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Noobtown #3
Castle of the Noobs
Jim and his shoulder demon have survived everything the world has thrown at them. So far. However, there is an encroaching war between two great kingdoms. In between the two armies stands an ever-growing town, led by a Noob. With goblins, trolls, angry Wargs, and an expanding refugee crisis, will Jim and his companions manage to restore Windfall Valley or have they finally met their match?
559 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2020
754 people are currently reading
300 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
September 17, 2024
This is third in a LitRPG isekai power fantasy. Read in order.
This one starts with Jim being a layabout on the edge of the village he has been building. And that started a feeling of disconnect that grew for me as the book continued. At about two-thirds, I found I just didn't care any more.
Jim is diddling around. It seems random and disconnected. Things happen, but I kept losing track of why. And why it mattered. And don't get me started on him faffing about with the women, burying his head in the sand about their feelings and making the hurt linger. Eventually I found myself making excuses to avoid reading further. Fortunately, I've trained myself to recognize that as time to dnf. So I dnf'd.
This one starts with Jim being a layabout on the edge of the village he has been building. And that started a feeling of disconnect that grew for me as the book continued. At about two-thirds, I found I just didn't care any more.
Jim is diddling around. It seems random and disconnected. Things happen, but I kept losing track of why. And why it mattered. And don't get me started on him faffing about with the women, burying his head in the sand about their feelings and making the hurt linger. Eventually I found myself making excuses to avoid reading further. Fortunately, I've trained myself to recognize that as time to dnf. So I dnf'd.
June 18, 2021
Book got to be a bit annoying for me honestly. The stuff about his name is getting old, all the sexual jokes and innuendos are getting old, the stuff with Bashara got old fast too. It’s like the same interactions are happening over and over again. Even the joy of leveling and adding perks and traits were basically taken out when the author added some nonsense from Shart about how no one wants to hear about it anymore. Uhhh ok... But this is LitRPG, literally what we came for.
5/10
5/10
February 20, 2020
Long and awesome
This book gets back to the awesomeness of the first one in the series. Settlement building and Jim's abuse of the system in interesting ways.
I don't know if it's truly a 5 star book, but rating it now, just as I finished it, it sure was entertaining enough to earn them.
This book gets back to the awesomeness of the first one in the series. Settlement building and Jim's abuse of the system in interesting ways.
I don't know if it's truly a 5 star book, but rating it now, just as I finished it, it sure was entertaining enough to earn them.
September 15, 2021
I hate the MC... so so much. The demon has nothing on me.
From his complete idiocy, to the brainwashing, to the bitching about his previous family, to the still acting like a noob after being there for a while (and the time is kind of screwed up from book 2 to 3), to his acting like a doormat for everyone around him... There's just so much to hate about him that I can't force myself to keep going with this series although I had high hopes for it when I read the first book.
Also, I pretty much dislike all of the side characters, except for maybe the demon, and only because we share a hate for the MC. If you want to make the rest of the cast of the book likable then try to have them not shit on the MC with which the reader connects to the most. Just a friendly suggestion for any future work.
And don't get me started at all the references to the fucking lumberjack and everything surrounding him. I don't care about people having sex, but if it's not the MC then I don't need to know how some random douchebag is banging half the town while the MC's out there moping like a bitch.
Another thing is that the plot didn't go anywhere. We just kind of spun in circles while people made fun of the MC and he bitched in his head while a bit of fighting happened.
Fuck this series, I'm out.
From his complete idiocy, to the brainwashing, to the bitching about his previous family, to the still acting like a noob after being there for a while (and the time is kind of screwed up from book 2 to 3), to his acting like a doormat for everyone around him... There's just so much to hate about him that I can't force myself to keep going with this series although I had high hopes for it when I read the first book.
Also, I pretty much dislike all of the side characters, except for maybe the demon, and only because we share a hate for the MC. If you want to make the rest of the cast of the book likable then try to have them not shit on the MC with which the reader connects to the most. Just a friendly suggestion for any future work.
And don't get me started at all the references to the fucking lumberjack and everything surrounding him. I don't care about people having sex, but if it's not the MC then I don't need to know how some random douchebag is banging half the town while the MC's out there moping like a bitch.
Another thing is that the plot didn't go anywhere. We just kind of spun in circles while people made fun of the MC and he bitched in his head while a bit of fighting happened.
Fuck this series, I'm out.
February 25, 2020
There was a bit of a slump in the second book of this series relative to the first one, but book 3 gets things back on track.
This was well-written and had some genuine laughs. the latter being remarkable as I usually have a problem with sidekicks inserted for comic purposes. As the MC is a total straight-man (in the old sense) these characters actually work in this case.
Jim's attitude toward all of the women throwing themselves at him seemed a bit off to me, but really he's only been dead for a month, so taking some time to adjust to the idea that death has parted you isn't a big stretch. Anyway, great book, and I look forward to the next one.
This was well-written and had some genuine laughs. the latter being remarkable as I usually have a problem with sidekicks inserted for comic purposes. As the MC is a total straight-man (in the old sense) these characters actually work in this case.
Jim's attitude toward all of the women throwing themselves at him seemed a bit off to me, but really he's only been dead for a month, so taking some time to adjust to the idea that death has parted you isn't a big stretch. Anyway, great book, and I look forward to the next one.
May 16, 2023
Fun and well written. Im continuing to enjoy the series, and I'm looking forward to more :)
July 19, 2025
A good story wrapped in bullying and overcomplicated simple situations and conveniently solved complex ones. All men going goo-goo-gaa-gaa when the witch is involved pisses me off. It can be distasteful in the best of circumstances but seems forceful and out of character in these books.
Also the whole "I was in my 40 when I died but now I'm in my 20's bod and am being hit on by a gorgeous woman who looks exactly like my adult daughter" is weird. Either she reminds you too much of your daughter and therefore you can't pursue anything with her, or she don't remind you of your literal child and you're good. But this flip flopping between "fuck, she's hot" and "she reminds me of my daughter" is kinda gross.
Also the whole "I was in my 40 when I died but now I'm in my 20's bod and am being hit on by a gorgeous woman who looks exactly like my adult daughter" is weird. Either she reminds you too much of your daughter and therefore you can't pursue anything with her, or she don't remind you of your literal child and you're good. But this flip flopping between "fuck, she's hot" and "she reminds me of my daughter" is kinda gross.
February 24, 2020
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.”
Now, since I have to keep explaining myself to people who don't like my reviews, I guess some clarification is in order.
1. I am 100% against criticism for works of art. Art is subjective, meaning reviews are irrelevant. The observer's opinion is only relevant to the observer. It is my belief that regardless of what others might say, I have to experience the art for myself.
2. I read upwards of 20 books a month. The $10/month I spend on K U, feels like I am cheating the authors. But since I can't afford 20 books a month if I were to purchase them directly, all I can offer is a positive review. That leads us to the final point.
3. If I get to the end of a book, then it was worth my time. I give those books 5 stars because it helps the author get exposure. That is the only reason I write reviews at all.
I understand that people are people and they are going to do what they do regardless of my stance. I know the way that I review books upsets some people. I am sorry they feel that way but as many have said, they will just ignore my review going forward. In fact, if you made it this far through my review, you should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews here. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
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.”
Now, since I have to keep explaining myself to people who don't like my reviews, I guess some clarification is in order.
1. I am 100% against criticism for works of art. Art is subjective, meaning reviews are irrelevant. The observer's opinion is only relevant to the observer. It is my belief that regardless of what others might say, I have to experience the art for myself.
2. I read upwards of 20 books a month. The $10/month I spend on K U, feels like I am cheating the authors. But since I can't afford 20 books a month if I were to purchase them directly, all I can offer is a positive review. That leads us to the final point.
3. If I get to the end of a book, then it was worth my time. I give those books 5 stars because it helps the author get exposure. That is the only reason I write reviews at all.
I understand that people are people and they are going to do what they do regardless of my stance. I know the way that I review books upsets some people. I am sorry they feel that way but as many have said, they will just ignore my review going forward. In fact, if you made it this far through my review, you should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews here. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
Cheers
February 20, 2020
Excellent continuation of the series
This felt like an excellent book 3. There was no drop off in writing quality, if anything it seemed to get better in all areas. The humour was on point, happily able to poke fun at the standard genre tropes, such as pages and pages of skill description and thoughts , while still able to stick to what makes litrpg/gamelit great. Especially with some brilliantly timed references that had me laughing out loud at times (Sir Dalton).
I really loved the description of a boss battle from a different point of view.
If I had a few small complaint, it would be that I wouldn't mind a quick recap at the start. I'd forgotten some of the actions at the end of book two, and you are dropped right in it, taking a little bit of time to get up to speed with what happened.
Well worth picking up.
This felt like an excellent book 3. There was no drop off in writing quality, if anything it seemed to get better in all areas. The humour was on point, happily able to poke fun at the standard genre tropes, such as pages and pages of skill description and thoughts , while still able to stick to what makes litrpg/gamelit great. Especially with some brilliantly timed references that had me laughing out loud at times (Sir Dalton).
I really loved the description of a boss battle from a different point of view.
If I had a few small complaint, it would be that I wouldn't mind a quick recap at the start. I'd forgotten some of the actions at the end of book two, and you are dropped right in it, taking a little bit of time to get up to speed with what happened.
Well worth picking up.
May 29, 2020
This guy needs to get over his wife and kids it's getting boring after book 3 to listen to him whine and bitch and moan the entire time and just move on with his life! He is dead to them and was transported to another world for shits sake, he still does NOT know real amount of time that has past from Earth to were he is now. It could be thousands of years Hell the author can't even keep track of time in this book, like for instance when he found the ring broken and basically you know they said it was only one week of time since he fell in the cave/mine. Well a few chapters before that weeks have gone by, he even went to another town and back!
Book is basically filler and a slow slog
Book is basically filler and a slow slog
May 28, 2023
It was good
September 14, 2021
Still a fun read but the jokes are getting old and the weird sexual references are everywhere.
Starting to get a bit stale so will read something else rather than move on to book 4. Guess I need a break from this series. Still enjoying it but... ya know...
I enjoyed it - 3 stars
Starting to get a bit stale so will read something else rather than move on to book 4. Guess I need a break from this series. Still enjoying it but... ya know...
I enjoyed it - 3 stars
August 30, 2021
I can't even with how stupid the MC is in this specific book of the series.
May 27, 2020
audio book
So book 2 in this series basically got 3 stars as a courtesy. I reread my review of book 2 to get me up to speed and almost didn't bother with book 3. Book 3, however is solidly a 3 star read- not great but enjoyable. The author, for some reason I cannot figure out, still on occasion goes out of his way to make his MC stupid. The example that sticks out for me from this book is the MC taking a week off and then complaining later that he is falling behind. The author also has the MC eventually realize that another character was mind-controlling him but the MC just blows this off because that character is female.
Still, on the whole this is a fun book with the MC growing his town, primarily through refugees from a war between neighboring kingdoms. The worgs, goblins, thieves and now trolls, still surround the MC's village and it turns out that that the goblins and trolls are also fighting each other over the castle that the MC is looking to expand to.
Bottom line: An enjoyable read.
So book 2 in this series basically got 3 stars as a courtesy. I reread my review of book 2 to get me up to speed and almost didn't bother with book 3. Book 3, however is solidly a 3 star read- not great but enjoyable. The author, for some reason I cannot figure out, still on occasion goes out of his way to make his MC stupid. The example that sticks out for me from this book is the MC taking a week off and then complaining later that he is falling behind. The author also has the MC eventually realize that another character was mind-controlling him but the MC just blows this off because that character is female.
Still, on the whole this is a fun book with the MC growing his town, primarily through refugees from a war between neighboring kingdoms. The worgs, goblins, thieves and now trolls, still surround the MC's village and it turns out that that the goblins and trolls are also fighting each other over the castle that the MC is looking to expand to.
Bottom line: An enjoyable read.
December 22, 2020
I don't know why I am reading this, I know I will regret it.
"Till death do us part", yet I have to read three books about him moping about his wife. I'm fed up of reading about his wife.
Hmm. It seems that Jim has spent less than a month on this world, so I can understand that it's still fresh that he lost his wife, but dear God is it annoying. I'm also sure Earth and this planet share different time zones. A thousand years probably passed on Earth already.
Is this just poor writing?
Yep. This novel ended and nothing really changed. I think there is just too much happening. He tried to do some "improvised engineering", but it just turned into a joke.
I think this is where I'm stopping this series. He can continue moping about his wife, and being brainwashed by someone who continuously mentally attacked him.
2.5/5 Stars
"Till death do us part", yet I have to read three books about him moping about his wife. I'm fed up of reading about his wife.
Hmm. It seems that Jim has spent less than a month on this world, so I can understand that it's still fresh that he lost his wife, but dear God is it annoying. I'm also sure Earth and this planet share different time zones. A thousand years probably passed on Earth already.
Is this just poor writing?
Yep. This novel ended and nothing really changed. I think there is just too much happening. He tried to do some "improvised engineering", but it just turned into a joke.
I think this is where I'm stopping this series. He can continue moping about his wife, and being brainwashed by someone who continuously mentally attacked him.
2.5/5 Stars
February 16, 2020
Another good addition to the series
This book seems to mark an end to the initial story arc started in the first book - establishing the town and moving past the primary antagonistic force - the goblins.
What entertains from this story is the relationship between the main character and the cast of lovable weirdos and misfits that make up the supporting characters.
Jim is a fun character - but he does best with these small idiosyncratic side characters and the quirky puns and double entendres that make up some of the best scenes in the story.
Lots of action. Lots of development. Lots of fun.
This book seems to mark an end to the initial story arc started in the first book - establishing the town and moving past the primary antagonistic force - the goblins.
What entertains from this story is the relationship between the main character and the cast of lovable weirdos and misfits that make up the supporting characters.
Jim is a fun character - but he does best with these small idiosyncratic side characters and the quirky puns and double entendres that make up some of the best scenes in the story.
Lots of action. Lots of development. Lots of fun.
February 23, 2020
Book three
Mistakes: I really struggled on how to rate this book. I love the story, but I don’t think this is a finished copy. There are words that are in different color print, then a paragraph, then an entire chapter. I also found three mistakes outside of the darker print.
Story could also use a prologue to hit the high points of the other books.
Plot: Noobtown grows, threats are delt with, more are uncovered.
Characters: While the Mc is overpowered, the interaction between characters had me cracking up at times.
4.5\10
Mistakes: I really struggled on how to rate this book. I love the story, but I don’t think this is a finished copy. There are words that are in different color print, then a paragraph, then an entire chapter. I also found three mistakes outside of the darker print.
Story could also use a prologue to hit the high points of the other books.
Plot: Noobtown grows, threats are delt with, more are uncovered.
Characters: While the Mc is overpowered, the interaction between characters had me cracking up at times.
4.5\10
February 21, 2021
I really believe the MC is bipolar he goes from really clever to an absolute moron (as a doormat, how everyone shits on) in a sec, I can respect not wanting a romantic entanglement but the constant doubt about the subject make him look like a guilty cheater' do it or don't, and god mot every secondary character are jerks. I'll have run from them in the first book.
February 19, 2020
A extremely entertaining read.
The story continues to keep me entertained and also managed to make me laugh at some of the characters as the MC grows but also continues to make mistakes. Overall it was good.
The story continues to keep me entertained and also managed to make me laugh at some of the characters as the MC grows but also continues to make mistakes. Overall it was good.
March 3, 2020
No substance
This is one of the many issues with mediocre humour focused fiction, the story meaders around to facilitate subpar humour and ultimately fails to be entertaining.
This is one of the many issues with mediocre humour focused fiction, the story meaders around to facilitate subpar humour and ultimately fails to be entertaining.
June 17, 2020
4 stars, great series, really like this type of stories/books and this author has done a great job with them. I will have to look for more books by this author.
May 22, 2025
A short read from a fun little series, please read prior reviews for my likes, those are basically the same here. I have to take a star though for some general sloppiness issues.
First and foremost: English jokes in other languages make no sense! Using English phrases and making jokes based on English homophones MAKE NO SENSE when they’re obviously not speaking English on Ordinal as the author even literally points out in a conversation in the book. This is one of those pet peeves of mine that irks me to no end, whether it’s one of these progression series or if it’s a television historical drama. Just a dumb thing.
There are also a number of errors in the kindle edition, not as many as the first book, but still many many more than the one I noticed in book 2. It’s not that hard ti pay someone to proof read for grammar, spelling and other issues. For instance, the author calls a granary a “grainery”, which I know was underlined red by his word processor, so like wth is that even?
My other issues center around the confusing world building. Why aren’t there more newbies? There are starter towns, why aren’t there more people like MC? We have yet to meet one. He even called them “players” one time in the book. I imagine this is another error on his part, because now it sounds like this is a game series.
Also if these players or whatever usually have their mind wiped wouldn’t they just be children? Why need starter towns at all unless they’re adults coming from other worlds with their memories? The author makes it seem like that it’s not the case they have their memories. So I am just totally confused by this whole aspect of the story at this point.
What size is the badger’s war form? Described both as a large, flat dog a horse. Then later it’s implied he has a form beyond war form? Just a sloppy way of revealing this.
Finally, the Shart companion alternates between knowing everything about everything, including the ability to make earth cultural references constantly even Avengers, to not knowing who built the starter village or how or not understanding earth culture. Inconsistent.
And that’s probably my biggest gripe. This series doesn’t rise above pulp, fun quality but it’s inconsistent and sloppy in its details and execution.
First and foremost: English jokes in other languages make no sense! Using English phrases and making jokes based on English homophones MAKE NO SENSE when they’re obviously not speaking English on Ordinal as the author even literally points out in a conversation in the book. This is one of those pet peeves of mine that irks me to no end, whether it’s one of these progression series or if it’s a television historical drama. Just a dumb thing.
There are also a number of errors in the kindle edition, not as many as the first book, but still many many more than the one I noticed in book 2. It’s not that hard ti pay someone to proof read for grammar, spelling and other issues. For instance, the author calls a granary a “grainery”, which I know was underlined red by his word processor, so like wth is that even?
My other issues center around the confusing world building. Why aren’t there more newbies? There are starter towns, why aren’t there more people like MC? We have yet to meet one. He even called them “players” one time in the book. I imagine this is another error on his part, because now it sounds like this is a game series.
Also if these players or whatever usually have their mind wiped wouldn’t they just be children? Why need starter towns at all unless they’re adults coming from other worlds with their memories? The author makes it seem like that it’s not the case they have their memories. So I am just totally confused by this whole aspect of the story at this point.
What size is the badger’s war form? Described both as a large, flat dog a horse. Then later it’s implied he has a form beyond war form? Just a sloppy way of revealing this.
Finally, the Shart companion alternates between knowing everything about everything, including the ability to make earth cultural references constantly even Avengers, to not knowing who built the starter village or how or not understanding earth culture. Inconsistent.
And that’s probably my biggest gripe. This series doesn’t rise above pulp, fun quality but it’s inconsistent and sloppy in its details and execution.
January 28, 2024
Castle of the Noobs (Noobtown, #3) by Ryan Rimmel Review:
Castle of the Noobs marks the continuation of Joe's adventure in the Noobtown series, taking readers on another thrilling journey through the intricacies of the game-like world crafted by Ryan Rimmel. In this installment, Joe faces new challenges and adversaries as he strives to solidify his place in the ever-evolving landscape of Noobtown.
Rimmel's storytelling prowess shines once again, delivering a narrative that is both engaging and immersive.
One of the strengths of this book is its ability to maintain the momentum of the series while introducing fresh elements to keep readers invested. From epic battles to political intrigue, Castle of the Noobs offers a diverse range of challenges for Joe to overcome, each one pushing him further along his path of growth and development.
The world-building in this installment continues to impress, with Rimmel expanding upon the lore and history of the game world in fascinating ways.
Moreover, the character development remains a highlight of the series, with Joe and his companions undergoing significant growth as they confront the trials and tribulations thrown their way. The relationships between characters feel authentic and dynamic, adding depth to the narrative and driving the emotional stakes ever higher.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Castle of the Noobs is a must-read for fans of the series and a worthy addition to the litRPG genre as a whole. With its compelling characters, immersive world-building, and gripping storyline, it is sure to captivate readers from beginning to end.
June 13, 2023
The third novel in the Noobtown series slows down a little as Jim gets pulled into the endless problems of trying to be mayor of an adventuring town. These problems aren’t without interest, but they also aren’t exactly exciting. One of the problems he is having is a lack of “licenses” which will permit his town to grow larger. To fix this problem, Jim sets his sights on taking control of an “abandoned” (abandoned by everyone but the monsters) castle near to Windfall. He doesn’t need to keep the castle, he just wants to hold it long enough to harvest some licenses out of it. Unfortunately, he’s not the only one who wants that castle. There are still a large number of goblins and trolls in the area and one of the nearby kings is moving in the direction of Windfall pushing a horde of refugees ahead of him. Jim wants to help the refugees which means he’s going to need a lot more licenses. It also wouldn’t be bad to have a castle to help defend the area with. So, in between bouts of administration, Jim dives into the much more exciting problem of clearing and holding the castle.
The other storyline that brings a lot of excitement to the tale is the female wizard who keeps casting influences on Jim. She’s very annoying. In the previous book she was helping the bandits before Jim captured her, but her spells consistently keep him from treating her like the wicked fiend she is. This time she appears to have sent an assassin after Jim and continually tries to magically enslave him, but Jim is totally oblivious to her efforts even as his magic resistances keep going up from successfully foiling her attacks. It is, to say the least, really infuriating, but at least Rimmel advances this part of the storyline significantly.
Overall, this book isn’t quite as exciting as the first two in the series, but it is still a very enjoyable work and makes me eager to start the next one.
The other storyline that brings a lot of excitement to the tale is the female wizard who keeps casting influences on Jim. She’s very annoying. In the previous book she was helping the bandits before Jim captured her, but her spells consistently keep him from treating her like the wicked fiend she is. This time she appears to have sent an assassin after Jim and continually tries to magically enslave him, but Jim is totally oblivious to her efforts even as his magic resistances keep going up from successfully foiling her attacks. It is, to say the least, really infuriating, but at least Rimmel advances this part of the storyline significantly.
Overall, this book isn’t quite as exciting as the first two in the series, but it is still a very enjoyable work and makes me eager to start the next one.
April 30, 2020
Still holding my interest
Gamelit rpg fantasy adventure
The first two entries in the series kept my interest. There are fun inside references to both table-top and video RPG games. The characters remain interesting, the scenarios believable and even inventive -- even with the errors that somehow manage to creep in. In this release, the editing in the first half was pretty good, but in the second half they seemed to multiply.
This may somehow turn out to be a mcguffin, but in this tale a magical instrument is discovered. I won't say more because it would quickly lead to spoilers. What really bothered me about this instrument was its description. It kept changing. In one paragraph it was a lute, which is part of the guitar family. The next reference, it was a lyre, which is part of the harp family. Both are stringed instruments, but they are physically and discernably different. The deal with the wizardess and the MC was fine and believable, and kept her in the realm of suspicious NPCs. The business about sorcery versus magic was fine, too; don't agree with it, but Ryan's story, Ryan's magic rules.
But the question of lute or lyre nagged at me. A lot. And I'm not sure why. If it was to convey that the characters themselves didn't know what it was due to its innate magic, I'm not sold on that rationale at all. For someone not familiar with the game, this could be confusing to a reader, and isn't playing fair while appearing to be sloppy continuity. Having played D&D for decades, the proper solution is to have more than one instrument of each type to keep the players and NPCs guessing.
I'm chalking this up to an error (a story reference you'll get if you read the book).
I'm three books in and somewhat invested, so I'll give a cautious 4* here.
Gamelit rpg fantasy adventure
The first two entries in the series kept my interest. There are fun inside references to both table-top and video RPG games. The characters remain interesting, the scenarios believable and even inventive -- even with the errors that somehow manage to creep in. In this release, the editing in the first half was pretty good, but in the second half they seemed to multiply.
This may somehow turn out to be a mcguffin, but in this tale a magical instrument is discovered. I won't say more because it would quickly lead to spoilers. What really bothered me about this instrument was its description. It kept changing. In one paragraph it was a lute, which is part of the guitar family. The next reference, it was a lyre, which is part of the harp family. Both are stringed instruments, but they are physically and discernably different. The deal with the wizardess and the MC was fine and believable, and kept her in the realm of suspicious NPCs. The business about sorcery versus magic was fine, too; don't agree with it, but Ryan's story, Ryan's magic rules.
But the question of lute or lyre nagged at me. A lot. And I'm not sure why. If it was to convey that the characters themselves didn't know what it was due to its innate magic, I'm not sold on that rationale at all. For someone not familiar with the game, this could be confusing to a reader, and isn't playing fair while appearing to be sloppy continuity. Having played D&D for decades, the proper solution is to have more than one instrument of each type to keep the players and NPCs guessing.
I'm chalking this up to an error (a story reference you'll get if you read the book).
I'm three books in and somewhat invested, so I'll give a cautious 4* here.
October 19, 2023
"Castle of the Noobs", the third installment in the Noobtown series, picks up right where books one and two left off. While it promises a continuation of the journey, the book is plagued by glaring consistency issues that disrupt the reading experience. At various junctures, a brief introduction or a refresher about certain skills or concepts would have been invaluable. Instead, readers might find themselves backtracking several pages, searching in vain for context.
The misspellings, though minor, begin to pile up and distract from the narrative. For instance, suggesting that the main character developed a 'Mental Fortress' skill as a defense against "mine attacks" rather than "mind attacks" is a prime example of the kind of oversight that recurs throughout the series.
Furthermore, the protagonist's journey feels somewhat hollow, lacking in real challenges. Every new perk or skill he acquires seems to miraculously counteract a weakness, eliminating any sense of struggle or growth. The brief moment when the main character has to alternate between his Sorcerer and Mage classes promised some much-needed tension, but this too was resolved hastily, leaving readers wanting more.
The darker themes introduced, especially the implications of villagers dying in battle, felt superficial and were not handled with the gravitas they deserved. The climax, which sees a significant battle unfold, culminates in the loss of just "a handful" of villagers. This number is then inexplicably whittled down to three nameless militia members. Their sudden introduction and equally swift exit from the narrative felt jarring. The protagonist's subsequent grief over their loss, despite them having no prior presence in the story, feels unearned and confounding.
The misspellings, though minor, begin to pile up and distract from the narrative. For instance, suggesting that the main character developed a 'Mental Fortress' skill as a defense against "mine attacks" rather than "mind attacks" is a prime example of the kind of oversight that recurs throughout the series.
Furthermore, the protagonist's journey feels somewhat hollow, lacking in real challenges. Every new perk or skill he acquires seems to miraculously counteract a weakness, eliminating any sense of struggle or growth. The brief moment when the main character has to alternate between his Sorcerer and Mage classes promised some much-needed tension, but this too was resolved hastily, leaving readers wanting more.
The darker themes introduced, especially the implications of villagers dying in battle, felt superficial and were not handled with the gravitas they deserved. The climax, which sees a significant battle unfold, culminates in the loss of just "a handful" of villagers. This number is then inexplicably whittled down to three nameless militia members. Their sudden introduction and equally swift exit from the narrative felt jarring. The protagonist's subsequent grief over their loss, despite them having no prior presence in the story, feels unearned and confounding.
March 20, 2022
LitRPG is the genre that got me reading again. I love the stats. Noobtown is the series that taught me you can take it too far. At one point, the book talks about how magical equipment will adjust to fit whoever is using it. That's really all I need to know, I don't need two pages of gobble de gook about that one phenomenon. Like, things are being so overthought its ridiculous. For another example (from the same part), the MC figures out that you can't use two pieces of magical equipment in the same hand, because the magic will counteract itself. Yeah ok fine. MC unlocks an ability allowing him to do this, though. Which doesn't solve the problem that if you're holding a staff and a knife IN THE SAME HAND, you're not going to be able to use them effectively. (I didn't misunderstand. If MC can wear rings on different fingers and they all work without interfering with each other, the same would also be true of left hand/right hand.) Its just getting so bogged down in details. I don't need a whole page about damage effects for a single attack. Also, MC has enough health now, consistently seeing how much damage he's taken without showing how much is left makes me very unsure how MC is actually doing in the fight. If he gets his eye crushed but still has 3/4 of his HP left... like that doesn't make a lot of sense. All of this probably sounds like nitpicking. But I'm 1000 pages in over the three books, and the nits have seriously added up. I couldn't finish this one. I might try jumping in at the 4th book as some of the elements I'm tired of are removed, but more likely I'm just done with this series.
October 4, 2023
Noobtown has the unfortunate issue of a mediocre sense of humor. Specifically, the author has been cursed with the belief that if a joke isn't funny the first time, surely it will be funny the tenth. You absolutely must enjoy every joke noobtown makes, because you will hear that same joke over and over and over again.
This series is very much like a sitcom with a one-note premise. Were it on TV it would have been canceled. The Jim is a dumb name joke is still here, and still not funny. The "earth is weird" jokes still show up and are less so.
What's more, there's a subplot involving mind control. Now, writing these well requires skill, because tripping into a plot hole is very easy when you make your narrator unreliable. You can paper over the issues by saying "that's just how the world works" but that's always the dumbest way to explain something.
Think of it like this: if an author has to explain a plot point by saying "that's just how it works" instead of tying in some clever plot point from earlier on, they're telling you that is the limit of their creativity. They cannot figure out anything more clever than a handwaive and a shrug.
That is why the mind control plot, the biggest "that's just how it works" imaginable, is so off-putting. You are made to sit there and read pages of unimpactful text where at the end all will be wiped away because the author cannot be bothered to tie it together properly. That is the kind of writing on display here.
And he's not even funny.
This series is very much like a sitcom with a one-note premise. Were it on TV it would have been canceled. The Jim is a dumb name joke is still here, and still not funny. The "earth is weird" jokes still show up and are less so.
What's more, there's a subplot involving mind control. Now, writing these well requires skill, because tripping into a plot hole is very easy when you make your narrator unreliable. You can paper over the issues by saying "that's just how the world works" but that's always the dumbest way to explain something.
Think of it like this: if an author has to explain a plot point by saying "that's just how it works" instead of tying in some clever plot point from earlier on, they're telling you that is the limit of their creativity. They cannot figure out anything more clever than a handwaive and a shrug.
That is why the mind control plot, the biggest "that's just how it works" imaginable, is so off-putting. You are made to sit there and read pages of unimpactful text where at the end all will be wiped away because the author cannot be bothered to tie it together properly. That is the kind of writing on display here.
And he's not even funny.
January 22, 2021
Rating 4.0 stars
A little bit better. Jim still does some stupid stuff but it is getting better. From an intellectual standpoint I can see where he is coming from since he lost his wife and family less than a month ago and is in morning. That doesn't mean I enjoy reading about him pining for a wife he will never see again and ignoring women around him now. Jim reminds me of the character Gaylord Focker from meet the parents. No matter what he tried everything went wrong for him. Everybody laughed, except me. I have a habit of putting myself in the MCs place. So if there is an MC I like and crappy things keep happening to him, then I am going to be a little annoyed. I guess that is my biggest problem. I wouldn't be happy being treated the way Jim was treated if I was in his place. Of course I also won't do half the things that Jim has done either. He was the mayor of the town and yet was still sleeping in a cot when everyone else had a home? Anyway, as I said it is getting a little better and there were a couple of laugh-out-loud moments.
A little bit better. Jim still does some stupid stuff but it is getting better. From an intellectual standpoint I can see where he is coming from since he lost his wife and family less than a month ago and is in morning. That doesn't mean I enjoy reading about him pining for a wife he will never see again and ignoring women around him now. Jim reminds me of the character Gaylord Focker from meet the parents. No matter what he tried everything went wrong for him. Everybody laughed, except me. I have a habit of putting myself in the MCs place. So if there is an MC I like and crappy things keep happening to him, then I am going to be a little annoyed. I guess that is my biggest problem. I wouldn't be happy being treated the way Jim was treated if I was in his place. Of course I also won't do half the things that Jim has done either. He was the mayor of the town and yet was still sleeping in a cot when everyone else had a home? Anyway, as I said it is getting a little better and there were a couple of laugh-out-loud moments.
September 26, 2020
Made it to chapter 20, but decided not to finish. The overall story is fun and interesting. The MC seems like a genuine, heroic, and intelligent person, as well as being super overpowered which is definitely a premise I like to read. The problem was that pretty much all other characters in the book are jerks and it feels like every other line I read was someone insulting the MC on his intelligence or his name. In the first book this was funny for a minute, but then became kind of obnoxious. It's become too obnoxious at this point for me to continue the series. It's hard to get engaged in any of the story elements now because some jerk character is inevitably going to insult the MC for even the slightest thing.
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