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Endless Online #5
Oblivion's Crown
Explore! Level up! Take over an entire planet, and take out anyone that gets in your way!
Against all odds, Val and his men have survived the latest in a string of battles that should have left them demoralized and defeated. Now their forces have swollen by a score of battle-mechs and five thousand men. Of course, the battle-mechs are unusable and the captured mercenary troops are hostile, but that’s the least of Val’s problems!
After taking on a fellow contender for the throne, Val now suffers under a curse that has every living Jordian eager to claim his scalp, including his own men!
Only Julia, a Terran half-blood like him, is immune, and the only possible cure to be found necessitates charging into the heart of enemy territory, sneaking past countless troops, and somehow besting an entire clan of Highlords eager to see him dead.
But Val is determined to turn the tables on the bastards who thought they could enslave his entire planet under the guise of a virtual reality game and get away with it, and he can think of no better way to do that than by seizing control of the very world spearheading the invasion of Earth!
But Val better act fast, using strategies no one ever sees coming, because the corrupt council of Jordian Highlords will stop at nothing to destroy the Terran gamer who dares to walk the Path of Kings!
Against all odds, Val and his men have survived the latest in a string of battles that should have left them demoralized and defeated. Now their forces have swollen by a score of battle-mechs and five thousand men. Of course, the battle-mechs are unusable and the captured mercenary troops are hostile, but that’s the least of Val’s problems!
After taking on a fellow contender for the throne, Val now suffers under a curse that has every living Jordian eager to claim his scalp, including his own men!
Only Julia, a Terran half-blood like him, is immune, and the only possible cure to be found necessitates charging into the heart of enemy territory, sneaking past countless troops, and somehow besting an entire clan of Highlords eager to see him dead.
But Val is determined to turn the tables on the bastards who thought they could enslave his entire planet under the guise of a virtual reality game and get away with it, and he can think of no better way to do that than by seizing control of the very world spearheading the invasion of Earth!
But Val better act fast, using strategies no one ever sees coming, because the corrupt council of Jordian Highlords will stop at nothing to destroy the Terran gamer who dares to walk the Path of Kings!
566 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2019
416 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 21, 2021
This was a longer read and so I assumed it was the last book of the series. It isn’t. It was bloody good but dang it... now I gotta wait for more.
April 26, 2019
Good job
The story is great well thought out and I can't wait for the next book in this stories to be released
The story is great well thought out and I can't wait for the next book in this stories to be released
December 12, 2019
A Book to Love and Hate
I thoroughly enjoy the combination of magic and technology, and the vast, interesting world. I am thoroughly disappointed every time Val, the main protagonist, gets continually more overpowered and super-special benefits. Multiple levels from one encounter, 1:1 advice and help from a deity, a reoccurring ability to “create a new spell that was never intended” or do something that normally would cause death.
Val has started becoming self-absorbed as a result. Despite constant harping about only doing whatever he’s doing to protect his loved ones, he continually goes off on his own, blows off the rest of his party, and has to be the hero to solve everything by himself.
Some cool stuff with the dwarves building a space ship.
Lots of fun with big mechs and getting the dwarves to build special armor for them.
His friends got some new powers that seemed cool, but never really got to see them in action since the action is all about Val.
Val finds a new group for one small dungeon crawl, but quickly turns it into another opportunity for him to be the savior.
I guess its harder to write multiple-characters developing in parallel, but I’d much prefer it.
I thoroughly enjoy the combination of magic and technology, and the vast, interesting world. I am thoroughly disappointed every time Val, the main protagonist, gets continually more overpowered and super-special benefits. Multiple levels from one encounter, 1:1 advice and help from a deity, a reoccurring ability to “create a new spell that was never intended” or do something that normally would cause death.
Val has started becoming self-absorbed as a result. Despite constant harping about only doing whatever he’s doing to protect his loved ones, he continually goes off on his own, blows off the rest of his party, and has to be the hero to solve everything by himself.
Some cool stuff with the dwarves building a space ship.
Lots of fun with big mechs and getting the dwarves to build special armor for them.
His friends got some new powers that seemed cool, but never really got to see them in action since the action is all about Val.
Val finds a new group for one small dungeon crawl, but quickly turns it into another opportunity for him to be the savior.
I guess its harder to write multiple-characters developing in parallel, but I’d much prefer it.
December 20, 2020
This will serve as a review of the series so far. Evidently I read the first 4 books two years ago, but I had so thoroughly forgotten them that no bells were ringing as I started my re-read last week. It's unusual to say the least for me to read 1600+ pages of something and remember nothing, but here we are.
First gripe: I dare anyone to do a search on the phrase "Val screamed" as I'm sure it's in every book at least 30 times. Yes, horrendous things happen to him, but after everything he's been through (and forging his own body from quantum flux) you'd think he could be not so much of a drama queen every single time.
Second: for a guy who will slaughter thousands to see his people safe, he's too much of a milquetoast to manage his relationships. Julia has to get with the program, as even her mother tells her. Val should be engineering 3-and-4-somes to get the family stabilized, not walking on eggshells about her relationship hang-ups in this very different world. I don't need the details (something this series handles pretty well), but Val has enough problems without avoidable instability in his family life.
Story is interesting, and the possibilities the two universes represent are huge. The repeated boss fights are one thing, the reprise of them as he levels up is another. There are a couple of occasions where the latter is important to the story, but some of it seems redundant. The ratio of fight scene to plot movement seemed at times out of balance, but YMMV.
Overall decent books, excepting book 3 which was decidedly mediocre in my opinion. First draft of this review was cut off, but I'm posting this for the consideration of others as well as to remind me of what I thought in case I have to wait another two years for book 6. Hopefully not that long, but with the anticipated finale failing to materialize in book 5, leaving us with a massive cliff-hanger perhaps it's still in the works. We will see.
First gripe: I dare anyone to do a search on the phrase "Val screamed" as I'm sure it's in every book at least 30 times. Yes, horrendous things happen to him, but after everything he's been through (and forging his own body from quantum flux) you'd think he could be not so much of a drama queen every single time.
Second: for a guy who will slaughter thousands to see his people safe, he's too much of a milquetoast to manage his relationships. Julia has to get with the program, as even her mother tells her. Val should be engineering 3-and-4-somes to get the family stabilized, not walking on eggshells about her relationship hang-ups in this very different world. I don't need the details (something this series handles pretty well), but Val has enough problems without avoidable instability in his family life.
Story is interesting, and the possibilities the two universes represent are huge. The repeated boss fights are one thing, the reprise of them as he levels up is another. There are a couple of occasions where the latter is important to the story, but some of it seems redundant. The ratio of fight scene to plot movement seemed at times out of balance, but YMMV.
Overall decent books, excepting book 3 which was decidedly mediocre in my opinion. First draft of this review was cut off, but I'm posting this for the consideration of others as well as to remind me of what I thought in case I have to wait another two years for book 6. Hopefully not that long, but with the anticipated finale failing to materialize in book 5, leaving us with a massive cliff-hanger perhaps it's still in the works. We will see.
August 11, 2019
I loved this book but I was expecting him to actually get a crown based on the title. But I guess its simply setting it up. Love how his family keeps not viewing him as actually competent and he shows them up. It kind of shows the difference between assassins that would live in a world like feudal japan if they were to come up against assassins from modern times. Throw in laser blasters and it makes things more interesting. I am curious in the next book will the Duada simply be like "fuck it! mutually assured destruction." Also I'm curious this is the first we hear of an Emperor. Who is he? I thought the best scene was the scene with his clan and they are all like "Dude Val just snapped his bolt" Val has a thing for dwarves. The best way to make him lose his cool is to kill or abuse dwarves and boom its Wild Hunt Time.
I love the scene where Craven is like TURN IT OFF! CUT THE SIGNAL and Val is like *Maniacal Laughter* Sorry Craven! That shit isn't going to fly. You want to be all sneaky and then piss on us when we try to be sneaky.. Fine... Let it all be in the open.. Let every one know what is going to happen. And furthermore lets air out all your dirty little secrets too.
I hope in the next book those battle ship plans and weakness come in handy when the Dwarves go to space. Also some one has to eventually be like "AND YOU HAVE MY AXE"
I love the scene where Craven is like TURN IT OFF! CUT THE SIGNAL and Val is like *Maniacal Laughter* Sorry Craven! That shit isn't going to fly. You want to be all sneaky and then piss on us when we try to be sneaky.. Fine... Let it all be in the open.. Let every one know what is going to happen. And furthermore lets air out all your dirty little secrets too.
I hope in the next book those battle ship plans and weakness come in handy when the Dwarves go to space. Also some one has to eventually be like "AND YOU HAVE MY AXE"
April 10, 2019
Brilliant read
I love this series and even though I’m approaching 50 it had me gripped from start to finish. It’s well constructed and the MCs are generally likeable with the “baddies” bad enough to have you wanting them dead...
There are several grammatical errors with her & his mixed up quite a bit but not enough to distract from the flow. However it reads quite weighty at times with philosophical undertones and a way of writing that makes me feel the author is doing his best to write a YA novel for the “older” generation. The swathes of character stats fell like filler and just skip them as quickly as possible which is a shame as the pages used could be better employed with more story as it’s pretty darn good.
Definitely worth a read and I’m now gutted having to wait for the next one & hopefully a good two or three of them.
Enjoy 😊
I love this series and even though I’m approaching 50 it had me gripped from start to finish. It’s well constructed and the MCs are generally likeable with the “baddies” bad enough to have you wanting them dead...
There are several grammatical errors with her & his mixed up quite a bit but not enough to distract from the flow. However it reads quite weighty at times with philosophical undertones and a way of writing that makes me feel the author is doing his best to write a YA novel for the “older” generation. The swathes of character stats fell like filler and just skip them as quickly as possible which is a shame as the pages used could be better employed with more story as it’s pretty darn good.
Definitely worth a read and I’m now gutted having to wait for the next one & hopefully a good two or three of them.
Enjoy 😊
March 15, 2019
Another solid novel in a consistently solid serious. Already anxiously looking forward to the next book.
Only negative? The protagonist suffers from the all-too-typical "dozens of impossible abilities" trope. A couple of out-of the norm abilities or actions? Sure, that's why they are the protagonist. A single out-of-the-norm ability that they develop in truly outstanding ways that create a myriad of related skills? Again, within the bounds of the genre. As I said, this is a trope which a number of protagonists have in the LitRPG genre (Chaos Seeds, Emerilia, etc.), so it by no means stops one from thoroughly enjoying the writing. But the novels would be better if the antagonist didn't have indescribable abilities ranging the gamut of skillsets in the series' universe.
Only negative? The protagonist suffers from the all-too-typical "dozens of impossible abilities" trope. A couple of out-of the norm abilities or actions? Sure, that's why they are the protagonist. A single out-of-the-norm ability that they develop in truly outstanding ways that create a myriad of related skills? Again, within the bounds of the genre. As I said, this is a trope which a number of protagonists have in the LitRPG genre (Chaos Seeds, Emerilia, etc.), so it by no means stops one from thoroughly enjoying the writing. But the novels would be better if the antagonist didn't have indescribable abilities ranging the gamut of skillsets in the series' universe.
March 11, 2019
The action is getting hot!
Val continues on his path of kings desperately trying to save his planet, territories and family. The action is non-stop and Valor juggles Dominion overlords, dwarves, players and Dauda. His powers are increasing but the cost of said power is expensive. The characters from the previous books are not in this instalment and focuses on Valor. Julia is still very annoying and it would be great if Ana would be first wife and everyone else comes afterwards. I hope the next book brings the other characters back and that the female situation resolves itself....Despite that, riveting book!
Val continues on his path of kings desperately trying to save his planet, territories and family. The action is non-stop and Valor juggles Dominion overlords, dwarves, players and Dauda. His powers are increasing but the cost of said power is expensive. The characters from the previous books are not in this instalment and focuses on Valor. Julia is still very annoying and it would be great if Ana would be first wife and everyone else comes afterwards. I hope the next book brings the other characters back and that the female situation resolves itself....Despite that, riveting book!
March 17, 2019
Liked but not as much
I liked this book buuuutttt. I feel that the author is pushing to hard with the MC. It gets old that our ND is always over his head and makes a saving throw that he shouldn't be able to make. I get it that Val is special and I expect this to happen some just not every battle. I also found the area transitioning very abrupt and confusing. I would have to re-read bits when it seems mid chapter or paragraph Val is in some new place with new people. That said the story is great and I love the exploration and will still continue reading this series but hope the next book is more refined.
I liked this book buuuutttt. I feel that the author is pushing to hard with the MC. It gets old that our ND is always over his head and makes a saving throw that he shouldn't be able to make. I get it that Val is special and I expect this to happen some just not every battle. I also found the area transitioning very abrupt and confusing. I would have to re-read bits when it seems mid chapter or paragraph Val is in some new place with new people. That said the story is great and I love the exploration and will still continue reading this series but hope the next book is more refined.
March 19, 2019
mor plox,
seriously though this went live on Kindle at 5pm for me (no idea why thats just when despite me refreshing the page several times during the day it finally went live) just as i was about ot start making dinner, now i'm not going to say anything about the story progression but i finished dinner wiht the familly at 7pm and started reading, and when i finished hte book feelign a bit tired i looked at the clock to see it was 5 am, in that entire time i hadnt even got up to make a cuppa....
if you liked the first 4 books your going to like this one just as much if not more so, and i really hope it isnt long before the next few books get released
seriously though this went live on Kindle at 5pm for me (no idea why thats just when despite me refreshing the page several times during the day it finally went live) just as i was about ot start making dinner, now i'm not going to say anything about the story progression but i finished dinner wiht the familly at 7pm and started reading, and when i finished hte book feelign a bit tired i looked at the clock to see it was 5 am, in that entire time i hadnt even got up to make a cuppa....
if you liked the first 4 books your going to like this one just as much if not more so, and i really hope it isnt long before the next few books get released
April 3, 2019
Pasted book 4 review. It hasn’t changed.
Cliff notes. Does it have a hareem, check. Val almost killed by horrendous battle wounds multiple times, check. Does Val run off and and do stupid things, yep. Does he immediately say he shouldn’t do that after winning by learning some impossibly awesome trick, yep. Annoying repetitive dialog how he won’t let his Hareem girls die, check. Even more annoying repetitive dialogue about how he should be better and treat his hareem girls with kindness and love. More repeat battles where name changes and the death scenes-change but really it’s all the same, hell yeh.
Cliff notes. Does it have a hareem, check. Val almost killed by horrendous battle wounds multiple times, check. Does Val run off and and do stupid things, yep. Does he immediately say he shouldn’t do that after winning by learning some impossibly awesome trick, yep. Annoying repetitive dialog how he won’t let his Hareem girls die, check. Even more annoying repetitive dialogue about how he should be better and treat his hareem girls with kindness and love. More repeat battles where name changes and the death scenes-change but really it’s all the same, hell yeh.
November 12, 2021
This is where it ends for me
I enjoyed the first book, the second a bit less. This book? I made it about 2/3 of the way and stopped reading. It feels like the story is repetitive, in the sense that the mini-stories follow exactly the same patterns, with the same descriptions and the same result. It feels like the author ran out of imagination, and at the same time my patience ran out. The story line is progressing, and instead of finding out more about threads I'm interested in, I'm being fed text that just fills the pages, without contributing to the story or character development. Just taking up my time.
I enjoyed the first book, the second a bit less. This book? I made it about 2/3 of the way and stopped reading. It feels like the story is repetitive, in the sense that the mini-stories follow exactly the same patterns, with the same descriptions and the same result. It feels like the author ran out of imagination, and at the same time my patience ran out. The story line is progressing, and instead of finding out more about threads I'm interested in, I'm being fed text that just fills the pages, without contributing to the story or character development. Just taking up my time.
February 3, 2020
Please just let this MC die!
I’ve come to truly hate this book. The main character goes to such torture in agony over and over. Makes me begin to believe that the author is a true masochist. For only someone like that would come to love to write books like this series. Each book in this series tries to outdo each other in how much torture pain and death it can introduce on the main character. The sad part about all of this is that the author is actually quite good at weaving words into a story, it is just too bad the story is so horrific.
I’ve come to truly hate this book. The main character goes to such torture in agony over and over. Makes me begin to believe that the author is a true masochist. For only someone like that would come to love to write books like this series. Each book in this series tries to outdo each other in how much torture pain and death it can introduce on the main character. The sad part about all of this is that the author is actually quite good at weaving words into a story, it is just too bad the story is so horrific.
March 17, 2019
Beyond excellent.
I would wax lyrical on how Val played the game, give spoilers to entice you to read if I dare. This series go from strength to strength, the way M. H. Johnson has written this addition to the tale of Val Hunter is masterful. Well done Mr Johnson a wordsmith of the genre.
I would wax lyrical on how Val played the game, give spoilers to entice you to read if I dare. This series go from strength to strength, the way M. H. Johnson has written this addition to the tale of Val Hunter is masterful. Well done Mr Johnson a wordsmith of the genre.
March 22, 2019
An incredible, multi-world, multi-dimensional epic saga
I am such a fan of this series!! The author has brilliantly woven together the complex threads of multiple battles being fought in multiple dimensions on disparate worlds while our heroes are slowly learning and gaining power. Will they succeed? Will they have epic failures? How will they level-up,
Only the gods know!
I am such a fan of this series!! The author has brilliantly woven together the complex threads of multiple battles being fought in multiple dimensions on disparate worlds while our heroes are slowly learning and gaining power. Will they succeed? Will they have epic failures? How will they level-up,
Only the gods know!
March 24, 2019
Fantastic!
In the genre that is LitRPG this is one of the best series there is, cleverly written that could equal GoT in its storytelling.
Fast paced it has a strong element of gaming that doesn't detract from the story, it even has elements of a harem fantasy but is very subtle in its use.
In the genre that is LitRPG this is one of the best series there is, cleverly written that could equal GoT in its storytelling.
Fast paced it has a strong element of gaming that doesn't detract from the story, it even has elements of a harem fantasy but is very subtle in its use.
August 29, 2020
Warning
I stay up till 5 a.m. this morning reading this book. It had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. My wife is very mad at me cuz I stayed up so late reading. But I could not sleep until I could finish this book to find out what happened. And yet it ends on a cliffhanger such a beautiful storyteller.
I stay up till 5 a.m. this morning reading this book. It had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. My wife is very mad at me cuz I stayed up so late reading. But I could not sleep until I could finish this book to find out what happened. And yet it ends on a cliffhanger such a beautiful storyteller.
February 2, 2025
The battle is on
This even more than the previous books sets the stage for a no hold barred showdown as the gloves come off and rules no longer exist. With so much history from before and the wild potential that Valor can tap into, this will become a massive and much appreciated conclusion. Just wish we knew when the concluding book/s are coming out.
This even more than the previous books sets the stage for a no hold barred showdown as the gloves come off and rules no longer exist. With so much history from before and the wild potential that Valor can tap into, this will become a massive and much appreciated conclusion. Just wish we knew when the concluding book/s are coming out.
March 10, 2019
Very enjoyable
What a rollercoaster, the fast paced action left you wondering just how the hell val was going to get out of this one,from one page to the next. Bring on the next one!
What a rollercoaster, the fast paced action left you wondering just how the hell val was going to get out of this one,from one page to the next. Bring on the next one!
March 16, 2019
Amazing continuation of the seeries
This book is a great furtherance of the seeries. I raptly read the book a nonstop page Turner and some litrpg at its finest. I look forward to the next book in the seeries with joy and impatience.
This book is a great furtherance of the seeries. I raptly read the book a nonstop page Turner and some litrpg at its finest. I look forward to the next book in the seeries with joy and impatience.
March 19, 2019
Superb
This is a truly unique saga about sportsmanship wizardry and the lives of people with power's and the lives of people with whom you love and fight with to save your home as well
This is a truly unique saga about sportsmanship wizardry and the lives of people with power's and the lives of people with whom you love and fight with to save your home as well
March 21, 2019
Well done.
Fast paced action. Our hero jumps from one battle to the next. A constant reminder that the path to power is fraught with turmoil. Especially when you are in a litrpg omnibus LOL.
Fast paced action. Our hero jumps from one battle to the next. A constant reminder that the path to power is fraught with turmoil. Especially when you are in a litrpg omnibus LOL.
March 25, 2019
Non stop action
Story is very fast paced and worth the read if you like litrpg. Main character goes from one life threatening situation to the next with little pause in-between. I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the next.
Story is very fast paced and worth the read if you like litrpg. Main character goes from one life threatening situation to the next with little pause in-between. I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading the next.
March 24, 2019
WoW Ok!!
What fantastic fight scenes really good story can gets boring with statics and love scenes but the main character is a badass even tho he gets hurt a lot a Very Good Story 😀
What fantastic fight scenes really good story can gets boring with statics and love scenes but the main character is a badass even tho he gets hurt a lot a Very Good Story 😀
March 30, 2019
More please
Hope the next book comes out soon the plot is fun yet harsh the mc is both kind and ruthless and is personally one of my favorite characters to read not to mention the other characters being so important
Hope the next book comes out soon the plot is fun yet harsh the mc is both kind and ruthless and is personally one of my favorite characters to read not to mention the other characters being so important
April 2, 2019
Amazingly well written!
By far the most impressive addition to an already amazing story, this series and author rank at the top of the genre... I really cant say enough... read the series, and join the rest of us waiting on the next books! Well done...
By far the most impressive addition to an already amazing story, this series and author rank at the top of the genre... I really cant say enough... read the series, and join the rest of us waiting on the next books! Well done...
June 16, 2019
A wonderful continuation to a wonderful series
What a lovely fast paced read! The series has been amazing since I made it past the first few pages. I almost stopped reading after page 1....and I am so happy I didn't!
What a lovely fast paced read! The series has been amazing since I made it past the first few pages. I almost stopped reading after page 1....and I am so happy I didn't!
July 31, 2019
Yeah!
This was a rollercoaster ride of a book! M.H. Johnson's fifth book in his Endless Online Universe Oblivion's Crown takes us on another fun filled ride as Valor and crew continue his quest for the crown.
This was a rollercoaster ride of a book! M.H. Johnson's fifth book in his Endless Online Universe Oblivion's Crown takes us on another fun filled ride as Valor and crew continue his quest for the crown.
August 3, 2019
A worthwhile read
I enjoyed the story. Most of the twist aren't predictable least not to me. The writer does have a very florid way of describing things which can get a bit tiresome. I still intend to read the next in the series.
I enjoyed the story. Most of the twist aren't predictable least not to me. The writer does have a very florid way of describing things which can get a bit tiresome. I still intend to read the next in the series.
January 10, 2020
Good book Johnson
Good book Johnson actually great book I'm still waiting for book 6 well charge was good Silver Fox was really good but I really really need to read book 6 7 8 and 9 I love this universe I recommend it to anyone it's a great lit RPG and a great sci-fi story.
Good book Johnson actually great book I'm still waiting for book 6 well charge was good Silver Fox was really good but I really really need to read book 6 7 8 and 9 I love this universe I recommend it to anyone it's a great lit RPG and a great sci-fi story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews