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All Jobs and Classes! I Just Wanted One Skill, Not Them All!
All Jobs and Classes! I Just Wanted One Skill, Not Them All!:
Ludger was supposed to be just another forgotten soul, reborn into a quiet life under the care of his young mother, Elaine. With nothing but a mysterious system in his vision and the faint promise of growth, he resigned himself to learning the humble trade of cooking. Knives, fire, seasoning—his skills grew sharper than his years, but it wasn’t the power-fantasy adventure he once dreamed of. That is, until one reckless night in the tavern, when a hooded mage and a simple spell shattered the illusion of normalcy forever.
Marked by the system as a prodigy, Ludger finds himself juggling more than just knives and plates. Every Job, every Class, every Master holds a new path forward, and he refuses to let his second life waste away like his first. From kitchen tricks to forbidden magic, his journey forces him to carve out his place in a world that rewards ambition—but punishes those who rise too quickly. Allies, enemies, and masters appear in unexpected places, and Ludger soon learns that every choice he makes reshapes not only his future, but the balance of power around him.
What begins as the daily grind of a precocious child slowly transforms into the legend of a boy who refuses to follow anyone’s script but his own. With wit, stubborn pride, and the determination to never be helpless again, Ludger steps onto the path of true ascendance—one coin, one skill, and one risky gamble at a time.
Marked by the system as a prodigy, Ludger finds himself juggling more than just knives and plates. Every Job, every Class, every Master holds a new path forward, and he refuses to let his second life waste away like his first. From kitchen tricks to forbidden magic, his journey forces him to carve out his place in a world that rewards ambition—but punishes those who rise too quickly. Allies, enemies, and masters appear in unexpected places, and Ludger soon learns that every choice he makes reshapes not only his future, but the balance of power around him.
What begins as the daily grind of a precocious child slowly transforms into the legend of a boy who refuses to follow anyone’s script but his own. With wit, stubborn pride, and the determination to never be helpless again, Ludger steps onto the path of true ascendance—one coin, one skill, and one risky gamble at a time.
- GenresFantasy
804 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2025
563 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 28, 2025
Started off OK
Lets start by saying DNF. I got about 20% and couldn't take the MC any more. The story began as a standard reincarnation plot. Unfortunately, the MC is a sarcastic, self absorbed, narcissist.
Lets start by saying DNF. I got about 20% and couldn't take the MC any more. The story began as a standard reincarnation plot. Unfortunately, the MC is a sarcastic, self absorbed, narcissist.
January 9, 2026
it doesn’t make any sense
Why does the mum turn into a jealous unstable psycho when the father comes into the picture. Before that she was a likeable character who understandably was worried about being talented at magic too young. Only the plot contrivance of the mage giving his influence to protect him from being kidnapped into a noble services. But don’t worry, he still does end up serving a noble. And there are sooo many more plot contrivances. Why does he spar with Viola when he literally had a monologue of not wanting to get sucked into noble shenanigans. Multiple times even. Why does he accept the man as his father when he turns up and basically ruined his and his mum’s life by pulling them into his bad life decisions. Wowww, he turned down the deal to spar with Viola and in exchange for an education and training resources etc. Sooo independent, until he basically does all that stuff for free anyway when his father boasts about his abilities when it’s already been stated multiple times that it’s dangerous for anyone to know what he can do at that age. Yeah, undercutting the priests healing business defiantly shouldn’t have any repercussions. Is he not upset when Viola turns up with a new sword technique that he purposefully didn’t teach his son just so Viola can have a chance to beat the mc, since on even ground there’s no way she would have a chance, and even then she still loses.
The tournament is just a joke. Why are they sending a 10 and 8 year old to an under 15’s tournament. There’s no way they should win when everyone else is a noble and has similar or even better training than Viola. She should never of had a chance to win in the original singles format or the tournament anyway. If it’s a tournament held every 5 years (cba to go back and check) then I guess it maybe makes sense to send her if she wouldn’t be able to take part as 15 but there’s no way she should be able to get a good result at 10, which means there should be no point in even being there. If you can hire people to take place in the tourney then what’s even the point of a 10 year old participating. In the original format of the tournament she would have just been sitting around while the adventurers did everything for her.
Mc is bleeding sarcasm all the time and it makes him very unlikeable. I think he cares for his mum but it’s hard to tell when he’s only really worried about her not having a mental breakdown and thinks that buying her a tavern is the cure to her not missing him when her 8 year old son goes off to fight monsters and such. How is that something an 8 year would even be able to do? I have no idea. He says he wants to have a low profile and does everything to do the opposite of that. It’s actually so frustrating to read his ‘smirking’ as he plots his super secret plans when he I bet is my is dragged to do what he just said he didn’t want to do like 5 chapters ago. He allows himself to get thrown into every spotlight available and it’s always through stupid plot contrivances. Oh yes the tournament structure has been changed to duos instead of singles. How convenient. Guess the mc will just ‘have to’ get involved and everyone can be amazed at his ability while completely blowing his cover and putting the nobles attention on him, which is literally the opposite of what he wanted to do.
I kept reading because I wanted it to get better and I’m pretty sure the mum being a psycho is supposed to be funny despite it not really coming off that way. It really just makes her sound like a whiny bitch even if you call her meaning auras a jojo’s reference.
Those are mostly my gripes with the book that just kept getting in my way of enjoying it but it’s still an alright book. Father is unlikeable. Mum
Becomes unlikeable after the father is introduced. Viola is a coin flip between brat and just a 10 year old being cute. Sage is a probably the best character. The system of gaining powers through being taught things is pretty cool and really carries the book through its worst parts. It was what helped me get through the book.
Why does the mum turn into a jealous unstable psycho when the father comes into the picture. Before that she was a likeable character who understandably was worried about being talented at magic too young. Only the plot contrivance of the mage giving his influence to protect him from being kidnapped into a noble services. But don’t worry, he still does end up serving a noble. And there are sooo many more plot contrivances. Why does he spar with Viola when he literally had a monologue of not wanting to get sucked into noble shenanigans. Multiple times even. Why does he accept the man as his father when he turns up and basically ruined his and his mum’s life by pulling them into his bad life decisions. Wowww, he turned down the deal to spar with Viola and in exchange for an education and training resources etc. Sooo independent, until he basically does all that stuff for free anyway when his father boasts about his abilities when it’s already been stated multiple times that it’s dangerous for anyone to know what he can do at that age. Yeah, undercutting the priests healing business defiantly shouldn’t have any repercussions. Is he not upset when Viola turns up with a new sword technique that he purposefully didn’t teach his son just so Viola can have a chance to beat the mc, since on even ground there’s no way she would have a chance, and even then she still loses.
The tournament is just a joke. Why are they sending a 10 and 8 year old to an under 15’s tournament. There’s no way they should win when everyone else is a noble and has similar or even better training than Viola. She should never of had a chance to win in the original singles format or the tournament anyway. If it’s a tournament held every 5 years (cba to go back and check) then I guess it maybe makes sense to send her if she wouldn’t be able to take part as 15 but there’s no way she should be able to get a good result at 10, which means there should be no point in even being there. If you can hire people to take place in the tourney then what’s even the point of a 10 year old participating. In the original format of the tournament she would have just been sitting around while the adventurers did everything for her.
Mc is bleeding sarcasm all the time and it makes him very unlikeable. I think he cares for his mum but it’s hard to tell when he’s only really worried about her not having a mental breakdown and thinks that buying her a tavern is the cure to her not missing him when her 8 year old son goes off to fight monsters and such. How is that something an 8 year would even be able to do? I have no idea. He says he wants to have a low profile and does everything to do the opposite of that. It’s actually so frustrating to read his ‘smirking’ as he plots his super secret plans when he I bet is my is dragged to do what he just said he didn’t want to do like 5 chapters ago. He allows himself to get thrown into every spotlight available and it’s always through stupid plot contrivances. Oh yes the tournament structure has been changed to duos instead of singles. How convenient. Guess the mc will just ‘have to’ get involved and everyone can be amazed at his ability while completely blowing his cover and putting the nobles attention on him, which is literally the opposite of what he wanted to do.
I kept reading because I wanted it to get better and I’m pretty sure the mum being a psycho is supposed to be funny despite it not really coming off that way. It really just makes her sound like a whiny bitch even if you call her meaning auras a jojo’s reference.
Those are mostly my gripes with the book that just kept getting in my way of enjoying it but it’s still an alright book. Father is unlikeable. Mum
Becomes unlikeable after the father is introduced. Viola is a coin flip between brat and just a 10 year old being cute. Sage is a probably the best character. The system of gaining powers through being taught things is pretty cool and really carries the book through its worst parts. It was what helped me get through the book.
January 11, 2026
Potential but not for me.
The story had potential but too many issues for me to enjoy.
I love litrpg books.. I'm a sucker for isekai, and leveling up but this one rubbed me wrong and I had to DNF it more than 25% of the way in. I have too many on my TBR to keep reading something I'm not enjoying.
My main problems (and not in order) are
1. Pretty sure this was written by or at least in part by AI
2. The magic system is inconsistent. The XP and logic are off like it wasn't fully fleshed out
3. Over usage of the term "Smirked"
4. I dont like the MC
5. They try to make the dad the bad guy constantly but other than being childish, not thinking things thru and sleeping around early in his life (possibility being a womanizer before) the hate is unreasonably high. If he was that bad his party would have disbanded long before. He didn't know he had a kid(s) and decided to try and take responsibility. He warned her that he had been with a lot of women and that its possible he could have other kids he didn't know about. She still accepted him. So when a kid shows up from BEFORE the dad ever met MC's mom he's the devil again and irredeemable? Even though he never new about her and sounded like he was driven away from her mom rather than running away. The MC always belittles the dad and any wisdom he tries to impart. Like it's not normal for a dad to try and teach morals?!? If you hate the guy set him free. He seems the type to send child support.
Idk if this sounds up you ally go for it.
The story had potential but too many issues for me to enjoy.
I love litrpg books.. I'm a sucker for isekai, and leveling up but this one rubbed me wrong and I had to DNF it more than 25% of the way in. I have too many on my TBR to keep reading something I'm not enjoying.
My main problems (and not in order) are
1. Pretty sure this was written by or at least in part by AI
2. The magic system is inconsistent. The XP and logic are off like it wasn't fully fleshed out
3. Over usage of the term "Smirked"
4. I dont like the MC
5. They try to make the dad the bad guy constantly but other than being childish, not thinking things thru and sleeping around early in his life (possibility being a womanizer before) the hate is unreasonably high. If he was that bad his party would have disbanded long before. He didn't know he had a kid(s) and decided to try and take responsibility. He warned her that he had been with a lot of women and that its possible he could have other kids he didn't know about. She still accepted him. So when a kid shows up from BEFORE the dad ever met MC's mom he's the devil again and irredeemable? Even though he never new about her and sounded like he was driven away from her mom rather than running away. The MC always belittles the dad and any wisdom he tries to impart. Like it's not normal for a dad to try and teach morals?!? If you hate the guy set him free. He seems the type to send child support.
Idk if this sounds up you ally go for it.
January 2, 2026
I want to like this book... but "smirk"
From 5 stars to 3 stars because the word "smirk," in its various forms, is used 408 times. In a 804 page book, that is more than every other page... he doesn't smile or grin... he smirks. Constantly. I don't think it's on purpose, but the main character reads like a smug little $hit. Because he is constantly smirking. I couldn't take it anymore. No matter how good the rest of the story, I don't like the image of this smug little POS constantly in my head.
From 5 stars to 3 stars because the word "smirk," in its various forms, is used 408 times. In a 804 page book, that is more than every other page... he doesn't smile or grin... he smirks. Constantly. I don't think it's on purpose, but the main character reads like a smug little $hit. Because he is constantly smirking. I couldn't take it anymore. No matter how good the rest of the story, I don't like the image of this smug little POS constantly in my head.
January 12, 2026
Best evarrr! Definitely a perfect read!
Ohhhh! Wow! Best book evarrr!!! I loved this book right from the get go! From the moment he saved everyone on the bus and his prize for being the hero of the moment was being Reborn into a world that had a system, as baby Ludger with all his memories, to a mother who was both cook and mentor. Ludger hoped that he would be able to do flashy magic, but no such luck. His first skill was knife handling but as a three year old how would he ever get his hands on a knife? So he had to be sneaky to level up... and that's exactly what he did. Then one night in the tavern his mom and he worked in, he met a mage who showed him a magic skill and he not only understood the skill he could copy it instantly. That night he realized that all he has to do was to see a skill once and wow history 😳 I think he's 5 now!?!
So yeah, get the book to see what happens when he's 8!!! Ohhhh and you better believe, I'm gonna delve into the next action-packed litRPG adventure since it's available!
Here's a couple three quotes:
“Six months in, and nothing,” Ludger thought, glaring at his empty status window. “No new class, no new job, no miracle skill like ‘Fireball for Infants’ or ‘Baby Martial Arts.’
"Seriously? Out of all possible starting skills, fireballs, mana bolts, shadow steps, the universe gives me knife safety training? What am I supposed to do, julienne my enemies?"
“You broke my sword!” Ludger held up the splintered end, expression flat. “Correction. I stopped you from splitting my skull. The sword just didn’t survive the negotiation.”
Ohhhh! Wow! Best book evarrr!!! I loved this book right from the get go! From the moment he saved everyone on the bus and his prize for being the hero of the moment was being Reborn into a world that had a system, as baby Ludger with all his memories, to a mother who was both cook and mentor. Ludger hoped that he would be able to do flashy magic, but no such luck. His first skill was knife handling but as a three year old how would he ever get his hands on a knife? So he had to be sneaky to level up... and that's exactly what he did. Then one night in the tavern his mom and he worked in, he met a mage who showed him a magic skill and he not only understood the skill he could copy it instantly. That night he realized that all he has to do was to see a skill once and wow history 😳 I think he's 5 now!?!
So yeah, get the book to see what happens when he's 8!!! Ohhhh and you better believe, I'm gonna delve into the next action-packed litRPG adventure since it's available!
Here's a couple three quotes:
“Six months in, and nothing,” Ludger thought, glaring at his empty status window. “No new class, no new job, no miracle skill like ‘Fireball for Infants’ or ‘Baby Martial Arts.’
"Seriously? Out of all possible starting skills, fireballs, mana bolts, shadow steps, the universe gives me knife safety training? What am I supposed to do, julienne my enemies?"
“You broke my sword!” Ludger held up the splintered end, expression flat. “Correction. I stopped you from splitting my skull. The sword just didn’t survive the negotiation.”
January 1, 2026
My reviews are my own. If you liked this book or not, I respect your opinion. This is merely my opinion, so let's keep it courteous. My review is honest and voluntary.
It was fun and interesting until the whole politics nobles family crap. I do not get why the MC's mom even stayed with the moron, useless man. I would have put my son as a priority and sent them to hell. Also, the bastard kid was a total ass. I don't understand why they even allowed her to come close to him. Even if she lost her mother, there is no excuse for her to be a total witch. I lost interest at this point. I hate nobles and anything related to their bitchiness. I thought this book was going to be about adventure, and all I have gotten is BS and more BS caused by the adults in his life. Then he ends up taking care of their problems. I would have escaped or asked my mom to do the same. The dad is also a total useless bastard doormat. Again, I have no idea why they would want someone like him around. Then, when the competition starts, it is just a back-and-forth to see who has the biggest penis, so immature. Dropping the series.
Summary:
Psycho Mother
Slutty Doormat Good-for-Nothing Father
Politics Noble BS
On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
It was fun and interesting until the whole politics nobles family crap. I do not get why the MC's mom even stayed with the moron, useless man. I would have put my son as a priority and sent them to hell. Also, the bastard kid was a total ass. I don't understand why they even allowed her to come close to him. Even if she lost her mother, there is no excuse for her to be a total witch. I lost interest at this point. I hate nobles and anything related to their bitchiness. I thought this book was going to be about adventure, and all I have gotten is BS and more BS caused by the adults in his life. Then he ends up taking care of their problems. I would have escaped or asked my mom to do the same. The dad is also a total useless bastard doormat. Again, I have no idea why they would want someone like him around. Then, when the competition starts, it is just a back-and-forth to see who has the biggest penis, so immature. Dropping the series.
Summary:
Psycho Mother
Slutty Doormat Good-for-Nothing Father
Politics Noble BS
On to my next adventure, Happy Readings!!!
January 9, 2026
Both Interesting and Slightly Disappointing
I’m a sucker for Isekai especially if the character has a tragic/ heroic ending/beginning to their new life. Now I’m also all about continuity. I have a question about the characters, what color are their eyes (brown, green, silver, red…) do they change? Same thing with hair, brown or red or somewhere in between? Also just because you randomly suddenly exist in someone’s life and are a half sibling it doesn’t mean you call their grandparents your grandparents, and they don’t call your mom mom on reflex. The whole assassin thing seemed like poor writing like it was added in for a class, plot wise it’s ok just seemed sloppy and jostled. Is one person truly trying to cover up that she’s more than a maid or not. Also the whole scaling with punching and kicking and leveling wasn’t discussed in detail, the mc should probably have been way more op, and his personal level is still very low. Also these jobs and classes, classes are covered, jobs not at all, why? Another thing let’s get a class and skill that are just to run, now everyone else can also run and keep up with you for no reason. Also also Mc is hiding his strength, but is he really? I still kinda liked it, but really started to taper off after the tournament.
I’m a sucker for Isekai especially if the character has a tragic/ heroic ending/beginning to their new life. Now I’m also all about continuity. I have a question about the characters, what color are their eyes (brown, green, silver, red…) do they change? Same thing with hair, brown or red or somewhere in between? Also just because you randomly suddenly exist in someone’s life and are a half sibling it doesn’t mean you call their grandparents your grandparents, and they don’t call your mom mom on reflex. The whole assassin thing seemed like poor writing like it was added in for a class, plot wise it’s ok just seemed sloppy and jostled. Is one person truly trying to cover up that she’s more than a maid or not. Also the whole scaling with punching and kicking and leveling wasn’t discussed in detail, the mc should probably have been way more op, and his personal level is still very low. Also these jobs and classes, classes are covered, jobs not at all, why? Another thing let’s get a class and skill that are just to run, now everyone else can also run and keep up with you for no reason. Also also Mc is hiding his strength, but is he really? I still kinda liked it, but really started to taper off after the tournament.
January 11, 2026
Good promise that seemed to drag further along...
Story had a good start and it alluded to multiple classes, multiple skills, interesting magic and a system for growing. However it quickly lost the LITRPG and seemed to focus more on the constant training grind rather than the earning of new skills and new classes. We were promised MC who had multiple classes yet he seemed to stick with only one style of fighting, he unlocks multiple magics both elemental and non elemental and he sticks with only one spell when he has multiple. It's the same for his fighting style, he sticks with one style, fists, rather than using any manner of weapons. Also the smirking, once in a while is fine but for every page for 800+ pages it seriously was too much. Overall a dire need for an editor and some actual fantasy to go with a what amounts to a weak power up training montague that goes into the details rather than spares the reader.
On the fence of book 2, read if you enjoy constant training and little magic otherwise you may just skip 2/3rds of the book if you are looking for a story.
Story had a good start and it alluded to multiple classes, multiple skills, interesting magic and a system for growing. However it quickly lost the LITRPG and seemed to focus more on the constant training grind rather than the earning of new skills and new classes. We were promised MC who had multiple classes yet he seemed to stick with only one style of fighting, he unlocks multiple magics both elemental and non elemental and he sticks with only one spell when he has multiple. It's the same for his fighting style, he sticks with one style, fists, rather than using any manner of weapons. Also the smirking, once in a while is fine but for every page for 800+ pages it seriously was too much. Overall a dire need for an editor and some actual fantasy to go with a what amounts to a weak power up training montague that goes into the details rather than spares the reader.
On the fence of book 2, read if you enjoy constant training and little magic otherwise you may just skip 2/3rds of the book if you are looking for a story.
January 31, 2026
Good but has lots of problems
This was a good book but it has lots of problems. The first and something that continues through the whole book is that time goes by very slowly. Many chapters only cover 1/2 all the way up to 1 whole day, sometimes not even that much. I am not sure if the author is going for an Enders Game vibe where it is the children that save the world but it does not have the same vibe.
The mother of the male MC is 100% mentally ill. At the start she was a normal mom but after maybe 5 chapters the author has her acting in ways that show massive amounts of mental illness. Only at the very end of the book does the author allow her sanity again and have her show normal amounts of emotion.
The way the book ended did not encourage me to want to move on to the next book. The author kept having the children MCs make bad decisions and hope that adults will play along with those decisions. The last 30 pages were such a slog to read. I almost gave up but pressed on hoping it would end in a way that would entice me to want a second book. But no it ended on a flat note that did not pull any emotion out of me.
This was a good book but it has lots of problems. The first and something that continues through the whole book is that time goes by very slowly. Many chapters only cover 1/2 all the way up to 1 whole day, sometimes not even that much. I am not sure if the author is going for an Enders Game vibe where it is the children that save the world but it does not have the same vibe.
The mother of the male MC is 100% mentally ill. At the start she was a normal mom but after maybe 5 chapters the author has her acting in ways that show massive amounts of mental illness. Only at the very end of the book does the author allow her sanity again and have her show normal amounts of emotion.
The way the book ended did not encourage me to want to move on to the next book. The author kept having the children MCs make bad decisions and hope that adults will play along with those decisions. The last 30 pages were such a slog to read. I almost gave up but pressed on hoping it would end in a way that would entice me to want a second book. But no it ended on a flat note that did not pull any emotion out of me.
January 29, 2026
Long and mostly uneventful
The beginning starts out fantastic. Quick paced and energetic, than suddenly the story becomes long and drawn out. Contrary to what the book describes, this is a story of a precocious kid who is the only one it seems with a system that allows him to instantly learn a skill if shown by a "master." Ludger picks up different skills that round his abilities out but most of the book is long, and tedious might be the only word I can come up with.
The main character is literally surrounded by families with extreme personalities. An over protective and arguably overbearing mother, A flighty father who takes almost nothing seriously, and a noble half sister who is hot headed and takes after the father in that she never thinks about her actions before she acts.
Most of the book I kept hoping the father would just die, he has the type of personality that drives me nuts.
And most of the book is watching Ludger train.
Good luck and have fun!!
The beginning starts out fantastic. Quick paced and energetic, than suddenly the story becomes long and drawn out. Contrary to what the book describes, this is a story of a precocious kid who is the only one it seems with a system that allows him to instantly learn a skill if shown by a "master." Ludger picks up different skills that round his abilities out but most of the book is long, and tedious might be the only word I can come up with.
The main character is literally surrounded by families with extreme personalities. An over protective and arguably overbearing mother, A flighty father who takes almost nothing seriously, and a noble half sister who is hot headed and takes after the father in that she never thinks about her actions before she acts.
Most of the book I kept hoping the father would just die, he has the type of personality that drives me nuts.
And most of the book is watching Ludger train.
Good luck and have fun!!
February 1, 2026
It's readable but the stories just bad
I really wanted to like this story and the setup is not inherently bad but the storytelling just isn't good. There's constant inconsistencies and things that don't make sense. Eventually there's a tournament and you're watching the protagonist fight in the tournament and this kid has a bag full of tricks and basically he just stands there and let someone wail on him with his sword while blocking with arm guards. He doesn't throw a punch he doesn't try to kick he does nothing.. it's just so out of character for the character that it just makes you shake your head and you're like what's going on. This is not the first time that happens in the story it's pretty consistent where these these situations where the author just rims the situation down your throat because they want it and they don't actually finesse it into the story in any way.
I really wanted to like this story and the setup is not inherently bad but the storytelling just isn't good. There's constant inconsistencies and things that don't make sense. Eventually there's a tournament and you're watching the protagonist fight in the tournament and this kid has a bag full of tricks and basically he just stands there and let someone wail on him with his sword while blocking with arm guards. He doesn't throw a punch he doesn't try to kick he does nothing.. it's just so out of character for the character that it just makes you shake your head and you're like what's going on. This is not the first time that happens in the story it's pretty consistent where these these situations where the author just rims the situation down your throat because they want it and they don't actually finesse it into the story in any way.
January 20, 2026
He was a looser in 1st life, and he is extremely self-absorbed in 2nd. He really doesn't interact with anyone except those he can use. He popped in just after birth and by age 8 he hadn't cared or have ever had love for his Mom, just worried about how her actions would effect his life. If you think about how Nobles are mostly thought of, times that arrogance and looking down on others by 3 and you have the MC. Later on in the story and the MC meets his half sister, his thoughts about her are not good and everything he complains about her, he does just as much if not more. The more I read the book the more I hated the MC. Most of the other characters I could deal with, most I liked a lot. Not all of them would I want to be around, but you could see why they act like they do and see how they are true to their profession.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2026
DNF at about 70%
Great concept with potential that could have been a lot of fun if not for the MC. Dude was a failure in his previous life and vows not make the same mistakes as most isekai, and then proceeds to be that guy in any friend group that does nothing but make poor comments, endless negativity, and dry sarcasm while pretty much offering nothing of value to anyone else, or even thinks of others. He has no fun, no friends, no happiness, and pretty much just judges everyone. He straight up says he avoids any type of sentimentality like the plague and he is not lying. I can't think of a single positive thing he said or did in anything I read. MC constantly smirking at his own superiority but is honesly more likely to be a sneer. honestly it's just a shame as the concept is good, the narcissistic sociopath of an MC really kills it.
Great concept with potential that could have been a lot of fun if not for the MC. Dude was a failure in his previous life and vows not make the same mistakes as most isekai, and then proceeds to be that guy in any friend group that does nothing but make poor comments, endless negativity, and dry sarcasm while pretty much offering nothing of value to anyone else, or even thinks of others. He has no fun, no friends, no happiness, and pretty much just judges everyone. He straight up says he avoids any type of sentimentality like the plague and he is not lying. I can't think of a single positive thing he said or did in anything I read. MC constantly smirking at his own superiority but is honesly more likely to be a sneer. honestly it's just a shame as the concept is good, the narcissistic sociopath of an MC really kills it.
January 24, 2026
DNF
It starts of good and seems interesting. But the author used smirk sooooo much that every time it came up I just couldn’t help but think “Man, can someone please smack the smirk off this kid’s face!!!”
The pet word was so distractingly prevalent throughout the story that I just had to do a count. In the first hundred pages it was over 100 times! That got me wondering so I did a word search and the entire book had over 400 instances of this annoying MC and other smirking at each other.
At this point I’m not sure if the author is just unsure that smirking is annoying and considered rude or what.
Then that doesn’t even include a 3-4 year old kid wandering around doing tavern work. It was just too much, the MC was just too annoying with his superior attitude and smirking her and smirking there, here a smirk there a smirk everywhere smirk smirk
It starts of good and seems interesting. But the author used smirk sooooo much that every time it came up I just couldn’t help but think “Man, can someone please smack the smirk off this kid’s face!!!”
The pet word was so distractingly prevalent throughout the story that I just had to do a count. In the first hundred pages it was over 100 times! That got me wondering so I did a word search and the entire book had over 400 instances of this annoying MC and other smirking at each other.
At this point I’m not sure if the author is just unsure that smirking is annoying and considered rude or what.
Then that doesn’t even include a 3-4 year old kid wandering around doing tavern work. It was just too much, the MC was just too annoying with his superior attitude and smirking her and smirking there, here a smirk there a smirk everywhere smirk smirk
December 30, 2025
could be great but… **Spoilers in comments **
I really wanted to love this book and I did up until the 80% mark. The first part just needs some editing and it would be great but at 80% it feels like the author gave up and let AI finish it.
**Spoilers: issues in the last chapters- Luna is a secret bodyguard but Vi doesn’t question her abilities when they sneak out? Luna is said to only be in training and able to handle common thugs but then she’s an assassin taking out professionals without any issue? Relationships are mixed up. Personalities are different, etc. Plus the title makes zero sense to the story. I might give book 2 a shot if I don’t have anything else to read but I hope it has better editing.
I really wanted to love this book and I did up until the 80% mark. The first part just needs some editing and it would be great but at 80% it feels like the author gave up and let AI finish it.
**Spoilers: issues in the last chapters- Luna is a secret bodyguard but Vi doesn’t question her abilities when they sneak out? Luna is said to only be in training and able to handle common thugs but then she’s an assassin taking out professionals without any issue? Relationships are mixed up. Personalities are different, etc. Plus the title makes zero sense to the story. I might give book 2 a shot if I don’t have anything else to read but I hope it has better editing.
January 21, 2026
Reads like it was written by AI
I’m a fan of AI, truly. It is quite helpful. But I only made it 5% into the book before I had to put it down. Things don’t connect well. The perspective shifts from first person to third. The descriptive details are.. off.
It also reads like an AI is doing the writing while the author tries to put all the pieces together. It looks like a puzzle where all the pieces are just a bit wrong. It’s fine at first, but it gets worse the more you look at it.
If you’re going to use AI in your writing, use it as an editor or bounce ideas off of it. Do the writing yourself. Otherwise the voice we hear while reading, arguably one of the best parts of reading an author’s writings, will just be GPT.
I’m a fan of AI, truly. It is quite helpful. But I only made it 5% into the book before I had to put it down. Things don’t connect well. The perspective shifts from first person to third. The descriptive details are.. off.
It also reads like an AI is doing the writing while the author tries to put all the pieces together. It looks like a puzzle where all the pieces are just a bit wrong. It’s fine at first, but it gets worse the more you look at it.
If you’re going to use AI in your writing, use it as an editor or bounce ideas off of it. Do the writing yourself. Otherwise the voice we hear while reading, arguably one of the best parts of reading an author’s writings, will just be GPT.
January 5, 2026
Above average AI below average novel
Plot is alright. Pacing is good. The tournament trope is dropped before it derails the story. Characters have personality, are mostly consistent and move according to their interests instead of the overarching plot.
What destroys the book is the prevalence of AI lexicon. Every page has multiple “it’s not X … it’s Y”. The technical term is contrasting antithesis and the prose is dripping with it.
I was only able to finish because everything else is done well.
Plot is alright. Pacing is good. The tournament trope is dropped before it derails the story. Characters have personality, are mostly consistent and move according to their interests instead of the overarching plot.
What destroys the book is the prevalence of AI lexicon. Every page has multiple “it’s not X … it’s Y”. The technical term is contrasting antithesis and the prose is dripping with it.
I was only able to finish because everything else is done well.
January 15, 2026
All The Smirks
Like someone else mentioned, I'm so freaking tired of the word "smirk" right now. Followed closely by "unreadable" and "expression". I'm glad the author figured out how to better differentiate between when the MC is having an internal monologue and an external dialogue, I just wish it had happened at the beginning of the book and not two-thirds of the way through.
Outside of that, it was an extremely enjoyable read and I'm off to start the second book.
With no smirk on my face.
(EVERY. FREAKING. PAGE. ARRRGGGHHHH!!!)
Like someone else mentioned, I'm so freaking tired of the word "smirk" right now. Followed closely by "unreadable" and "expression". I'm glad the author figured out how to better differentiate between when the MC is having an internal monologue and an external dialogue, I just wish it had happened at the beginning of the book and not two-thirds of the way through.
Outside of that, it was an extremely enjoyable read and I'm off to start the second book.
With no smirk on my face.
(EVERY. FREAKING. PAGE. ARRRGGGHHHH!!!)
January 25, 2026
While this isn't Shakespeare, it's a fun and addictive story. While there are several other reborn-Isekai stores, I like this one's gimmick — Ludger can master any skill-tree, so long as he can find an expert to get him started (and then grinds).
It is light in tone and has a pretty decent heart. You get all the joy of a hidden power tale along with a complex magic system that the protagonist decides to enhance by mixing skills into synergistic meta-skills. Good stuff and right in my wheel-house.
It is light in tone and has a pretty decent heart. You get all the joy of a hidden power tale along with a complex magic system that the protagonist decides to enhance by mixing skills into synergistic meta-skills. Good stuff and right in my wheel-house.
January 5, 2026
DNF This is painful to read and I quit halfway through. The characters are bland and one dimensional. The father is horrible, the half sister is just a prop. The story is non-existent. This is clearly a rip off of Mushoku Tensei. Especially the overpowered main character that just goes along with the weak plot without every driving it forwards.
January 11, 2026
Good book
Good book but there are few things I really don't like mainly being viola I can't stand characters like her of rest of books her around amd annoying and obnoxious I will stop reading the series ill read the next one but if its more stupid spoiled brat while ludger plays baby sitter I'm done
Good book but there are few things I really don't like mainly being viola I can't stand characters like her of rest of books her around amd annoying and obnoxious I will stop reading the series ill read the next one but if its more stupid spoiled brat while ludger plays baby sitter I'm done
January 21, 2026
Needs and edit
The idea is interesting, but there are fundamental structural issues with writing. Details will contradict one another. One chapter seems to accidentally switch from third person, to first person, back to third person. There are odd commas at the end of a lot of sentences. It just needs another editing pass.
The idea is interesting, but there are fundamental structural issues with writing. Details will contradict one another. One chapter seems to accidentally switch from third person, to first person, back to third person. There are odd commas at the end of a lot of sentences. It just needs another editing pass.
January 22, 2026
I sincerely wish the author could imagine any other emotion other than "smirk." Almost every paragraph had the MC smirking (and other characters, too.)
There was some real potential here, too.
Side note, I listened to the audiobook narrated by virtual voice and it was quite decently done. I know it is heresy, but I don't mind virtual voice at all.
There was some real potential here, too.
Side note, I listened to the audiobook narrated by virtual voice and it was quite decently done. I know it is heresy, but I don't mind virtual voice at all.
January 28, 2026
this book suffers. great ideas and characters…
… but the author’s brain falls out.
Heir to a great house, with many enemies, IN WARTIME, with no guards, in a completely indefensible location.
No.
I enjoyed a lot of it, but I had break off at that point.
Still, great potential. I’ll try the sequel.
… but the author’s brain falls out.
Heir to a great house, with many enemies, IN WARTIME, with no guards, in a completely indefensible location.
No.
I enjoyed a lot of it, but I had break off at that point.
Still, great potential. I’ll try the sequel.
January 29, 2026
editing needed
Love the story line but some editing is needed. For example, how many times will someone tap their shin guards while they are standing with their arms crossed? Things like that. Are they gauntlets or are the arm guards? How can you have steel on your palm on one page but the next page it is flesh?
Love the story line but some editing is needed. For example, how many times will someone tap their shin guards while they are standing with their arms crossed? Things like that. Are they gauntlets or are the arm guards? How can you have steel on your palm on one page but the next page it is flesh?
January 31, 2026
Worth a read
It is a pretty good system rebirth story, but not completely without problems.
The one I consider petty is that the title and cover art feel misleading. It doesn't detract from anything but it is just a little off.
Also they use the word smirk or one of its derived forms an average of every other page and it breaks immersion
It is a pretty good system rebirth story, but not completely without problems.
The one I consider petty is that the title and cover art feel misleading. It doesn't detract from anything but it is just a little off.
Also they use the word smirk or one of its derived forms an average of every other page and it breaks immersion
February 3, 2026
Mother
Every character is insane, the mother is obsessive about the main character. The sister is only alive because of her brother. The dad is really stupid no one is safe around him. The story is ok but the mc is so worried about his crazy mother, father, sister that it revolves around them. There is not much else about this bookl
Every character is insane, the mother is obsessive about the main character. The sister is only alive because of her brother. The dad is really stupid no one is safe around him. The story is ok but the mc is so worried about his crazy mother, father, sister that it revolves around them. There is not much else about this bookl
December 13, 2025
Unexpectedly great
I wasn't expecting much, the title made it sound like it would be a more comedic book. And boy was I wrong. Excellent writing and story. Some real characters. Well worth the read!
I wasn't expecting much, the title made it sound like it would be a more comedic book. And boy was I wrong. Excellent writing and story. Some real characters. Well worth the read!
January 6, 2026
Wishy-Washy
While I'm mostly enjoying the story the MC has a few issues. In one chapter he wants to hide and in the next he's showing off.
Not really happy with the ending either. No epilogue just a cliff.
While I'm mostly enjoying the story the MC has a few issues. In one chapter he wants to hide and in the next he's showing off.
Not really happy with the ending either. No epilogue just a cliff.
January 14, 2026
Great story. Loved every reading minute.
Action, action, action! An over the top reading event. A few his, her errors that could be better but a pause, a thought, and then a now I understand, keeps the story moving. Look forward to the next book!
Action, action, action! An over the top reading event. A few his, her errors that could be better but a pause, a thought, and then a now I understand, keeps the story moving. Look forward to the next book!
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