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Ascend Online #3
Glory to the Brave
Heroes don’t stand for themselves. They stand for others who cannot.
Betrayed by those they’d taken in and narrowly avoiding a disaster of untold proportions, Lyrian and his friends are once again thrust into a fight for their very survival, this time against Carver and his band of murderous adventurers. But as their newfound war quickly reaches a stalemate, both sides find themselves scrambling for a way to break it, while viciously battling one another for every inch of ground that they can steal in the process.
Yet just as Lyrian and the others manage to gain an advantage that could very well end the conflict, they find their world turned upside down as an even greater enemy appears on the horizon. Pushed to the brink, it will take every ounce of cunning and courage they have to find a way to survive.
Assuming they can at all.
Betrayed by those they’d taken in and narrowly avoiding a disaster of untold proportions, Lyrian and his friends are once again thrust into a fight for their very survival, this time against Carver and his band of murderous adventurers. But as their newfound war quickly reaches a stalemate, both sides find themselves scrambling for a way to break it, while viciously battling one another for every inch of ground that they can steal in the process.
Yet just as Lyrian and the others manage to gain an advantage that could very well end the conflict, they find their world turned upside down as an even greater enemy appears on the horizon. Pushed to the brink, it will take every ounce of cunning and courage they have to find a way to survive.
Assuming they can at all.
979 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2020
836 people are currently reading
518 people want to read
About the author
Luke Chmilenko
40 books1,567 followersBorn in 1987, Luke Chmilenko grew up in the city of Mississauga, Ontario spending the majority of his life within the city. Always a fan of writing and storytelling, Luke continuously wrote small short stories over the years, but never embarked on writing a full novel until much later in life, thinking it was something beyond his ability.
With his interesting in writing waxing and waning as the years passed, Luke focused on his studies, eventually finding a job in the field of IT Security and working between various jobs for several years. It wasn't until after he was married and with his wife's encouragement that he finally decided to try writing a novel, this time deciding to focus on a new genre that he had just discovered called LitRPG.
Diving into his work, Luke wrote his first book over the course of several months, releasing the book as a web serial chapter by chapter for free online, garnering valuable feedback and confidence from his readers. By the time Luke finished his first book and published it on amazon, he already had a hungry audience waiting for next installation, to which he immediately threw himself into working tirelessly at his newfound passion.
Today, Luke now writes full time with his wife and two cats in their Burlington home, working away on his next issue of his Ascend Online series and a brand new science fiction series named Starfall.
Books of Ascend Online:
Ascend Online (Book 1) (2016)
Ascend Online: Hell to Pay (Book 1.5) (2017)
Ascend Online: Legacy of the Fallen (Book 2) (2018)
Ascend Online: Glory to the Brave (Book 3) (Forthcoming 2019)
Books of Starfall:
Starfall (Book 1) (Forthcoming 2019)
With his interesting in writing waxing and waning as the years passed, Luke focused on his studies, eventually finding a job in the field of IT Security and working between various jobs for several years. It wasn't until after he was married and with his wife's encouragement that he finally decided to try writing a novel, this time deciding to focus on a new genre that he had just discovered called LitRPG.
Diving into his work, Luke wrote his first book over the course of several months, releasing the book as a web serial chapter by chapter for free online, garnering valuable feedback and confidence from his readers. By the time Luke finished his first book and published it on amazon, he already had a hungry audience waiting for next installation, to which he immediately threw himself into working tirelessly at his newfound passion.
Today, Luke now writes full time with his wife and two cats in their Burlington home, working away on his next issue of his Ascend Online series and a brand new science fiction series named Starfall.
Books of Ascend Online:
Ascend Online (Book 1) (2016)
Ascend Online: Hell to Pay (Book 1.5) (2017)
Ascend Online: Legacy of the Fallen (Book 2) (2018)
Ascend Online: Glory to the Brave (Book 3) (Forthcoming 2019)
Books of Starfall:
Starfall (Book 1) (Forthcoming 2019)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
March 7, 2022
"All of this running around is starting to get on my nerves."
Take everything you loved about Ascend Online and Legacy of the Fallen, then change the plot so that there is zero repetitiveness, and make everything much more interesting and complex by adding more base-building, political aspects on top of an epic battle, you have Glory to the Brave. I'm continuously amazed at Chmilenko's ability and creativity in intricately planning the overall direction of this storyline.
This is a long long book. Add both first two books together, and even that compilation would come up shorter than this. At the outset, it did look like we were going to have one long battle with the orc army, but that quickly took a backseat until the author was done introducing his quota of new characters, which were again both adventure types and NPC's. I particularly liked the new gang of NPC's more, and it looks like they will play some major parts in future installments as well.
The levelling and skill acquisition also proceeds at a steady pace, and we do get some new stuff with the key players reaching level 30 in certain skills. It feels like Chmilenko is extremely conservative when it comes to growth of characters as well as which areas of the world he explores, possibly in hopes that the series might continue for a long time. Honestly, as of right now, I'm quite happy about that.
"Congratulations. You've reached level 30!"
Take everything you loved about Ascend Online and Legacy of the Fallen, then change the plot so that there is zero repetitiveness, and make everything much more interesting and complex by adding more base-building, political aspects on top of an epic battle, you have Glory to the Brave. I'm continuously amazed at Chmilenko's ability and creativity in intricately planning the overall direction of this storyline.
This is a long long book. Add both first two books together, and even that compilation would come up shorter than this. At the outset, it did look like we were going to have one long battle with the orc army, but that quickly took a backseat until the author was done introducing his quota of new characters, which were again both adventure types and NPC's. I particularly liked the new gang of NPC's more, and it looks like they will play some major parts in future installments as well.
The levelling and skill acquisition also proceeds at a steady pace, and we do get some new stuff with the key players reaching level 30 in certain skills. It feels like Chmilenko is extremely conservative when it comes to growth of characters as well as which areas of the world he explores, possibly in hopes that the series might continue for a long time. Honestly, as of right now, I'm quite happy about that.
"Congratulations. You've reached level 30!"
December 9, 2020
Notes:
1st - I have a very short buy list of LitRPG authors/series. This series is one of the few that I'll buy the ebook & audiobook without checking reviews, etc. I really like the game world and characters that Chmilenko has created.
That said, the book & audiobook need to have a few more edits/proofreading because there are a lot of repeated words and stuttered dialogue that should have cleared up before release.
The overall plot arc has a lot of potential. The characters are fun. A LOT happened in this book. Most of it was good. To me, it seems like various parts of the book were written at different times and smashed together. It makes the story flow stuttered.
Hopefully, the rough edges will be cleared up in an update for ebook & audiobook.
LD's bloopers were hilarious. =P
1st - I have a very short buy list of LitRPG authors/series. This series is one of the few that I'll buy the ebook & audiobook without checking reviews, etc. I really like the game world and characters that Chmilenko has created.
That said, the book & audiobook need to have a few more edits/proofreading because there are a lot of repeated words and stuttered dialogue that should have cleared up before release.
The overall plot arc has a lot of potential. The characters are fun. A LOT happened in this book. Most of it was good. To me, it seems like various parts of the book were written at different times and smashed together. It makes the story flow stuttered.
Hopefully, the rough edges will be cleared up in an update for ebook & audiobook.
LD's bloopers were hilarious. =P
September 15, 2020
Glory to the Brave, Ascend Online book 4 by Luke Chmilenko
This review contains no spoilers for the book.
I have been eagerly awaiting the forth instalment in Ascend Online since I finished book 3. I began reading the series as I am a huge fan of ‘Ready Player One’ and after reading and rereading that book, I needed something else. Usually I use Audible to listen to books, and there are a few readers that I absolutely adore, like Luke Daniels. So when I was looking for a new book that had online, immersive gaming and was read by Luke Daniels, I found Ascend Online.
If you are unfamiliar with the story, I would encourage you to start at book one, as Luke does an amazing job of creating the online world of Eberia. Most of the story takes place within an immersive video game, called Ascend Online, where a group of friends decide to sign up and play together. Unlike Ready Player One, the players do not come and go, at least not the main protagonists. But stay in game for a week at a time. This means the “real” world is used more for character and relationship building, and the “Game” world is where all the action takes place.
The game follows a RPG style, and characters and classes are created within, much like “Dungeons and Dragons”. Personally although I am familiar with these types of games, I have never played them, so stats and classes which are used in the book, are not something I am intimately knowledgeable about. However, these devices in the narrative are not used too frequently and Luke does a great job explaining the different parts to them. Unlike some LitRPG books, I found these useful and well placed.
Glory to the Brave is without question, the best book in the series so far, which as I have thoroughly enjoyed all three previous books, is awesome. The action starts right away, and I found myself reading whenever I could grab a second to find out what happens next. The main protagonist, Lyrian Rastler, and his familiar Amaranth, continue their quest to protect their settlement of Alford, against the mighty and unstoppable forces of both Carver and the Orc hoard. Topping out at over 300k words, Luke uses every chapter to great effect slowly building towards the nail biting and suspenseful ending. Some authors rush their narrative or make the ending somewhat predictable. Luke does neither of these, taking his time to build relationships, flesh out new characters, and get into the nitty gritty of some amazing action scenes and battles. If I have any complaints, it is that the Epilogue leaves us on yet another cliff hanger and I know I will have to wait at least another year for the next instalment.
If you loved Ready Player One, Off to be the Wizard, or Sufficiently Advanced Magic, you will love Ascend Online.
This review contains no spoilers for the book.
I have been eagerly awaiting the forth instalment in Ascend Online since I finished book 3. I began reading the series as I am a huge fan of ‘Ready Player One’ and after reading and rereading that book, I needed something else. Usually I use Audible to listen to books, and there are a few readers that I absolutely adore, like Luke Daniels. So when I was looking for a new book that had online, immersive gaming and was read by Luke Daniels, I found Ascend Online.
If you are unfamiliar with the story, I would encourage you to start at book one, as Luke does an amazing job of creating the online world of Eberia. Most of the story takes place within an immersive video game, called Ascend Online, where a group of friends decide to sign up and play together. Unlike Ready Player One, the players do not come and go, at least not the main protagonists. But stay in game for a week at a time. This means the “real” world is used more for character and relationship building, and the “Game” world is where all the action takes place.
The game follows a RPG style, and characters and classes are created within, much like “Dungeons and Dragons”. Personally although I am familiar with these types of games, I have never played them, so stats and classes which are used in the book, are not something I am intimately knowledgeable about. However, these devices in the narrative are not used too frequently and Luke does a great job explaining the different parts to them. Unlike some LitRPG books, I found these useful and well placed.
Glory to the Brave is without question, the best book in the series so far, which as I have thoroughly enjoyed all three previous books, is awesome. The action starts right away, and I found myself reading whenever I could grab a second to find out what happens next. The main protagonist, Lyrian Rastler, and his familiar Amaranth, continue their quest to protect their settlement of Alford, against the mighty and unstoppable forces of both Carver and the Orc hoard. Topping out at over 300k words, Luke uses every chapter to great effect slowly building towards the nail biting and suspenseful ending. Some authors rush their narrative or make the ending somewhat predictable. Luke does neither of these, taking his time to build relationships, flesh out new characters, and get into the nitty gritty of some amazing action scenes and battles. If I have any complaints, it is that the Epilogue leaves us on yet another cliff hanger and I know I will have to wait at least another year for the next instalment.
If you loved Ready Player One, Off to be the Wizard, or Sufficiently Advanced Magic, you will love Ascend Online.
May 18, 2021
Editor Needed
This book got a generous 3 stars because I’ve enjoyed the series so far and the underlying ideas and plot direction were still strong. That said, there are so many problems with this book I don’t know where to begin.
The disjointed narrative? Sure, it’s a rambling wander through and through, with little to recommend it. High points are nonexistent and it’s mostly battle text and flat dialog. Characters are barely more than cardboard cutouts with lines. The balance between the main character and the main enemy was all kinds of inexplicable wonkiness (the protagonist has to slog through for every improvement but the villain... just powers up with no explanation). All that was ungood, but it’s not the biggest issue to me.
My problem with this book is that it needs a good editor and a brace of red pens. The sheer quantity of errors was staggering, with fouled punctuation, grammatical slip ups, and repetitive word usage. I’ve read some trash books in my time, works whose ink smeared on the rapidly-yellowing pages, and they were better edited. It got to the point where I started highlighting the errors to keep track. It got so bad that I was highlighting something every few paragraphs, sometimes multiple different errors on the same page (admittedly I might’ve been getting frustrated at that point, so).
And that’s just the bare technical stuff! Stylistically this book needed trimming on every page, to the point where I estimate between 1/4 to 1/3 of the book could’ve been cut. Repetition, rambling monologues, over-thinking and -planning for actions which end up being minor, and just endless, torpid battle scenes. The whole thing reads like it never saw an independent proof-read and definitely didn’t get sufficient rewrites or, as above, editing.
This is all really weird to me, because I feel as though I’d remember the previous books being this disjointed and unfinished. Luke Chmilenko has been pretty reliable up ‘til now and his other work elsewhere has been excellent. So what the hell happened here? At the end of the day I’m just disappointed. Maybe next round we’ll see a return to form.
Edit: So at this point I’ve read both IRON PRINCE and Luke’s newest, SAVAGE DOMINION, and both were fantastic. I dunno what the hell happened here.
(I also fixed a couple of my own typos because THAT’S WHAT YOU DARN WELL DO)
This book got a generous 3 stars because I’ve enjoyed the series so far and the underlying ideas and plot direction were still strong. That said, there are so many problems with this book I don’t know where to begin.
The disjointed narrative? Sure, it’s a rambling wander through and through, with little to recommend it. High points are nonexistent and it’s mostly battle text and flat dialog. Characters are barely more than cardboard cutouts with lines. The balance between the main character and the main enemy was all kinds of inexplicable wonkiness (the protagonist has to slog through for every improvement but the villain... just powers up with no explanation). All that was ungood, but it’s not the biggest issue to me.
My problem with this book is that it needs a good editor and a brace of red pens. The sheer quantity of errors was staggering, with fouled punctuation, grammatical slip ups, and repetitive word usage. I’ve read some trash books in my time, works whose ink smeared on the rapidly-yellowing pages, and they were better edited. It got to the point where I started highlighting the errors to keep track. It got so bad that I was highlighting something every few paragraphs, sometimes multiple different errors on the same page (admittedly I might’ve been getting frustrated at that point, so).
And that’s just the bare technical stuff! Stylistically this book needed trimming on every page, to the point where I estimate between 1/4 to 1/3 of the book could’ve been cut. Repetition, rambling monologues, over-thinking and -planning for actions which end up being minor, and just endless, torpid battle scenes. The whole thing reads like it never saw an independent proof-read and definitely didn’t get sufficient rewrites or, as above, editing.
This is all really weird to me, because I feel as though I’d remember the previous books being this disjointed and unfinished. Luke Chmilenko has been pretty reliable up ‘til now and his other work elsewhere has been excellent. So what the hell happened here? At the end of the day I’m just disappointed. Maybe next round we’ll see a return to form.
Edit: So at this point I’ve read both IRON PRINCE and Luke’s newest, SAVAGE DOMINION, and both were fantastic. I dunno what the hell happened here.
(I also fixed a couple of my own typos because THAT’S WHAT YOU DARN WELL DO)
January 1, 2023
This followup LitRPG was very satisfying. Not only did we ramp up and find other adventuring guilds and have wide-map scouting and war bands with hundreds, even thousands of players, we got a full World of Warcarft siege war.
All within a solid, middle-of-the-road, fantasy adventure.
Everything about it is familiar if you're a gamer, but that's no surprise. This whole genre is here to give us all exactly what we want. Level-ups, raid formations, loot grabs, crafting, and war, war, war.
Happiness. :)
All within a solid, middle-of-the-road, fantasy adventure.
Everything about it is familiar if you're a gamer, but that's no surprise. This whole genre is here to give us all exactly what we want. Level-ups, raid formations, loot grabs, crafting, and war, war, war.
Happiness. :)
October 20, 2020
SO MUCH COMBAT! Repetitive constant combat.
Very little plot progression
Very little plot progression
September 15, 2020
With this fourth book in the series, I think Luke Chmilenko has perfected the balancing of story types - fights, character development, outside-world, skill-progression etc. I never felt like one or the other was ever too long or too short and I constantly felt satiated by the next page... which is why I finished the last 90% of this big ol' book in one full day :)
There were moments when I just got so excited with plot points that I literally jumped up and did a stupid little jig (thankfully my roommate was not around).
Regardless, if you're reading this, GO BUY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THIS SERIES. I cannot explain how much I love these books for their ability to just feel so relatable and desirable as an RPG player. This book is just the icing on the cake so far, and I cannot wait for the next one. Worth every penny and second spent feasting your eyes
There were moments when I just got so excited with plot points that I literally jumped up and did a stupid little jig (thankfully my roommate was not around).
Regardless, if you're reading this, GO BUY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THIS SERIES. I cannot explain how much I love these books for their ability to just feel so relatable and desirable as an RPG player. This book is just the icing on the cake so far, and I cannot wait for the next one. Worth every penny and second spent feasting your eyes
September 15, 2020
Ascend Online was one of the first LITRPG series I've read.
Fearing that, after all this time, after all the hundreds of LITRPG books I've read in the interim, that my tastes had changed, become more refined, I returned to Ascend Online with more than a touch of apprehension.
After all, for me, it was the gold standard, the series upon which all the others are judged.
Before returning to this latest instalment, I re-read the previous books in the series, and even after all this time, I'm happy to say that this series is STILL my favourite. Why?
Litrpg is about progression, it's about self-development, it's about forming bonds with friends and allies, it's about game mechanics that are meaningful to the problems characters face.
But most importantly, it's about having fun.
In Ascend online, characters can craft, make meaningful choices about their gear and skill progression, develop interpersonal skills or plan the growth of a town, they can fight, they can lose, they can run away from big scary shit, and all the other goofy shit people do in games.
In this instalment, things take a more serious turn as we pick up directly from where book 3 ended. Ashfords going to war, and this book relentlessly covers Lyrian's guild as they deal with weeks worth of constant "raid mode" - the grind of pro-gamers as they attempt to deal with a seemingly insurmountable foe. And despite the book's length, there's a focus that compels you to see what happens next, especially given the unpredictability of the current antagonist and his allies, and the opportunities Lyrian decides to explore.
It's not a perfect book, as there are many times where I was like "why didn't he use that skill at this moment" and, as the nature of the current conflict demanded, there was less banter in this book than there was in the last. I also hope they get to do a bit more questing in future, while Lyrian future refines his character build.
But as they say, War is hell, and Ascend Online, Glory to the Brave, is certainly is the war edition to the series.
Fearing that, after all this time, after all the hundreds of LITRPG books I've read in the interim, that my tastes had changed, become more refined, I returned to Ascend Online with more than a touch of apprehension.
After all, for me, it was the gold standard, the series upon which all the others are judged.
Before returning to this latest instalment, I re-read the previous books in the series, and even after all this time, I'm happy to say that this series is STILL my favourite. Why?
Litrpg is about progression, it's about self-development, it's about forming bonds with friends and allies, it's about game mechanics that are meaningful to the problems characters face.
But most importantly, it's about having fun.
In Ascend online, characters can craft, make meaningful choices about their gear and skill progression, develop interpersonal skills or plan the growth of a town, they can fight, they can lose, they can run away from big scary shit, and all the other goofy shit people do in games.
In this instalment, things take a more serious turn as we pick up directly from where book 3 ended. Ashfords going to war, and this book relentlessly covers Lyrian's guild as they deal with weeks worth of constant "raid mode" - the grind of pro-gamers as they attempt to deal with a seemingly insurmountable foe. And despite the book's length, there's a focus that compels you to see what happens next, especially given the unpredictability of the current antagonist and his allies, and the opportunities Lyrian decides to explore.
It's not a perfect book, as there are many times where I was like "why didn't he use that skill at this moment" and, as the nature of the current conflict demanded, there was less banter in this book than there was in the last. I also hope they get to do a bit more questing in future, while Lyrian future refines his character build.
But as they say, War is hell, and Ascend Online, Glory to the Brave, is certainly is the war edition to the series.
November 29, 2023
This entry into the series of Ascend Online really felt like the story dynamic was starting to flow and come together after the groundwork had been laid in the previous 2 main story installments, and the prequel/spin-off devoted to some tertiary characters. The antagonists, town, battles, and world truly seem to come to life and substance in this installment. There are still a few words that are used frequently throughout, and sometimes in the same sentence as with previous entries, but this was minimal by comparison and ultimately does not deter from the progression that is experienced. There are multiple developments across the cast and we add new locations of the game world to our mental maps, but the overarching connectivity of these seemingly disconcerted events comes together in a way that I did not anticipate and enjoyed immensely during the culmination of the story. I highly recommend this read, but would guide any would-be explorers to the previous titles in the series to maximize entertainment factor because of the understanding and background that they provide.
October 31, 2020
Wow - BEYOND WOW!
I was referred to this series by a friend just recently (2 weeks ago), I don't do spoilers..... But I can tell you all that as an avid fan of 30+ years in the D&D/Fantasy genre, what Luke Chmilenko just did is AMAZING. I have to admit that when I looked at the sample I was really skeptical about the flow of the story but I am thrilled that I tried it anyway. See, I'm a GEN-X and we grew up playing D&D. - THE REAL WAY 😉 - as in the "Board, Dice and a Heap of Imagination" way. Games that the GODFATHERS/Mad Geniuses of RPG - David Arneson and Gary Gygax - created. The original games were not pre-scripted, the outcome of a campaign relied solely on the group of gamers who would get together any chance we could around the table and settle in for a weekend marathon of game play (with copious amounts of pizza and Mountain Dew/Jolt Cola). EVERYTHING was created by us - and a Dungeon Master was a coveted role. By now you are probably wondering why I'm telling you this, it's simple..... since the advent of computer gaming, no-one has to "labor" over the details because they are already programmed in. The games that are out now - you can thank every single GEN-X who played the original game. We had to create everything, Spell casters had to write their own spells out (I know because I was one) and the Dungeon Master was responsible for so many details that it took a couple of weeks for that person to detail out everything (which is why my group rotated who would be the Dungeon Master) we FILLED hundreds of notebooks full of gaming stats and to us those were more precious that gold.
BUT those stat books did not make for good reading! That's why I am glad I stuck with reading the full book - when I first saw the stat sheet on the character I thought it might end up like our notebooks - I AM GLAD THAT WAS NOT THE CASE!
But on the backend I know what Luke Chmilenko had to do, alk the data he had to create, all the rules on top of a GREAT story line - THAT IS WHY I AM BEYOND IMPRESSED 👏👏👏 He put in the work and it shows! I cannot wait to read the next book.
I was referred to this series by a friend just recently (2 weeks ago), I don't do spoilers..... But I can tell you all that as an avid fan of 30+ years in the D&D/Fantasy genre, what Luke Chmilenko just did is AMAZING. I have to admit that when I looked at the sample I was really skeptical about the flow of the story but I am thrilled that I tried it anyway. See, I'm a GEN-X and we grew up playing D&D. - THE REAL WAY 😉 - as in the "Board, Dice and a Heap of Imagination" way. Games that the GODFATHERS/Mad Geniuses of RPG - David Arneson and Gary Gygax - created. The original games were not pre-scripted, the outcome of a campaign relied solely on the group of gamers who would get together any chance we could around the table and settle in for a weekend marathon of game play (with copious amounts of pizza and Mountain Dew/Jolt Cola). EVERYTHING was created by us - and a Dungeon Master was a coveted role. By now you are probably wondering why I'm telling you this, it's simple..... since the advent of computer gaming, no-one has to "labor" over the details because they are already programmed in. The games that are out now - you can thank every single GEN-X who played the original game. We had to create everything, Spell casters had to write their own spells out (I know because I was one) and the Dungeon Master was responsible for so many details that it took a couple of weeks for that person to detail out everything (which is why my group rotated who would be the Dungeon Master) we FILLED hundreds of notebooks full of gaming stats and to us those were more precious that gold.
BUT those stat books did not make for good reading! That's why I am glad I stuck with reading the full book - when I first saw the stat sheet on the character I thought it might end up like our notebooks - I AM GLAD THAT WAS NOT THE CASE!
But on the backend I know what Luke Chmilenko had to do, alk the data he had to create, all the rules on top of a GREAT story line - THAT IS WHY I AM BEYOND IMPRESSED 👏👏👏 He put in the work and it shows! I cannot wait to read the next book.
July 21, 2025
Glory to the Brave (Ascend Online #3) – Review by Kiba Snowpaw
Introduction:
Welcome to the frostbitten den, LitRPG hounds! I’m Kiba, your 38-year-old ice alpha wolf, dropping paws-first into Luke Chmilenko’s latest monster, Glory to the Brave—book three in the Ascend Online saga, published September 2020 by Aetherworld Productions. Strap in, ‘cause this beast is a blizzard: 900+ pages, more action than a wolf pack at full moon, and enough plot twists to give a yeti vertigo. Does it live up to the hype? Let’s rip it open, fang-by-fang.
Plot Summary:
The claws come out from page one. Marcus/Lyrian and his Virtus guild barely catch their breath after last book’s chaos before the next avalanche drops: a brutal war with Carver’s crew, orc armies, shifting alliances, and all of Aldford hanging by a whisker. The scope is wild—MMO base-building, siege warfare, player drama, ancient lore, and a cast big enough to fill a tundra. The war’s relentless, the crafting is deep, and the world’s evolving faster than a snowstorm. Think World of Warcraft meets Game of Thrones, but you’re stuck on hardcore mode.
The Author:
Luke Chmilenko, the Canadian snowcat himself, is deep into his LitRPG empire at this point. He’s built Ascend Online into one of the genre’s most recognizable worlds, plus the Starfall sci-fi project. His writing is a blizzard of ambition: energetic, game-savvy, and obsessed with progression. But, like any wolf with too many pups, sometimes it’s a mess—editing issues, bloat, and scattergun focus. Still, if you want MMO fantasy with bite, he delivers.
Characters:
Lyrian remains a classic exhausted alpha: good heart, heavy pack, smart and battered by fate. His crew’s a mix of old dogs and fresh pups, all grinding for that next power-up. New NPCs bring some needed fresh blood—finally some side characters with teeth, not just cardboard cutouts. But let’s be honest, everyone’s voice blends together in the chaos, and if you lose track of who’s barking, you’re not alone.
Structure:
Let’s howl about structure: This thing is LONG—like, drag-your-tail-across-the-ice long. Chapters come at you like snowdrifts, sometimes flowing, sometimes piling up with repetitive battle chatter or characters whining about exhaustion. The book opens with a “Previously on…” recap (love it), then charges into a war that never seems to sleep. Action is relentless, but pacing? Spotty. You’ll find yourself skimming some blizzards of text just to get to the next juicy bit of meat.
Themes & Analysis:
Loyalty, survival, and how power warps a pack—those are the meat here. There’s commentary on community, leadership, and what it means to protect your own. The “level up” motif is hammered in: always growing, always fighting. Sometimes it hits like a well-aimed snowball; sometimes it’s as subtle as a wolf in heat. And don’t ignore the meta-gaming—Chmilenko knows his audience, playing with MMO tropes and streaming culture in a way that feels more current than most.
Scenes (Sex, Romance, Harem):
No full-blown harem antics or graphic scenes here—this isn’t that kind of den. There’s a slow-burn romance, some cute flirting, and the odd real-life crossover, but the focus is always on the pack and the next battle, not rolling in the snow. If you’re looking for smut, you’re sniffing up the wrong tree.
World-Building:
Here’s where the ice really sparkles. Aldford, orc fortresses, MMO cities—the detail is off the chain. Crafting, politics, sieges, lore, skill trees… If you want to get lost in a digital world, you’ll find yourself knee-deep in snow. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, sometimes you want to bite through the info-dumps, but damn if it isn’t immersive. Compared to other LitRPGs? This is top-shelf world-building, hands down.
Praise & Critique:
Praise:
- World feels alive and brutal, with real consequences
- Action sequences are vivid and cinematic
- Character and class progression scratches that RPG itch
- Luke Daniels’s audiobook narration is a perfect fit—voice acting on point
- The MMO politics and base-building feel legit, not tacked on
Critique:
-Way too long—needed an alpha editor to trim the fat
- Characters start to blend together, especially in dialogue
- Repetitive language (“azure,” “so it is,” etc.) grates after a while
- Some plotlines and side quests feel like filler, not steak
- Pacing drops out mid-book; the war fatigue gets old (for both wolves and readers)
- Editing issues—typos and repeated lines, c’mon bro
Comparison:
Compared to Legacy of the Fallen, this entry turns everything up—bigger wars, bigger risks, but also bigger headaches. If you loved the earlier books’ mix of action and downtime, you might feel snowed under by the endless siege. Against the wider LitRPG tundra? Chmilenko still runs with the alpha pack—world-building is top, but some competitors manage tighter, more character-focused stories.
Personal Evaluation:
Reading this as an alpha, I respect the ambition. The world is fleshed out, the scale is wild, and the battles are epic. But even I got exhausted—too many wolves in the hunt, too many blizzards at once. I want tighter focus, a little more heart, and fewer endless war councils. The spirit of the genre is strong here, but the pack could use some discipline.
Conclusion:
Glory to the Brave is a frostbitten beast—bloated, messy, but still full of raw energy and icy bite. If you’re hungry for deep MMO lore, relentless action, and you love sinking your fangs into 900+ pages, this is your jam. If you need laser-tight pacing or a small, intimate cast, you might get lost in the snowstorm. Still, Chmilenko remains an apex predator in LitRPG, and I’ll be prowling for the next book. Rating: 7.5/10 frosty fangs—worth the hunt, but hope for a leaner meal next time.
Keep your fur dry and your paws sharp, friends. Until the next howl—Kiba out.
Introduction:
Welcome to the frostbitten den, LitRPG hounds! I’m Kiba, your 38-year-old ice alpha wolf, dropping paws-first into Luke Chmilenko’s latest monster, Glory to the Brave—book three in the Ascend Online saga, published September 2020 by Aetherworld Productions. Strap in, ‘cause this beast is a blizzard: 900+ pages, more action than a wolf pack at full moon, and enough plot twists to give a yeti vertigo. Does it live up to the hype? Let’s rip it open, fang-by-fang.
Plot Summary:
The claws come out from page one. Marcus/Lyrian and his Virtus guild barely catch their breath after last book’s chaos before the next avalanche drops: a brutal war with Carver’s crew, orc armies, shifting alliances, and all of Aldford hanging by a whisker. The scope is wild—MMO base-building, siege warfare, player drama, ancient lore, and a cast big enough to fill a tundra. The war’s relentless, the crafting is deep, and the world’s evolving faster than a snowstorm. Think World of Warcraft meets Game of Thrones, but you’re stuck on hardcore mode.
The Author:
Luke Chmilenko, the Canadian snowcat himself, is deep into his LitRPG empire at this point. He’s built Ascend Online into one of the genre’s most recognizable worlds, plus the Starfall sci-fi project. His writing is a blizzard of ambition: energetic, game-savvy, and obsessed with progression. But, like any wolf with too many pups, sometimes it’s a mess—editing issues, bloat, and scattergun focus. Still, if you want MMO fantasy with bite, he delivers.
Characters:
Lyrian remains a classic exhausted alpha: good heart, heavy pack, smart and battered by fate. His crew’s a mix of old dogs and fresh pups, all grinding for that next power-up. New NPCs bring some needed fresh blood—finally some side characters with teeth, not just cardboard cutouts. But let’s be honest, everyone’s voice blends together in the chaos, and if you lose track of who’s barking, you’re not alone.
Structure:
Let’s howl about structure: This thing is LONG—like, drag-your-tail-across-the-ice long. Chapters come at you like snowdrifts, sometimes flowing, sometimes piling up with repetitive battle chatter or characters whining about exhaustion. The book opens with a “Previously on…” recap (love it), then charges into a war that never seems to sleep. Action is relentless, but pacing? Spotty. You’ll find yourself skimming some blizzards of text just to get to the next juicy bit of meat.
Themes & Analysis:
Loyalty, survival, and how power warps a pack—those are the meat here. There’s commentary on community, leadership, and what it means to protect your own. The “level up” motif is hammered in: always growing, always fighting. Sometimes it hits like a well-aimed snowball; sometimes it’s as subtle as a wolf in heat. And don’t ignore the meta-gaming—Chmilenko knows his audience, playing with MMO tropes and streaming culture in a way that feels more current than most.
Scenes (Sex, Romance, Harem):
No full-blown harem antics or graphic scenes here—this isn’t that kind of den. There’s a slow-burn romance, some cute flirting, and the odd real-life crossover, but the focus is always on the pack and the next battle, not rolling in the snow. If you’re looking for smut, you’re sniffing up the wrong tree.
World-Building:
Here’s where the ice really sparkles. Aldford, orc fortresses, MMO cities—the detail is off the chain. Crafting, politics, sieges, lore, skill trees… If you want to get lost in a digital world, you’ll find yourself knee-deep in snow. Sometimes it’s overwhelming, sometimes you want to bite through the info-dumps, but damn if it isn’t immersive. Compared to other LitRPGs? This is top-shelf world-building, hands down.
Praise & Critique:
Praise:
- World feels alive and brutal, with real consequences
- Action sequences are vivid and cinematic
- Character and class progression scratches that RPG itch
- Luke Daniels’s audiobook narration is a perfect fit—voice acting on point
- The MMO politics and base-building feel legit, not tacked on
Critique:
-
- Characters start to blend together, especially in dialogue
- Repetitive language (“azure,” “so it is,” etc.) grates after a while
- Some plotlines and side quests feel like filler, not steak
- Pacing drops out mid-book; the war fatigue gets old (for both wolves and readers)
- Editing issues—typos and repeated lines, c’mon bro
Comparison:
Compared to Legacy of the Fallen, this entry turns everything up—bigger wars, bigger risks, but also bigger headaches. If you loved the earlier books’ mix of action and downtime, you might feel snowed under by the endless siege. Against the wider LitRPG tundra? Chmilenko still runs with the alpha pack—world-building is top, but some competitors manage tighter, more character-focused stories.
Personal Evaluation:
Reading this as an alpha, I respect the ambition. The world is fleshed out, the scale is wild, and the battles are epic. But even I got exhausted—too many wolves in the hunt, too many blizzards at once. I want tighter focus, a little more heart, and fewer endless war councils. The spirit of the genre is strong here, but the pack could use some discipline.
Conclusion:
Glory to the Brave is a frostbitten beast—bloated, messy, but still full of raw energy and icy bite. If you’re hungry for deep MMO lore, relentless action, and you love sinking your fangs into 900+ pages, this is your jam. If you need laser-tight pacing or a small, intimate cast, you might get lost in the snowstorm. Still, Chmilenko remains an apex predator in LitRPG, and I’ll be prowling for the next book. Rating: 7.5/10 frosty fangs—worth the hunt, but hope for a leaner meal next time.
Keep your fur dry and your paws sharp, friends. Until the next howl—Kiba out.
November 14, 2021
Well, a 5-star read for certain! Not saying it was perfect. But I never felt like I was reading a 31+ hour book and wondering when it would eventually end. In fact, I suspect this would have been even better if more like 40 hours (Audible). It could even have been made into an epic-length novel of say 50 hours and not have been stretched too thin. I am hoping now, however, that the next book WILL BE that epic masterpiece. Even topping 50 (or 60?) hours. Sort of like what Aleron Kong did with book 07 of the Chaos Seeds (The Land) series. That one checked in at 47 to 48 hours. (Of course book 08 was lackluster at best and unsure if series will now continue). A battle with the Ascendancy across a greater scope of land. A continental war of sorts. Oh, even though I reread the previous books prior to continuing with this one, I was pleased to see (hear) this book open with "The Story So Far" synopsis. Quite encompassing as well with its length. Many other book series could use something like this so I don't need read at least the previous book(s) to catch up. Notably when there has been a significant time span between the current and the previous books. Oh, must say that having that synopsis be presented by the Virtus feed producers was a fantastic approach. Refreshing us on the feeds for Seasons 1 and 2 before diving into Season 3.... the seasons equating with the primary novels in the series. I hope to see the same (or better??) In the next primary novel which I would consider book 04. "Hell To Pay", despite its 11+ hour length, still is ""just"" an intermediary book. Though certainly not a novella like other authors are prone to. Even mini-novellas. Travis Bagwell has done much the same with his Awaken Online series, though a few times now "inserting" full-length novels between the primary story books. Even going so far as to write a side trilogy which amounts to the same reasoning so often for intermediary novels. Anyway, I am trying to avoid any spoilers. At all. I eagerly await Luke's next installment in the Ascend Online series. I am sure it will be epic. Even moreso than "Glory To The Brave" was nearly epic. Wonder if his producers are dictating such progression. I believe I had thought this book was to be 36+ hours originally. Perhaps they want room to fully ramp up to insanely epic at some point. We can only hope!
September 17, 2020
Amazing
I have to say luke really outdid himself. I think it was cool how the book started with the gaming network giving a brief commentary on Lyrian and Virtus how they came to be in ascend online and their story so far. It really helps show how the real world and the virtual world are still connected and how one can affect the other. I also love how they get more into the crafting in this world that it doesn't just stagnant and is glossed over and forgotten but also evolves with the story. The people in the world are advancing as they learn new things and improve or discover their own craft. I also love how the class system is set up that players are given some suggestions over which direction their respective classes advance based off of their style and then having reach certain requirements with martial, magical, or traits they have picked up. It really adds some diversity with the characters. Like for example two players start off as warriors in the game but depending on how they approach combat they will have different styles and skills they utilize and that can lead to different ways they fight or different classes they may choose to pursue. Which can give a possible unless amount of classes that can show up in the world from classic mages to hybrid warrior/mage to something unique depending on the players play style and the choices they made so far. The possibilities are endless I can't wait to see these different classes go head to head PvP or PvE which will lead to some awesome fights. I can’t wait to see the classes that show up. Another thing that was cool was the lore of the world and how it affects the current story and how people can use that to shape the world. The thing that really sells this book is how it connects with the previous books and how we see how the actions people took reflect on how they stand now. On that note I hope I didn't drive you guys crazy on this review meant for it to be brief but this book has a lot going for the series and really nailed down on the development of the characters and the world around them. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.
I have to say luke really outdid himself. I think it was cool how the book started with the gaming network giving a brief commentary on Lyrian and Virtus how they came to be in ascend online and their story so far. It really helps show how the real world and the virtual world are still connected and how one can affect the other. I also love how they get more into the crafting in this world that it doesn't just stagnant and is glossed over and forgotten but also evolves with the story. The people in the world are advancing as they learn new things and improve or discover their own craft. I also love how the class system is set up that players are given some suggestions over which direction their respective classes advance based off of their style and then having reach certain requirements with martial, magical, or traits they have picked up. It really adds some diversity with the characters. Like for example two players start off as warriors in the game but depending on how they approach combat they will have different styles and skills they utilize and that can lead to different ways they fight or different classes they may choose to pursue. Which can give a possible unless amount of classes that can show up in the world from classic mages to hybrid warrior/mage to something unique depending on the players play style and the choices they made so far. The possibilities are endless I can't wait to see these different classes go head to head PvP or PvE which will lead to some awesome fights. I can’t wait to see the classes that show up. Another thing that was cool was the lore of the world and how it affects the current story and how people can use that to shape the world. The thing that really sells this book is how it connects with the previous books and how we see how the actions people took reflect on how they stand now. On that note I hope I didn't drive you guys crazy on this review meant for it to be brief but this book has a lot going for the series and really nailed down on the development of the characters and the world around them. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.
June 13, 2022
Orcs, orcs, orcs
I read this immediately after the first 3 books. It dragged a bit in the middle, seeming to just get bogged down in... I'm not even sure what. By the end of the book I was more than happy to put it down.
That being said, it still was an enjoyable read, it just wasn't as enjoyable as the previous volumes.
Oh and I really appreciated the "The Story So Far" at the beginning of the book. I really like it when a series has that for when it has been a bit since you read the previous volume.
SPOILERS BELOW
****************************
Our book starts on April 7, 2047, 6 days after the Epilogue of the previous book, and ends on May 2.
Lyrian goes from level 23 to 31, gaining his advanced class Spellstriker as well as advancing to Level 30 in Blacksmithing and unlocking the Artificing advanced tradeskill.
The bulk of this book is dealing with Carver and the Orc horde. By the end of the volume Carver is imprisoned, the Orcs are scattered (something mysterious razed their home base), and the Dread Crew has surrendered and is helping rebuild Aldford.
Lyrian'd mom and dad are playing the game now, presumably far from Lyrian. Sonia/Freya has moved to Marcus/Lyrian's town and they are now a real life couple.
Creativity is excited about some new changes coming.
Graves is working with Delilah and the Ascendancy on something... All we see is a small box that when opened spews thick smoke.
Aldford is a little worse for wear, but is quickly rebuilding.
No updates on Lazarus or his folks.
I read this immediately after the first 3 books. It dragged a bit in the middle, seeming to just get bogged down in... I'm not even sure what. By the end of the book I was more than happy to put it down.
That being said, it still was an enjoyable read, it just wasn't as enjoyable as the previous volumes.
Oh and I really appreciated the "The Story So Far" at the beginning of the book. I really like it when a series has that for when it has been a bit since you read the previous volume.
SPOILERS BELOW
****************************
Our book starts on April 7, 2047, 6 days after the Epilogue of the previous book, and ends on May 2.
Lyrian goes from level 23 to 31, gaining his advanced class Spellstriker as well as advancing to Level 30 in Blacksmithing and unlocking the Artificing advanced tradeskill.
The bulk of this book is dealing with Carver and the Orc horde. By the end of the volume Carver is imprisoned, the Orcs are scattered (something mysterious razed their home base), and the Dread Crew has surrendered and is helping rebuild Aldford.
Lyrian'd mom and dad are playing the game now, presumably far from Lyrian. Sonia/Freya has moved to Marcus/Lyrian's town and they are now a real life couple.
Creativity is excited about some new changes coming.
Graves is working with Delilah and the Ascendancy on something... All we see is a small box that when opened spews thick smoke.
Aldford is a little worse for wear, but is quickly rebuilding.
No updates on Lazarus or his folks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2020
This 3rd book in the series Ascend Online is one big hell of an adventure, full of daring exploits as Lyrian's group of heroes fight to save Aldford, the city which had become their home ingame. This time around they face of with the Dread Crew led by Carver who was the main enemy of Lyr and who brought the orcs to the war being waged, including the Orc master Zhul. Both sides used politics to win others to their side, and Lyr invited other adventurers to join his group in Aldford thus strengthening their numbers since the orcs seemed to have a never ending force. They also crafted massive siege engines to be better able to fight, and even came up with the Beast. I loved the visit to the city of Khudazal, the orc city, and teaming up with the Gronn, and I also really love Amaranth, Lyr's partner however I did think that the book was too long winded and had many unnecessary lengthy paragraphs which could have been cut short without detracting from any of the tension building. The massive battle fought at the end to save Aldford is awesome as Lyr and Carver face off but I felt that the long book was in fact too long to be thoroughly enjoyed and became a bit dragging in its details. However, saying that I still look forward to reading further into the adventure of Lyr and his group of heroes in Ascend Online as well as following Markus's and Sonia's own romantic adventure in real life.
November 7, 2020
Good story, but long in a bad way.
Over a i enjoy the story. Although like all reviews, some criticism.
Good, enjoyed the review at the start, it was a fresh take and a good way for the author to speak to the reader through the character. Well though out.
Bad, i grow tired of long drawn out wars and hearing about them being tired all the time. It is boring and does not add depth. Also, a lot of wasted dialogue and talking around the point. I understand more pages mean more payout, but don't sell out your readers. Almost put this down a few times, but instead just skimmed pages until things finally advanced. If you want to add pages, skip to other characters in other regions, me reading about a group talking about nonsense or the MC having another internal monologue during a raging war just frustrates me as the reader.
Chapter breaks, work on those, they felt a bit arbitrary at times. The story did not break or change it just continued to progress from where the previous chapter ended. If this happens, its a clue that you are running the reader around.
Would love to see more crafting and town development. More small scale stuff like ruins and dungeons. Kinda burned out on the large scale stuff, both following the engagements and finding it believable towards the end was a bit hard to imagine.
Looking forward to the next, but not to soon i hope!
Whatever happened to Goblin Ingenuity?
Over a i enjoy the story. Although like all reviews, some criticism.
Good, enjoyed the review at the start, it was a fresh take and a good way for the author to speak to the reader through the character. Well though out.
Bad, i grow tired of long drawn out wars and hearing about them being tired all the time. It is boring and does not add depth. Also, a lot of wasted dialogue and talking around the point. I understand more pages mean more payout, but don't sell out your readers. Almost put this down a few times, but instead just skimmed pages until things finally advanced. If you want to add pages, skip to other characters in other regions, me reading about a group talking about nonsense or the MC having another internal monologue during a raging war just frustrates me as the reader.
Chapter breaks, work on those, they felt a bit arbitrary at times. The story did not break or change it just continued to progress from where the previous chapter ended. If this happens, its a clue that you are running the reader around.
Would love to see more crafting and town development. More small scale stuff like ruins and dungeons. Kinda burned out on the large scale stuff, both following the engagements and finding it believable towards the end was a bit hard to imagine.
Looking forward to the next, but not to soon i hope!
Whatever happened to Goblin Ingenuity?
January 3, 2021
Another great story by Chmilenko that had me excited for more: more action, more uncovering of the games ancient history, and more world building. I feel that Chmilenko is expanding the world of Ascend Online in order to tell more stories set in his world. If not then there are many characters with such interesting backstory that I found myself hoping for them either to have a summery chapter dedicated to them getting to the point we meet them, or maybe a book of a group of them. Some of my favorite moments were (without mentioning too many spoilers) the infiltration of an orc city, Amaranth discovering he has magic, and interactions with Freya (in or out of game).
I know you're reading this, Luke Chmilenko, so please give us more of your excellent stories.
Luke Daniels does a great job with his way of giving a voice to all these great characters. I've never heard Daniels do any character in any book poorly. I can tell you with confidence that he is on my top 5 favorite narrators list. That being said, in this book there are a couple editing issues where he lakes a minor mistake and then immediately repeats the same line in a better time. I'm sure these were meant to be edited out but I feel it should be pointed out.
I know you're reading this, Luke Chmilenko, so please give us more of your excellent stories.
Luke Daniels does a great job with his way of giving a voice to all these great characters. I've never heard Daniels do any character in any book poorly. I can tell you with confidence that he is on my top 5 favorite narrators list. That being said, in this book there are a couple editing issues where he lakes a minor mistake and then immediately repeats the same line in a better time. I'm sure these were meant to be edited out but I feel it should be pointed out.
February 19, 2021
Audiobook: Chmilenko did an excellent job with this 3rd (4th) book. There is always a concern that books start to get repetitive in re-hashing "another bad guy" storylines. This book didn't do that. Yes there as another bad guy, but the approach was not a re-hash. I'm particularly excited about how big Aldford is getting with this huge influx of new settlers and the massive new frontier that seems to have opened up. I hope this really was the end of Carver. If he comes back I feel like that will be revisiting and old story arc too many times. There seems to be bigger fish to fry on the horizon and I look forward to the next book in this series. With so many new guilds arriving it will be interesting to see of more settlements and strong relationships like Shadows Falls develop, or rival factions develop.
I have book series where I will probably read/listen to the book if I can get it at the library, books where I'll put it in my Audible wish list and might get is some day when I have extra credits I need to spend, and series where I will pre-order the next book and get it on day one. This series falls in this last category. I waited anxiously for a long time, hoping Chmilenko would release another book in this series. I'll be anxiously waiting for the next.
I have book series where I will probably read/listen to the book if I can get it at the library, books where I'll put it in my Audible wish list and might get is some day when I have extra credits I need to spend, and series where I will pre-order the next book and get it on day one. This series falls in this last category. I waited anxiously for a long time, hoping Chmilenko would release another book in this series. I'll be anxiously waiting for the next.
January 15, 2025
Another solid entry in this series. This one focused primarily on a war with the orcs. I do think I enjoyed the exploration aspects of the previous book a little bit more, but I also appreciated that this wasn't just non-stop fighting as it easily could have been. And there was a section as they made their way to the orc city that featured some exploration of the forest and some ruins they discovered within that scratched that exploration itch that I enjoy. I think mixing things up is ultimately a good thing, because if it was nothing but exploring ruins and dungeons, that would probably get a bit boring as well. I'm not a huge gamer, but I've played just enough that I can get some enjoyment out of the stats and seeing the leveling up that happens. The fight scenes are pretty well written. One nitpick I'd have is this could have used a little better editing as I found a lot of instances of missing words or repeated words that made a sentence not make sense. In a book of this length it's not totally surprising that one or two might have slipped through the cracks, but there was a decent amount of it. Still a fun read at the end of the day, and I look forward to seeing where the series goes next.
September 17, 2020
The writing is perfect, the characters felt more real than I do, and the world was as solid as my belief in this author (Hint: It's very, *very* solid). The Ascend online series was what brought me into the world of litrpg and has helped me find a whole new world. Il grant that the author is not dishing out books by the dozen (yet) but at least what he does write is so good that you are willing to wait the year and half for the next book in the series to come to yer hands. I may or may not have completely forgotten about the rest of the world while I was binge reading. Just maybe. Suffice to say that I will be following him closely and will grab his next book as soon as it's on the virtual shelf. Yes, I'm a Kindle guy. Shush. Paper is nice too though. But the Kindle is better. And more ecological. Anyways, before I go off on a tangent, my rating for this book is as follows:
Writing: (Can't be put into a number, but since I have to,) ∞/10
Characters: More real than me, 10/10
Magical System: Very well thought out and quite elaborate 10/10
Main Character: Love him. Once actually dreamed I *was* him. Fun times. 1000/10
Da World: More solid than rock (music, ha, made a joke, pls laugh), 10/10
Would I read it again? Yup.
Would I buy it for a friend? Double Yup.
Would I leave a 10/5 star review on Goodreads for this guy? You guessed it. Triple Yup.
Writing: (Can't be put into a number, but since I have to,) ∞/10
Characters: More real than me, 10/10
Magical System: Very well thought out and quite elaborate 10/10
Main Character: Love him. Once actually dreamed I *was* him. Fun times. 1000/10
Da World: More solid than rock (music, ha, made a joke, pls laugh), 10/10
Would I read it again? Yup.
Would I buy it for a friend? Double Yup.
Would I leave a 10/5 star review on Goodreads for this guy? You guessed it. Triple Yup.
April 22, 2022
Still interested, but everyone has melded.
I enjoy this series and they system in it a great deal. My major complaint for this book is that everyone became one person, at least on the protagonists side. By that I mean that everyone has the same exact mannerisms and speaking patterns. One or two people saying “and how!” And “so it is” or “that it were” is an affectation. Every single allied character speaking like that becomes painful to the point that I almost couldn’t distinguish them. If they didn’t say who they were talking to at the end of almost every sentence I wouldn’t have been able to keep track. Not that I think they should, finishing every sentence with lye,Hal, or Cas was painful at times.
Maybe it has been there the whole time and I don’t remember but with the sheer quantity of dialogue in this it was painfully obvious. I’ve been enjoying the series since book one so hopefully this course corrects in the next installment.
Also the author should probably fire his editor.
I enjoy this series and they system in it a great deal. My major complaint for this book is that everyone became one person, at least on the protagonists side. By that I mean that everyone has the same exact mannerisms and speaking patterns. One or two people saying “and how!” And “so it is” or “that it were” is an affectation. Every single allied character speaking like that becomes painful to the point that I almost couldn’t distinguish them. If they didn’t say who they were talking to at the end of almost every sentence I wouldn’t have been able to keep track. Not that I think they should, finishing every sentence with lye,Hal, or Cas was painful at times.
Maybe it has been there the whole time and I don’t remember but with the sheer quantity of dialogue in this it was painfully obvious. I’ve been enjoying the series since book one so hopefully this course corrects in the next installment.
Also the author should probably fire his editor.
September 13, 2020
First and foremost: this book continues to deliver exactly as well as the first two books (and Hell to Pay, for that matter). If you're just looking to know if this book "jumps the shark": it doesn't.
Lyrian and crew are faced with ever increasing challenges as their small town faces yet another existential threat. Chmilenko does a great job of ratcheting up the challenges commensurate to the protagonists abilities.
Pacing is fantastic, with the usual blend of combat, world building, crafting, town building, and (of course) character development.
As Lyrian and crew creep toward advanced classes and journeymen levels in crafting, character build decisions continue to be meaningful and impactful... And the antagonists have really impactful abilities, too!
Glory to the Brave was a pleasure to read. My only disappointment is that I am left wanting more!
(Early review date due to reading an ARC copy of the book, but I will definitely be rereading the whole series again!)
Lyrian and crew are faced with ever increasing challenges as their small town faces yet another existential threat. Chmilenko does a great job of ratcheting up the challenges commensurate to the protagonists abilities.
Pacing is fantastic, with the usual blend of combat, world building, crafting, town building, and (of course) character development.
As Lyrian and crew creep toward advanced classes and journeymen levels in crafting, character build decisions continue to be meaningful and impactful... And the antagonists have really impactful abilities, too!
Glory to the Brave was a pleasure to read. My only disappointment is that I am left wanting more!
(Early review date due to reading an ARC copy of the book, but I will definitely be rereading the whole series again!)
September 15, 2020
I have absolutely enjoyed the Ascend Online Series by Luke Chmilenko. I was presented with an awesome opportunity to leave an honest review for an ARC copy of the newest (fourth) in the series, Glory to the Brave. You can't imagine my excitement as I download the ebook and tore into it. Personally I recommend reading the series in order. For current fans, warning, this book is not the same action, cover to cover, as previous books in the series were. You are going to have to do a little deep dive into what's going on in and out of the Ascend Online World until around the 50% mark. I was missing the expected sword-wielding action until it finally started and was not disappointed. This book greatly expands the game world with World events and new characters in the making. With great game mechanics and storyline, I promise you a continuing story that you will enjoy. Book 4, and the entire series, should not just be on your TBR list, it should be the NEXT book you pick up.
September 15, 2020
This series just gets better and better. Mr. Chmilenko (Luke Chmilenko) is a master world builder and it shows in Glory to the Brave. The scope has grown and the development of the in-game world and out-of-game world is truly stellar. The pacing keeps you turning that page, unable to put the book down. I do not want to spoil anything about the book, which makes this review hard! There are so many bits of information and a "twist" that I'd love to discuss, but will refrain from at this point. Mr. Chmilenko has earned a well deserved place amongst the fantasy-fiction greats. I was lucky to be a part of the ARC team for this book.
September 16, 2020
When I first read Ascend Online, I was intrigued by the premise, the writing style, and the story itself. To be honest, I wasn't as happy with the second book, seeing as those characters I got to know weren't involved in the second book. Then the third book struck and yes the math adds up 1 + 2 = 3, we had all the characters congregate in the same area and interact with each other. The OG crew eventually opened up to the others and book 3 was amazing.
I wished for book 4 to be as good as the third book, and boy was I happily disappointed. Book 4 is better, bigger, and more interesting as the characters develop forward both in-game and in their outside world. Not only that, just reading a few pages about the summarized adventure of Marcus' parents. I can't wait for a book about their exploits as well.
I expect great things coming from Luke's mind and heart as he expands on this incredible series.
I wished for book 4 to be as good as the third book, and boy was I happily disappointed. Book 4 is better, bigger, and more interesting as the characters develop forward both in-game and in their outside world. Not only that, just reading a few pages about the summarized adventure of Marcus' parents. I can't wait for a book about their exploits as well.
I expect great things coming from Luke's mind and heart as he expands on this incredible series.
January 14, 2021
Started this one excited to get into another Ascend online book, and dove in the first week. Gotta warn you, the first couple chapters were exciting, but then there was a short section in there where everyone was tired and bogged down in the war and I just didn’t really wanna pick up the book for a while. But then the action picked up again and it sucked me back in! I definitely appreciate the new skills and spells that our MC gets in this book, and some of the overall series plot choices that were made in the last third of the book (no spoilers here!).
The only thing that I would say is that I hope in the next book we can get some good mini-adventures with a smaller party into the heartwyld or some ruins or something. I feel like the slog of war and coordinating huge guild groups doesn’t draw me in as much as the adventures with 1-2 parties, like when they were fighting down to the lay line in the second book.
The only thing that I would say is that I hope in the next book we can get some good mini-adventures with a smaller party into the heartwyld or some ruins or something. I feel like the slog of war and coordinating huge guild groups doesn’t draw me in as much as the adventures with 1-2 parties, like when they were fighting down to the lay line in the second book.
September 15, 2020
The 4th Book continues the excellence ive come to expect from the series.
Of all of the LITrpg styles out there, This stands at the top of my favorite list with a solid gap before you get to #2. The store in book four follows the pattern of the previous three in that it both that it is a huge book, and that it is gripping enough to hold you reading for hours. Hard to put down is an understatement. Thankfully it is huge!
The flow of action/adventure, character development, plot development is superb.
There are in game and out of game interactions that make this series seem more relatable with the character's in game challenges, while remaining only a small portion if the overall story.
The only thing I have to say even remotely negative, and partly in jest, is that book four, was not long enough... Eagerly awaiting book five!
Of all of the LITrpg styles out there, This stands at the top of my favorite list with a solid gap before you get to #2. The store in book four follows the pattern of the previous three in that it both that it is a huge book, and that it is gripping enough to hold you reading for hours. Hard to put down is an understatement. Thankfully it is huge!
The flow of action/adventure, character development, plot development is superb.
There are in game and out of game interactions that make this series seem more relatable with the character's in game challenges, while remaining only a small portion if the overall story.
The only thing I have to say even remotely negative, and partly in jest, is that book four, was not long enough... Eagerly awaiting book five!
September 15, 2020
Great addition to the series!
Simply put, if you are a fan of the first two books this is a must buy. It has all of the same elements that I loved in the first book with the in-depth crafting and almost non-stop action.
The very few grips I had with this book is that he does an excellent job in the first chapter of getting you reacquainted with the story but I still felt I needed to go back and read the first two books to properly jump back into the story. The cast of characters is only growing with the growth of the Guild so when you pick this up go back and do a refresher on the first two, they are both excellent so its not like its a bad thing to re-read them.
Overall, this is an excellent addition to the genre and series and I can't wait to listen to the audio book when it comes out.
Simply put, if you are a fan of the first two books this is a must buy. It has all of the same elements that I loved in the first book with the in-depth crafting and almost non-stop action.
The very few grips I had with this book is that he does an excellent job in the first chapter of getting you reacquainted with the story but I still felt I needed to go back and read the first two books to properly jump back into the story. The cast of characters is only growing with the growth of the Guild so when you pick this up go back and do a refresher on the first two, they are both excellent so its not like its a bad thing to re-read them.
Overall, this is an excellent addition to the genre and series and I can't wait to listen to the audio book when it comes out.
September 15, 2020
Firstly, I highly recommend re-reading the series from the beginning, although there is a very entertaining cliff note synopsis at the beginning of this book, for the full "meat and potatoes." When I received this ARC copy, it was so exciting!!! The story starts with a bang dropping into an immediate action scene and doesn't slow down. This installment ramps up the intrigue both inside and outside of Ascend Online. The attention to detail re: crafting, world and community- building has always been a point of interest to me. The relationships between the MC, his crew and the NPCs is very entertaining with the wry, dry sense of humor with which they are written. A most diverting series to read and I am already wanting to know what happens in the next book. Recommend strongly for those who love gamelit and litrpg.
September 14, 2020
This is the 3rd book for Ascend Online (main storyline-- 4th if you count the side story with Lazarus and Co. in Eberria). I've been a huge fan since the first book, so I had serious expectations for this one. I was NOT disappointed. Chmilenko draws the reader into the action from the start as always, and it just gets better from there. The enemy and obstacles faced are more deadly this time around. I love how much more of the world is revealed (both in game and out)-- and for avid fans, he threw in some meta humor.I loved every minute of this book, it was hard to put down, and I can't wait for the next... as someone else has already said, THAT is the only downside to the Ascend Online series-- you always want more...
I received an ARC of this book.
I received an ARC of this book.
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