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Battle Artists #1
Sages Of The Underpass
In a world where everyone has power, Nikodemus Kowalczyk was always destined to be a loser.
Niko has long since given up on his dreams of being a world class Battle Artist. Thanks to his damaged core and crazy family, he never stood a chance anyway. With money, fame, and untold power on the line, the corporations decide who wins. End of story.
But when a mysterious group, calling themselves the Sages of the Underpass, threaten to upend the entire system with their unorthodox training and cultivation methods, Niko soon learns that what was once a handicap might be his greatest asset. The only thing standing in his way is a bitter, hard-hearted veteran, who would like nothing more than to see Niko stay in his place. Right at the bottom.
Rocky meets Dragon Ball Z in this underdog redemption story from Dragon Award Finalist Aaron Michael Ritchey. Sages of the Underpass is an epic blend of Urban Fantasy, Cultivation, and Magical MMA that captures the passion, the power, and the perseverance it takes to follow your dreams—no matter what kind of artist you are.
Niko has long since given up on his dreams of being a world class Battle Artist. Thanks to his damaged core and crazy family, he never stood a chance anyway. With money, fame, and untold power on the line, the corporations decide who wins. End of story.
But when a mysterious group, calling themselves the Sages of the Underpass, threaten to upend the entire system with their unorthodox training and cultivation methods, Niko soon learns that what was once a handicap might be his greatest asset. The only thing standing in his way is a bitter, hard-hearted veteran, who would like nothing more than to see Niko stay in his place. Right at the bottom.
Rocky meets Dragon Ball Z in this underdog redemption story from Dragon Award Finalist Aaron Michael Ritchey. Sages of the Underpass is an epic blend of Urban Fantasy, Cultivation, and Magical MMA that captures the passion, the power, and the perseverance it takes to follow your dreams—no matter what kind of artist you are.
- GenresUrban FantasyFantasy
534 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2019
191 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Michael Ritchey
35 books201 followersAaron Michael Ritchey was born with Colorado thunderstorms in his soul. He's sought shelter as a world traveler, an endurance athlete, a story addict, and even gave serious thought to becoming a Roman Catholic priest. After too brief a time in Paris, he moved back to the American West and lives semi-comfortably with three forces of nature: a little, blonde hurricane, an artistic tornado, and a beautiful, beautiful blizzard.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 16, 2022
They say "write what you know." Not the magic system, not the world building. You can make up the parts about thoughtless creatures of pure energy floating around the rural wastes, a slightly altered timeline, and MMA replacing American football as the preferred athletic spectacle because here "MMA" means "Magic Martial Arts." That stuff is the flash, the window dressing, the digital skin layered over the true construct of what a novel is about. I won't say it doesn't matter, either. World building matters. What matters more, though, is when you write what you know, because then you write with confidence, a conviction that is impossible to miss. Aaron Michael Ritchey knows as much about magic as the next author, which is to say nothing at all so he made it up and it's an entertaining system. Entertaining is his job. There's a lot of signs, a lot of rules, it's not clear to me exactly what "Second Studies" and "Mercury Belts" and specific battle signs mean, but that just means Ritchey didn't waste time, in an already thick book, explaining the nuts and bolts of the system. It's consistent, I am confident in that; it makes sense to the characters, and that's what matters.
No, what Aaron Michael Ritchey knows, what he writes with confidence and conviction and what this novel is about, is not the frills, the flash, the distraction of entertainment. Sages of the Underpass is about the entertainment industry itself. He writes about the reality of being an artist, dispelling the fantasies of "success" and creating art anyway. He writes about the creators being somehow less important than the controllers. He writes about how glory corrupts, how sacrifice for your art can become so habitual, you start sacrificing the wrong things. With all that, with Ritchey knowing it and writing it, you'd think this novel was a cynical, bitter exercise in meta-revenge and... well I'm not entirely discounting that element, but that isn't the point either. This book has more hope than bitterness. It has more pragmatism than cynicism. This novel is about finding the reason you make art, finding the way to express it that fits best despite the clamor of voices telling you how you must be, to get what you must want.
I couldn't have read it at a better time.
No, what Aaron Michael Ritchey knows, what he writes with confidence and conviction and what this novel is about, is not the frills, the flash, the distraction of entertainment. Sages of the Underpass is about the entertainment industry itself. He writes about the reality of being an artist, dispelling the fantasies of "success" and creating art anyway. He writes about the creators being somehow less important than the controllers. He writes about how glory corrupts, how sacrifice for your art can become so habitual, you start sacrificing the wrong things. With all that, with Ritchey knowing it and writing it, you'd think this novel was a cynical, bitter exercise in meta-revenge and... well I'm not entirely discounting that element, but that isn't the point either. This book has more hope than bitterness. It has more pragmatism than cynicism. This novel is about finding the reason you make art, finding the way to express it that fits best despite the clamor of voices telling you how you must be, to get what you must want.
I couldn't have read it at a better time.
April 26, 2022
I really liked this book, it was deep and emotional. it also had alot of drama, some of it I felt was overwhelming, some was just too dramatic. I usually don't like romance in story's, but in this one I can deal with it, the romance wasn't all encompassing, it was like you were just waiting for it to happen. not like other books where there's just to much of it. the cultivation system isn't explained which I hate, if you're gonna make a cultivation book atleast explain how it works, but the powers and the way it mixs with real life is a really good change. It reminds me of street cultivation by Sarah Lin. The characters are really good, I didn't hate the villains or any other characters. I could see from there perspectives. The Mc has a depth to him that other mcs don't really have. the characters have a sense of depth, a unique personality most characters don't have. the character progression is one of the best I've ever read. From start to finish you could see the Mc wasn't perfect or amazing. he was a normal guy who was tossed the short end of the stick. But from start to finish you could see he had progressed not only in power but in his mindset. don't get me wrong this book isn't all sunshine is roses... I don't like all the chapters or the pov switches. the way the Mc loses all the time annoys me. I hate all the Melo dramaticness. I also hate how hard they make it seem to get big. if you were good like nico zero and started posting YouTube videos and charging subscriptions you'd be big in the industry. other then that this book is awesome.
Travis is good as always. This book isn't for you if you don't have patience. the start of the book was the weakest for me. But if you like fighting and cultivation and a little bit a patience well... this is your holy grail...
Travis is good as always. This book isn't for you if you don't have patience. the start of the book was the weakest for me. But if you like fighting and cultivation and a little bit a patience well... this is your holy grail...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2019
Niko was destined to be a loser, as he had a damaged core and came from a crazy family so whilst everyone else had power and as long as the corporations decided who would win and who would lose Niko had given up on his dream of becoming a world class battle artist. However when a radical group who called themselves the sages of the underpass threatened the system what he had considered his flaw might in reality end up being his greatest asset. But Niko would have to train rigorously, cycle through the 12 steps regularly, take tinctures to get stronger after such a long time away from battle and get chosen to fight in order to realise his dream. I just love reading redemption stories where the loser gets to turn into a winner and this urban fantasy novel gives us just this kind of story. A battle artist lives in pain, creation and destruction, birth and death. To avoid pain was to court defeat but Niko had never been afraid of pain, the arts were in his blood , and he set out to prove this, so that even when he lost he gained, he gained fans and popularity but he also made enemies, some were out for his blood. This is a story about a courageous young man who had many personal hang-ups, many problems at home and from a poor background yet he had a crew who believed in him and who bolstered him all the way. An awesome first book to what looks like becoming a fantastic and thrilling series, for all those who enjoy Wuxia this is a book for you.
October 22, 2019
Not too long ago, an unfortunate accident curtailed Niko Black's future. Determined to bounce back, he accepts a friend's unexpected proposal. In doing so, he's catapulted into the darker aspects of a world he'd once longer to be a part of. A world full of many possible outcomes.
Determined in learning everything he lacks and needs to know about the Arts, he soon becomes a part of a mysterious group known as the Sages of the Underpass. In people's eyes, the group amounts to almost nothing. It's leader, however, is intent on changing that. If he's to succeed in moving up in the ranks, he'll need to trust in his instincts in order to survive what's lying on the horizon.
An interesting take on all things martial arts, Sages of the Underpass tosses the reader into Nick Black's unexpected fray. This is a character who thinks he's unworthy of the world he lives in. A world where everything he needs must be obtained by any means necessary. Means he's determined in grasping at every turn.
Aaron has taken such a flawed character and shaped him in such a way that we find ourselves rooting for him by the end of the book. He's also given Niko a slew of family and friends who are determined in giving him the helping hand he needs. I love the fact that the author utilizes the theme of survival throughout the book itself. Characters rise and fall, yet they get back up in the most unexpected ways. Ways that often seem far too unlikely. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next with book two.
Determined in learning everything he lacks and needs to know about the Arts, he soon becomes a part of a mysterious group known as the Sages of the Underpass. In people's eyes, the group amounts to almost nothing. It's leader, however, is intent on changing that. If he's to succeed in moving up in the ranks, he'll need to trust in his instincts in order to survive what's lying on the horizon.
An interesting take on all things martial arts, Sages of the Underpass tosses the reader into Nick Black's unexpected fray. This is a character who thinks he's unworthy of the world he lives in. A world where everything he needs must be obtained by any means necessary. Means he's determined in grasping at every turn.
Aaron has taken such a flawed character and shaped him in such a way that we find ourselves rooting for him by the end of the book. He's also given Niko a slew of family and friends who are determined in giving him the helping hand he needs. I love the fact that the author utilizes the theme of survival throughout the book itself. Characters rise and fall, yet they get back up in the most unexpected ways. Ways that often seem far too unlikely. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next with book two.
February 16, 2021
Full of surprises, Sages of the Underpass is well-plotted, well-characterized (something you don't often see in fantasy), with a well-designed magical system. I enjoyed being in the main character's head, and appreciated his growth through the novel--that's also unusual in fantasy. What was really weird was that I felt good reading it. Not sure where that's from. We all struggle to fulfill our dreams, and wonder sometimes if we should give up, but I've read/seen dozens of stories of coming back from failure. This one is one I'll keep and plan to reread someday.
I noticed some comments about the magical system--I didn't find it confusing, as it appeared that the belts Artists earned were named based on how far a planet was from the sun, and the different classes were from an astrological system--it's written as though we live in this alternate world and know the lingo. However, it might be nice to have a dictionary at the back for fans.
I noticed some comments about the magical system--I didn't find it confusing, as it appeared that the belts Artists earned were named based on how far a planet was from the sun, and the different classes were from an astrological system--it's written as though we live in this alternate world and know the lingo. However, it might be nice to have a dictionary at the back for fans.
August 17, 2021
Sages of the Underpass proves that Aaron Michael Ritchey is a master storyteller... it's an amazing novel! Kind of a cross between an Urban-Fantasy and a Cultivation Anime, it takes place right down in the SF Bay area. This tale tells of family-life, tied together with food, love, and all of the craziness that comes with raising three headstrong, good young men... all of whom you'd lay down your life for! Now, throw in magic and MMA style fighting, which is seemingly more popular than football. And you start to get picture of Niko's life as he trains to be a battle mage.
I expect you'll be up late listening to this action-packed tale all the way to it's breathtaking conclusion!
Travis Baldree's marvelous performance of this book took the audie award for best male narrator of independently published books of 2021! So hop onto the Travis Baldree train, and discover your new favorite narrator with this book, and discover some real magic!
I expect you'll be up late listening to this action-packed tale all the way to it's breathtaking conclusion!
Travis Baldree's marvelous performance of this book took the audie award for best male narrator of independently published books of 2021! So hop onto the Travis Baldree train, and discover your new favorite narrator with this book, and discover some real magic!
October 25, 2019
Interesting urban cultivation
Let's get the obvious out of the way. What a nice cover!
I found that the first 10% of the book was confusing. It wasn't that the story was bad, it was just that a lot of sayings and terminology were coming at the reader pretty heavily. During some parts, it felt like I was reading something filled with industry jargon. You can understand the gist of it but there's no true understanding.
Once you get through that, then it really picks up and you are able to enjoy it. A lot more time than one normally sees in cultivation stories is spent on the non training/fighting parts of the characters lives and that's a really engaging change of pace.
The Urban setting really adds to the story, providing not only some geographical context but also the overall conflict that is taking place in the world.
Will definitely be picking up the next one.
Let's get the obvious out of the way. What a nice cover!
I found that the first 10% of the book was confusing. It wasn't that the story was bad, it was just that a lot of sayings and terminology were coming at the reader pretty heavily. During some parts, it felt like I was reading something filled with industry jargon. You can understand the gist of it but there's no true understanding.
Once you get through that, then it really picks up and you are able to enjoy it. A lot more time than one normally sees in cultivation stories is spent on the non training/fighting parts of the characters lives and that's a really engaging change of pace.
The Urban setting really adds to the story, providing not only some geographical context but also the overall conflict that is taking place in the world.
Will definitely be picking up the next one.
October 24, 2019
More please!
There was a lot of charm and character to this book.... and I loved it. I loved how it grabbed me with the interesting characters, their stories, and how they came together but also were significant in their own ways.
It made it really interesting. And I’ll say that before talking about what the book is about.
It’s a great urban fantasy Wuxia story. Cultivation story set in a modern world (there are cars, TVs, computers, cell phones... and there are sports agents for this wonderful sport of MMA crosses with dragon ball Z powers. It’s fun. A jaunt through the world that sets up for a sequel, but doesn’t leave you hanging whatsoever. Completely satisfying first book.
There was a lot of charm and character to this book.... and I loved it. I loved how it grabbed me with the interesting characters, their stories, and how they came together but also were significant in their own ways.
It made it really interesting. And I’ll say that before talking about what the book is about.
It’s a great urban fantasy Wuxia story. Cultivation story set in a modern world (there are cars, TVs, computers, cell phones... and there are sports agents for this wonderful sport of MMA crosses with dragon ball Z powers. It’s fun. A jaunt through the world that sets up for a sequel, but doesn’t leave you hanging whatsoever. Completely satisfying first book.
June 26, 2025
Title: An engaging read with memorable characters
It's rare that I remember the character names weeks after reading a book - I read a lot. This is one of those books. The characters were interesting and memorable. I read in other reviews about some confusion over the complexity of the magic system, and I understand where that comes from, but I don't see a way to handle it any better. A long technical discussion at any point in the book would have destroyed the pacing, and enough information is doled out organically throughout the story, that I felt like it was handled the correct way. My only complaint about this book is the lack of a sequel so far. The story has enough resolution to not be left hanging, but there's a lot of room for more, and I want to read it!
It's rare that I remember the character names weeks after reading a book - I read a lot. This is one of those books. The characters were interesting and memorable. I read in other reviews about some confusion over the complexity of the magic system, and I understand where that comes from, but I don't see a way to handle it any better. A long technical discussion at any point in the book would have destroyed the pacing, and enough information is doled out organically throughout the story, that I felt like it was handled the correct way. My only complaint about this book is the lack of a sequel so far. The story has enough resolution to not be left hanging, but there's a lot of room for more, and I want to read it!
January 27, 2020
Great world
I thought the concept was fun take on wuxia. I liked the salted homages throughout the book. Overall well edited. My only gripe would probably be the characters themselves. While, likable, they honestly felt fairly bland. Their motivations questionable. Maybe too flawed? The realism was definitely there, so props to the author, but personally I don’t like reading about the average Joe and his personal problems when I read fantasy. I want the Luke Skywalkers & Rand al’Thors. To each there own, but I need a little more fantasy and a little less “my life is so hard, and I hate it”
I thought the concept was fun take on wuxia. I liked the salted homages throughout the book. Overall well edited. My only gripe would probably be the characters themselves. While, likable, they honestly felt fairly bland. Their motivations questionable. Maybe too flawed? The realism was definitely there, so props to the author, but personally I don’t like reading about the average Joe and his personal problems when I read fantasy. I want the Luke Skywalkers & Rand al’Thors. To each there own, but I need a little more fantasy and a little less “my life is so hard, and I hate it”
October 22, 2019
Gripping novel about tribulation and perseverance. Being a former competitive runner, I can relate to the struggle of trying to achieve excellence and find contentment in life that this book so painfully and accurately portrays. Aaron Michael Ritchey masterfully creates real, relatable characters that you root for in their pivotal moments and weep for through their failures. I love cultivation applied to a believable real life setting. I highly recommend this novel for fans of cultivation, wuxia and xanxia.
November 7, 2019
Quite Enjoyable
This one is quite an unusual premise ,with everything based around the signs of Zodiac and how it changes the performance of the Battle Artist this took me quite a while yo get my head around. Once i got into this the book overall was quite good and i would read more of them. Maybe not for everyone but one i shall keep an eye on.
This one is quite an unusual premise ,with everything based around the signs of Zodiac and how it changes the performance of the Battle Artist this took me quite a while yo get my head around. Once i got into this the book overall was quite good and i would read more of them. Maybe not for everyone but one i shall keep an eye on.
November 1, 2019
Amazing story
Amazing story. I like the characters and how well developed they all are. Even the side characters have depth. The intertwined stories were interesting as well, I can't wait to see how they link up later.
Amazing story. I like the characters and how well developed they all are. Even the side characters have depth. The intertwined stories were interesting as well, I can't wait to see how they link up later.
December 4, 2019
Very good
I’m not big on giving reviews but this book is very good. It has an angle that I like and strong story line. I see this evolving into an epic story. It has the bones and the meat is just forming. Good luck, I look forward to your other books in this series!
I’m not big on giving reviews but this book is very good. It has an angle that I like and strong story line. I see this evolving into an epic story. It has the bones and the meat is just forming. Good luck, I look forward to your other books in this series!
December 29, 2019
Wow
This book was an awesome take on modern cultivation. The characters were broken enough to connect to although it seemed too broken at times it came around as a redemptive story for most. This and street cultivation are books I hope lead to a new genre of fiction I will enjoy
This book was an awesome take on modern cultivation. The characters were broken enough to connect to although it seemed too broken at times it came around as a redemptive story for most. This and street cultivation are books I hope lead to a new genre of fiction I will enjoy
December 19, 2019
This was well-written, but not my kind of thing at all. Gritty and messy.
February 9, 2020
A hero you can root for.
Losing is winning if you fight with your heart. There's a lot of heart in this story. And a lot of fight. Both feel good.
Losing is winning if you fight with your heart. There's a lot of heart in this story. And a lot of fight. Both feel good.
November 17, 2020
This was a total attention grabbing story, I enjoyed every second of it and would love to read it again, wow.
November 29, 2019
Overall good, but it seemed long to me. Cultivation stories aren't my favourites, but this was well-written, albeit could have been trimmed quite a bit for the amount the plot actually moved.
did-not-finish
November 30, 2019-Thank you to Shadow Alley Press: I received a free copy of this e-book in a giveaway hosted by the publisher. This does not affect my review-
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews