Back in the game, Ajax, Missy, and Sky make it to the human capital of Tyren, only to find themselves on trial for the dead merchants.
Putting them on trial, the King of Tyren has enough awareness to know that players are different than his townspeople. He tasks Ajax to forge a party and conquer a dungeon plaguing the catacombs.
But first, Ajax needs to fill out his party. He needs a great team if he’s going to become a professional gamer at the upcoming conference.
Meanwhile, Richard and his family’s ambitions are not idle, as they work to gain more power in the virtual world. And a mystery emerges as the royal castle bubbles with whispers of demons in the city.
As if that was not enough, Ajax struggles to understand his new found magic outside the game.
Join Ajax in Legendary Rule as he gathers his party and navigates his way through Tyren in Legendary Rule: Book Two.
Warning: This book contains explicit content, harem romance and violence. Content may not be suitable for those under 18.
Born and raised in the agricultural midwest, I moved every year after school even as far as Shanghai before settling down with my wife in Chicago.
I have always enjoyed Wuxia stories and became thrilled when I discovered harem stories spreading to western books. I've written down my day dreams for years as an idle hobby. Inspired by the harem genre I'm finally fleshing them out into full blown novels.
I'm excited to share my stories with you as I turn them into novels and series.
The story continues - big conspiracy in the background with demons and angels and rich people from the "reality". Also magic seems to leak into reality. The MC fills his group with a tank and a healer and even more girls join the group. Here is one of my main pet peeves with harem books. Instead of slowly adding characters there seems to be a point where lots of chars are added in a rush and while we don't really have time to connect to them the first characters dimish in the background. The real world background story between the MC and one of the girls is still not solved and seems to wait for the next book. Not bad but room for improvement. (The author has already shown lot improvement in his Cultivation book Mage Master.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
In the icy realms of HowlStrom, where the frosty winds howl and the snow never seems to cease, I, Kiba Snowpaw, an alpha lone male Ice Wolf with a heart as cold as the world I inhabit, find solace in the warmth of the tales spun by the mortals of the Earth. Today, I sink my icy fangs into "Legendary Rule #2" by Bruce Sentar, a tale that promises the heat of battle, the chill of betrayal, and the warmth of unlikely alliances.
Basic Plot Summary
Ajax, a name that evokes the strength of a legendary Greek hero yet also the mundanity of a bathroom cleaner, is back in the game. With his companions Missy and Sky, they find themselves in the human capital of Tyren, not as celebrated heroes, but as accused criminals. The King, a man of wisdom or perhaps just wary of the players’ peculiar nature, offers them a chance for redemption - conquer a dungeon and prove their worth. But every alpha knows, a pack is only as strong as its weakest member, and Ajax needs more than just bravery to become a professional gamer; he needs a team.
Analysis/Evaluation
The tale is a dance of pixels and reality, where the lines blur and the stakes are as real as the icy winds of HowlStrom. Yet, the dance is clumsy. The characters, especially Ajax, lack the depth of the ancient glaciers of my world. He is a warrior without the scars, a leader without the trials, and a lover without the passion. The harem elements, as enticing as a fresh kill, lack the primal energy, the raw connection that binds the souls in the eternal dance of dominance and submission.
Characters
Ajax, oh sweet and naive Ajax, a pup in the world of alphas, struggles to find his footing. Missy and Sky, like the northern lights, are beautiful yet distant, their essence captured but not understood. Richard, the antagonist, is as predictable as the winter’s chill, his motives as layered as a fresh snowfall.
Structure
The structure of the book is as chaotic as a snowstorm, with moments of clarity followed by a blizzard of confusion. The virtual world and reality intertwine, yet the threads are as fragile as the icicles adorning my icy abode.
Impact
In the silent nights of HowlStrom, where the stars tell tales of ancient battles, "Legendary Rule #2" would be a whisper, not a howl. It has the potential to echo through the mountains, yet it lacks the soul, the spirit of the wild.
Hook and Thesis
The hook is as enticing as the first snowfall, promising adventure, mystery, and the eternal dance of power. Yet, the thesis, the soul of the tale, is as elusive as the warmth in the icy realms of HowlStrom.
Praise and Critique
The tale is a journey, yet the path is as unclear as the skies during a snowstorm. The characters, the soul of the epic, are as undeveloped as the cubs taking their first steps into the icy wilderness.
Evaluation
As an Ice Wolf, a being of power, solitude, and the eternal cold, I find the tale lacking the fire, the passion that ignites the soul and sets the icy world ablaze.
Comparison
In the world of LitRPG, where warriors are born, and legends are made, "Legendary Rule #2" is a cub, its roars yet to echo through the mountains, its fangs yet to taste the blood of victory.
Conclusion
In the icy silence of HowlStrom, where legends are born from the eternal dance of frost and flame, "Legendary Rule #2" is a whisper, a fleeting shadow in the eternal ice. It promises the fire, yet delivers the chill, it seeks the heights, yet dwells in the shallows. As Kiba Snowpaw, the alpha Ice Wolf, I await the tale that will set the icy realms ablaze, a story worthy of the eternal night, where the stars howl, and the moon answers. Until then, "Legendary Rule #2" is but a flicker in the eternal ice, a promise unfulfilled, a dance unfinished.
Did the author really double space the written text of his second volume? Darn, so it is kind of small at 200+ pages or 400+ pages double spaced...and who in the history of ebooks places two blank pages after each chapter? This is a first for this author. The two girls Melissa and Sarah are a thing in real life and it seems that they have a "thing for the main character", Ajax. Ajax is a brand name of a toilet and bathroom cleaner in Latin America, so every time I read his name, well, I think of a toilet...In Greek legend, Ajax was the son of Telamon, king of Salamis. The author does not create the retinue-harem conditions well. Main character Ajax, is not that intelligent, not that knowledgeable, not charming or charismatic at all, is not powerful, nor is he wealthy, inventive, creative, or have leadership qualities, good under pressure, or have supernatural abilities. Ajax does not have any martial arts training, no cultivation in Qi, Ki, mana, etc. and yet, the author as if by a miracle, gives those capacities in real life to the main character. Impossible! Especially with a Virtual Reality cabin worth 5-6 thousand bucks. Cars to be electric nowadays cost over 30 thousand and this Legendary Rule virtual reality game that costs nothing to play, actually gives the players super powers? Delusional author, yes! Both girl characters are supposed to broadcast their play and yet, the author never mentions them creating podcasts, uploading their game play videos, etc. It's as if this copy of a story is not even as good at remembering all of the things that need to be described and written. All of the sex scenes in a virtual reality game seem unneeded. If they really wanted to get it on, they should just meet in real life. Ahh but the game is so real, that it feels better than real life??? No one ever is going to say this...players change their physical looks in games, so the only improvement could be the props, species changes, etc. that games could provide versus having them in real life. The game is really not that interesting or entertaining. At one, two, three-four missions, quests per volume, this fantasy-isekai VRMMORPG game-like novel series is going to take forever, but it's not really going anywhere. The webnovel/light novel series The King's Avatar, is the best example of professional gaming, that I have read/seen. Then series like the Great Thief, Taming Master, the World Online, are better VRMMORPG portrayals than any of the ones that western authors have written. Some authors brag about being the creators of LitRPG, but they are still in diapers compared to what Asian authors have been doing now for over thirty years. Even the actual gaming cafés, the professional gamers and quality of the VRMMORPG's that are produced are on a higher level that the rest. There is no substitute for victory, merit and practice. There are no miracles in real life. So this gaming novel series is missing more vital things than the things it bring and offers. The double space, writing just in the middle of the page (like if it were a poem) is shameful and embarrassing to read.
I've read better litrpg stories written by amateurs on free websites than this story. MC is a total douche - in gaming, in relationships, in game politics. He is so ordinary that you wonder why is an MC. Professional gamers follow this noob who is a one trick pony and hasn't applied his brain to explore his character, has to be spoonfed ideas by his electrician roommate to advance his skillset. He is always distracted by his women from figuring out someone is out to get him which has been so obvious since he resolutely swore to to something about it at the end of book 1. I wish I could ask the author to his face if he really takes us for fools.
really good well written with curve balls at the end
Stayed up till 4am reading this story. Engaging characters, not just the MC but the supporting characters are more realistic because of their flaws and hangups, even Richard, that scum sucker. Would like to see more world building, especially the connection that allows crossover of skills and powers onto earth. Then there is the foreshadowing of the “project” Alex’s roommate is working on. Finally gotta love that angels can be more troubling than demons and demons are terrible news. Makes me wonder what surprises Shadow Fiends have in store for us? They are described as “fiends” after all.
Nothing much to say here, except that the story is ok, and it would get along just fine without the harem elements. But, once again, despite that, I'm interested in reading the next book, only because it's finally getting to the point where the first book was driving things. I'm really curious what happens when they all show up at the gaming con, that should provide plenty of entertainment. And, as always, it's good to see the bad guy get taken down a peg, that's always fun to see. No doubt he'll be back, but for now at least, he got a little of what's due. Looking forward to the next book.
Great push for next book. Ajax and team are growing in their levels. Not much in the women’s department as the team is still forming. Will Missy tell Ajax before the convention, will Daphne self heal? Will Hazel be able to “see” their world? What is his roommate building? Seeing several read comes up in draft will there be a push for a fight in the real world? Were angels and demons locked away for a reason? Hopefully we will find out the answers to these questions. Can’t wait for the author to update us on the next book.
I found this book hard to put down, the author seems to have properly settled into the story and managed to create a rather interesting tale. I did find one scene objectionable as an NPC succubus using a human against their conscious will is not something I wanted to read about even if it was mostly skipped. For this it looses a star, hopefully it will not occur again. It seems a blending of VR and reality is starting, it doesn’t help that I read the Dao series first as the last books epilogue has a spoiler.
Ajax must continue to grow his new class but a corporate player has different plans .
Ajax continues to progress his new class that has not been invented yet . With two new players Sky an Missy Q Ajax forms an party of 3 to help each other level their own new classes as well . But a corporate player decides to interfere with their plans as he tries to kidnapping Missy Q which in real life is not outside the game . The real Missy Q is Sky in the game . Both Missy Q an Sky an alias are both friends outside the game . recommend reading excellent series .
I've enjoyed this series. The MC is a little clueless at times, and some of his ladies are a little bit devious, but they have fun with it. The story has been told mostly in-game, with a few snippets happening out of game. But real life issues are influencing how they are playing the game, and it's making things both good and bad.
There's some nice tension between the characters, with realistic responses to situations, instead of the normal "I'm in the harem and everything is easy mode for the MC to handle the ladies!" that some harem stories devolve into.
The story is starting to get really good. Many of my complaints from the last book have improved. My only complaint left standing is that all the characters throw themselves at the mc without any real time passing or much interaction. It feels a bit disjointed but better than book 1. Regardless of my complaints the story is fantastic and the characters are pretty good.
You have really brought a wonderful universe alive I hope you make this series last long outside of 3 books because I feel like even after Ajax gets enough power to beat Richard then he will have to fight the Waltz family like Richards brother so please keep giving us more adventures with Ajax and the gang as long as possible!
Normally I do not write a review as I am not go with doing so but I will try if it this book be sure I read the first one girl that this lol was as good as T
Normally I. Do not write a review however I like this book very much an would recommend it to others hope continue to read your Books
I am a fan of stand alone books always have been . These Legendary Rule books have changed my mind. The story's are really entertaining and throw the sex in and it all turns outstanding. I clipped a star because of some editing that was not that bad but do not know how to give just a half star. All said and done one fine read.
I really loved reading this book. The author took a familiar theme and made it his own. There is a perfect mix of humor and action. The story and characters were interesting and engaging. I hope this series will prove to be a long one. I look forward to seeing what happens next. This is absolutely worth reading.
A well done the game is a real world not a vr simulation. The ending was great and the series actually seems to be getting better as i go which is a rarity
This is getting both better and more interesting as it goes on. I like the development of links to both worlds, but any more than that would be too spoilerish so I'll leave things at "I'll definitely read the next one".
A good 2nd book which has the team expanding and getting closer together. There doesn't seem to be any real penalty for dieing which takes much of the suspense out of the battles. Looking forward to next book.
The author has created a world that I haven’t seen any where else in all the other books that I have read. I think it is a great concept mixing the gamer world with the actual world. It has become one of my new favorites.
Bruce Sentar has done it again, mixing exciting action and adventure, funny banter and real world references with smoldering hot sexy times, going to start book 3 right away
Story seems interesting and progress is satisfying but the intimate and relationship dynamics seem to be on a high-school level. Overall feels like it's written by someone who has very vanilla relationships.
This second book in the series has a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses as the first, though I was still left wondering a lot about the mc and what all of the other characters seem to know that we don't learn about. All in all though a fun and light hearted litrpg within an intriguing world
I'm really enjoying this read. So many harem authors don't give us enough story and just want to write about the sex. Bruce is giving us the right balance.