversations less than a page later because they clearly forgot they already had that discussion.
I’m not an expert on AI writing, so I can’t say that is what is going on here. However it does feel like that is a possibility, which would be disappointing.
I enjoy the ideas that Chatfield uses to create his worlds, however this one is not for me.
July 14, 2025
A disappointment after the ten realms
This was a pretty disappointing start to the series in my opinion. It has the same buddy comedy build as the other series with none of the character growth and huge gaps in explanations of things. The mcs give the dumbest breakdown of the future to people again and again and nobody ever seems to care. They all react the same way no matter the secondary character which makes zero sense. Hopefully the second book is better written
This was a pretty disappointing start to the series in my opinion. It has the same buddy comedy build as the other series with none of the character growth and huge gaps in explanations of things. The mcs give the dumbest breakdown of the future to people again and again and nobody ever seems to care. They all react the same way no matter the secondary character which makes zero sense. Hopefully the second book is better written
June 15, 2025
wow, bait and switch
I read the first chapter after “borrowing” the book and was hooked. That is NOT the book I got. I got a book about trains. Like ALOT of trains. I would say roughly 50% of this book is about trains. Almost a weird amount.
The writing was fine, some descriptions didn’t really make sense. They were convoluted and confusing and pointless most of the time. Going into way too much detail about stuff that really no one would care about. There were some spelling errors and double words. I skimmed maybe about the last 1/3 of the book, because you know, trains. But didn’t miss anything as far as I can tell.
The main characters had good personality at the beginning, but Rick just kinda faded into the background by the end. The writing was average which is why the stars are not lower.
Probably pass on this one.
I read the first chapter after “borrowing” the book and was hooked. That is NOT the book I got. I got a book about trains. Like ALOT of trains. I would say roughly 50% of this book is about trains. Almost a weird amount.
The writing was fine, some descriptions didn’t really make sense. They were convoluted and confusing and pointless most of the time. Going into way too much detail about stuff that really no one would care about. There were some spelling errors and double words. I skimmed maybe about the last 1/3 of the book, because you know, trains. But didn’t miss anything as far as I can tell.
The main characters had good personality at the beginning, but Rick just kinda faded into the background by the end. The writing was average which is why the stars are not lower.
Probably pass on this one.
May 29, 2025
Very Disappointing
I’ve read the author’s ten realms series and it was excellent. This book is not that. The first 20% is essentially a long shopping trip. The book overall is just pages of stats and skills with little character development or world building and virtually no meaningful dialogue.
I’ve read the author’s ten realms series and it was excellent. This book is not that. The first 20% is essentially a long shopping trip. The book overall is just pages of stats and skills with little character development or world building and virtually no meaningful dialogue.
June 3, 2025
The plot is okay But the editing is abysmal
I'm sorry, The plot for the book is interesting Even if it does follow Several conventional plots. Problem rises in how Frustrating it is to read due to the lack of editing. Wrong words, misplaced words, Transposed words, sentences that don't flow, Rewritten plots that are out of sequence, and events that don't Make sense.
I'm sorry, The plot for the book is interesting Even if it does follow Several conventional plots. Problem rises in how Frustrating it is to read due to the lack of editing. Wrong words, misplaced words, Transposed words, sentences that don't flow, Rewritten plots that are out of sequence, and events that don't Make sense.
June 13, 2025
Excellent Start!
Lots of excellent characters! Many, many lines of plot to be explored. The possibilities are endless and there are so many hints to leave us wondering. I can't wait for the next book!
Lots of excellent characters! Many, many lines of plot to be explored. The possibilities are endless and there are so many hints to leave us wondering. I can't wait for the next book!
July 20, 2025
Some interesting elements but felt rushed and was poorly edited. The whole book read like exposition. Would have been a 3* - 4* if it had more of a varied pace and better editing.
June 23, 2025
A rough read
I found the writing disjointed, lacking in narrative, and unenjoyable. Not something I could bring myself to finish. Needs a lot of editing and attention to getting the prose and plot to flow.
I found the writing disjointed, lacking in narrative, and unenjoyable. Not something I could bring myself to finish. Needs a lot of editing and attention to getting the prose and plot to flow.
dnf
October 6, 2025Might come back later to this one.
Might not.
It felt like I was reading a fanfic of the ten realms set in in a apocalypse universe that was p2p so the names were changed.
IMHO.
Might not.
It felt like I was reading a fanfic of the ten realms set in in a apocalypse universe that was p2p so the names were changed.
IMHO.
May 30, 2025
Could use some major editing but interesting premise
Overall worth a read because the story is novel and fun, but it really needs an editor. I’d give the book 3.5 stars as it stands now, but I rounded up for Kindle. I’d really enjoy an improved rerelease to really start the series off strong. Thanks for reading; I tried to keep spoilers to a minimum!
Pros:
-I really enjoy the premise of the story and the interaction of the characters.
-I enjoy this style of writing quite a bit
-Relatively fleshed out world with solid plot points.
-The steampunk engineering seems like a fun way to merge in magic.
-The dialogue is fluid and easily readable.
Cons:
-I feel like time jumps happen frequently and the scale isn’t discussed enough.
-It feels like the world just accepts changes too easily. MAGIC is way different than anything these people have ever known.
-Len and Rick’s family accepted the regression way too readily.
-The scale of city building and crafting feel impossible and even with the system, there should be a lot more effort involved.
-Exp amounts seem off, and there are a lot of holes in the system and cultivation that break immersion. Explanations are pretty shoddy about how everything works.
-Grammar and spelling errors throughout most of the book.
Overall worth a read because the story is novel and fun, but it really needs an editor. I’d give the book 3.5 stars as it stands now, but I rounded up for Kindle. I’d really enjoy an improved rerelease to really start the series off strong. Thanks for reading; I tried to keep spoilers to a minimum!
Pros:
-I really enjoy the premise of the story and the interaction of the characters.
-I enjoy this style of writing quite a bit
-Relatively fleshed out world with solid plot points.
-The steampunk engineering seems like a fun way to merge in magic.
-The dialogue is fluid and easily readable.
Cons:
-I feel like time jumps happen frequently and the scale isn’t discussed enough.
-It feels like the world just accepts changes too easily. MAGIC is way different than anything these people have ever known.
-Len and Rick’s family accepted the regression way too readily.
-The scale of city building and crafting feel impossible and even with the system, there should be a lot more effort involved.
-Exp amounts seem off, and there are a lot of holes in the system and cultivation that break immersion. Explanations are pretty shoddy about how everything works.
-Grammar and spelling errors throughout most of the book.
August 26, 2025
I like Michael Chatfield's works. Kingdom-building is also one of my favourite genres. This work started fine but little by little it became boring due to lack of actions and too much information. There was also a strong shadow of Chatfield's previous series in this work.
May 31, 2025
Nice twist on the solo restart
A solid story, well-written (for the most part; we’ll get to that), with pretty engaging characters who aren’t overly angsty, too arrogant, and are only mildly overpowered compared to the people around them. The writing is technically good; sentence structure is consistently good (see single caveat later), spelling nearly perfect (sow=\=sew), and the only complaint I’d level there is that the flow of the narrative timeline is a little iffy.
Unfortunately it seems to have (maybe?) been written with some time between portions of the book, as things happen that the author later describes as not having happened (mostly that stable gunpowder is solved pre-50%, then the author spends the rest of the book mentioning it’s still under development), and there’s the occasional typo or sentences written as we’d speak (but in a way that is incorrect in writing and sometimes confusing; we say “I’m working” instead of just “working” for a reason).
*minor spoiler ahead*
It’s splitting hairs, a bit, especially for fantasy, but the physics don’t really check out. Condensing water from the air is well and good on a micro scale, but a city of devices all doing it is going to either not be very efficient or desertify the region. Pulling rock from below to make walls, also fine at micro, terrible idea in macro: your city will fall into the void the stone comes from.
A solid story, well-written (for the most part; we’ll get to that), with pretty engaging characters who aren’t overly angsty, too arrogant, and are only mildly overpowered compared to the people around them. The writing is technically good; sentence structure is consistently good (see single caveat later), spelling nearly perfect (sow=\=sew), and the only complaint I’d level there is that the flow of the narrative timeline is a little iffy.
Unfortunately it seems to have (maybe?) been written with some time between portions of the book, as things happen that the author later describes as not having happened (mostly that stable gunpowder is solved pre-50%, then the author spends the rest of the book mentioning it’s still under development), and there’s the occasional typo or sentences written as we’d speak (but in a way that is incorrect in writing and sometimes confusing; we say “I’m working” instead of just “working” for a reason).
*minor spoiler ahead*
It’s splitting hairs, a bit, especially for fantasy, but the physics don’t really check out. Condensing water from the air is well and good on a micro scale, but a city of devices all doing it is going to either not be very efficient or desertify the region. Pulling rock from below to make walls, also fine at micro, terrible idea in macro: your city will fall into the void the stone comes from.
September 1, 2025
Really wanted to like this one, love the idea of a duo getting stronger together, not just a team trailing behind an mc. Unfortunately the author in their attempts to avoid exposition explains very little, there's an intro in the beginning, where your absolutely not supposed to understand how their abilities work and just enjoy the action sequence. Fair enough, but then they regress and are talking about opening gates and raising stats, but it comes across as a rushed mess. Sure if your familiar with cultivation and litrpg, you can infer a lot of what their talking about, but you cant ignore the bad story telling that the writer is letting things carry on without breaking down why they even have a system of magic in the first place.
Additionally the duo roughshod over every other character in the world to achieve their goal, which is fine, there's a world ending event that only they know about, but in the beginning it makes them seem like children acting out against every authority figure who doesn't move out of the way fast enough, they don't feel like people to the duo or to the reader.
May be enjoyable to younger readers, who can ignore the faults and just have fun with the story, but I wont be returning.
Additionally the duo roughshod over every other character in the world to achieve their goal, which is fine, there's a world ending event that only they know about, but in the beginning it makes them seem like children acting out against every authority figure who doesn't move out of the way fast enough, they don't feel like people to the duo or to the reader.
May be enjoyable to younger readers, who can ignore the faults and just have fun with the story, but I wont be returning.
July 30, 2025
Fantastic premise but needed another pass or two by a professional editor and a refocus on what the book profeses to be about, not what the latter half of the book become about.
It felt like being along for a joyride through the plot. Never stopping long enough to actually engage or see much, just throwing some schematics out the window as they speed by shouting "sorry, it's all I can do; I have to go be awesome over here now" before slamming face first into the solid wall that was the ending.
If you are looking for a traditional cultivation story about hard thought levelling and painful progression to reach beyond superhuman limits, this isn't it. The blurb states "no cheating," but they figure out a way to stack xp gains so that they level while they sleep. They state that leveling up hurts but do it repeatedly and in mid combat.
I did like the duel main characters, they worked well off each other and were able to be different things in the world which was good. One character did start to drop off from existence by the end of the book, and they did talk. ore like frat boys than 150 year old but still a largely enjoyable pairing.
It felt like being along for a joyride through the plot. Never stopping long enough to actually engage or see much, just throwing some schematics out the window as they speed by shouting "sorry, it's all I can do; I have to go be awesome over here now" before slamming face first into the solid wall that was the ending.
If you are looking for a traditional cultivation story about hard thought levelling and painful progression to reach beyond superhuman limits, this isn't it. The blurb states "no cheating," but they figure out a way to stack xp gains so that they level while they sleep. They state that leveling up hurts but do it repeatedly and in mid combat.
I did like the duel main characters, they worked well off each other and were able to be different things in the world which was good. One character did start to drop off from existence by the end of the book, and they did talk. ore like frat boys than 150 year old but still a largely enjoyable pairing.
June 4, 2025
It was ... well ... meh? I hesitate to say this but this seems a bit half-assed.
The general outline of two soldierly best friends in a cultivation world would strike anyone who read the 10 realms books with some bit of deja vu, with some minor tweaks we are left with a story that should develop somewhat differently (we hope) but with all the familiar style.
While it was readable, it was not gripping. I found myself struggling to finish it.
With (over) abundant gratuitous status checks and a streak of OP MC style power leveling by our two regressors, which I would hope will become somewhat more meaningful in future volumes.
The editing and proofing were sub par, while not as bad as some there were enough mistakes to jar me here and there out me out of the flow.
While I might still try the next volume, if I had to sum things I'd say this one felt soulless.
The general outline of two soldierly best friends in a cultivation world would strike anyone who read the 10 realms books with some bit of deja vu, with some minor tweaks we are left with a story that should develop somewhat differently (we hope) but with all the familiar style.
While it was readable, it was not gripping. I found myself struggling to finish it.
With (over) abundant gratuitous status checks and a streak of OP MC style power leveling by our two regressors, which I would hope will become somewhat more meaningful in future volumes.
The editing and proofing were sub par, while not as bad as some there were enough mistakes to jar me here and there out me out of the flow.
While I might still try the next volume, if I had to sum things I'd say this one felt soulless.
August 4, 2025
Got to chapter 18 before I quit. Just like everyone else's comments it feels like it's the very first draft that was published instead of a finished edited book. I got interested due to there being two mc side by side throughout instead of the usual two mc from different backgrounds far from each other in different countries. The story really falls apart due to editing and the lack of emotion as the mc talk, it all comes as bulletpoint facts , not ptsd or raw unhealed emotion. The story felt very rushed and to componsate by doing constant monologues explaining crafting\ level up functions in dry reading bulk when it's better to do small digestable amounts and get on with the story. The dramatic scenes were very cringy not intimating or cool. The action scenes were bland felt very -I hit this one then I hit that one then I hit those ones.
August 17, 2025
Restarting the Apocalypse is an interesting story. Of course, this has been done before, and there's always something to be said for characters who know what's supposed to happen, at least until things go off the rails anyway. No going off the rails in this one (ok, well, that's a lie, but that's not related to their reason for coming back). In any case, the story is pretty good. Toward the end, I was wishing for more storytelling, and less designing, but in other books, I wish for more designing, so I guess that's just how things fall out.
If you like regressor type stories, you could do worse than reading this one.
If you like regressor type stories, you could do worse than reading this one.
May 30, 2025
Fun frenetic read
This book was a lot of fun, the regression and the pace was fast, the LitRPG elements were there, and I totally enjoyed it. The characters improving more through skill usage than killing was a nice change of pace. Numbers go up, even if it’s a bit vague what those numbers mean.
While both the book and the two MCs were pretty similar to the author’s 10 realms series, that was fun too.
The only significant caveat is the lack of proper editing, the author is solid, but there were at least some 50 typos, including numbers not being added properly or added to Mana instead of Body type of thing. Guess that’s the current situation with lack of editing these days.
This book was a lot of fun, the regression and the pace was fast, the LitRPG elements were there, and I totally enjoyed it. The characters improving more through skill usage than killing was a nice change of pace. Numbers go up, even if it’s a bit vague what those numbers mean.
While both the book and the two MCs were pretty similar to the author’s 10 realms series, that was fun too.
The only significant caveat is the lack of proper editing, the author is solid, but there were at least some 50 typos, including numbers not being added properly or added to Mana instead of Body type of thing. Guess that’s the current situation with lack of editing these days.
July 12, 2025
I’m hooked again!!
What an interesting start! First the death of the past, as all hope is lost. Then they are sent back to the beginning to relive what already happened with all hope on their finding a different path through the apocalypse that mana brings. At least they have each other and young bodies again, having a 20 year lid body definitely has some benefits, such as less aches, but it also comes with none of the power they amass over 150 years of living and fighting.
This time they have plans to get a head start and change what was the future. First they must get stronger and then they must destroy the Arrivals obelisk key before trying to prepare and save humanity or as many as they can get under contract!
What an interesting start! First the death of the past, as all hope is lost. Then they are sent back to the beginning to relive what already happened with all hope on their finding a different path through the apocalypse that mana brings. At least they have each other and young bodies again, having a 20 year lid body definitely has some benefits, such as less aches, but it also comes with none of the power they amass over 150 years of living and fighting.
This time they have plans to get a head start and change what was the future. First they must get stronger and then they must destroy the Arrivals obelisk key before trying to prepare and save humanity or as many as they can get under contract!
July 13, 2025
Wow what a book! What a pedal-to-the-metal train ride! I loved it. Getting this book was a no-brainer, since I loved Two Week Curse series so much! And I really love the premise of getting a second chance of knowing what happen, at fixing mistakes, and maybe by changing history they'll make a different outcome. It kinda reminded me of Michael Chatfield's other series too, as there was two main character but unlike Eric and Rugrat, Len and Rick knew what they needed to do, to develop their cores and not only save but to support their families! To give everyone the potential power leveling them all, to save the world from total annihilation. Teaching them how to unlock spells, combat training, healing, enchanting and more.
So grab the book and enjoy the ride!!!
So grab the book and enjoy the ride!!!
July 18, 2025
this is my stop, where I disembark
I almost didn’t make it through the first chapter because it was so confusing yet after, I discovered an interesting world. I found the book boring which was weird. I really liked some things and there was action and adventure but the author got way too detailed for my liking. It got too bogged down by the mundane and routine that experiencing the uniqueness was too far apart to keep me focused. I would stop reading for the day in the middle of a battle like a crazy person because there was so much attention to the setup or military structure and maneuvers. How you appropriated the men, healed, trained, and leveled them in a militaristic way is neither interesting nor unique. And trains, this is a book focused on trains.
I almost didn’t make it through the first chapter because it was so confusing yet after, I discovered an interesting world. I found the book boring which was weird. I really liked some things and there was action and adventure but the author got way too detailed for my liking. It got too bogged down by the mundane and routine that experiencing the uniqueness was too far apart to keep me focused. I would stop reading for the day in the middle of a battle like a crazy person because there was so much attention to the setup or military structure and maneuvers. How you appropriated the men, healed, trained, and leveled them in a militaristic way is neither interesting nor unique. And trains, this is a book focused on trains.
May 30, 2025
Good effort
I'm not going to summarize the plot. If you've read his 10 realms series it's nearly a photocopy of that plot. Characters are not as engaging. Setting is fascinating. Very intrigued by the notion of dungeons being the result of dimensional storage spaces lost between world. Crafting was very present but seemed forced and shallow. If you read this novel without seeing his other work it'd be a good read. Comparing it to his 10 Realms setting, it's lacking. Numerous spelling errors were mildly distracting. Especially for a professional author with numerous successful works.
I'm not going to summarize the plot. If you've read his 10 realms series it's nearly a photocopy of that plot. Characters are not as engaging. Setting is fascinating. Very intrigued by the notion of dungeons being the result of dimensional storage spaces lost between world. Crafting was very present but seemed forced and shallow. If you read this novel without seeing his other work it'd be a good read. Comparing it to his 10 Realms setting, it's lacking. Numerous spelling errors were mildly distracting. Especially for a professional author with numerous successful works.
June 3, 2025
Another interesting series
I have enjoyed many of the series this author has written, not all because we all have things we like and don't like didn't comment on them. I truly enjoy time travel/returner/system wacky start over whatever you label this type of litrpg and this started out fighting and ended the same way. Chatfield does excellent world building and fleshing out of characters and I am all in for the next in the series. Do I wish the descriptions of weapons, ammo, and such be less well that would effect the crafting craziness that I enjoy. Looking forward to more.
I have enjoyed many of the series this author has written, not all because we all have things we like and don't like didn't comment on them. I truly enjoy time travel/returner/system wacky start over whatever you label this type of litrpg and this started out fighting and ended the same way. Chatfield does excellent world building and fleshing out of characters and I am all in for the next in the series. Do I wish the descriptions of weapons, ammo, and such be less well that would effect the crafting craziness that I enjoy. Looking forward to more.
August 31, 2025
Good, but!
- Was the story fun? Yes!
- Is it refreshing to have a steam powered apocalypse? Yes!
- Did the System make sense? yes?
- Were the action scenes easy to follow? No, unfortunately.
- What about everything else? Easier, but not easy.
If I were to compare this book to something it would be the rat-a-tat-tat of a snare drum. There's no flow between ideas or things happening. It's all Len did this. Rick did this. Everyone is addressed by their name with almost no reference to who they were again. There's a good story underneath everything but man is it hard to parse.
I probably won't be picking up the next one in the series but I don't regret reading this volume.
- Was the story fun? Yes!
- Is it refreshing to have a steam powered apocalypse? Yes!
- Did the System make sense? yes?
- Were the action scenes easy to follow? No, unfortunately.
- What about everything else? Easier, but not easy.
If I were to compare this book to something it would be the rat-a-tat-tat of a snare drum. There's no flow between ideas or things happening. It's all Len did this. Rick did this. Everyone is addressed by their name with almost no reference to who they were again. There's a good story underneath everything but man is it hard to parse.
I probably won't be picking up the next one in the series but I don't regret reading this volume.
September 8, 2025
excellent story, captivating !
Restarting the apocalypse is interesting because the two MC have knowledge of what should happen so they can prepare themselves, their families and region against the arrival of mana, the system, the civil war, nature changing, mana storms and evil extraterrestrial sect members and cultists.
This story is a bit like the author's series Two weeks curse, where the two MC, gather friends and build sustainable and growing communities by helping them learn, become stronger and contribute in enriching their community/city/region. I recommend this series! It's captivating, you don't want to stop reading!
Restarting the apocalypse is interesting because the two MC have knowledge of what should happen so they can prepare themselves, their families and region against the arrival of mana, the system, the civil war, nature changing, mana storms and evil extraterrestrial sect members and cultists.
This story is a bit like the author's series Two weeks curse, where the two MC, gather friends and build sustainable and growing communities by helping them learn, become stronger and contribute in enriching their community/city/region. I recommend this series! It's captivating, you don't want to stop reading!
July 7, 2025
Reads like a Ten Realms book....
The problem with that is, it is NOT a Ten Realms book. I kept getting into book, enjoying the style as it is what I really enjoy from Chatfield, then I would get slammed out of my emersion to be reminded - different book series. 4th series from the author I have tried, but the third I am going to stop reading. High probability I will not try a 5th. Sorry, Mr. Chatfield, I really liked Ten Realms, but the rest just are a struggle to either read or enjoy. Thank you and good luck.
The problem with that is, it is NOT a Ten Realms book. I kept getting into book, enjoying the style as it is what I really enjoy from Chatfield, then I would get slammed out of my emersion to be reminded - different book series. 4th series from the author I have tried, but the third I am going to stop reading. High probability I will not try a 5th. Sorry, Mr. Chatfield, I really liked Ten Realms, but the rest just are a struggle to either read or enjoy. Thank you and good luck.
July 16, 2025
Interesting regression story by Michael Chatfield
Once again a team of two blood bro warriors have to make their wauy against overwhelming odds. This time, they regress to heirvearliervselves befor an apoclypse. While I really enjoy Mr Chatfield's prose, Im not a fan of RPG screens, XP and that type of magic system where points are assigned to level up. Therefore, I much prefered the magic systems in the 10 realms an Emerita. Otherwise, it is an excellent story with backstabbing nobles, alien invaders, base building and ordinance crafting.
Once again a team of two blood bro warriors have to make their wauy against overwhelming odds. This time, they regress to heirvearliervselves befor an apoclypse. While I really enjoy Mr Chatfield's prose, Im not a fan of RPG screens, XP and that type of magic system where points are assigned to level up. Therefore, I much prefered the magic systems in the 10 realms an Emerita. Otherwise, it is an excellent story with backstabbing nobles, alien invaders, base building and ordinance crafting.
November 19, 2025
Meh. Too confusing in spite of itself
This book seems allergic to descriptions and exposition. The is a world with an apparently strong history and building crises, but readers are left to guess at what they are from small hints. There is very little description of anything except the magic system and dungeons. I wanted to understand the situation because it SEEMED like it might be cool. Could have been so much more engaging, but in the end, it is hard to care about what is happening when you don’t understand it.
This book seems allergic to descriptions and exposition. The is a world with an apparently strong history and building crises, but readers are left to guess at what they are from small hints. There is very little description of anything except the magic system and dungeons. I wanted to understand the situation because it SEEMED like it might be cool. Could have been so much more engaging, but in the end, it is hard to care about what is happening when you don’t understand it.
May 29, 2025
Good but lacking in explanations
Loved the concept but found the system confusing and the enchanting wasn't well explained , the two MCs are good and play off each other well , the last quarter of the book when they recover the train and tunnel through the mountain was a total mystery to me , I'll read it again but right now it was incomprehensible, I'll certainly read the next book but I hope I can get a better understanding before I do.
Loved the concept but found the system confusing and the enchanting wasn't well explained , the two MCs are good and play off each other well , the last quarter of the book when they recover the train and tunnel through the mountain was a total mystery to me , I'll read it again but right now it was incomprehensible, I'll certainly read the next book but I hope I can get a better understanding before I do.
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