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The Nightmares of Alamir #1
Janus and Oblivion
Not many refuse heaven. Fewer reject paradise. Certainly rare are those who would find themselves before a being of unknown power and point out the demerits of nirvana.
One man does.
When the aloof fourth son of a business mogul makes the decision to save a life at the cost of his own, he discovers that what awaits him at the end of his mortality is not eternal oblivion.
He cannot help but be disappointed.
When he realizes the world he's been brought to works like the old fantasy games he used to love, he begins to see the merits.
If only he did not start out as the weakest thing in existence, and if only the world he was in was not populated with madness-inducing creatures and fates worse than death.
"Decide for yourself, your fantasies and your Nightmares, your companions and your adversaries, your angels and your demons, your gods and your monsters.
Alamir stretches to you a hand of a thousand possibilities -
You only need take it."
One man does.
When the aloof fourth son of a business mogul makes the decision to save a life at the cost of his own, he discovers that what awaits him at the end of his mortality is not eternal oblivion.
He cannot help but be disappointed.
When he realizes the world he's been brought to works like the old fantasy games he used to love, he begins to see the merits.
If only he did not start out as the weakest thing in existence, and if only the world he was in was not populated with madness-inducing creatures and fates worse than death.
"Decide for yourself, your fantasies and your Nightmares, your companions and your adversaries, your angels and your demons, your gods and your monsters.
Alamir stretches to you a hand of a thousand possibilities -
You only need take it."
- GenresFantasy
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2019
149 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 1, 2020
Wonderful! Only book of its kind (that I know of, please enlighten me) so far in this genre and how I love it so. Starts off slow and becomes more and more interesting as it continues. The progression was much faster than I expected it to be but seemed perfect. He acquired some abilities that I honestly think could be the downfall of this series depending on how they are handled but so far have been well integrated.
I really enjoyed the small glimpses into other points of view and what that introduced to the world at large. I also really enjoy how powerful the final enemies seem to be. Expect great things for this!
I really enjoyed the small glimpses into other points of view and what that introduced to the world at large. I also really enjoy how powerful the final enemies seem to be. Expect great things for this!
August 11, 2025
Janus and Oblivion. The beginning, the end, the oblivion, the duality. This book could have been named many things, but it should’ve been titled “I’m an Asshole, So I Get a Second Chance at Life.” I don’t enjoy reading about MCs who are not nice—especially ones who don’t truly learn from their past wrongs and only care about themselves. The best parts of this book were the moments when the MC wasn’t around or talking—so any interlude was a win. It also doesn’t help that the second main character is another unlikeable, borderline crazy freak.
The author really needs to step up their writing in the sequel if they want readers to connect with these characters. Honestly, this book could’ve been cut in half for pacing and its content added to the beginning of the second book in the series (which I haven’t read yet). I’ll get to the sequel eventually—but not right now.
TLDR: Cool concept, asshole MC.
The author really needs to step up their writing in the sequel if they want readers to connect with these characters. Honestly, this book could’ve been cut in half for pacing and its content added to the beginning of the second book in the series (which I haven’t read yet). I’ll get to the sequel eventually—but not right now.
TLDR: Cool concept, asshole MC.
August 29, 2023
Very entertaining, could benefit greatly from some more editing.
On second read felt a bit short.
On second read felt a bit short.
August 24, 2023
It's hard to find the words to properly review this book. Certainly, I enjoyed it - that much is obvious from my rating. But I enjoyed the book despite really not liking the protagonist, like at all. And that's intentional on the part of the author - the protagonist is not a good guy. Yet I somehow found myself drawn to him and even rooting for him.
Part of the reason I enjoyed this book so much is because the author takes everything that makes up a 'typical' LitRPG story and stands it on end. Nothing is typical, yet the basic game dynamics are undeniably there. The adventurers are the bad guys. Or, at least, the adventurers are not the good guys. And, somehow, the bad guys are not really bad...even though they are.
And all of that sounds incredibly confusing, yet somehow the author manages to pull it all together and make it work.
If you like LitRPG, you should check out this book. Just be prepared to root for the bad guy.
Part of the reason I enjoyed this book so much is because the author takes everything that makes up a 'typical' LitRPG story and stands it on end. Nothing is typical, yet the basic game dynamics are undeniably there. The adventurers are the bad guys. Or, at least, the adventurers are not the good guys. And, somehow, the bad guys are not really bad...even though they are.
And all of that sounds incredibly confusing, yet somehow the author manages to pull it all together and make it work.
If you like LitRPG, you should check out this book. Just be prepared to root for the bad guy.
July 15, 2019
Absolutely loved it. Doesn't get bogged doqn on numbers too much like most litRPGs, and it's main character is a rather... original fella. An asshole that doesn't blink when he discovers that an ex-employee killed himself because he fired him while his son had cancer, and an ashole that would tell the daughter of said employee that had he known about the kid with cancer, he'd have helped the man fo PR.
But he sure as hell is someone you cheer for whem our dear "god" takes his musing about wanting to live a life qhere he had to strugle for his happiness instead of heaven a little to literally, and makes him cry tears of blood because of the pain he goes through. Tears of blood if he had any eyes to cry with after his reincarnation, that is.
But he sure as hell is someone you cheer for whem our dear "god" takes his musing about wanting to live a life qhere he had to strugle for his happiness instead of heaven a little to literally, and makes him cry tears of blood because of the pain he goes through. Tears of blood if he had any eyes to cry with after his reincarnation, that is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2020
Inconsistent MC
Other than his utter inability to plan, no characteristic of the MC is consistent.
The author tries very very hard to both kill and save the MC, it gets exhausting; imagine irrational ex machina constantly attacking and or saving the MC, but in a frustrating way, rather than a fun one, and you know what to expect.
Other than his utter inability to plan, no characteristic of the MC is consistent.
The author tries very very hard to both kill and save the MC, it gets exhausting; imagine irrational ex machina constantly attacking and or saving the MC, but in a frustrating way, rather than a fun one, and you know what to expect.
July 1, 2020
Smart, very smart
A nice change of pace. Interesting pragmatic protagonist. Borderline rational fiction. A lot of standard tropes subverted and deeper world building than I initially expected.
I'm eager to read the next book.
A nice change of pace. Interesting pragmatic protagonist. Borderline rational fiction. A lot of standard tropes subverted and deeper world building than I initially expected.
I'm eager to read the next book.
July 11, 2019
Great
Well written and well developed characters. Love your web novels and love this. When is next one going to come out?
Well written and well developed characters. Love your web novels and love this. When is next one going to come out?
July 15, 2019
Epic!
This was such a great twist on the litrpg genre! The storyline is engaging and the characters really draw the reader in! Can’t wait for book two!
This was such a great twist on the litrpg genre! The storyline is engaging and the characters really draw the reader in! Can’t wait for book two!
July 19, 2019
Way better then I thought!
Interesting, believable, adult feeling characters. I really liked the evaluation and skill system. Was a great read will get the next book
Interesting, believable, adult feeling characters. I really liked the evaluation and skill system. Was a great read will get the next book
May 19, 2021
Lots and lots of skill gains and updates and leveling. For what purpose?
There are waaaaayyyyy too many such gains - which then don't play much or even any roll whatsoever. The MC still gets his ass kicked (an understatement actually) when it counts (which happens quite a few times).
And it's another "you must save the world" (Earth actually, from afar), oh please no. So he has to become stronger than a top tier god (low or medium level god not enough).
Sarcasm alert: It's great to remove any satisfaction of any level and skill increases from here on because we already know even leveling up a hundred times still puts him at 0.01% of where he needs to be. Making all the intermediate leveling just "work" without much satisfaction. It SUCKS to put the bar so extremely high right at the start of a story, how can you enjoy the journey now? Way too much pressure. Instead of enjoying journeying through an unknown world he now is on a timer and under huge pressure.
Also, way too much completely useless PoV shifts to people I could not care less about. Instead of letting the MC find out things you just get an immediate info dump via PoV change. Without there being a more than very general connection between them all (they are in the same country, nothing more personal than that). Skipping those chapters changes exactly nothing at all, in fact it's better.
At least the story is written fluently and grammar is good.
There are waaaaayyyyy too many such gains - which then don't play much or even any roll whatsoever. The MC still gets his ass kicked (an understatement actually) when it counts (which happens quite a few times).
And it's another "you must save the world" (Earth actually, from afar), oh please no. So he has to become stronger than a top tier god (low or medium level god not enough).
Sarcasm alert: It's great to remove any satisfaction of any level and skill increases from here on because we already know even leveling up a hundred times still puts him at 0.01% of where he needs to be. Making all the intermediate leveling just "work" without much satisfaction. It SUCKS to put the bar so extremely high right at the start of a story, how can you enjoy the journey now? Way too much pressure. Instead of enjoying journeying through an unknown world he now is on a timer and under huge pressure.
Also, way too much completely useless PoV shifts to people I could not care less about. Instead of letting the MC find out things you just get an immediate info dump via PoV change. Without there being a more than very general connection between them all (they are in the same country, nothing more personal than that). Skipping those chapters changes exactly nothing at all, in fact it's better.
At least the story is written fluently and grammar is good.
June 23, 2020
Very creative first entry!
I love the plot and twists contained therein. This is such a refreshingly different viewpoint and plot that I was mesmerized by the book as a whole. Masterfully written and crafted, I couldn't out it down. I overlooked this title many times and was pleasantly surprised at the genuine originality to the scope of the overall story.
I love the plot and twists contained therein. This is such a refreshingly different viewpoint and plot that I was mesmerized by the book as a whole. Masterfully written and crafted, I couldn't out it down. I overlooked this title many times and was pleasantly surprised at the genuine originality to the scope of the overall story.
April 13, 2023
while i like the idea of reincarnate in a worm and evolve from there the MC gets not a single sympathy from me and i would have enjoyed him finally killed.
Also the janus skill at the end of the book is mostly annoying in my eyes. The POV switches with story parts that have no connection in this book is also not for me.
Some nice ideas but definitely not my book.
Also the janus skill at the end of the book is mostly annoying in my eyes. The POV switches with story parts that have no connection in this book is also not for me.
Some nice ideas but definitely not my book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2021
Humorous and gritty
Loved this book. It was dark, gritty, brutal, yet very funny at times. Well written and has lots of things happening to keep you guessing. Would highly recommend!
Loved this book. It was dark, gritty, brutal, yet very funny at times. Well written and has lots of things happening to keep you guessing. Would highly recommend!
did-not-finish
March 20, 2020Not for me, it just made me to grumpy.
April 7, 2020
Waiting for ur second book of this saga. Really great book to read.
April 13, 2020
I honestly loved this book and I can't wait for the next one. Or anything written by Noam Oswin really. I'm a huge fan.
July 12, 2020
Interesting take
Enjoyable story because it shows that even when we think we are all powerful reality usually steps in with a rude awakening.
Enjoyable story because it shows that even when we think we are all powerful reality usually steps in with a rude awakening.
July 28, 2020
Loved it.
It was a great book. I discovered the author on another site. 10/10 would recommend to the boys. I can't wait to read the sequel.
It was a great book. I discovered the author on another site. 10/10 would recommend to the boys. I can't wait to read the sequel.
July 31, 2020
I started and I couldn’t stop
I read this book cover to cover without stopping! I was so enthralled with this story that I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!
I read this book cover to cover without stopping! I was so enthralled with this story that I couldn’t wait to see what happened next!
December 7, 2020
Best LitRPG I've ever read.
April 28, 2021
Really good, good mix of fantasy and an rpg system. Although his interactions with humans is minmal nearly non-existant.
May 2, 2021
A bit different from what I normally get from litRPG. And thats a great thing. It was a great read and was good as a fantasy novel as a whole.
May 19, 2021
Simply astronomical, fantastic story telling , love the chaos the mc has to deal with, and it's great how the other characters are not idiots
March 24, 2022
There aren't many books that get a good non-human protagonist perspective but I must this book does it really well and if you think that this sound interesting, you should really give it a try.
September 1, 2023
DNF 50%
It seems like a well written book, but I don’t really like the protagonist and I’m not vested in any of the characters from the side stories. Dropped purely because I lost interest.
It seems like a well written book, but I don’t really like the protagonist and I’m not vested in any of the characters from the side stories. Dropped purely because I lost interest.
January 9, 2020
Good and different
Good and pretty different book from what I expected. A decent amount of litrpg stuff (not super crunchy but not Gamelit, either) and good worldbuilding. Definitely went in a direction I didn’t expect.
It’s worth the few bucks. Give it a shot.
Good and pretty different book from what I expected. A decent amount of litrpg stuff (not super crunchy but not Gamelit, either) and good worldbuilding. Definitely went in a direction I didn’t expect.
It’s worth the few bucks. Give it a shot.
December 30, 2019
Excellent, barring the Interludes
Considering I skipped half the book because of stupid interludes, the book was great. I loved how he entered the world, and how quickly it became a LitRPG version of Spore. Great concept, just ya know get rid of the interludes full of the boring stuff.
Considering I skipped half the book because of stupid interludes, the book was great. I loved how he entered the world, and how quickly it became a LitRPG version of Spore. Great concept, just ya know get rid of the interludes full of the boring stuff.
August 21, 2019
Alert
I hate trying to write reviews because there are really only pass/fail results for me. Did I make it all the way through? Yes? 5 stars. No? There would be nothing here to read. In all fairness, if an author holds my attention from page one to the end, they’ve done their job. Anything less than 5 stars is petty criticism from someone incapable of even doing the job let alone doing a better one.
So in respect for the author and their work, I am going to start pasting this along with a generic review I found somewhere. “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Cheers
I hate trying to write reviews because there are really only pass/fail results for me. Did I make it all the way through? Yes? 5 stars. No? There would be nothing here to read. In all fairness, if an author holds my attention from page one to the end, they’ve done their job. Anything less than 5 stars is petty criticism from someone incapable of even doing the job let alone doing a better one.
So in respect for the author and their work, I am going to start pasting this along with a generic review I found somewhere. “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Cheers
July 25, 2019
Unfortunate MC in a decent Litrpg
The story and writing are both passable though the typo in the preview text nearly kept me from purchasing. The stories biggest flaw is it’s main characters unsympathetic nature that makes it nearly impossible to empathize with or feel attached to him.
The story and writing are both passable though the typo in the preview text nearly kept me from purchasing. The stories biggest flaw is it’s main characters unsympathetic nature that makes it nearly impossible to empathize with or feel attached to him.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews