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Monk of Black Flame #1
Monk Of Black Flame: A LitRPG Adventure
He thought he was useless. The seven hells proved otherwise.
Branded by fate with the useless [Dormant Hell Monk] Class, Fang grows up shunned in the very temple meant to raise him. But when he is dragged into the depths of the Seventh Hell, he unknowingly fulfills the conditions to awaken that cursed Class. With newfound power, he claws his way back to the world above, wielding strength no youth should possess. To master it, Fang turns his eyes to the great martial academy of the Heavenly Accord.
Bandits, hellspawn, rival students, and traitors in martial robes, Fang must face them all while concealing the true nature of his Class until he grows strong enough to reveal it. And if he can endure the trials ahead, his plan will be to rise beyond both gods and devils, and forge a Path stronger than destiny itself.
Yet the path to defying the heavens is paved with choices no monk should have to make. Fang must decide what kind of man he will become, and what mark he will leave on the world. For when his training ends, he will wield the power to shake the earth itself and face enemies from the bottommost pits of hell.
Monk Of Black Flame is a genre-smashing LitRPG Xianxia fusion perfect for fans of Savage Awakening, Unintended Cultivator, and The Path of Ascension.
Branded by fate with the useless [Dormant Hell Monk] Class, Fang grows up shunned in the very temple meant to raise him. But when he is dragged into the depths of the Seventh Hell, he unknowingly fulfills the conditions to awaken that cursed Class. With newfound power, he claws his way back to the world above, wielding strength no youth should possess. To master it, Fang turns his eyes to the great martial academy of the Heavenly Accord.
Bandits, hellspawn, rival students, and traitors in martial robes, Fang must face them all while concealing the true nature of his Class until he grows strong enough to reveal it. And if he can endure the trials ahead, his plan will be to rise beyond both gods and devils, and forge a Path stronger than destiny itself.
Yet the path to defying the heavens is paved with choices no monk should have to make. Fang must decide what kind of man he will become, and what mark he will leave on the world. For when his training ends, he will wield the power to shake the earth itself and face enemies from the bottommost pits of hell.
Monk Of Black Flame is a genre-smashing LitRPG Xianxia fusion perfect for fans of Savage Awakening, Unintended Cultivator, and The Path of Ascension.
453 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2025
200 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 16, 2026
Great story, good writing, needs an editor. Forgotten words, typos, at least two repeated sections, places where the story may have changed but not in all locations.
February 16, 2026
Good story, needs editing
Was seen engaging story, fun to read. Lots of editing issues; inconsistent stats and repeated levels, occasional spelling errors, and several instances of repeated paragraphs.
Was seen engaging story, fun to read. Lots of editing issues; inconsistent stats and repeated levels, occasional spelling errors, and several instances of repeated paragraphs.
February 9, 2026
Proof reading and editing!
Overall this is a very interesting story, entertaining and a good example of a youth learning to be an adult in a fantasy world.
Too bad authorsToday don't seem to prove read or edit their own books Anymore! Simple math seems to be a problem when it comes to adding up stats... sentence structure seems to be missing quite a lot! Take the following example as copied straight from the book...
"Kelsie nodded. “Right. Force one-on-ones. Cassie and should do fine. But…Alren?”"
Just one example of missing words or words in incorrect sequence.
I admit I could never write a story like this , but when i'm reading one I would prefer to not be taken out of the flow with little stupid mistakes like this.
Overall this is a very interesting story, entertaining and a good example of a youth learning to be an adult in a fantasy world.
Too bad authorsToday don't seem to prove read or edit their own books Anymore! Simple math seems to be a problem when it comes to adding up stats... sentence structure seems to be missing quite a lot! Take the following example as copied straight from the book...
"Kelsie nodded. “Right. Force one-on-ones. Cassie and should do fine. But…Alren?”"
Just one example of missing words or words in incorrect sequence.
I admit I could never write a story like this , but when i'm reading one I would prefer to not be taken out of the flow with little stupid mistakes like this.
March 31, 2026
This reads like a first draft. It could be so much better!
First, the upsides - it's a nice twist on traditional LitRPG, where the Hells form connected landscapes rather than instanced Dungeons. Most classes seem to focus on Ice magic or physical enhancement, rather than the common tropes of Fireball! The MC is a suitably rebellious back-country Monk, so exposition is clean and propels the story, rather than hindering it.
But now we get to the issues. According to most of the book, the class ranks go Copper, Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, etc, with Class evolutions gained at each Rank up. However the MC starts the story having finally clawed his way to his first Class Evolution at Bronze, only to find no options offered. What happened to his Iron evolution?
Later, when he gains Achievements for defeating foes above his rank, the stats provided are not reflected in his Status - neither are the stats provided by his Class Evolutions correctly applied, and in fact one such Evolution is described to offer 50 stats when it actually adds to 60! (20 + 20 + 10 + 10 = 60, not 50).
Finally, there are sections of text with not just typos, or mis-used words, but directly repeated segments of text, with at most minor changes. It's as if the author wrote the same thing two ways, and was thinking of which worked best, but left both in the final draft.
Get an editor, or at least a copyeditor, and fix these issues, and this would be a great book, full of new worldbuilding, fun characters, and an engrossing tale.
First, the upsides - it's a nice twist on traditional LitRPG, where the Hells form connected landscapes rather than instanced Dungeons. Most classes seem to focus on Ice magic or physical enhancement, rather than the common tropes of Fireball! The MC is a suitably rebellious back-country Monk, so exposition is clean and propels the story, rather than hindering it.
But now we get to the issues. According to most of the book, the class ranks go Copper, Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, etc, with Class evolutions gained at each Rank up. However the MC starts the story having finally clawed his way to his first Class Evolution at Bronze, only to find no options offered. What happened to his Iron evolution?
Later, when he gains Achievements for defeating foes above his rank, the stats provided are not reflected in his Status - neither are the stats provided by his Class Evolutions correctly applied, and in fact one such Evolution is described to offer 50 stats when it actually adds to 60! (20 + 20 + 10 + 10 = 60, not 50).
Finally, there are sections of text with not just typos, or mis-used words, but directly repeated segments of text, with at most minor changes. It's as if the author wrote the same thing two ways, and was thinking of which worked best, but left both in the final draft.
Get an editor, or at least a copyeditor, and fix these issues, and this would be a great book, full of new worldbuilding, fun characters, and an engrossing tale.
March 17, 2026
AI or Bad Editing
Overall the book was pretty decent the pacing was good and there was some unique elements. The main thing that jumped out at me was the poor editing (or potential use of AI) particularly around the litrpg elements. In each section with a class up, there is a class that gives over the stat total the novel states (one class gives 105 stats when told to provide 100 etc) this happens two or three times. Additionally towards the end of the book there's a spot where the MC essentially gains the same level twice. I think this would have easily jumped out with any actual editing, so it's likely AI was used in portions of the novel either to generate text or to do the edits. Placeholder 3 stars because there's always the chance the author just didn't have an editor and missed these on a re-read through. If AI was used at all it's an instant 0 (1) star.
Overall the book was pretty decent the pacing was good and there was some unique elements. The main thing that jumped out at me was the poor editing (or potential use of AI) particularly around the litrpg elements. In each section with a class up, there is a class that gives over the stat total the novel states (one class gives 105 stats when told to provide 100 etc) this happens two or three times. Additionally towards the end of the book there's a spot where the MC essentially gains the same level twice. I think this would have easily jumped out with any actual editing, so it's likely AI was used in portions of the novel either to generate text or to do the edits. Placeholder 3 stars because there's always the chance the author just didn't have an editor and missed these on a re-read through. If AI was used at all it's an instant 0 (1) star.
March 11, 2026
The take on a typical monk class is awesome. Its good and I like the story and its direction so far.
THIS BOOK NEEDS AN EDITOR! There are so many things that could be easily cleaned up. Like stating the MC is barefoot then the next paragraph states he's in sandals.
Multiple paragraphs that repeated or the paragraphs end up stating the same thing but are written differently like the author was trying to figure out how to write a particular part. So they wrote the same paragraph multiple ways but then forgot to delete the versions they didnt want.
Also clapping but missing an arm. Im not sure how that works.
Just needs cleaned up a little.
THIS BOOK NEEDS AN EDITOR! There are so many things that could be easily cleaned up. Like stating the MC is barefoot then the next paragraph states he's in sandals.
Multiple paragraphs that repeated or the paragraphs end up stating the same thing but are written differently like the author was trying to figure out how to write a particular part. So they wrote the same paragraph multiple ways but then forgot to delete the versions they didnt want.
Also clapping but missing an arm. Im not sure how that works.
Just needs cleaned up a little.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
Takes a monk class and bends it on its ear
This is a great book, takes the monk trope of asceticism and bends it into something unrecognizable but in a good way. Take a martial movie, add in hell beasts, a young master trope and an all powerful overbearing ancient master and you have Monk of Black Flame. The MC constantly punches above his weight class and it awesome. Can’t wait for the second book. Highly recommend.
This is a great book, takes the monk trope of asceticism and bends it into something unrecognizable but in a good way. Take a martial movie, add in hell beasts, a young master trope and an all powerful overbearing ancient master and you have Monk of Black Flame. The MC constantly punches above his weight class and it awesome. Can’t wait for the second book. Highly recommend.
December 30, 2025
No one could know...Just bad writing
This offering started quite well and picked up speed. It stayed extremely interesting. The epilogue was where things went off the wheels. We leave a loose end with a missing character and the last line of the book is 'No one could know' followed by a statement. That's just bad writing. If no one could know, why are we hinted at? Good book but do better!
This offering started quite well and picked up speed. It stayed extremely interesting. The epilogue was where things went off the wheels. We leave a loose end with a missing character and the last line of the book is 'No one could know' followed by a statement. That's just bad writing. If no one could know, why are we hinted at? Good book but do better!
January 17, 2026
there is always monkey business
Good book. I really like monks. There were some small issues to clean up like the mc wearing sandals, then barefoot, then boots and the like where the author forgot where and what. Yet the overall story was great and the environment unique making this a very enjoyable read.
Good book. I really like monks. There were some small issues to clean up like the mc wearing sandals, then barefoot, then boots and the like where the author forgot where and what. Yet the overall story was great and the environment unique making this a very enjoyable read.
January 27, 2026
Decent story in dire need of an editor. It suffers from huge inflation. A gold is certain death to a bronze, but later our "hero" is fighting 4 of them WITH a greatsword lodged thru his chest. I skipped pages of tedious battle, that contained our hero just trying harder than ANYONE ever, everyone else must just be lazy.
All that said I still finished it
All that said I still finished it
February 3, 2026
Good Book
I enjoyed this book it was a good read.
It had an interesting story and main character.
That said, it did have a few issues. It has an issue with misplaced words and repeating paragraphs. This is especially obvious in the last 30% or so of the book. There were at least 5 or 6 times where entire paragraphs were repeated twice in a row.
I enjoyed this book it was a good read.
It had an interesting story and main character.
That said, it did have a few issues. It has an issue with misplaced words and repeating paragraphs. This is especially obvious in the last 30% or so of the book. There were at least 5 or 6 times where entire paragraphs were repeated twice in a row.
March 2, 2026
DNF. Wow, this was badly written. No real effort made to establish the character or the world before he falls through a portal to Hell and is immediately a superhero. All this at the ripe age of 15, the fact that he’s still a child being never dealt with.
The blurb sounded super cool. The lack of effort in the writing and absence of any editing really took away from it.
The blurb sounded super cool. The lack of effort in the writing and absence of any editing really took away from it.
January 3, 2026
Good Book.
Liked the MC and the story. The world mechanics were different but easy to understand. Good writing with the story advancing naturally and the MC not doing stupid things to move the story along.
I highly recommend the book and will be reading the next one.
Liked the MC and the story. The world mechanics were different but easy to understand. Good writing with the story advancing naturally and the MC not doing stupid things to move the story along.
I highly recommend the book and will be reading the next one.
January 27, 2026
A good start tempered by overdone politics.
The acadamy is cheap, an empty setting. The political landscape is similar. Just an idea with little merit. Rather than an interesting setting, it is a blunt cudgel. This was a solid idea with cheap theatrics.
The acadamy is cheap, an empty setting. The political landscape is similar. Just an idea with little merit. Rather than an interesting setting, it is a blunt cudgel. This was a solid idea with cheap theatrics.
December 29, 2025
Immensely compelling and downright amazing to read
January 19, 2026
excellent book
Absolutely a joyful read. One of the best books I’ve read in a long while I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Absolutely a joyful read. One of the best books I’ve read in a long while I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
January 31, 2026
DNF stopped at 7%. Do not waste your time
I did not finish this. It's badly edited and not worth the time. The sentences don't make sense and the writing is just bad
I did not finish this. It's badly edited and not worth the time. The sentences don't make sense and the writing is just bad
February 5, 2026
Great story
Great new take on a mink class. Great story and great character building. The ending was very real. And set a nice path for the next book
Great new take on a mink class. Great story and great character building. The ending was very real. And set a nice path for the next book
February 9, 2026
Enjoyable but in need of thorough editing. Lots of typos and even duplicate paragraphs in a fun story with an engaging MC.
January 20, 2026
Fang seemed like a bit of a prat, and the world and system weren't amazing enough to make me want to keep reading. Soz Fang.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews