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Adventures on Brad #1
A Healer's Gift
Daniel was Gifted by the gods at birth, able to heal with a touch even the most grievous wounds. Born in a mining camp, he's unable to still his restless heart and journey's to a nearby Dungeon town to take his first steps as an Adventurer. Follow his journey in a world filled with monsters, dungeons and a leveling system. A Healer's Gift is a traditional fantasy story with LitRPG elements and is the first of the series.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2017
881 people are currently reading
949 people want to read
About the author
Tao Wong
137 books958 followersTao Wong is the author of the A Thousand Li progression fantasy series and the System Apocalypse LitRPG series, among others. His work has been released in audio, paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats, and translated into German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and several other languages. He was shortlisted for the UK Kindle Storyteller Award in 2021 for A Thousand Li: The Second Sect. In 2026, the first three books in the A Thousand Li series will be republished in hardcover by Ace Books.
When he’s not writing or working, he enjoys practicing martial arts, reading, and dreaming up new worlds. He lives in Toronto, Canada.
When he’s not writing or working, he enjoys practicing martial arts, reading, and dreaming up new worlds. He lives in Toronto, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
March 6, 2022
My first LitRPG! Enjoyable enough if reading the notes of a D&D characters development is your thing. I'm not sure it's mine.
May 31, 2020
Rating 2.5 stars
I was disappointed with this book. Nothing stood out. I am not really into dungeon dive books and that is pretty much all this book was about. I don't mind when dungeons are in a story as long as that part is used to accomplish something else. I don't mind a person going into a dungeon to get stronger so they can fight an upcoming battle or something like that. I don't understand the stories where a person goes into a dungeon to get strong enough to then go into a stronger dungeon. There has to be some other goal otherwise it doesn't make sense to me. Going into a dungeon for the money doesn't make sense to me either because as soon as they get some money, they have to buy better gear. It doesn't seem like anybody ever gets ahead in these dungeon dive stories.
This story follows Daniel as he begins the process of becoming an adventurer. He has worked in the mines until now and has a healing ability as well. He doesn't want to just be a healer though and wants to be an adventurer. I needed more to this backstory. I didn't know why he didn't want to be a healer. He spent most of his free time when he wasn't in the dungeon healing so there had to something else. What about his family? Did something happen to him early in life? One of his healing abilities takes a heavy price. When he heals someone with his gift, part of his memories/experiences are taken as the cost. I can see why he wouldn't want to be a healer if that was the cost, but he kept on healing in this book anyway.
This book was very short and there really wasn't anything that stood out. The characters were kind of bland and not well developed. The world building was mediocre. The magic system was almost non existence. The leveling/ stat progression were very simplistic. Nothing happened in this story that would make me want to continue the series.
I was disappointed with this book. Nothing stood out. I am not really into dungeon dive books and that is pretty much all this book was about. I don't mind when dungeons are in a story as long as that part is used to accomplish something else. I don't mind a person going into a dungeon to get stronger so they can fight an upcoming battle or something like that. I don't understand the stories where a person goes into a dungeon to get strong enough to then go into a stronger dungeon. There has to be some other goal otherwise it doesn't make sense to me. Going into a dungeon for the money doesn't make sense to me either because as soon as they get some money, they have to buy better gear. It doesn't seem like anybody ever gets ahead in these dungeon dive stories.
This story follows Daniel as he begins the process of becoming an adventurer. He has worked in the mines until now and has a healing ability as well. He doesn't want to just be a healer though and wants to be an adventurer. I needed more to this backstory. I didn't know why he didn't want to be a healer. He spent most of his free time when he wasn't in the dungeon healing so there had to something else. What about his family? Did something happen to him early in life? One of his healing abilities takes a heavy price. When he heals someone with his gift, part of his memories/experiences are taken as the cost. I can see why he wouldn't want to be a healer if that was the cost, but he kept on healing in this book anyway.
This book was very short and there really wasn't anything that stood out. The characters were kind of bland and not well developed. The world building was mediocre. The magic system was almost non existence. The leveling/ stat progression were very simplistic. Nothing happened in this story that would make me want to continue the series.
October 30, 2017
Please shoot the narrator for the audiobook for reading the following:
Steel Mace
Damage: 3 - 7 + .5 Strength + 2 Quality Bonus
Durability: 50/50
Item Class: Common
Quality: Good (+2 bonus to damage)
as:
Steel Mace
Damage: 3 minus 7 plus .5 Strength...
P.S. This narrator is called Eric Martin. So, avoid him like a plague and avoid the audiobook version like a swarm of bees.
That aside, the book itself is okay, mediocre. It is decently written. I am part of the group that supports books without a real plot or motivation. Although books can still be good without a real plot or motivation, it is not an easy task.
This book failed to do so. The book lacks a plot. The character lacks a real motivation other than I want to be an adventurer. But it is still salvagable and enjoyable if done right. You need something to spice things up, a gimmick or something.
Well, there is one, the healer's gift. But it is lacking. The whole books ends up as going to the dungeon, kill stuff, going to the clinic, heal people, eat, sleep, have sex and repeat. Money is also extremely hard to earn and there are little upgrades to the equipment. The same can be said for the skills.
All in all, it is a rather boring book. No plot? Np, fill it with fun things. No fun things? Well, you're just boring then.
Steel Mace
Damage: 3 - 7 + .5 Strength + 2 Quality Bonus
Durability: 50/50
Item Class: Common
Quality: Good (+2 bonus to damage)
as:
Steel Mace
Damage: 3 minus 7 plus .5 Strength...
P.S. This narrator is called Eric Martin. So, avoid him like a plague and avoid the audiobook version like a swarm of bees.
That aside, the book itself is okay, mediocre. It is decently written. I am part of the group that supports books without a real plot or motivation. Although books can still be good without a real plot or motivation, it is not an easy task.
This book failed to do so. The book lacks a plot. The character lacks a real motivation other than I want to be an adventurer. But it is still salvagable and enjoyable if done right. You need something to spice things up, a gimmick or something.
Well, there is one, the healer's gift. But it is lacking. The whole books ends up as going to the dungeon, kill stuff, going to the clinic, heal people, eat, sleep, have sex and repeat. Money is also extremely hard to earn and there are little upgrades to the equipment. The same can be said for the skills.
All in all, it is a rather boring book. No plot? Np, fill it with fun things. No fun things? Well, you're just boring then.
January 5, 2020
Notes:
I love System Apocalypse. That means I'll try anything Tao Wong writes but this book was rather disappointing. It's a bare bones LitRPG without a clear plot, well developed characters or setting. I'm going to finish the first three of the series but I doubt I will continue after that.
I love System Apocalypse. That means I'll try anything Tao Wong writes but this book was rather disappointing. It's a bare bones LitRPG without a clear plot, well developed characters or setting. I'm going to finish the first three of the series but I doubt I will continue after that.
August 11, 2017
I really enjoyed this book.
It's not a game, but the world has game-like elements, which showcases the story and the effort the author has put into the characters and the world building. There's a few times where things are repeated throughout the story, but not enough to be anything but a minor distraction.
The story does feel short, but that's normally the case with novels I really enjoy. Looking forward to the next in the series.
It's not a game, but the world has game-like elements, which showcases the story and the effort the author has put into the characters and the world building. There's a few times where things are repeated throughout the story, but not enough to be anything but a minor distraction.
The story does feel short, but that's normally the case with novels I really enjoy. Looking forward to the next in the series.
January 8, 2018
I enjoyed this story. I just wanted more. It was too short. I guess if it's a series I'll get the rest of the story in the next book. Daniel had a dream and he went after it. He learned that he could heal. This story was purely clean fantasy.
August 19, 2022
First of all, while it is written "Brad" it is pronounced "Broad", something I can tell you since I listened to the audio book version. However, since that version isn't listed on Goodreads.com at this time I am placing my review here. It should also be noted that I summarize what happens in this book and so in that respect the following paragraphs may be considered a SPOILER. However, since this story has no big reveal, I don't really feel like it can be spoiled (I don't mean that as an insult, I believe well told stories are their own reward even when they lack a big reveal).
Basically it comes down to this: This is pretty workmanlike storytelling. It is somewhat amazing to me that a story focused on dungeon diving and combat lagged so much.
The book opens with Daniel arriving in a small town with a beginner dungeon from the mining village where he grew up. Daniel is intent on becoming an adventurer. Daniel also has a gift that allows him to heal at the cost of his memories and experience.
Upon entering town Daniel witnesses a child run over by a wagon and heals him. In return the child's family gets Daniel in the guild, trains him for dungeon diving and gives him a place to stay in their inn. This also leads to Daniel being taken to the local healer's place to aid in healing. Daniel doesn't have the healer classification but thanks to his gift he has received training in healing even back when he was a miner. That training continues and Daniel picks up a minor healing spell and starts a romance with the elven healer.
After a couple of weeks of training Daniel enters the dungeon and progresses down. The increasing difficulty has Daniel questioning how best to proceed since he doesn't have enough money for good armor yet. Eventually he encounters a beast-kin, Asin, who is also diving alone and they team up to even greater success. Daniel's shield and mace make a good distraction for Asin to get into position to attack with her throwing knives. Still, around level 6 (of 10) the difficulty begins to stymie Asin and Daniel. Daniel's elven lover introduces Daniel to a weapons smith who provides Daniel with lightning gauntlets which is enough of a help to allow Daniel and Asin to keep progressing.
At sometime during his dungeon diving the duke's champion tries to get Daniel to ride with him to fight an orc raiding party but the champion refuses to take Asin because she is beast-kin. As a result Daniel refuses to ride with the champion. Shortly later the champion is brought to Daniel for healing since the champion's wounds are too grievous to be healed by anyone else. It turns out the orc raiding party was really a war party and the champion only barely survived the encounter. Daniel heals the champion but it costs him so much experience Daniel drops from level 5 to 4. This means that level 5 of the dungeon is as deep as Asin and Daniel dare go until Daniel recovers. Before recovering Daniel is given a position with the army being formed to prevent Daniel's later conscription as a healer. (The army is being formed to go after the orc war party.)
This is an excellent example of why this book drags. Rather than sticking to what happens the author describes the history between orcs, humans in this area and the believed causes or orc incursions, etc. Granted a lot of that can be seen as necessary background but it is told in an extremely dry manner making it more of a slog than a joy.
The campaign against the orcs is successful and upon returning to the dungeon town Daniel receives a ring of experience as a reward for his earlier healing of the champion. This ring increases Daniel's experience by two percent and so offsets some of the experience he loses when using his gift to heal.
That is essentially where the story ends so it lacks resolution. This isn't as fatal a flaw as it could be. The book is focused on Daniel's journey, not his destination. As a result the lack of resolution is more about the book ending with a whimper instead of a bang.
Bottom line: If you like gamelit you will probably enjoy this book but it is a fairly uninspired telling with no resolution.
Basically it comes down to this: This is pretty workmanlike storytelling. It is somewhat amazing to me that a story focused on dungeon diving and combat lagged so much.
The book opens with Daniel arriving in a small town with a beginner dungeon from the mining village where he grew up. Daniel is intent on becoming an adventurer. Daniel also has a gift that allows him to heal at the cost of his memories and experience.
Upon entering town Daniel witnesses a child run over by a wagon and heals him. In return the child's family gets Daniel in the guild, trains him for dungeon diving and gives him a place to stay in their inn. This also leads to Daniel being taken to the local healer's place to aid in healing. Daniel doesn't have the healer classification but thanks to his gift he has received training in healing even back when he was a miner. That training continues and Daniel picks up a minor healing spell and starts a romance with the elven healer.
After a couple of weeks of training Daniel enters the dungeon and progresses down. The increasing difficulty has Daniel questioning how best to proceed since he doesn't have enough money for good armor yet. Eventually he encounters a beast-kin, Asin, who is also diving alone and they team up to even greater success. Daniel's shield and mace make a good distraction for Asin to get into position to attack with her throwing knives. Still, around level 6 (of 10) the difficulty begins to stymie Asin and Daniel. Daniel's elven lover introduces Daniel to a weapons smith who provides Daniel with lightning gauntlets which is enough of a help to allow Daniel and Asin to keep progressing.
At sometime during his dungeon diving the duke's champion tries to get Daniel to ride with him to fight an orc raiding party but the champion refuses to take Asin because she is beast-kin. As a result Daniel refuses to ride with the champion. Shortly later the champion is brought to Daniel for healing since the champion's wounds are too grievous to be healed by anyone else. It turns out the orc raiding party was really a war party and the champion only barely survived the encounter. Daniel heals the champion but it costs him so much experience Daniel drops from level 5 to 4. This means that level 5 of the dungeon is as deep as Asin and Daniel dare go until Daniel recovers. Before recovering Daniel is given a position with the army being formed to prevent Daniel's later conscription as a healer. (The army is being formed to go after the orc war party.)
This is an excellent example of why this book drags. Rather than sticking to what happens the author describes the history between orcs, humans in this area and the believed causes or orc incursions, etc. Granted a lot of that can be seen as necessary background but it is told in an extremely dry manner making it more of a slog than a joy.
The campaign against the orcs is successful and upon returning to the dungeon town Daniel receives a ring of experience as a reward for his earlier healing of the champion. This ring increases Daniel's experience by two percent and so offsets some of the experience he loses when using his gift to heal.
That is essentially where the story ends so it lacks resolution. This isn't as fatal a flaw as it could be. The book is focused on Daniel's journey, not his destination. As a result the lack of resolution is more about the book ending with a whimper instead of a bang.
Bottom line: If you like gamelit you will probably enjoy this book but it is a fairly uninspired telling with no resolution.
July 15, 2017
TANSTAAFL Acknowledged
The second law of thermodynamics says in essence the above, tanstaafl (there ain't no such thing as a free lunch). The young healer in this litrpg offering suffers a horrendous cost for his gift of healing, losing memories, experiences both mental and physical.l
My main criticism of this genre has been characters gaining incredible skills and crafts with essentially no cost attached, which is fine occasionally. Who doesn't love a hero that shows up and waltzes through situations with a smile and a quip, but too much of good thing is too much of a good thing.
My gut would twist and squirm whenever Daniel our hero would have to heal knowing consequences was arriving on track 1 immediately, but his willingness to help regardless was inspiring and made me question myself because many times I wanted him to turn away,but he didn't and I felt shame. Keep up the good work
The second law of thermodynamics says in essence the above, tanstaafl (there ain't no such thing as a free lunch). The young healer in this litrpg offering suffers a horrendous cost for his gift of healing, losing memories, experiences both mental and physical.l
My main criticism of this genre has been characters gaining incredible skills and crafts with essentially no cost attached, which is fine occasionally. Who doesn't love a hero that shows up and waltzes through situations with a smile and a quip, but too much of good thing is too much of a good thing.
My gut would twist and squirm whenever Daniel our hero would have to heal knowing consequences was arriving on track 1 immediately, but his willingness to help regardless was inspiring and made me question myself because many times I wanted him to turn away,but he didn't and I felt shame. Keep up the good work
January 11, 2018
LitRPG, short for Literary Role Playing Game, is a literary genre combining the conventions of MMORPGs with science-fiction fantasy novels. LitRPG is a LitRPG, short for Literary Role Playing Game, is a literary genre combining the conventions of MMORPGs with science-fiction fantasy novels. LitRPG is a literary genre where games or game-like challenges form an essential part of the story. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)
This is the first book I've read written this way. It was super enjoyable and moved along at a great pace. The set up and follow through was really cool and I absolutely think it's appropriate for my younger cousins to read.
This is the first book I've read written this way. It was super enjoyable and moved along at a great pace. The set up and follow through was really cool and I absolutely think it's appropriate for my younger cousins to read.
July 17, 2017
I recommend it
Outside of a very small amount of typos, this was an excellent read. The main character isn't over powered like in some of the LitRPG books. Even his special ability is nicely counter balanced, so he can't use and abuse it. I look forward to the next few books in this series.
Outside of a very small amount of typos, this was an excellent read. The main character isn't over powered like in some of the LitRPG books. Even his special ability is nicely counter balanced, so he can't use and abuse it. I look forward to the next few books in this series.
June 25, 2017
Nice dungeon book
Fun relatively light read. The main character is enjoyable along with the supporting characters. Its not of epic proportions but it is a good fun diversion from weightier books
Fun relatively light read. The main character is enjoyable along with the supporting characters. Its not of epic proportions but it is a good fun diversion from weightier books
November 5, 2021
Review of books 1-2:
A very simplistic and vanilla take on the genre. Probably targeted at a teen'ish audience looking to get into this genre.
Pretty much sticks to the tropes and nothing stands out.
Am done with this series for now.
A very simplistic and vanilla take on the genre. Probably targeted at a teen'ish audience looking to get into this genre.
Pretty much sticks to the tropes and nothing stands out.
Am done with this series for now.
July 25, 2019
Avoid the audiobook!
It can be read if you're bored out of your mind and have nothing better to do
It can be read if you're bored out of your mind and have nothing better to do
August 14, 2025
this was sooo good it was the kind of story I can't wait to keep reading
December 7, 2024
"A Healer's Gift" by Tao Wong, including character briefs and comparisons to contemporary works in the LitRPG and progression fantasy genres.
"A Healer's Gift" by Tao Wong: A Comprehensive Review
"A Healer's Gift" is the first installment in Tao Wong's "Adventures on Brad" series, a captivating entry in the LitRPG genre. This novel skillfully blends elements of traditional fantasy with game-like mechanics, offering readers an immersive experience that resonates with fans of both fantasy literature and role-playing games.
Plot and Premise
Set in a world where individuals are born with Status Screens and Classes, "A Healer's Gift" follows the journey of Daniel Chai, a young man with aspirations of becoming an Adventurer. The story begins as Daniel arrives in Karlak, a dungeon town centered around a Beginner's Dungeon that serves as a training ground for novice adventurers.
What sets Daniel apart is his unique Gift of Healing, a double-edged ability that allows him to heal others at the cost of his own memories and past experiences. This intriguing premise sets the stage for a narrative that explores themes of personal sacrifice, the pursuit of dreams, and the value of friendship.
The plot unfolds as Daniel attempts to clear his first dungeon, a rite of passage for aspiring Adventurers. Along the way, he forms friendships with characters like the Catkin Asin and the Northerner Omrak, who become integral to his journey. The story focuses on Daniel's growth, both in terms of his abilities and his character, as he navigates the challenges of becoming a professional Adventurer in the world of Brad.
Characters
Major Characters:
1. Daniel Chai: The protagonist, possessing a unique Gift of Healing that comes at a personal cost. Daniel's journey from a novice to an aspiring Adventurer forms the core of the narrative.
2. Asin: A Catkin character who becomes one of Daniel's friends and allies.
3. Omrak: A Northerner who joins Daniel's group, adding diversity to the cast.
Minor Characters:
Themes and Style
Tao Wong's writing style in "A Healer's Gift" is characterized by its blend of action-packed sequences and detailed world-building. The author's background in martial arts and his interest in history and anime are evident in the rich, immersive world he creates.
Key themes explored in the novel include:
1. Personal Sacrifice: Daniel's Gift of Healing, which requires him to sacrifice his memories, highlights the theme of personal cost for the greater good.
2. Pursuit of Dreams: The challenges and rewards of pursuing one's aspirations are central to Daniel's journey.
3. Friendship and Teamwork: The relationships Daniel forms play a crucial role in his development and success.
4. Growth and Progression: As a hallmark of the LitRPG genre, the novel focuses on Daniel's growth in power and ability.
Genre and Comparisons to Contemporaries
"A Healer's Gift" firmly establishes itself in the LitRPG genre, sharing similarities with popular works such as:
1. "Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman: Both novels feature protagonists navigating worlds with RPG-like challenges and mechanics.
2. "The Wandering Inn" by Pirateaba: Similar to Wong's work, this series focuses on character growth in a fantasy world with game-like elements.
3. "The Land" series by Aleron Kong: Both series are quintessential LitRPG works, featuring worlds governed by game-like rules and systems.
4. "Cradle" series by Will Wight: While more aligned with progression fantasy, both series emphasize character growth through structured power systems.
5. "Sufficiently Advanced Magic" by Andrew Rowe: Both novels blend elements of progression fantasy with structured magic systems, appealing to similar audiences.
What sets "A Healer's Gift" apart is its unique premise of a healer whose power comes at a personal cost, adding depth to the typical LitRPG progression narrative.
The novel's success is evident in its position as the first book in a series that spans multiple volumes, indicating sustained reader interest and engagement.
Conclusion
"A Healer's Gift" by Tao Wong offers a fresh take on the LitRPG genre, combining traditional fantasy elements with game-like progression in a way that appeals to a broad audience. The novel's strength lies in its unique premise, well-crafted world, and the engaging journey of its protagonist, Daniel Chai.
For fans of LitRPG and progression fantasy, "A Healer's Gift" provides an immersive experience that balances character development, world-building, and the satisfaction of leveling up. As the first book in the "Adventures on Brad" series, it sets a strong foundation for what promises to be an exciting and expansive narrative universe.
While the novel may not break new ground in terms of genre conventions, it executes its premise with skill and creativity, making it a worthy addition to any LitRPG enthusiast's library. Tao Wong's ability to blend action, personal growth, and game-like elements creates a reading experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, leaving readers eager to continue the adventure in subsequent volumes.
July 30, 2019
There's not much to this story. It's more slice-of-litrpg-life than an actual story with no character growth and artificial stakes. In it, we learn that bigotry is bad, that the powerful abuse their power (although that is a tiny part), and that the MC who has the suckiest gift ever should just tell people the costs of said gift instead of being passive aggressive about it from start to end.
The book succeeds in making dungeon crawls boring and as a bonus has amazingly cringeworthy inter-species sex. The "relationship" is incredibly unbalanced in terms of power dynamics and nothing ever rang true in terms of the friendships. The author attempted to say something about cultural differences but didn't quite finish his thoughts.
The book succeeds in making dungeon crawls boring and as a bonus has amazingly cringeworthy inter-species sex. The "relationship" is incredibly unbalanced in terms of power dynamics and nothing ever rang true in terms of the friendships. The author attempted to say something about cultural differences but didn't quite finish his thoughts.
April 15, 2020
For a book of novelette length, I expected a more frenetic pace. The shorter the story, the more overt the hook must appear. Sadly, this seems like the first chapter in a longer story. It's all set-up and no pay-off.
Tao, you can find affordable proofreaders on Fiverr.
Tao, you can find affordable proofreaders on Fiverr.
June 21, 2017
A nice easy to follow adventure
So this was a nice adventure romp fairly easy to follow with only a few grammar issues. While not a very major concern the story did suffer a bit from an absence of an overarching plot it was kinda a in the life of an up and coming adventurer and did well for what it was hinting at a larger tapestry the main character was well written as was the side characters it kinda felt like this could be a standalone or brought out into a further story I hope to see more of this in the coming future will keep an eye on this for further releases.
So this was a nice adventure romp fairly easy to follow with only a few grammar issues. While not a very major concern the story did suffer a bit from an absence of an overarching plot it was kinda a in the life of an up and coming adventurer and did well for what it was hinting at a larger tapestry the main character was well written as was the side characters it kinda felt like this could be a standalone or brought out into a further story I hope to see more of this in the coming future will keep an eye on this for further releases.
July 12, 2017
Woohoo for Wong
Loved this book so much however his physical strength was confusing at times. Such as him carrying thousands of pounds and the complaint about carrying and 80 pound pig. Really this book deserves four and a half stars. And I loved so much I'm gonna give a shoutout to his other book which I am also currently reading; Life in the North: An Apocalyptic LitRPG. Tao Wong if u r reading this another idea for a book is Xixanian novel. I hope u know what I'm talking about I didn't know how to spell it. Keep up the good work.
Loved this book so much however his physical strength was confusing at times. Such as him carrying thousands of pounds and the complaint about carrying and 80 pound pig. Really this book deserves four and a half stars. And I loved so much I'm gonna give a shoutout to his other book which I am also currently reading; Life in the North: An Apocalyptic LitRPG. Tao Wong if u r reading this another idea for a book is Xixanian novel. I hope u know what I'm talking about I didn't know how to spell it. Keep up the good work.
December 18, 2017
I wanted to like this book. In fact, I thought it was a 3 star book through most of it. Unfortunately, even though the premise is promising, the execution is just too amateurish. Similar in some ways to Dungeon Born, A Healer's Gift revolves around a Dungeon, and one particular adventurers training in it. The main issue here is just that Wong isn't a skilled enough writer to pull it off. I hope he improves in the future, but I can't recommend this one.
October 28, 2017
I like the book as a whole but found some aspect under welling. I am still pretty new to the dungeon fighting in this book and only have come across it in one other book. I am still on the fence as to if I am okay with the dungeon fighting or if I just find it stupid, either way, I don't think I will ever love it. With that said, I did like the characters and will continue with the series and that means it is worth the read in my opinion.
March 12, 2018
Daniel was born with a healer's skills, but he wants to be a Melee fighter. of all the fantasy RPG books I've read this it the first time I've seen this dilemma in print. It would seem that healers aren't treated with any more respect in the land of Brad than they are anywhere else.
Bravo! If you like game based novels you've just found a shining example of how good they can be.
Outstanding world building and great character development.
Bravo! If you like game based novels you've just found a shining example of how good they can be.
Outstanding world building and great character development.
October 5, 2017
A decent lit rpg
Very little of consequence here. A guy goes to a dungeon to level up and become stronger. No reason why no motivation just to get stronger. He goes on a couple quests he meets a couple people who die but not any of his friends. Its just a boring but well writen book.
Very little of consequence here. A guy goes to a dungeon to level up and become stronger. No reason why no motivation just to get stronger. He goes on a couple quests he meets a couple people who die but not any of his friends. Its just a boring but well writen book.
November 19, 2022
I have to agree with other readers who commented that the book was somewhat soulless (which seems to be a trademark of the author unfortunately). The main character is extremely shallow and the world building is very flat. The book reads like a live commentary on a computer game and is written in present tense!!
July 24, 2017
Very good but lots of proofreading/editing issues
I enjoyed the story and characters but this badly needed another editing pass for spelling and grammar issues. Otherwise quite good.
I enjoyed the story and characters but this badly needed another editing pass for spelling and grammar issues. Otherwise quite good.
June 21, 2017
Keep it up
This story was incredibly engaging and fun to read the author draws you in and let's you experience things from Daniels perspective
This story was incredibly engaging and fun to read the author draws you in and let's you experience things from Daniels perspective
June 28, 2017
Too short
Hopefully there will be a follow up to this one, good story line and world building with better-than-average characters. Nice job!!
Hopefully there will be a follow up to this one, good story line and world building with better-than-average characters. Nice job!!
June 30, 2017
Okay
I liked this story it's nothing special it will be interesting to see how this characters grow and becomes better evolved in the future of their story
I liked this story it's nothing special it will be interesting to see how this characters grow and becomes better evolved in the future of their story
February 14, 2021
Enjoyable read and my first full lit RPG.
I did have to make an adjustment knowing that this was and lit RPG. This story is told in third person omniscient with the added twist of it being also written in the present tense. Well the majority of the story is smooth especially once you get used to it at times it gets a little bit weird until you readjust that it's in the present tense and omniscient LOL. This started out feeling like it would be appropriate for all but it is definitely a young adult and above type read. Nothing too crazy but just enough to let you know that it's not for kids.
I was floating between a four-star and 5 star rating but I have to admit that this is my first time in a book that's clearly lit rpg. I have flirted with books that near the genre whether it's martial arts cultivation or a Sci-Fi cultivation. The world is very much a dungeons & dragons type world it feels. the races are familiar whether you read Lord of the rings or have played world of Warcraft to a certain extent. Unlike some books that I have skimmed where a person is taken into a game world this world itself has a natural dungeon phenomenon that is explained just enough to make it feel legit.
it did take me a bit to get comfortable with the writing style particularly since I've read his later series the thousand Li series. I much prefer that writing style and third person limited if I recall then this. Something about the mixture of omniscient and present tense is a bit off-putting.
The street was engaging and I was able to get into the characters but it did feel like it took more than halfway through the book before I started feeling for the main character. Mainly it's because we are giving very little background at all emotionally and personally with the characters. It feels very much by entering into a game with a new character that did not exist beforehand. There is a hint of history and it takes a bit for the characters to get deeper and more rounded. At the same time I was fully engaged through the work and was able to read it very quickly. And no point that something occur that I was taken out of the story.
The only was it engaging and it kept me pulled in it was interesting even though I was not used to this genre of writing. This was his first series from what I've heard and it is very well edited. There's no content errors or continuity problems that show up so far. I noticed in his later series it was very clean and well written as well. For the speed that he has had to have written three different book series and produced multiple books a year I am amazed at this. I found recently several book series where the author sometimes doesn't even have good continuity in the same chapter much less to book so seeing how well he has written so far it gives me a lot of Hope for the series.
It does and I feel sort of abruptly and the climax isn't really there I feel as much. There is action of course but the author did give the caveat that this was a series of short stories. The stories are actually decent length and this story did feel complete once the ending was there and I realized it was the end. I was so caught up into the story that it surprised me. It ends at 89% in the Kindle version. With a preview of the next book. That was partly why I was so surprised.
Of course there is a gaming feel a bit to the world where the characters gain experience and abilities through quest and grinding. That familiarity through past experience was able to bring me in a bit. Though I have to point out that the read out the character somehow sees that tells him his abilities is not really explained well he just sees it. The fantasy reader and hobby writer wants to know how why and where.
Overall I think this book is appropriate for young adults and above and if you're willing to take a risk this was a good story that wasn't corny or cheesy and any role play gamer can jump right in.
I did have to make an adjustment knowing that this was and lit RPG. This story is told in third person omniscient with the added twist of it being also written in the present tense. Well the majority of the story is smooth especially once you get used to it at times it gets a little bit weird until you readjust that it's in the present tense and omniscient LOL. This started out feeling like it would be appropriate for all but it is definitely a young adult and above type read. Nothing too crazy but just enough to let you know that it's not for kids.
I was floating between a four-star and 5 star rating but I have to admit that this is my first time in a book that's clearly lit rpg. I have flirted with books that near the genre whether it's martial arts cultivation or a Sci-Fi cultivation. The world is very much a dungeons & dragons type world it feels. the races are familiar whether you read Lord of the rings or have played world of Warcraft to a certain extent. Unlike some books that I have skimmed where a person is taken into a game world this world itself has a natural dungeon phenomenon that is explained just enough to make it feel legit.
it did take me a bit to get comfortable with the writing style particularly since I've read his later series the thousand Li series. I much prefer that writing style and third person limited if I recall then this. Something about the mixture of omniscient and present tense is a bit off-putting.
The street was engaging and I was able to get into the characters but it did feel like it took more than halfway through the book before I started feeling for the main character. Mainly it's because we are giving very little background at all emotionally and personally with the characters. It feels very much by entering into a game with a new character that did not exist beforehand. There is a hint of history and it takes a bit for the characters to get deeper and more rounded. At the same time I was fully engaged through the work and was able to read it very quickly. And no point that something occur that I was taken out of the story.
The only was it engaging and it kept me pulled in it was interesting even though I was not used to this genre of writing. This was his first series from what I've heard and it is very well edited. There's no content errors or continuity problems that show up so far. I noticed in his later series it was very clean and well written as well. For the speed that he has had to have written three different book series and produced multiple books a year I am amazed at this. I found recently several book series where the author sometimes doesn't even have good continuity in the same chapter much less to book so seeing how well he has written so far it gives me a lot of Hope for the series.
It does and I feel sort of abruptly and the climax isn't really there I feel as much. There is action of course but the author did give the caveat that this was a series of short stories. The stories are actually decent length and this story did feel complete once the ending was there and I realized it was the end. I was so caught up into the story that it surprised me. It ends at 89% in the Kindle version. With a preview of the next book. That was partly why I was so surprised.
Of course there is a gaming feel a bit to the world where the characters gain experience and abilities through quest and grinding. That familiarity through past experience was able to bring me in a bit. Though I have to point out that the read out the character somehow sees that tells him his abilities is not really explained well he just sees it. The fantasy reader and hobby writer wants to know how why and where.
Overall I think this book is appropriate for young adults and above and if you're willing to take a risk this was a good story that wasn't corny or cheesy and any role play gamer can jump right in.
April 3, 2023
Beyond average and disappointing. 2.5/5
Lack of character purpose:
The story starts off too quickly. We don't know much about Daniel, apart from the fact that he's a miner, has healing abilities and wants to be an adventurer. Yes, it's obvious Daniel wants to be an adventurer. It's stated that he's not doing it for money. Then what's his real reason?
Lack of character goals:
Daniel wants to reach the top tier of the dungeons. We don't know what is on the top floor and why he wants to reach there.
Why is he always meeting women?
This part is quite comical. On arriving at Karlak, Daniel meets a girl, Mary. He saves her nephew and she takes him to his sister, Elise's inn, where he starts living. Then he visits a hospital and meets an elf girl, Khyra. Inside the dungeon, he needs a partner and surprise, surprise, he meets a catskin girl, Asin. He also saves an insignificant character inside a dungeon, who just so happens to be a woman.
One might think, it's because there are more female adventurers than male. No. Contrary to him meeting only women, he hangs out with male adventurer inside the inn and has drinks with them. But he never meets any of them inside the dungeon.
Series of conveniences:
Daniel arrives in Karlak with little money. Conveniently, he meets Mary and she offers him a place in her sister's inn and also gives him free training to become an adventurer because she owns the training school. After that, she disappears. We don't see her in the story.
Daniel is called upon for his healing abilities to a hospital and he meets the prettiest girl, elf, of the town, who despite being the the most beautiful woman and living in that town for years is single. Everyone knows where this cliche goes. Though Daniel is not attractive, unimportant, weak and poor, she falls in love with him.
The elf girl conveniently knows a guy who has better weapons and he's willing to let Daniel burrow it because he's friends with the elf.
Her role was only giving Daniel good weapons and sleeping with him. There was literally just one scene between them where they were not having sex, and at that time too Daniel was thinking about sex. This makes me wonder if the author is trying to live his own fantasies through his stories.
New dangers coming out of nowhere:
Towards the end of the story, Daniel is called upon by the army to help with the orc war. This part came out of nowhere. Before this, there was no mention of orc trouble between Karlak and the orc town.
It's a pretty average story, nothing extraordinary. The good thing is the constant head hopping didn't trouble me that much, but I didn't enjoy it. It is free to download so that's a good thing. I wouldn't want to pay for it. It's just a one time read if you are bored and you just want to read a fun LitRPG.
Lack of character purpose:
The story starts off too quickly. We don't know much about Daniel, apart from the fact that he's a miner, has healing abilities and wants to be an adventurer. Yes, it's obvious Daniel wants to be an adventurer. It's stated that he's not doing it for money. Then what's his real reason?
Lack of character goals:
Daniel wants to reach the top tier of the dungeons. We don't know what is on the top floor and why he wants to reach there.
Why is he always meeting women?
This part is quite comical. On arriving at Karlak, Daniel meets a girl, Mary. He saves her nephew and she takes him to his sister, Elise's inn, where he starts living. Then he visits a hospital and meets an elf girl, Khyra. Inside the dungeon, he needs a partner and surprise, surprise, he meets a catskin girl, Asin. He also saves an insignificant character inside a dungeon, who just so happens to be a woman.
One might think, it's because there are more female adventurers than male. No. Contrary to him meeting only women, he hangs out with male adventurer inside the inn and has drinks with them. But he never meets any of them inside the dungeon.
Series of conveniences:
Daniel arrives in Karlak with little money. Conveniently, he meets Mary and she offers him a place in her sister's inn and also gives him free training to become an adventurer because she owns the training school. After that, she disappears. We don't see her in the story.
Daniel is called upon for his healing abilities to a hospital and he meets the prettiest girl, elf, of the town, who despite being the the most beautiful woman and living in that town for years is single. Everyone knows where this cliche goes. Though Daniel is not attractive, unimportant, weak and poor, she falls in love with him.
The elf girl conveniently knows a guy who has better weapons and he's willing to let Daniel burrow it because he's friends with the elf.
Her role was only giving Daniel good weapons and sleeping with him. There was literally just one scene between them where they were not having sex, and at that time too Daniel was thinking about sex. This makes me wonder if the author is trying to live his own fantasies through his stories.
New dangers coming out of nowhere:
Towards the end of the story, Daniel is called upon by the army to help with the orc war. This part came out of nowhere. Before this, there was no mention of orc trouble between Karlak and the orc town.
It's a pretty average story, nothing extraordinary. The good thing is the constant head hopping didn't trouble me that much, but I didn't enjoy it. It is free to download so that's a good thing. I wouldn't want to pay for it. It's just a one time read if you are bored and you just want to read a fun LitRPG.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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