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Ether Flows #1
Tech Duinn
A war to enslave the population. A prison planet designed for blood sport. The Sovereign Empire’s power was a lie.
Brutally trained his entire short life to be a Sovereign Elite and defend the Empire, Azrael instead finds himself a prisoner. Not even eight years old, and without system access, Azrael is abandoned on Tech Duinn. He must rely on his hunting trainers to keep his identity secret. There is no doubt that if people learn his last name, he would wake up in the arena… if he woke up at all.
While fleeing the takeover of Mur, the group discovers how deep despair can drag them. Soon, only the praise of the bloody mob in the Arena Pit Dungeon keeps them alive. Surviving seems impossible, yet Azrael vows to not only live, but to find a way off-world.
Azrael lives only because of applause. Others will die for it. Death or escape is the only way out of the cycle.
Brutally trained his entire short life to be a Sovereign Elite and defend the Empire, Azrael instead finds himself a prisoner. Not even eight years old, and without system access, Azrael is abandoned on Tech Duinn. He must rely on his hunting trainers to keep his identity secret. There is no doubt that if people learn his last name, he would wake up in the arena… if he woke up at all.
While fleeing the takeover of Mur, the group discovers how deep despair can drag them. Soon, only the praise of the bloody mob in the Arena Pit Dungeon keeps them alive. Surviving seems impossible, yet Azrael vows to not only live, but to find a way off-world.
Azrael lives only because of applause. Others will die for it. Death or escape is the only way out of the cycle.
- GenresFantasy
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2020
144 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Ryan DeBruyn
21 books231 followersRyan DeBruyn - Author of the Amazon best-selling series Ether Collapse, Ether Flows, and System Misinterpret.
Ryan is a relatively new author but has already reached the best-seller status in multiple categories. Find out why and start your adventure below!
Ryan is a relatively new author but has already reached the best-seller status in multiple categories. Find out why and start your adventure below!
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 17, 2020
So good!
Ryan DeBruyn has become one of my favorite authors. I love the universe he has created and look forward to many more stories from him.
Ryan DeBruyn has become one of my favorite authors. I love the universe he has created and look forward to many more stories from him.
March 23, 2021
This is a fun prequel. In the sense that this series follows Rocky's ancestor and how he came to be known.
Read
August 18, 2020Love it.
This telling of Rocklands ancestral revenant class and how it came to be is absolutely genius. I can't wait for the next chapter of Azraels legendary story.
This telling of Rocklands ancestral revenant class and how it came to be is absolutely genius. I can't wait for the next chapter of Azraels legendary story.
August 23, 2020
Great writing and progression
The MC was strong but not overly so. He was still very much a small fish in a big pond. The author did a great job of creating tension and pushing the pace. From the beginning to the end lots of action with very little down time. Great world/universe building. Looking forward to the next one!
The MC was strong but not overly so. He was still very much a small fish in a big pond. The author did a great job of creating tension and pushing the pace. From the beginning to the end lots of action with very little down time. Great world/universe building. Looking forward to the next one!
August 23, 2020
An awesome book!!!
Another awesome book by Ryan DeBruyn. A great story with a young hero just starting out. It's clean and doesn't have any profanity either.
It's awesome! I can't wait for the next one.
Another awesome book by Ryan DeBruyn. A great story with a young hero just starting out. It's clean and doesn't have any profanity either.
It's awesome! I can't wait for the next one.
November 23, 2021
Stick with it
A tiny bit of a slow start, but glad I stuck with it. At around chapter 4 things really kick into high gear as Azrael gains access to his interface.
Loved seeing the pre-history for Ether Collapse series and how things are explained. Now I think I have to go back after I read book 2 and pick up those nuances I probably missed.
A tiny bit of a slow start, but glad I stuck with it. At around chapter 4 things really kick into high gear as Azrael gains access to his interface.
Loved seeing the pre-history for Ether Collapse series and how things are explained. Now I think I have to go back after I read book 2 and pick up those nuances I probably missed.
August 17, 2020
Backstory - way back
This one is clearly going to continue because it tells the backstory for something that happens century or millennia before the main Ether Collapse stories, and the connection to the main story hasn’t been made yet.
I think this story stands on its own for those who haven’t yet read the main chain of books.
One frustration: why don’t these characters say the things they are thinking or assuming? It would resolve a lot of issues that arise in the course of the story. At least here, the hidden question finally gets asked, but not until after many frustrating chapters.
This one is clearly going to continue because it tells the backstory for something that happens century or millennia before the main Ether Collapse stories, and the connection to the main story hasn’t been made yet.
I think this story stands on its own for those who haven’t yet read the main chain of books.
One frustration: why don’t these characters say the things they are thinking or assuming? It would resolve a lot of issues that arise in the course of the story. At least here, the hidden question finally gets asked, but not until after many frustrating chapters.
September 3, 2020
Waaaay back prequel
Way way way back prequel from the authors original series. It's interesting to see how the universe was before the collapse.
Way way way back prequel from the authors original series. It's interesting to see how the universe was before the collapse.
April 1, 2021
What a great start to this awesome new series by Ryan DeBruyn! The story is exciting and has a great pace, and the characters are well written and believable. Can't wait for the next one!
August 26, 2020
A great start to a new series
I like how challenged the mc was both mentally and physically. The expansion of the knowledge and worlds is beautiful. Now i have to go reread the other series since im ready for the next one.
I like how challenged the mc was both mentally and physically. The expansion of the knowledge and worlds is beautiful. Now i have to go reread the other series since im ready for the next one.
August 21, 2020
Fantastic prequel
Great stand alone series and can’t wait to read more about how the MC grows and develops. Immense potential for this series. Great job!
Great stand alone series and can’t wait to read more about how the MC grows and develops. Immense potential for this series. Great job!
September 17, 2020
Details!
To be honest I started reading hoping to get some goods on how ether works, but stayed because the plot was super engaging and fun to read! This author kicks ass.
I also got a lot of the details I was hoping for, so it's a very satisfying book which casts the Ether Collapse in a different light!
To be honest I started reading hoping to get some goods on how ether works, but stayed because the plot was super engaging and fun to read! This author kicks ass.
I also got a lot of the details I was hoping for, so it's a very satisfying book which casts the Ether Collapse in a different light!
January 19, 2021
A heartbreaker to the etherverse
This book builds on a lot of the more revealed in the other series. I strongly advise you read that first. Some of the protagonists in this will make much more sense. As well as the terms used. It's gonna be a wild ride to see how the two series meet up.
This book builds on a lot of the more revealed in the other series. I strongly advise you read that first. Some of the protagonists in this will make much more sense. As well as the terms used. It's gonna be a wild ride to see how the two series meet up.
September 3, 2020
This is so hard to read.. The disappointment is real
The MC is just so unlikeable... Very immature and always makes the worst possible decisions. The author literally gives multiple choice options and then picks the worst option every single time... It's rough folks
The MC is just so unlikeable... Very immature and always makes the worst possible decisions. The author literally gives multiple choice options and then picks the worst option every single time... It's rough folks
December 1, 2020
A great beginning to a new series
I enjoyed this book more than I thought based on the character details from the author’s other series. I think it was a good and quick read. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I enjoyed this book more than I thought based on the character details from the author’s other series. I think it was a good and quick read. I look forward to the next book in the series.
January 25, 2022
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who like LitRPG, dungeon dungeons and lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who like LitRPG, dungeon dungeons and lots of action.
June 15, 2021
Basic storyline was good!
I liked the basic storyline but I found it started off a bit fast and confusing. Once I re-listened to the first few chapters again it got better. The narration was really good and easy to distinguish between the characters. Steve Campbell’s voice is well suited for this genre.
This is book 1 and the story continues.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
I liked the basic storyline but I found it started off a bit fast and confusing. Once I re-listened to the first few chapters again it got better. The narration was really good and easy to distinguish between the characters. Steve Campbell’s voice is well suited for this genre.
This is book 1 and the story continues.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
May 30, 2021
Excellent story
Compelling story which was fast and action paced which meant you did t want to put it down. Powerful skills of the main character.
Compelling story which was fast and action paced which meant you did t want to put it down. Powerful skills of the main character.
June 2, 2021
I was not a huge fan of ‘Azrael’, or indeed anyone, in this book. As such I found myself rolling my eyes at them a lot. “Get on with it!”
August 13, 2021
This hints at a pretty good story, but the first book is kind of sloppy. I wouldn't mind trying out the rest of the series to see if those hints grow into something great.
November 14, 2021
really really struggled on this one. It just never felt like I had a sturdy foundation to start from leaving events and characters feeling jumbled and chaotic.
July 30, 2022
Awesome peek into Azraels story
This is a great prequel type book into the life of Rocky's ancestor. Such a fun read. So much going on that it's hard to put down! Love it!
This is a great prequel type book into the life of Rocky's ancestor. Such a fun read. So much going on that it's hard to put down! Love it!
September 2, 2023
awesome story
Really enjoyed reading this, I had avoided it focused on the main series but really found this to be a hidden gem!
Really enjoyed reading this, I had avoided it focused on the main series but really found this to be a hidden gem!
June 13, 2025
Edit: 5 stars--> 1 stars
Series seems abandoned, last book was 2022. By looking at his website, he appears more interested in running a vanity hotel for 'creatives.' No point in buying a dead series, or one that only gets an update twice a decade. One of us will die before the series ends.
FWIW, it's a pretty good "standard" litRPG. Nothing surprising, but the world building makes you want more. I liked it better than Ether Collapse, debruyin's other series, which is on book 5 and seen by many as a signpost of the genre.
Series seems abandoned, last book was 2022. By looking at his website, he appears more interested in running a vanity hotel for 'creatives.' No point in buying a dead series, or one that only gets an update twice a decade. One of us will die before the series ends.
FWIW, it's a pretty good "standard" litRPG. Nothing surprising, but the world building makes you want more. I liked it better than Ether Collapse, debruyin's other series, which is on book 5 and seen by many as a signpost of the genre.
February 11, 2022
I could not get past the age of the protagonist, which ruined the enjoyment of the book.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews