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The Crucible Shard #5
Area of Effect
Liam is King of the World and things have never seemed darker. As the Crucible Shard takes on a new prominence in the larger Universe this brings new opportunities and dangers greater than any he has yet faced.
Earth too is moving into this larger world and under the control of the Artificial Intelligences it would be foolish to underestimate their ambition. When battle lines are drawn what side shall Liam choose.
Earth too is moving into this larger world and under the control of the Artificial Intelligences it would be foolish to underestimate their ambition. When battle lines are drawn what side shall Liam choose.
- GenresFantasy
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2017
74 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 6, 2019
Three stars means that I read the book, liked the book but I'm unlikely to read the book again.
What didn't I like about the book? The stats and overall game element are largely gone from the book. The series started as a trapped in the game novel, but then the story progresses and the book isn't like it was when it started. It does seem to be dragging on a lot happens but it is largely forgettable.
What did I like about Area of Effect? It was enjoyable at times. Nothing sticks out in the novel and the series is just blurring together at this point. Stuff happens but not everything is important or gets undone a few chapters later. The ending was good, I liked the ending and it sets up the next book and keeps me wanting to finish the series.
Why didn't I give it 2 stars if I didn't like it? It simply isn't at the point of a 2 star book for me. A 2 star book is a book that I finished but I didn't like. I didn't dislike area of effect but I can't really articulate what I liked about the book very well.
What didn't I like about the book? The stats and overall game element are largely gone from the book. The series started as a trapped in the game novel, but then the story progresses and the book isn't like it was when it started. It does seem to be dragging on a lot happens but it is largely forgettable.
What did I like about Area of Effect? It was enjoyable at times. Nothing sticks out in the novel and the series is just blurring together at this point. Stuff happens but not everything is important or gets undone a few chapters later. The ending was good, I liked the ending and it sets up the next book and keeps me wanting to finish the series.
Why didn't I give it 2 stars if I didn't like it? It simply isn't at the point of a 2 star book for me. A 2 star book is a book that I finished but I didn't like. I didn't dislike area of effect but I can't really articulate what I liked about the book very well.
January 15, 2018
While this book finally tied bavk to the first one, the way it was done really didn't make a whole lot of sense. Sure it answered the question as to what it had to do with the series starting the way it did, but it felt more forced than anything else, more like the author thought this was the final book in the series, and in order to tie up the loose ends there had to be a scene where the start was explained.
I think the storyline would be better served by tossing out the beginning, dropping this scene and making it all about a character's struggle to become real and leave all that earth baggage out, it would make for a story that flows better without sidetrips to explain useless plotlines and the overall series would make more sense.
All that aside though, if you ignore the earth subtext, the story was pretty good and we get to see several what if scenarios that help to make the characters more interesting and much more understandable. A nice addition to the storyline.
I think the storyline would be better served by tossing out the beginning, dropping this scene and making it all about a character's struggle to become real and leave all that earth baggage out, it would make for a story that flows better without sidetrips to explain useless plotlines and the overall series would make more sense.
All that aside though, if you ignore the earth subtext, the story was pretty good and we get to see several what if scenarios that help to make the characters more interesting and much more understandable. A nice addition to the storyline.
July 21, 2017
This was my least favorite book in the series so far, unfortunately. There are still interesting things happening and it's all very different, but this feels like 2 to 3 books worth of stuff crammed into one. I just wish I could tell the author to slow down and take a breath.
It's a real shame too, because, as I said, there are A LOT of interesting things here, but not enough time is given to give them the impact they deserve. It really could have made 2-3 great stories.
More than anything this book feels like the end of one arc and the set up for a new one, plot threads are rapidly tied up, characters are altered, and new plot threads are setup at a frantic pace. I only hope he can regain his stride for the next one.
It's a real shame too, because, as I said, there are A LOT of interesting things here, but not enough time is given to give them the impact they deserve. It really could have made 2-3 great stories.
More than anything this book feels like the end of one arc and the set up for a new one, plot threads are rapidly tied up, characters are altered, and new plot threads are setup at a frantic pace. I only hope he can regain his stride for the next one.
August 16, 2017
I did not like this book. I enjoyed the characters especially Liam. He stops being in love with Evera, he stops mostly falling in love a lot. he stops having his paladin powers. that was most of his character gone. I enjoyed the story and his sexual mind. he loses most of it. this book just pissed me off. I loved all the other ones but if i could go back and never read this one i would. I have bought the next book already, but if i don't find out he starts loving Evera again i probably will never read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2018
When Nothing is Real, Does Anything Matter
This series continues to go downhill. Things are so unreal with no grounding or anything that provides some foundation of belief, that frankly, who cares about the characters or outcomes?
There are fights all the time, but nobody can really die, but somehow the fights still matter? And every fight is a mega-battle with deities and mythical creatures and random unexpected elements.
Lake the psychiatrist.
Aria the keeper of secrets. Oh, except she tells them all the time.
Malachite the taxi driver "Right of Travel"
Diamond & Tiger who like to fight I guess.
The Nine
Mecha the crazy torturing mecha-goddess.
I think the author had a few too many ideas about AI, and decided to put them all in this series.
Getting to the Silver City and meeting 'Mother' AKA Ashera was a redeeming part of the story.
Not entirely clear why the Silver City must destroy the Earth, and yet the war against the Silver City essentially tying it into defensive action must be stopped.
This series continues to go downhill. Things are so unreal with no grounding or anything that provides some foundation of belief, that frankly, who cares about the characters or outcomes?
There are fights all the time, but nobody can really die, but somehow the fights still matter? And every fight is a mega-battle with deities and mythical creatures and random unexpected elements.
Lake the psychiatrist.
Aria the keeper of secrets. Oh, except she tells them all the time.
Malachite the taxi driver "Right of Travel"
Diamond & Tiger who like to fight I guess.
The Nine
Mecha the crazy torturing mecha-goddess.
I think the author had a few too many ideas about AI, and decided to put them all in this series.
Getting to the Silver City and meeting 'Mother' AKA Ashera was a redeeming part of the story.
Not entirely clear why the Silver City must destroy the Earth, and yet the war against the Silver City essentially tying it into defensive action must be stopped.
June 1, 2017
Maybe my favorite in the Series
This book may be my favorite book in the Series so far. I love how ruthless Liam can be. How willing he is to do horrible things to his friends to accomplish his goals. It's a nice change of pace from all the protagonists who will go to any length to save their friends. It also seems like Liam is finally coming into his own and I'm glad to see him finally using his bigger head for a change.
This book may be my favorite book in the Series so far. I love how ruthless Liam can be. How willing he is to do horrible things to his friends to accomplish his goals. It's a nice change of pace from all the protagonists who will go to any length to save their friends. It also seems like Liam is finally coming into his own and I'm glad to see him finally using his bigger head for a change.
June 7, 2017
There are few authors that I've loved more...
Some people get what goes into making a great story...and some people don't. The writer of this series is one of those who does...I won't go to far into the details of why that is but let's just say if you like watching good humor, gripping plot and interesting personal growth this is a series most won't regret reading.
Some people get what goes into making a great story...and some people don't. The writer of this series is one of those who does...I won't go to far into the details of why that is but let's just say if you like watching good humor, gripping plot and interesting personal growth this is a series most won't regret reading.
October 21, 2017
This series is getting a bit old. Same things, same characters. Liam was surprisingly restrained through most of the book which was about the only thing that was different. Was a quick read, not awful just predictable.
January 19, 2018
These books are crazy so if you've got this far you're definitely a fan, well perhaps a sadist. I never thought at the beginning things would get this.... cosmic but nonetheless I'm impressed by the author's scope. Even with the unlikable cast of characters this is an interesting series.
July 23, 2017
I like this one better than all the others, here Liam is not as powerless as in the others but he is still dumb and does things without thinking. I hope he and Evera end up togather.
August 7, 2017
3.5 I liked Liam a bit more... This was interesting
January 23, 2018
Still short
W short story that is still trying to call itself a book.
Needs better editing.
Read on kindle unlimited if you can't get it free elsewhere.
W short story that is still trying to call itself a book.
Needs better editing.
Read on kindle unlimited if you can't get it free elsewhere.
September 25, 2019
This book jumped the rails and went in a completely different direction. I got a little lost in the middle when everything changed, it didn't explain the multiverse very well. But once it got back to the Shard and what was happening there the pieces started to fall together. I'm still invested in finishing this series.
July 1, 2017
Ugh. I almost stopped reading this several times. I think I'm done with the series. For me it lacks the fun of LitRPG. It's too convoluted, too Dr. who-ish.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews