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Sponsored System #3
Deadly Fruit
What do you do when the trainers who've given you a chance to survive the arrival of the System to your world start to turn on your people? Even if they did so with hidden intent, there is still some reluctance to believe that they would do such things.
If you're Mike and his group, you strive to grow stronger and help the people around you do so as well. You test your theory as to where the stronger monsters, ones that will still give you decent experience, are, be that on your own world or in the dungeon that's just a step through a portal away. You continue to help other Safe Zones strengthen themselves, clearing out the chaff and supporting those who are worth it.
If you are a Druid, like Mike, you strengthen your ties with potential animal companions, discovering just how much the planet has changed many of the animals that were once common in the world.
With Alyx's drones in the local trainer office, Mike and his group discover that the greedy trainers aren't just after the percentages of experience and loot that they sell their knowledge for. They want more and they aren't squeamish about how they get it.
Mike's theory that the stronger monsters will be farther away from the main population centers is proven to be true, as a trip into the foothills demonstrates to them. The same trip also demonstrates just how altered some of the local wildlife has become with the influence of the System.
With the knowledge provided from Alyx's spy drones, Mike and his group decide that it's time to take the battle to the trainers as opposed to waiting docilely for the trainers to begin their true plans of milking the Earth for all the experience they can.
If you're Mike and his group, you strive to grow stronger and help the people around you do so as well. You test your theory as to where the stronger monsters, ones that will still give you decent experience, are, be that on your own world or in the dungeon that's just a step through a portal away. You continue to help other Safe Zones strengthen themselves, clearing out the chaff and supporting those who are worth it.
If you are a Druid, like Mike, you strengthen your ties with potential animal companions, discovering just how much the planet has changed many of the animals that were once common in the world.
With Alyx's drones in the local trainer office, Mike and his group discover that the greedy trainers aren't just after the percentages of experience and loot that they sell their knowledge for. They want more and they aren't squeamish about how they get it.
Mike's theory that the stronger monsters will be farther away from the main population centers is proven to be true, as a trip into the foothills demonstrates to them. The same trip also demonstrates just how altered some of the local wildlife has become with the influence of the System.
With the knowledge provided from Alyx's spy drones, Mike and his group decide that it's time to take the battle to the trainers as opposed to waiting docilely for the trainers to begin their true plans of milking the Earth for all the experience they can.
637 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 11, 2026
About the author
Tom Larcombe
41 books262 followersTom Larcombe was introduced to fantasy books at a young age. Those that were aimed more at children hooked him in, but not well enough for him to remember their names at this point in his life. Their draw led him to books aimed more for the adult reader and so he found himself, at around age eight, starting in on the Steven R Donaldson 'Thomas Covenant' series and the Hobbit, followed shortly thereafter by The Lord of the Rings books.
His reading tastes have never looked back, although they have broadened to include science fiction and the occasional non-fiction book.
He lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with his wife, two daughters, three cats, and a variable number of chickens.
His reading tastes have never looked back, although they have broadened to include science fiction and the occasional non-fiction book.
He lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with his wife, two daughters, three cats, and a variable number of chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 14, 2026
a bit of a dull read
This is my review of the first three books of the Series:
I’ve read a few of the authors books and generally they follow a similar theme of farming/ gardening etc. that’s ok but it can get quite monotonous. The action as such is also pretty dull. It’s not a boring read just very average hence the 3 Star rating.
The characters and their conversations are wooden and not interesting at all. The original premise of the scam trainers and the portal planet were interesting, but quickly bogged down. If it’s raining one day and I’ve. Nothing else to do I’d probably read some more of the series, but I’m not chomping at the bit for the next ones.
This is my review of the first three books of the Series:
I’ve read a few of the authors books and generally they follow a similar theme of farming/ gardening etc. that’s ok but it can get quite monotonous. The action as such is also pretty dull. It’s not a boring read just very average hence the 3 Star rating.
The characters and their conversations are wooden and not interesting at all. The original premise of the scam trainers and the portal planet were interesting, but quickly bogged down. If it’s raining one day and I’ve. Nothing else to do I’d probably read some more of the series, but I’m not chomping at the bit for the next ones.
April 23, 2026
Excellent book and series so far!
I started this series 2-ish days ago, and now I’m all caught up. There are a lot of things to balance in System LITRPG books and I think Tom manages to find the sweet spot here.
Powerful MC but not super OP and not a line power with his party around the same strength. Well developed characters with varying but consistent personalities help keep a sense of familiarity with them.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the party continues to develop, link up with more areas, and deal with powers beyond the local area/planet.
Thank you Tom for providing a new story for me to lose myself in and good luck with your chickens!
I started this series 2-ish days ago, and now I’m all caught up. There are a lot of things to balance in System LITRPG books and I think Tom manages to find the sweet spot here.
Powerful MC but not super OP and not a line power with his party around the same strength. Well developed characters with varying but consistent personalities help keep a sense of familiarity with them.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the party continues to develop, link up with more areas, and deal with powers beyond the local area/planet.
Thank you Tom for providing a new story for me to lose myself in and good luck with your chickens!
August 12, 2026
Deadly Fruit is the third book in this series, but I have no idea why the title is what it is, since there was zero deadly fruit in the book. Also, there was a part where one character was setting up an area for growing things, it was supposed to be 18 acres. It was stated that the area would need to be 625 feet on a side. That is incorrect. that would get you only 9.48 acres. You'd actually need 885 feet per side to get the 18 acres stated in the book. Other than that, I liked the story, and really look forward to the next one in the series.
February 22, 2026
Another great book: fun plot, great characters, interesting spells and clean! No harem!
Tom Larcombe continues to provide his readers with AD&D still stories. The monsters, for the most part, harken back to traditional AD&D monsters, with a few twists. His use of Sci-fi tropes (i.e. space ships and gates to other worlds) alongside the usual AD&D stories, make for great reads.
Now it's time to wait for the next book, either in this series or his other recent series with mutated animals and a self-aware computer. Either one will be great!
Tom Larcombe continues to provide his readers with AD&D still stories. The monsters, for the most part, harken back to traditional AD&D monsters, with a few twists. His use of Sci-fi tropes (i.e. space ships and gates to other worlds) alongside the usual AD&D stories, make for great reads.
Now it's time to wait for the next book, either in this series or his other recent series with mutated animals and a self-aware computer. Either one will be great!
March 2, 2026
Trainers really suck
In book one we find out they running a scam on us earth folks. So I decided to find a way to do it with out a contract. It worked, fast forward to now.
With my home being a safe zone and filled with people rescued from near us we keep making it better. We need more livestock. I miss cheese. We have also set up cameras in the trainers new building on earth. Good thing we did since what they're planning is bad. I also need to kill more orcs, possibly a lot more.
In book one we find out they running a scam on us earth folks. So I decided to find a way to do it with out a contract. It worked, fast forward to now.
With my home being a safe zone and filled with people rescued from near us we keep making it better. We need more livestock. I miss cheese. We have also set up cameras in the trainers new building on earth. Good thing we did since what they're planning is bad. I also need to kill more orcs, possibly a lot more.
February 27, 2026
Pretty good, but rather formulaic style similar to the author's other apocalypse stories
What sets this stry apart is the trainers' schemes to farm humanity for experience. The story should lean into this conflict cycle more, while not abandoning the safe zone and Monster harvesting arcs. Would also like to suggest more aliens that they could recruit to help beat up the trainer cartel.
What sets this stry apart is the trainers' schemes to farm humanity for experience. The story should lean into this conflict cycle more, while not abandoning the safe zone and Monster harvesting arcs. Would also like to suggest more aliens that they could recruit to help beat up the trainer cartel.
March 10, 2026
I was hoping for more focus on Qi. I can't wait for the next book
Well the very beginning of the book focused a little bit on the Qi side of things after that only the elf really focused on it unlike everybody else I think they should focus on it a little bit more but I get it they're trying to get levels more. I also think they should try and unlock more rooms and maybe find some good items that would be useful to them.
Well the very beginning of the book focused a little bit on the Qi side of things after that only the elf really focused on it unlike everybody else I think they should focus on it a little bit more but I get it they're trying to get levels more. I also think they should try and unlock more rooms and maybe find some good items that would be useful to them.
April 6, 2026
Having read all three books, 1-3 could’ve easily been edited down to 2 books. Book 3 was essentially hatch a bird, set up a cattle herd, grind the same dungeon, and wait for the end of the book to hit the teaser that is dropped at the end of book 2. It would’ve made a much more entertaining read to combine 1-2 and then 3-4 since the stuff with the trainers was more entertaining than about 80% of the book.
February 23, 2026
Meh
Usually I like Tom's books, but this one felt like watching a really slow soap opera. Mike is written as indecisive and timid in my opinion, and honestly it's really annoying. You're a big boy. Make a decision for yourself without having to consult with your team. Lord have mercy. Ok rant over.
Usually I like Tom's books, but this one felt like watching a really slow soap opera. Mike is written as indecisive and timid in my opinion, and honestly it's really annoying. You're a big boy. Make a decision for yourself without having to consult with your team. Lord have mercy. Ok rant over.
September 5, 2026
There are a few things that sort of bother me with this series. The main one is the MC. He’s an idiot. He gets distracted in the middle of a fight. He can’t make up his mind about skills or spells. He interrupts his girlfriend when she’s leveling up to ask about his leveling. He also over thinks about what his girlfriend says.
Overall it’s an ok series and I’ll probably get the next book
Overall it’s an ok series and I’ll probably get the next book
February 15, 2026
Extremely well-rounded main characters and an interesting series.
I have really enjoyed getting to read about the main characters and the interesting, unexpected direction of the storyline. More Sponsored System, please!
I have really enjoyed getting to read about the main characters and the interesting, unexpected direction of the storyline. More Sponsored System, please!
February 15, 2026
Passion Fruit
This series is a passion for me. I love integration stories and this is an excellent contribution to the genre. The growth progression is realistic and well founded. The fantasy aspects are fun and well explained. Overall I really enjoyed this offering.
This series is a passion for me. I love integration stories and this is an excellent contribution to the genre. The growth progression is realistic and well founded. The fantasy aspects are fun and well explained. Overall I really enjoyed this offering.
February 19, 2026
Awesome Book 3
WOW can a series get better as it goes along? Yes it can and has done so in this 3rd book. I’m heading back to book one to read all of them again. I can’t wait for book 4.
WOW can a series get better as it goes along? Yes it can and has done so in this 3rd book. I’m heading back to book one to read all of them again. I can’t wait for book 4.
February 15, 2026
Great book
Stellar work once again from Tom Larcombe! Lots of action and adventure, magic and monsters. Looking forward to the next one!
Stellar work once again from Tom Larcombe! Lots of action and adventure, magic and monsters. Looking forward to the next one!
February 19, 2026
a bit slow
Methodical, almost plodding. Not a lot really happened to move any underlying plot forward.
I will likely get the next book, but this isn’t really a ‘must read’.
Methodical, almost plodding. Not a lot really happened to move any underlying plot forward.
I will likely get the next book, but this isn’t really a ‘must read’.
March 2, 2026
Good story
Same style. Almost day by day accounting of early growth woth newly system integrated earth. The Duboius trainers plans are revealed in more details. Good fun.
Same style. Almost day by day accounting of early growth woth newly system integrated earth. The Duboius trainers plans are revealed in more details. Good fun.
June 20, 2026
See my review for book 1.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews