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The Realms #3

Killing Time

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WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO LEX?Continuing the #1 Bestselling epic LitRPG series The Realms that began in Barrow King.

All Lex wanted was to help his good buddy Gryph find his sister and maybe save the world along the way. But everything goes wrong from the start when Lex gets separated from Gryph during their transfer into the Realms.

Lost, alone, and forced to live the same day over and over, Lex must defeat the agent of a despotic god, uncover hidden truths about himself, and find his way back to his friend. If he fails the Realms face destruction.

Killing Time is the #1 Bestselling sequel to Barrow King and The Lost City. It is a frenetic LitRPG time travel adventure overflowing with off the wall humor, buffoonish action, way too much stupidity and unique character progression that made one reviewer wish they could “Give it Ten Stars. So effing funny!" – Clinton Bruce on Amazon.

Welcome to your new favorite genre.

LitRPG/GameLit books usually feature adventures in a fantasy setting or sci-fi world and feature the progression and gaming elements from tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons 5e and Pathfinder with epic RPG video games like The Elder Skyrim and MMO’s like World of Warcraft. It features leveling up, crunchy stats, a rpg character sheet and skill progression. If this is your first LitRPG or GameLit, then welcome to the dark side of awesome. The Realms will take you back to the days when D&D books were new, and The Elder Scrolls were a glint in the programmer’s eye.

Embrace the adventure, portal to a new world and prepare to lose sleep! You have been warned!

The Realms is a non harem LitRPG series that contains action violence, and some swears, but no sex and is appropriate for teens and adults.

Killing Time is also available in print and as a LitRPG audiobook narrated by Armen Taylor.

Perfect for fans of Awaken Online, Ascend Online, The Ten Realms and Groundhog's Day.

The Realms - An Epic LitRPG/GameLit Fantasy Series. Suggested Reading Order.

Barrow KingThe Lost CityKilling TimeDead Must Die (A Side Quest)Scourge of SoulsThe Forsaken GodChaos RisingRavaged LandDoom Vault (Coming Soon)The Source Forge (Coming Soon)

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2018

749 people are currently reading
211 people want to read

About the author

C.M. Carney

20 books243 followers
After reading an editorial claiming Dungeons and Dragons drove kids to worship dark forces in the sewers, C.M. Carney's mother immediately bought it for him. He was ten, and it's probably a good thing he was afraid of sewers. Since then he has been obsessed with reading, writing and playing all things fantasy and science fiction.

After spending nearly two decades working as a creative executive for an animation and SFX studio, C.M. decided to pursue his lifelong dream of writing and publishing novels and short stories.

He writes sci-fi, fantasy and LitRPG that run the gamut from epic to humorous. His first novel Barrow King: Book One of The Realms was published in February 2018 and has become a #1 Bestseller in Norse and Viking Myths and Legends and a #1 Bestseller in Role Playing and Fantasy Games.

He loves hearing from fans, like minded thinkers and anyone else who shares his dislike of sewers.

Facebook Group: C.M. Carney's Book Room (https://www.facebook.com/groups/15527...)

Email: chris@cmcarneywrites.com.

Website: www.cmcarneywrites.com. Keep up with new releases, other news and the occasional freebies.

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5 stars
641 (50%)
4 stars
456 (36%)
3 stars
145 (11%)
2 stars
14 (1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for Gavin.
1,075 reviews445 followers
July 28, 2020
This third instalment of C.M. Carney's The Realms series was a good one. I feel like this LitRPG series is improving a tiny bit with each new instalment in the series. It is still not quite living up to the potential I feel like it could reach though! Which is a pity as I feel like the building blocks are here to make this one of the best series in the genre and just a really fun series in general but it is still falling just a bit short of reaching those standards. That said, what we do get with The Realms is a fairly solid LitRPG series with a focus on the action, adventure, and the game mechanics aspects of the story.

This third book was a bit different to what we got in the first two books of the series. In the first two books we followed the tale of Finn/Gryph as he sought to power up in the VR realm and search for a way to save his sister. This third book was a lot shorter in length and followed the tale of Lex, Finn's banner AI, as he sought to find his way back to Finn. They got separated right at the start of the first book so it was fun to catch up with what Lex had been up to in The Realms. He had some fun adventures of his own!

The strengths and weaknesses of this tale are pretty much in line with what we got in the first two books. Where I felt like this book was an improvement was in the fact that this tale was a lot lighter and more humorous in tone than the first two books and that was despite all the murder and violence lol. Lex was just a more entertaining guy than Finn in general. Finn is probably more likeable but I did warm to Lex as the story progressed so he was still a character I did not have much issues with rooting for. The other big thing this book had going for it was the fact that the story was just more enjoyable. There was still a decidedly RPG feel to all the levelling up but the Groundhog Day inspired story arc was fun and engaging! I also thing this tale benefited from being a lot shorter in length than the first two books.

This was a side story but I felt like it was a really fun one that helped flesh out Lex as a character and give us some insight into his nature and past. He is a banner AI rather than a regular human! I also felt like this story reflected the fact that this world had plenty to offer beyond just the adventures Finn is having. It was great to learn a bit more about this VR world.

All in all this was a fun tale and I'll press on to the fourth instalment for sure. I was not keen on Lex when we met him in the main books but this story has definitely won me over to him as a character so I'll be happy to see him join up with the main group in future instalments. I'll also be happy to just follow him on his own adventures if that is the plan!

Rating: 4 stars.

Audio Note: Armen Taylor does a good job with the audios for this series.
Profile Image for Travis.
2,892 reviews49 followers
October 7, 2018
Interesting. I've always liked the time loop type stories, and this one is no exception. It's also nice to see a secondary character get their own book. I'm off to read the next one in the series now.
Profile Image for Mikael Agdahl.
33 reviews
September 26, 2025
humouring and entertaining, would more like to call it book 2.5 than 3, especially since there's a 3.5 as well along the same things, but that's beside the point. Lex got his revenge
65 reviews
March 21, 2020
Side stories are not main stories

Two books about the MC. This book is not. This should have been a side story or a book 2.5.
The book is short compared to the others which is good because the MC in this book is obnoxious.
Obnoxious characters never make interesting MCs. Lex was barely tolerable before when he only occasionally talked. Worst part is Lex is supposed to be super intelligent, but makes illogical choices and acts like an idiot.

TLDR; Lex makes no sense.
217 reviews25 followers
April 17, 2019
Good book but...

Man I HATE side quest books in series. This book doesnt have anything about the main character in it and books like this always rub me the wrong way because it feels like a money grab or a distraction.

That being said it was good but really short.
50 reviews2 followers
December 21, 2019
Sorry but this is a waste of time.

This book should have been woven into book 2. Its pretty pointless beyone Lex leveling and getting out of his predicament. Book 4 better be better than this waste of time. I loved books 1 & 2 so I will continue reading.
Profile Image for Shannon.
269 reviews
July 14, 2020
This was a nice tie in to finally address the Lex absenteeism after they're split up 5 mins into Barrow King.

Honestly a very smart way to succinctly catch him up time-wise to Gryph while also leveling him and genuinely developing character growth and letting us peer into a few new aspects of the Realms. Lex's highs and lows throughout his experience seemed real and the few shock twists thrown in as he would implement his plans were great.

A few absolutely hilarious moments I appreciated, and I look forward to learning more about Vonn and think it will be really interesting to see the interactions of Lex and Gryph once they reunite now that Lex has grappled with his free will and bigger picture.

My only real complaint on this one is honestly a superficial pet peeve with it's physical printing. Again there were a faw blatant typos here and there in the book, but also the book's spine indicates it is #3 in the series, as does the series goodreads page, google, etc. But the back cover identifies it as #2. Also once you've completed the book it indicates the first chapter of the next book in included (which the first book did as well), however it's not this chapter and instead the full novella "Dead Must Die" which is the next installment of the series. So yeah just a lot of unnecessary publishing issues that could have been avoided.

However, as I said I really enjoyed this, flew through it as I have with all the Realms books thus far because they are very engrossing, and just had a good time with it. Really hoping Lex and Gryph team back up in book 4!
Profile Image for Julie Drucker.
85 reviews4 followers
March 4, 2021
Best of 3

If you Love snarky sarcasm you will fully enjoy this book. Although the first 2 also have snarky comments and sarcasm, this one was a hoot! This book focuses completely on Lex and I laughed and giggled through the entire book; which took me only a couple hours to read! I have become quite the connoisseur of sarcasm since I married into an abundant gene pool of sarcastic males. It only took me 30+ years of marriage to learn how to be so snarky right back and then I brought 2 more of my own sarcastic geniuses into the world who perfected their talents by the tender age of 9! It was why I was sad to see Wick die in book 2 cuz I loved his snarky attitude! (Now if you haven't read book 2 yet, sorry for the spoiler, but you were cheating anyway if you were reading book 3's review) I absolutely LOVED this book, WHAT FUN!!!! I suggest you dive in and enjoy this one from cover to cover, of course that's meant for the sarcasm lover but anyone who has read the first 2 books should enjoy it too!
Profile Image for Robert Baucom.
88 reviews2 followers
January 13, 2019
Better than Barrow King!

Extremely funny!!! What do you do when you're separated from Gryph? Well you could just get drunk, win a hand of poker, and upset a town in the process! And then you grind baby grind! And then you get drunk and loose a hand of poker and upset a town in the process! Then it's grind time again and again and again! It's a great book but I can't review it beyond what I did, because of spoilers. I loved this one much better than the anger and feeling of hopelessness that was present and the Barrow King. How is it the NPC and not the main character can be better?! Lex is the hero the realms deserve! (Batman line)
Profile Image for David Durkin.
11 reviews
April 8, 2018
Fantastic, but lacked explainations

I thoroughly enjoyed this short book, it developed the character for the series, making him usable for the next one, and had the classicaly intriguing main plot that delivered humor and thought.
The only complaint i have of this lit RPG story is the lack of explaination on how he exits the time loop. The idea of a character just knowing that it ended without any idea on why goes over poorly, and made me wish there was a tangible interaction that solidly marked its end.
790 reviews7 followers
April 15, 2018
An amusing read.

What do you get when you take litRPG and remove most of the story nonsense and just level - Killing Time. It was mostly grinding in a groundhog day sort of way. Some of the narration was too familiar with the reader and current cultural references for my taste. Overall that didn't detract too much and I enjoyed this little puzzle grinding mystery exposition piece. I think it did miss the chance to go more into Lex and Gryph's interactions before the game. Lots of leveling and mayhem. It worked for me.
Profile Image for Conor Jacobsen.
36 reviews2 followers
January 14, 2021
An enjoyable novella that’s perfect for a single sitting, given it’s only 150ish pages long. The concept of the time-loop was immensely enjoyable to see in a fantasy world setting. Any fans of Bill Murray’s “Groundhogs Day” or Tom Cruise’s “Edge of Tomorrow” will enjoy this novella, and Lex’s attitude shift from confusion, to enjoyment, to blasé, to cleverness regarding his predicament is entertaining.

This series has done a great job with the LitRPG elements so far, so I’m eager to jump into the next book.
8 reviews
March 11, 2020
Weird but interesting

I was suspicious that this format would work but it does. It gives us a glimpse into Alex’s evolution and external actors influencing the plot line. I also give the author kudos for non-traditional character development and problem solving. The cube dude was weird and made me think of my sons show Gravity Falls. Not sure if that was purposeful or I have just watched too much kids tv. All around good read.
115 reviews2 followers
August 18, 2021
I had to skip through a lot of annoying and overly wordy game prompts, but Lex is actually a more enjoyable character than gryph, so this was a fun story. I'll continue the series, but I'm really hoping they chill the fuck out with all the prompts. I'm constantly having to skip ahead to stop hearing repeated and useless information. Also, the prompts are way too long and common. If I couldn't skip ahead I would likely not be able to keep going.
Profile Image for Gr.
1,161 reviews9 followers
June 8, 2022
Killing Time, book 3 of The Realms, by C.M. Carney was a short book but enjoyable with an interesting concept. I listened to the Audible version narrated by Armen Taylor and the narration was very good. My one complaint was that I had to pay full price for a short book.

This story is all about what has been happening to Lex. Overall, not bad. Good humor (occasionally immature), camaraderie, and a fast-moving plot, with lots of action. Again, the gaming aspects associated with LitRPG did seem to drag a bit. Even being a short book still earned 3.5 stars. The writing is improving.
Profile Image for Johnny.
2,174 reviews82 followers
April 6, 2018
Book 1.5

This is a novella that tells a decent story.
However one of the goons was given a nickname by our plucky MC and the system started to refer to the goon by said nickname.
This might be worth .99 cents, but you'd be better off with kindle unlimited.
I recommend this novella only to those with money to burn or kindle unlimited.
241 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2018
Laughed my head off

This was the funniest story ever. Loved all of the references, was floored by the hole in the bucket, dear Liza. I was a kid singing that song all over again. Grounding day! So funny...This so fit Lex's personality; however, this sequel seemed to be so short, am I missing something? Looking forward to the next chapter.
371 reviews2 followers
October 22, 2019
Fun but short

I enjoyed this book a lot but I was expecting something more on par with the lengths of book one and two. I was finished with this one before I felt I'd even started. Perhaps labeling it book 2.5 would've prepared me better. Either way, fun book but be warned that it is brief
68 reviews4 followers
April 4, 2018
Short but oh so good.

An excellent novella to whet the appetite for more.
Lex has easily become my favorite character.
Awaiting the next book with rabid, teeth gnashing eagerness.
A proper and quality addition to the Gamelit / litrpg genre.
25 reviews
September 10, 2018
Loved it

This book is great. It’s worth reading as a standalone. Lots of time loop shenanigans are to be had, so if you are a lover of groundhog day mechanics, you’re going to love this book.
Profile Image for Arlo Adams.
Author 26 books59 followers
July 26, 2019
At first I wasn't sure I wanted to go through the repeats (you'll see what I mean), nor was I sure I was invested in the secondary character, but by the time I finished it, I was even more stoked to read book three and delve back into the MC's adventure.
Well crafted. Well edited. Well narrated.
Profile Image for Vincent Bernhardt.
Author 15 books6 followers
January 11, 2020
Good read

More humorous than previous titles I this series. I liked it a lot. Would have given 5* if not for author’s use of the f* word. Really? You have to write so I cannot let my grandsons read it?
Too bad.
Profile Image for Devan.
622 reviews20 followers
March 5, 2021
Loved this books Groundhog Day style and the MC’s sarcasm is epic. Also loved all the movie/pop culture trivia mixed in. Whenever I have to google a reference and am rewarded with a fun interesting tidbit it makes the story all the more enjoyable.
Profile Image for Jack Vinson.
950 reviews48 followers
October 14, 2021
short and sweet side story

What a fun side story for a key figure that was nowhere to be seen in the first two books - by intention of course. I like this guy’s tone, coming right off the page.
Profile Image for Fred.
594 reviews
March 16, 2025
I'd been wondering what happened to lex. What a cruel twist of fate 🤣 Garm..... Garm has problems.


And a cheeky method of giving us a fantastic amount of new lore.
For anyone enjoying books 1and2 this novella is an excellent addition
6 reviews
May 20, 2018
Awesome reading. Great story for DnD fans.

Great read. Feels like you're right in there playing a campaign alongside the characters.
Hopefully this is the start to a long series.
69 reviews
May 22, 2018
Liking this series

I’ve quite enjoyed this series. Killing Time was a unique approach and was lightly humorous and definitely entertaining. Recommended read!
Profile Image for Luke Scroggins.
17 reviews
August 18, 2018
Good book

This book was very entertaining. I might like Lex more than the main character. A good fantasy book. Lit rpg
Profile Image for M.A. Carlson.
Author 11 books55 followers
September 16, 2018
Good stuff

I really enjoyed this story. Lex is odd, entertaining and bloodthirsty but in a way only a gamer could pull off. I am looking forward to the next book.
18 reviews
September 19, 2018
Great

A few spelling errors can't keep this side story down! The best side story I've read in all my time reading words!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews

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