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Buryoku #1
Power
In a world of titans, where Martial Artists reign supreme, Roy is wholly unremarkable. Without the power to channel the Essence of the world, he is weak and defenseless. Adopted into the Shah clan after his parents' deaths, he is forced to do menial labor day after day, all while enduring the ridicule and physical abuse of his supposed family.
Weakness is punishable by death in Buryoku and in the Shah clan, there is no one weaker than Roy. But even the weak can rise up, when pushed to the brink…
Weakness is punishable by death in Buryoku and in the Shah clan, there is no one weaker than Roy. But even the weak can rise up, when pushed to the brink…
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2019
741 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 29, 2019
Decent but with a glaring issue at ending
Overall I enjoyed most of this book. It is a different take on the wuxia world type and the mc had just enough issues and tortured beginnings to make his drive understandable and strife interesting. That's why I am giving two stars as there is at least some redeeming qualities of the novel.
There was one huge issue with the book that really just broke the story for me. It was so ham handed, out of character, story breaking, and out of left field it completely ruined an otherwise fun book and one on Oster's best written to that point.
So spoiler alert! (Gonna try for vague so it's as least amount as possible)
A critical secondary character to the MC finds out MC's back story and completely flips on him after suspecting most of it and knowingly investing a rather significant amount of time energy and investment to that point. He also never once asks for the story straight up but is horribly pissed that the MC wasn't proudly telling him immediately about his broken past.
It is completely out of left field at that point based on the personality presented, goes against a closely related other character that is completely fine with it and makes almost zero sense in the greater story but completely changes the story direction in a less than satisfying way and from that moment forward it's like a flip was switched and we get Deus ex machina ham handed plot changes to finish it out.
Oster's writing style usually has some shallow characterization, somewhat harsh/wooden plot manipulations etc. But there is usually an enjoyable enough story along with it that you can just gloss over the minor issues and enjoy it. This one completely broke it's flow in such a glaring way that I won't be picking up the next.
Overall I enjoyed most of this book. It is a different take on the wuxia world type and the mc had just enough issues and tortured beginnings to make his drive understandable and strife interesting. That's why I am giving two stars as there is at least some redeeming qualities of the novel.
There was one huge issue with the book that really just broke the story for me. It was so ham handed, out of character, story breaking, and out of left field it completely ruined an otherwise fun book and one on Oster's best written to that point.
So spoiler alert! (Gonna try for vague so it's as least amount as possible)
A critical secondary character to the MC finds out MC's back story and completely flips on him after suspecting most of it and knowingly investing a rather significant amount of time energy and investment to that point. He also never once asks for the story straight up but is horribly pissed that the MC wasn't proudly telling him immediately about his broken past.
It is completely out of left field at that point based on the personality presented, goes against a closely related other character that is completely fine with it and makes almost zero sense in the greater story but completely changes the story direction in a less than satisfying way and from that moment forward it's like a flip was switched and we get Deus ex machina ham handed plot changes to finish it out.
Oster's writing style usually has some shallow characterization, somewhat harsh/wooden plot manipulations etc. But there is usually an enjoyable enough story along with it that you can just gloss over the minor issues and enjoy it. This one completely broke it's flow in such a glaring way that I won't be picking up the next.
September 19, 2019
My First DNF Review
I'm sad to say that even though I thoroughly enjoyed Aaron Oster's Supermage series I couldn't make it through this book. I tried for days to get into it and pushed through, but the beginning is just so basic without any of the heart or interesting features that Supermage has. It feels like the same script minus the interesting plot. There's nothing interesting about Roy, Geon isn't fun or unique, and there's essentially no other characters in the first 40% of the book.
I'm sad to say that even though I thoroughly enjoyed Aaron Oster's Supermage series I couldn't make it through this book. I tried for days to get into it and pushed through, but the beginning is just so basic without any of the heart or interesting features that Supermage has. It feels like the same script minus the interesting plot. There's nothing interesting about Roy, Geon isn't fun or unique, and there's essentially no other characters in the first 40% of the book.
September 8, 2019
Meh!! Way to many tropes used.
Yeah I actually wanted the MC to die sorry he was made to be so pathetic that I have no reason to even like him. This is the second book from this author I have read not really enjoyed either one. 2.5 out of 5 rounded up but not reading this author again.
Yeah I actually wanted the MC to die sorry he was made to be so pathetic that I have no reason to even like him. This is the second book from this author I have read not really enjoyed either one. 2.5 out of 5 rounded up but not reading this author again.
June 10, 2020
DNF. I’m sorry. I barely got into the book. I’ve seen the trope a hundred times now. Come on Wuxia. We can mix it up a little right? Someone could make it seem fresh? Instead you have an abused cripple that hates his life and cries while people pick on him. I didn’t even get to the 10% mark but Let me guess, some deus ex machina happens and he can now cultivate? Maybe I’m wrong. I don’t know. But I can only read so many books about cripples being abused before my patience is up. Maybe it’s not this authors fault. I liked another book I read by him. Maybe It’s just to many wuxia in a row with the same start.
October 13, 2019
Hard to read
I like cultivation stories and I was bummed to find this book a bit lacking. The story premise was really good but the protagonist, realization only came to him when it was beaten or told to him. He was very weak and very strong throughout the book. Characters he interacted with would act almost opposite of what they started as. The whole thing was very frustrating and I almost stopped reading because of it. I’m still not sure if I should even bothering to read the second.
I like cultivation stories and I was bummed to find this book a bit lacking. The story premise was really good but the protagonist, realization only came to him when it was beaten or told to him. He was very weak and very strong throughout the book. Characters he interacted with would act almost opposite of what they started as. The whole thing was very frustrating and I almost stopped reading because of it. I’m still not sure if I should even bothering to read the second.
October 9, 2019
While I enjoyed the focus in this book on cultivation being the method of progression rather than it being a side element alongside regular levelling as is more often the case in more mainstream gamelit, some of the story felt a little too heavy-handed such as at the start where it seemed like the author was trying to build the connection between the reader and the main character simply by making everyone else so completely unlikable more than by making the main character grab the reader more readily. One aspect of the story that I thought worked particularly well was how readily the author expanded the book's world with both the reader and the main character rapidly learning how small the initial world and people actually were.
The narrator's performance was a pleasant and clear one, with all the main characters having suitably distinctive tones that served to enhance the story and my enjoyment of it very well.
Overall, an interesting and fairly strong start to the series and I will be interested to see how it progresses from here.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
The narrator's performance was a pleasant and clear one, with all the main characters having suitably distinctive tones that served to enhance the story and my enjoyment of it very well.
Overall, an interesting and fairly strong start to the series and I will be interested to see how it progresses from here.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
June 3, 2021
The story has a lot of tropes but those tropes if done well can make for an interesting read, they are done horribly here.
Nothing about this was good - worldbuilding was generic.
Prose was abysmal.
The Mc has the mental maturity of a 10-12 year old child despite being 20. He is not intelligent, resourceful, witty, charming or has anything remotely redeeming about him . When you dive head first into danger it can be considered either courageous or foolish depending on the circumstances, the MC falls under foolish 100%.
Lastly the plot will do nothing other than leaving a bad taste in your mouth at the end. Oh and about 30% of the book is info dumps and filler text , I skimmed through and did not feel like I glossed over anything important.
I would not recommend for anyone to waste their time on this.
Nothing about this was good - worldbuilding was generic.
Prose was abysmal.
The Mc has the mental maturity of a 10-12 year old child despite being 20. He is not intelligent, resourceful, witty, charming or has anything remotely redeeming about him . When you dive head first into danger it can be considered either courageous or foolish depending on the circumstances, the MC falls under foolish 100%.
Lastly the plot will do nothing other than leaving a bad taste in your mouth at the end. Oh and about 30% of the book is info dumps and filler text , I skimmed through and did not feel like I glossed over anything important.
I would not recommend for anyone to waste their time on this.
April 26, 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
December 18, 2021
The good:
- Fresh ideas of advancement (pretty much Cradle copy, but it works, kinda - keep reading)
- Varied environmental areas
The bad:
- no actual story line (destroy everybody, since all are bad/abusing their power over those weaker then them)
- contradictory behavior of characters (MC want to ‘free’ the oppressed, but actually acts like them - trying to amass as much power to beat all those weaker then him)
- inane dialogs going nowhere
- boring battles
- advancement system is not really fleshed out, and things (sometimes) seemed to be done for the sake of the moment
Examples:
Each advancement is ‘enormous and huge’ but the next baddy quite easily beats him. Makes you yawn the next time MC advances…
MC is about 20, but acts like a spoiled petulant child - getting angry when called out on his lies
- bitter that people abuse him (ducking his pay) when he spaces out and miss doing his job
- jealous of those stronger/fitter then him to the point he considers not helping his friend advance (by giving her resources) because she’s so much better then him.
All of those ‘badd’ are not done in good fashion to advance a narrative or story line. They are just… there, all over, in no particular order….
Picked this up with great hope. Dashed to the rocks and burned on the way down…!
- Fresh ideas of advancement (pretty much Cradle copy, but it works, kinda - keep reading)
- Varied environmental areas
The bad:
- no actual story line (destroy everybody, since all are bad/abusing their power over those weaker then them)
- contradictory behavior of characters (MC want to ‘free’ the oppressed, but actually acts like them - trying to amass as much power to beat all those weaker then him)
- inane dialogs going nowhere
- boring battles
- advancement system is not really fleshed out, and things (sometimes) seemed to be done for the sake of the moment
Examples:
Each advancement is ‘enormous and huge’ but the next baddy quite easily beats him. Makes you yawn the next time MC advances…
MC is about 20, but acts like a spoiled petulant child - getting angry when called out on his lies
- bitter that people abuse him (ducking his pay) when he spaces out and miss doing his job
- jealous of those stronger/fitter then him to the point he considers not helping his friend advance (by giving her resources) because she’s so much better then him.
All of those ‘badd’ are not done in good fashion to advance a narrative or story line. They are just… there, all over, in no particular order….
Picked this up with great hope. Dashed to the rocks and burned on the way down…!
December 30, 2022
I'm going on hard with this and hope author reads my review with strong heart.
1 less star for using SENSEI, you have to have your brain off while writing the book to add such a pointless word, lessens the theme of the book, you would only see such stuff in japanese fan translated novels even official translations don't add sensei, kuma and such words in their novels. "MASTER" "ELDER" is such a good word/s I'm guessing your dictionary is missing of such things?!
Could've used some Chinese terms/words( translated obviously) Teacher!? Madam!?
1 less star for just that!? no, author clearly lacks style for writing, with- MC having such a wide arc of characteristics his childish sometimes, not having knowledge of most of the things and being dumb about it would do, but he gets childish like an 14year old despite being 20years old, author should go back to looking into making characters more intensely.
Not to mention "wait..what!?" that's clearly a modern word- wording sentence term or whatever im not good at eng grammar myself but again this demolishes(destroyed-in-seconds literally)the theme of the book with a medieval-like world because characters spout such shit and here i was comparing this book with Cradle(Unsouled) series damn smh... literally would've been a great book reading experience...
Another thing about Cultivating Paths having 2 more extra- Weakness and Power type, i believe when you introduce such things you might as well go about introducing more types and not stop at only these 2, like? -> Shadow, Void, Blood, Space, Death, Creation, Chaos ( shadow in this case is sub-type for dark, Void being more advanced type of something, Blood being another original type) i don't understand why in books authors don't explain or give more knowledge about their terms like in fan translated books they give out explanations on the spot!!.
Chakra?! really author? not everyone knows about naruto in more detail than know the name only, as much as you might want to drop hints about your favorite thing there're more fun ways to go about such things like using a different word and having same but your own customized explanation for such "FORCE/TYPE/ENERGY"
Are you going for a "Shounen" or whatever type of book it is? - if you're let me tell you it feels cheap and even if you've stuck with this exact theme for all your next 10 books i would still highly ferociously highly recommend PLEASE Read this review, Come back to look at it with cool understanding head, make the changes i stated above to one of your future series, i would love to read a western take on cultivation, like Cradle, A Thousand Li currently I've only these 2 and haven't yet found more of the same
There's no Horny stuff in the future books right!?..RIGHT!?!!
(Romace is one thing and is fine, good recommend but i hope mc doesn't just straight out go gung ho horny like some shounen jap novels, even though Jobless Reincarnation has the negatives of Horny stuff in it but the life lessons, character development, their thoughts in serious times those are things i look at with shining eyes such a nice experience reading it i tell you, A Thousand Li has same thing for it such a nice character development and I'm waiting for the next book just to read that thing. And would feel same with this series if it gets to such a point.)
I hope author doesn't pull out some "God" religious shit from Japanese novels in future books(already has 10books in the series and I'm on the verge of dropping it with the negatives stated above)
If i see any improvements in future books I'll come back and edit the review/ change it, Even though i like the story but some things make it hard to enjoy it to what i think to its fullest, and so I'm leaving my review here for author to get something out of it.
1 less star for using SENSEI, you have to have your brain off while writing the book to add such a pointless word, lessens the theme of the book, you would only see such stuff in japanese fan translated novels even official translations don't add sensei, kuma and such words in their novels. "MASTER" "ELDER" is such a good word/s I'm guessing your dictionary is missing of such things?!
Could've used some Chinese terms/words( translated obviously) Teacher!? Madam!?
1 less star for just that!? no, author clearly lacks style for writing, with- MC having such a wide arc of characteristics his childish sometimes, not having knowledge of most of the things and being dumb about it would do, but he gets childish like an 14year old despite being 20years old, author should go back to looking into making characters more intensely.
Not to mention "wait..what!?" that's clearly a modern word- wording sentence term or whatever im not good at eng grammar myself but again this demolishes(destroyed-in-seconds literally)the theme of the book with a medieval-like world because characters spout such shit and here i was comparing this book with Cradle(Unsouled) series damn smh... literally would've been a great book reading experience...
Another thing about Cultivating Paths having 2 more extra- Weakness and Power type, i believe when you introduce such things you might as well go about introducing more types and not stop at only these 2, like? -> Shadow, Void, Blood, Space, Death, Creation, Chaos ( shadow in this case is sub-type for dark, Void being more advanced type of something, Blood being another original type) i don't understand why in books authors don't explain or give more knowledge about their terms like in fan translated books they give out explanations on the spot!!.
Chakra?! really author? not everyone knows about naruto in more detail than know the name only, as much as you might want to drop hints about your favorite thing there're more fun ways to go about such things like using a different word and having same but your own customized explanation for such "FORCE/TYPE/ENERGY"
Are you going for a "Shounen" or whatever type of book it is? - if you're let me tell you it feels cheap and even if you've stuck with this exact theme for all your next 10 books i would still highly ferociously highly recommend PLEASE Read this review, Come back to look at it with cool understanding head, make the changes i stated above to one of your future series, i would love to read a western take on cultivation, like Cradle, A Thousand Li currently I've only these 2 and haven't yet found more of the same
There's no Horny stuff in the future books right!?..RIGHT!?!!
(Romace is one thing and is fine, good recommend but i hope mc doesn't just straight out go gung ho horny like some shounen jap novels, even though Jobless Reincarnation has the negatives of Horny stuff in it but the life lessons, character development, their thoughts in serious times those are things i look at with shining eyes such a nice experience reading it i tell you, A Thousand Li has same thing for it such a nice character development and I'm waiting for the next book just to read that thing. And would feel same with this series if it gets to such a point.)
I hope author doesn't pull out some "God" religious shit from Japanese novels in future books(already has 10books in the series and I'm on the verge of dropping it with the negatives stated above)
If i see any improvements in future books I'll come back and edit the review/ change it, Even though i like the story but some things make it hard to enjoy it to what i think to its fullest, and so I'm leaving my review here for author to get something out of it.
August 28, 2024
Leroy grew up unlucky, alone, and unable to sense essence
Even accepted into a clan of water essence users he is treated poorly and called a freak, abused, tortured and more in his daily abuse from his adopted clan. Until one bully takes it too far and leaves him to die in a dungeon that has also been bullied and held down from its once more powerful level by the same clan. At his last moments the dungeon sees a similar soul through their life experiences and offers Leroy or Roy a choice, die or bond with the dungeon, grow in power and take his revenge. Roy agrees and the dungeon chooses the name Geon as they begin their journey to power. Geon has lived for centuries and as such Geon sees priorities differently and he and Roy have many a mental conversation.
Meanwhile Roy escapes the water clans area and works to grow his level as Geon has informed him that his current body cannot handle the power of Geon’s core so he must quickly advance!
Having been bullied all his life, Roy decides to change his fate and grow strong enough to take revenge on the Shah water clan that abused him his whole life with them. Only he soon learns that they are just one symptom of a larger societal problem. He wants to protect those like him but more than anything else he wants the freedom to direct his own life again. Something he is nowhere near powerful enough for yet, having only recently learned of some of the belt colors above green, which is the highest the Shah have. All he has to do is survive his own body’s deadline to advance or explode.
Even accepted into a clan of water essence users he is treated poorly and called a freak, abused, tortured and more in his daily abuse from his adopted clan. Until one bully takes it too far and leaves him to die in a dungeon that has also been bullied and held down from its once more powerful level by the same clan. At his last moments the dungeon sees a similar soul through their life experiences and offers Leroy or Roy a choice, die or bond with the dungeon, grow in power and take his revenge. Roy agrees and the dungeon chooses the name Geon as they begin their journey to power. Geon has lived for centuries and as such Geon sees priorities differently and he and Roy have many a mental conversation.
Meanwhile Roy escapes the water clans area and works to grow his level as Geon has informed him that his current body cannot handle the power of Geon’s core so he must quickly advance!
Having been bullied all his life, Roy decides to change his fate and grow strong enough to take revenge on the Shah water clan that abused him his whole life with them. Only he soon learns that they are just one symptom of a larger societal problem. He wants to protect those like him but more than anything else he wants the freedom to direct his own life again. Something he is nowhere near powerful enough for yet, having only recently learned of some of the belt colors above green, which is the highest the Shah have. All he has to do is survive his own body’s deadline to advance or explode.
December 29, 2021
A decent start
Not a bad start to a first book in a series. I always have trouble with these cultivation progression novels simply because of the sheer gap from one level to the next. That’s something to expect though. I mean with so much power different from one level to the next why hasn’t one person just wiped out everyone else who might oppose them. Anyway onto the story here not a bad story not a bad main character not a bad progression system overall somewhat generic but it fits the genre. There are a few and I do mean few misspellings in the book I just note them so the author might do another proofread one day. Overall the story borders on a four star rating some might say it’s not quite four stars I think it could deserve four stars though. There is potential here I hope to see where the author takes the story I hope it doesn’t follow a generic path I hope we see some real fireworks. I look forward to next in the series.
Not a bad start to a first book in a series. I always have trouble with these cultivation progression novels simply because of the sheer gap from one level to the next. That’s something to expect though. I mean with so much power different from one level to the next why hasn’t one person just wiped out everyone else who might oppose them. Anyway onto the story here not a bad story not a bad main character not a bad progression system overall somewhat generic but it fits the genre. There are a few and I do mean few misspellings in the book I just note them so the author might do another proofread one day. Overall the story borders on a four star rating some might say it’s not quite four stars I think it could deserve four stars though. There is potential here I hope to see where the author takes the story I hope it doesn’t follow a generic path I hope we see some real fireworks. I look forward to next in the series.
March 11, 2023
Really enjoyed it. Read a few bad reviews so had low expectations, but thought this YA wuxia fantasy book was a solid start to the series.
Seemed like it was inspired by Cradle, or at least had several elements that the popular series has. Roy being an outcast from his clan with 0 talent. Learns via books until something happens and he gets a core (dungeon core in this case). There are more, but also had new elements of its own. The drama between Roy's teacher and his granddaughter. Roy needing to advance or else the dungeon core would kill him since his body wasn't strong enough. The revenge plot with his old sect hunting him. And the promise Roy made to the core to kill the core's old enemies.
Seemed like it was inspired by Cradle, or at least had several elements that the popular series has. Roy being an outcast from his clan with 0 talent. Learns via books until something happens and he gets a core (dungeon core in this case). There are more, but also had new elements of its own. The drama between Roy's teacher and his granddaughter. Roy needing to advance or else the dungeon core would kill him since his body wasn't strong enough. The revenge plot with his old sect hunting him. And the promise Roy made to the core to kill the core's old enemies.
October 5, 2024
Book: Power
Author: Aaron Oster
NO SPOILERS.
One item that should be pointed out. Not sure how it is decided, but Power is listed in the Teen & Young Adult categories. And well, I certainly felt it was not correctly listed. To me, Power belongs in the Sci-Fi, Martial Arts and Cultivation ones.
While the protagonist, Roy, is young and powerless, the characters and world around him is certainly not! The premise of the story was engaging, and many of Roy's actions made sense. The power system is one of the better ones. Author Aaron Oster keeps a nice balance between giving details of powers and not going overboard with those details.
If you like martial arts, adventure and RPG's with a little bit of an underdog story, read this book. Looking forward to reading the next in this series.
Author: Aaron Oster
NO SPOILERS.
One item that should be pointed out. Not sure how it is decided, but Power is listed in the Teen & Young Adult categories. And well, I certainly felt it was not correctly listed. To me, Power belongs in the Sci-Fi, Martial Arts and Cultivation ones.
While the protagonist, Roy, is young and powerless, the characters and world around him is certainly not! The premise of the story was engaging, and many of Roy's actions made sense. The power system is one of the better ones. Author Aaron Oster keeps a nice balance between giving details of powers and not going overboard with those details.
If you like martial arts, adventure and RPG's with a little bit of an underdog story, read this book. Looking forward to reading the next in this series.
July 27, 2024
Honestly, it's so generic, it was hard to remember what happened. Don't read this. Just go read the things it's trying to be; e.g. Coiling Dragon, Martial World or I Shall Seal the Heavens.
Yes, cultivation novels all follow the pretty standard formula. But that's why the characters and to some extent politics are what can make them great. The characters in this book are all 2D, and the politics might as well change every other page. It's a typical trash cultivation novel where the rules of the world change based on whatever is most favorable to the MC. A true Dao of Plot Armour practitioner.
Yes, cultivation novels all follow the pretty standard formula. But that's why the characters and to some extent politics are what can make them great. The characters in this book are all 2D, and the politics might as well change every other page. It's a typical trash cultivation novel where the rules of the world change based on whatever is most favorable to the MC. A true Dao of Plot Armour practitioner.
July 8, 2020
Clunky
Almost MartyStu, the MC continues to survive and advance. A few too many super-power-up opportunities, especially all crowded into one book. Secondary characters don’t really grow or change, they are window dressing or plot devices.
I did finish reading it, which is better than a lot of other books. But this pales in comparison to other series.
KU worthy, but not real money.
Almost MartyStu, the MC continues to survive and advance. A few too many super-power-up opportunities, especially all crowded into one book. Secondary characters don’t really grow or change, they are window dressing or plot devices.
I did finish reading it, which is better than a lot of other books. But this pales in comparison to other series.
KU worthy, but not real money.
June 16, 2021
Similar to Cradle but in dire need of editing.
I enjoyed the first book and hopefully the next book won’t trigger my grammar nazi or whatever people call it, seriously a halfway decent freelance editor will not break the bank. Other than that this was a fun read!
The MC had depth to him and as usual of cultivation novels most people were flawed individuals drunk on power and that trod on the weak, but then again who doesn’t like a MC who fights the system.
I enjoyed the first book and hopefully the next book won’t trigger my grammar nazi or whatever people call it, seriously a halfway decent freelance editor will not break the bank. Other than that this was a fun read!
The MC had depth to him and as usual of cultivation novels most people were flawed individuals drunk on power and that trod on the weak, but then again who doesn’t like a MC who fights the system.
June 14, 2022
Too many tropes. Every few paragraphs, there's a phrase to remind you how powerful the thing is that they are watching, hoping for or fighting. Comparisons of power scales all over the place. Outbursts about not being strong enough even though you just started 2 months ago and the person doing it for 10 years is better than you. Yes, let's always lash out if they save you.
book 2 hasn't improved much on these either. might drop the series if book 3 doesn't do better.
book 2 hasn't improved much on these either. might drop the series if book 3 doesn't do better.
June 23, 2020
Mr. Oster strikes Again!
Mr. Oster did a great job of mixing martial arts into this book. As a practicing martial artist, I love how he takes the concepts of many arts and mixes them well into this series.
I look forward to seeing the next in this series.
Better grammar, better language than some of his other books (e.g., profanity), and better story line.
Well done.
Mr. Oster did a great job of mixing martial arts into this book. As a practicing martial artist, I love how he takes the concepts of many arts and mixes them well into this series.
I look forward to seeing the next in this series.
Better grammar, better language than some of his other books (e.g., profanity), and better story line.
Well done.
August 3, 2020
A great new series by Aaron Oster. Can't understand why everyone is bagging this series. I think it has some real potential. Roy does have some anger issues but who wouldn't in his place? But his teacher flipping out at the end was a bit out of left field. I'm hoping his teacher will eventually come around. They seemed to have a good friendship so I hope it can be fixed.
November 14, 2021
This was a fun read. It wasn’t trying to be something more than what it is. It stuck to the classic cultivation story framework, which I love, and was able to tell a story that was really fun to read. There were quite a few grammatical errors, but I can care less about that kind of stuff, I’ll let the grammar police sweat the small stuff. I can’t wait to start the next book
April 15, 2022
Started ok
Well after reading almost 70 percent have up on the book!! The MC was to me unlikable and really hard to relate too .The writer turned him into a arrogant wimp who cried after killing crabs!! Wow that was the signal that the writer would keep the MC just the way he was!!
Well after reading almost 70 percent have up on the book!! The MC was to me unlikable and really hard to relate too .The writer turned him into a arrogant wimp who cried after killing crabs!! Wow that was the signal that the writer would keep the MC just the way he was!!
June 13, 2022
So whiny!
Roy: No fair I don't have power.
(deliberately gets himself injured)
Roy: No fair I'm injured and have no powers.
(magic powers and healing fall out of sky onto him)
Roy: No fair I don't have a teacher.
(teacher falls out of sky onto him)
Roy: I don't like you old man, I'm running away.
(runs away)
Roy: No fair I don't have a teacher.
Roy: No fair I don't have power.
(deliberately gets himself injured)
Roy: No fair I'm injured and have no powers.
(magic powers and healing fall out of sky onto him)
Roy: No fair I don't have a teacher.
(teacher falls out of sky onto him)
Roy: I don't like you old man, I'm running away.
(runs away)
Roy: No fair I don't have a teacher.
August 20, 2023
Good writing, but felt a bit vanilla. The progression elements are done well, but the whole books felt a a bit basic and dated. Not really complex, linear progression of power and the skill set is a straight forward elemental.
Might have liked this better if I had read this a decade or so ago, but the genre has come a long way since.
Might have liked this better if I had read this a decade or so ago, but the genre has come a long way since.
July 31, 2020
Not to my taste
This rating is based on my taste alone as I think it is otherwise probably a good book. I struggle with cultivation books as they are so inward looking and explainy. This book had enough to keep me reading to the end but I don’t want to read any more instalments.
This rating is based on my taste alone as I think it is otherwise probably a good book. I struggle with cultivation books as they are so inward looking and explainy. This book had enough to keep me reading to the end but I don’t want to read any more instalments.
September 26, 2020
Fun read
I really enjoyed this book. The author kept my attention throughout. The characters are likable. The storyline is interesting, even if there is a certain resemblance to Naruto's and/or Goku's signature move. I look forwards to the rest of the series.
I really enjoyed this book. The author kept my attention throughout. The characters are likable. The storyline is interesting, even if there is a certain resemblance to Naruto's and/or Goku's signature move. I look forwards to the rest of the series.
September 30, 2020
Most of the top reviews sum up what is wrong with this book: flat characters who are universally dumb, ham-handed exposition, and a boring plot that abuses tropes and deus ex machinas. Even for a fan of wuxia/xianxia stories this was a terrible chore to read.
October 4, 2021
Ending was disappointing
Leaving an one dimensional villain alive because the author does not have the confidence to build up better adversaries I n the future means that the entire book is a waste of time.
Leaving an one dimensional villain alive because the author does not have the confidence to build up better adversaries I n the future means that the entire book is a waste of time.
February 2, 2022
Okay read
So, many misspelled or wrong words that make you have to read the sentence again and make it make sense to you. If not for that, I would give a better rating. Some words are so totally off that they throw you for a loop!
So, many misspelled or wrong words that make you have to read the sentence again and make it make sense to you. If not for that, I would give a better rating. Some words are so totally off that they throw you for a loop!
August 26, 2022
Good Cultivating book. Reminds me of Unsouled though with clear differences. The MC is much worse off and essentially must make a deal with the devil instead of being motivated by an Angel. Still good read to scratch the itch and leaves me wondering what will happen next.
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