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Ascend Online #1.5
Hell to Pay
Lazarus Cain is a member of the Grim Shadows, one of the Thieves Guilds in the city of Eberia. Unfortunately, Lazarus is having a bad day. Waking up in a torture chamber, suffering from amnesia, he'd be pretty much screwed if not for the mysterious, magical sigil burned into his chest.
Sometimes a really bad day should be shared with others, especially professional torturers.
Lazarus will need to use all his cunning and skill to work with his comrades, uncovering schemes within schemes, discovering that The Grim Shadows are not the only Thieves Guild in the city mired in conflict. What's more, the leaders of the other guilds, the Thief Lords, don't respond well to treachery...
Sometimes a really bad day should be shared with others, especially professional torturers.
Lazarus will need to use all his cunning and skill to work with his comrades, uncovering schemes within schemes, discovering that The Grim Shadows are not the only Thieves Guild in the city mired in conflict. What's more, the leaders of the other guilds, the Thief Lords, don't respond well to treachery...
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
1362 people are currently reading
651 people want to read
About the author
Luke Chmilenko
38 books1,572 followersWriting far faster than his hands can withstand, Luke Chmilenko hails from the Great White North where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Toiling endlessly Luke juggles his time between a rapidly growing catalogue of series while playing far more video games than he would ever openly admit.
If you're interested in getting all the news about Luke's upcoming work, check out his website at: http://lukechmilenko.com/
If you're interested in getting all the news about Luke's upcoming work, check out his website at: http://lukechmilenko.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
December 26, 2022
A nice side adventure in the LitRPG, exploring the thieves guild and moral quandaries while mainly just going full-bore revenge and mystery and rage.
If you're thinking Elder Scrolls thieves with a bit of true underworld action (hell), then you've come to the right place. Popcorn fun.
If you're thinking Elder Scrolls thieves with a bit of true underworld action (hell), then you've come to the right place. Popcorn fun.
October 23, 2018
Like some of the other reviews have already stated, the change of protagonist was a little jarring at first, but after an initial period of hesitancy, it didn't take long for me to dive headfirst into Lazarus' insanity and adventure. Maintaining the improved writing seen over the course of the first book, Hell to Pay approaches Ascend Online from a different play-style and perspective that is no less interesting, enticing, and active.
A small note of extra appreciation: as a sucker for a touch of romance, I have to commend Luke Chmilenko on inserting juuuust enough of a love sub-plot to add to the overall tone of the story, without remotely distracting from the fast pace, constant-action style of AsO's play and progression.
A small note of extra appreciation: as a sucker for a touch of romance, I have to commend Luke Chmilenko on inserting juuuust enough of a love sub-plot to add to the overall tone of the story, without remotely distracting from the fast pace, constant-action style of AsO's play and progression.
October 8, 2020
Notes:
Hell to Pay takes place in the city of Eberia. Not with the core group introduced in Ascend Online.
Lots of cool characters & an action packed novel. It's a little shallow on character development because the focus is to show what's going on in the game world and how the characters are involved.
Hell to Pay takes place in the city of Eberia. Not with the core group introduced in Ascend Online.
Lots of cool characters & an action packed novel. It's a little shallow on character development because the focus is to show what's going on in the game world and how the characters are involved.
July 17, 2020
this book introduces a new protagonist and does not mention any of the characters from the first book. apparently the next book in the series continues with those characters, but i will not be reading that.
this book is absolutely not for me. it's a generic and very boring fantasy story that almost completely ignores all of the litrpg elements in the first book. i want numbers, man! plus there are no stakes involved. the players aren't stuck in the game, they don't die in real life if they die in the game, nothing. and yet, they treat it 100% seriously, like the most hardcore roleplayers in the world. dying is barely an inconvenience for the characters! fuck this im reading sword art online 🖕
this book is absolutely not for me. it's a generic and very boring fantasy story that almost completely ignores all of the litrpg elements in the first book. i want numbers, man! plus there are no stakes involved. the players aren't stuck in the game, they don't die in real life if they die in the game, nothing. and yet, they treat it 100% seriously, like the most hardcore roleplayers in the world. dying is barely an inconvenience for the characters! fuck this im reading sword art online 🖕
March 29, 2019
As a book it's fine but there was just one thing about it that so annoyed me I couldn't enjoy it all.
The players don't treat the world as a game at all. They take everything so seriously even though, from their perspective at least, it's not real.
- Even if something bad happens to the city it's just a quest hub, they can move to another one
- Even if lots of people die they are just NPCs
- Even if they or other players die they are going to respawn
So why are they so serious? Why aren't they excited at being involved in an epic quest? Even the "bad guy" players act like third rate villains rather people acting in their own self-interest or just having fun playing a villain.
I honestly started skimming through paragraphs of text because I couldn't take all their drama about the situation seriously. I would have dropped it but I wanted to finish it and get the book out of my system forever.
Of course, in other novels where the MC is just playing a game, they do get upset when the places they visit or the NPCs they know are in trouble. In those cases, we see the MC slowly getting attached to these characters. In this book, all that happens off-screen and apparently, only two weeks have passed since the start of the game.
In addition, when the MC gets upset in those other novels it tends to be framed in terms of the MCs being upset due to their feelings of attachment, same as if their pet got rolled over by a car. In this novel, the MC gets upset a grandstanding self-righteous manner.
The players don't treat the world as a game at all. They take everything so seriously even though, from their perspective at least, it's not real.
- Even if something bad happens to the city it's just a quest hub, they can move to another one
- Even if lots of people die they are just NPCs
- Even if they or other players die they are going to respawn
So why are they so serious? Why aren't they excited at being involved in an epic quest? Even the "bad guy" players act like third rate villains rather people acting in their own self-interest or just having fun playing a villain.
I honestly started skimming through paragraphs of text because I couldn't take all their drama about the situation seriously. I would have dropped it but I wanted to finish it and get the book out of my system forever.
Of course, in other novels where the MC is just playing a game, they do get upset when the places they visit or the NPCs they know are in trouble. In those cases, we see the MC slowly getting attached to these characters. In this book, all that happens off-screen and apparently, only two weeks have passed since the start of the game.
In addition, when the MC gets upset in those other novels it tends to be framed in terms of the MCs being upset due to their feelings of attachment, same as if their pet got rolled over by a car. In this novel, the MC gets upset a grandstanding self-righteous manner.
January 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this story! Told from the point of view of Lazarus Cain, a newbie to the underworld of Eberia, it details many of the things that happened in Eberia that occurred simultaneously during book one.
The story is engaging and involved and grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go.
The characters are interesting, and Lazarus Cain doubly so.
The story is engaging and involved and grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go.
The characters are interesting, and Lazarus Cain doubly so.
July 3, 2018
A side novel in the same universe (game world) as the original, but with characters that appear in Book 1 and Book 2 (this is 1.5). Loved it like the first one. Great series - I highly recommend it to game players especially.
July 21, 2018
Completely new characters. Shame.
Want to read
March 23, 2020🎁 The complete Ascend Online (3 book series) is FREE on Amazon today (3/23/2020)! 🎁
October 12, 2017
I'm really not a fan of decimal point books, they are made to be optional reading material and thus can't have any story progression in it. These are 'ok' when it's an established story and characters we want more from, but this is the second book published on this world AND doesn't involve any of the main characters. -_-
So, what keeps this story from being scored even lower is that it really isn't a decimal point book. As I said above, this doesn't involve any of the main characters, isn't near any of the main characters, and in no way connects to the main story line. This is an entirely separate story line set in the same world.
The story it's self would have been very good... if it wasn't a 'not stuck in the game' litrpg. All the events here have absolutely no stakes. While the first book goes into the main characters reasons for playing, why they can't log out, and how bad things might get for them and others if they fail. None of that is explained for these characters. The only thing left here is the strange and the poorly explained mind manipulation. While that a potentially really cool idea it has yet to go anywhere, be explained, or see any real life fallout for it. Also, it wasn't the main character it was really happening to (aside from the memory part) or being threatened to happen to. There's potential here, it just hasn't been realized yet.
So, what keeps this story from being scored even lower is that it really isn't a decimal point book. As I said above, this doesn't involve any of the main characters, isn't near any of the main characters, and in no way connects to the main story line. This is an entirely separate story line set in the same world.
The story it's self would have been very good... if it wasn't a 'not stuck in the game' litrpg. All the events here have absolutely no stakes. While the first book goes into the main characters reasons for playing, why they can't log out, and how bad things might get for them and others if they fail. None of that is explained for these characters. The only thing left here is the strange and the poorly explained mind manipulation. While that a potentially really cool idea it has yet to go anywhere, be explained, or see any real life fallout for it. Also, it wasn't the main character it was really happening to (aside from the memory part) or being threatened to happen to. There's potential here, it just hasn't been realized yet.
January 3, 2020
darker than the preceding books but just as good
Took me a while to get into this one, mostly because I don’t understand wanting to play as a criminal, and Lazarus/Gavin’s motivations/justifications for his choice weren’t clear. He just doesn’t make a very convincing bad guy, cause he’s too nice too loyal and too faithful to his friends and bosses. Turns out he didn’t really understand “criminal” nor what an Underworld really is, so he is trying to hold onto some of his morality while interacting with people who have little to none. Suffice it to say he was in for some rude shocks.
Not sure I get why he kept going along the same path, though, but perhaps it was loyalty to his comrades and adrenaline that kept pushing him past his objections. There’s a fine and difficult balance to be kept between loyalty to gang and country and criminality though, and it still doesn’t make sense to me that people can have a lot of both. So that’s my issue anyway.
SPOILER
I also expected to understand Lazarus as we met him in book two after reading this and I don’t quite. In book two he was almost completely beaten down and guilty about his part in the events in here. By the end of this book, though, I don’t think he deserves to feel that way. Seems to me he was tricked into the heist that started it all, and at every turn after that, he did the best he could to make things better. He even managed to ameliorate the damage to a large degree. It could have been so much worse without his actions—so why does he felt so self-condemning in book two? His reaction felt more appropriate for someone like Edith or Dorian, someone who actually was intending to take over the world and destroy it (though typically, of course, neither of them took any responsibility for their parts in the debacle.) Anyway, still a bit stuck on that, but I don’t like books with evil MCs, so just as well for me that he’s not, even though it is a bit confusing. Here’s looking forward to Book Four!
Took me a while to get into this one, mostly because I don’t understand wanting to play as a criminal, and Lazarus/Gavin’s motivations/justifications for his choice weren’t clear. He just doesn’t make a very convincing bad guy, cause he’s too nice too loyal and too faithful to his friends and bosses. Turns out he didn’t really understand “criminal” nor what an Underworld really is, so he is trying to hold onto some of his morality while interacting with people who have little to none. Suffice it to say he was in for some rude shocks.
Not sure I get why he kept going along the same path, though, but perhaps it was loyalty to his comrades and adrenaline that kept pushing him past his objections. There’s a fine and difficult balance to be kept between loyalty to gang and country and criminality though, and it still doesn’t make sense to me that people can have a lot of both. So that’s my issue anyway.
SPOILER
I also expected to understand Lazarus as we met him in book two after reading this and I don’t quite. In book two he was almost completely beaten down and guilty about his part in the events in here. By the end of this book, though, I don’t think he deserves to feel that way. Seems to me he was tricked into the heist that started it all, and at every turn after that, he did the best he could to make things better. He even managed to ameliorate the damage to a large degree. It could have been so much worse without his actions—so why does he felt so self-condemning in book two? His reaction felt more appropriate for someone like Edith or Dorian, someone who actually was intending to take over the world and destroy it (though typically, of course, neither of them took any responsibility for their parts in the debacle.) Anyway, still a bit stuck on that, but I don’t like books with evil MCs, so just as well for me that he’s not, even though it is a bit confusing. Here’s looking forward to Book Four!
October 17, 2019
I actually read this series in a different order. I really liked book 1 and immediately moved on to book 2, but once I started listening (with the Audible version), I then realized that book 2 - or Hell to Pay - was a completely different story. Same world, different characters. So, I skipped it and went ahead to book 3. It was obvious that these characters - Lazarus and crew - had a back story so I figured I would go back to it after finishing that book.
Well, to be honest, I didn't love this book. I didn't hate it, but it was missing something that grabbed me and made me feel invested. There was something about Lyrian and his crew and their whole "Let's save Alford" plan that I enjoyed about books 1 and 3. It's not rocket science, but it is light, easy, fun reading.
This book though, with the whole Grim Shadows plotline was just "meh". I enjoyed Luke Daniel's narration, as always, but I really was waiting for it to be finished. That's never a good sign. I wondered if it was because Lazarus was not necessarily one of the "good" guys, but then decided that "nope" that wasn't it. I do like Lazarus as a character and this was helpful in getting to know him a bit better. Not much else to say except that having this considered book 2 was a bit confusing.
Well, to be honest, I didn't love this book. I didn't hate it, but it was missing something that grabbed me and made me feel invested. There was something about Lyrian and his crew and their whole "Let's save Alford" plan that I enjoyed about books 1 and 3. It's not rocket science, but it is light, easy, fun reading.
This book though, with the whole Grim Shadows plotline was just "meh". I enjoyed Luke Daniel's narration, as always, but I really was waiting for it to be finished. That's never a good sign. I wondered if it was because Lazarus was not necessarily one of the "good" guys, but then decided that "nope" that wasn't it. I do like Lazarus as a character and this was helpful in getting to know him a bit better. Not much else to say except that having this considered book 2 was a bit confusing.
May 8, 2017
I thought the writing and storyline were very good, and would have enjoyed it more if I knew what I was getting.
However I found it very hard to get into this book, because there was the expectation that this was a continuation of the first book and following the original characters. However it follows an entirely new MC and party.
I also would have liked there to be more of the LitRPG gaming elements and mechanics that the first one had. Instead this felt more like a fantasy action/thriller novel, and not quite full LitRPG.
However I found it very hard to get into this book, because there was the expectation that this was a continuation of the first book and following the original characters. However it follows an entirely new MC and party.
I also would have liked there to be more of the LitRPG gaming elements and mechanics that the first one had. Instead this felt more like a fantasy action/thriller novel, and not quite full LitRPG.
January 8, 2021
3.25☆
April 10, 2022
This half volume number (#1.5) is of the same Ascend Online Virtual Reality MMORPG. It starts from the point of view of another character Lazarus (a thief) (not the main character or retinue of Volume 1). Maybe this is why it is a half-volume number, or maybe it's because it's less than 400 pages (1/3, 33% less pages than the first volume). So with this half volume there are 4 total volumes on this Ascend Online novel series. This half volume has 27 chapters.
This half volume starts in a Funeral Home, a group of thieves being tortured and quartered. On the first volume, the author waited to almost the end of that novel to start torturing, hungering, enslaving players and NPC's (Non-player characters). In this first half volume, Torture and gore start from the very first page. I did not know that Ascend Online was a terror-depravity-gore filled novel series.
Author writes and tries to stress the "reality" of this new Ascend Online game but only when it suits him. The pain is strong, the depravity, corruption, lawlessness, enslavement, torture, assaults, are allowed on this platforms supposedly because the author believes that this virtual reality, real feeling game is not really "real". If you would kill someone out in the street, rape a neighbor, mutilate all of the women of the main street, you would be investigated and arrested by the law enforcement officials, but pay a monthly subscription and a virtual reality cabin and you can become the universe's biggest tyrannical sadist with total impunity because although you can feel the pain and hunger, and tiredness, it not really "real" "reality".
Human rights have classified suffering and victimization in stages (emotional, economical, physical, etc.) The point I'm trying to make is that even if it is virtual reality, the pain, suffering, torture, enslavement are real. All of it has consequences on the mind and the body. In a game you might have the reset or do over, but everything done to you and that you do, takes a toll in the mind and the body.
Supposedly the author of this series does not play games or know much about games. Maybe this is why he has a dis-associative disorder/ irrational behavior in relation to what "he considers real".
A quote on the book, about this:
"The realism in Ascend Online was unparalleled, putting
every other game humanity had ever created to shame and
proving to be the reason for its incredible success. But when
it started to play with your very memory, treating it like just
another variable to be adjusted and controlled, it made me
feel like the game was going too far."
Without the game publisher having policies and rules (compliance to law), the author has made this Ascend Online into a lawless, corrupt and depraved dystopia. Having the opportunity to create any fictional world of his choosing, why on Earth would he construct a world that is worse in a lot to the world we live in today? What is the point to pay to play a game that is like this? Because it is "ssssooooooo real"???
The author has hinted that the control of the game is up to two sister goddesses Creation and Destruction, but if that is the case, then why does he still argue (delusionally) that what the players live on the game is not really real? If the money in your pocket, buys you food, you eat it, it satiates your hunger, what part of it is not really real then? If you can exchange or trade money in game to money (legal tender) in real life, then how is Ascend not real?
This half volume starts in a Funeral Home, a group of thieves being tortured and quartered. On the first volume, the author waited to almost the end of that novel to start torturing, hungering, enslaving players and NPC's (Non-player characters). In this first half volume, Torture and gore start from the very first page. I did not know that Ascend Online was a terror-depravity-gore filled novel series.
Author writes and tries to stress the "reality" of this new Ascend Online game but only when it suits him. The pain is strong, the depravity, corruption, lawlessness, enslavement, torture, assaults, are allowed on this platforms supposedly because the author believes that this virtual reality, real feeling game is not really "real". If you would kill someone out in the street, rape a neighbor, mutilate all of the women of the main street, you would be investigated and arrested by the law enforcement officials, but pay a monthly subscription and a virtual reality cabin and you can become the universe's biggest tyrannical sadist with total impunity because although you can feel the pain and hunger, and tiredness, it not really "real" "reality".
Human rights have classified suffering and victimization in stages (emotional, economical, physical, etc.) The point I'm trying to make is that even if it is virtual reality, the pain, suffering, torture, enslavement are real. All of it has consequences on the mind and the body. In a game you might have the reset or do over, but everything done to you and that you do, takes a toll in the mind and the body.
Supposedly the author of this series does not play games or know much about games. Maybe this is why he has a dis-associative disorder/ irrational behavior in relation to what "he considers real".
A quote on the book, about this:
"The realism in Ascend Online was unparalleled, putting
every other game humanity had ever created to shame and
proving to be the reason for its incredible success. But when
it started to play with your very memory, treating it like just
another variable to be adjusted and controlled, it made me
feel like the game was going too far."
Without the game publisher having policies and rules (compliance to law), the author has made this Ascend Online into a lawless, corrupt and depraved dystopia. Having the opportunity to create any fictional world of his choosing, why on Earth would he construct a world that is worse in a lot to the world we live in today? What is the point to pay to play a game that is like this? Because it is "ssssooooooo real"???
The author has hinted that the control of the game is up to two sister goddesses Creation and Destruction, but if that is the case, then why does he still argue (delusionally) that what the players live on the game is not really real? If the money in your pocket, buys you food, you eat it, it satiates your hunger, what part of it is not really real then? If you can exchange or trade money in game to money (legal tender) in real life, then how is Ascend not real?
September 28, 2019
The book follows Lazarus Cain member of a thieves guilds, Grim Shadows, in the city of Eberia. Lazarus, and his companions are some of the first players to be allowed into any of the thieves guilds and it makes some noise throughout the other thieves guilds in the city. The book starts with Lazarus waking up in a torture chamber with a mysterious sigil on his chest. Lazarus is also unable to remember how he got there in the first place. For me personally, I love a mystery, especially a supernatural one. Eventually Lazarus has to find his friends, solve a murder, and regain his memories of the past day or two. However, things just are not that simple for Lazarus and his friends.
In this story I like Lazarus may not be heading up a new village, but he has a community of NPC's he is fond of. The Grim Shadows are not just a thieves guild, they are a family. This is actually a very important aspect of Lazarus character and events that happen in this book and the next. Lazarus strengths are his magical sigil, which allow him to go into a rage-type state of mind, and his cunning. I do, however, wish we got to see more use of his cunning. I am also glad to see that situations are not just static or linior; ie. curve balls can be thrown at any moment. One of my favorite scenes was while the thief lords meet and giant tentacle-monster attacks. It makes it feel like the world is not stopping to conduct its business just because the characters want to stop and talk. This is a storytelling feature that Luke Chmilenko used in the first book when Marcus in the is in a fight but his nemesis, a puma not involved in the conflict initially, takes the opportunity to take Marcus out.
I do agree with some other reviews, as well as a little disappointed at first, finding that this book is more of a sidestory. A book 1.5, if you will. Even then I would suggest listening/reading to books in the following order to have more continuity: book 1, bood 3, then book 1.5 (this book). I do feel that many events are answered in the book, but there are some events that are left a mysteries to be discovered, hopefully in later books. Another thing the listener/reader have to understand about this book is that it expects you read the first book and understand how the game, Ascend Online, came to be because this story takes place weeks after launch. There is also much less talk about the character and community development, which was fine for me because there was more of a focus on the mystery theme going on.
I do enjoy Luke Daniels from another series I listen to so I thought the narration was good. He does do a great job making all the characters distinguishable from one another. This series is much more serious then I am used to from Daniels, but I wouldn't consider that a bad thing. Having listened to the next book I can say that Daniels gets even better.
Edit: I Just noticed after posting this review that on GoodReads it is labeled as "1.5". On Audible this is not the case. My apologies if this caused any confusion.
In this story I like Lazarus may not be heading up a new village, but he has a community of NPC's he is fond of. The Grim Shadows are not just a thieves guild, they are a family. This is actually a very important aspect of Lazarus character and events that happen in this book and the next. Lazarus strengths are his magical sigil, which allow him to go into a rage-type state of mind, and his cunning. I do, however, wish we got to see more use of his cunning. I am also glad to see that situations are not just static or linior; ie. curve balls can be thrown at any moment. One of my favorite scenes was while the thief lords meet and giant tentacle-monster attacks. It makes it feel like the world is not stopping to conduct its business just because the characters want to stop and talk. This is a storytelling feature that Luke Chmilenko used in the first book when Marcus in the is in a fight but his nemesis, a puma not involved in the conflict initially, takes the opportunity to take Marcus out.
I do agree with some other reviews, as well as a little disappointed at first, finding that this book is more of a sidestory. A book 1.5, if you will. Even then I would suggest listening/reading to books in the following order to have more continuity: book 1, bood 3, then book 1.5 (this book). I do feel that many events are answered in the book, but there are some events that are left a mysteries to be discovered, hopefully in later books. Another thing the listener/reader have to understand about this book is that it expects you read the first book and understand how the game, Ascend Online, came to be because this story takes place weeks after launch. There is also much less talk about the character and community development, which was fine for me because there was more of a focus on the mystery theme going on.
I do enjoy Luke Daniels from another series I listen to so I thought the narration was good. He does do a great job making all the characters distinguishable from one another. This series is much more serious then I am used to from Daniels, but I wouldn't consider that a bad thing. Having listened to the next book I can say that Daniels gets even better.
Edit: I Just noticed after posting this review that on GoodReads it is labeled as "1.5". On Audible this is not the case. My apologies if this caused any confusion.
March 26, 2019
Wow! Just, wow! I loved this sooo much!
I really enjoyed the first book (Ascend Online), but I freakin' LOVED this one!
It's still based around the LitRPG elements created in the first book, but I found myself really drawn into this one, easily forgetting it was a game world on many occasions (if it truly is a game world...hmm). The characters' interactions and relationships felt more real, as well as the world-building, and the pacing was very comfortable and swift. Luke has taken a huge step up in just his second book... he's definitely an author who I'll be grabbing everything he does.
This one was pretty much the complete opposite of the first book. Where the first book focused on a more fantasy style setting/location, this one focused on the shady underworld and thief factions of Eberia, which is totally my scene! When given the chance in games I always play it stealthy and explore the shadier parts of the world.
Luke threw a twist in for the protagonist though. Lazarus Cain (cool name) is a half-giant! So you have a very unlikely rogue/thief character here, one who can wield a great-sword with ease, but can also sneak up behind an enemy and end them without their knowledge. A very cool character build that was very entertaining to read and follow along in his progression.
Also in this second book there's some tiny mentions of events in the real world, just enough to get your mind wondering. Hoping Luke will expand on these in later books.
And there are some mentions of events in the game world that got me thinking more about what's really going on there...and if my thoughts are correct it's going to make for one hell of a story when it comes out.
I also really enjoyed the darker, more grim moments/scenes in this sequel. It felt more real and dangerous...and really freakin' awesome. There are more boss battles in this one, and they're wicked and grotesque as hell.
I think that's about all I can say without spoiling anything. I'm open to discussing this one further if anyone who's read it wants to expand on anything.
:::::
Cover: Yongjae Choi has done an excellent job on this one, really stepping it up from the first cover and delivering an epic scene that gets you in the mood for what's to come. I love it!
The design hasn't changed, same simplistic approach that works. Not entirely sure what I'd like to see changed there, but it's good enough.
I really enjoyed the first book (Ascend Online), but I freakin' LOVED this one!
It's still based around the LitRPG elements created in the first book, but I found myself really drawn into this one, easily forgetting it was a game world on many occasions (if it truly is a game world...hmm). The characters' interactions and relationships felt more real, as well as the world-building, and the pacing was very comfortable and swift. Luke has taken a huge step up in just his second book... he's definitely an author who I'll be grabbing everything he does.
This one was pretty much the complete opposite of the first book. Where the first book focused on a more fantasy style setting/location, this one focused on the shady underworld and thief factions of Eberia, which is totally my scene! When given the chance in games I always play it stealthy and explore the shadier parts of the world.
Luke threw a twist in for the protagonist though. Lazarus Cain (cool name) is a half-giant! So you have a very unlikely rogue/thief character here, one who can wield a great-sword with ease, but can also sneak up behind an enemy and end them without their knowledge. A very cool character build that was very entertaining to read and follow along in his progression.
Also in this second book there's some tiny mentions of events in the real world, just enough to get your mind wondering. Hoping Luke will expand on these in later books.
And there are some mentions of events in the game world that got me thinking more about what's really going on there...and if my thoughts are correct it's going to make for one hell of a story when it comes out.
I also really enjoyed the darker, more grim moments/scenes in this sequel. It felt more real and dangerous...and really freakin' awesome. There are more boss battles in this one, and they're wicked and grotesque as hell.
I think that's about all I can say without spoiling anything. I'm open to discussing this one further if anyone who's read it wants to expand on anything.
:::::
Cover: Yongjae Choi has done an excellent job on this one, really stepping it up from the first cover and delivering an epic scene that gets you in the mood for what's to come. I love it!
The design hasn't changed, same simplistic approach that works. Not entirely sure what I'd like to see changed there, but it's good enough.
May 22, 2022
Is it Book 2 or Book 3?
I read this book immediately after Ascend Online (Book 1), which covered the opening of the game. The author's note at the end said Hell to Pay was next, which Goodreads confirmed (though as Book 1.5), so I read it instead of what Amazon says is Book 2.
This book takes place over 2.5ish days. February 23, 2047 is the start of our journey with Lazarus and his... colleagues.
Lazarus is a thief (Level 12 Half-Giant/Half-Elf Male Bruiser) and opted to stay in the city, rather than explore the countryside. The story opens with Lazarus in pain and no memory of how he got here.
SPOILERS BELOW
*************************
Throughout the course of the book, we learn that Lazarus, Molly, Edith, and Ransom were robbing the Arcanum. Molly got killed watching the escape route. Ransom (who we don't see until the very end of the book) is a Half-Orc Warlock who Edith captured after he lost his arm to the artifact they were there to steal. Lazarus had a Sigil of Rage bond to him, which Edith claims he stole from her.
Edith is the big bad guy in this story. She is working with the Holy Ascendancy of Eligos to invade Eberia. Dorian, thieflord of the Damned (one of the 5 thief guilds), is under a geas to follow whatever commands Edith gives along with someone from the Ascendancy.
During the jam packed 2.5 days the book takes place over, Lazarus and crew have to foil the evil plan which has them transported to Avernus, one of the planes of Hell. Molly and Quinn die there and instead of respawning in Eberia, they are nowhere to be found, presumably stuck on Avernus. Sawyer, Ransom, and Lazarus make it back to Eberia after killing Dorian (who had killed Edith).
The trio are thrown in a prisoner transport and taken before the head of House Denarius who wants to know, "What the hell have you adventurerers don't to my city?"
Then there is a brief bit from Creativity and her Tapestry as she does more work to stabilize the Grand Tapestry.
I read this book immediately after Ascend Online (Book 1), which covered the opening of the game. The author's note at the end said Hell to Pay was next, which Goodreads confirmed (though as Book 1.5), so I read it instead of what Amazon says is Book 2.
This book takes place over 2.5ish days. February 23, 2047 is the start of our journey with Lazarus and his... colleagues.
Lazarus is a thief (Level 12 Half-Giant/Half-Elf Male Bruiser) and opted to stay in the city, rather than explore the countryside. The story opens with Lazarus in pain and no memory of how he got here.
SPOILERS BELOW
*************************
Throughout the course of the book, we learn that Lazarus, Molly, Edith, and Ransom were robbing the Arcanum. Molly got killed watching the escape route. Ransom (who we don't see until the very end of the book) is a Half-Orc Warlock who Edith captured after he lost his arm to the artifact they were there to steal. Lazarus had a Sigil of Rage bond to him, which Edith claims he stole from her.
Edith is the big bad guy in this story. She is working with the Holy Ascendancy of Eligos to invade Eberia. Dorian, thieflord of the Damned (one of the 5 thief guilds), is under a geas to follow whatever commands Edith gives along with someone from the Ascendancy.
During the jam packed 2.5 days the book takes place over, Lazarus and crew have to foil the evil plan which has them transported to Avernus, one of the planes of Hell. Molly and Quinn die there and instead of respawning in Eberia, they are nowhere to be found, presumably stuck on Avernus. Sawyer, Ransom, and Lazarus make it back to Eberia after killing Dorian (who had killed Edith).
The trio are thrown in a prisoner transport and taken before the head of House Denarius who wants to know, "What the hell have you adventurerers don't to my city?"
Then there is a brief bit from Creativity and her Tapestry as she does more work to stabilize the Grand Tapestry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2025
Hell to Pay (Ascend Online #1.5) by Luke Chmilenko – Review by Kiba Snowpaw
Introduction:
Alright, pack—gather round. We’re diving headfirst into Hell to Pay, a gnarly LitRPG ride dropped by Luke Chmilenko in 2017, landing as book 1.5 in the Ascend Online saga. This time, it’s not about village-building and wholesome heroics—it’s rogue time, and the streets of Eberia are as cold and dirty as a wolf’s belly in winter. Instead of the OG crew, you’re saddled with Lazarus Cain, a thief with a busted memory, a burned-in sigil, and a one-way ticket to the city’s seediest guild wars. If you thought Book 1 was a grind, wait till you try keeping up with this underworld rollercoaster.
Plot Summary:
You wake up chained, tortured, and blank on the last day’s events. Welcome to Eberia, where the only thing meaner than the weather is the thieves’ guild drama. Lazarus Cain scrambles to figure out who betrayed him, how deep the rivalries go, and what hell he’s about to unleash—literally. This isn’t a story about conquering the countryside; it’s about surviving the city’s political meat grinder. Think fast, trust nobody, and keep your claws sharp.
The Author:
Luke Chmilenko, Ontario-born and raised on IT security, made his mark with Ascend Online and Starfall, staking a claim in the LitRPG genre with relentless action and worlds you could chew on. His style? Fast, punchy, all about immersion. His weakness? Sometimes trading depth for pure speed, and getting a little tangled up in over-explaining scenes. He’s a heavyweight in GameLit, but no big-name awards yet—just legions of fans who love a hard-hitting VR fantasy.
Characters:
Lazarus Cain is our battered, not-so-bad bad guy, juggling amnesia, guilt, and the need to keep his crew from becoming street meat. He’s no cartoon antihero; his morality is all smudged and gray, like paw prints in slush. Loyalty and paranoia duke it out in his head, making for solid internal conflict, but honestly? Most side characters are shadows—useful, but lacking the spark that makes you wanna howl their name. The amnesia trope is classic, but here it just keeps you guessing about what’s real, what’s remembered, and who you can trust.
Structure:
It’s a side-quest novel, so don’t expect a direct follow-up to Book 1’s crew. The pace is all claws and teeth—scene after scene, brawl after brawl, barely room to breathe. Some perspective jumps and fast transitions can leave you feeling more confused than invested, especially if you’re not ready for a breakneck ride. There’s little time for pack bonding; it’s all survival, all the time. On audio, the jumps are even harder to follow, so be warned.
Themes & Analysis:
It’s a story about survival, loyalty, and what it means to keep your fur clean in a world that rewards getting dirty. Chmilenko plays with ideas of memory, pain, and consequence—if you can respawn, what does suffering mean? If your “family” is just your guild, what are you willing to sacrifice? There’s a deep existential current here, but don’t expect it to get philosophical—this story’s too busy running from one knife fight to the next.
Scenes:
Sex? Romance? Nah, forget it. You’ll get a flash of intimacy or two, maybe a lost love memory, but nothing that’ll steam up your visor. This one’s for the action junkies: dungeons, torture chambers, alley fights, magic-fueled rages, and the kind of street drama that’ll make your tail twitch. The action is tactical, savage, and relentless—a real treat for anyone who’s ever played a backstabber in an MMO.
World-Building:
Eberia is the real MVP—an urban maze run by guilds, laws written in blood, and danger hiding in every alley. The game mechanics blend in so smooth you barely notice, keeping the immersion high and the “hey, I’m in a video game” moments to a minimum. If you’re tired of stat dumps and skill tree exposition, you’ll love how natural it feels here. But if you live for spreadsheets and min-maxing, you might wish for more raw numbers.
Praise & Critique:
Praise:
- Relentless, edge-of-your-seat pacing. No dull moments here.
- Eberia’s world-building is rich, dark, and dripping with atmosphere.
- Lazarus Cain’s internal struggle is compelling and believable.
- Action scenes pack a punch and keep you invested.
Critique:
- Sudden switch from Marcus & Co. may disappoint diehard fans of Book 1.
- Secondary characters lack depth; they’re props, not packmates.
- Sometimes the speed hurts emotional impact—hard to care who dies when you barely know ‘em.
- Editing is rough in spots—awkward grammar, repeated ideas.
- Less LitRPG crunch, more traditional fantasy—might not scratch the number-cruncher’s itch.
- The whole amnesia setup feels a bit forced at times.
Comparison:
If Book 1 was a wild pack hunt, Hell to Pay is a lone wolf stalking the shadows. It’s more noir, less epic quest. The shift to underworld politics and gritty survival makes this a must for fans of rogues and gray morality, but if you wanted more village building, keep your expectations in check. Against other LitRPGs? The world and tone stand out, but you won’t get the stat porn or detailed leveling you’ll find elsewhere.
Personal Evaluation:
From this old alpha’s POV, the novel howls when it leans into distrust, raw instinct, and the cold calculus of street survival. Lazarus is relatable—a survivor, not a hero. But I needed more depth in his allies, and a few more moments to just breathe and reflect. By the end, I felt more confused than fully invested; the pace is so relentless, it’s easy to lose your place. Still, as a lover of dark, morally complex tales, I enjoyed the bite—even if it left me a little cold.
Conclusion:
Hell to Pay is a snarling, shadow-stalking side quest in the Ascend Online universe. If you crave rogues, gritty intrigue, and a VR world that isn’t afraid to get ugly, this one’ll get your blood pumping. It’s not flawless—some pacing and depth issues, some confusion from perspective shifts—but it’s got fangs. I’m giving it a strong 3.5 out of 5—rounded up for anyone who likes their LitRPGs mean, lean, and unafraid to cut deep. Not recommended for those seeking warm fuzzies or lighthearted adventure. But if you want the dark, this book delivers.
Would I recommend it? For fans of thieves, shadow politics, or just the darker corners of GameLit—absolutely. Just be ready for the bite.
Introduction:
Alright, pack—gather round. We’re diving headfirst into Hell to Pay, a gnarly LitRPG ride dropped by Luke Chmilenko in 2017, landing as book 1.5 in the Ascend Online saga. This time, it’s not about village-building and wholesome heroics—it’s rogue time, and the streets of Eberia are as cold and dirty as a wolf’s belly in winter. Instead of the OG crew, you’re saddled with Lazarus Cain, a thief with a busted memory, a burned-in sigil, and a one-way ticket to the city’s seediest guild wars. If you thought Book 1 was a grind, wait till you try keeping up with this underworld rollercoaster.
Plot Summary:
You wake up chained, tortured, and blank on the last day’s events. Welcome to Eberia, where the only thing meaner than the weather is the thieves’ guild drama. Lazarus Cain scrambles to figure out who betrayed him, how deep the rivalries go, and what hell he’s about to unleash—literally. This isn’t a story about conquering the countryside; it’s about surviving the city’s political meat grinder. Think fast, trust nobody, and keep your claws sharp.
The Author:
Luke Chmilenko, Ontario-born and raised on IT security, made his mark with Ascend Online and Starfall, staking a claim in the LitRPG genre with relentless action and worlds you could chew on. His style? Fast, punchy, all about immersion. His weakness? Sometimes trading depth for pure speed, and getting a little tangled up in over-explaining scenes. He’s a heavyweight in GameLit, but no big-name awards yet—just legions of fans who love a hard-hitting VR fantasy.
Characters:
Lazarus Cain is our battered, not-so-bad bad guy, juggling amnesia, guilt, and the need to keep his crew from becoming street meat. He’s no cartoon antihero; his morality is all smudged and gray, like paw prints in slush. Loyalty and paranoia duke it out in his head, making for solid internal conflict, but honestly? Most side characters are shadows—useful, but lacking the spark that makes you wanna howl their name. The amnesia trope is classic, but here it just keeps you guessing about what’s real, what’s remembered, and who you can trust.
Structure:
It’s a side-quest novel, so don’t expect a direct follow-up to Book 1’s crew. The pace is all claws and teeth—scene after scene, brawl after brawl, barely room to breathe. Some perspective jumps and fast transitions can leave you feeling more confused than invested, especially if you’re not ready for a breakneck ride. There’s little time for pack bonding; it’s all survival, all the time. On audio, the jumps are even harder to follow, so be warned.
Themes & Analysis:
It’s a story about survival, loyalty, and what it means to keep your fur clean in a world that rewards getting dirty. Chmilenko plays with ideas of memory, pain, and consequence—if you can respawn, what does suffering mean? If your “family” is just your guild, what are you willing to sacrifice? There’s a deep existential current here, but don’t expect it to get philosophical—this story’s too busy running from one knife fight to the next.
Scenes:
Sex? Romance? Nah, forget it. You’ll get a flash of intimacy or two, maybe a lost love memory, but nothing that’ll steam up your visor. This one’s for the action junkies: dungeons, torture chambers, alley fights, magic-fueled rages, and the kind of street drama that’ll make your tail twitch. The action is tactical, savage, and relentless—a real treat for anyone who’s ever played a backstabber in an MMO.
World-Building:
Eberia is the real MVP—an urban maze run by guilds, laws written in blood, and danger hiding in every alley. The game mechanics blend in so smooth you barely notice, keeping the immersion high and the “hey, I’m in a video game” moments to a minimum. If you’re tired of stat dumps and skill tree exposition, you’ll love how natural it feels here. But if you live for spreadsheets and min-maxing, you might wish for more raw numbers.
Praise & Critique:
Praise:
- Relentless, edge-of-your-seat pacing. No dull moments here.
- Eberia’s world-building is rich, dark, and dripping with atmosphere.
- Lazarus Cain’s internal struggle is compelling and believable.
- Action scenes pack a punch and keep you invested.
Critique:
- Sudden switch from Marcus & Co. may disappoint diehard fans of Book 1.
- Secondary characters lack depth; they’re props, not packmates.
- Sometimes the speed hurts emotional impact—hard to care who dies when you barely know ‘em.
- Editing is rough in spots—awkward grammar, repeated ideas.
- Less LitRPG crunch, more traditional fantasy—might not scratch the number-cruncher’s itch.
- The whole amnesia setup feels a bit forced at times.
Comparison:
If Book 1 was a wild pack hunt, Hell to Pay is a lone wolf stalking the shadows. It’s more noir, less epic quest. The shift to underworld politics and gritty survival makes this a must for fans of rogues and gray morality, but if you wanted more village building, keep your expectations in check. Against other LitRPGs? The world and tone stand out, but you won’t get the stat porn or detailed leveling you’ll find elsewhere.
Personal Evaluation:
From this old alpha’s POV, the novel howls when it leans into distrust, raw instinct, and the cold calculus of street survival. Lazarus is relatable—a survivor, not a hero. But I needed more depth in his allies, and a few more moments to just breathe and reflect. By the end, I felt more confused than fully invested; the pace is so relentless, it’s easy to lose your place. Still, as a lover of dark, morally complex tales, I enjoyed the bite—even if it left me a little cold.
Conclusion:
Hell to Pay is a snarling, shadow-stalking side quest in the Ascend Online universe. If you crave rogues, gritty intrigue, and a VR world that isn’t afraid to get ugly, this one’ll get your blood pumping. It’s not flawless—some pacing and depth issues, some confusion from perspective shifts—but it’s got fangs. I’m giving it a strong 3.5 out of 5—rounded up for anyone who likes their LitRPGs mean, lean, and unafraid to cut deep. Not recommended for those seeking warm fuzzies or lighthearted adventure. But if you want the dark, this book delivers.
Would I recommend it? For fans of thieves, shadow politics, or just the darker corners of GameLit—absolutely. Just be ready for the bite.
December 19, 2020
Well, welcome to a bat out of hell. This was a complete utter surprise to me how out of the blue this book was. We leave our main cast of characters that we meet in the first book and are introduced to a whole new cast. Welcome, Lazarus, member of a Thieves Guild, who will now forever look like Zayn from One Direction for some unknown reason. Zayn... oops, I mean Lazarus wakes up with Amnesia (because that hasn't been done before) with markings all over his body and his boss dead on the floor. What happened? Well, I guess you will just have to read the book to find out.
What did I like about this book? A lot, truly, this book allowed us to meet the larger world that we were introduced to in the first book. Now we are in the massive city of Eberia. The city, of course, is ruled by royalty and the underworld. The underworld is run by the five thieves' guilds. My issues with the first book, in terms of grammar and syntax, are still present, but I did see some massive improvement. My overall issue was the lack of world-building that took place within the novel. Instead of gradually building up the world around us we are dumped into a massive city and need to guess our way with less help from the author. Although, this is less a massive error and more of a personal issue with the novel. I would have rather have had this side story look more closely at other aspects of the world, but this is coming down to personal preference.
Overall, a solid addition to the series that will be great for those looking into continuing into book 2 since these characters will be part of the cast in later installments within the series. Major positives were the characters themselves, the setting, and the overall plot. However, the main negatives were around the writing, world-building, and lack of clarity occasionally.
What did I like about this book? A lot, truly, this book allowed us to meet the larger world that we were introduced to in the first book. Now we are in the massive city of Eberia. The city, of course, is ruled by royalty and the underworld. The underworld is run by the five thieves' guilds. My issues with the first book, in terms of grammar and syntax, are still present, but I did see some massive improvement. My overall issue was the lack of world-building that took place within the novel. Instead of gradually building up the world around us we are dumped into a massive city and need to guess our way with less help from the author. Although, this is less a massive error and more of a personal issue with the novel. I would have rather have had this side story look more closely at other aspects of the world, but this is coming down to personal preference.
Overall, a solid addition to the series that will be great for those looking into continuing into book 2 since these characters will be part of the cast in later installments within the series. Major positives were the characters themselves, the setting, and the overall plot. However, the main negatives were around the writing, world-building, and lack of clarity occasionally.
June 18, 2022
I enjoyed the other books in the series, but this entry I couldn't finish. I'm not sure exactly why it was different here, but the writing skill and grammar and sentence structure was off and odd to an annoying amount. So much that I couldn't finish it. I even tried taking a break and coming back to it.
The last straw, so to speak, was this line: "There was a sense of palpable excitement in the air, but judging from the tone of the voice I was hearing, there was worry as well." It was shortly after "Contrary to the stagnant stillness".
Palpable should be describing the sense, not excitement, if you can feel it in the air. A palpable sense of excitement in the air is a sentence that is actually used. This one is weird and takes me out of the words. Stagnant stillness is also off. I do get there can be varieties of stillness, but stagnant is kind of the default state, and doesn't really require adjectives. If you do want to combine the two, adding some prepositions might make it more acceptable. But it seems like trying hard but missing the mark to be more descriptive, and I just couldn't any more after 24%. Those were just the last two examples.
The last straw, so to speak, was this line: "There was a sense of palpable excitement in the air, but judging from the tone of the voice I was hearing, there was worry as well." It was shortly after "Contrary to the stagnant stillness".
Palpable should be describing the sense, not excitement, if you can feel it in the air. A palpable sense of excitement in the air is a sentence that is actually used. This one is weird and takes me out of the words. Stagnant stillness is also off. I do get there can be varieties of stillness, but stagnant is kind of the default state, and doesn't really require adjectives. If you do want to combine the two, adding some prepositions might make it more acceptable. But it seems like trying hard but missing the mark to be more descriptive, and I just couldn't any more after 24%. Those were just the last two examples.
November 19, 2017
The writing quality of Hell to Pay is on par with the first novel in the Ascend Online series, but as a personal preference I didn't like this story as much. It was harder for me to care about the protagonists because they all seemed a bit selfish. The world building is solid, and most of the good things from the first book on that front carry over into this novel. I also like that we get a glimpse into the level progression of characters that stayed in the starting city as compared to those in the outskirts.
The tone of the first book is about building and exploring something new. The protagonists want to make the virtual world better than they found it. In this book people all anyone seems to care about is saving themselves. Yeah I get that there were some scenes focusing on unity within a thieves guild, but they don't outweigh the idea that the only reason anyone is doing anything in this book is to save their own skin, or figure out what happened in their own history during a period of Amnesia.
The tone of the first book is about building and exploring something new. The protagonists want to make the virtual world better than they found it. In this book people all anyone seems to care about is saving themselves. Yeah I get that there were some scenes focusing on unity within a thieves guild, but they don't outweigh the idea that the only reason anyone is doing anything in this book is to save their own skin, or figure out what happened in their own history during a period of Amnesia.
May 22, 2019
I liked this book quite well, I think I liked it better than the first book in the series. This one tells a tighter story and a more focused story, though fails from time to time to really build everything up like it should, because it's from one characters point of view.
I saw in one review that someone had complained about the swearing in the book. I'm torn on this, because I agree when it comes to the characters in the game, but the players I feel like it makes sense. It isn't too jarring though.
Finally, I will say, this book still needs to be gone through again with an editor. There are still issues with over explaining sentences and repeating words and ideas in the same sentence or in back to back sentences that would be caught easily by an editor worth their salt, and I wish that the book would be put out in a second edition with that being done, because the book would really shine.
I saw in one review that someone had complained about the swearing in the book. I'm torn on this, because I agree when it comes to the characters in the game, but the players I feel like it makes sense. It isn't too jarring though.
Finally, I will say, this book still needs to be gone through again with an editor. There are still issues with over explaining sentences and repeating words and ideas in the same sentence or in back to back sentences that would be caught easily by an editor worth their salt, and I wish that the book would be put out in a second edition with that being done, because the book would really shine.
January 3, 2021
Just finished this an hour ago...and while it wasn't as good as ASO1, it was still a pretty interesting read. Like others, I was a little bit annoyed that the main character wasn't Marcus, and that it didn't intersect much with the other plot. (Except for brief references, and a last page tie in to a major plot arc from AsO1.)
However, my annoyance mostly faded as I got into the book...though I did consider abandoning it in favor of the next one. I liked Gavin/Lazarus, though he was just a little bit to squeaky to convincingly play a thief. I would have preferred some morally gray attributes.
Unlike with ASO1, other then the main, I didn't find any of the other characters, be they npcs or adventurers to be that interesting. I didnt dislike them, I just didn't get to know them.
I would like to have seen some more 'real life' insertions or at least references, though the lack of them doesn't bother me as much as it does other people.
However, my annoyance mostly faded as I got into the book...though I did consider abandoning it in favor of the next one. I liked Gavin/Lazarus, though he was just a little bit to squeaky to convincingly play a thief. I would have preferred some morally gray attributes.
Unlike with ASO1, other then the main, I didn't find any of the other characters, be they npcs or adventurers to be that interesting. I didnt dislike them, I just didn't get to know them.
I would like to have seen some more 'real life' insertions or at least references, though the lack of them doesn't bother me as much as it does other people.
January 25, 2019
I know ... it’s an issue. I need a therapist, because I’m simply addicted.
Let’s be very upfront and clear here... this is NOT our original favorite heroes! This is a new band of adventurers with their own histories, backgrounds and personalities to learn. In fact, this is nearly the opposite end of the spectrum as it is a band of thieves who remain within the city while our original adventurers are out in the wilds. I don’t feel this is a spoiler as it’s well known from the beginning where our new protagonists hail from.
Still as addictive as the first book, you just have to ease past the desire to know how your original heroes are fairing because you will NOT find out.
I zipped through it as quickly as I did the first and am completely enthusiastic about beginning the next in the series. It’s official ... I need an intervention.
Let’s be very upfront and clear here... this is NOT our original favorite heroes! This is a new band of adventurers with their own histories, backgrounds and personalities to learn. In fact, this is nearly the opposite end of the spectrum as it is a band of thieves who remain within the city while our original adventurers are out in the wilds. I don’t feel this is a spoiler as it’s well known from the beginning where our new protagonists hail from.
Still as addictive as the first book, you just have to ease past the desire to know how your original heroes are fairing because you will NOT find out.
I zipped through it as quickly as I did the first and am completely enthusiastic about beginning the next in the series. It’s official ... I need an intervention.
June 19, 2019
So unbelievably boring. I got through 70% of this book and couldn't get through any further. It's written almost completely different than the first book.
My first frustration came when I realized that it's not a continuation of the first book. It's set in the same world, but it's a different character with a completely separate storyline.
I wouldn't mind it being separate, except that it's insanely boring. It's 90% exposition and characters taking to themselves about the most mundane things. It's all talking and very little showing. And what's worse or that it has very little LitRPG/GameLit elements. It's basically a normal fantasy books with few mentions of the RPG stuff.
Very disappointing read.
My first frustration came when I realized that it's not a continuation of the first book. It's set in the same world, but it's a different character with a completely separate storyline.
I wouldn't mind it being separate, except that it's insanely boring. It's 90% exposition and characters taking to themselves about the most mundane things. It's all talking and very little showing. And what's worse or that it has very little LitRPG/GameLit elements. It's basically a normal fantasy books with few mentions of the RPG stuff.
Very disappointing read.
July 15, 2020
This series just isn’t resonating with me. I think it’s the lack of real character development or compelling connections to the reader.
A lot of cool elements in this but the story’s falling flat.
I did like this better than the first book but don’t have much to say beyond that.
Perhaps I’m influenced by how unimpressed I am by the narrator... I feel like his general narration voice is flat and monotone. He does some good voices for all the different characters but nothing outstanding.
To be honest, I’m having trouble articulating exactly why I didn’t really like this book. A couple hours in, and as the book continued, I was already ready for the novel to finish. I wasn’t invested in the world or characters. Honestly, the series is mostly forgettable to me.
Maybe it’s because it doesn’t feel like the characters really struggle for anything? Sure they feel pain, but we don’t get scenes of them training up or researching. We’re told of what happens, but not really shown.
Also, aren’t they all in a game??? Lazarus could just log out and ask his buddies what happened in game, it would solve the amnesia pretty quickly.
No particularly humorous scenes. Mostly straight action. Perhaps it’s the pacing. All action and no breathers make this a very exhausting story.
First book’s friendly interactions were a positive over this book. Dialogue in this one was worse. No banter or conversation that was enjoyable to itself.
A lot of cool elements in this but the story’s falling flat.
I did like this better than the first book but don’t have much to say beyond that.
Perhaps I’m influenced by how unimpressed I am by the narrator... I feel like his general narration voice is flat and monotone. He does some good voices for all the different characters but nothing outstanding.
To be honest, I’m having trouble articulating exactly why I didn’t really like this book. A couple hours in, and as the book continued, I was already ready for the novel to finish. I wasn’t invested in the world or characters. Honestly, the series is mostly forgettable to me.
Maybe it’s because it doesn’t feel like the characters really struggle for anything? Sure they feel pain, but we don’t get scenes of them training up or researching. We’re told of what happens, but not really shown.
Also, aren’t they all in a game??? Lazarus could just log out and ask his buddies what happened in game, it would solve the amnesia pretty quickly.
No particularly humorous scenes. Mostly straight action. Perhaps it’s the pacing. All action and no breathers make this a very exhausting story.
First book’s friendly interactions were a positive over this book. Dialogue in this one was worse. No banter or conversation that was enjoyable to itself.
July 18, 2024
The “world events” don’t seem to have much impact on other main characters in the same universe. I wanted to read more about life as a thief when the book went straight to “all criminals are bad people.” The story continues on the state criminal NPCs are all the worst types of scum on the planet and do nothing but backstab each other. The guilds jockey in power struggles but convienently swear to the king to keep the underground crime ring from taking over the city. I was hoping for a watered down Robin Hood or even edgy assassin type, but not giving the criminals a chance to own the city or having their own type of justicar really detracted from the story. No wonder the main character of this one left the main city to go to Aldford.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2018
Lazarus chooses to play as a beefed up hands on villain, but as it turns out he’s just a soft hearted, over emotional, inexplicably patriotic sap in wolves’ clothing. Setting aside the ludicrous notion of a Thieves guild making it their mission to save the city they live in (as opposed to acting more like, well, THIEVES!) Chmileko’s character doesn’t have a semblance of the bravado or selfishness you’d expect from such a character. Lazarus is not a counter to Marcus, or a cleverly written anti-hero, he’s just a dunce. Very disappointed for this missed opportunity. I’ll give book 3 a shot, but my confidence in Luke is shaken.
January 16, 2024
3.5* So the ending for me felt a little like a cliff hanger and after so much tension for so long with the non stop chaos it was infuriating.
It was an amazing story, the tension, suspense and honestly I didn't see the twist coming. Yet I feel as if it was building into something else and getting ready for more. I find with the constant action, never ending pressure to fix the next thing it was relentless. A fun and very different side to what is usually in LITRPG and adds much to the series. It was such a shame I felt so let down by the ending.
Will need a break before I read book 2 in the series I think.
It was an amazing story, the tension, suspense and honestly I didn't see the twist coming. Yet I feel as if it was building into something else and getting ready for more. I find with the constant action, never ending pressure to fix the next thing it was relentless. A fun and very different side to what is usually in LITRPG and adds much to the series. It was such a shame I felt so let down by the ending.
Will need a break before I read book 2 in the series I think.
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