What do you think?
Rate this book
The Undying #1
The Undying 1: The Warrior Republic
In a dying world, heroes aren't born—they're forged or they're buried.
The light is fading. Shadows creep across Elystria and the Warrior Republic stands as one of the last strongholds holding back the void's desire to extinguish Elystria and its people for good.
As a gifted spatial mage of House Lysandor, Asterion carries the weight of everyone's expectations. While others see future leadership in him, he knows the truth—he'll either prove himself worthy of joining the Undying or get himself along with his friends killed trying.
Faced with a post-apocalyptic world beyond the protective wards, Asterion and his family must live up to their To claim the sun—or be swallowed by shadow.
The light is fading. Shadows creep across Elystria and the Warrior Republic stands as one of the last strongholds holding back the void's desire to extinguish Elystria and its people for good.
As a gifted spatial mage of House Lysandor, Asterion carries the weight of everyone's expectations. While others see future leadership in him, he knows the truth—he'll either prove himself worthy of joining the Undying or get himself along with his friends killed trying.
Faced with a post-apocalyptic world beyond the protective wards, Asterion and his family must live up to their To claim the sun—or be swallowed by shadow.
715 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2025
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 13, 2025
Great start to a second series.
I enjoyed the beginning of this new series. You can see some parallels to the Paths of Akashic. I am very interested in seeing how the story develops.
I enjoyed the beginning of this new series. You can see some parallels to the Paths of Akashic. I am very interested in seeing how the story develops.
October 8, 2025
Amazing new project!
I have thoroughly enjoyed Bainin’s other work, and this new addition just adds to my excitement.
The characters are well written and balanced. There is plenty of great background information of the world and a well written foreshadowing of the world.
I’m absolutely looking forward to the next book in this series and anything else the author releases.
I have thoroughly enjoyed Bainin’s other work, and this new addition just adds to my excitement.
The characters are well written and balanced. There is plenty of great background information of the world and a well written foreshadowing of the world.
I’m absolutely looking forward to the next book in this series and anything else the author releases.
September 6, 2025
lot of world building, slow, weak MC.
I’m not too sure what this story is about. Is it about the MC or the Lysander family? If it’s about the MC first of all he needs a name changed in my opinion, second of all he’s kind of weak, if he has spatial magic and gravity, he should be a lot more effective at fighting. The side characters are pretty good so far and I enjoy the MC’s associates. The book is slow more slice of life with some action, I just don’t understand what the author is trying to achieve. For a long book, it doesn’t seem to accomplish much in the MC’s growth and power development. his first series so far is excellent, this one not so much in my opinion. But I will read the next book in the series for more definitive answer.
I’m not too sure what this story is about. Is it about the MC or the Lysander family? If it’s about the MC first of all he needs a name changed in my opinion, second of all he’s kind of weak, if he has spatial magic and gravity, he should be a lot more effective at fighting. The side characters are pretty good so far and I enjoy the MC’s associates. The book is slow more slice of life with some action, I just don’t understand what the author is trying to achieve. For a long book, it doesn’t seem to accomplish much in the MC’s growth and power development. his first series so far is excellent, this one not so much in my opinion. But I will read the next book in the series for more definitive answer.
September 9, 2025
Fantastic New Series
I really enjoyed this new novel from Bainin.
His other series is great but this has the potential to top that.
Great world building, interesting characters, and an MC that shares the limelight with his group. Interesting law and system building that keeps you informed but not so stat heavy it overpowers the story.
Battle scenes are well written and paced. Bainin really has produced a great 1st novel hopefully in a new series.
I really enjoyed this new novel from Bainin.
His other series is great but this has the potential to top that.
Great world building, interesting characters, and an MC that shares the limelight with his group. Interesting law and system building that keeps you informed but not so stat heavy it overpowers the story.
Battle scenes are well written and paced. Bainin really has produced a great 1st novel hopefully in a new series.
September 10, 2025
Hidden gem.
This book came out of nowhere and propelled itself to my top LitRPGs of the year. Fantastic world building. The story is engaging and well written. The characters are unique and have a soul. The characters interactions and relationships are well written. The dialogue is realistic. I wish there were more like this in the genre and I can’t wait for the next.
This book came out of nowhere and propelled itself to my top LitRPGs of the year. Fantastic world building. The story is engaging and well written. The characters are unique and have a soul. The characters interactions and relationships are well written. The dialogue is realistic. I wish there were more like this in the genre and I can’t wait for the next.
September 14, 2025
Great book
An interesting story with steady progression, likable mc, and well written action scenes. Good use of time skips to keep the story moving along nicely even the the mc starts out the story young. Can't wait for the next book.
An interesting story with steady progression, likable mc, and well written action scenes. Good use of time skips to keep the story moving along nicely even the the mc starts out the story young. Can't wait for the next book.
December 12, 2025
This is a tricky one for me. Bainin has made extraordinary strides as a writer since his debut novel. There are, however, some problems.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
First and foremost, it's really fucking sexist. The meaningful female characters are:
1. Manicpixie havling dream girl (and even that personality vanishes once sex occurs)
2. Exists for MC's friend to flirt with
3. MC's mother, who primarily shows up to be pregnant twice
4. Mysterious magic lady (who the MC's friend and mentor flirt with)
5. Powerful magic lady (who the MC's friend flirts with)
6. Manic havling dream grandma
7. Mentor lady
8. Occasionally mentioned healer peer
Every single woman who is flirted with in the book responds playfully. To be fair, these women have, at least, distinct tones. But the interactions still come across as hamfistedly juvenile and horny.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The second major problem is the pacing. We get a few scenes at MC age 0, then a chunk at age 12, then two big chunks at 15 and 17. The transitions between these chunks are inelegant.
N years later
Just the laziest way imaginable to convey the passage of time. There's a tiny bit of transitional window-dressing on each side, but it's not great. It's especially not great because of problem number three.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If someone claimed to have edited this book, they deserve a 'tsk' and a disapproving look. Sections are missing delineating markings. The author occasionally a word. Plurals are spelt like possesive's! If I can catch a few handfuls of blatant errors in a 2 hour read, someone should really have fixed them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
That just leaves the rating. My methodology is, as always:
1 star: I found this book to be actively harmful
2 stars: I disliked this book
3 stars: This book was fine
4 stars: I liked this book
5 stars: I liked this book and would recommend it
3 stars isn't exactly right, but it's the closest I can get to compressing the above experience.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
First and foremost, it's really fucking sexist. The meaningful female characters are:
1. Manic
2. Exists for MC's friend to flirt with
3. MC's mother, who primarily shows up to be pregnant twice
4. Mysterious magic lady (who the MC's friend and mentor flirt with)
5. Powerful magic lady (who the MC's friend flirts with)
6. Manic havling dream grandma
7. Mentor lady
8. Occasionally mentioned healer peer
Every single woman who is flirted with in the book responds playfully. To be fair, these women have, at least, distinct tones. But the interactions still come across as hamfistedly juvenile and horny.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The second major problem is the pacing. We get a few scenes at MC age 0, then a chunk at age 12, then two big chunks at 15 and 17. The transitions between these chunks are inelegant.
N years later
Just the laziest way imaginable to convey the passage of time. There's a tiny bit of transitional window-dressing on each side, but it's not great. It's especially not great because of problem number three.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If someone claimed to have edited this book, they deserve a 'tsk' and a disapproving look. Sections are missing delineating markings. The author occasionally a word. Plurals are spelt like possesive's! If I can catch a few handfuls of blatant errors in a 2 hour read, someone should really have fixed them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
That just leaves the rating. My methodology is, as always:
1 star: I found this book to be actively harmful
2 stars: I disliked this book
3 stars: This book was fine
4 stars: I liked this book
5 stars: I liked this book and would recommend it
3 stars isn't exactly right, but it's the closest I can get to compressing the above experience.
September 11, 2025
Another fun series
Always love spatial mages, best magic there is. Most useful power in my mind right after regeneration. If ever you had to chose a power, think Regeneration comes first and spatial magic after.
Now his magic isn't just space but 'Stars' which covers far more. Almost seems like Astral.
Can't wait for the next one, also like the progression of skipping weeks and months during their growth rather than having to read through years of just slow progress.
Now as for hopeful powers for the future
That's just one potential fun future power he could get and hope he does.
Always love spatial mages, best magic there is. Most useful power in my mind right after regeneration. If ever you had to chose a power, think Regeneration comes first and spatial magic after.
Now his magic isn't just space but 'Stars' which covers far more. Almost seems like Astral.
Can't wait for the next one, also like the progression of skipping weeks and months during their growth rather than having to read through years of just slow progress.
Now as for hopeful powers for the future
That's just one potential fun future power he could get and hope he does.
March 21, 2026
Good start
I enjoyed the both the story and characters. It was well written and engaging. I am looking forward to the next book. Now for the small critique. Towards the when we get a glimpse of the antagonist and they reveal some of their ambitions. This reveal comes across as something that no matter how the protagonist struggle against the antagonist, the only solution will be for some unbelievable plot device or dues ex save the day. The odds are so stacked against the protagonist, I am concerned it will be hard to suspend the disbelief.
This all stems from a tired trope where the "good" god a has agreed to an accord with the "evil" god to hobble themself and give every advantage to the "evil" god in the fight to destroy the universe. Most of the time when this occurs, the author becomes part of the story, needing to use heavy handed plot devices or a liberal use of "fate" in order for the story to end in a positive way.
I enjoyed the both the story and characters. It was well written and engaging. I am looking forward to the next book. Now for the small critique. Towards the when we get a glimpse of the antagonist and they reveal some of their ambitions. This reveal comes across as something that no matter how the protagonist struggle against the antagonist, the only solution will be for some unbelievable plot device or dues ex save the day. The odds are so stacked against the protagonist, I am concerned it will be hard to suspend the disbelief.
This all stems from a tired trope where the "good" god a has agreed to an accord with the "evil" god to hobble themself and give every advantage to the "evil" god in the fight to destroy the universe. Most of the time when this occurs, the author becomes part of the story, needing to use heavy handed plot devices or a liberal use of "fate" in order for the story to end in a positive way.
February 28, 2026
This is a review for book 1 and 2. I have mixed feelings overall about this story. I really like the world and power system, and the fact the story did not get bogged down by abilities names. I enjoyed having reoccurring side characters and a decent amount of action.
My biggest problem with the story is the love interests. For both of the relationships in the story the main FML is introduced then the second time we see them they are in a relationship, to get married. This pace of relationship makes the couples feel artificial and hollow. If the couple had spent time adventuring and we as the reader got to know why the MMC was interested in the other person it would have felt a whole lot more meaningful.
My biggest problem with the story is the love interests. For both of the relationships in the story the main FML is introduced then the second time we see them they are in a relationship, to get married. This pace of relationship makes the couples feel artificial and hollow. If the couple had spent time adventuring and we as the reader got to know why the MMC was interested in the other person it would have felt a whole lot more meaningful.
March 24, 2026
A really interesting system and fantasy world.
The system in this one is a neat one I've never seen before, it uses the akashic records which I have seen in several other series, but uses them a little differently. I really liked it, and definitely enjoyed. The world is clearly inspired by ours, with a main country that reminds me strongly of Rome also a semi-Getman empire and language. But it isn't a true alternate Earth or anything like that.
The system in this one is a neat one I've never seen before, it uses the akashic records which I have seen in several other series, but uses them a little differently. I really liked it, and definitely enjoyed. The world is clearly inspired by ours, with a main country that reminds me strongly of Rome also a semi-Getman empire and language. But it isn't a true alternate Earth or anything like that.
April 13, 2026
five stars
Although the type of book is similar to a lot of what I’ve been reading lately, it does a great job of weaving different elements together in a way that feels natural. The gaming aspects are integrated into the world instead of feeling forced or overly gamified, which made the experience more immersive.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Cover: 3 out of 5 stars
Duration: 5 out of 5 stars
Narration: 5 out of 5 stars
Favorite line: N/A
Although the type of book is similar to a lot of what I’ve been reading lately, it does a great job of weaving different elements together in a way that feels natural. The gaming aspects are integrated into the world instead of feeling forced or overly gamified, which made the experience more immersive.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Cover: 3 out of 5 stars
Duration: 5 out of 5 stars
Narration: 5 out of 5 stars
Favorite line: N/A
January 11, 2026
A fun action packed read
The magic system is fun and different than anything I have seen before in these books. I enjoyed the action and progression and the author doesn't go to far into the weeds with the magic system. Just enough details to keep it interesting while he continues to keep the pace and action moving forward.
The magic system is fun and different than anything I have seen before in these books. I enjoyed the action and progression and the author doesn't go to far into the weeds with the magic system. Just enough details to keep it interesting while he continues to keep the pace and action moving forward.
February 28, 2026
Great start to a series
Great start to a series.Picked this up on KU on a whim and so glad I did . Very interesting Systemm/Cultivation and love the characters
Overall highly recommend
Great start to a series.Picked this up on KU on a whim and so glad I did . Very interesting Systemm/Cultivation and love the characters
Overall highly recommend
December 3, 2025
Great start
Not sure which of the series I like more hard to decide after a first book but definitely hitting the mark on both accounts, excited for more.
Not sure which of the series I like more hard to decide after a first book but definitely hitting the mark on both accounts, excited for more.
March 4, 2026
Awesome Stuff
This story of a space mage dawn growing up in a slowly dying world was a very interesting read that I enjoyed reading.
This story of a space mage dawn growing up in a slowly dying world was a very interesting read that I enjoyed reading.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews