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Legend of the Arch Magus #2
The Upheaval
VOLUME 2 OF LEGEND OF THE ARCH MAGUS
An Arch Magus dies, only to find himself in the body of a young man in a medieval Kingdom. He finds out that he is the second son of a Duke, exiled to a desolated town by his own family. Shackled by the notorious reputation of his new shell, he tries his best to develop his domain, implementing new policies and innovations, leading his subjects to prosperity. In this world where magic is undeveloped, he shall once again pave a new path.
An Arch Magus dies, only to find himself in the body of a young man in a medieval Kingdom. He finds out that he is the second son of a Duke, exiled to a desolated town by his own family. Shackled by the notorious reputation of his new shell, he tries his best to develop his domain, implementing new policies and innovations, leading his subjects to prosperity. In this world where magic is undeveloped, he shall once again pave a new path.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2019
636 people are currently reading
370 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
August 10, 2019
Rating 4.0 stars
Another milestone - this is my 500th review. If I put them altogether it might come out to a small book. So in essence I am an author too!
Some people don't like OP characters, I do. Imagine having the power and knowledge of the most advanced magician in history in the mind of a 14 year old boy. The main character is awesome. The amount of knowledge he has in incredible. His basic abilities and knowledge are considered advanced knowledge to this society.
Another milestone - this is my 500th review. If I put them altogether it might come out to a small book. So in essence I am an author too!
Some people don't like OP characters, I do. Imagine having the power and knowledge of the most advanced magician in history in the mind of a 14 year old boy. The main character is awesome. The amount of knowledge he has in incredible. His basic abilities and knowledge are considered advanced knowledge to this society.
October 23, 2020
This series is so awful I can't stop reading it.
This book has all the sins. Trust me, it's so bad you will love it.
An army of 15,000 gets casualties of over 30,000."A third of the initial army was killed" "Half of the initial army war burned". "7000 beastmen were killed". "More than half the initial army was killed in just this skirmish". "They still had thousands of men attacking the town".
Ok, other than the inconsistent logic and the author not bothering to keep a tally, you have sins such as "EPIC FIGHTS but not really". "I AM THE SMARTEST AND AM YOUR GOD". "I can't cast a lot of magic because this body is weak" but proceed to spend half of the book casting spells without getting tired.
This book has all the sins. Trust me, it's so bad you will love it.
An army of 15,000 gets casualties of over 30,000."A third of the initial army was killed" "Half of the initial army war burned". "7000 beastmen were killed". "More than half the initial army was killed in just this skirmish". "They still had thousands of men attacking the town".
Ok, other than the inconsistent logic and the author not bothering to keep a tally, you have sins such as "EPIC FIGHTS but not really". "I AM THE SMARTEST AND AM YOUR GOD". "I can't cast a lot of magic because this body is weak" but proceed to spend half of the book casting spells without getting tired.
January 23, 2022
Love it, love it! Such good plot development. Time for book 3!
October 3, 2020
Super duber main character who knows how to do everything and has a paper thin characterization. Logic fails in these books and details are always sparce. Everything from leaving enemies (who 'killed' him) with fatal information on him alive in the first book, drinking antidotes enemies leave them instead of going to the town doctor, to making simple mistakes and letting his enemies pile up for suspense is unreasonable. What really ruins this book is the innocent naive mindset the main character and his allies have on the world along with their superficial shallow characterizations. I'm dropping this here.
-Dropped Ch 7/30
-Dropped Ch 7/30
May 5, 2019
Legendary Arch Magus
Loved this book. I will admit the first one dragged in places, but the author clearly had grown in skill since then. There were some minor grammatical errors. Places where the wrong word was used for context. But overall a great read. Wish it would have been longer though. I finished this book in only a couple of hours. I am eagerly awaiting the next in tbe series.
Loved this book. I will admit the first one dragged in places, but the author clearly had grown in skill since then. There were some minor grammatical errors. Places where the wrong word was used for context. But overall a great read. Wish it would have been longer though. I finished this book in only a couple of hours. I am eagerly awaiting the next in tbe series.
August 11, 2019
A very good continuation of the first one left the feeling of unsatisfying, wanted more, eagerly look for the next one :)
July 10, 2024
The Upheaval (Legend of the Arch Magus, #2) by Michael Sisa is a captivating continuation of the epic fantasy series, delving deeper into the world of magic, political intrigue, and personal growth. As the second installment, it successfully builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor, The Expansion, while exploring new dimensions of the story and its characters.
The story follows the protagonist, Havellion, the reincarnated Arch Magus, as he navigates the treacherous waters of power, respect, and ambition. Sisa’s narrative is rich with detail, seamlessly blending intricate world-building with character development. Compared to its contemporaries, such as Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series and Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicle, The Upheaval stands out for its unique premise of reincarnation and the protagonist’s struggle to reclaim his former glory and influence in a foreign body.
"Sisa’s compelling blend of magic, politics, and personal growth sets The Upheaval apart in the crowded fantasy genre, offering a fresh and engaging take on familiar themes."
One of the strengths of The Upheaval is its character development. Havellion’s journey is both intriguing and relatable, as he grapples with the challenges of his new life, the limitations of his current body, and the memories of his past. His evolution from a powerful mage to a cunning political player is well-crafted and adds depth to his character. This nuanced portrayal is comparable to the character arcs seen in Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy and Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law series, where protagonists undergo significant personal growth amidst complex political landscapes.
The supporting characters in The Upheaval also receive significant development, adding layers to the narrative. Allies and adversaries alike are given motivations and backstories that make them more than mere plot devices. This attention to detail enriches the world-building and adds emotional weight to the story’s conflicts and resolutions. In comparison to other series, such as George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, Sisa’s characters are equally compelling and multifaceted, contributing to the story’s overall appeal.
Sisa’s world-building continues to be a highlight of the series. The vivid descriptions of the magical landscapes, the intricacies of the political dynamics, and the detailed exploration of the magic system are all meticulously crafted. This immersive world is on par with the detailed settings found in Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive and the expansive universe of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time. However, Sisa’s focus on the protagonist’s personal journey and the impact of his reincarnation gives the narrative a unique edge.
While The Upheaval excels in many areas, it is not without its flaws. Some sections of the book can feel overly dense with political intrigue and magical theory, which may be overwhelming for readers who prefer a faster-paced narrative. Additionally, the pacing can occasionally lag due to the extensive world-building and character development, though this is a minor issue considering the overall quality of the narrative.
In comparison to its contemporaries, The Upheaval holds its ground as a standout entry in the epic fantasy genre. It combines the immersive world-building and intricate political dynamics of series like A Song of Ice and Fire with the character depth and personal growth found in The Kingkiller Chronicle. Sisa’s ability to balance magic, politics, and character development makes this book a must-read for fans of the genre.
April 21, 2025
"The Upheaval" by Michael Sisa, the 2nd installment in the "Legend of the Arch Magus" series, published in 2020 and narrated by Tom Taylorson, builds on the foundation laid by "The Expansion" with a deeper dive into its isekai and progression fantasy world. This audiobook continues the saga of Havellion, a reincarnated Arch Magus inhabiting the body of a disgraced duke’s son, as he navigates political intrigue, magical innovation, and the challenges of leadership. While it retains the series’ escapist charm, "The Upheaval" elevates the stakes with richer world-building and character growth.
The narrative picks up with Havellion further developing his exiled domain, transforming it from a backwater into a burgeoning hub of progress. Sisa excels in depicting this kingdom-building, blending magical ingenuity with economic and social reforms. Havellion’s policies - ranging from infrastructure improvements to magical training programs - create a satisfying sense of progression, appealing to readers who relish tangible growth in fantasy settings. The introduction of new political adversaries and magical threats adds layers to the story, as Havellion’s influence draws both allies and enemies. These conflicts, rooted in courtly machinations and rival factions, inject intrigue, though some plot threads feel underdeveloped, serving more as setup for future books.
Sisa’s prose remains straightforward, prioritizing action and dialogue over lyrical descriptions. This keeps the pace brisk but occasionally sacrifices emotional depth. Havellion’s journey from mage to cunning leader is compelling, with moments of vulnerability that hint at his struggle to reconcile his past life with his new reality. However, his near-omniscient competence can make obstacles feel inconsequential. Supporting characters, while more fleshed out than in "The Expansion," still lack complexity, with allies often reduced to loyal followers and villains to cartoonish antagonists.
Tom Taylorson’s narration remains a highlight, bringing gravitas to Havellion’s commanding presence and nuance to quieter moments. His vocal range distinguishes characters effectively, from gruff warriors to scheming nobles, and his steady pacing aligns with the story’s momentum. Taylorson’s ability to elevate repetitive dialogue or simplistic exchanges is commendable. His work ensures the audiobook remains engaging, even during slower sections.
"The Upheaval" is a fun, escapist ride, and delivers an entertaining mix of magic, strategy, and growth, bolstered by Taylorson’s stellar narration.
The narrative picks up with Havellion further developing his exiled domain, transforming it from a backwater into a burgeoning hub of progress. Sisa excels in depicting this kingdom-building, blending magical ingenuity with economic and social reforms. Havellion’s policies - ranging from infrastructure improvements to magical training programs - create a satisfying sense of progression, appealing to readers who relish tangible growth in fantasy settings. The introduction of new political adversaries and magical threats adds layers to the story, as Havellion’s influence draws both allies and enemies. These conflicts, rooted in courtly machinations and rival factions, inject intrigue, though some plot threads feel underdeveloped, serving more as setup for future books.
Sisa’s prose remains straightforward, prioritizing action and dialogue over lyrical descriptions. This keeps the pace brisk but occasionally sacrifices emotional depth. Havellion’s journey from mage to cunning leader is compelling, with moments of vulnerability that hint at his struggle to reconcile his past life with his new reality. However, his near-omniscient competence can make obstacles feel inconsequential. Supporting characters, while more fleshed out than in "The Expansion," still lack complexity, with allies often reduced to loyal followers and villains to cartoonish antagonists.
Tom Taylorson’s narration remains a highlight, bringing gravitas to Havellion’s commanding presence and nuance to quieter moments. His vocal range distinguishes characters effectively, from gruff warriors to scheming nobles, and his steady pacing aligns with the story’s momentum. Taylorson’s ability to elevate repetitive dialogue or simplistic exchanges is commendable. His work ensures the audiobook remains engaging, even during slower sections.
"The Upheaval" is a fun, escapist ride, and delivers an entertaining mix of magic, strategy, and growth, bolstered by Taylorson’s stellar narration.
October 18, 2021
Although a lot of events were narrated, nothing actually "happened". There is no struggle, no evolution. Dumping an omniscient character in a world where he has nothing to learn makes for a quite boring tale. I'm off this series.
December 25, 2019
Author got in over his head...
I'm sure a lot of people will love this. They will be the people who have never read a good book about larger scale battle's. Codex Alera is pretty good and has much better scale and magic. Though it does also suffer from to make perspective shifts and really losses tank of itself in later books.
The scale is just all wrong everywhere in this second novel by M Sisa. You expect me to believe a 15,000 man force has a 300 man vanguard? Try 3000 Next we are supposed to believe that going around and attacking a different area is genius strategy. That despite being engaged in a long term struggle with a small army in the north the kingdoms army isn't aware or mobilizing. They aren't aware there's a beastman nation as strong as the empire on their boarder and they are raising legions? Seriously?
Want an example of the "genius" tactics that could allow a 10,000 man army to defeat a 1000 man force despite them being behind a wooden fort?
Ladder's. Yeah that's right. "Hey guys everyone cut down a couple young trees taller than that wall" an hour later the wall is breached from every direction. Or hey maybe we didn't even bother? Everyone just camp by the river. Ignore that crappy little town that we wouldn't really benefit from taking anyways. Shoot anyone who tries to leave. They will starve in a few weeks anyways as they don't have grain stores. Lets start building a fort by the river while we take their crops and mine.
I'm sorry everyone's going but the fire! Yeah... You know wild fires are real common in my state? I used to sneak past the police line to go watch them. You can do that safely because at most they only move 7-10 miles per hour. Average of 3-4 you can usually outwalk them. Forests don't just burn... There would be none left if they did. They have to be dry. So okay it was dry and they somehow got thousands off barrels of oil and the beast man scouts missed them. That least one I can buy. But it wouldn't kill almost anyone at most it works separate their forces temporarily which would work if you had 5,000 men to fight their divided army but the author wanted to protagonist to win alone. If you like that go read that slime novel he will kill entire armies himself npand his troops never see battle -_-
This whole fire thing just doesn't work. Author should have done it with magic. Maybe the protagonist finds the entity in the forest and contract's with it to turn the entire forest against them to buy time while he gets help and build ps fortification. It's no more reasonable magically poisoning an entire army undetected...
Imagine you are at a huge sports arena but it's full of 15000 armed soldiers. Now you shoot 12 of them. What do you think is going to happen to you? I think you are dead she you never even really effected the group. The guys on the other side are probably still buying hotdog's oblivious. That's what trying to harass 10,000 with 10 is like. It's not happening. Even if you kill a few 100 you can't stop the whole anymore than a bee sting would stop you in the middle of a fight. You might not even notice. That's what the harassing attacks the humans are always launching are like. Beestings and it wouldn't work. They would just send out a fast unit of 1000 and wipe you out no matter how "elite" you are. Because you would be fighting a red rested probably mounted unit 10 to 1
Anyways, this would have been a good series if the author scaled down the threats. Focused on his settlement building, stopped trying to perspective switch to praise his protag and did some character building instead Which we got none of this book. Just introducing beast men to kill of and meaningless enemies like the wolfman to kill off next book.
To book is going about 10 times faster than it should and tripping over is own feet. I wont be reading book 3 was hoping for better.
I'm sure a lot of people will love this. They will be the people who have never read a good book about larger scale battle's. Codex Alera is pretty good and has much better scale and magic. Though it does also suffer from to make perspective shifts and really losses tank of itself in later books.
The scale is just all wrong everywhere in this second novel by M Sisa. You expect me to believe a 15,000 man force has a 300 man vanguard? Try 3000 Next we are supposed to believe that going around and attacking a different area is genius strategy. That despite being engaged in a long term struggle with a small army in the north the kingdoms army isn't aware or mobilizing. They aren't aware there's a beastman nation as strong as the empire on their boarder and they are raising legions? Seriously?
Want an example of the "genius" tactics that could allow a 10,000 man army to defeat a 1000 man force despite them being behind a wooden fort?
Ladder's. Yeah that's right. "Hey guys everyone cut down a couple young trees taller than that wall" an hour later the wall is breached from every direction. Or hey maybe we didn't even bother? Everyone just camp by the river. Ignore that crappy little town that we wouldn't really benefit from taking anyways. Shoot anyone who tries to leave. They will starve in a few weeks anyways as they don't have grain stores. Lets start building a fort by the river while we take their crops and mine.
I'm sorry everyone's going but the fire! Yeah... You know wild fires are real common in my state? I used to sneak past the police line to go watch them. You can do that safely because at most they only move 7-10 miles per hour. Average of 3-4 you can usually outwalk them. Forests don't just burn... There would be none left if they did. They have to be dry. So okay it was dry and they somehow got thousands off barrels of oil and the beast man scouts missed them. That least one I can buy. But it wouldn't kill almost anyone at most it works separate their forces temporarily which would work if you had 5,000 men to fight their divided army but the author wanted to protagonist to win alone. If you like that go read that slime novel he will kill entire armies himself npand his troops never see battle -_-
This whole fire thing just doesn't work. Author should have done it with magic. Maybe the protagonist finds the entity in the forest and contract's with it to turn the entire forest against them to buy time while he gets help and build ps fortification. It's no more reasonable magically poisoning an entire army undetected...
Imagine you are at a huge sports arena but it's full of 15000 armed soldiers. Now you shoot 12 of them. What do you think is going to happen to you? I think you are dead she you never even really effected the group. The guys on the other side are probably still buying hotdog's oblivious. That's what trying to harass 10,000 with 10 is like. It's not happening. Even if you kill a few 100 you can't stop the whole anymore than a bee sting would stop you in the middle of a fight. You might not even notice. That's what the harassing attacks the humans are always launching are like. Beestings and it wouldn't work. They would just send out a fast unit of 1000 and wipe you out no matter how "elite" you are. Because you would be fighting a red rested probably mounted unit 10 to 1
Anyways, this would have been a good series if the author scaled down the threats. Focused on his settlement building, stopped trying to perspective switch to praise his protag and did some character building instead Which we got none of this book. Just introducing beast men to kill of and meaningless enemies like the wolfman to kill off next book.
To book is going about 10 times faster than it should and tripping over is own feet. I wont be reading book 3 was hoping for better.
August 18, 2019
Update: I only just realized that this is by the same author who did Lord of the Apocalypse. That is honestly amazing to me and makes me very happy. I had an extremely low opinion of LotA, but here we are only 1 year later and to me, I think the author has improved by leaps and bounds. This is the sort of growth that is great to see. Extreme props to M. Sisa for growing so much in a short period of time and even managing to stay prolific while he's at it. I'm even more excited for the next book in this series now.
As far as Legend of the Arch Magus, I think this series is separating itself from the pack of similar stories now as of book 2. The main character is overpowered, but not in a way that ruins tension since he employs significant efforts in the way of strategy and tactics. Since he has been reborn in a new body, there are opponents that are stronger than him in various ways, but he manages to overcome them because he has more tools in his arsenal. The balance the author manages to keep for this character relative to the situations he finds himself in is perfect.
The side characters are all pretty good as well. It seems like everyone has their own motivations and alliances which helps to give the world a real lived-in feeling rather than the cardboard cutout living on a prop set that you find in many other stories.
I would say that off the top of my head, this book is my favorite for the story where someone is reborn in another body and building things up from nothing. It reminds me of how much I enjoyed things like Kingdom and Utawarerumono.
As far as Legend of the Arch Magus, I think this series is separating itself from the pack of similar stories now as of book 2. The main character is overpowered, but not in a way that ruins tension since he employs significant efforts in the way of strategy and tactics. Since he has been reborn in a new body, there are opponents that are stronger than him in various ways, but he manages to overcome them because he has more tools in his arsenal. The balance the author manages to keep for this character relative to the situations he finds himself in is perfect.
The side characters are all pretty good as well. It seems like everyone has their own motivations and alliances which helps to give the world a real lived-in feeling rather than the cardboard cutout living on a prop set that you find in many other stories.
I would say that off the top of my head, this book is my favorite for the story where someone is reborn in another body and building things up from nothing. It reminds me of how much I enjoyed things like Kingdom and Utawarerumono.
June 2, 2020
2.5 stars.
Half the time the book reads like a bad translation from another language, and half the time it reads like a native speaker wrote it. The conversations stiff, boring, predictable and uninteresting. The protagonist is never in any real danger or has any real problems as he simply uses magic to overcome any adversity without any danger to anyone. There is no character development to speak of and no interesting characters aside from the protagonist and maybe the merchant guild leader.
With all the praise I had hoped for a non-sex scene version of the "fostering faust" series, but alas it turned out to be more of a childrens book than anything else.
Half the time the book reads like a bad translation from another language, and half the time it reads like a native speaker wrote it. The conversations stiff, boring, predictable and uninteresting. The protagonist is never in any real danger or has any real problems as he simply uses magic to overcome any adversity without any danger to anyone. There is no character development to speak of and no interesting characters aside from the protagonist and maybe the merchant guild leader.
With all the praise I had hoped for a non-sex scene version of the "fostering faust" series, but alas it turned out to be more of a childrens book than anything else.
June 19, 2019
Disappointing storey is ok, editing is far from good.
The storey line is good. But I suspect English is not a first language for the author. There are a lot of grammar errors, and often shirts from first person to second. Editing isn't wonderful, so much that it distracts the reader and I'm not sure if is necessary to refer to the main character, the reincarnated archmage, calling him his given name then "young master" every other sentence. There are typos glaore. I'm quite disappointed and all in all the errors made the book almost unreadable.
The storey line is good. But I suspect English is not a first language for the author. There are a lot of grammar errors, and often shirts from first person to second. Editing isn't wonderful, so much that it distracts the reader and I'm not sure if is necessary to refer to the main character, the reincarnated archmage, calling him his given name then "young master" every other sentence. There are typos glaore. I'm quite disappointed and all in all the errors made the book almost unreadable.
September 25, 2020
Not worth the money
This is the second in the series and I have given up. Shallow characters, no suspense on the plot. I don't hold the poor grammar against it but it's there. It's a very badly written power fantasy book where the main character is a god with no weakness and there really is not much more to it. If you have more money than you'd like and you want to turn off your brain and read something that reads like a cheap cartoon then pick up this series. Otherwise give it a miss
This is the second in the series and I have given up. Shallow characters, no suspense on the plot. I don't hold the poor grammar against it but it's there. It's a very badly written power fantasy book where the main character is a god with no weakness and there really is not much more to it. If you have more money than you'd like and you want to turn off your brain and read something that reads like a cheap cartoon then pick up this series. Otherwise give it a miss
May 6, 2019
Awesome! I loved everything about this book. The characters were so alive and full of depth that when reading all of the senses were engaged. I gasped, clenched my fists, vowed revenge along with the MC and felt as if I was brought along as Blackstone Village fought and grew in strength. I am so excited after finishing this I don't know how I will sleep. Highly recommended series, the entertainment value is worth the price.
September 16, 2020
A sub-par take on the reincarnation sub-genre. It's very clear that the series was never seen by a real editor. The prose are dull and the dialogue is lacking. It's very clear that the author absorbed a lot of shōnen anime/manga/light novels and created a writing style that is essentially "Japanese media localized by amateurs" which ends up with a bunch of cartoonish characters with no substance and a consistently cringy reading experience.
April 23, 2024
4.25/5 Stars
Ok, I think I'm starting to get it a bit more. This is like a really corny, poorly translated anime. Despite the story honestly being pretty dumb, I can't help but feel a little charmed by it's dumbness. Like, I can list the many, many problems with it, but that would sort of paint an inaccurate portrait of this B movie anime book.
That won't stop me from listing a few issues though.
For one, what the heck is up with the MC's moral code? Maybe he's an antihero, but one sec he's this magnanimous hero, the next he's torturing and mutilating enemy soldiers and desecrating their bodies because he'll "win at any cost" and no one seems to take issue with it. I'm honestly a bit concerned for the author's personal beliefs since MC is a bit of a self insert.
I believe this started as a web comic, and I say that because the book kind of starts in a random spot and ends in a random spot. There's perfect places where the main conflict ends, then the book goes on for another hour on 2 little side quests. I honestly didn't mind much since I liked the side quests, but if it were a traditionally published book, I'm certain it would have ended sooner.
As the book has finished though, I'm actually a bit in awe of the scale of the war depicted here. This is the type of battle I'd expect to see after a thousand pages, not a couple hundred. Lots of shortcuts were taken but the author certainly, especially since we really don't know or care at all about any specific characters. I can't deny that I was happy with the battle though, seeing the preparations taken, then the back and forth between a massive army of 10k fighting the main characters 1k. Back and forth is a bit generous, since they're not really in much danger, but it was fun to read.
I do get confused on some of the details occasionally though, like how much time everything takes and how big the armies are. We keep swapping between it saying 2 years have passed and something like a few months when referring to farmers and relationships building. Strange.
Also, it's funny how the young master talks about how the Gaston is like a brother to him and how Gaston cares so much about Lark Marcus, but he still doesn't even know Lark is actually dead and this is a totally different person he's talking to. I wonder if that would bother him at all. Oh well, this isn't that kind of book. Still a fun time though.
Ok, I think I'm starting to get it a bit more. This is like a really corny, poorly translated anime. Despite the story honestly being pretty dumb, I can't help but feel a little charmed by it's dumbness. Like, I can list the many, many problems with it, but that would sort of paint an inaccurate portrait of this B movie anime book.
That won't stop me from listing a few issues though.
For one, what the heck is up with the MC's moral code? Maybe he's an antihero, but one sec he's this magnanimous hero, the next he's torturing and mutilating enemy soldiers and desecrating their bodies because he'll "win at any cost" and no one seems to take issue with it. I'm honestly a bit concerned for the author's personal beliefs since MC is a bit of a self insert.
I believe this started as a web comic, and I say that because the book kind of starts in a random spot and ends in a random spot. There's perfect places where the main conflict ends, then the book goes on for another hour on 2 little side quests. I honestly didn't mind much since I liked the side quests, but if it were a traditionally published book, I'm certain it would have ended sooner.
As the book has finished though, I'm actually a bit in awe of the scale of the war depicted here. This is the type of battle I'd expect to see after a thousand pages, not a couple hundred. Lots of shortcuts were taken but the author certainly, especially since we really don't know or care at all about any specific characters. I can't deny that I was happy with the battle though, seeing the preparations taken, then the back and forth between a massive army of 10k fighting the main characters 1k. Back and forth is a bit generous, since they're not really in much danger, but it was fun to read.
I do get confused on some of the details occasionally though, like how much time everything takes and how big the armies are. We keep swapping between it saying 2 years have passed and something like a few months when referring to farmers and relationships building. Strange.
Also, it's funny how the young master talks about how the Gaston is like a brother to him and how Gaston cares so much about Lark Marcus, but he still doesn't even know Lark is actually dead and this is a totally different person he's talking to. I wonder if that would bother him at all. Oh well, this isn't that kind of book. Still a fun time though.
June 27, 2022
9/10. The second volume was several times better than the first one. It is still a simplistic story, but I can’t stop reading. like that even though Lark is OP, its character can’t be a one person army. It is weird though that a noble is acting as a knight, commander or mercenary and no one is saying anything. Sure, he has more strenght than a kniht, but it is socially unacceptable either way. If he commanded armies from the rear, it would be normal, but assisting in the front lines is unheard of. As when Lark fought against the male basilisk and the somdiers tried stopping him. It is weird seeing those protecting Lark, its personal guard, not guarding him at all. But I’ve locked it in my mind as Lark being eccentric and everyone accepting that they’re useless in helping him and that their oath to protect Lark is for naught. Separating the story in two seems to make more sense to me. One of a ruler constructing their city and other about a hero magician. But you know what, I’ve read stories like those, and this one is a good mix of them both.
Magic wise, it’s generic and bland. Hopefully it will get more explained instead of just seeing how Lark is capable of whatever type of magic there exists.
Magic wise, it’s generic and bland. Hopefully it will get more explained instead of just seeing how Lark is capable of whatever type of magic there exists.
November 2, 2024
How many books in the series can I make it before the glaring errors kick me out of the series?
On the one hand, the wise old soul in a young body is fun, but on the other hand, I'm not sure how long that fun will last for me. The main character went forward in time, and somehow most of the technology is lost? Hopefully it will be explained at some point why that is. The "show, don't tell" technique would have given the story so much more. For pantsers, those who write out the story by letting the words hit the page without any forethought they may wonder why they would need to go back and rewrite anything. The story is as good as its going to get, right? However, the author's mind is creating things as they are writing, and sometimes that watchtower should be presented to the reader in an earlier scene; instead of being told it exists just in time for the main character to use it (how convenient!). It could have been part of the original build design of the city defenses that the "young master" had thought about ahead of time. While I enjoy the speed with which everything is happening since some of it could be boring, I still feel like the pacing could have been a little slower. Of course, if I slowed down, then I think I would have time to think and poke holes in the story.
On the one hand, the wise old soul in a young body is fun, but on the other hand, I'm not sure how long that fun will last for me. The main character went forward in time, and somehow most of the technology is lost? Hopefully it will be explained at some point why that is. The "show, don't tell" technique would have given the story so much more. For pantsers, those who write out the story by letting the words hit the page without any forethought they may wonder why they would need to go back and rewrite anything. The story is as good as its going to get, right? However, the author's mind is creating things as they are writing, and sometimes that watchtower should be presented to the reader in an earlier scene; instead of being told it exists just in time for the main character to use it (how convenient!). It could have been part of the original build design of the city defenses that the "young master" had thought about ahead of time. While I enjoy the speed with which everything is happening since some of it could be boring, I still feel like the pacing could have been a little slower. Of course, if I slowed down, then I think I would have time to think and poke holes in the story.
May 24, 2021
Lark has returned to Blackstone to continue his development of the area. When he learns an army of 10000 beastmen is on its way, he has to work in earnest. Even he cannot defeat an army on his own and he has no intention of giving up.
If you like part 1, you like this book as well. It is a nice mix of village development, individual/military action and a bit of politics. The protagonist is smart and caring, if not a bit brutal where necessary.
The story is mostly told from Lark's point of view with the occasional foray to others. Some of these switches work, others not, but I am admittedly not a big fan of the style. I am also a bit curious about how accepting people are of the new Lark and all the innovations he brings to the world. Granted, he lives in the middle of nowhere, but people in general are not very accepting of big change.
Al in all, a solid sequel and looking forward to the next book.
If you like part 1, you like this book as well. It is a nice mix of village development, individual/military action and a bit of politics. The protagonist is smart and caring, if not a bit brutal where necessary.
The story is mostly told from Lark's point of view with the occasional foray to others. Some of these switches work, others not, but I am admittedly not a big fan of the style. I am also a bit curious about how accepting people are of the new Lark and all the innovations he brings to the world. Granted, he lives in the middle of nowhere, but people in general are not very accepting of big change.
Al in all, a solid sequel and looking forward to the next book.
January 29, 2023
Understanding
I strongly enjoy this series, but my honestly somethings are just too difficult to digest. I would rather better explanations on background character development. It's tone is nearly setup like we know each character that is introduced. Honestly I don't. It makes the gold of this story drown a bit.
He's incredibly OP. Like yeah, vast knowledge from your former life is awesome but it's like he has infinite power and resources, but OP gets boring. Drag out the dozens of battles. Stretch out the next battles in the next one please.
I promise I'm reading the next book. I enjoy it immensely. Just get caught on some confusion and development.
Mr. Sisa, if you happen to read this I have one thing I'd like you to take away from my review. Take your time on everything. I can sit down and read these books over and over. I enjoy a light OP story. Just take time for your background development.
-Abraham A. W.
I strongly enjoy this series, but my honestly somethings are just too difficult to digest. I would rather better explanations on background character development. It's tone is nearly setup like we know each character that is introduced. Honestly I don't. It makes the gold of this story drown a bit.
He's incredibly OP. Like yeah, vast knowledge from your former life is awesome but it's like he has infinite power and resources, but OP gets boring. Drag out the dozens of battles. Stretch out the next battles in the next one please.
I promise I'm reading the next book. I enjoy it immensely. Just get caught on some confusion and development.
Mr. Sisa, if you happen to read this I have one thing I'd like you to take away from my review. Take your time on everything. I can sit down and read these books over and over. I enjoy a light OP story. Just take time for your background development.
-Abraham A. W.
May 4, 2019
I must admit that I really enjoyed this sequel as well as the first book of the series. I had to deliberately slow down my pace as it is one of those books you don’t want to end. I still read it at one sitting and the ending came too soon ☹️
The story is a fairly standard however the author pulled this off pretty well. MC is very powerful, very smart, has a second chance, applies his experience from his other life, doesn’t make stupid decisions, and isn’t whiny or unnecessarily pacifist. In other words, thoroughly enjoyable 😀
I was literally checking every week for this sequel, and I am disappointed that the author’s stated pace is two books a year. It is what it is, and I’ll have to wait patiently for the next book. Good job !
The story is a fairly standard however the author pulled this off pretty well. MC is very powerful, very smart, has a second chance, applies his experience from his other life, doesn’t make stupid decisions, and isn’t whiny or unnecessarily pacifist. In other words, thoroughly enjoyable 😀
I was literally checking every week for this sequel, and I am disappointed that the author’s stated pace is two books a year. It is what it is, and I’ll have to wait patiently for the next book. Good job !
May 13, 2019
Magic rediscovered
Our Magus Reborn must defend his newly growing small town from an invasion. He uses Magics that seem to be lost to the current lands. All the while training his body anew so that he may be able to handle higher magics.
I enjoy this series. It seems that our majors it's meant to bring much of the Magic's of the past to the Future where they have been lost. He has an uphill battle against an array of forces both Allied and enemy. The MC is very Opie in this series however that is expected as he was a master of Magic's in the past when magic knowledge was more prevalent. I will enjoy future books in the series and seeing what rediscoveries await the kingdom.
Our Magus Reborn must defend his newly growing small town from an invasion. He uses Magics that seem to be lost to the current lands. All the while training his body anew so that he may be able to handle higher magics.
I enjoy this series. It seems that our majors it's meant to bring much of the Magic's of the past to the Future where they have been lost. He has an uphill battle against an array of forces both Allied and enemy. The MC is very Opie in this series however that is expected as he was a master of Magic's in the past when magic knowledge was more prevalent. I will enjoy future books in the series and seeing what rediscoveries await the kingdom.
June 18, 2019
Lots of potential!!Great plot idea but character growth and depth needs work
I love the plot, I think it is a cool concept. There needs to be more depth to the characters more details on background and surroundings. Everything needs more meat to it..if that makes sense. The main character is re encarnated into a young teenager! Were are the hormones- there needs to be some sexual tension/ love interest. Maybe the king sends his daughter to this promising candidate for the thrown. Maybe an older women since he is a "old soul". The main character needs more of these human emotions.. he needs to struggle and not be so overpowered in every aspect of his character.
Series has lots of potential
I love the plot, I think it is a cool concept. There needs to be more depth to the characters more details on background and surroundings. Everything needs more meat to it..if that makes sense. The main character is re encarnated into a young teenager! Were are the hormones- there needs to be some sexual tension/ love interest. Maybe the king sends his daughter to this promising candidate for the thrown. Maybe an older women since he is a "old soul". The main character needs more of these human emotions.. he needs to struggle and not be so overpowered in every aspect of his character.
Series has lots of potential
January 5, 2020
Some wording issues
"Of course, this was a small desolated town" "This desolated town could not possibly..." "...was banished to this small desolated town"
That's not how you use that word! Sisa used "desolated town" to describe Blackstone something like 15 times! It was not "desolated", it's a "desolate" town. I know its petty, but every time I had to take a moment to curb my grammar natzi rage. Its an ok book otherwise, but sometimes I feel this was written by a non-native English speaker. Well done, if thats the case, you can barely tell. But Sisa relied on using the same descriptions and phrases over and over.
Overall, pretty good junk food for people who want a story where the MC just good enough to always win.
"Of course, this was a small desolated town" "This desolated town could not possibly..." "...was banished to this small desolated town"
That's not how you use that word! Sisa used "desolated town" to describe Blackstone something like 15 times! It was not "desolated", it's a "desolate" town. I know its petty, but every time I had to take a moment to curb my grammar natzi rage. Its an ok book otherwise, but sometimes I feel this was written by a non-native English speaker. Well done, if thats the case, you can barely tell. But Sisa relied on using the same descriptions and phrases over and over.
Overall, pretty good junk food for people who want a story where the MC just good enough to always win.
June 23, 2019
Very good story
What an interesting story. I have enjoyed both books enormously. Yes, there are hundreds of grammatical errors. The word usage is off in such a way to suggest the author's first language is not English. But the story and world building are so very good I chose to overlook the poor grammar. A sick, aging magician dies and finds himself in the body of a young teenager thousands of years in the future. He uses his knowledge and skills to improve the lives of those around him.. I am certain there are many who would be happy to assist this gifted author with editing his books. They are really too good to pass up.
What an interesting story. I have enjoyed both books enormously. Yes, there are hundreds of grammatical errors. The word usage is off in such a way to suggest the author's first language is not English. But the story and world building are so very good I chose to overlook the poor grammar. A sick, aging magician dies and finds himself in the body of a young teenager thousands of years in the future. He uses his knowledge and skills to improve the lives of those around him.. I am certain there are many who would be happy to assist this gifted author with editing his books. They are really too good to pass up.
June 14, 2022
Buku kedua dalam siri Legend of the Arch Magus, bergenre high fantasi dgn elemen2 medieval, kingdom building, dan sword & sorcery. Plot novel kedua ni lebih berat, penuh dengan konflik dan scene2 peperangan dan pertarungan. Lebih menghiburkan berbanding buku yg pertama.
Plot novel kali ini menfokuskan pada negara United Grakas Alliance yg cuba menceroboh Kingdom of Lukas. Apabila kawasan penguasaannya berada dalam bahaya, Lark Marcus terpaksa bertindak untuk menghalang pencerobohan itu. Dengan jumlah tentera yg jauh lebih sedikit, dia terpaksa merancang strategi untuk menghentikan kemaraan bala tentera United Grakas Alliance...
Plot novel kali ini menfokuskan pada negara United Grakas Alliance yg cuba menceroboh Kingdom of Lukas. Apabila kawasan penguasaannya berada dalam bahaya, Lark Marcus terpaksa bertindak untuk menghalang pencerobohan itu. Dengan jumlah tentera yg jauh lebih sedikit, dia terpaksa merancang strategi untuk menghentikan kemaraan bala tentera United Grakas Alliance...
June 29, 2024
3.5⭐️
There is a lot of action in this book. The people of Blackstone have given Lark their loyalty and the forces outside of Blackstone have started converging on to the town. Lark, being the overpowered MC meets the challenges head on. Now that a lot of the key players have their eye on the Lord of Blackstone, I cannot wait to see what Lark's own family will think of the positive rumours about him. And how will he explain away his knowledge of magic that was not apparent in him before? I am pleasantly surprised that I am enjoying this adventure. The writing isn't top tier, but the story is fun.
There is a lot of action in this book. The people of Blackstone have given Lark their loyalty and the forces outside of Blackstone have started converging on to the town. Lark, being the overpowered MC meets the challenges head on. Now that a lot of the key players have their eye on the Lord of Blackstone, I cannot wait to see what Lark's own family will think of the positive rumours about him. And how will he explain away his knowledge of magic that was not apparent in him before? I am pleasantly surprised that I am enjoying this adventure. The writing isn't top tier, but the story is fun.
May 25, 2019
The story continues....
While there are some obvious grammatical errors (he could really use a decent editor), I'm enjoying the story so far. The main character is a bit overpowered,although not excessively so, but the back story at least accounts for that. There are things I would have done differently in this story, but I think all of us who read too much feel we could do it better (such arrogance we have, eh?), but I'm enjoying the story thus far and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
While there are some obvious grammatical errors (he could really use a decent editor), I'm enjoying the story so far. The main character is a bit overpowered,although not excessively so, but the back story at least accounts for that. There are things I would have done differently in this story, but I think all of us who read too much feel we could do it better (such arrogance we have, eh?), but I'm enjoying the story thus far and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
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