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Respawn #1
Lives 1-5
You are no one. Level zero. Empty of mind and memory. Even your past has been stripped from your brain by the inscrutable System.
A long, difficult road lies between you and remembering any part of who you are. A road punctuated with one death after another. You are too puny to survive by might alone. Information is the single resource that might keep you alive, but the brainless “digis” have none of it. Only those with experience can give you what you need, but most care nothing about you or your plight. In fact, some make it their mission to kill you.
So die you will, again and again, your life counter clicking lower and lower. Even the creators do not know what happens when your counter reaches zero, but many are sure that your last life here is just that. No more respawns.
You are not the first player in the world of S.T.Y.X., and you will not be the last. You can only hope luck will be on your side. The luckiest players are those who find a vulnerability in the System. Those they call cheaters.
Perhaps cheating is the only way to win.
Enjoy your game
A long, difficult road lies between you and remembering any part of who you are. A road punctuated with one death after another. You are too puny to survive by might alone. Information is the single resource that might keep you alive, but the brainless “digis” have none of it. Only those with experience can give you what you need, but most care nothing about you or your plight. In fact, some make it their mission to kill you.
So die you will, again and again, your life counter clicking lower and lower. Even the creators do not know what happens when your counter reaches zero, but many are sure that your last life here is just that. No more respawns.
You are not the first player in the world of S.T.Y.X., and you will not be the last. You can only hope luck will be on your side. The luckiest players are those who find a vulnerability in the System. Those they call cheaters.
Perhaps cheating is the only way to win.
Enjoy your game
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2018
614 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Stone
55 books262 followersArthur Stone is the pen name of one Arthur Smirnov, a prolific author in the sci-fi and fantasy genres.
Born in 1973 in Donetsk, Ukraine, Arthur worked as a geologist, and also in the environmental sector and industrial archeology all over the world. He lives and works in Ukraine.
Arthur began writing fiction in 2005 on a bet, and thus his addiction was born. His first book was published in 2006, and by mid - 2025 he had published a total of 84 books in Russian, English and German-speaking markets.
Arthur Stone - email arthurstone2017@gmail.com
Born in 1973 in Donetsk, Ukraine, Arthur worked as a geologist, and also in the environmental sector and industrial archeology all over the world. He lives and works in Ukraine.
Arthur began writing fiction in 2005 on a bet, and thus his addiction was born. His first book was published in 2006, and by mid - 2025 he had published a total of 84 books in Russian, English and German-speaking markets.
Arthur Stone - email arthurstone2017@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 31, 2020
Lemme say first that I'll read the second book because I have absolutely nothing better to read... but YIKES! The concept and world are really REALLY interesting but man, oh man, the characters (especially the main character) are just terrible terrible terrible. I can only hope it gets better in the next book.
Aside from the way the author explains away the MC's dumb behavior via plot elements, the inner monologue goes from "meh" to just disgustingly unrelatable. ESPECIALLY when he meets "the girl character" (I call her this because really that's all we've got going here) for the first time, the inner monologue becomes SO venomous and misogynistic that I had to skip ahead and pretend like it didn't happen. I'm talking pages of NOT-funny (though I suspect it was intended to be silly) insulting nonsense.
I hate to harp on it but man, it makes me think the author is just tone-deaf to the way this guy comes across. I understand that these sorts of tendencies are supposed to amount to interesting character flaws enhanced by amnesia but it reads a lot more like someone who isn't aware of the MC's flaws. Here are some examples
- Can we PLEASE retire the anti-trope of converting the "amazing pretty lesbian" into a straight girl because MC is such a good guy??? This is 2020 and that is so stupid and insulting. The entire "budding love" storyline. BLEH. Utter garbage.
- She has some traumatic violent abusive backstory and wants NOTHING to do with men. She is pretty explicit about it. Moron continues to try to hit on her over and over and over and over and impress her, and make offhand flirty jokes and that is just SO awful to read. Completely unaddressed lack of respect on the MC part. It wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that he considers himself a good guy insisting he cares about this girl.
- All the girl does is call main character Moron. We might as well name him moron because it's probably said 150,000 times whereas his actual "name" is mentioned just a scant handful of times.
-Author forgets how long Moron and girl have been together pretty frequently. Starts making sideways comments about how much they've been through together, as if they've been trekking around for months. YEESH at that point it had been 2 to 3 days of knowing each other MAX.
TBH I have no more energy for this review but man i just wanted this story to be so much better than it is
Aside from the way the author explains away the MC's dumb behavior via plot elements, the inner monologue goes from "meh" to just disgustingly unrelatable. ESPECIALLY when he meets "the girl character" (I call her this because really that's all we've got going here) for the first time, the inner monologue becomes SO venomous and misogynistic that I had to skip ahead and pretend like it didn't happen. I'm talking pages of NOT-funny (though I suspect it was intended to be silly) insulting nonsense.
I hate to harp on it but man, it makes me think the author is just tone-deaf to the way this guy comes across. I understand that these sorts of tendencies are supposed to amount to interesting character flaws enhanced by amnesia but it reads a lot more like someone who isn't aware of the MC's flaws. Here are some examples
- Can we PLEASE retire the anti-trope of converting the "amazing pretty lesbian" into a straight girl because MC is such a good guy??? This is 2020 and that is so stupid and insulting. The entire "budding love" storyline. BLEH. Utter garbage.
- She has some traumatic violent abusive backstory and wants NOTHING to do with men. She is pretty explicit about it. Moron continues to try to hit on her over and over and over and over and impress her, and make offhand flirty jokes and that is just SO awful to read. Completely unaddressed lack of respect on the MC part. It wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that he considers himself a good guy insisting he cares about this girl.
- All the girl does is call main character Moron. We might as well name him moron because it's probably said 150,000 times whereas his actual "name" is mentioned just a scant handful of times.
-Author forgets how long Moron and girl have been together pretty frequently. Starts making sideways comments about how much they've been through together, as if they've been trekking around for months. YEESH at that point it had been 2 to 3 days of knowing each other MAX.
TBH I have no more energy for this review but man i just wanted this story to be so much better than it is
February 11, 2018
Excellent zombie-ish, LitRPG-ish adventure, though the female love interest was super annoying. Will def read the next installment in series. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
September 7, 2020
When we take up a fiction book, especially Sci-Fi/Fantasy, we're ready and willing to "believe" the world, and the people who live in it, and the rules they have to live by. However, one rule we can't give up on is consistency.
This story starts quite well. Groundhog Day beginning. Obnoxious MC, but we can forgive that because writing is acceptable, if a bit heavy on the snarkiness; it's LitRPG after all, you just have to have snarkiness all over the place (*sigh*). But pacing is good, and the stakes are yet unclear, so...
Narration-wise, things are muddy. The narrator (Michael David Axtell) struggles to put some differentiation (or soul) into his voices. Hard to know who is talking during dialogs. Which is confusing as hell.
Then at some point, MC meets "The Girl", and things just go down the sewers.
I'm not a feminist, by a long shot, but that scene has the most out-of-left-field misogynistic spew of filth I've ever seen. Honestly I wouldn't have minded much, if it had been foreshadowed in some way, through interactions with other girls, or whatever. But like that, it was like just... moronic.
From there, MC just devolves into doucheland. Because of course, The Girl turns out to be "cute" after all, which changes everything, right? Including the way MC's brains function. My eyes are going to the back of my head.
I'm still hoping for an unusual twist, but I'm wondering if this is the standard male where the author lives. Not sure what that says about the author's upbringing, but hey, who am I to judge, right?
Follows a long string of inconsistencies, and oddities, and flash of irritation after flash of bafflement, I start drifting out of the story. But there's the promise of an end to the weird Boy/Girl partnership, so I stick with it... until chapter 21 where we find out The Girl's backstory, and learn that she actually hates men.
And then I pause the audiobook because... this does not compute.
At this point the game is thrown. Verisimilitude has been irremediably broken. I can't even find a shred of empathy for anyone in the story. I know where this is going. Girl is never going to leave. This will be a combination of Taming the Tsundere and White Knight (MC is OP after all), with a heavy dose of Alien, on a bed of status pages.
Life is too short, yo. Guess this is where I get off the train.
This story starts quite well. Groundhog Day beginning. Obnoxious MC, but we can forgive that because writing is acceptable, if a bit heavy on the snarkiness; it's LitRPG after all, you just have to have snarkiness all over the place (*sigh*). But pacing is good, and the stakes are yet unclear, so...
Narration-wise, things are muddy. The narrator (Michael David Axtell) struggles to put some differentiation (or soul) into his voices. Hard to know who is talking during dialogs. Which is confusing as hell.
Then at some point, MC meets "The Girl", and things just go down the sewers.
I'm not a feminist, by a long shot, but that scene has the most out-of-left-field misogynistic spew of filth I've ever seen. Honestly I wouldn't have minded much, if it had been foreshadowed in some way, through interactions with other girls, or whatever. But like that, it was like just... moronic.
From there, MC just devolves into doucheland. Because of course, The Girl turns out to be "cute" after all, which changes everything, right? Including the way MC's brains function. My eyes are going to the back of my head.
I'm still hoping for an unusual twist, but I'm wondering if this is the standard male where the author lives. Not sure what that says about the author's upbringing, but hey, who am I to judge, right?
Follows a long string of inconsistencies, and oddities, and flash of irritation after flash of bafflement, I start drifting out of the story. But there's the promise of an end to the weird Boy/Girl partnership, so I stick with it... until chapter 21 where we find out The Girl's backstory, and learn that she actually hates men.
And then I pause the audiobook because... this does not compute.
At this point the game is thrown. Verisimilitude has been irremediably broken. I can't even find a shred of empathy for anyone in the story. I know where this is going. Girl is never going to leave. This will be a combination of Taming the Tsundere and White Knight (MC is OP after all), with a heavy dose of Alien, on a bed of status pages.
Life is too short, yo. Guess this is where I get off the train.
July 14, 2020
Not good
Pros:
A compelling core story that kept me reading.
Interesting world building.
Cons:
Unlikable characters.
Rampant idiocy.
Nonsense game mechanics.
Repetitive descriptions.
Numerous grammar, spelling, and plot errors.
Extensive use of hyperbole and sarcasm when describing fictional challenges.
Pros:
A compelling core story that kept me reading.
Interesting world building.
Cons:
Unlikable characters.
Rampant idiocy.
Nonsense game mechanics.
Repetitive descriptions.
Numerous grammar, spelling, and plot errors.
Extensive use of hyperbole and sarcasm when describing fictional challenges.
January 7, 2024
01/07/2024 Notes:
Currently on Audible Plus
😅
**Note to Self: Skip this series.
Another translated LitRPG with interesting concepts, but poor plot progression and flat characters. The book blurb is the plot.
I was hoping that the main character name was a joke. Alas, it's not a joke. He really does end up with the handle, Cheater.
Currently on Audible Plus
😅
**Note to Self: Skip this series.
Another translated LitRPG with interesting concepts, but poor plot progression and flat characters. The book blurb is the plot.
I was hoping that the main character name was a joke. Alas, it's not a joke. He really does end up with the handle, Cheater.
December 19, 2019
Book one
Warning: This is a different series than Styx. It’s set up in a slightly different world.
Mistakes: I’d get a new editor. The amount of mistakes in this book are ridiculous.
Plot: Guy wakes up in a game style world and with no memories and must survive monsters.
Characters: The main male Mc is a chauvinist and complains constantly. The main female Mc says she is a man hater, but falls for the male Mc anyway. Even though she spent the entire book insulting him.
Even though the story is good the characters are annoying and the amount of mistakes makes me have to lower the score even though I enjoy the world itself.
5/10
Warning: This is a different series than Styx. It’s set up in a slightly different world.
Mistakes: I’d get a new editor. The amount of mistakes in this book are ridiculous.
Plot: Guy wakes up in a game style world and with no memories and must survive monsters.
Characters: The main male Mc is a chauvinist and complains constantly. The main female Mc says she is a man hater, but falls for the male Mc anyway. Even though she spent the entire book insulting him.
Even though the story is good the characters are annoying and the amount of mistakes makes me have to lower the score even though I enjoy the world itself.
5/10
July 2, 2022
I like the overall story and idea. However, the constant comments about women’s physical appearance, and his type, etc … just ruined it for me. It gets much better at the end, but if book two continues with that crap, I would just have to put it down. As is, without it being a free book on Audible/Kindle, I don’t plan to continue.
March 11, 2019
What the hell is this book and this series? It's the same world as HumanHIVE STYX but now it's an RPG. It's almost as if the author is trying to say the entire HumanHIVE STYX series is about the inner lives of NPCs. I dunno. It's hard to figure this out. Same zombies. Same spores. Same apocalypse but you get to respawn and start over, with exactly the same "twist" in the character's arc as the other, better, series.
I wavered between rating this one or two stars because the hero is so weak here and the love interest so absolutely appalling. She literally spends the entire book verbally abusing him. I went with a two ("it was okay") because I wanted to know more about the HumanHIVE STYX storyline background and I got that from the book. But really, these are horrible people and unlike HIVE, there's no redemption, no good human moments, nothing uplifting.
I probably should have picked one star. But I'll stick with two for now.
I wavered between rating this one or two stars because the hero is so weak here and the love interest so absolutely appalling. She literally spends the entire book verbally abusing him. I went with a two ("it was okay") because I wanted to know more about the HumanHIVE STYX storyline background and I got that from the book. But really, these are horrible people and unlike HIVE, there's no redemption, no good human moments, nothing uplifting.
I probably should have picked one star. But I'll stick with two for now.
December 29, 2019
First, if you like annoying main characters, confusing world building, and an almost-there story line; this is for you. The editing could have been better.
No spoilers, there is little to 'enjoy' in this book. It's hard to get behind the male protagonist, the female lead is unreasonable. I think the target audience for this book is 12-15 year olds. Granted, these books are read for fun and entertainment. I like some 'sunshine' in my books. This was a drudge all the way to the end. I gave it 2 stars because, like I indicated, the young crowd may enjoy this.
There are much better books out there, save your money and your spare time. I will not be reading any more of this author's work. Sorry.
No spoilers, there is little to 'enjoy' in this book. It's hard to get behind the male protagonist, the female lead is unreasonable. I think the target audience for this book is 12-15 year olds. Granted, these books are read for fun and entertainment. I like some 'sunshine' in my books. This was a drudge all the way to the end. I gave it 2 stars because, like I indicated, the young crowd may enjoy this.
There are much better books out there, save your money and your spare time. I will not be reading any more of this author's work. Sorry.
January 29, 2020
Premise was ok, but the book was damned-near unreadable for me. The MC is a moron, and this fact being self-evident is pointed out to him ad nauseum by everyone he meets, even (especially?) his eventual mentor/guide.
I skipped ahead a lot to see if this improved. Moronic behaviour continued even as the frequency of it being pointed out dropped slightly. I'm breaking one of my guidelines and posting a review of something I didn't read all the way through, but it pissed me off so much I couldn't let it get away with it.
My $0.02 as always, but it's my honest opinion and I won't be reading any more of this series. I read another of the author's books previously and it wasn't really my speed, so in this case two points makes a line, and I'm drawing it here.
I skipped ahead a lot to see if this improved. Moronic behaviour continued even as the frequency of it being pointed out dropped slightly. I'm breaking one of my guidelines and posting a review of something I didn't read all the way through, but it pissed me off so much I couldn't let it get away with it.
My $0.02 as always, but it's my honest opinion and I won't be reading any more of this series. I read another of the author's books previously and it wasn't really my speed, so in this case two points makes a line, and I'm drawing it here.
March 29, 2020
Alert
I hate trying to write reviews because there are really only pass/fail results for me. Did I make it all the way through? Yes? 5 stars. No? There would be nothing here to read. In all fairness, if an author holds my attention from page one to the end, they’ve done their job. Anything less than 5 stars is petty criticism from someone incapable of even doing the job let alone doing a better one.
So in respect for the author and their work, I am going to start pasting this along with a generic review I found somewhere. “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Now, since I have to keep explaining myself to people who don't like my reviews, I guess some clarification is in order.
1. I am 100% against criticism for works of art. Art is subjective, meaning reviews are irrelevant. The observer's opinion is only relevant to the observer. It is my belief that regardless of what others might say, I have to experience the art for myself.
2. I read upwards of 20 books a month. The $10/month I spend on K U, feels like I am cheating the authors. But since I can't afford 20 books a month if I were to purchase them directly, all I can offer is a positive review. That leads us to the final point.
3. If I get to the end of a book, then it was worth my time. I give those books 5 stars because it helps the author get exposure. That is the only reason I write reviews at all.
I understand that people are people and they are going to do what they do regardless of my stance. I know the way that I review books upsets some people. I am sorry they feel that way but as many have said, they will just ignore my review going forward. In fact, if you made it this far through my review, you should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews here. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
Cheers
I hate trying to write reviews because there are really only pass/fail results for me. Did I make it all the way through? Yes? 5 stars. No? There would be nothing here to read. In all fairness, if an author holds my attention from page one to the end, they’ve done their job. Anything less than 5 stars is petty criticism from someone incapable of even doing the job let alone doing a better one.
So in respect for the author and their work, I am going to start pasting this along with a generic review I found somewhere. “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Now, since I have to keep explaining myself to people who don't like my reviews, I guess some clarification is in order.
1. I am 100% against criticism for works of art. Art is subjective, meaning reviews are irrelevant. The observer's opinion is only relevant to the observer. It is my belief that regardless of what others might say, I have to experience the art for myself.
2. I read upwards of 20 books a month. The $10/month I spend on K U, feels like I am cheating the authors. But since I can't afford 20 books a month if I were to purchase them directly, all I can offer is a positive review. That leads us to the final point.
3. If I get to the end of a book, then it was worth my time. I give those books 5 stars because it helps the author get exposure. That is the only reason I write reviews at all.
I understand that people are people and they are going to do what they do regardless of my stance. I know the way that I review books upsets some people. I am sorry they feel that way but as many have said, they will just ignore my review going forward. In fact, if you made it this far through my review, you should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews here. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
Cheers
June 15, 2023
I looked at the reviews and choose not to listen to them. and I can see why the negative reviews felt the way they did.
1) the FL called the ML a MORON so many times and with such vehemence, I actually started getting mad for him. I felt like she was talking to me and I wanted to strangle her every time she spoke... That is until I got a couple more chapters in and realize he actually was stupid. and not in the way the book tried to classify being a moron, he is just dumb. but that still did not stop me from wanting to hit her every time she says it.
2)that being said the book did hint that his intelligence and reasoning are lower because he is not level 10. so I'm hoping all of the ML bad characteristics are the author's brilliant way of showing how smart he will be once he reaches level 10. and if that's the case i will revise my review because that would be brilliant.
3) ok this one is a real problem but not a big one just annoying. i have no idea what people are doing when they are talking. there is a clear distinction between action and dialog and they are never mixed. so it ends up being long monologs of people talking at other people like "hey I'm talking to you why are you not moving hurry up well if your not going to move ill just leave" but no break to tell us what is happening in the scene why are they not moving or anything. again not a super big deal just annoying
4) not a super fan of zombies or "the infected" I was not expecting that but other than my personal feeling about them i don't really have a problem with the world-building other than i hope they touch more on abilities and the menu system later again I'm hoping he did not go into that because of his system defects
1) the FL called the ML a MORON so many times and with such vehemence, I actually started getting mad for him. I felt like she was talking to me and I wanted to strangle her every time she spoke... That is until I got a couple more chapters in and realize he actually was stupid. and not in the way the book tried to classify being a moron, he is just dumb. but that still did not stop me from wanting to hit her every time she says it.
2)that being said the book did hint that his intelligence and reasoning are lower because he is not level 10. so I'm hoping all of the ML bad characteristics are the author's brilliant way of showing how smart he will be once he reaches level 10. and if that's the case i will revise my review because that would be brilliant.
3) ok this one is a real problem but not a big one just annoying. i have no idea what people are doing when they are talking. there is a clear distinction between action and dialog and they are never mixed. so it ends up being long monologs of people talking at other people like "hey I'm talking to you why are you not moving hurry up well if your not going to move ill just leave" but no break to tell us what is happening in the scene why are they not moving or anything. again not a super big deal just annoying
4) not a super fan of zombies or "the infected" I was not expecting that but other than my personal feeling about them i don't really have a problem with the world-building other than i hope they touch more on abilities and the menu system later again I'm hoping he did not go into that because of his system defects
July 4, 2024
I think moronic/moron was the most used word in this book and quite frankly it was pretty fitting the longer I listened. The start was fine albeit as confusing as most new world books when you have no back ground of anything. But following along we meet some vague characters that even the MC is annoyed by their lack development. Then he gets “captured” and the book goes down hill. It’s like boy meets girl and can only think of how terrible this girl is and creates an entire story of how much he loathes her and hopes she gets raped? So out of left field I thought I missed a chapter. This character slamming continues so long I’m thinking he’s got some magical influence over him that just turned him into a grade F jack ass out of no where. Then, because he has nothing left to do cause she’s getting her hair done in a semi post apocalyptic game (what?? Where?! Wasn’t he running for his life??) he talks about his preferred preference for the female body down to her weight, color, lips, length of legs, hair, boobs etc. like… thank you author for going into unyielding description of how you view females.
Of course the MC gets more gusto now that he’s in the presence of a female and all she can say is how much of an idiot he is and all I can do is agree and just get more turn off by the writing and the gross character development. I’m not one to quit books but I felt like a teenager wrote this book and their teacher told them to add 30 mins of description in each tense scene and then he’s all like, oh yeah these women walking by are just sacks of clone meat but I need to figure out my “type” of physical preference cause that’s important and it’ll help me survive the zombies. I can’t. I couldn’t finish. I just got more and more annoyed. 10/10 would not bother.
Of course the MC gets more gusto now that he’s in the presence of a female and all she can say is how much of an idiot he is and all I can do is agree and just get more turn off by the writing and the gross character development. I’m not one to quit books but I felt like a teenager wrote this book and their teacher told them to add 30 mins of description in each tense scene and then he’s all like, oh yeah these women walking by are just sacks of clone meat but I need to figure out my “type” of physical preference cause that’s important and it’ll help me survive the zombies. I can’t. I couldn’t finish. I just got more and more annoyed. 10/10 would not bother.
November 20, 2023
Honestly I am a bit sad to have to leave one star. The premise is nice. The story in and of itself is promising. The pacing is enjoyable. But, as lots of other reviews seem to point out as well, there are some issues with the characters.
The main character could as well be re-spawning with a whole set of Fedoras every single time. He is mean, thick headed, homophobic and misogynistic. And all of that to a degree where it really becomes painful to read. Sometimes we have a protagonist that is problematic and that is part of the concept. That's fine. In the case of this book, however, there doesn't seem to be any concept other than the character being edgy.
Which also breaks the story a bit, since why should "The Girl" stay with him, if all he ever does is act entitled, insult her and at some point literally tells her that he would enjoy seeing her getting rd?
And then there is the way minor characters are handled as well. Females are described in detail by how f-able the protagonist deems them to be and men are either tough, ugly or . The homophobic comments are not only the MCs inner monologue by the way, through the first couple of chapters we see multiple men making homophobic comments.
The books afterwards seem to have better reviews, so I might still give them a chance, but man, it is really tough to finish the current one...
Sorry if the formatting is of here, it's my first review, so feel free to let me know if things are done differently here :)
The main character could as well be re-spawning with a whole set of Fedoras every single time. He is mean, thick headed, homophobic and misogynistic. And all of that to a degree where it really becomes painful to read. Sometimes we have a protagonist that is problematic and that is part of the concept. That's fine. In the case of this book, however, there doesn't seem to be any concept other than the character being edgy.
Which also breaks the story a bit, since why should "The Girl" stay with him, if all he ever does is act entitled, insult her and at some point literally tells her that he would enjoy seeing her getting rd?
And then there is the way minor characters are handled as well. Females are described in detail by how f-able the protagonist deems them to be and men are either tough, ugly or . The homophobic comments are not only the MCs inner monologue by the way, through the first couple of chapters we see multiple men making homophobic comments.
The books afterwards seem to have better reviews, so I might still give them a chance, but man, it is really tough to finish the current one...
Sorry if the formatting is of here, it's my first review, so feel free to let me know if things are done differently here :)
May 16, 2022
Despite an interesting premise, this book suffers from a bad case of stupid-character-syndrome and a severe lack of descriptions. It meant that I found myself reading about characters who make no sense moving through an environment I can't picture in my head. Not a good combination.
The lack of descriptive elements I might be able to overlook, but the characters were by far the biggest problem. The protagonist never acts in an intelligent manner (trusting when he shouldn't trust, not asking sensible questions, acting without thinking, failing to act when it's obvious he should, etc) while also portraying arrogant and obnoxious mannerisms, so I never grew to like him as a character. The side characters were obsessed with keeping the main character ignorant and then calling him a moron for not knowing what they know, so it was impossible to like them either.
As I was closing in on the two-thirds mark, some creepy behaviour between the only talking female character in the novel to this point and all of the other characters, including the protagonist, sucked the last of my enjoyment from this book.
Overall, I think this is a book that wasn't ready to be published just yet. It needs a lot of work to sand off the rough edges, and even more work to improve the characters to a point where people care about them. It gets a second star because I think that with some effort to improve these points, this book could be something worth reading.
The lack of descriptive elements I might be able to overlook, but the characters were by far the biggest problem. The protagonist never acts in an intelligent manner (trusting when he shouldn't trust, not asking sensible questions, acting without thinking, failing to act when it's obvious he should, etc) while also portraying arrogant and obnoxious mannerisms, so I never grew to like him as a character. The side characters were obsessed with keeping the main character ignorant and then calling him a moron for not knowing what they know, so it was impossible to like them either.
As I was closing in on the two-thirds mark, some creepy behaviour between the only talking female character in the novel to this point and all of the other characters, including the protagonist, sucked the last of my enjoyment from this book.
Overall, I think this is a book that wasn't ready to be published just yet. It needs a lot of work to sand off the rough edges, and even more work to improve the characters to a point where people care about them. It gets a second star because I think that with some effort to improve these points, this book could be something worth reading.
October 13, 2024
You know how people complain about Marvel movies injecting humor into scenes where it isn't needed, or is out of place? That's the main character in this book, Rocky.
On top of that, he thinks he's incredibly smart for some reason, despite having no memories. He's got everything figured out, until he realizes he doesn't, but then goes right back to assuming that he does once the current danger has passed.
I'm just going to say it; he's too stupid to live. He's mentally challenged. I actively root for him to die. This is a pretty short book, particularly with all the spacing between paragraphs and formatting. It still seemed way, way, waaaaaay too long because I hate the main character so much.
I honestly don't know how people can give this a positive rating, let alone 5 stars. The writing is awful, the characters are awful and shallow, and the world is nothing new if you've read the STYX series he wrote. I've read the first one of that, and while I don't remember much, and it certainly wasn't this bad, I gave it 3/5 so it wasn't amazing I guess. There are dozens of litrpg series out there better than this one, and even if they are generic they probably don't have retarded main characters like Rocky.
Avoid at all costs.
On top of that, he thinks he's incredibly smart for some reason, despite having no memories. He's got everything figured out, until he realizes he doesn't, but then goes right back to assuming that he does once the current danger has passed.
I'm just going to say it; he's too stupid to live. He's mentally challenged. I actively root for him to die. This is a pretty short book, particularly with all the spacing between paragraphs and formatting. It still seemed way, way, waaaaaay too long because I hate the main character so much.
I honestly don't know how people can give this a positive rating, let alone 5 stars. The writing is awful, the characters are awful and shallow, and the world is nothing new if you've read the STYX series he wrote. I've read the first one of that, and while I don't remember much, and it certainly wasn't this bad, I gave it 3/5 so it wasn't amazing I guess. There are dozens of litrpg series out there better than this one, and even if they are generic they probably don't have retarded main characters like Rocky.
Avoid at all costs.
May 2, 2022
The man awoke. He knew not where he was or who he was. He remembered nothing. Another man in the room named Grey, evidently a dorm, calls him Rock. The power to everything, including cellular, is out. Monsters appear, wanting to attack Rock. He is more concerned with the monsters rather than the situation he finds himself in. It’s very strange. The MC gets messages like on a HUD but he’s concerned about the messages as opposed to the appearance of a HUD. Evidently, he immediately accepted the idea that he is in a virtual world. Some game mechanics appear on the HUD, i.e. metrics, progress points, achievements, quests, and being informed that he died. The era is the present-day urban, which includes automobiles, cellular, wi-fi, and the internet, which is disabled. Rinse and repeat multiple times. Slight changes to the environment along with his name each time he dies. Rinse and repeat until he begins to get a clue. Although he never did get a clue about Kitty, even though Kitty had a problem with everything. I liked the narrator, he did a good job with the material provided. Damn ending; now it makes me want to find out about Kitty. Three.point.five.
August 29, 2020
A litrpg version of the scifi S.T.Y.X. Humanhive setting
I had no idea this was basically the same universe, written differently. Note that this is a different story as well - the characters are different, the situations are different, but the background is very similar. Same infected zombies, spore, pearl, skills, etc. In a way, the story works a little better by embracing the rpg mechanics and including respawn mechanics.
It's also a classic Russian story - asshole characters, casual streams of insults, sexism and crazed girlfriends. But if you're familiar with it and not turned off, that's a good story. With a faster publication rate, it's also something that will tidy me up while I'm waiting for the scifi version and the return of the true STYX hero: The cat.
I had no idea this was basically the same universe, written differently. Note that this is a different story as well - the characters are different, the situations are different, but the background is very similar. Same infected zombies, spore, pearl, skills, etc. In a way, the story works a little better by embracing the rpg mechanics and including respawn mechanics.
It's also a classic Russian story - asshole characters, casual streams of insults, sexism and crazed girlfriends. But if you're familiar with it and not turned off, that's a good story. With a faster publication rate, it's also something that will tidy me up while I'm waiting for the scifi version and the return of the true STYX hero: The cat.
June 20, 2018
Interesting to add game elements to the story..
I read the Hive stories before this book, as a point of reference.
The story and the Hive stories are effectively the same world. There’s some minute differences, but the worlds are the same... just that this book has leveling elements explicitly mentioned.
I ended up liking it less than the hive stories because of that, but still really liked the concept. Hence the 4 star review.
I recommend reading the Styx/ Hive stories, and if you enjoyed the general world of those books... you’ll probably get a reasonable kick out of this one.
I read the Hive stories before this book, as a point of reference.
The story and the Hive stories are effectively the same world. There’s some minute differences, but the worlds are the same... just that this book has leveling elements explicitly mentioned.
I ended up liking it less than the hive stories because of that, but still really liked the concept. Hence the 4 star review.
I recommend reading the Styx/ Hive stories, and if you enjoyed the general world of those books... you’ll probably get a reasonable kick out of this one.
October 9, 2021
Some good some bad
Some aspects of this book were good; the overall story and experiences that the protagonist and those they are with go through are vey enhancing and enjoyable.
Much of the book is less pleasant; the protagonist comes across as as insensitive to women and sexism. I’m not looking for a feminist perspective but his obsession with having a woman, like she doesn’t know what she wants is stupid. The protagonist also is treated like an unthinking fool and demonstrates an inability to learn and grow but is rewarded by the author regardless. Better writing accompanied with a more receptive main character would have made the book so much better.
Some aspects of this book were good; the overall story and experiences that the protagonist and those they are with go through are vey enhancing and enjoyable.
Much of the book is less pleasant; the protagonist comes across as as insensitive to women and sexism. I’m not looking for a feminist perspective but his obsession with having a woman, like she doesn’t know what she wants is stupid. The protagonist also is treated like an unthinking fool and demonstrates an inability to learn and grow but is rewarded by the author regardless. Better writing accompanied with a more receptive main character would have made the book so much better.
May 16, 2022
I've just finished the entire Respawn series, books 1-6 and I really enjoyed them. I listened to the audiobook while I was at work and found the entire idea of a character having multiple lives VERY interesting! Every time our character Rock/Rocky/Cheater died he would learn from his mistakes and always make his death come at a cost to his enemies. I really wish the book had continued into a 7th book, there are so many places this story could go however I understand why it didn't because this isn't the sort of story that could really end anywhere. Thanks very much Arthur Stone for writing something so interesting!(I'll copy and paste this review on all 6 books.)
November 4, 2019
New take on this genre
I am a voracious reader. I go through books very very quickly and love kindle unlimited. I don’t know how to focus either but I’m glad I did. This was a great quick book. I am very very anxious to see how rock, Rocky, cheater develops and grows. how will his stats improve once he reaches a level 10? As he banks his skill points what will he focus on? How long will it take him to find Romeo and globes? Will he find new friends in his quest? These other answers will be answered on the next episode of…
I am a voracious reader. I go through books very very quickly and love kindle unlimited. I don’t know how to focus either but I’m glad I did. This was a great quick book. I am very very anxious to see how rock, Rocky, cheater develops and grows. how will his stats improve once he reaches a level 10? As he banks his skill points what will he focus on? How long will it take him to find Romeo and globes? Will he find new friends in his quest? These other answers will be answered on the next episode of…
November 19, 2022
DNF at 28 percent. The plot "Groundhog day with zombies" could have been interesting but it got ruined by the author changing the area and persons all the time. The main character, aptly constantly called moron, is a VERY unlikeable misogynist who makes fun of a rape victim because he considers her fat and ugly. As soon as he finds out she is cute if dumb (going to the hair dresser and wearing high heeled shoes during the apocalypse ? really??) he behaves like a randy goat. I stopped reading utterly disgusted.
May 29, 2022
Readers are constantly left in the dark about how the world works (which is kinda fair cus the MC is clueless - not that it’s his fault). Honestly I lowered to 3 stars instead of 4 cus the author has no clue how devastating child hood SA trauma is on people and just expects the “love” interest (HEAVY air quotes) who isn’t even interested in men to suddenly have feelings for MC. Honestly kinda gross.
July 13, 2020
Great story that suffers from numerous challenges in translation. I really enjoyed the premise the author laid out. It’s an interesting world with interesting game dynamics. The biggest challenge is the translation is off just enough to make getting the overall gist of the story more confusing than it needs to be.
It’s still an enjoyable read overall, but be prepared to re-read at least some sentences/paragraphs multiple times to try and figure out what the author meant.
It’s still an enjoyable read overall, but be prepared to re-read at least some sentences/paragraphs multiple times to try and figure out what the author meant.
September 21, 2020
Read it. you will be glad you did
But sorry that the book has ended. However there are 4 more to the series so much to look forward to (i hope)
somehow it reminds me of Hunger games although it is absolute nothing of the same. maybe it is changes from relatively quiet to
great action, and the alternate scenery of the book.
Anyway it is a fine book and absolutely recommended
But sorry that the book has ended. However there are 4 more to the series so much to look forward to (i hope)
somehow it reminds me of Hunger games although it is absolute nothing of the same. maybe it is changes from relatively quiet to
great action, and the alternate scenery of the book.
Anyway it is a fine book and absolutely recommended
July 8, 2018
Great book hope another one is going to follow, follows a noob with no memory of his past whom has no idea how he got into this 'world'. He starts with 99 lives and as you can guess from the title, it is about his lives 1 - 5. There are zombies in a post apocalyptic world...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2018
Well-Written, & Unique Approach
Great story, and well-written. Only issue is the need for one or two more runs past an editor. Near the end there were a glaringly abundant number of errors, enough that they began to detract from the story.
Great story, and well-written. Only issue is the need for one or two more runs past an editor. Near the end there were a glaringly abundant number of errors, enough that they began to detract from the story.
November 1, 2018
Unique zombie apocalypse LitRPG
Quite enjoyable. The MC was amazingly stupid at first, but apparently a low INT can do that. He grows on you slowly, and believably. In my top list for the genre.
Quite enjoyable. The MC was amazingly stupid at first, but apparently a low INT can do that. He grows on you slowly, and believably. In my top list for the genre.
January 30, 2020
Second time !!
This is second time I tried this book still could not finish it..the main character was some one that I did not like and if I don't like the character I don't like the book
This is second time I tried this book still could not finish it..the main character was some one that I did not like and if I don't like the character I don't like the book
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