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Metal Mage #1
Metal Mage
This magical world is about to have an industrial revolution. 1 - Get pulled from a life of 20th century boredom and thrust into a fantasy world. 2 - Find out there are a bunch of powerful monsters and evil wizards intent on killing everyone. 3 - Use new magical powers of earth and metal to craft awesome armor, swords, and GUNS. 4 - Kill the bad guys, become a hero, and have a harem of hot women.
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2018
1106 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Eric Vall
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Buy my audiobooks directly from me at:
www.ericvall.com
Read and listen to early chapters, see NSFW covers, and subscribe to my discounted audiobook bundle at:
www.patreon.com/ericvall
https://www.facebook.com/authorericvall
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
December 30, 2018
Boring
The sex parts read like it was written by an inexperienced teenage nerd. The whole plot is such blatant wish fulfillment it gets boring. Mistakes with horses and steel and...you don’t make a horse kneel to mount, steel requires more than just purified iron, quenching a sword in cold water is a terrible idea, an orphan half-elf who was viciously teased as a child should have a few psychological hang ups...
The world building is pathetic. The ‘bad guy’ all but had dancing fat men in speedos waving signs to advertise his identity. For all there is an order of mages, almost a month after arriving and we have only met two.
Wow. He made guns. Yippee. Of course, making sufficient ammo to supply even a company of soldiers is a non-trivial enterprise, but They Have GUnS!!! Ridiculous.
The proofreading is well done. The plot moves consistently, so I guess the editing is good, though anyone who actually read this and said it was ready to be published should be banned from the industry.
The sex parts read like it was written by an inexperienced teenage nerd. The whole plot is such blatant wish fulfillment it gets boring. Mistakes with horses and steel and...you don’t make a horse kneel to mount, steel requires more than just purified iron, quenching a sword in cold water is a terrible idea, an orphan half-elf who was viciously teased as a child should have a few psychological hang ups...
The world building is pathetic. The ‘bad guy’ all but had dancing fat men in speedos waving signs to advertise his identity. For all there is an order of mages, almost a month after arriving and we have only met two.
Wow. He made guns. Yippee. Of course, making sufficient ammo to supply even a company of soldiers is a non-trivial enterprise, but They Have GUnS!!! Ridiculous.
The proofreading is well done. The plot moves consistently, so I guess the editing is good, though anyone who actually read this and said it was ready to be published should be banned from the industry.
July 11, 2024
NOTE: I listened to the audio book but that isn't currently listed on Goodreads.com so am placing my review here.
This book has big problems so I'll start with what is good (it won't take long). First, the author doesn't waste time establishing his MC (Mason) as a loser prior to the MC being transported to a magical world. Second, the author doesn't waste time on extraneous world building, we are told of the world as the MC learns about it.
Those good points are vastly outweighed by the negative. First is the ridiculously simplistic story telling, and that is coming from someone who enjoys a good straight-forward story. Every woman is perfect and in love with MC. There is only one possible villain from the start and that villain is completely obvious and yet everyone in the story except the MC misses it. The villain is also a complete moron, failing to change his plans in response to the MC's appearance and whose big idea to deal with the MC is more of the same, even to the point of endangering his own life. The Villain, of course, monologues thus saving the MC from having to be even remotely competent in his dealings. The King, who should have been dead or near dead having been flung through the air by a magical explosion is conveniently not dead and somehow able to hear the villain's monologue from across a battlefield.
I could go on but the bottom line is: the only surprising thing about the story told in this book is how completely trite and predictable it is- how did the author write this and not realize he is writing a story that has already been told a thousand times.
Second, the MC is amazingly stupid. Note the author doesn't write him as stupid, in fact the author presents his MC as smart and yet the author has the MC pledge his loyalty to a country on the MC's first day on a new planet having only met two people, one of whom is clearly evil. But even before that the MC is surprised to find out he has magic after being told by a goddess that the MC is the only person IN THE UNIVERSE who gets to pick the next world he lives on. Also the goddess allows the MC to go to that world as himself instead of being born on that world LIKE EVERY OTHER PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE. After all that it never occurs to the MC that he would have magical powers when he got there????? I would have been amazed if it had been otherwise after spending an hour with a goddess telling me what a great and special person I am.
The MC's failure to gather even the most rudimentary information before pledging his life to the service of the only nation he knows the name of on a new world is so stupid words actually fail me. For all the MC knew the king was a sadistic terror, but hey there's a magic school so he swears loyalty. MC swears loyalty without asking if there are other magic schools, if the country is at war, if his schooling will cost him anything, if slavery is a thing or if his oath is somehow magically enforced. Plus, the MC immediately identifies the mage he will be studying under as the villain but STILL SWEARS LOYALTY WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT????
There is barely a page where something stupid doesn't happen since the villain is equally stupid. Aurora, the main female character, doesn't teach the MC magic because she has fire magic and the MC earth magic but for some reason that issue doesn't occur to anyone when the villain, who has light magic, teaches the MC. In fact it appears that there are only about 7 people at this school since MC fails to meet anyone else. I couldn't believe that the MC didn't plain ask to meet, LET ALONE BE TAUGHT BY, another earth mage. Absolutely insane.
I have a whole rant on how incredibly stupid the villain was but this is just exhausting and this book does not deserve this much effort so I'll settle for adding one last thing which I suppose could be considered a spoiler except I don't believe it is possible to spoil this book. In the climax when the villain is monologuing he makes a reference OUT OF NOWHERE to "his master". Essentially it appears that the author got this far and decided he had to throw in this comment so he'd have somewhere to go with a sequel. I don't know if there is a sequel- I'v already spent too much time on this crap and I'm not interested in taking the 30 seconds it would require to find out.
Bottom line: A complete waste of time unless you are a completely oblivious reader.
This book has big problems so I'll start with what is good (it won't take long). First, the author doesn't waste time establishing his MC (Mason) as a loser prior to the MC being transported to a magical world. Second, the author doesn't waste time on extraneous world building, we are told of the world as the MC learns about it.
Those good points are vastly outweighed by the negative. First is the ridiculously simplistic story telling, and that is coming from someone who enjoys a good straight-forward story. Every woman is perfect and in love with MC. There is only one possible villain from the start and that villain is completely obvious and yet everyone in the story except the MC misses it. The villain is also a complete moron, failing to change his plans in response to the MC's appearance and whose big idea to deal with the MC is more of the same, even to the point of endangering his own life. The Villain, of course, monologues thus saving the MC from having to be even remotely competent in his dealings. The King, who should have been dead or near dead having been flung through the air by a magical explosion is conveniently not dead and somehow able to hear the villain's monologue from across a battlefield.
I could go on but the bottom line is: the only surprising thing about the story told in this book is how completely trite and predictable it is- how did the author write this and not realize he is writing a story that has already been told a thousand times.
Second, the MC is amazingly stupid. Note the author doesn't write him as stupid, in fact the author presents his MC as smart and yet the author has the MC pledge his loyalty to a country on the MC's first day on a new planet having only met two people, one of whom is clearly evil. But even before that the MC is surprised to find out he has magic after being told by a goddess that the MC is the only person IN THE UNIVERSE who gets to pick the next world he lives on. Also the goddess allows the MC to go to that world as himself instead of being born on that world LIKE EVERY OTHER PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE. After all that it never occurs to the MC that he would have magical powers when he got there????? I would have been amazed if it had been otherwise after spending an hour with a goddess telling me what a great and special person I am.
The MC's failure to gather even the most rudimentary information before pledging his life to the service of the only nation he knows the name of on a new world is so stupid words actually fail me. For all the MC knew the king was a sadistic terror, but hey there's a magic school so he swears loyalty. MC swears loyalty without asking if there are other magic schools, if the country is at war, if his schooling will cost him anything, if slavery is a thing or if his oath is somehow magically enforced. Plus, the MC immediately identifies the mage he will be studying under as the villain but STILL SWEARS LOYALTY WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT????
There is barely a page where something stupid doesn't happen since the villain is equally stupid. Aurora, the main female character, doesn't teach the MC magic because she has fire magic and the MC earth magic but for some reason that issue doesn't occur to anyone when the villain, who has light magic, teaches the MC. In fact it appears that there are only about 7 people at this school since MC fails to meet anyone else. I couldn't believe that the MC didn't plain ask to meet, LET ALONE BE TAUGHT BY, another earth mage. Absolutely insane.
I have a whole rant on how incredibly stupid the villain was but this is just exhausting and this book does not deserve this much effort so I'll settle for adding one last thing which I suppose could be considered a spoiler except I don't believe it is possible to spoil this book. In the climax when the villain is monologuing he makes a reference OUT OF NOWHERE to "his master". Essentially it appears that the author got this far and decided he had to throw in this comment so he'd have somewhere to go with a sequel. I don't know if there is a sequel- I'v already spent too much time on this crap and I'm not interested in taking the 30 seconds it would require to find out.
Bottom line: A complete waste of time unless you are a completely oblivious reader.
March 24, 2019
Rating 3.0 stars
This was just okay. I was hoping for a little more coming from the guy the wrote the summoner series which I thought was really good. The story follows Mason who is transported to another world to be a hero. In this universe energy is never created or destroyed so when a person moves on from one life, they start another one in a different dimension/universe. Mason though has a special connection with the being that controls this process. He gets to choose where he wants to go and how. He was on reborn on earth by his choice because he needed a break from being a hero, however now once he was on earth, he never thought he fit in. Now that it is time to move on again, he has decided on a world of magic and adventure again. He ends up being dropped into a situation were a female fire mage is fighting for her life. He ends up helping her kill the monster and during the process finds out that he also is a mage, except his magic is over earth. She takes him back to the city so he can be trained. He finds out there that he is more powerful than he thought. Not only does he have magic over earth, but he also is the first known person who can also control metal.
Mason is kind of cocky but also a pretty good guy. He immediately flirts/teases the half elf fire mage who apparently has been shunned by the humans even though everyone thinks she is insanely hot. I didn't like the pacing of the story. Right away Mason offers to protect the kingdom with his life in exchange for being taught magic. He wasn't really taught anything though, he was told to do something and he just did it. I never heard any actual explanation of how he was supposed to use magic, he just kind of figured it out on his own, so how is that teaching. He also worked himself silly. After only being there a few days he decided to design and build a gun, and also a motorcycle. Most of the story involved him figuring out how to make these two pieces of equipment. After he and the half elf hook up, they end of having tons of sex, though the author didn't go into too much detail of their sex life except to explain there was a lot of it. Then a women from a neighboring kingdom comes and asks for help and he immediately starts drooling after her. The author kept describing her as the brunette beauty. I felt the Mason was being somewhat of a creep/pervert at this point. I didn't it so much with the half elf, but with this new woman I felt Mason was being creepy, especially since he was still having lots of sex with the half elf.
The bad guy was obvious from the beginning. This book was just okay, I was hoping for something more though.
This was just okay. I was hoping for a little more coming from the guy the wrote the summoner series which I thought was really good. The story follows Mason who is transported to another world to be a hero. In this universe energy is never created or destroyed so when a person moves on from one life, they start another one in a different dimension/universe. Mason though has a special connection with the being that controls this process. He gets to choose where he wants to go and how. He was on reborn on earth by his choice because he needed a break from being a hero, however now once he was on earth, he never thought he fit in. Now that it is time to move on again, he has decided on a world of magic and adventure again. He ends up being dropped into a situation were a female fire mage is fighting for her life. He ends up helping her kill the monster and during the process finds out that he also is a mage, except his magic is over earth. She takes him back to the city so he can be trained. He finds out there that he is more powerful than he thought. Not only does he have magic over earth, but he also is the first known person who can also control metal.
Mason is kind of cocky but also a pretty good guy. He immediately flirts/teases the half elf fire mage who apparently has been shunned by the humans even though everyone thinks she is insanely hot. I didn't like the pacing of the story. Right away Mason offers to protect the kingdom with his life in exchange for being taught magic. He wasn't really taught anything though, he was told to do something and he just did it. I never heard any actual explanation of how he was supposed to use magic, he just kind of figured it out on his own, so how is that teaching. He also worked himself silly. After only being there a few days he decided to design and build a gun, and also a motorcycle. Most of the story involved him figuring out how to make these two pieces of equipment. After he and the half elf hook up, they end of having tons of sex, though the author didn't go into too much detail of their sex life except to explain there was a lot of it. Then a women from a neighboring kingdom comes and asks for help and he immediately starts drooling after her. The author kept describing her as the brunette beauty. I felt the Mason was being somewhat of a creep/pervert at this point. I didn't it so much with the half elf, but with this new woman I felt Mason was being creepy, especially since he was still having lots of sex with the half elf.
The bad guy was obvious from the beginning. This book was just okay, I was hoping for something more though.
December 19, 2018
New book by Eric Vall! This one was awesome and get you in the action from the get go. Mason is a pretty decent guy, a bit cocky but with the heart in the right place; The two females love protagonist are awesome and not trophy girls. They shine by their personality and how awesome they are, no dainty flower there. The antagonist isn't clear at first but show himself to be rather obvious...
This book is awesome you should read it.
This book is awesome you should read it.
July 6, 2019
The premise and magic system are interesting, but I had to stop reading because the author's editor is a failed middle school creative writing teacher.
When you introduce a character, and tell the reader that character's name...then use it.
I could not go along with one more "the half-elf maiden" or "the blue haired maiden".
Try this experiment. Read Game of Thrones, only every time other time the character Cersei is referenced, replace "Cersei" with "the blonde haired queen" or "the sister of Jamie".
It's idiotic and annoying. The editor should have never let this go. If the author said to the editor "no, I insist on keeping this poor writing technique in the book", at that point it is the editors job to walk away if they want to keep their reputation intact.
The book had potential, but I had to walk away (returned the book), my time is to valuable for this.
When you introduce a character, and tell the reader that character's name...then use it.
I could not go along with one more "the half-elf maiden" or "the blue haired maiden".
Try this experiment. Read Game of Thrones, only every time other time the character Cersei is referenced, replace "Cersei" with "the blonde haired queen" or "the sister of Jamie".
It's idiotic and annoying. The editor should have never let this go. If the author said to the editor "no, I insist on keeping this poor writing technique in the book", at that point it is the editors job to walk away if they want to keep their reputation intact.
The book had potential, but I had to walk away (returned the book), my time is to valuable for this.
December 21, 2018
A interesting mashup of genres.
This was a unique blend of some modern technology and the fantasy DandD world. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series. The MC was interesting and the supporting characters are interesting and important to advancement of the plot.
This was a unique blend of some modern technology and the fantasy DandD world. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this series. The MC was interesting and the supporting characters are interesting and important to advancement of the plot.
July 26, 2019
meh meh meh such a mary sue and a dick and cheesey and ugh.
May 30, 2019
3 to 3.5 stars, Some what typical for this type of book but I liked it. Likable characters and a good introduction to this new world. I will for sure continue with this series. This is one of the better books by this author.
June 16, 2019
Alright soooo, let's talk about the MC. He is 1000% a Gary Sue type of character, but doesn't listen or learn from anyone trying to TEACH him something. He is your typical know it all as well and asks to join this harry potter school of mages thing. He then begins to ask the head mage, why why why to everything the head mage tells him to do, oh and he does not listen to any orders given by head mage that let him in the school in the first place.
Now saying all of that, that is why I am not dinging this book. I am dinging it because the author doesn't seem to have any clue about what would REALLY happen to a 20th century man in a 10th century world when he decides to make GUNPOWDER/GUNS and freely starts to explain it to everyone who asks how it works!! He would be captured or even killed on sight because of that knowledge, every kingdom in that world would want to for that knowledge. The geo political chaos of that alone would cause massive uproar.
I am not even going to go into the mass production of weapons, gunpowder, shells and rounds that this guy started doing and how the total time of doing any of it does not add up even remotely, mage power or not.
Now saying all of that, that is why I am not dinging this book. I am dinging it because the author doesn't seem to have any clue about what would REALLY happen to a 20th century man in a 10th century world when he decides to make GUNPOWDER/GUNS and freely starts to explain it to everyone who asks how it works!! He would be captured or even killed on sight because of that knowledge, every kingdom in that world would want to for that knowledge. The geo political chaos of that alone would cause massive uproar.
I am not even going to go into the mass production of weapons, gunpowder, shells and rounds that this guy started doing and how the total time of doing any of it does not add up even remotely, mage power or not.
November 6, 2019
Very simplistic and obvious. The plot moves along and might be interesting to someone, I would direct teenage boys but that might be sexist and ageist. Still that is my take as to who the audience is for. Mason is a nerd that instead of reborn is just transported to a new realm and reality after a goddess tells him he is "special". And he is "oh so special" great at his new powers, which he then insists he needs training so pledges loyalty to a country/nation, he knows nothing about (other than maybe that it is feudal) and has a strong "feeling" that the grand mage trainer is evil. But hey, since the sexy half-elf mage that he saves initially is loyal, shouldn't he be? Especially since the goddess told him to save her.
And oh, the goddess shows a past image of him sexual with the goddess herself. All the women that are sexy to him find him sexy and they are fine with sharing with no real understands before hand of even who one another are. Sex scenes are written like a wet dream, has sex with one then turns around and has sex with the other then again and a 4th time. Multiple orgasmic male and auto bisexual females. So Mason's sexual prowess is "awesome" like Emmett from the Lego movie. Everything is awesome.
Then there is the gun making and the edging of blades with his "magic", OK I'll suspend some belief but then don't go into detail and not talk about barrel honing, riffling and twist ratios, and other missing parts. He makes them from memory of sight, really? and then the bullets, I'm not even going to go into the making of those as Mike Briggs (deceased husband of Patricia Briggs) wrote a great piece on casting and making silver bullets that went into complications of bullets in general also. Either keep it simple or learn the whole process. So suspending all mechanical belief, we have to get a motorcycle also at the end, magic powered, yet geared, wow! Not. So cool maybe for the audience the book is meant for.
So I give it 2 as it didn't bore me totally but I was glad when it was over. I can see some enjoying this and I didn't hate the characters though they were predictable... very.
And oh, the goddess shows a past image of him sexual with the goddess herself. All the women that are sexy to him find him sexy and they are fine with sharing with no real understands before hand of even who one another are. Sex scenes are written like a wet dream, has sex with one then turns around and has sex with the other then again and a 4th time. Multiple orgasmic male and auto bisexual females. So Mason's sexual prowess is "awesome" like Emmett from the Lego movie. Everything is awesome.
Then there is the gun making and the edging of blades with his "magic", OK I'll suspend some belief but then don't go into detail and not talk about barrel honing, riffling and twist ratios, and other missing parts. He makes them from memory of sight, really? and then the bullets, I'm not even going to go into the making of those as Mike Briggs (deceased husband of Patricia Briggs) wrote a great piece on casting and making silver bullets that went into complications of bullets in general also. Either keep it simple or learn the whole process. So suspending all mechanical belief, we have to get a motorcycle also at the end, magic powered, yet geared, wow! Not. So cool maybe for the audience the book is meant for.
So I give it 2 as it didn't bore me totally but I was glad when it was over. I can see some enjoying this and I didn't hate the characters though they were predictable... very.
October 19, 2023
Dear Lord I'm desperate. I promised never to touch Eric Vall and his ghostwriter farm again, but I heard this book is similar to Daniel Black (probably used that story to write their knockoffs). I hope this is at least well written if not entertaining, but I don't hold too much of that.
Something is off with this story. The protag went to ask for help with something he never did before, and he is already confrontational with the person he wants to help him.
He (the protag) is behaving like the person who is helping him is treating him like a novice. He behaves like he already knows what to do, and the guy is looking down at him. Then there is all the obvious foreshadowing, people trusting and believing out the blue.
I'm a quarter way in and can say that the author read Daniel Black.
The writing isn't bad, but how the protag gets stuff done isn't right. Instead of going A, B, C, D, E, he is going A, D, E. So many skipped steps are occurring.
What is with this author (ghostwriter guild) and youtube videos? The last book I read that convinced me never to read another one of their books was the same thing. The guy watching how-to videos, and giving people step by step instructions.
I think I will finish this, but won't continue unless something changes before the end. The protag needing gunpowder means he can run out of ammo in critical situations.. The glow on the cover over parts of the gun made me believe that the protag would find some magic way to use bullets. Things can still change before the end.
The protag doesn't even think what the moral, social or other implications would be for introducing guns into this world. He just shows it to everyone that asks (an unknown girl who could be a spy being one), and explains how they work. Does he feel someone can't make one and use the rifle on his skull?
Well this wasn't as bad as the other Eric Vall I read. The pacing was still bad, the plot filled with holes, and I saw the "bad guy" coming from a mile away.
It ended exactly how I thought it would... Still, I may read the sequel. Maybe he doesn't need gun powder later.
2.5/5 Stars
Something is off with this story. The protag went to ask for help with something he never did before, and he is already confrontational with the person he wants to help him.
He (the protag) is behaving like the person who is helping him is treating him like a novice. He behaves like he already knows what to do, and the guy is looking down at him. Then there is all the obvious foreshadowing, people trusting and believing out the blue.
I'm a quarter way in and can say that the author read Daniel Black.
The writing isn't bad, but how the protag gets stuff done isn't right. Instead of going A, B, C, D, E, he is going A, D, E. So many skipped steps are occurring.
What is with this author (ghostwriter guild) and youtube videos? The last book I read that convinced me never to read another one of their books was the same thing. The guy watching how-to videos, and giving people step by step instructions.
I think I will finish this, but won't continue unless something changes before the end. The protag needing gunpowder means he can run out of ammo in critical situations.. The glow on the cover over parts of the gun made me believe that the protag would find some magic way to use bullets. Things can still change before the end.
The protag doesn't even think what the moral, social or other implications would be for introducing guns into this world. He just shows it to everyone that asks (an unknown girl who could be a spy being one), and explains how they work. Does he feel someone can't make one and use the rifle on his skull?
Well this wasn't as bad as the other Eric Vall I read. The pacing was still bad, the plot filled with holes, and I saw the "bad guy" coming from a mile away.
It ended exactly how I thought it would... Still, I may read the sequel. Maybe he doesn't need gun powder later.
2.5/5 Stars
May 26, 2019
Fun and guns.
Mason Flint isn’t your average guy although he has been living as one his whole, boring life. But then the goddess Nemris decides that he’s had long enough to rest and it’s time to get back to work! So she plucks him from Earth into her realm and shows him that there are many parallel worlds. She offers him a choice while knowing all the time which one he’ll choose. Illaria is in danger and it needs a hero. When Mason gets there the first person that he meets is the beautiful Ignis Mage Aurora and he finds himself battling an enormous reptile with her. That is when he discovers that he is a Terra mage, a mage who can manipulate the earth. Aurora can manipulate fire and there are others who can manipulate air and water plus two others. One is supposed to stand for good and the other is evil.
While Mason is being tested by the head of the order, Mage Abrus, it becomes apparent that he is more than just a Terra Mage; he is a Metal Mage! It’s not long before Mason is playing with his powers and deciding that it would be much easier to kill these monsters that keep popping up if he had some guns! Of course, the beautiful Aurora is there to help despite the lack of enthusiasm from Abrus. Then, wonder of wonders, another beautiful woman appears who offers her help. I couldn’t work out why he didn’t have a couple of men there to help with the work except that it was better for the storyline. Ah well, a small matter.
This is a fun story that is bound to be loved by all the guys out there as Mason is the embodiment of every guy’s daydreams!
There’s lots of action and the author has put some thought into justifying Mason’s knowledge. It’s suitable for all ages.
Mason Flint isn’t your average guy although he has been living as one his whole, boring life. But then the goddess Nemris decides that he’s had long enough to rest and it’s time to get back to work! So she plucks him from Earth into her realm and shows him that there are many parallel worlds. She offers him a choice while knowing all the time which one he’ll choose. Illaria is in danger and it needs a hero. When Mason gets there the first person that he meets is the beautiful Ignis Mage Aurora and he finds himself battling an enormous reptile with her. That is when he discovers that he is a Terra mage, a mage who can manipulate the earth. Aurora can manipulate fire and there are others who can manipulate air and water plus two others. One is supposed to stand for good and the other is evil.
While Mason is being tested by the head of the order, Mage Abrus, it becomes apparent that he is more than just a Terra Mage; he is a Metal Mage! It’s not long before Mason is playing with his powers and deciding that it would be much easier to kill these monsters that keep popping up if he had some guns! Of course, the beautiful Aurora is there to help despite the lack of enthusiasm from Abrus. Then, wonder of wonders, another beautiful woman appears who offers her help. I couldn’t work out why he didn’t have a couple of men there to help with the work except that it was better for the storyline. Ah well, a small matter.
This is a fun story that is bound to be loved by all the guys out there as Mason is the embodiment of every guy’s daydreams!
There’s lots of action and the author has put some thought into justifying Mason’s knowledge. It’s suitable for all ages.
May 27, 2019
Mok's review
Not a bad book I have hopes for the series. However I will point out a glaring mistake created by the author. It is one I think that might be rooted in his education. It's the confusion of elitism with racism! Both are forms of bigotry that only individuals who have been through the college indoctrination of marxist, social, racial ideologies universities believe they are the same thing.
There are many different forms of bigotry racism is one of them but not the only one. The wizard in the book displayed elitism not racism. If the author is reading this you need to get your s*** straight man! Think of it like this you have a crayon box full of crayons each crayon is a different color each color has a label on it. You pick up the orange crayon. Instead of the orange crayons label saying orange it says racism. You pick up the blue crayon instead of its label saying blue it says classism. You pick up the black crayon instead of the label saying black it says elitism. This should give you a better understanding if you have any concept of imagination the different forms of bigotry that exist and how they are separated from each other. Like all of the crayons are still crayons. All of the different forms of bigotry are still bigotry but they are broken up into different forms racism is one of them but they are not all racism.
Not a bad book I have hopes for the series. However I will point out a glaring mistake created by the author. It is one I think that might be rooted in his education. It's the confusion of elitism with racism! Both are forms of bigotry that only individuals who have been through the college indoctrination of marxist, social, racial ideologies universities believe they are the same thing.
There are many different forms of bigotry racism is one of them but not the only one. The wizard in the book displayed elitism not racism. If the author is reading this you need to get your s*** straight man! Think of it like this you have a crayon box full of crayons each crayon is a different color each color has a label on it. You pick up the orange crayon. Instead of the orange crayons label saying orange it says racism. You pick up the blue crayon instead of its label saying blue it says classism. You pick up the black crayon instead of the label saying black it says elitism. This should give you a better understanding if you have any concept of imagination the different forms of bigotry that exist and how they are separated from each other. Like all of the crayons are still crayons. All of the different forms of bigotry are still bigotry but they are broken up into different forms racism is one of them but they are not all racism.
February 14, 2019
Even Within The Rules of the World, Numerous Plausibility Issues
Dodges one flaw of many books of this genre by establishing upfront that Mason, the main character, is a reincarnated lover of a goddess, who watches over him and gives him special powers within the whatever world he is placed. So, its at least explained why he gets powers no one else does, and learns them at a high level without paying the price in training that most others have to. So, his power explodes from an ignorant novice to the most powerful mage in the world in a matter of weeks.
Additionally, through his magic he goes from creating a knife to a gun to a motorcycle to a robot in short order, and each time he finishes the object works near-flawlessly the first time.
He is befriended early by a blue haired half-elf, Aurora, who is a high powered fire mage and an outcast due to her mixed blood. Conveniently making her very attractive, and completely available. She fills him in on much of the background, thus establishing the world-dynamics.
Aurora takes Mason the the mage guild, and in his novice untrained state he is able to defeat the master who has trained for many years, and if of a particular potent flavor of mage.
Mason quickly befriends the king because he can make guns to help him overcome his enemies, and has to kill the guild master after discovering some treachery.
Eventually Mason is sought out by a princess from the kingdom Cedis, traveling incognito, who has come seeking his aid for her kingdom. She is traveling under the name of Cayla. Mason finishes his motorcycle built from scratch in a few days, just in time to leave with her and Aurora to help Cedis.
Basilisk attacks, Mason saves Cayla, Mason tells the king what to do, and Mason, Aurora and Cayla all head for Cedis. Of course by now Mason is sleeping with both of them. Aurora says "Elves aren't possessive" and Cayla's father had two wives so is agreeable.
Oh, and Mason makes a small metal man and imbues it with life somehow.
Dodges one flaw of many books of this genre by establishing upfront that Mason, the main character, is a reincarnated lover of a goddess, who watches over him and gives him special powers within the whatever world he is placed. So, its at least explained why he gets powers no one else does, and learns them at a high level without paying the price in training that most others have to. So, his power explodes from an ignorant novice to the most powerful mage in the world in a matter of weeks.
Additionally, through his magic he goes from creating a knife to a gun to a motorcycle to a robot in short order, and each time he finishes the object works near-flawlessly the first time.
He is befriended early by a blue haired half-elf, Aurora, who is a high powered fire mage and an outcast due to her mixed blood. Conveniently making her very attractive, and completely available. She fills him in on much of the background, thus establishing the world-dynamics.
Aurora takes Mason the the mage guild, and in his novice untrained state he is able to defeat the master who has trained for many years, and if of a particular potent flavor of mage.
Mason quickly befriends the king because he can make guns to help him overcome his enemies, and has to kill the guild master after discovering some treachery.
Eventually Mason is sought out by a princess from the kingdom Cedis, traveling incognito, who has come seeking his aid for her kingdom. She is traveling under the name of Cayla. Mason finishes his motorcycle built from scratch in a few days, just in time to leave with her and Aurora to help Cedis.
Basilisk attacks, Mason saves Cayla, Mason tells the king what to do, and Mason, Aurora and Cayla all head for Cedis. Of course by now Mason is sleeping with both of them. Aurora says "Elves aren't possessive" and Cayla's father had two wives so is agreeable.
Oh, and Mason makes a small metal man and imbues it with life somehow.
November 6, 2019
Lack of fore thought and knowledge about science.
Lack of knowledge of how hard it would be to make primer that is stable enough to make a moder bullet that wouldn't misfire or be non corrosive and other problems that would arise (and I don't see why a blacksmith would have an unstable chemical that explodes on impact just laying around his shop). Also how hard it would be to build a primitive sterling engine that would be able to have enough power to drive a vehicle that is over 1500 pounds plus three people. Also how hard it would be to engineer and make all the little thing that are put into a motorcycle like susspention, clutch , throttle, brake and the materials to make brake pads or other braking systems. To sum it all up it's just not realistic or believable that a guy who just happen to like motorcycle and guns and happened to watch some YouTube videos to be able to engineer and make these thing even with his metal magic. Other that the severe lack of knowledge and believability of what the mc dose I did like the plot and characters.
Lack of knowledge of how hard it would be to make primer that is stable enough to make a moder bullet that wouldn't misfire or be non corrosive and other problems that would arise (and I don't see why a blacksmith would have an unstable chemical that explodes on impact just laying around his shop). Also how hard it would be to build a primitive sterling engine that would be able to have enough power to drive a vehicle that is over 1500 pounds plus three people. Also how hard it would be to engineer and make all the little thing that are put into a motorcycle like susspention, clutch , throttle, brake and the materials to make brake pads or other braking systems. To sum it all up it's just not realistic or believable that a guy who just happen to like motorcycle and guns and happened to watch some YouTube videos to be able to engineer and make these thing even with his metal magic. Other that the severe lack of knowledge and believability of what the mc dose I did like the plot and characters.
May 16, 2019
I give it two stars just because in a certain light, I could see someone getting enjoyment out of it and I would recommend it to someone who is just starting the genre as a opener. Its really just boring and generic, follows the normal LitRPG harem template; Lazy hold your hand world building, cookie cutter characters that are very inconsistent, dumbs down and explains every small detail just to fill page instead of letting the reader use their imaginations, and finally the story overall was just uncreative and there was no hook.
The writer definitely needs to work on his structuring and character building, first. The MC is very generic and acts like a 14 year-old in an adults body, he makes immature jokes constantly. Hard to build suspense when he is just eye raping every girl he sees. Sex scenes that are just boring, writer really needs to read some good romance novels. Just banging random girls really just makes the scenes empty and meaningless.
The writer definitely needs to work on his structuring and character building, first. The MC is very generic and acts like a 14 year-old in an adults body, he makes immature jokes constantly. Hard to build suspense when he is just eye raping every girl he sees. Sex scenes that are just boring, writer really needs to read some good romance novels. Just banging random girls really just makes the scenes empty and meaningless.
January 9, 2019
I avoided this book for a while, because harem books generally don't appeal to me, because I'm not thrilled with the way women are generally portrayed in such books. However, I'm not sorry I finally broke down and read this one. It's a pretty good story, and while the harem aspects are there, they don't really impact the story all that much. There's some of that wish fulfillment going on for sure, and that irritates me, but for the most part, it doesn't interfere with the story all that much, though I suspect future volumes will be heavier on the harem aspects, which might not appeal to some, but the story itself is a good one, and as long as we get more of that, and perhaps a bit less of the perfect woman falling instantly in love with our hero, wanting to do whatever he wants nonsense, it could turn out to be a pretty good series.
June 16, 2020
I finshed 3/4 of the book and had to stop. I really liked the idea of a metal mage. Something like the metal benders in the Avatar Last Air Bender Universe butthe main character is so unlikeable. Every interaction he has with a woman is just him ogling and fantasizing about her. The story isnt even fun or original and the main character doesnt have any qualities that make him endearing or an expert. It reads like an incels fantasy. And if you look at my reviews I would say I'm fairly easy to please as a reader but good lord was this bad. I do give the author credit that he seems to write alot and I like authors who have alot to say but this was so bad I dont even want to venture reading his other titles. I cant help but expect those to be more incel fantasy. Let me know if his other series are worth checking out.
January 7, 2021
This book is, in a single word: horny.
It is not sexy. Nor is it salacious, erotic, alluring, lurid, or even pornographic. It is just horny.
Every description of a notable female character begins and ends with how attractive the main character finds her. In scenes involving any notable female character, the word "beauty" or "beautiful" arises at least once every three paragraphs. Said female characters invariably wear lingerie or bondage gear, regardless of their profession or currently engaged activity.
The remainder of the book is just cliched, adolescent fantasy for Middle Class Americans with office jobs. Anyone past the age of thirteen need not bother reading.
It is not sexy. Nor is it salacious, erotic, alluring, lurid, or even pornographic. It is just horny.
Every description of a notable female character begins and ends with how attractive the main character finds her. In scenes involving any notable female character, the word "beauty" or "beautiful" arises at least once every three paragraphs. Said female characters invariably wear lingerie or bondage gear, regardless of their profession or currently engaged activity.
The remainder of the book is just cliched, adolescent fantasy for Middle Class Americans with office jobs. Anyone past the age of thirteen need not bother reading.
January 21, 2021
A short, simple yet fun story. Sadly, most readers will know what is going to happen long before the story develops. But maybe in this case it is more about the journey instead of the destination.
What is amusing is the "love scenes" are quite demure compared with most PNR or even most chick-lit.
Will I read the next book? Yes, but I oddly don't really care about the characters. It is not that I dislike them, it is more that they are not compelling nor is the story really. I guess what I am saying is that I liked it, but it wasn't really a page turner (like anything Ilona Andrews has written).
What is amusing is the "love scenes" are quite demure compared with most PNR or even most chick-lit.
Will I read the next book? Yes, but I oddly don't really care about the characters. It is not that I dislike them, it is more that they are not compelling nor is the story really. I guess what I am saying is that I liked it, but it wasn't really a page turner (like anything Ilona Andrews has written).
January 1, 2019
Another awesome series begins
I’m not sure how Eric has the ability to write such fantastic books so quickly. He has several series going and I’m having trouble picking a favourite. This one has to be up there in my favourites along with Summoner, and Sucubus Lord is just hilarious and shouldn’t be left out. Eric’s books are mostly fade to black or loosely described sex scenes with one or more partners, but he also details the world so well that my imagination has no trouble visualising each scene. Love this story, highly recommend.
I’m not sure how Eric has the ability to write such fantastic books so quickly. He has several series going and I’m having trouble picking a favourite. This one has to be up there in my favourites along with Summoner, and Sucubus Lord is just hilarious and shouldn’t be left out. Eric’s books are mostly fade to black or loosely described sex scenes with one or more partners, but he also details the world so well that my imagination has no trouble visualising each scene. Love this story, highly recommend.
January 15, 2019
Good book for the first book of a series.
Good book for a beginning book of a series. Of course and a beginning book there’s a lot of world building and description, this takes up a bit of the book to explain and describe the world to those who are being introduced to it. To me this part of the book is tedious and slow but I guess it’s necessary. I like the character of Mason and his two associates the half elf and the princess. The story is intriguing and even though I’ve read additional books like this I really enjoyed it. I am waiting eagerly for the next book.
Good book for a beginning book of a series. Of course and a beginning book there’s a lot of world building and description, this takes up a bit of the book to explain and describe the world to those who are being introduced to it. To me this part of the book is tedious and slow but I guess it’s necessary. I like the character of Mason and his two associates the half elf and the princess. The story is intriguing and even though I’ve read additional books like this I really enjoyed it. I am waiting eagerly for the next book.
April 11, 2019
My favorite so far!
While Eric Vall has used magic in many of his books I think this has been my favorite. His simple magic system sets some limitations but keeps the overall power levels in sync. The main character is good but not great while his companions, or at least the half elf, is more flushed out. I’m really looking forward to the adventure and power developments in this new series.
While Eric Vall has used magic in many of his books I think this has been my favorite. His simple magic system sets some limitations but keeps the overall power levels in sync. The main character is good but not great while his companions, or at least the half elf, is more flushed out. I’m really looking forward to the adventure and power developments in this new series.
March 26, 2019
Uneven, includes a lot of sexy-times and artificially-extended sexual tension which made it seem like filler to me. A ruthless editing of this and turning the result and the second book (caveat that I'm speculating here, haven't read that one yet) into one book would work better for pacing. I found the MC rather irritating which I think coloured my opinion of the book. If you're a fan of Vall's books you'll probably like this one more than I did as this one seemed typical.
April 7, 2019
Its ok
The main character has a goddess give him power and sets him on his way. Its an ok read but not so much a good story. Could get better in later books but with the lack of any kind of real connection to either the characters or the story i doubt ill keep reading. There didnt seem to be any kind of introductions to the character or the world other then vague outlines that feel too boring to keep you interested enough to want to know more
The main character has a goddess give him power and sets him on his way. Its an ok read but not so much a good story. Could get better in later books but with the lack of any kind of real connection to either the characters or the story i doubt ill keep reading. There didnt seem to be any kind of introductions to the character or the world other then vague outlines that feel too boring to keep you interested enough to want to know more
January 13, 2019
Good first book
I didn't know if I would like this , but it grew on me. An interesting story with some plot twists and lots of magic and magical beasts. Some good old earth technology thrown into the mix as well. I read the book straight thru and will read book two as soon as it's available
I didn't know if I would like this , but it grew on me. An interesting story with some plot twists and lots of magic and magical beasts. Some good old earth technology thrown into the mix as well. I read the book straight thru and will read book two as soon as it's available
January 15, 2019
Interesting book
Traveller from our time and place is brought to a medieval world with magic by a goddess.
A pretty good story that at the end trips itself up with sex then harem sex.
In my opinion it would gave been better without the harem stuff. Otherwise a decent mage in a new world. Better than most.
Traveller from our time and place is brought to a medieval world with magic by a goddess.
A pretty good story that at the end trips itself up with sex then harem sex.
In my opinion it would gave been better without the harem stuff. Otherwise a decent mage in a new world. Better than most.
January 20, 2019
Enthralling
Got bored and the cover looked cool. Ho boy did I choose a good book. The start was a little quick, but honestly did not care. Seen the premise before, but this book took it to a new level and didn't just explain things with "magic did it". Feels more fleshed out than most novels I've read. Looking forward to future installments!
Got bored and the cover looked cool. Ho boy did I choose a good book. The start was a little quick, but honestly did not care. Seen the premise before, but this book took it to a new level and didn't just explain things with "magic did it". Feels more fleshed out than most novels I've read. Looking forward to future installments!
February 8, 2019
Trash
Pro: The sentences are mostly complete, the spelling us mostly correct, and the correct nouns are used throughout.
Cons: the protagonist is a snarky a-hole, no one else has a personality, none of the characters are particularly competent,and the rules of magic are very inconsistent.
Skip this, and everything similar from this author.
Pro: The sentences are mostly complete, the spelling us mostly correct, and the correct nouns are used throughout.
Cons: the protagonist is a snarky a-hole, no one else has a personality, none of the characters are particularly competent,and the rules of magic are very inconsistent.
Skip this, and everything similar from this author.
February 18, 2019
Excellent start to a new series
Metal Mage is well written as I've come to realize all of Eric Vall's books are with characters that have the right blend of thought and spirit to really come alive. Keep these amazing stories coming sir and we shall keep staying up way too late reading them.
Metal Mage is well written as I've come to realize all of Eric Vall's books are with characters that have the right blend of thought and spirit to really come alive. Keep these amazing stories coming sir and we shall keep staying up way too late reading them.
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