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Fate Alchemist #1
Slayer’s Return: A Time Regression LitRPG
The demons won. The world ended. Or did it?
Wulf is one of the last survivors of the demonic apocalypse. At the brink of oblivion, he’s sent back forty-one years to prevent the end. Now he’s a first-year again at Istalis Academy.
Having his advancement reset is an opportunity to do everything better. But Wulf is sent back with a seemingly useless crafting class. Nobody can know or he’ll be expelled from his fighter program, where he’ll be expected to channel his abilities through the hollowed-out vessels of stone giants.
The more Wulf learns, the more he suspects the class change isn’t an accident. Perhaps what mankind needs isn’t just future knowledge. It’s someone whose legendary class can change fate itself.
A Fate Alchemist.
First on Royal Road, now professionally edited and available on Amazon and Audible narrated by Jonathan Waters. Buy a copy or read free with Kindle Unlimited!
Wulf is one of the last survivors of the demonic apocalypse. At the brink of oblivion, he’s sent back forty-one years to prevent the end. Now he’s a first-year again at Istalis Academy.
Having his advancement reset is an opportunity to do everything better. But Wulf is sent back with a seemingly useless crafting class. Nobody can know or he’ll be expelled from his fighter program, where he’ll be expected to channel his abilities through the hollowed-out vessels of stone giants.
The more Wulf learns, the more he suspects the class change isn’t an accident. Perhaps what mankind needs isn’t just future knowledge. It’s someone whose legendary class can change fate itself.
A Fate Alchemist.
First on Royal Road, now professionally edited and available on Amazon and Audible narrated by Jonathan Waters. Buy a copy or read free with Kindle Unlimited!
- GenresFantasyTime TravelMagic
614 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 28, 2026
I had high hopes for the one but turns out mc is a panzy
I have high hopes for this series a returner story u spend ur entire first like fighting a deamon apocalypse and see your entire world end before your eyes. but u get sent back in time to stop it and ur one rival at school u were sent back in time to get stronger and save the world....the entire planet is relying on u and u refuse to kill the one bad guy that keeps making serious efforts to kill u and killed ur old world best fiend and roommate and after the same bad guy off ur friend in front of u. U do nothing but let them go then the same bad guy comes back 2 more time destroy all ur equipment thats invaluable that is key to humanity's survival and u still can't take care of business.....nope total bs don't waste your time unless u like weak mc that always let's the bad guys go to only come back to screw the mc over later at a critical moment....then this book is for you!!!!
I have high hopes for this series a returner story u spend ur entire first like fighting a deamon apocalypse and see your entire world end before your eyes. but u get sent back in time to stop it and ur one rival at school u were sent back in time to get stronger and save the world....the entire planet is relying on u and u refuse to kill the one bad guy that keeps making serious efforts to kill u and killed ur old world best fiend and roommate and after the same bad guy off ur friend in front of u. U do nothing but let them go then the same bad guy comes back 2 more time destroy all ur equipment thats invaluable that is key to humanity's survival and u still can't take care of business.....nope total bs don't waste your time unless u like weak mc that always let's the bad guys go to only come back to screw the mc over later at a critical moment....then this book is for you!!!!
February 8, 2026
the magic system is dumb
Most favorable statement I can make is that I finished the book.
However the magic system is dumb. There are a thousand ways an alchemist can be cool but this is the dumbest way possible. Essentially the author wants to reader to believe anything can be a potion and the protagonist can basically do anything he wants.
The progression system sucks and makes no intuitive sense.
I can’t get back the time I wasted on this book.
Most favorable statement I can make is that I finished the book.
However the magic system is dumb. There are a thousand ways an alchemist can be cool but this is the dumbest way possible. Essentially the author wants to reader to believe anything can be a potion and the protagonist can basically do anything he wants.
The progression system sucks and makes no intuitive sense.
I can’t get back the time I wasted on this book.
November 2, 2025
The story is well written but its just not for me. I enjoy regression narratives but that premise soured for me when the story introduced a second regressor from the future. I liked the introduction, the protagonist was essentially the last living survivor on a dying world or at least I got that impression. Then he was given the opportunity to regress and change the future. Introducing a second individual made that premise less special. He is not humanities last hope, the emissary did not send the protagonist back as a last ditch effort to save the world. Instead we learn there was a contingency in the form of other regressors. It also makes the protagonists knowledge of the future less reliable because of the butterfly effect.
Making the second regressor a woman is almost foreshadowing that a relationship subplot will appear in the future. In that aspect, I don't really mind.
Why bring back his masters ashes when she is alive in the past? Seems confusing to me. Will he spread her second pair of ashes when she inevitably dies again? I dropped the story right after the second regressor was revealed. So maybe the story addresses that at a later point.
Making the second regressor a woman is almost foreshadowing that a relationship subplot will appear in the future. In that aspect, I don't really mind.
Why bring back his masters ashes when she is alive in the past? Seems confusing to me. Will he spread her second pair of ashes when she inevitably dies again? I dropped the story right after the second regressor was revealed. So maybe the story addresses that at a later point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2026
4 Don't Touch That Stars
Slayer's Return is the first book in the Time Regression LitRPG Fate Alchemist by Felix Taylor.
The magic system styled in this book has such a steam punk vibe. The piloting of these colossal creatures manifested in stone, and further empowered by both magic and technology before it can even gain sentience? Then there's the wide array of halfling races, and human adjacent that are found throughout. The only thing that throws a wrench in the whole steam punk vision are demon fiends that they must face.
I do so enjoy the explanation and depth attributed to our MC's Unique Alchemist class. But i still wanted more explanation when it came to the other classes. Piloting was beautifully outlined, even with Wulf's weird twist in the basics. Mage is a simple one to understand, but there were definitely a few interesting adjustments when it came to Kalee's Unique brand of magic. Both artificer and ranger take on new meaning in this literary world, and i would have enjoyed more depth into the intricacies that define them from other books.
The demon incursion seems more like an alien invasion, and I find myself curious as to the mysteries left untold before the world ended the first time. Hopefully, part of beating the demons in this new life of his is learning their secrets and their origins. In the coming books.
There were moments where the writing degraded in places. It wasn't up to the same standard or detail as the rest. Sometimes even where just certain sentences in a paragraph stood out. Repetitive and circular speech, run-on sentences, etc. The Umoch character was upsetting, he felt like he had more potential but ultimately fell into the role of throw away antagonist. Although he did seem to stumble into some creepy Hero worship in the books final moments..
Irmond and Seith are enjoyable characters all by themselves, for entirely different reasons. But they do make a wonderful pair as well. This group of secondary characters surrounding our MC have such potential to grow into their own. And thats not even considering Kalee and origin story either.
Slayer's Return is the first book in the Time Regression LitRPG Fate Alchemist by Felix Taylor.
The magic system styled in this book has such a steam punk vibe. The piloting of these colossal creatures manifested in stone, and further empowered by both magic and technology before it can even gain sentience? Then there's the wide array of halfling races, and human adjacent that are found throughout. The only thing that throws a wrench in the whole steam punk vision are demon fiends that they must face.
I do so enjoy the explanation and depth attributed to our MC's Unique Alchemist class. But i still wanted more explanation when it came to the other classes. Piloting was beautifully outlined, even with Wulf's weird twist in the basics. Mage is a simple one to understand, but there were definitely a few interesting adjustments when it came to Kalee's Unique brand of magic. Both artificer and ranger take on new meaning in this literary world, and i would have enjoyed more depth into the intricacies that define them from other books.
The demon incursion seems more like an alien invasion, and I find myself curious as to the mysteries left untold before the world ended the first time. Hopefully, part of beating the demons in this new life of his is learning their secrets and their origins. In the coming books.
There were moments where the writing degraded in places. It wasn't up to the same standard or detail as the rest. Sometimes even where just certain sentences in a paragraph stood out. Repetitive and circular speech, run-on sentences, etc. The Umoch character was upsetting, he felt like he had more potential but ultimately fell into the role of throw away antagonist. Although he did seem to stumble into some creepy Hero worship in the books final moments..
Irmond and Seith are enjoyable characters all by themselves, for entirely different reasons. But they do make a wonderful pair as well. This group of secondary characters surrounding our MC have such potential to grow into their own. And thats not even considering Kalee and origin story either.
October 30, 2025
What a fun friggintastic book!
What a great litRPG! Wulf is given a special quest, and with that a chance to go back in time to stop the RedSect Demons and save the world! I really love the premise of getting a second chance of knowing what happens, to fix mistakes, and maybe by changing events making a different outcome. Turns out that by going back in time, he finds himself back at Academy reliving his first year! He also discovers that another student Kalee received the same quest! And Kalee's magical Class' had changed. Kalee's, from Artificer to Mage which was cool because the school taught Mages. But Wulf had a drastic one, goin from Pilot to Alchemist! The school definitely does not teach alchemy!!! But with a Chaos Potion, his Aura and a lotta Will he can actually fake it and Pilot a Golem anyway, eventually Piloting a Oronith a much larger Golem, it's kinda like Piloting a mech but with a team of 3 other people, one of those bein a mage! So the Oronith needs a Pilot, a Mage, a Ranger, and a Artificer's! He actually caljoles Irmond a Ranger and Seith an Artificer to join his team. And of course an Academy wouldn't be an Academy without a bully, a rich nobles son, Umoch and his cronies... even still Wulf garners allies, starting with the Chef, the Librarian, and the Groundkeeper! With the knowledge they have, and only weeks to prepare, before the demons first attack it's time to get busy. No one but no one is gonna believe 'em, so it's all on Wulf and Kalee to sacrifice themselves if need be, to change history! I found this wonderful action-driven litRPG on Royal Road website, so hopefully it'll hit Amazon's website soon and then I'll be able to post this 5⭐ review! And Yay! It's out so grab Felix Taylor's book and enjoy! In fact go grab his Split Champion a deck-building litRPG 'cause it's fantastic too!
What a great litRPG! Wulf is given a special quest, and with that a chance to go back in time to stop the RedSect Demons and save the world! I really love the premise of getting a second chance of knowing what happens, to fix mistakes, and maybe by changing events making a different outcome. Turns out that by going back in time, he finds himself back at Academy reliving his first year! He also discovers that another student Kalee received the same quest! And Kalee's magical Class' had changed. Kalee's, from Artificer to Mage which was cool because the school taught Mages. But Wulf had a drastic one, goin from Pilot to Alchemist! The school definitely does not teach alchemy!!! But with a Chaos Potion, his Aura and a lotta Will he can actually fake it and Pilot a Golem anyway, eventually Piloting a Oronith a much larger Golem, it's kinda like Piloting a mech but with a team of 3 other people, one of those bein a mage! So the Oronith needs a Pilot, a Mage, a Ranger, and a Artificer's! He actually caljoles Irmond a Ranger and Seith an Artificer to join his team. And of course an Academy wouldn't be an Academy without a bully, a rich nobles son, Umoch and his cronies... even still Wulf garners allies, starting with the Chef, the Librarian, and the Groundkeeper! With the knowledge they have, and only weeks to prepare, before the demons first attack it's time to get busy. No one but no one is gonna believe 'em, so it's all on Wulf and Kalee to sacrifice themselves if need be, to change history! I found this wonderful action-driven litRPG on Royal Road website, so hopefully it'll hit Amazon's website soon and then I'll be able to post this 5⭐ review! And Yay! It's out so grab Felix Taylor's book and enjoy! In fact go grab his Split Champion a deck-building litRPG 'cause it's fantastic too!
November 21, 2025
May be for some people, just not for me
I DNF the book. In fact I didn't even get 10% through. I lost interest pretty fast. Why? Well when he is regressed, he become an alchemists who make "poisons" and each one will have an additional "random effect". This tells me that the author was going to use dues ex a whole lot with this "random effect" to get the MC out of trouble and use the "poison" as a way to limit the MCs power. At that point, I lost interest in reading about an MC who could have been any random person and didn't need the knowledge of future events in order to save the world. The MC just needed the authors hand to provide the "random effect" that would eventually solve the problem. No real effort or intelligence required.
I may be completely wrong in how the plot and story eventually unfolded. I just was not interested in finding out.
I DNF the book. In fact I didn't even get 10% through. I lost interest pretty fast. Why? Well when he is regressed, he become an alchemists who make "poisons" and each one will have an additional "random effect". This tells me that the author was going to use dues ex a whole lot with this "random effect" to get the MC out of trouble and use the "poison" as a way to limit the MCs power. At that point, I lost interest in reading about an MC who could have been any random person and didn't need the knowledge of future events in order to save the world. The MC just needed the authors hand to provide the "random effect" that would eventually solve the problem. No real effort or intelligence required.
I may be completely wrong in how the plot and story eventually unfolded. I just was not interested in finding out.
December 2, 2025
Miracle horses
I mostly enjoyed this book, but I can not give it five stars For a very simple fact that like most modern authors , Taylor seems to have no comprehension of the biology capabilities of creatures other than man. Horses cannot gallop or run or even trot for the whole day, especially not when pulling a wagon. Sure, this is being nit picky , but the purpose of a good story is to draw you in and when something
inconceivable (and yes , that word means what I think it means) interrupts the flow , it sucks the joy out of the story.
I mostly enjoyed this book, but I can not give it five stars For a very simple fact that like most modern authors , Taylor seems to have no comprehension of the biology capabilities of creatures other than man. Horses cannot gallop or run or even trot for the whole day, especially not when pulling a wagon. Sure, this is being nit picky , but the purpose of a good story is to draw you in and when something
inconceivable (and yes , that word means what I think it means) interrupts the flow , it sucks the joy out of the story.
November 17, 2025
Great
Honestly it was a great read. I have no real criticism. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is due to personal preference. I read fantasy for the magic systems and while I enjoyed this one it surround mechs (golomes). I just really don’t like mechs, the whole big suit thing is unappealing. With that said the book is great and even surrounding mech it was a great read.
Honestly it was a great read. I have no real criticism. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is due to personal preference. I read fantasy for the magic systems and while I enjoyed this one it surround mechs (golomes). I just really don’t like mechs, the whole big suit thing is unappealing. With that said the book is great and even surrounding mech it was a great read.
January 23, 2026
A great genre-fitting opening
This book is a great start for a returnee story. The magical world it draws is simple enough to get out of the way but deep enough to fuel and interesting story and provide constant novel action. The character dynamics are both well chosen and well executed. The surrounding politics are believable as well, which is nice in a world where that's usually lampshaded.
I'm looking forward to book two.
This book is a great start for a returnee story. The magical world it draws is simple enough to get out of the way but deep enough to fuel and interesting story and provide constant novel action. The character dynamics are both well chosen and well executed. The surrounding politics are believable as well, which is nice in a world where that's usually lampshaded.
I'm looking forward to book two.
November 6, 2025
Cool book. I love regression books but this felt a little different. His future knowledge helps him physically and foretell dangerous events. I think it feels different because the world and Magic are pretty unique. The concept of piloting golems is new to me. The story was entertaining and I look forward to the next book.
December 16, 2025
Readable but a crap story
More isakie than litrpg there's barely a system for progression, just skills. It's a very simplistic story line heavy with story based progression. It was simple but readable until the protagonist starts running around with scissors as his weapon. Scissors are awkward to cut paper with let alone fight with. Oh sorry GIANT SCISSORS. Just stupid smh
More isakie than litrpg there's barely a system for progression, just skills. It's a very simplistic story line heavy with story based progression. It was simple but readable until the protagonist starts running around with scissors as his weapon. Scissors are awkward to cut paper with let alone fight with. Oh sorry GIANT SCISSORS. Just stupid smh
December 20, 2025
Zzzz
Just couldn't make it through the book. Started off ok but the pace never picked up. To be fair I gave up about halfway through the book. So if it got better I missed it. I really don't need all the in depth descriptions on alchemy. It Was too much, just dragged the story down.
Just couldn't make it through the book. Started off ok but the pace never picked up. To be fair I gave up about halfway through the book. So if it got better I missed it. I really don't need all the in depth descriptions on alchemy. It Was too much, just dragged the story down.
November 1, 2025
Really good
This was quite an enjoyable read. It's pretty standard LitRPG fair, but that's not a bad thing, especially when it is a solid regression story, too. Do yourself a favor and give this book a look.
Highly recommended.
This was quite an enjoyable read. It's pretty standard LitRPG fair, but that's not a bad thing, especially when it is a solid regression story, too. Do yourself a favor and give this book a look.
Highly recommended.
November 12, 2025
shallow
Interesting premise, but the magic system, plot and characters are both shallow and less than believable. It almost feels as if the author is making things up as he goes along.
Interesting premise, but the magic system, plot and characters are both shallow and less than believable. It almost feels as if the author is making things up as he goes along.
December 20, 2025
there was a point that sumerized the world state perfectly, and that is when i lost all interest. a second part just reinforced it about halfway through, and i gave up right then. did not bother finishing.
November 12, 2025
Solid book. Nothing super-novel in here but enough to keep it interesting for me.
January 14, 2026
A very good read
A very good read the story is very strong and well written and skilfully put together.
The story is very well told and keeps you reading.
A very good read the story is very strong and well written and skilfully put together.
The story is very well told and keeps you reading.
Did Not Finish
February 18, 2026It didn’t hook me in the first 25% so moving to DNF with no rating.
didn-t-like-it
April 24, 2026Note to self: nope.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews