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The System Apocalypse #2
Redeemer of the Dead
Four months ago, the world changed as electronics failed and blue screens started appearing, gifting humanity with abilities, Classes and Skills straight from a game. Caught in Klondike National Park during the apocalypse, John manages to fight his way free and reach Whitehorse. Unfortunately, the System hasn't finished with humanity yet and dungeons begin to appear, bringing with them more powerful, stronger and smarter monsters. Can John and his friends survive and level up?
Redeemer of the Dead is Book 2 of the System Apocalypse, a LitRPG / GameLit Apocalypse book that combines modern day life, science fiction and fantasy elements along with game mechanics.
Redeemer of the Dead is Book 2 of the System Apocalypse, a LitRPG / GameLit Apocalypse book that combines modern day life, science fiction and fantasy elements along with game mechanics.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 24, 2017
1117 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Tao Wong
137 books956 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 143 reviews
February 4, 2023
This is second in a LitRPG series that you don't want to read out of order.
You know what to expect, having read the first. Unfortunately. John spends this book mostly on his own. And I can't blame him given the xenophobic butt-munches the humans of Whitehorse are being.
Also, a system apocalypse isn't the time to be as Canadian as possible. Committees and consensus are luxuries for when you have actual control over your metropolis. These people are forming a "council" when they have zero control or accountability over their community. They're essentially an HOA, if an HOA were populated by racist xenopho... Okay, they're an HOA. Frankly, I'm glad John got pushed out of their number, but unhappy his friends are still trying to hammer pudding by staying in.
And frankly, the final plot left a lot to be desired. I mean,
And I probably wouldn't be this dismissive of the fun action bits and John's nominal growth if he weren't busy blowing up his personal life while he was at it. He doesn't have any real friends and I can't blame anybody. I wouldn't want to be his friend, either. He's a moody, angry, unpredictable mess so far in denial his hair is wet*.
I'm going to give this three stars because I was engaged enough to finish. And entertained along the way. I'm not entirely sure why. Since the blurbs of the next books indicate more of the things I particularly dislike, this is it for the series.
A note about Chaste: John has his head so far up his own backside, there's no time to scam on anyone else. Oh, and he . So this is pretty chaste.
* wet hair because denial is a river in Egypt and he's in it over his head...
You know what to expect, having read the first. Unfortunately. John spends this book mostly on his own. And I can't blame him given the xenophobic butt-munches the humans of Whitehorse are being.
Also, a system apocalypse isn't the time to be as Canadian as possible. Committees and consensus are luxuries for when you have actual control over your metropolis. These people are forming a "council" when they have zero control or accountability over their community. They're essentially an HOA, if an HOA were populated by racist xenopho... Okay, they're an HOA. Frankly, I'm glad John got pushed out of their number, but unhappy his friends are still trying to hammer pudding by staying in.
And frankly, the final plot left a lot to be desired. I mean,
And I probably wouldn't be this dismissive of the fun action bits and John's nominal growth if he weren't busy blowing up his personal life while he was at it. He doesn't have any real friends and I can't blame anybody. I wouldn't want to be his friend, either. He's a moody, angry, unpredictable mess so far in denial his hair is wet*.
I'm going to give this three stars because I was engaged enough to finish. And entertained along the way. I'm not entirely sure why. Since the blurbs of the next books indicate more of the things I particularly dislike, this is it for the series.
A note about Chaste: John has his head so far up his own backside, there's no time to scam on anyone else. Oh, and he . So this is pretty chaste.
* wet hair because denial is a river in Egypt and he's in it over his head...
October 24, 2017
Kindly of a let down
Kind of a let down after the first one. I guess I just expected more since it feels like I been waiting for this book for a while. There was nothing really wrong with the book it just didn't really seem like there was any progress from the first book.
Kind of a let down after the first one. I guess I just expected more since it feels like I been waiting for this book for a while. There was nothing really wrong with the book it just didn't really seem like there was any progress from the first book.
February 3, 2018
Not understanding
All the 4 and 5* reviews.
This book is choppy.
The MC used skills as aren't good he has till he needs them in battle.
For someone who is so all fired angry over the deaths, he planning and actions are piss poor.
All those abandoned buildings that he could be working to buy in order to create more safe places. Instead his only thought is to kill stuff. Also he's had a fort since book one, but he doesn't do anything with it.
He suddenly has loot that we are given no indication that he collected.
This is nothing more than a half decent rough draft, and needs to be gone over and cleaned up.
All the 4 and 5* reviews.
This book is choppy.
The MC used skills as aren't good he has till he needs them in battle.
For someone who is so all fired angry over the deaths, he planning and actions are piss poor.
All those abandoned buildings that he could be working to buy in order to create more safe places. Instead his only thought is to kill stuff. Also he's had a fort since book one, but he doesn't do anything with it.
He suddenly has loot that we are given no indication that he collected.
This is nothing more than a half decent rough draft, and needs to be gone over and cleaned up.
October 11, 2019
Mini-Review: LitRPG
Rating raised on 10/11/19 Reread
5 Stars for Narration by Nick Podehl
All of the books in this series need another wave or two of editing. I still love the series.
This felt like an extension of the first book. It goes into more details about the System and the changes it has made on Earth. People are figuring out how to do more than just survive in the new paradigm. Because John has a place to call home, the dark emotions he has been bottling up for years are starting to boil over.
Rating raised on 10/11/19 Reread
5 Stars for Narration by Nick Podehl
All of the books in this series need another wave or two of editing. I still love the series.
This felt like an extension of the first book. It goes into more details about the System and the changes it has made on Earth. People are figuring out how to do more than just survive in the new paradigm. Because John has a place to call home, the dark emotions he has been bottling up for years are starting to boil over.
October 24, 2017
This series is great, but this book in particular is awesome.
I'm intrigued where it will go from here, but it feels like such a complex world and Tao Wong has just scratched the surface.
I want to say more but every time I type something there's spoilers...
I know it just came out today, but eagerly awaiting the next one (also Brad #3 - Can't get enough of this author's writings)
I'm intrigued where it will go from here, but it feels like such a complex world and Tao Wong has just scratched the surface.
I want to say more but every time I type something there's spoilers...
I know it just came out today, but eagerly awaiting the next one (also Brad #3 - Can't get enough of this author's writings)
August 16, 2020
Rating 3.5 stars
My review from the first book still fits for this book. The one thing this author does well is write about action. Everything else is pretty much the same. The MC is still overly emotional, usually with anger and self loathing. He doesn't feel he is good enough and puts himself in situations that will probably kill him. When he doesn't die and gets stronger it makes other people look to him as some type of hero which starts the cycle of him not being good enough again. He states he doesn't care but he cares too much about what people think and how other people feel. He also refuses to make a decision about what he wants out of life. He keeps fighting because it is simple: kill or be killed. Unfortunately not making a decision is a decision and if he doesn't man up he is going to lose the things he wants and it will all be his fault, which will reinforce his self loathing. You probably think writing that much that I hate the MC. Not really. I am rooting for him to step up. If he doesn't though and he starts to whine I probably would stop the series at that point.
My review from the first book still fits for this book. The one thing this author does well is write about action. Everything else is pretty much the same. The MC is still overly emotional, usually with anger and self loathing. He doesn't feel he is good enough and puts himself in situations that will probably kill him. When he doesn't die and gets stronger it makes other people look to him as some type of hero which starts the cycle of him not being good enough again. He states he doesn't care but he cares too much about what people think and how other people feel. He also refuses to make a decision about what he wants out of life. He keeps fighting because it is simple: kill or be killed. Unfortunately not making a decision is a decision and if he doesn't man up he is going to lose the things he wants and it will all be his fault, which will reinforce his self loathing. You probably think writing that much that I hate the MC. Not really. I am rooting for him to step up. If he doesn't though and he starts to whine I probably would stop the series at that point.
February 1, 2018
Good second installment in the series. We don't learn a whole lot more about the system, but there is plenty of action and political machinations to keep anyone wondering. Again, not your average litrpg book but a page turner nonetheless. More errors in this one than the first one, which could mean just about anything, but I am hoping it isn't an indicator of what is coming in book three. Otherwise, it was a pretty good read.
September 12, 2020
About as good as the first book.
I really enjoy how it’s just a man and the community trying to survive while working with, or mostly suppressing, his emotions. His anger still seems a bit unwarranted but hopefully it will expand on it more in coming books.
The world is growing and becoming more interesting and I’m starting to like more of the characters. The title is great once you finish the book as well, looking forward to the next.
I really enjoy how it’s just a man and the community trying to survive while working with, or mostly suppressing, his emotions. His anger still seems a bit unwarranted but hopefully it will expand on it more in coming books.
The world is growing and becoming more interesting and I’m starting to like more of the characters. The title is great once you finish the book as well, looking forward to the next.
January 15, 2020
Why havent you read this yet?
If you havent read this you are wasting your own time reading my review. Because all I'm here to tell you is to go right now and pay your gold to buy this book and start reading right away. I dont know this author very well yet but if the first two books are anything to judge by; I think we can expect great things.
If you havent read this you are wasting your own time reading my review. Because all I'm here to tell you is to go right now and pay your gold to buy this book and start reading right away. I dont know this author very well yet but if the first two books are anything to judge by; I think we can expect great things.
December 12, 2017
I wish i had written this
Basically awesome. Loved the escalation and knowledge that the author wasn’t making this a fairytale where everyone lives happily ever after. Can’t wait for part 3 a d 4 and 5 etc.
Worth your time I think. Enjoyed this trip. Thank you
Basically awesome. Loved the escalation and knowledge that the author wasn’t making this a fairytale where everyone lives happily ever after. Can’t wait for part 3 a d 4 and 5 etc.
Worth your time I think. Enjoyed this trip. Thank you
May 5, 2020
Wong does action well. Monster hunts and dungeon delves are not just thrown in like salt in the stew. They serve a purpose, either to develop the characters or to establish relationships.
These are short books and, while they are not high literature, I'm finding them addictive.
These are short books and, while they are not high literature, I'm finding them addictive.
April 28, 2018
Not quite on the same level (pardon the pun) as the first book, but still enjoyable, and I plan to get the third book in the series soon.
April 2, 2019
A good read.
The book was interesting and fun to read. The MC continues to grow in power but still needed to stop wasting time and develop into a leader.
The book was interesting and fun to read. The MC continues to grow in power but still needed to stop wasting time and develop into a leader.
January 4, 2025
Iedomājies, ka esi izlēmis doties solo pārgājienā, kā galvenā varoņa Džona Lī gadījumā tas ir Kluane nacionālais parks un rezervāts Jukonā, Kanādā, kad vienā rītā pamosties it kā tajā pašā, bet pēc visas būtības pavisam citā pasaulē. Laiks, lai noorientētos un adaptētos, nav dots daudz pirms uzrodas pirmie monstri, kuri sākumā ir vēl tikai uz Zemes mutējoši dzīvnieki, bet, neskatoties uz to, arī tie paši var būt letāli. Kas vēlāk garāmejošā piezīmē pirmajā dienā ir aptuveni 60 procenti no Zemes populācijas.
https://poseidons99.com/2025/01/04/ta...
https://poseidons99.com/2025/01/04/ta...
March 25, 2025
The apocalypse sobers up
Well, it's not all fun and games in this System-initiated apocalypse. Our favorite MC is still working on his anger management skills while he tries to survive and help other survivors. A great follow-up to the first book in the series. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
Well, it's not all fun and games in this System-initiated apocalypse. Our favorite MC is still working on his anger management skills while he tries to survive and help other survivors. A great follow-up to the first book in the series. Looking forward to the next book in the series!
June 30, 2018
Plot: 9/15
Prose: 2/5
Character: 9/15
Setting: 15/25
Dialogue: 6/10
Enjoyment: 24/30
Overall: 65/100 (3 stars)
Prose: 2/5
Character: 9/15
Setting: 15/25
Dialogue: 6/10
Enjoyment: 24/30
Overall: 65/100 (3 stars)
January 18, 2024
Slower in parts than first book. I remain hopeful that main character will establish bonds with other survivors.
November 24, 2018
Mediocre at best.
December 21, 2021
Great series
January 17, 2020
While you could probably jump into this series with this book since it is only the second in the series, you would be advised to start with the previous one since you will appreciate the premise and the characters that much more by doing so.
This book picks up directly where book one ends and sees the main character isolated from his friends after his actions towards the end of that book, but from then on the focus on this book is mostly focused on the steadily worsening situation for the survivors as the monsters seem to be quickly establishing themselves in the area and for the characters the focus shifts from simply killing them out in the wild to keep them away from the towns towards clearing the newly formed dungeons to ensure they do not grow too quickly and the different set of problems that entails.
The author does a good job of mitigating some of the more annoying or negatives characteristics of the main character, although his underlying anger at himself, the world in general and the situation he finds himself in has not disappeared entirely and given the grim nature of the world, that is more than understandable.
The narrator does a good job with delivering a distinctive range of tones and voices for the various cast including the non-human aliens, helping to nicely enhance the listener's enjoyment of the book.
Overall, a solid second instalment in this series, following a natural progression from the first rather than trying to needlessly reinvent itself.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
This book picks up directly where book one ends and sees the main character isolated from his friends after his actions towards the end of that book, but from then on the focus on this book is mostly focused on the steadily worsening situation for the survivors as the monsters seem to be quickly establishing themselves in the area and for the characters the focus shifts from simply killing them out in the wild to keep them away from the towns towards clearing the newly formed dungeons to ensure they do not grow too quickly and the different set of problems that entails.
The author does a good job of mitigating some of the more annoying or negatives characteristics of the main character, although his underlying anger at himself, the world in general and the situation he finds himself in has not disappeared entirely and given the grim nature of the world, that is more than understandable.
The narrator does a good job with delivering a distinctive range of tones and voices for the various cast including the non-human aliens, helping to nicely enhance the listener's enjoyment of the book.
Overall, a solid second instalment in this series, following a natural progression from the first rather than trying to needlessly reinvent itself.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
November 4, 2017
Book is a grind in parts but still good
This book series has tons of potential. That said, I find myself disappointed with the long stretches of grind that occur. Sure the action is fun, but with such a slow moving story arc and minimal character development it leaves me appreciating the action less. I still am unsure if I like the mc and side characters are undeveloped, rotated out of focus or killed off so I find myself with zero emotional attachment. As such, ill probably give the series one more book to see if character development increases or plot arch gets more clear besides daily brutal survival.
One recommendation to the author-- you write realistic dialogue. I appreciate that. That said, shift the dialogue from daily grumpy interactions or disputes to dialogue that means something. Relationships that are Built. Romance even if it's between side characters. Plots hatched. Personal growth in mc actually caring about others rather than just being a grumpy bitter dude that becomes a better person by snacking and leveling his blood sugar. This could do easily be shifted into a 5 star series If you can engage the readers emotions. I don't want to finish a book and feel ground down, dejected, hopeless, and wondering what actually happened in the book that was significant beyond a few weeks went by of mc surviving?
This book series has tons of potential. That said, I find myself disappointed with the long stretches of grind that occur. Sure the action is fun, but with such a slow moving story arc and minimal character development it leaves me appreciating the action less. I still am unsure if I like the mc and side characters are undeveloped, rotated out of focus or killed off so I find myself with zero emotional attachment. As such, ill probably give the series one more book to see if character development increases or plot arch gets more clear besides daily brutal survival.
One recommendation to the author-- you write realistic dialogue. I appreciate that. That said, shift the dialogue from daily grumpy interactions or disputes to dialogue that means something. Relationships that are Built. Romance even if it's between side characters. Plots hatched. Personal growth in mc actually caring about others rather than just being a grumpy bitter dude that becomes a better person by snacking and leveling his blood sugar. This could do easily be shifted into a 5 star series If you can engage the readers emotions. I don't want to finish a book and feel ground down, dejected, hopeless, and wondering what actually happened in the book that was significant beyond a few weeks went by of mc surviving?
November 15, 2017
The first was good, the second is awesome
I really enjoyed this book. Everything about this book is great, from all the characters to the setting of events.
(Spoiler territory)
What I liked about the book was that even with all the game and sci fi stuff happening, the book didn't forget it was an apocalypse story and this made it even greater. Each chapter depicted the harrowing events of events that befell on the MC and his town, the little side news on the horrible calamities that happen around the world, the dangerous survival situations and loss of innocence and loved ones. The author took bold decisions during the story by touching many themes like breakdown of society, racism and slavery. The emotional journey of John was amazing to read about and I felt the author did an amazing job of developing all of his characters (from the great ones to annoying ones) in a amazing way.
(End of spoiler territory)
I really recommend everyone read this book, it's a great entry into the series.
I really enjoyed this book. Everything about this book is great, from all the characters to the setting of events.
(Spoiler territory)
What I liked about the book was that even with all the game and sci fi stuff happening, the book didn't forget it was an apocalypse story and this made it even greater. Each chapter depicted the harrowing events of events that befell on the MC and his town, the little side news on the horrible calamities that happen around the world, the dangerous survival situations and loss of innocence and loved ones. The author took bold decisions during the story by touching many themes like breakdown of society, racism and slavery. The emotional journey of John was amazing to read about and I felt the author did an amazing job of developing all of his characters (from the great ones to annoying ones) in a amazing way.
(End of spoiler territory)
I really recommend everyone read this book, it's a great entry into the series.
December 15, 2018
I hate books where the guy has to bend over backwards to appease the girl, when the girl was the one at fault from the beginning. If this continues I'm dropping this series. I hate characters like this.
They are toxic to the story line and ruin any enjoyment when the protagonist has to interact with them.
Not because they are attractive you have to put up with their bull.
I don't think I will continue the series. The angry all the time, and ways to try to explain that mana and all these things from legends past are real and not a video game isn't working for me.
The dealing with humanity's bull and politics is just not interesting.
This really isn't my type of story. I thought it would have improved, but it didn't.
2.5/5 Stars
They are toxic to the story line and ruin any enjoyment when the protagonist has to interact with them.
Not because they are attractive you have to put up with their bull.
I don't think I will continue the series. The angry all the time, and ways to try to explain that mana and all these things from legends past are real and not a video game isn't working for me.
The dealing with humanity's bull and politics is just not interesting.
This really isn't my type of story. I thought it would have improved, but it didn't.
2.5/5 Stars
December 30, 2018
Why has the MC turned into an even more frustrated PC cuck? Fuck me, but he needs a set of balls.
October 23, 2019
More of the same.. just continues the mistakes from the 1st book.
really not very interesting, just a bunch of fluff details... most of which don't aid the story.
really not very interesting, just a bunch of fluff details... most of which don't aid the story.
January 2, 2022
Book two down, and it felt like a more complete story this time. The world has been established, the characters introduced and now we get to explore and experience this world along with John.
Thanks to much already being set, there was much more plot, tension and emotion attached to everything. It’s well-rounded, the start mostly picking up where book 1 left off and not stopping from there. The big bad was more traditional in the sense there was a big bad, rather than just the world in general, which is how it felt in the last book. And it is very bad. Coming off that ending, I’m slightly shocked, although at the same time, I’m glad it happened… it highlights how visceral and tough this world that Tao Wong has built is. And whilst it’s LitRPG, this world certainly is no easy and fun game to play.
The characters, outside of John, are taking much more form in my head. Being that this is told from the first person point of view, it does really feel like we only really know about the characters John cares to pay attention to. It makes you care for the characters John cares about and dislike those he dislikes as everything you read is through the main character’s tinted world view. It’s one of the reasons I love first pov books. The characters and relationships that can bloom feel so much more when you’re in that character’s head.
This felt like a step-up from book 1. I was glad that, whilst John’s flaws were still at the forefront often enough, we’re in his head after all, there was room for more. It really helped me not dislike John quite so much. In fact, I may even be close to liking him now!
And yes, I plan to start book 3 asap!
Thanks to much already being set, there was much more plot, tension and emotion attached to everything. It’s well-rounded, the start mostly picking up where book 1 left off and not stopping from there. The big bad was more traditional in the sense there was a big bad, rather than just the world in general, which is how it felt in the last book. And it is very bad. Coming off that ending, I’m slightly shocked, although at the same time, I’m glad it happened… it highlights how visceral and tough this world that Tao Wong has built is. And whilst it’s LitRPG, this world certainly is no easy and fun game to play.
The characters, outside of John, are taking much more form in my head. Being that this is told from the first person point of view, it does really feel like we only really know about the characters John cares to pay attention to. It makes you care for the characters John cares about and dislike those he dislikes as everything you read is through the main character’s tinted world view. It’s one of the reasons I love first pov books. The characters and relationships that can bloom feel so much more when you’re in that character’s head.
This felt like a step-up from book 1. I was glad that, whilst John’s flaws were still at the forefront often enough, we’re in his head after all, there was room for more. It really helped me not dislike John quite so much. In fact, I may even be close to liking him now!
And yes, I plan to start book 3 asap!
January 13, 2022
Litrpg and apocalypse don´t mix too well.
The story started interesting. Earth becomes a dungeon world. A lot of monsters and alien factions appear and mankind has to deal with this situation and find a way to survive. The story has a strange mix of magic, high tech and melee fighting against monsters and sentinents of all kind, dungeons but only "authentic" loot (body parts and equipment of the killed). Therefore everybody depends on selling monster parts to finance his/her needs.
The series is "politically correct" as the MC is despicted as socially awkward, constantly struggles with "important" gender problems and is surrounded by strong independent women who make fun of him.
The MC is a loner with anger issues and a chocolate addiction. While he has less problems of accepting the new reality of living a dungeon world he struggles with his cheating ex girl friend and his latent homosexuality. He is obsessed with solving a "meaning of life/mana" quest that somehow became his main focus. For me this got tedious rather fast and i found myself skipping these parts.
In the first books the MC is a glorified Transformer like character but evolves in the books. We see him as meat bag, almost unique specialist, allrounder, etc. His evalution eternally swings from overpowered to underdog.
I really liked the situations in the first books dealing with sheer survival, rescuing survivors, scouting and rebuilding infrastructure. The politics later on were interesting as well but i felt less and less immersed in the story as it progressed. I read the series until close to the end of book 8 when i just did not care anymore.
The story started interesting. Earth becomes a dungeon world. A lot of monsters and alien factions appear and mankind has to deal with this situation and find a way to survive. The story has a strange mix of magic, high tech and melee fighting against monsters and sentinents of all kind, dungeons but only "authentic" loot (body parts and equipment of the killed). Therefore everybody depends on selling monster parts to finance his/her needs.
The series is "politically correct" as the MC is despicted as socially awkward, constantly struggles with "important" gender problems and is surrounded by strong independent women who make fun of him.
The MC is a loner with anger issues and a chocolate addiction. While he has less problems of accepting the new reality of living a dungeon world he struggles with his cheating ex girl friend and his latent homosexuality. He is obsessed with solving a "meaning of life/mana" quest that somehow became his main focus. For me this got tedious rather fast and i found myself skipping these parts.
In the first books the MC is a glorified Transformer like character but evolves in the books. We see him as meat bag, almost unique specialist, allrounder, etc. His evalution eternally swings from overpowered to underdog.
I really liked the situations in the first books dealing with sheer survival, rescuing survivors, scouting and rebuilding infrastructure. The politics later on were interesting as well but i felt less and less immersed in the story as it progressed. I read the series until close to the end of book 8 when i just did not care anymore.
March 4, 2025
This is a strange book, and series to review thus far.
I'm all for the world that has been created, and The System slowly turning everything against the survivors. The grim, and often bleak survival aspects of humanity trying to live through one more day.
However, there are some aspects that drag this experience down.
First: This is a LitRPG book, and the LitRPG aspects are there, but they are very minimal. I have only read two other LitRPG series, and those may not be good baselines for the genre as a whole, but I expect "more" game elements than what is presented here. We get the rare notification of quests, when the MC acquires a new class skill, and level up, but for the most part there isn't anything else. Admittedly the spirit companion Ali is supposedly filtering notifications for the MC, at least within the narrative, although it would be good [IMO] to get more LitRPG stuff. Maybe as the series goes on?
Second: This series moves really fast. The first two books are just a little over 300 pages each. For a LitRPG series, in my experience; that's really short. Granted this is a 12 book series, and it's possible that the books get longer, but for the first two books to move so fast is kinda odd. The story moves fast, because the MC is constantly moving. As mentioned in my review of the previous book the MC keeps busy as a means of not dealing with his emotions, and the circumstances of the new world after The System. Time will tell if things slow down more as the series goes on.
Lastly, and most of all: The MC John is a very unlikeable character. He is such a rageful, angsty, petulant child sometimes that I find it hard to care about him. After the events of book 1 we start book 2 with him having ostracized himself to a lone fort out in the wilderness for some time to try, and either let things blow over, or re-center himself. The latter is all fine and dandy if he was actually trying to do that, except he didn't. He just fell back on killing things, and leveling up to pass the time. By books end he seems to have gotten a little better, but he still has an almost suicidal tendency to try and go out in a blaze of glory, or otherwise act out on his own with little to no regard to the consequences of his actions. From a narrative standpoint that can be good if the MC has a captivating personality, and you want to find out how they manage to not screw things up, but John is not that character.
I don't know. I'll give this series one more book to try, and keep my attention. As I said the books are relatively short, so it's not a big time sink to worry about. I'm not holding my breath for the 3rd book to blow my socks off given the way books 1 & 2 have gone. We'll see.
I'm all for the world that has been created, and The System slowly turning everything against the survivors. The grim, and often bleak survival aspects of humanity trying to live through one more day.
However, there are some aspects that drag this experience down.
First: This is a LitRPG book, and the LitRPG aspects are there, but they are very minimal. I have only read two other LitRPG series, and those may not be good baselines for the genre as a whole, but I expect "more" game elements than what is presented here. We get the rare notification of quests, when the MC acquires a new class skill, and level up, but for the most part there isn't anything else. Admittedly the spirit companion Ali is supposedly filtering notifications for the MC, at least within the narrative, although it would be good [IMO] to get more LitRPG stuff. Maybe as the series goes on?
Second: This series moves really fast. The first two books are just a little over 300 pages each. For a LitRPG series, in my experience; that's really short. Granted this is a 12 book series, and it's possible that the books get longer, but for the first two books to move so fast is kinda odd. The story moves fast, because the MC is constantly moving. As mentioned in my review of the previous book the MC keeps busy as a means of not dealing with his emotions, and the circumstances of the new world after The System. Time will tell if things slow down more as the series goes on.
Lastly, and most of all: The MC John is a very unlikeable character. He is such a rageful, angsty, petulant child sometimes that I find it hard to care about him. After the events of book 1 we start book 2 with him having ostracized himself to a lone fort out in the wilderness for some time to try, and either let things blow over, or re-center himself. The latter is all fine and dandy if he was actually trying to do that, except he didn't. He just fell back on killing things, and leveling up to pass the time. By books end he seems to have gotten a little better, but he still has an almost suicidal tendency to try and go out in a blaze of glory, or otherwise act out on his own with little to no regard to the consequences of his actions. From a narrative standpoint that can be good if the MC has a captivating personality, and you want to find out how they manage to not screw things up, but John is not that character.
I don't know. I'll give this series one more book to try, and keep my attention. As I said the books are relatively short, so it's not a big time sink to worry about. I'm not holding my breath for the 3rd book to blow my socks off given the way books 1 & 2 have gone. We'll see.
June 5, 2023
Hear ye, hear ye, gather around and hearken to a truly joyless litrpg. There is no humor in this book, there are no light moments, there is no fun to be had here. A very unpleasant read.
I don't think Tao Wong really wanted to write this. The implementation of RPG mechanics is obligatory at best, and goes almost unused. The MC has a class which does functionally nothing; everything he does in combat comes from stuff he buys from the store. It really seems like Wong wanted to write a bildungsroman but felt the need to trend chase and made it RPG. It show.
MC is pretty lame too. The anger could be an angle, but it does nothing in combat. If he, say, frequently lost control and built himself into a class which fed his rage, that would be interesting! This book doesn't do interesting, so instead Wong racks up his word repetition counter on the phrase "I whimpered" as the MC breaks his armor for the 5th time.
Also, as an aside, a good sign for a phoning-it-in fantasy writer is a climax where the MC says "it's insane but it just might work".
The only improvement here from the prior book is the toning down of the thirst adjectives when characters of sexual interest appear. That, at least, has been reduced, but we now have the new bedevilment of white guy named characters. I get that not every fantasy needs the characters to be named like "Zaranthir Blackblade, First Sword of the Unseen Order" but maybe we can get a bit more distinct than Jim and Bill?
I don't think Tao Wong really wanted to write this. The implementation of RPG mechanics is obligatory at best, and goes almost unused. The MC has a class which does functionally nothing; everything he does in combat comes from stuff he buys from the store. It really seems like Wong wanted to write a bildungsroman but felt the need to trend chase and made it RPG. It show.
MC is pretty lame too. The anger could be an angle, but it does nothing in combat. If he, say, frequently lost control and built himself into a class which fed his rage, that would be interesting! This book doesn't do interesting, so instead Wong racks up his word repetition counter on the phrase "I whimpered" as the MC breaks his armor for the 5th time.
Also, as an aside, a good sign for a phoning-it-in fantasy writer is a climax where the MC says "it's insane but it just might work".
The only improvement here from the prior book is the toning down of the thirst adjectives when characters of sexual interest appear. That, at least, has been reduced, but we now have the new bedevilment of white guy named characters. I get that not every fantasy needs the characters to be named like "Zaranthir Blackblade, First Sword of the Unseen Order" but maybe we can get a bit more distinct than Jim and Bill?
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