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The Completionist Chronicles #5
Ruthless
Enemies emerge everywhere. Stagnation starts seeming standard. Results require Ruthlessness.
Joe has been moving deeper into his study of ritual magic, and further away from his combat team. He's learning more and more, but more often than not needs to choose between his research and squad leadership. Improving the town is a huge help to the guild, and they have been pushing to increase their power.
Their rapid increases have not gone unnoticed. The guild receives an ultimatum, delivered by assassins and signed with blood. If they continue to accrue power and fame, each and every person with a grievance against the guild will come to smash the town back to square one.
With tensions coming to a head, all Joe wants to do is leave it all behind and reach the next area. He flatly refuses the guild when they ask him to devise lethal options to use against the gathering army, but when the time comes… even Joe is unsure if he'll step into the limelight and show everyone exactly how Ruthless he can be.
Joe has been moving deeper into his study of ritual magic, and further away from his combat team. He's learning more and more, but more often than not needs to choose between his research and squad leadership. Improving the town is a huge help to the guild, and they have been pushing to increase their power.
Their rapid increases have not gone unnoticed. The guild receives an ultimatum, delivered by assassins and signed with blood. If they continue to accrue power and fame, each and every person with a grievance against the guild will come to smash the town back to square one.
With tensions coming to a head, all Joe wants to do is leave it all behind and reach the next area. He flatly refuses the guild when they ask him to devise lethal options to use against the gathering army, but when the time comes… even Joe is unsure if he'll step into the limelight and show everyone exactly how Ruthless he can be.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2020
1477 people are currently reading
848 people want to read
About the author
Dakota Krout
76 books2,880 followersAuthor of the best-selling Divine Dungeon, Completionist Chronicles, and Full Murderhobo series, Dakota Krout was chosen as Audible's top 5 fantasy pick of 2017, has been a top 5 bestseller on Amazon, and a top 6 bestseller on Audible.
He draws on his experience in the military to create vast terrains and intricate systems, and his history in programming and information technology helps him bring a logical aspect to both his writing and his company while giving him a unique perspective for future challenges.
Publishing my stories has been an incredible blessing thus far, and I hope to keep you entertained for years to come! -Dakota Krout
He draws on his experience in the military to create vast terrains and intricate systems, and his history in programming and information technology helps him bring a logical aspect to both his writing and his company while giving him a unique perspective for future challenges.
Publishing my stories has been an incredible blessing thus far, and I hope to keep you entertained for years to come! -Dakota Krout
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
March 4, 2021
Oh, the trials and tribulations of natural introverts. Sure, you can study and level up your main class skills, or show all your extrovert friends your ill-advised gumption and MURDER THE WORLD -- oh, wait, maybe that wasn't what you intended to do...
But at least you got some serious street cred for a bookworm.
Muahahahaha this latest LitRPG is so easy to enjoy. I'm flying through these with no hesitation and absolutely no qualms. Ding! Level up. Would you like your third-tier specialization? Class capabilities: Fanboy.
But at least you got some serious street cred for a bookworm.
Muahahahaha this latest LitRPG is so easy to enjoy. I'm flying through these with no hesitation and absolutely no qualms. Ding! Level up. Would you like your third-tier specialization? Class capabilities: Fanboy.
May 8, 2020
Awesome!
Another great Dakota book, full of Adventure intrigued and the bear puns. The one on Excalibur nearly killed me 😎
Another great Dakota book, full of Adventure intrigued and the bear puns. The one on Excalibur nearly killed me 😎
March 19, 2021
08/20/2020 Mini-Review:
4.5 Stars for Narration by Luke Daniels
3.5 Stars for Overall Story Progression
It's not as obvious in the audio. Nuances of the way skills, stats, buffs & debuffs only seemed to be subtle because a lot was happening and it's easy to get lost in the events. Basically, it's a lot of details to process.
The fun parts were more obvious in the audio and a hoot to listen to vs reading. Reading the story was more grim & not as funny because all actions had a decided edge of being good AND bad outcomes.
While the story was an important transition piece, I think delivery & execution of the many parts would have been better if it was written in two books or a novella & book.
- Read the ebook to get a better idea of double edged atmosphere & consequences.
- Audio is more fun because it's easier to run & crash from one plot point to the next.
- Still think the options for Joe were REALLY cool and I'm not sure if the one he got was the best. Won't be able to tell until the next book.
05/04/2020 Notes:
I'll write up a review when the audiobook comes out. I'm sure I'll get the audio and re-read the story. Transition pieces are a tossup for me because they're necessary but not always the best "story". This book is about 400 pages and it is stuffed to the gills with a crazy amount of information, events & touches of character focused interactions. The amount of things packed into this book could have easily been spread out in 2-3 books.
While the technical aspects of the story were great, a good chunk of the story was told in a summary fashion. The things that I enjoy about the series are the character based interactions and setting details. There's a lot to love in this book but there are so many things that it's hard to feel the true impact of each part because most of the story is told at the speed of a spastic dive into the abyss.
- I found out that the Divine Dungeon series and Completionist Chronicles are in the same world. Which is cool! I now have to re-read DD to catch the cross references. I definitely caught a bunch of them in this book and they were pretty great.
- Joe's 2nd Specialization. I DISAGREE!!! Going by the descriptions, I would have sworn it would have gone a different way but that's just my opinion. =D
Man, it's probably going to be a while before the next book comes out. That kind of sucks but I'll be a happy camper and dive into that book when it gets published.
4.5 Stars for Narration by Luke Daniels
3.5 Stars for Overall Story Progression
It's not as obvious in the audio. Nuances of the way skills, stats, buffs & debuffs only seemed to be subtle because a lot was happening and it's easy to get lost in the events. Basically, it's a lot of details to process.
The fun parts were more obvious in the audio and a hoot to listen to vs reading. Reading the story was more grim & not as funny because all actions had a decided edge of being good AND bad outcomes.
While the story was an important transition piece, I think delivery & execution of the many parts would have been better if it was written in two books or a novella & book.
- Read the ebook to get a better idea of double edged atmosphere & consequences.
- Audio is more fun because it's easier to run & crash from one plot point to the next.
- Still think the options for Joe were REALLY cool and I'm not sure if the one he got was the best. Won't be able to tell until the next book.
05/04/2020 Notes:
I'll write up a review when the audiobook comes out. I'm sure I'll get the audio and re-read the story. Transition pieces are a tossup for me because they're necessary but not always the best "story". This book is about 400 pages and it is stuffed to the gills with a crazy amount of information, events & touches of character focused interactions. The amount of things packed into this book could have easily been spread out in 2-3 books.
While the technical aspects of the story were great, a good chunk of the story was told in a summary fashion. The things that I enjoy about the series are the character based interactions and setting details. There's a lot to love in this book but there are so many things that it's hard to feel the true impact of each part because most of the story is told at the speed of a spastic dive into the abyss.
- I found out that the Divine Dungeon series and Completionist Chronicles are in the same world. Which is cool! I now have to re-read DD to catch the cross references. I definitely caught a bunch of them in this book and they were pretty great.
- Joe's 2nd Specialization. I DISAGREE!!! Going by the descriptions, I would have sworn it would have gone a different way but that's just my opinion. =D
Man, it's probably going to be a while before the next book comes out. That kind of sucks but I'll be a happy camper and dive into that book when it gets published.
April 30, 2020
The best in the series so far
I really don't know what else to say, besides what's on the title. The series just keeps getting better and better and we're just asking for the ride.
We get some interactions between Joe and Sam, which is just plain awesome and the world continues to be expanded, so that there's always something fresh for the reader.
Drop everything and start reading it, ASAP.
I really don't know what else to say, besides what's on the title. The series just keeps getting better and better and we're just asking for the ride.
We get some interactions between Joe and Sam, which is just plain awesome and the world continues to be expanded, so that there's always something fresh for the reader.
Drop everything and start reading it, ASAP.
December 27, 2022
Read the series in order.
So this one picks up the hinted strife from the last book with the huge influx of new players. The only people with a long-term plan are the Wanderers and resentments are stacking up. This story has pretty much everyone that Joe, and the guild, have antagonized taking runs at the new settlement and the guild scrambling to defend themselves.
And I do like the story shifting to defense in time of scarcity. And I liked those aspects fell out. I did think that Aten, the guild leader, made a huge mistake not taking any offensive measures or retaliation for aggression, though at least Krout showed how things escalate from there with people thinking they can take free shots and not pay anything for it.
And I felt a bit rail-roaded in the end so that the story would take the next big step in the setup. Or, at least, I wanted Joe to make the case that he once had that .
I'm going with four stars again. I like where things are going. I'm still in with Joe and his bending of reality to his own purposes. But I don't like the railroad and I think leaving Joe's guild as the only people who are trying to solve resource issues was a little raw.
A note about Chaste: Still very chaste. I'm still good with that.
So this one picks up the hinted strife from the last book with the huge influx of new players. The only people with a long-term plan are the Wanderers and resentments are stacking up. This story has pretty much everyone that Joe, and the guild, have antagonized taking runs at the new settlement and the guild scrambling to defend themselves.
And I do like the story shifting to defense in time of scarcity. And I liked those aspects fell out. I did think that Aten, the guild leader, made a huge mistake not taking any offensive measures or retaliation for aggression, though at least Krout showed how things escalate from there with people thinking they can take free shots and not pay anything for it.
And I felt a bit rail-roaded in the end so that the story would take the next big step in the setup. Or, at least, I wanted Joe to make the case that he once had that .
I'm going with four stars again. I like where things are going. I'm still in with Joe and his bending of reality to his own purposes. But I don't like the railroad and I think leaving Joe's guild as the only people who are trying to solve resource issues was a little raw.
A note about Chaste: Still very chaste. I'm still good with that.
May 4, 2020
Rating 4.0 stars
This book was named appropriately. Wow, what happened at the end was insane. With billions of new people in the world there is a shortage of food and supplies, except for the wanderers guild. Their enemies have started a riot in the people claiming that the wanders guild are the reason that everyone is without food. The guild ends up getting attacked and every time they defend themselves it only makes more people angry and want to attack them. Joe does what he always does. He works on his stats, his levels, his class, and tries to help his guild whenever he can. A very good addition to the series. I can't wait for the next one.
This book was named appropriately. Wow, what happened at the end was insane. With billions of new people in the world there is a shortage of food and supplies, except for the wanderers guild. Their enemies have started a riot in the people claiming that the wanders guild are the reason that everyone is without food. The guild ends up getting attacked and every time they defend themselves it only makes more people angry and want to attack them. Joe does what he always does. He works on his stats, his levels, his class, and tries to help his guild whenever he can. A very good addition to the series. I can't wait for the next one.
May 19, 2020
NPC side characters
I just can't do it. How does he have NO friends 5 books in. There's so many characters and they all feel like NPCs more each book, no one cares about joe at all even his own party talked about kicking him out. And this whole side arc with Sam from the other book is just absolutely miserable, is Sam just an awful person because he is in this book? I didn't even finish this one and I enjoyed the last one, but eventually the main character needs to have some meaningful interaction with someone.
I just can't do it. How does he have NO friends 5 books in. There's so many characters and they all feel like NPCs more each book, no one cares about joe at all even his own party talked about kicking him out. And this whole side arc with Sam from the other book is just absolutely miserable, is Sam just an awful person because he is in this book? I didn't even finish this one and I enjoyed the last one, but eventually the main character needs to have some meaningful interaction with someone.
May 10, 2020
I wanted to like it more, since its the fourth book of a series i have been following, but despite trying i can only say that the series is getting forced, things come from nowhere and the game system is not very cohesive.
To me it was like The Divine Dungeon, where i just left the series in the third book, because it got into a mess. I love LitRPG, but it seems authors get so immersed in making their characters into powerful forces, that they start losing consistency when the stories develop.
Still a fun read, but with too many holes in the story to make it a really good one.
To me it was like The Divine Dungeon, where i just left the series in the third book, because it got into a mess. I love LitRPG, but it seems authors get so immersed in making their characters into powerful forces, that they start losing consistency when the stories develop.
Still a fun read, but with too many holes in the story to make it a really good one.
February 14, 2023
Usually I do not like incomplete book series and only start them once I know the last book is out, but in this case I really don't mind because the series is so enjoyable!
As earth is closed for business A LOT, actually millions of people suddenly appear in virtual Midgard and ressources are scarce. The Wanderers Guild who is doing really well has to defend all they have worked for, especially as Joe is not only making friends while progressing and makes a lot of people and factions jealous. Witty as always, I am really looking forward how this series is going to progress.
5 Stars for the audio book -adaption
As earth is closed for business A LOT, actually millions of people suddenly appear in virtual Midgard and ressources are scarce. The Wanderers Guild who is doing really well has to defend all they have worked for, especially as Joe is not only making friends while progressing and makes a lot of people and factions jealous. Witty as always, I am really looking forward how this series is going to progress.
5 Stars for the audio book -adaption
October 21, 2020
An easy five star rating on this book.
Did it have the greatest writing? No.
Did I learn anything? No.
Did I smile from start to finish? Yes.
Did I laugh from start to finish? Yes.
It’s Just an enjoyable story with excellent narration, nothing more to say about it.
Also the blooper reel at the end was a nice surprise for me.
Did it have the greatest writing? No.
Did I learn anything? No.
Did I smile from start to finish? Yes.
Did I laugh from start to finish? Yes.
It’s Just an enjoyable story with excellent narration, nothing more to say about it.
Also the blooper reel at the end was a nice surprise for me.
May 10, 2020
This book was a hot mess. Pages filled with a whole lot of nothing.
May 25, 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
September 18, 2020
took me a week to finish this book, where as the i gobbled up the first 2 books in a day or two. this series has really lost heart. i think the author is distracted and busy doing other shit that taking her time finishing this series. the first 2 books were so strong... it all went downhill since rexus. there isn't much story here, it just reads like a game manual, joe did this, joe did that, etc etc. so what, no one cares. the reader is not rooting for anyone or anything anymore.
July 7, 2020
Excellent read, yet seems too short, leaves me wanting more plot.
May 3, 2020
Good, but a bit frustrating at times.
As enjoyable as the story itself was, the main character never seems to solve his basic issues.
Stay differences great enough to cause you to have issues of almost every type? Don’t worry, no one will believe you if you point it out - no matter what their stats are. It doesn’t really matter anyways because you’ll spend a couple of months not leveling them even though you get 3/4 reduced training time.
Joe just kept running into the same problems over and over again. After all of the things he’s accomplished with his guild and on his own, no one ever just tries to be decent to him? No one cares the royals can take everything at the drop of a hat? Instead of going for a trade deal or asking him to do something with a quest, they just turtle up and die.
We keep seeing ability and term references for the world to transition to cultivation terms, but nothing has really been changed or improved for anyone who has figured some things out.
As enjoyable as the story itself was, the main character never seems to solve his basic issues.
Stay differences great enough to cause you to have issues of almost every type? Don’t worry, no one will believe you if you point it out - no matter what their stats are. It doesn’t really matter anyways because you’ll spend a couple of months not leveling them even though you get 3/4 reduced training time.
Joe just kept running into the same problems over and over again. After all of the things he’s accomplished with his guild and on his own, no one ever just tries to be decent to him? No one cares the royals can take everything at the drop of a hat? Instead of going for a trade deal or asking him to do something with a quest, they just turtle up and die.
We keep seeing ability and term references for the world to transition to cultivation terms, but nothing has really been changed or improved for anyone who has figured some things out.
April 11, 2021
I'm not usually too harsh in reviews, but I feel deceived with this serie... What happened to the MC that was collected, meticulous and social in the first 2 books? Starting from book 4, this serie is going downhill so fast it is infuriating. World building, almost none... social developments, almost none... Some comeback of the side characters from the first books, none... Also, the new narrator is really not doing it for me. The MC feels like a scatterbrained dumb joker (even though he is supposed to increase in intelligence). Overall, an incredible deception on my side considering I really enjoyed book 1 and 2.
May 3, 2020
Excellent continuation of the series. I absolutely love how many callbacks there were - how many things we touched upon - and how in-depth a lot of the progression was. Although the original crew was well missed as were some of the promises made to the reader in the earlier books. Slice-of-life stuff is honestly the best stuff. Problem solving. Math. Social interaction. These are the things in which litrpg excels and why I am such a fan of the genre. And why Dakota is one of the better if not the best authors working in the genre alongside folks like Aleron Kong and Pirate Aba. Although in this book he did trade out(or combine) an awful lot for sake of more expansion or just simplicity in the future.
I really despise Sam. I didn't like him much in Bibliomancer, but now I despise him. So great work there because that was obviously the intention.
This is absolutely a 4-star book for me. Yet, I have criticisms and concerns over the ending pr the change in style moving towards the ending. This is going to be Spoilers going forward... So critiques..
...
The epicness wasn't necessary. The death toll, the giant battle, 2 time leaps in a row. A sort of over focus on self-sufficiency. That's a great philosophy but philosophical purity is not how we grow. Joe and The Wanderers made a lot of enemies but they also made a lot of friends in the first three books in this series. The king and queen not only declared Joe an extended member of the royal family who can enter the throne room and request favors ANY time - but they also extended Nobility status to The Wanders Guild. "Moving against the Nobel Guild is the same as moving against the Kingdom or Ardania itself" - paraphrasing there. But when you end a book with that, the readers dont forget when the next book comes out. Also most of the Mages college, Tsnake and his guild. The City Guard. The Prince! Allies everywhere! Friends abound. And quite frankly the scholars should not have been an enemy. They totally should have behind Joe all the way. Science, learning, freedom of knowledge! Division among the scholars is one thing and I'm sure that's going to be elaborated on further in the future - but science doesn't choose sides. I would have liked to chapters just about scholarship and what was happening there rather than the reveal or nothing at all. "Oh Noes it's all just so bad and everybody is soo terrible and nobody will help us and there is no one to ask".
Not only was that defeatist in attitude - but contrary to the results and rewards and all of the promises and growth made in the previous books. Removing Channeling and Healing and Mending and Shadow Spike and Solidify Shadow... Stop adding things and then taking them away.
I really despise Sam. I didn't like him much in Bibliomancer, but now I despise him. So great work there because that was obviously the intention.
This is absolutely a 4-star book for me. Yet, I have criticisms and concerns over the ending pr the change in style moving towards the ending. This is going to be Spoilers going forward... So critiques..
...
The epicness wasn't necessary. The death toll, the giant battle, 2 time leaps in a row. A sort of over focus on self-sufficiency. That's a great philosophy but philosophical purity is not how we grow. Joe and The Wanderers made a lot of enemies but they also made a lot of friends in the first three books in this series. The king and queen not only declared Joe an extended member of the royal family who can enter the throne room and request favors ANY time - but they also extended Nobility status to The Wanders Guild. "Moving against the Nobel Guild is the same as moving against the Kingdom or Ardania itself" - paraphrasing there. But when you end a book with that, the readers dont forget when the next book comes out. Also most of the Mages college, Tsnake and his guild. The City Guard. The Prince! Allies everywhere! Friends abound. And quite frankly the scholars should not have been an enemy. They totally should have behind Joe all the way. Science, learning, freedom of knowledge! Division among the scholars is one thing and I'm sure that's going to be elaborated on further in the future - but science doesn't choose sides. I would have liked to chapters just about scholarship and what was happening there rather than the reveal or nothing at all. "Oh Noes it's all just so bad and everybody is soo terrible and nobody will help us and there is no one to ask".
Not only was that defeatist in attitude - but contrary to the results and rewards and all of the promises and growth made in the previous books. Removing Channeling and Healing and Mending and Shadow Spike and Solidify Shadow... Stop adding things and then taking them away.
August 13, 2020
Rating: 4.6/5
Review: This was really a good finale' to a wonderful series. Joe continues to grow as a character and the world building is getting some expansion, albeit late in the game. It is still hard to picture the characters as the author perceives them, but that is part of the allure of building your own mental imagery. We know that Lexi has black hair, possibly long. Jaxon is a fukin weirdo with a maniacal smile and two T-Rex heads for hands. Poppy.....no idea what he looks like. Bard is big and Scottish, but since Scots can look like anyone from anywhere...... Joe is bald and had facial hair but that is gone now.
Joe continues to build in abilities at an astounding rate, yet things don't make sense in this world. Joe can take down sage level entities yet has problems with lowly assassins attacking him. Big plot hole there. I get the fallible structure that endears a character to the reader, but in this case it does not fit the story line. In another instance in the prior novel, Joe has difficulty taking down a wall, but is able to infiltrate the "Arena", scan it, raze and then lock it up permanently. All under the scrutiny of clown assassins.
This is not over. There are more worlds awaiting our heroes over the bifrost and I cannot wait to see them!
Review: This was really a good finale' to a wonderful series. Joe continues to grow as a character and the world building is getting some expansion, albeit late in the game. It is still hard to picture the characters as the author perceives them, but that is part of the allure of building your own mental imagery. We know that Lexi has black hair, possibly long. Jaxon is a fukin weirdo with a maniacal smile and two T-Rex heads for hands. Poppy.....no idea what he looks like. Bard is big and Scottish, but since Scots can look like anyone from anywhere...... Joe is bald and had facial hair but that is gone now.
Joe continues to build in abilities at an astounding rate, yet things don't make sense in this world. Joe can take down sage level entities yet has problems with lowly assassins attacking him. Big plot hole there. I get the fallible structure that endears a character to the reader, but in this case it does not fit the story line. In another instance in the prior novel, Joe has difficulty taking down a wall, but is able to infiltrate the "Arena", scan it, raze and then lock it up permanently. All under the scrutiny of clown assassins.
This is not over. There are more worlds awaiting our heroes over the bifrost and I cannot wait to see them!
May 11, 2020
Awesome book, can not wait for the next one in the series.
Would like to know was Joe the first to successfully travel the bifrost?
If yes will his choice of dwarf or elf going to force all humans with the same choice or can they chose differently?
Is Joe’s only choice elf or dwarf or can he chose neither?
If neither is a choice will he be neutral, friendly, or hostile to the other races?
Can not wait to see what the answer is to these questions and more in the next book.
Would like to know was Joe the first to successfully travel the bifrost?
If yes will his choice of dwarf or elf going to force all humans with the same choice or can they chose differently?
Is Joe’s only choice elf or dwarf or can he chose neither?
If neither is a choice will he be neutral, friendly, or hostile to the other races?
Can not wait to see what the answer is to these questions and more in the next book.
May 2, 2020
Book five
Mistakes: I found only one mistake in this book.
Plot: Grinding for levels, a little bit of politics, and a couple of big battles to protect the guild and the town.
Characters: I enjoy the characters from this series for the most part. As dark as the Mc may seem at times, I would like him as a friend.
8/10
Mistakes: I found only one mistake in this book.
Plot: Grinding for levels, a little bit of politics, and a couple of big battles to protect the guild and the town.
Characters: I enjoy the characters from this series for the most part. As dark as the Mc may seem at times, I would like him as a friend.
8/10
June 22, 2023
I do enjoy a good blooper reel
October 17, 2020
Reviewing audiobook
Overall a little slower than others in the series. Shifts in the MC personality can usually be explained by the way his stats are shifting. We know that there are negative effects for having unbalanced stats but he's getting more eccentric even if things are balancing out more. One of the problems I have with systems that change mental ability is if the character is supposed to be smarter and wiser by multiple thresholds, they better show it. It feels like he doesn't have a real goal in mind anymore. It started as "I'm going to be living here forever so I want to play a class that lets me do everything" but at this point he should have high enough intellect to form better plans for his life. Lately his personality has also shifted from "My instinct is to help people and maybe they help me in return", now he at least will make a better effort to not get screwed over and expects reward.
Another small gripe is with the amount of pop culture references. The ones that refer to other litrpg books were pretty funny when they get dropped in casually and don't feel like they detract from the story if you don't know or remember the reference, but sometimes a few minutes of conversation you can tell are leading to something while winking and jabbing your arm. After a few of them it felt like, ok so can we move on to the next bit now? Sometimes it's in conversation with someone imposing and I thought, how would this character actually respond to someone leading them into a reference they obviously don't understand.
If you liked the previous books, but wanted the MC to start making some big adventurous plays, they aren't gonna happen. For someone who's character is built around finding secrets, he spends most his time in creation or skill grinding rather than exploration even when he says things like "I should go check out ruins that other people have scavenged already since I can find things others cant". Cool, go do it. He's only done things like that if he had an extremely specific goal, and lately it's always been a quest practically handed to him. Remember book one early on when he thought to go to the library to find hidden quests? Not a lot of that anymore.
Overall it closed a section of this series and is worth reading if only to get us to the next portion.
Overall a little slower than others in the series. Shifts in the MC personality can usually be explained by the way his stats are shifting. We know that there are negative effects for having unbalanced stats but he's getting more eccentric even if things are balancing out more. One of the problems I have with systems that change mental ability is if the character is supposed to be smarter and wiser by multiple thresholds, they better show it. It feels like he doesn't have a real goal in mind anymore. It started as "I'm going to be living here forever so I want to play a class that lets me do everything" but at this point he should have high enough intellect to form better plans for his life. Lately his personality has also shifted from "My instinct is to help people and maybe they help me in return", now he at least will make a better effort to not get screwed over and expects reward.
Another small gripe is with the amount of pop culture references. The ones that refer to other litrpg books were pretty funny when they get dropped in casually and don't feel like they detract from the story if you don't know or remember the reference, but sometimes a few minutes of conversation you can tell are leading to something while winking and jabbing your arm. After a few of them it felt like, ok so can we move on to the next bit now? Sometimes it's in conversation with someone imposing and I thought, how would this character actually respond to someone leading them into a reference they obviously don't understand.
If you liked the previous books, but wanted the MC to start making some big adventurous plays, they aren't gonna happen. For someone who's character is built around finding secrets, he spends most his time in creation or skill grinding rather than exploration even when he says things like "I should go check out ruins that other people have scavenged already since I can find things others cant". Cool, go do it. He's only done things like that if he had an extremely specific goal, and lately it's always been a quest practically handed to him. Remember book one early on when he thought to go to the library to find hidden quests? Not a lot of that anymore.
Overall it closed a section of this series and is worth reading if only to get us to the next portion.
December 23, 2020
This series is getting worse every time I read it. The author is purposely sanitizing it so that it can be read by kiddies, and I don't know how i feel about that. I mean, he has a skill/ability that turns anything profanity based or mature around the protagonist into sanitized young adult tripe. This isn't funny.
I also don't like how this series shifted so much from the Divine Dungeons series (even though the author was kiddiefying that near the end).
I know the foppish hat wearing guy has his own series, but I hated his book (the one I read), so I wish Joe could delete him (permanently dead).
i was actually liking this book when Joe was ruthless near the end... but the person survived the jaunt across the wall, so I am back to neutral.
To the author. Please stop dumbing these books down to the extent that it's humor that 6 year olds would find funny.
Might pick up the sequel (I'm already invested).
2.5/5 Stars
I also don't like how this series shifted so much from the Divine Dungeons series (even though the author was kiddiefying that near the end).
I know the foppish hat wearing guy has his own series, but I hated his book (the one I read), so I wish Joe could delete him (permanently dead).
i was actually liking this book when Joe was ruthless near the end... but the person survived the jaunt across the wall, so I am back to neutral.
To the author. Please stop dumbing these books down to the extent that it's humor that 6 year olds would find funny.
Might pick up the sequel (I'm already invested).
2.5/5 Stars
November 2, 2023
Nov 2023 update: 4 though my feelings are still the same. This book is really where Joe starts to abandon the whole "completionist" concept :/ however, Dakota Krout writes a damn good book
3.5; It felt like Joe was trying to do way too much in this book. It was sort of just all over the place until the end. His friends have sort of just been forgotten, which is unfortunate. They were good characters.
3.5; It felt like Joe was trying to do way too much in this book. It was sort of just all over the place until the end. His friends have sort of just been forgotten, which is unfortunate. They were good characters.
August 25, 2024
This book has forced me to read on kindle for truly the first time. Happy to say every book has been worth it so far and I hope that they finish the audio versions and put them on the library soon. Update** with Amazon restrictions Krout can't let the library get anymore of this series. So I ended up giving in and buying the audiobooks. But he switched narrators which was sad.
September 30, 2022
While talking about the LITrpg genre to a friend, they complained that the main character is usually way overpowered and ends up being the savior or envy of the populace. This series tends to suffer from a similar fate, though to be fair no one wants to read or write a book about a character that's boring and does little of note.
People getting jealous of the guild's progress makes total sense in world, and it's mirroring the issues in the real world just shifted to a magical medieval esque world. There are too many people, and despite their being magic, feeding and housing those people is difficult.
Lots of people are mad at our protagonist and so they set their sights on him.
I think the plot points regarding moving on to the next world/tier are a bit confusing to follow at times. I'm interested to see how the next book is set up.
The large battle was told well. It's difficult to explain the scale of a large battle in text, but I think it was well explained and having Joe
Side wondering though,
People getting jealous of the guild's progress makes total sense in world, and it's mirroring the issues in the real world just shifted to a magical medieval esque world. There are too many people, and despite their being magic, feeding and housing those people is difficult.
Lots of people are mad at our protagonist and so they set their sights on him.
I think the plot points regarding moving on to the next world/tier are a bit confusing to follow at times. I'm interested to see how the next book is set up.
The large battle was told well. It's difficult to explain the scale of a large battle in text, but I think it was well explained and having Joe
Side wondering though,
May 19, 2020
I finished this book within 24 hrs when it came out, but it's taken me a while to digest what I've read, and frankly, that's a bad thing. I want to be clear, I DID like this book. It did irreparable harm to the bibliomancer series, and I like Joe about 50% as much as I did at the conclusion of the second book, but there is a sufficiency of epicness and car chases that I can forgive a little bad writing. That being said, I'm not really sure what to make of this series anymore. Essentially, we just mashed the big red DO-OVER button. I am really a huge fan of this medieval system that seems to operate on Bill of Rights based feudalistic monarchy. Slandering a noble guild? Free speech, bro. Save the life of 2 seperate members of the royal family, construct 3 world wonders and complete 2 EPIC favors for the royal family? and if you picked up on a little scornful sarcasm there, good for you.
Also, for the record, thanks for turning Sam into a bully/griefer/con-man. I was one of the few people who actually wanted to see how Sam's journey progressed... well, not any more. Let's hope he stays in ardainia 1.0.
Also, for the record, thanks for turning Sam into a bully/griefer/con-man. I was one of the few people who actually wanted to see how Sam's journey progressed... well, not any more. Let's hope he stays in ardainia 1.0.
June 28, 2020
Wow, I just read half this book in a couple days because I couldn’t put it down
Another wild installment of Joe’s adventures in Midgard, the first zone, are stacking up the positives and negatives of his actions since entering this world.
More and more people are being swayed by the jealous guilds, noble or otherwise, plus merchants, architects, mages, and who knows who else that Joe has inadvertently, or purposefully, somehow stepped on their toes, or even destroyed their organization...
The Wanderers guild that he belongs too has quite a few members that dislike him too! His poor communication skills, amazing abilities and some stat debuffs, from lopsided scores, combine to put him in a negative light to so many people, and he’s just starting to notice. He does try and alleviate some of the negativity toward himself with some public humiliations during training, and building living spaces and more so quickly.
However, that just makes the whole guild town a bigger target as they move swiftly to advance their town beyond the ability of any competition to match.
Which brings war and a siege to Towny McTownface.
This will only make things worse for Joe, and he will eventually have to take responsibility for the results of ritual magic let loose uncontrolled!
So cannot wait for the next installment, but I’m not saying why! Read to the end and find out what awaits Joe in the next installment!
Another wild installment of Joe’s adventures in Midgard, the first zone, are stacking up the positives and negatives of his actions since entering this world.
More and more people are being swayed by the jealous guilds, noble or otherwise, plus merchants, architects, mages, and who knows who else that Joe has inadvertently, or purposefully, somehow stepped on their toes, or even destroyed their organization...
The Wanderers guild that he belongs too has quite a few members that dislike him too! His poor communication skills, amazing abilities and some stat debuffs, from lopsided scores, combine to put him in a negative light to so many people, and he’s just starting to notice. He does try and alleviate some of the negativity toward himself with some public humiliations during training, and building living spaces and more so quickly.
However, that just makes the whole guild town a bigger target as they move swiftly to advance their town beyond the ability of any competition to match.
Which brings war and a siege to Towny McTownface.
This will only make things worse for Joe, and he will eventually have to take responsibility for the results of ritual magic let loose uncontrolled!
So cannot wait for the next installment, but I’m not saying why! Read to the end and find out what awaits Joe in the next installment!
July 19, 2023
It feels like the game nerfed Joe by giving him debuffs because of his increased Intelligence stat. In a way, it's feeling a bit too much like a convenient way for the author to introduce conflict.
The machinations of several groups--the other noble guilds, the winemaking family, the architects, the mages, the jester assassins--come together and create a lot of conflict that kept me interested in the story. There's also quite a bit of progression in building his skills.
Somehow the plot doesn't move all that smoothly, and seems disjointed at times, as if the writer is writing stream-of-consciousness (which might be the case), but on a whole, the conflict increases and comes to a head in a good climax.
I have a bit of a problem with how Hannah didn't realize how awful the ritual would become when she altered it. She knew the blood was terrible and yet used it so blithely. I really thought she did it maliciously until the end when she's so remorseful.
It's actually nice how the other guild members try to take the blame when Joe is tried for the crimes. The punishment isn't too bad since the King obviously knew about his spacial codpiece (which still cracks me up) and reduced his reputation enough to sound terrible, but actually wasn't quite so bad. And although he's exiled, he had always intended to go to the next area anyway.
The machinations of several groups--the other noble guilds, the winemaking family, the architects, the mages, the jester assassins--come together and create a lot of conflict that kept me interested in the story. There's also quite a bit of progression in building his skills.
Somehow the plot doesn't move all that smoothly, and seems disjointed at times, as if the writer is writing stream-of-consciousness (which might be the case), but on a whole, the conflict increases and comes to a head in a good climax.
I have a bit of a problem with how Hannah didn't realize how awful the ritual would become when she altered it. She knew the blood was terrible and yet used it so blithely. I really thought she did it maliciously until the end when she's so remorseful.
It's actually nice how the other guild members try to take the blame when Joe is tried for the crimes. The punishment isn't too bad since the King obviously knew about his spacial codpiece (which still cracks me up) and reduced his reputation enough to sound terrible, but actually wasn't quite so bad. And although he's exiled, he had always intended to go to the next area anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2022
This entire review will be a "spoiler-light".
I really enjoyed the first, second and 2.5 books in this series. However, when turning back to the main story in book 3 it felt as if the character had changed a lot. Its almost as if the author couldn't really let go of Jaxon or couldn't reset back to Joe. Suddenly, Joe is a lot more unstable, talking a lot to him self, laughing like a maniac, making weird/stupid choices... It just doesn't feel like the stable and rational combat medic that the series started following.
I saw another review mention a lack of progress and/or development for the MC and I agree. Rather than evolving he devolves.
Additionally, it feels more and more as if the MC wants to be a single-player. Almost no missions with the team. I miss the fun characters and how they were developing as a team.
I'll continue on with book 5 (after a short break), although judging by some of the reviews there, the problems I feel are apparent already in this book are made even more obvious in the next. We'll see.
Wanted to finish with a note: I'm listening to the audio books. Maybe some of the issues is due to the change in voice actor? Vikas was so calm and collected. Perhaps I'm letting that interfere with what the author intended.
I really enjoyed the first, second and 2.5 books in this series. However, when turning back to the main story in book 3 it felt as if the character had changed a lot. Its almost as if the author couldn't really let go of Jaxon or couldn't reset back to Joe. Suddenly, Joe is a lot more unstable, talking a lot to him self, laughing like a maniac, making weird/stupid choices... It just doesn't feel like the stable and rational combat medic that the series started following.
I saw another review mention a lack of progress and/or development for the MC and I agree. Rather than evolving he devolves.
Additionally, it feels more and more as if the MC wants to be a single-player. Almost no missions with the team. I miss the fun characters and how they were developing as a team.
I'll continue on with book 5 (after a short break), although judging by some of the reviews there, the problems I feel are apparent already in this book are made even more obvious in the next. We'll see.
Wanted to finish with a note: I'm listening to the audio books. Maybe some of the issues is due to the change in voice actor? Vikas was so calm and collected. Perhaps I'm letting that interfere with what the author intended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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