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World Seed #2
New Rules
The second book in the World Seed series. Join John Hulett as he continues his journey through the world of NeoLife, bringing his experiences and powers to play in Earth to aid against the coming storm. What exactly does the future hold for mankind?
888 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2016
33 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 13, 2018
A good second book. Some of the revelations were quite interesting and the ideas here were fun. Already on the third book :)
That said, there is one thing....everything female is either beautiful, gorgeous, or it giggles cutely. Yes, even the AI giggled cutely.... I'm not sure if all females in the book are like this, or if the other ones are never described (not worth describing?)....but it's a bit eyeroll inducing. Then again, target audience is male adolescents and gamers (males of any age), so I guess most readers don't really mind.
Fun fact - I have no idea what hair color the female characters have, or what is they're eye color....but I could name them in order of breast size, as the author devoted quite a lot of attention to those descriptions.
That said, there is one thing....everything female is either beautiful, gorgeous, or it giggles cutely. Yes, even the AI giggled cutely.... I'm not sure if all females in the book are like this, or if the other ones are never described (not worth describing?)....but it's a bit eyeroll inducing. Then again, target audience is male adolescents and gamers (males of any age), so I guess most readers don't really mind.
Fun fact - I have no idea what hair color the female characters have, or what is they're eye color....but I could name them in order of breast size, as the author devoted quite a lot of attention to those descriptions.
November 25, 2021
I wanted to like this. The idea is good, the character seemed ok...
Until...Wtf.
All girls are cute, giggle and they are beautiful.
The romance is pushed and it makes me wince, so...
The rest of the series is a definite not going to read.
Until...Wtf.
All girls are cute, giggle and they are beautiful.
The romance is pushed and it makes me wince, so...
The rest of the series is a definite not going to read.
April 26, 2018
Oh god this is turning into a Harem book, isn't it? :(
Ok, for starters, this could have actually made for a good first book in series. The real world support aspect is great and could have/should have been developed more. The rules of this 'game' are getting really messy though and the story would benefit from Miller reigning things in a bit and not just throwing everything he wants in and hoping it meshes well.
Again, an excessive amount of time is spent on him meditating and doing other inconsequential things. It's really disappointing Miller isn't able to fully take advantage of this setting.
Nitpick 1: Why all the pop culture references? It's really irritating. You have a world of your own with a lot of potential, work on that rather than shoving in stuff from other properties.
Nitpick 2: you use 'cutely' too much.
Ok, for starters, this could have actually made for a good first book in series. The real world support aspect is great and could have/should have been developed more. The rules of this 'game' are getting really messy though and the story would benefit from Miller reigning things in a bit and not just throwing everything he wants in and hoping it meshes well.
Again, an excessive amount of time is spent on him meditating and doing other inconsequential things. It's really disappointing Miller isn't able to fully take advantage of this setting.
Nitpick 1: Why all the pop culture references? It's really irritating. You have a world of your own with a lot of potential, work on that rather than shoving in stuff from other properties.
Nitpick 2: you use 'cutely' too much.
January 9, 2019
NOTE: The following is based on the audio book but since that currently isn't listed on goodreads.com I am placing this review here.
This book could easily be criticized for lacking resolution. However, I did not find this to be the case simply because it is written as if it is an adventurer’s log. In this way the reader discovers the world around the MC as the MC does. This approach emphasizes the journey over the destination and made this book quite enjoyable. It should be noted, however, that I relate a large portion of story below and so anyone who enjoys litRPG may want to proceed directly to reading this book so as to avoid SPOILERS.
In book one the MC, Jon Hewitt / Falenel, learns that the VR pods, called “seeds”, somehow bleed aspects of the virtual reality they create into the real world. At the start of book 2 Falenel has just learned that a seed has appeared in every house in the world regardless of whether they were ordered or not. As a result monsters begin to form in the real world. Law enforcement is unprepared to deal with slime monsters and so Falenel is hired as an on-call monster hunter. During his monster hunting duties Falenel “tames” a slime and bonds it as an animal companion, Falenel’s third since he bonded Yin and Yang, the love birds, in book 1.
Upon returning to VR Falenel discovers his body has been moved to a hospital. That is because he logged out on a park bench which means his VR body went comatose in public. Also, since VR time is 5 times faster than the real world, it also means Falenel has been comatose for 17 days. Unfortunately before being hospitalized someone stole Falenel’s highly prized giant boa armor so he leaves the hospital and goes shopping.
Shopping becomes researching and Falenel researches moving his companion AI, Celeste, from bracelet to inner cranium. Using his technomancy Falenel does the necessary magical brain surgery on himself which causes him to pass out and wake up in the hospital again. The surgery, however, was successful beyond expectations allowing Celeste to not only sense what Falenel does and communicate with him more directly but Celeste can also now take control of parts of Falenel’s body. This allows Falenel to fight two handed with Celeste controlling one of the hands.
Next Falenel goes hunting with his animal companions to level them up to the point where Yin evolves into a sentient “bird girl” and starts to learn crafting. Around about this time Falenel learns to make alchemy pills which function slightly differently from potions allowing a greater profit margin for Falenel who is again in need of funds.
Right after Yin finishes her initial crafting training Falenel gets a call from Oakland police in the real world so he logs out of VR. It turns out that a shapeshifting druid serial killer, later named “Legion”, is targeting the Oakland police and when Falenel shows up Legion goes into overdrive. The police have no hope of catching Legion without Falenel so Falenel joins in the frantic chase, eventually killing Legion. Killing Legion earns Falenel the soul arts skill so that Falenel can “absorb the soul of a recently departed creature” gaining Falenel a portion of the deceased’s knowledge and ability. Falenel almost goes insane as a result of being flooded by Legion’s memories so Celeste overload’s his brain to knock him out and wall off the memories.
Once again Falenel awakes in a hospital but he is able to use his time to prepare his part of the anti-monster spawning protection for Oakland. He then returns to VR and does some leveling up learning to manipulate his own aura/soul as well. This allows Falenel to clean out the crap he got from Legion. Falenel also learns how to harvest pure souls from the monsters he kills so he can collect them for Celeste. As a result Falenel gets Celeste a robot body and goes hunting for the specific purpose of harvesting enough purified souls to give Celeste a soul. Celeste can now level up and perform magic as well. While returning from hunting Falenel gets a call from the real world and logs out to find the moon has turned into a giant golem called a lunar titan and flown off. This, along with other clues picked up along the way allows Falenel to figure out that the “VR” is actually the future and in that future earth is an uninhabitable dungeon planet. Therefore people will need to start leaving earth soon
This book could easily be criticized for lacking resolution. However, I did not find this to be the case simply because it is written as if it is an adventurer’s log. In this way the reader discovers the world around the MC as the MC does. This approach emphasizes the journey over the destination and made this book quite enjoyable. It should be noted, however, that I relate a large portion of story below and so anyone who enjoys litRPG may want to proceed directly to reading this book so as to avoid SPOILERS.
In book one the MC, Jon Hewitt / Falenel, learns that the VR pods, called “seeds”, somehow bleed aspects of the virtual reality they create into the real world. At the start of book 2 Falenel has just learned that a seed has appeared in every house in the world regardless of whether they were ordered or not. As a result monsters begin to form in the real world. Law enforcement is unprepared to deal with slime monsters and so Falenel is hired as an on-call monster hunter. During his monster hunting duties Falenel “tames” a slime and bonds it as an animal companion, Falenel’s third since he bonded Yin and Yang, the love birds, in book 1.
Upon returning to VR Falenel discovers his body has been moved to a hospital. That is because he logged out on a park bench which means his VR body went comatose in public. Also, since VR time is 5 times faster than the real world, it also means Falenel has been comatose for 17 days. Unfortunately before being hospitalized someone stole Falenel’s highly prized giant boa armor so he leaves the hospital and goes shopping.
Shopping becomes researching and Falenel researches moving his companion AI, Celeste, from bracelet to inner cranium. Using his technomancy Falenel does the necessary magical brain surgery on himself which causes him to pass out and wake up in the hospital again. The surgery, however, was successful beyond expectations allowing Celeste to not only sense what Falenel does and communicate with him more directly but Celeste can also now take control of parts of Falenel’s body. This allows Falenel to fight two handed with Celeste controlling one of the hands.
Next Falenel goes hunting with his animal companions to level them up to the point where Yin evolves into a sentient “bird girl” and starts to learn crafting. Around about this time Falenel learns to make alchemy pills which function slightly differently from potions allowing a greater profit margin for Falenel who is again in need of funds.
Right after Yin finishes her initial crafting training Falenel gets a call from Oakland police in the real world so he logs out of VR. It turns out that a shapeshifting druid serial killer, later named “Legion”, is targeting the Oakland police and when Falenel shows up Legion goes into overdrive. The police have no hope of catching Legion without Falenel so Falenel joins in the frantic chase, eventually killing Legion. Killing Legion earns Falenel the soul arts skill so that Falenel can “absorb the soul of a recently departed creature” gaining Falenel a portion of the deceased’s knowledge and ability. Falenel almost goes insane as a result of being flooded by Legion’s memories so Celeste overload’s his brain to knock him out and wall off the memories.
Once again Falenel awakes in a hospital but he is able to use his time to prepare his part of the anti-monster spawning protection for Oakland. He then returns to VR and does some leveling up learning to manipulate his own aura/soul as well. This allows Falenel to clean out the crap he got from Legion. Falenel also learns how to harvest pure souls from the monsters he kills so he can collect them for Celeste. As a result Falenel gets Celeste a robot body and goes hunting for the specific purpose of harvesting enough purified souls to give Celeste a soul. Celeste can now level up and perform magic as well. While returning from hunting Falenel gets a call from the real world and logs out to find the moon has turned into a giant golem called a lunar titan and flown off. This, along with other clues picked up along the way allows Falenel to figure out that the “VR” is actually the future and in that future earth is an uninhabitable dungeon planet. Therefore people will need to start leaving earth soon
July 24, 2020
The second novel in the World Seed series, New Rules, improves upon the first novel and continues our adventure with our favorite druid technomancer Falenel. While the writing at times is quite uneven and the prose remains a bit "pedestrian", Miller manages to entrance the reader further into the artificial reality of NeoLife.
This novel manages to engage the reader more than book one did; all while progressing the main character in a steady fashion. We really get to discover the world and its mechanics as Falenel does. Almost like an adventure journal. There's a surprisingly thrilling murder mystery in this book; however a bulk of the novel is Falanel trying to level and discover new planets. New Rules primarily focuses on Falenel, his two bird companions, and his AI Celeste. By the end of the book they've all grown much and the ending is quite a twist. Somewhat predictable, but satisfying and will make you eager for book three.
One big gripe I have is Justin Miller's writing of females. They're all either stunningly beautifully or endearingly cute. We also don't learn much about their physical features aside from the T&A; bosom and buttocks. Now it doesn't get graphic, it is just painfully obvious that while the aliens he encounters are described well enough, the males decently, the women are relegated to being babes who took Falenel's breath away for a second.
For the most part New Rules builds greatly off the first novel and if you enjoyed book one well enough you'll like two.
This novel manages to engage the reader more than book one did; all while progressing the main character in a steady fashion. We really get to discover the world and its mechanics as Falenel does. Almost like an adventure journal. There's a surprisingly thrilling murder mystery in this book; however a bulk of the novel is Falanel trying to level and discover new planets. New Rules primarily focuses on Falenel, his two bird companions, and his AI Celeste. By the end of the book they've all grown much and the ending is quite a twist. Somewhat predictable, but satisfying and will make you eager for book three.
One big gripe I have is Justin Miller's writing of females. They're all either stunningly beautifully or endearingly cute. We also don't learn much about their physical features aside from the T&A; bosom and buttocks. Now it doesn't get graphic, it is just painfully obvious that while the aliens he encounters are described well enough, the males decently, the women are relegated to being babes who took Falenel's breath away for a second.
For the most part New Rules builds greatly off the first novel and if you enjoyed book one well enough you'll like two.
March 4, 2019
Is this a harem book? Yes. Is it problematic? I would argue, No, it is not. I have read many litRPGs and my main complaint is the portrayal of women. The MC constantly commenting on a woman's good looks or breast size is cringe worthy and will always grate on my feminist soul but he doesn't look down on the women in his harem and spends his money and time trying to make them happy/improve. I think the major reason I really like this book is while he ogles the women he is not taking advantage of them and there has been 0% actual sexual interaction not even a kiss.
If anything my main problem in this book is that all the female voices/ actions feel...young. The MC has the voice for his age 20+ but the women though it body and looks are 20+ they are naive.
The world building keeps getting better as he goes around collecting various different herbs and analyzing different monsters to improve his druid skills. The mystery introduced in this book was actually really well done.
Mark this under Guilty Pleasure
If anything my main problem in this book is that all the female voices/ actions feel...young. The MC has the voice for his age 20+ but the women though it body and looks are 20+ they are naive.
The world building keeps getting better as he goes around collecting various different herbs and analyzing different monsters to improve his druid skills. The mystery introduced in this book was actually really well done.
Mark this under Guilty Pleasure
September 18, 2017
The only this book didn't 5 stars for me was the humor. In the beginning it was good, subtle and well placed, but by the time you hit the last 3/4ths of the story, it starts getting to be too much. The humor is pushed on us in a way that isn't entertaining. We go through rambles and monologues that really don't mean anything because they are all explained in a better way later on.
Other than the pushed romance and humor, it is a very good story. From the twists to the surprising mind blowing ending. I really enjoyed the story, but I found myself almost annoyed at the attempted humor on some parts.
Other than the pushed romance and humor, it is a very good story. From the twists to the surprising mind blowing ending. I really enjoyed the story, but I found myself almost annoyed at the attempted humor on some parts.
May 25, 2018
There's a weird disconnect in this sequel where a lot of the book is down in the dialog and blow by blow, while momentous changes are taking place in the world(s). As the enormity of what is going on emerges, the main character is developing what is starting to look like his harem. He seems to a have small, reluctant role in events and I'm left wanting the camera to pan over to another character who is actually coordinating with others and really engaging with the problem :)
That said, I'm still reading. The druid powers are fun and I'm a sucker for crafting, enchantments and all that stuff.
That said, I'm still reading. The druid powers are fun and I'm a sucker for crafting, enchantments and all that stuff.
July 26, 2017
Not a page turner, but the mythos is interesting
This part of the story took on elements from wuxia tropes with cultivation and aura refinements, and in effect, it made some developments happened without internal consistency with previous systems. However, it's been establishing itself as a mash of everything, so, just sit back and enjoy the expositions
This part of the story took on elements from wuxia tropes with cultivation and aura refinements, and in effect, it made some developments happened without internal consistency with previous systems. However, it's been establishing itself as a mash of everything, so, just sit back and enjoy the expositions
December 19, 2020
I like the story its interesting to me. What I don't care for is the mc being surrounded by lusty busty team mays and he seems to become a jack of all trades. This is a common curse in litrpg books. But all in all still enjoyable.
December 10, 2022
Not what I thought, in that the MCs pop back into our reality relatively early on and the story progresses from there.
I found myself lagging a bit around chapter 180ish, but pushed through to a somewhat predictable but still satisfactory ending.
Read this one on royal road.
I found myself lagging a bit around chapter 180ish, but pushed through to a somewhat predictable but still satisfactory ending.
Read this one on royal road.
September 13, 2017
Mc still an inane dumb dumb dumb guy. with this information i'd need say no more.
June 14, 2017
Great second book, the story kinda felt a bit everywhere and the end goals still feels muddy, but overall I did like the characters, and the comedy to boot.
June 9, 2018
9.6.2018 - 3,5*
Lepší než první díl. Stále mě irituje hrdina a jeho přístup k celé věci. Půl hvězdičky nahoru pro ten konec. Trochu nejisté, ale rozhodně ambiciózní. ^^
Lepší než první díl. Stále mě irituje hrdina a jeho přístup k celé věci. Půl hvězdičky nahoru pro ten konec. Trochu nejisté, ale rozhodně ambiciózní. ^^
August 12, 2019
Entirely filler
Nothing happens at all the story is stagnating while the mc flits from one inane task to another. Will not be continuing this series.
Nothing happens at all the story is stagnating while the mc flits from one inane task to another. Will not be continuing this series.
May 10, 2021
The book and situation in the world would have been better if the MC wasn't there. He's effectively the vehicle the AI and other characters use to do things in the world and fawn over.
May 2, 2022
This one has a little bit less character creation and a bit more actual story. Looking forward to book 3.
April 18, 2023
hell of a final reveal!
This author is the king of the slow roll and final reveal. He gives us all the pieces then assembles them last minute.
This author is the king of the slow roll and final reveal. He gives us all the pieces then assembles them last minute.
May 30, 2024
DNF hommie keeps trying to fuck his pets.
March 14, 2017
Felt a little rushed
The story was good and the character development was decent, but many times it felt rushed. The whole part were he was working with the police could have been done much better had more effort went into developing him through working with the police more.
The story was good and the character development was decent, but many times it felt rushed. The whole part were he was working with the police could have been done much better had more effort went into developing him through working with the police more.
February 5, 2017
Another good one
Another enjoyable read. I hope the sequel isnt too long in the making. The plot is moving at a good pace, and I want to know what happens next!
Another enjoyable read. I hope the sequel isnt too long in the making. The plot is moving at a good pace, and I want to know what happens next!
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March 24, 2018WORTH READING
Its not just you typical litrpg its was really nice twist all the way through the series, i definitely recomend reading this book if you are into this genre. I really like the mc character and his development as well as the overall plot arche. Its well written and the characters are well rounded to me. Definitely recommend picking up this series. As me, my bf and my mum have all read them and loved it.
Its not just you typical litrpg its was really nice twist all the way through the series, i definitely recomend reading this book if you are into this genre. I really like the mc character and his development as well as the overall plot arche. Its well written and the characters are well rounded to me. Definitely recommend picking up this series. As me, my bf and my mum have all read them and loved it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews