Lord of the Mysteries Volume 8: Fool

Lord of the Mysteries #8

by Ai Qianshui de Wuzei, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving

With the rising tide of steam power and machinery, who can come close to being a Beyonder? Shrouded in the fog of history and darkness, who or what is the lurking evil that murmurs into our ears?

Waking up to be faced with a string of mysteries, Zhou Mingrui finds himself reincarnated as Klein Moretti in an alternate Victorian era world where he sees a world filled with machinery, cannons, dreadnoughts, airships, difference machines, as well as Potions, Divination, Hexes, Tarot Cards, Sealed Artifacts…

The Light continues to shine but mystery has never gone far. Follow Klein as he finds himself entangled with the Churches of the world—both orthodox and unorthodox—while he slowly develops newfound powers thanks to the Beyonder potions.

Like the corresponding tarot card, The Fool, which is numbered 0—a number of unlimited potential—this is the legend of “The Fool”.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Horror, Light Novel, Fiction, China, Novels

1078 pages, ebook

About the author

Associated Names:
* 爱潜水的乌贼 (Simplified Chinese) / 愛潛水的烏賊 (Traditional Chinese)
* Ai Qianshui de Wuzei / Cuttlefish That Loves Diving (English)
* อ้ายเชียนสุ่ยเตออูเจ๋ย (Thai)

Reviews

[yel ᰔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

"Let us end today's gathering here"

The Tarot Club members couldn't help but feel a baffling sense of sorrow. It was as though a grand ball was coming to an end.


I thought I was emotionally prepared when I picked this final volume up, but no preparation is enough. I can still feel my heavy heart. Maybe because I'm so much invested with this novel that I'm not yet ready to say goodbye. I want more, but I know I wouldn't get it so soon.

I know that Klein entering his slumber for an indefinite time isn't equivalent to him perishing. It was his way to stabilize his control over his own body and mind and not be able to lose himself to the old Lord of the Mysteries. But despite entering his slumber that can last for a long time, he's still fighting for his life and for his chance to protect the people he cared about, alone. With no one but himself to rely on. And it's still not clear if he would be able to completely stop the awakening of the LotM in him.

Klein leaving different tasks for the members of the Tarot Club before going into slumber and trusting them to wake him in the future, seriously made me so emotional. And Leonard getting so sincerely worried when he learned about Klein going into a slumber just hit so hard. Leonard is really the best friend Klein could ever have.

The whole scenario of Klein advancing into an Above the Sequence and his final showdown with Amon is just so freaking epic and intense. I wouldn't wish to meet Amon because he's seriously terrifying. No matter how good looking he is, I don't want to see him around Klein anymore in the future. He's unbelievably overpowered. But being overpowered doesn't mean he's without weaknesses. And that loophole was what Klein used to defeat the seemingly undefeatable God of Deceit. 'The Fool's Gambit' is really an accurate title for this volume.

The one who wasn't afraid of true death would yield the absolute advantage. Clearly, Amon wasn't prepared to sacrifice himself for this matter.

This volume cannot be considered as the end of the story. Actually, it can be regarded as a massive prologue before the apocalypse happens sixteen years in the future. The story is just getting started, is what this is. It's like the journey of how Mr. Fool came to be, the Mr. Fool who I know would play a big role in the apocalypse. I've learned that the sequel of this novel wouldn't have Klein as the main protagonist. There would be a new main character, but I know that Klein and the Tarot Club members would appear again in the future. There are a lot more of the plot left untouched so I know that the continuation of the story involves not only the OG characters here in LotM but more equally important characters that will get introduced in the sequel. I think that the new main character in the sequel would become a strong ally of Klein when the apocalypse comes. I'm not too sure if they will really become Klein's ally, but I'm sure that they will also play a huge part in the future events. Within sixteen years before the apocalypse, many more events will occur. I just hope that Klein will get out of his slumber at least in the second part of book 2. I already missed him a lot.

"From the beginning, you've been a guardian. You mimicked others until you were mimicked by others"

And that last chapter about Melissa and Benson's daughter praying to Mr. Fool! That was so unexpected that I was literally left speechless for a few minutes. So she knew that Mr. Fool is his 'dead' brother?? Because that was what my puny brain interpreted! And if so, I really want to know how she was able to discover that!!

I've said this in my review in the volume 1 of this series, but I'll say this again. Klein Moretti is easily one of my most favorite fictional characters I've ever known. And Lord of the Mysteries is definitely one of my favorite series I've ever read, not just this year. This is a masterpiece I'm glad I discovered. This series also introduced me to more webnovels that I'll sure be trying in the future. Unfortunately, the sequel of this novel titled Circle of Inevitability is still currently ongoing and just started last month, and I don't think I'll pick it up soon. I just want to stack more chapters before I start it.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this novel to every fantasy reader out there. This is has a massive and has a rather intricately detailed and slow world building. There are people who have asked me about my opinion of this novel because they personally think this is boring, but please take note that this has a total of 1430 CHAPTERS. You won't be able to take a glimpse of the whole picture of the plot in just mere 100 chapters. Just give the first arc a try (213 chapters). If you still couldn't get into it after finishing the first arc, then you can choose not to continue this. Maybe this isn't your cup of tea. But I swear, this is so good!!! No words can express how much I love this series!!

PS. I would love to have a chat to those LotM readers out there!

[Battulga Amarsanaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

1430 chapters, ~1.8 million words, ~4000 pages, book 1 of 3.
From June 2nd to 1st of September.

My review is that I only have one wish now. That is not to die before the 2nd and 3rd books are written and completed. That's how great of a journey it was. So happy that I didn't ignore the short random suggestion on the internet.

One of the best light novels. It's mind blowing how the plot feels so natural, not forced when the novel is about steam and machinery, industrialization, detectives, religion, mystery, kings and chivalry, vampires, gods, zombies, devils and witches, monsters, magic etc.

Feels so empty now that it's finished. Shed tears, laughed uncontrollably and even was scared to the point of not being able to stay in a dark room lol What a journey!
This has made my summer one of the greatest in recent years. So glad that I've had the chance to find it and read it.

In comparison with lord of the rings trilogy:
LOTR series 1100 pages, 580k words
LOTM novel 4000 pages 1.8m words
LOTM 2 novel is said to be around 6.6k pages 3m words
LOTM 3 TBA
No wonder it took me 3 months to finish this lol such a rich and complex world with so many great side stories that are as good as the main storyline and not dragged out.

[NijiOfNatsu · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT THE FCK IS THAT LAST CHAPTER!?
I was already feeling sad and kind of empty inside, AND THEN THAT LAST CHAPTER! I CRIED SO MUCH!! Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, pay for my therapy!!!

[Gray ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot believe it is over already, I have read this whole series so quickly and I honestly, truly believe I will never encounter anything like this series again.

Just neverending engagement and an absolutely beautiful world building with so many vast characters and areas.

I absolutely love Klein and all of Tarot Club , and just so distraught on how Klein's time with the Nighthawks is brought up even in his final moments. I miss you so much Dunn 3

10/10 series , if i could read this for the first time again I would do it again

[William Moses Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, this series was amazing and is absolutely worth reading. The only complaint I have is that I expected certain things to be resolved by the end of this volume, but they weren't. It turns out that this is book 1 (if you want to call the 8 volumes that I just read a single book) of a trilogy and if I had known that in advance, I might've been able to adjust my expectations accordingly. In any case, I loved the experience and I am eagerly awaiting the next two books.

[Loverture · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-reading some of this book while finding other things to read. It hits me all over again how much I love Klein. He joins Cazaril from Curse of Chalion in the ranks of the most, most decent men in all the fiction I've ever read. Lin Feng from my recently completed read History's Number 1 Founder also belongs to this rank but his character isn't as deep, although perhaps they share similar back breaking responsibility in their respective setting. I adore Klein. I respect him, for his sacrifices, his staunch character, his goodness. He really moved me and he will always hold a place in my heart.

This book is extremely intricate in detail and plot. It blows my mind how someone managed to create such a work. Despite the many many characters it has, they all are distinctive in their own way. I only started getting a bit confused on who's who at the very end. The scope of this book is so huge that I can't really comment about it, but I enjoyed almost the whole journey nonstop.

[Zac Marsicano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shout out to tiktok last year for making me read this random and obscure web novel. Actual peak. The coolest eldritch based magic/power system and one of the best main characters I've read in a novel. The 1430 chapters, ~1.8 million words were well worth the slower start to volume one.

[OMI · Rating 5 out of 5]

"منذ البدايه كنت حاميًا لقد قمت بتقليد الأخرين حتى تم تقليدك من قبل الأخرين"

هل أنا انهيت الروايه ولا الروايه اللي انهتني؟؟
أعظم وأفضل ماقرأت ، دموعي خلصت على اخر الفصول ، كلاين أعظم بطل فعلا .

[Ila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it does face a real issue with pacing during the start and approaching the end, as well as excessive descriptions, lotm’s great storytelling and world building surpasses its flaws. This novel grabbed me by the hand to a world full of wonder, mystery, and danger. As time went on, it led me to care for the intrinsically made, unique characters. The multi-faceted depictions of various characters included Klein, the tarot club members, Roselle, Evernight, ASG, among others. Even their bonds, friendships and emotions were beautifully portrayed. I have to say that Amon was a very complicated and interesting antagonist, given his terrifying powers and deceitful personality.

The power system is incredibly original, which can be found in no other novel, and it is flawlessly written to be a part of the world and story itself. I have barely encountered a story with such a deep and real portrayal of its world and the people that reside in it. The rich history of this world is at such a complicated level that I would not be surprised if the author actually lived through it and was simply recounting it.

I felt all kinds of emotions as I watched klein’s path to godhood, and how he faced such an immense loneliness while continuously caring for a world that might not necessarily care for him. As he himself said, “I won’t lose too much, just myself. There are always some things that are more important than others.” There are many quotes I could insert as the novel put me through a constant rollercoaster, from laughing at the silly moments to cheering on klein as he came up with genius and complicated plans to crying at the heart-wrenching situations.

This novel slowly brings one a sense of despair that further accumulates throughout the novel, which results from the revelations about the truth of the universe and the hopelessness it professes. All in all, it is truly different, rich, and unforgettable in the best way possible.

[Arsene · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Great Master, are you afraid?”

“Yes.”
................
کارت ابله(the fool)، کارت شماره صفر در تاروت و آغاز کننده. داستان افسانه ابله اینجا به پایان رسید.
۱۳۹۴ چپتر با ماجراجویی، رمز و راز، گریه ها و خنده ها، خوشحالی، ترس، امیدواری و ناامیدی و... تمام احساسات مختلفی که یه آدم میتونه تو این دنیا تجربه کنه تو مسیر به خدایی رسیدن کاراکتر این داستان تجربه کردم.
واقعا داستا�� عظیمی بود با دنیا پردازی قوی و عظیم سیستم جادویی و قدرتی فوق‌العاده و پلات خوب چیده شده. شخصیت اصلی ناول کلاین مورتی کاراکتری شد که میدونم تا ابد قراره تو قلبم جایگاه ویژه‌ای داشته باشه و واقعا نمیتونم بگم چقدر این کاراکتر به من مفهوم و دیدگاه های مختلفی رو یاد داد و نشون داد. انگار با تجربه ها و حوادثی که گذروند و رشد کرد منو هم بزرگ کرد و پرورش داد.
احساساتم وقتی تمومش کردم اینقدر شدید بود که برای چند ساعت حتی نمیتونستم چیزی بگم. در آخر تنها چیزی که میتونم بگم اینه خوندن این ناول بهترین تصمیمی بود که تو عمرم گرفتم. به شدت سمبولیسم، پر از مفهوم و موضوعات فلسفه و عرفان. با ترکیبی فوق‌العاده در استفاده از افسانه های کثولهو.
●اگه این ریویو رو میخونین از روی این ناول یه انیمه خیلی خوب با همین اسم داره ساخته میشه که تابستون سال دیگه فصل اولش منتشر میشه و اگه قصد خوندن ناول رو ندارین بخاطر حجم زیادش حتما دیدنش رو پیشنهاد میکنم.●

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She felt that Mr. fool had entered a deep sleep, unconcealable hesitation, confusion, and sadness arose in the Admirable of stras’heart , for some reason, she felt an inexplicable palpitation, and tow drops of tears, unknowingly slid down her face “
کلاین تنها خدایی بود که بشریت رو میتونست نجات بده چون هنوز انسانیت خودشو حفظ کرده بود . خیلی احساس دلشکستگی و ناامیدی دارم چون هیچوقت تصور نمیکردم کلاین همچین پایانی داشته باشه . قاطع ولی حسرت بار به مسیری ادامه داد که سعادت دیگران رو در پی داشت ولی راه نجاتی برای خودش نبود .
این داستان با توجه به دنیا جدید و پر از اسرارش یک پایان پر از رمز رو می طلبید . راضی هستم از خوندن داستان هیچ پشیمونی ندارم اما خوشحال نیستم و هیچوقت دوست ندارم این ناول رو ریرید کنم چون دوباره ناامید شدن بعد از سیر اون همه پیشرفت و دید مثبت به آینده از توانم خارجه .
From the beginning you’ve been a guardian. You mimicked others until you were mimicked by others
Praise the Fool

[Fer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This final volumes became too tiring to read because of the so complex powers, i think the best parts of this work is all the chapters before becoming an angel, even then it was understandable, but after sequence 1 it was too caotic, even then, the conclusion of this volume was really good, that final chapters were really nolstalgic, the last gathering... i will miss them

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few stories have swept me away like Lord of the Mysteries. Watching Klein’s long struggle come full circle into something greater than himself was nothing short of extraordinary. The conclusion is bittersweet yet inevitable, leaving behind that emptiness only the most powerful stories can create.

What makes this story truly amazing isn’t just the epic scope or intricate worldbuilding, but the profoundly human journey at its heart. Yes, there are complex power systems, gods, and cosmic secrets—but ultimately, it’s about one man’s choices, sacrifices, and the cost of becoming who he was meant to be.

“The Fool Klein closed his eyes and said, ‘Let us end today’s gathering here.’
The Tarot Club members couldn’t help but feel a baffling sense of sorrow. It was as though a grand ball was coming to an end.”

For me, it was the closing of a chapter I wasn’t ready to leave behind. I’ll miss every one of these characters. Though Klein’s journey has ended, the story of this world continues — and I’ll definitely be picking up Circle of Inevitability sometime later.

[Klaro Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

j'ai pleuré,
je suis heureux d'avoir fini, mais terriblement triste en même temps

[vin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Fool was born." Finally, Klein's caught up with his self-proclaimed identity. But man, what a journey it had been...

“In the eyes of others, this is indeed insane. But to me, it’s just a choice."

“I won’t lose too much, just myself. There are always some things that are more important than others.”

Klein, he just came so far. And not only him but the rest of the characters too. They're all very well-written and the ending is just perfect. The final Tarot Gathering, the sentimental temporary farewell, and the ending where each of the members gets out of their comfort zones while embarking on a new journey to forge their own paths ahead, in the crazy, suppressive, chaotic world, with resolve and determination sigh...it's just perfect.

“Are you scared?”
The aqueous light on the surface of the ancient silver mirror swirled and the pale word outlined itself:
“No.”
In the next second, Arrodes raised his own question according to the rules:
“Great Master, are you afraid?”
The corners of Klein’s mouth twitched.
“Yes.”
With that said, he took a step forward with the magic mirror in hand and walked towards the bluish-black fog in the middle of the strange door of light, passing through it.
His figure disappeared behind the door that had the unknown hidden behind.

[Nicolas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 8: Fool
5/5

A consistently good series throughout its 8 volumes and roughly 8,000 pages. It’s best aspects being an extremely well defined world and the interactions between characters.


My personal ranking;

Vol 6: Lightseeker
Vol 8: Fool
Vol 1: Clown (fight me)
Vol 7: The Hanged Man
Vol 5: Red Priest
Vol 3: Traveler
Vol 4: Undying
Vol 2 Faceless

[Zainab · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐
The pacing went down for me, and it felt like the author himself got tired of the characters and wanted to end it soon. So rushed, the fight I have been looking forward to fir ages ended weirdly and left me confused. But overall, I enjoyed my time with this universe.

[#1 Rin defender · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this webnovel they said. Its peak they said. well WHO IS GONNA PAY FOR MY THERAPY NOW HUH ??? NOBODY SAID I WILL NEED THERAPIST AFTER THIS ?! Where was the warning? “ TW: you will be sad for the rest of your life “ but after all this all i say say is PRAISE THE FOOL

[Drew Shores · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Are you scared?” “No.” “Great master, are you afraid?” “ Yes” PEAK

[Amine Tazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A city sleeps under ash and fog. The gaslights flicker. Somewhere, behind a locked door, a man speaks a forgotten name and the world shifts. Lord of the Mysteries is not a story in the usual sense. It’s a structure. A system. A ritual. It evokes a world where the divine is fragmented, mad, and infinitely layered. Where reality is fragile, held together by belief, bureaucracy, and blood. Every element breathes with symbolic weight: the Tarot, the paths to the divine, the rituals that bind and unmake. Knowledge here is not illumination, it’s hunger. The atmosphere draws from Lovecraft, but the horror is colder, more organized. Like a cult that became a government, a god that became a ledger. Power is not seized, it is prepared, ingested, survived. And it always changes something underneath. Characters move like echoes of archetypes, slowly becoming the myths they chase. Each step forward is a step deeper into systems that don’t care if you’re ready. This is a universe built with the patience of something eternal. Every city, every church, every secret society is a monument to a past that never fully died. Time here is layered. Myth bleeds into memory, and the present is just a shadow cast by something older. Themes spiral like clockwork: identity as mask, belief as architecture, madness as evolution. The sacred is mechanical. The personal, theological. This isn’t a world with magic. It’s a world where reality itself is an occult construct ancient, coded, and quietly hostile. In the end, the purpose is not power. It’s about remembering who you are while everything around you demands you forget. To read it is to enter something vast. Something waiting. Something that remembers your name before you speak it.

This is the journey of the Fool.

[Maddi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quel batti cinque finale ❤️😭

Sono troppo triste di aver finito questa serie. Ora la mia vita sarà vuota senza i miei capitoli quotidiani di lotm 😭
Quest'ultimo volume si è svolto tutto su un piano altissimo, dove le rivelazioni sono state meno e le battaglie per la conquista del potere molto più intense.
Ho amato l'umanità che Klein ha voluto conservare fino alla fine e non vedo l'ora di scoprire come continuerà il secondo libro, anche se al momento non riesco a immaginare di lasciare andare questi personaggi 😢

[Keevo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Praise The Fool!

It's a sad and happy ending at the same time.

The fight scenes were confusing at times but was gripping nonetheless. Amon and Klein keep on out-smarting each other but we know who to root for, our main boy Klein!

I've always imagined a different ending where everyone gets to be happy but I guess an open-ended finale is to be expected with this story where the world-building is filled with endless possibilities.

Cuttlefish has made a BRAND. He could make a lot of different stories with this material. There's no Book 3 according to him. And Book 2 reviews seem to be split. Hope he gets inspiration again and gives the fans what they want!

[Omar Haytham · Rating 5 out of 5]

the novel really takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions with each volume having its own distinct features. It was interesting seeing how the story played out and the truth behind it all with more mysteries being unveiled as you progress further. greatest light novel of all time. voila

[Cristache Anna-Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

6

[Nouha · Rating 5 out of 5]

„It’s a pity that life is always pushing us forward and making us face changes.“

Was eine Reise

[Angelika Kinga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have one question, Klein... You used to eat cucumber-flavored potato chips???????????


One of my all time favorites series.



March 4, 2023 🌫️🎩~
Torturous waiting begins.

[Fariha Feroze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I knew the ending it still made me emotional. It was written really well as the 1st book of the series. This sets up anticipation as we could guess that the story was yet not finished.

[L-Yes · Rating 5 out of 5]

PERFECTION!

[Ziggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FANTASTIC FINISH. that last fools gambit was awesome, that commision and walking off into the abyss felt gutwrenching and ending it on Klein's Niece is such a cute and beautiful touch. The ending did not feel rushed its just that everything ever happened all at once and thats just whew definetly hard to keep track of at times.

NOW onto rating the series as a whole.
starting with the downsides.
- the power system its fantastic HOWEVER at the highest levels the strongest deities that in any other series youd be waiting a whole series for to see fight Can't due to how strong their powers are and itd destroy the world and thats just so annoying. The biggest example of this was with Mr. Door's ressurection which was insanely cool however it was 1 chapter where he said alright and dipped because of the MGOD's corruption and hed go crazy and rampage but man couldnt he have rampaged for even a few chapters just to see someone like this go all out just for the spectacle but it got caught up in the extremely rigid rules of the world. idk man I just like spectacle and not letting your strongest people fight it out seems like such a blueball
- an issue i didnt expect with it was the OP protagonist trope, however this time its not through power its through knowledge, like klein would always know of anything that would rattle him even minor things and prevented them so he was never surprised or flustered by anything which felt just off. another thing Klein did in this aspect is think something incredibly funny or smart but second guess it and just reply normally (most of the time to maintain gehrman sparrow or the fools persona) and I wanted to see that more playful side of him interacting with the other characters.
- this is more of a nitpick than anything, its my first time reading a translated novel and with that the issue is the prose and poetic descriptions/storytelling do not come across, not a major issue just something I did notice throughout my read as phrases were repeated over and over again.
- Its a story not for everyone and thats fine, I found the first couple volumes to be quite slow and I was not a fan of them personally and I hate saying "dont worry it gets good around chapter 300". theres also the fact that with the level of exposition and lore that can sometimes get dumped on you I cant see everyone liking this.

Now the upsides
- Despite its faults that magic system was absolutely beautiful and I loved how losing control was a consistent risk throughout the whole thing it made every advancement feel dangerous aswell as incredibly powerful.
- The Antagonists oh my lord the antagonists, it does a fantastic job of making every antagonist feel absolutely terrifying starting all the way from volume 1 and 0-08 continuing on through Adam in all his majesty and the psychotic nature of Amon which he showed amazingly through his end.
- very gratifying moments, is it as good as a Sanderlanche? No. is it still spectacular in its own right? Absolutely the endings always felt like an extremely chaotic treat after a big volume and thats so satisfying.
- The Tarot Club: THE BEST PART OF THESE BOOKS (im so sad the donghua slaughtered it) Every single tarot meeting felt so refreshing seeing all these different sides of the world and making a space where we can hear about other adventures happening simultaneously then see the ripple effects of them through Klein's story ugh thats so FUNNNN. My favorite tarot member is by far Derrick Berg, the adventures in the forsaken land of the gods felt like such a huge tone shift on the story revealing secrets and showing this entire other continent that is the coolest part of the lotm world.


Fav Characters
Klein, Amon, Adam/Sasrir/ASG
Volume Ranking
8 6 7 3 4 1 2
Favorite Moments top 3
1. Fool's Gambit
2. Ince Zangwill Fight and Daly's Dance
3. Sasrir Fight and the New World

[Asia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

"Are you scared?"
"No."
“Great Master, are you afraid?”
“Yes.”