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Realm of Arkon #8
Black Flame in the Barren Steppe
The final battle looms. On one front, the god of hatred, Vill, leads a horde of undead occupying the Erantian borders, threatening to overrun the orcish steppe. On another, the dark god Rakot aims to break out of Limbh. But even those threats pale before the one coming from the East: three ancient beasts set on wiping out all living beings.
The AI systems are in death throes as the Realm of Arkon seems less and less like a game. The standard behavioral algorithms of mobs and NPCs are long in the past. Gone are the simple quests and comical enemies. If you want to win, to grow stronger, or at least to survive, you must evolve along with this merciless world.
Krian must fight for his freedom, for his friends, and for the future of the world he now calls home. And as the finale draws near at breaking speed, a Black Flame blazes in the Steppe, growing ever brighter…
The AI systems are in death throes as the Realm of Arkon seems less and less like a game. The standard behavioral algorithms of mobs and NPCs are long in the past. Gone are the simple quests and comical enemies. If you want to win, to grow stronger, or at least to survive, you must evolve along with this merciless world.
Krian must fight for his freedom, for his friends, and for the future of the world he now calls home. And as the finale draws near at breaking speed, a Black Flame blazes in the Steppe, growing ever brighter…
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2018
174 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
G. Akella
28 books191 followersGeorgy Smorodinsky.
44 years old, live in Moscow, married with three daughters. Akella has been my game nickname for almost 17 years. My love affair with the MMORPG genre began with Ultima Online, and I played WoW from its release date. My main classes are Warrior, Rogue and Death Knight. Back in vanilla WoW I made Grand Marshall with my warrior, for those who still remember what that is. Throughout WoW’s existence I was present for the slaying of roughly 70-80% of raid bosses; in those encounters, I was the main tank about half the time. In vanilla, I was the guild master of Shadow Angels on the Executus server. The guild had approximately 250 members, with an average of 80 people online every day. Sometimes I led raids to MC and BWL (for those who remember, in vanilla raid groups maxed out at 40). I also spent some time playing Star Wars: The Old Republic. Presently I’m playing Black Desert.
Patch 17 is my first book. I had never written anything before it. I was inspired to start writing after reading D. Rus, A. Vasilev, R. Mikhaylov and V. Mahanenko. I wanted to create a world that lived by the game’s rules, to write a book that even gamers would enjoy reading. The same gamers who killed skeletons at the Vesper graveyard, stormed castles in Lineage 2, battled in Alterac Valley, and spent months chipping away at Nefarian and the Lich King.
Of utmost importance to me are: the logic of the game world, the immersion factor (for readers to feel as if they’re part of this world), and logical behavior of the book’s characters. So far so good, it would seem. Five of the books in the series are finished. Book three is in the process of being published. The first two books have sold out their initial print run, and more are being printed. The reviews from critics and fan feedback grow better with each new book. I sincerely hope that you will get to read book two of the series, The Cursed Princedom, in February.
Oh, and one day I dream of visiting San Francisco, the city where Patch 17 begins. Thank you, everyone, and happy reading.
Georgy Smorodinsky (Akella)
44 years old, live in Moscow, married with three daughters. Akella has been my game nickname for almost 17 years. My love affair with the MMORPG genre began with Ultima Online, and I played WoW from its release date. My main classes are Warrior, Rogue and Death Knight. Back in vanilla WoW I made Grand Marshall with my warrior, for those who still remember what that is. Throughout WoW’s existence I was present for the slaying of roughly 70-80% of raid bosses; in those encounters, I was the main tank about half the time. In vanilla, I was the guild master of Shadow Angels on the Executus server. The guild had approximately 250 members, with an average of 80 people online every day. Sometimes I led raids to MC and BWL (for those who remember, in vanilla raid groups maxed out at 40). I also spent some time playing Star Wars: The Old Republic. Presently I’m playing Black Desert.
Patch 17 is my first book. I had never written anything before it. I was inspired to start writing after reading D. Rus, A. Vasilev, R. Mikhaylov and V. Mahanenko. I wanted to create a world that lived by the game’s rules, to write a book that even gamers would enjoy reading. The same gamers who killed skeletons at the Vesper graveyard, stormed castles in Lineage 2, battled in Alterac Valley, and spent months chipping away at Nefarian and the Lich King.
Of utmost importance to me are: the logic of the game world, the immersion factor (for readers to feel as if they’re part of this world), and logical behavior of the book’s characters. So far so good, it would seem. Five of the books in the series are finished. Book three is in the process of being published. The first two books have sold out their initial print run, and more are being printed. The reviews from critics and fan feedback grow better with each new book. I sincerely hope that you will get to read book two of the series, The Cursed Princedom, in February.
Oh, and one day I dream of visiting San Francisco, the city where Patch 17 begins. Thank you, everyone, and happy reading.
Georgy Smorodinsky (Akella)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 12, 2018
4.5
Another good addition to the series but I felt like the ending was a bit rushed especially for such a major battle. Still looking foreword to the next one.
Another good addition to the series but I felt like the ending was a bit rushed especially for such a major battle. Still looking foreword to the next one.
June 5, 2019
I had a real issue getting into this book, partially because I didn't realize until I finished it that I accidentally skipped over 2 books. This is actually a real problem for this series though. There wasn't really any tells that I'd skipped over 2 books worth of story. 90% of these books are meaningless fights and quests that seem to always result in, 'oh and one more thing before you're done'.
So His "Wife" is still in the stone at the start of this and he needs to get fragments of her soul back, and in this book he finally manages to get the last piece... 'oh and one more thing' now you also need to kill a god to resurrect her.... F***. Oh but he's currently trying to kill a god so at least there's his target for completing the quest, right?
My investment in the series is really at rock bottom as I have no idea what the goal is. It went from a story with an interesting premise to watching an mmo lets play with an over powered character. I'm probably done with this series.
So His "Wife" is still in the stone at the start of this and he needs to get fragments of her soul back, and in this book he finally manages to get the last piece... 'oh and one more thing' now you also need to kill a god to resurrect her.... F***. Oh but he's currently trying to kill a god so at least there's his target for completing the quest, right?
My investment in the series is really at rock bottom as I have no idea what the goal is. It went from a story with an interesting premise to watching an mmo lets play with an over powered character. I'm probably done with this series.
August 29, 2020
Epic writing! Action! Laughter and love!
What I enjoy the most is the writing! The story is truly epic and worthy of praise but the writing, grammar, syntax, storylines, characters are all stellar. Multiple heroes move through these storylines with their naïveté intact; always observers in their own story.
The influence of the authors home culture is fun to read; so different than American authors; the values of honor, friendship and loyalty (values that are so traditionally Russian and in opposition to what we see in the media). We also have themes that are not part of American culture; happy young people breaking out in song and grabbing a partner to dance...not a thing in this country’s culture.
The reverence for cognac is also not a thing here; in our youth culture I’d expect something more like a pack full of kiwi strawberry fizzy drinks (yuck). That and the reverence for the lost art of smoking; I no longer smoke but I have lived tobacco since I was a very young boy, going on holiday and visiting Rich’s Smoke Shop in portland Oregon with my father and uncle. Sad that it kills you in this world!
I’m not a total fan of the in depth dialogue on rpg stat building... I skim the longer sections...I’m for the story and the characters; don’t get me wrong, the litrpg genre requires geeking in stats and methods of gaining them, it’s just there is more than I can maintain interest in. Lastly, editing needs some work! Fonts in kindle in the last book change in contrast randomly. All of the books have repeated words or redundancies. Sometimes the words are just off being accurate, almost as if translation was through software...
All in all, this is a wonderfully rich series. I have seen other authors compare themselves to Tolkien (not this one and the authors humility shows in his writing), these fellows are often good story crafters. This series, the skill and cohesiveness of multiple interconnecting plot lines along with a very successful ‘flashback’ vehicle to support the primary plot, are worthy of the comparison. Mostly, this is skillful writing worthy of the comparison.
Thank you for the escape!
What I enjoy the most is the writing! The story is truly epic and worthy of praise but the writing, grammar, syntax, storylines, characters are all stellar. Multiple heroes move through these storylines with their naïveté intact; always observers in their own story.
The influence of the authors home culture is fun to read; so different than American authors; the values of honor, friendship and loyalty (values that are so traditionally Russian and in opposition to what we see in the media). We also have themes that are not part of American culture; happy young people breaking out in song and grabbing a partner to dance...not a thing in this country’s culture.
The reverence for cognac is also not a thing here; in our youth culture I’d expect something more like a pack full of kiwi strawberry fizzy drinks (yuck). That and the reverence for the lost art of smoking; I no longer smoke but I have lived tobacco since I was a very young boy, going on holiday and visiting Rich’s Smoke Shop in portland Oregon with my father and uncle. Sad that it kills you in this world!
I’m not a total fan of the in depth dialogue on rpg stat building... I skim the longer sections...I’m for the story and the characters; don’t get me wrong, the litrpg genre requires geeking in stats and methods of gaining them, it’s just there is more than I can maintain interest in. Lastly, editing needs some work! Fonts in kindle in the last book change in contrast randomly. All of the books have repeated words or redundancies. Sometimes the words are just off being accurate, almost as if translation was through software...
All in all, this is a wonderfully rich series. I have seen other authors compare themselves to Tolkien (not this one and the authors humility shows in his writing), these fellows are often good story crafters. This series, the skill and cohesiveness of multiple interconnecting plot lines along with a very successful ‘flashback’ vehicle to support the primary plot, are worthy of the comparison. Mostly, this is skillful writing worthy of the comparison.
Thank you for the escape!
December 18, 2019
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.”
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.”
Cheers
September 8, 2019
Solid continuation
Continues to follow the story of the protagonists as they seek to end the threat of world subjugation. A little too much jump to sudden victory but still enjoyable.
Continues to follow the story of the protagonists as they seek to end the threat of world subjugation. A little too much jump to sudden victory but still enjoyable.
September 29, 2018
A great continuation of the series. I have a feeling that that foxy goddess has a very nice surprise for Roman.. Hmmm I wonder will it be one or two....
October 1, 2018
Need a longer book
Great book ready for the next four or five.
You know whatever happens to fall into my phone
Thank you
Great book ready for the next four or five.
You know whatever happens to fall into my phone
Thank you
October 17, 2018
Great as always
Another great book in the series they keep getting better and better can’t wait for the next book! Hope it comes soon
Another great book in the series they keep getting better and better can’t wait for the next book! Hope it comes soon
November 2, 2018
Great story!
I love books like this.... Impossible situations handled as well as they can be and people sacrificing everything to achieve their goals... Great stuff!
I love books like this.... Impossible situations handled as well as they can be and people sacrificing everything to achieve their goals... Great stuff!
January 1, 2019
Great read
It is an epic rpg story and you cant wait to read the next chapter and this book is a great page turner.
It is an epic rpg story and you cant wait to read the next chapter and this book is a great page turner.
May 23, 2020
Getting close to the end of the story - it's clear that everything is set up for the finale of the series. I've enjoyed this one, and I'm glad to have bought these last three. I had a long wait between these three and the one before, but the more I read, the more that comes back too.
March 12, 2024
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews