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Salvos #1
Curious Beginnings
The Netherworld: it is a hellish landscape inhabited only by Demons, creatures born from the dark abyss. It is also the only world Salvos knows.
Joining the ranks of newborn demons, Salvos is thrown into the violent, anarchy-ruled landscape of that world. To survive, she will have to learn, she will have to adapt, and she will have to evolve. She will gain experience to reach new Levels of power.
Her curiosity aids her but her pride could be her fall. It is the nature of the Netherworld to avoid or conquer any threats faced— after all, the law of evolution is survival of the fittest, and Salvos is a survivor. And perhaps, eventually, she will leave this world behind for a better place.
But… is that what Salvos even wants?
This novel is an action-packed fantasy following the adventures of a Demon girl! It is set inside a game-like world with Classes, Levels, and even monster evolution, but it is not inside the world of a video game. For the characters in the novel, the world is as real as the real world is to me and you.
Joining the ranks of newborn demons, Salvos is thrown into the violent, anarchy-ruled landscape of that world. To survive, she will have to learn, she will have to adapt, and she will have to evolve. She will gain experience to reach new Levels of power.
Her curiosity aids her but her pride could be her fall. It is the nature of the Netherworld to avoid or conquer any threats faced— after all, the law of evolution is survival of the fittest, and Salvos is a survivor. And perhaps, eventually, she will leave this world behind for a better place.
But… is that what Salvos even wants?
This novel is an action-packed fantasy following the adventures of a Demon girl! It is set inside a game-like world with Classes, Levels, and even monster evolution, but it is not inside the world of a video game. For the characters in the novel, the world is as real as the real world is to me and you.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2021
546 people are currently reading
852 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
March 27, 2023
This was a fun YA LitRPG coming of age adventure tale. It was my favourite sort of LitRPG tale. The type with what basically amounted to an NPC lead character. I always find that more fun as it tends to give the feel of added consequence to the story which can (and did in this case) add greater emotional depth to the storytelling.
The lead in this tale was the young demon, Salvos. We follow it (later her) as it started life as a demon larvae and progressed to other demonic forms as it levelled up.
The story was a coming of age action adventure tale and Salvos proved to be a super easy to like lead character. As a young demon she was weird enough to feel exotic but she was likeable enough that it was super easy to root for her on her journey to level and grow stronger.
A lot of action focused LitRPG can be pretty dull but that was not the case here. We got a whole bunch of action and a whole bunch of levelling and progression skills but V.A.Lewis always managed to keep those moments very engaging.
This LitRPG series is off to a good start. One of the better I’ve read in the genre so far. Hopefully this series can buck the dreaded LitRPG trend of getting worse with each new instalment as the progression elements of the tale develop too fast and damage the story.
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Audio Note: Tess Irondale was great with the audio. She was the perfect voice for a young coming of age demon!
The lead in this tale was the young demon, Salvos. We follow it (later her) as it started life as a demon larvae and progressed to other demonic forms as it levelled up.
The story was a coming of age action adventure tale and Salvos proved to be a super easy to like lead character. As a young demon she was weird enough to feel exotic but she was likeable enough that it was super easy to root for her on her journey to level and grow stronger.
A lot of action focused LitRPG can be pretty dull but that was not the case here. We got a whole bunch of action and a whole bunch of levelling and progression skills but V.A.Lewis always managed to keep those moments very engaging.
This LitRPG series is off to a good start. One of the better I’ve read in the genre so far. Hopefully this series can buck the dreaded LitRPG trend of getting worse with each new instalment as the progression elements of the tale develop too fast and damage the story.
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Audio Note: Tess Irondale was great with the audio. She was the perfect voice for a young coming of age demon!
May 22, 2022
I found this book to be a rather fast and simplistic read.
The characters have very little depth to them.
Not bad but I don’t understand how it got such high reviews.
Can be read for free on RoyalRoad.
The characters have very little depth to them.
Not bad but I don’t understand how it got such high reviews.
Can be read for free on RoyalRoad.
February 9, 2021
In the Beginning:
Let me explain why I loved the beginning of this book. It was a new and intriguing way to start. My imagination ran rampant as the story progressed and my mind conjured wonderfully odd images of tadpole/grubs running around with all manner of limbs, antennas and whatnot.
The author did a wonderful job putting us (the readers) in a new and curious setting that I enjoyed exploring as the tale journey of our curious and kick ass MC grew in power.
The Turn:
This is where I started to fall off the hellhound (so to speak.)
What was a curious and kick ass individual turns into petulant child. The world I wanted to explore was gone and a generic world was put in place. I feared for the stories sake but I kept reading in case I turned out to be wrong.
The Whew! Phase:
While I was still left, unable to explore the original world I wanted to, I was able to find the growth in our MC. Growing is hard and it takes more than a few pages to see those results. The characters surrounding our MC are a welcome mix of mysterious and cookie cutter. I know you are thinking there is no way that can be good but there is potential for so much if the mystery plays out.
What will happen? I have no clue but I want to find out. There is a lot to say for litrpg's that don't overwhelm you with half of its pages dedicated to number crunching. It's a fun, fast paced book, with a new twist on how we see hero MCs.
Let me explain why I loved the beginning of this book. It was a new and intriguing way to start. My imagination ran rampant as the story progressed and my mind conjured wonderfully odd images of tadpole/grubs running around with all manner of limbs, antennas and whatnot.
The author did a wonderful job putting us (the readers) in a new and curious setting that I enjoyed exploring as the tale journey of our curious and kick ass MC grew in power.
The Turn:
This is where I started to fall off the hellhound (so to speak.)
What was a curious and kick ass individual turns into petulant child. The world I wanted to explore was gone and a generic world was put in place. I feared for the stories sake but I kept reading in case I turned out to be wrong.
The Whew! Phase:
While I was still left, unable to explore the original world I wanted to, I was able to find the growth in our MC. Growing is hard and it takes more than a few pages to see those results. The characters surrounding our MC are a welcome mix of mysterious and cookie cutter. I know you are thinking there is no way that can be good but there is potential for so much if the mystery plays out.
What will happen? I have no clue but I want to find out. There is a lot to say for litrpg's that don't overwhelm you with half of its pages dedicated to number crunching. It's a fun, fast paced book, with a new twist on how we see hero MCs.
May 10, 2023
Pretty basic start with a good amount of action.
The setting is plain which leaves plenty of room for details later. The same for the other characters, pretty sure Daniel is an isekai'ed hero.
The setting is plain which leaves plenty of room for details later. The same for the other characters, pretty sure Daniel is an isekai'ed hero.
December 31, 2025
Alright, dragging this thing back out again for the fifth time, because apparently I enjoy emotionally re-investing in the same story like it’s a personality trait.
I started rereading this because I was following the webtoon on Tapas, it wrapped up, and my brain immediately went, “Guess we’re doing this again.” No regrets. Still love it. Still hits.
This story is a breath of fresh air in fantasy. Yes, it has isekai elements. Yes, there are video-game mechanics floating around. And then it mostly stops caring about those and just commits to being fantasy. Actual fantasy. Characters, worldbuilding, growth, the whole thing.
The MC is a beast. Literally and metaphorically. She’s cute in that “might pet a butterfly” way, but also very capable of removing your spine through your nasal cavity if the situation calls for it. That balance never gets old. She’s goofy and headstrong. Brutal and innocent. Kind and cruel. And somehow it all works without feeling forced or edgy for attention.
At its core, this is basically slice of life. A young demon growing up, trying to get back to hell because that’s where her homie is. Everything else unfolds naturally from there. Learning how the world works, learning why the sky is blue and yes, that actually happens, learning morality, consequences, curiosity, restraint. It’s a coming-of-age story wearing fantasy armor, not a power fantasy pretending to be deep.
If you’re looking for a harem story, keep it moving. This isn’t that. This is an old-school fantasy adventure updated with modern pacing and sensibilities. No wish fulfillment checklist. No “everyone inexplicably wants the MC” nonsense. Just a character growing, learning, and occasionally causing catastrophic problems by existing.
If you like fantasy novels in general, this is worth your time. It might not be the first book you grab off the shelf, but it absolutely should be one of them. And yes, rereading it multiple times is completely justified.
I started rereading this because I was following the webtoon on Tapas, it wrapped up, and my brain immediately went, “Guess we’re doing this again.” No regrets. Still love it. Still hits.
This story is a breath of fresh air in fantasy. Yes, it has isekai elements. Yes, there are video-game mechanics floating around. And then it mostly stops caring about those and just commits to being fantasy. Actual fantasy. Characters, worldbuilding, growth, the whole thing.
The MC is a beast. Literally and metaphorically. She’s cute in that “might pet a butterfly” way, but also very capable of removing your spine through your nasal cavity if the situation calls for it. That balance never gets old. She’s goofy and headstrong. Brutal and innocent. Kind and cruel. And somehow it all works without feeling forced or edgy for attention.
At its core, this is basically slice of life. A young demon growing up, trying to get back to hell because that’s where her homie is. Everything else unfolds naturally from there. Learning how the world works, learning why the sky is blue and yes, that actually happens, learning morality, consequences, curiosity, restraint. It’s a coming-of-age story wearing fantasy armor, not a power fantasy pretending to be deep.
If you’re looking for a harem story, keep it moving. This isn’t that. This is an old-school fantasy adventure updated with modern pacing and sensibilities. No wish fulfillment checklist. No “everyone inexplicably wants the MC” nonsense. Just a character growing, learning, and occasionally causing catastrophic problems by existing.
If you like fantasy novels in general, this is worth your time. It might not be the first book you grab off the shelf, but it absolutely should be one of them. And yes, rereading it multiple times is completely justified.
December 19, 2024
It has a bit of a slow start but overall this is an enjoyable read. The plot moves quickly and nothing overstays its welcome. The characters are fairly shallow but there’s enough to at least move the story along. Salvos is generally amusing although her childlike behavior would probably become annoying if the book was much longer. Also the author frequently writes dialogue without attributing the speaker which can make it hard to follow who said what.
September 19, 2023
Somewhat formulaic Lit RPG. The author throws in a few $10 words that are a bit jarring with a character who is supposed to be naive. The progression in quite enthralling. But not much new or different to speak of.
February 18, 2024
This book threw me for a loop. It was strange and interesting to see Salvos explore as a baby larva and eventually become herself. It shows a lot of self exploration and moral questions.
August 13, 2025
Easy reading, fun little tale. The dynamic that the 2 side characters have with the mc is pretty hilarious.
August 3, 2022
It's rare that I venture outside Kindle Unlimited to read a book by a new author, but I'm glad I did in this case. I think this is the best "evolving monster" gamelit story I've come across.
Character - 8/10, Plot - 8/10, Setting/Game Mechanics - 9/10, Writing - 6/10, Enjoyment - 9/10
I really enjoyed Salvos as a character and I think that says something for the story since she started off as a demon larvae that could only communicate with other larvae nonverbally. I think it might vary by the reader, but I think the author did a good job walking the tightrope of accurately portraying the ignorance and naivety of a newly born creature while still showing intelligence and personality. Some people have criticized the shallow characters in this story, but I wonder if gamelit readers haven't gotten too used to the amateur-hour info dumping that plagues the genre. This is Salvos' story from her perspective, so I think we saw as deeply into the other characters she met as one could expect. Maybe in book two, after spending more time with the humans, I guess we'll see how other characters develop.
The plot was pretty standard for the genre, but I don't think that's a bad thing because the author executed it well. I basically got exactly what I wanted. All too often in the gamelit genre, when the author does something unique, it comes at the cost of delivering why readers come to the genre in the first place. The only complaint I have is that I want more Nether Realm. But that's like complaining about a restaurant because the first course was too good.
The setting and game mechanics are probably the strongest aspect of this story. I thought the opening arc in the Nether Realm was fantastic. Not only was the character and the leveling and skills interesting, but the world-building and premise of demons evolving from larva after a dog-eat-dog early life in a wasteland was just top notch. Describing the skills or attributes wouldn't really do the story justice because I felt like the overall experience was definitely greater than the sum of its parts.
The writing was the weakest element. There were at least a dozen proofreading errors and basic grammar bumps, like word redundancy within a sentence. I would say that there were a few more errors than I consider average nowadays, but I felt like the writing tactics, specifically with character perspective, were pretty solid. Considering this is the author's first published novel, I think this was a very good showing and I expect things to show more polish in future books. The author did mention in the afterward that there was considerable effort and time spent editing, so to me this might mean an upgrade is in order. Software like ProWritingAid or Grammarly would have caught pretty much all the errors that jumped out at me and helped with some of the compositional issues as well.
But overall this was a fun read and exactly the type of experience I hope for when I take a risk on a new author that I'm unfamiliar with. I thought this was significantly better than the other evolving monster stories, including So I'm a Spider, So What?
I'll definitely check out the next book in this series.
Character - 8/10, Plot - 8/10, Setting/Game Mechanics - 9/10, Writing - 6/10, Enjoyment - 9/10
I really enjoyed Salvos as a character and I think that says something for the story since she started off as a demon larvae that could only communicate with other larvae nonverbally. I think it might vary by the reader, but I think the author did a good job walking the tightrope of accurately portraying the ignorance and naivety of a newly born creature while still showing intelligence and personality. Some people have criticized the shallow characters in this story, but I wonder if gamelit readers haven't gotten too used to the amateur-hour info dumping that plagues the genre. This is Salvos' story from her perspective, so I think we saw as deeply into the other characters she met as one could expect. Maybe in book two, after spending more time with the humans, I guess we'll see how other characters develop.
The plot was pretty standard for the genre, but I don't think that's a bad thing because the author executed it well. I basically got exactly what I wanted. All too often in the gamelit genre, when the author does something unique, it comes at the cost of delivering why readers come to the genre in the first place. The only complaint I have is that I want more Nether Realm. But that's like complaining about a restaurant because the first course was too good.
The setting and game mechanics are probably the strongest aspect of this story. I thought the opening arc in the Nether Realm was fantastic. Not only was the character and the leveling and skills interesting, but the world-building and premise of demons evolving from larva after a dog-eat-dog early life in a wasteland was just top notch. Describing the skills or attributes wouldn't really do the story justice because I felt like the overall experience was definitely greater than the sum of its parts.
The writing was the weakest element. There were at least a dozen proofreading errors and basic grammar bumps, like word redundancy within a sentence. I would say that there were a few more errors than I consider average nowadays, but I felt like the writing tactics, specifically with character perspective, were pretty solid. Considering this is the author's first published novel, I think this was a very good showing and I expect things to show more polish in future books. The author did mention in the afterward that there was considerable effort and time spent editing, so to me this might mean an upgrade is in order. Software like ProWritingAid or Grammarly would have caught pretty much all the errors that jumped out at me and helped with some of the compositional issues as well.
But overall this was a fun read and exactly the type of experience I hope for when I take a risk on a new author that I'm unfamiliar with. I thought this was significantly better than the other evolving monster stories, including So I'm a Spider, So What?
I'll definitely check out the next book in this series.
February 19, 2023
The main character does the standard isekai thing of fighting monsters (and people) and gaining levels. But she's a demon, so she's better at it.
This is extremely straightforward and not particularly well written, but at least there's a lot of it. Good for reading on a plane.
This is extremely straightforward and not particularly well written, but at least there's a lot of it. Good for reading on a plane.
July 6, 2022
Fantastic book. Interesting characters and world. The power system seems a little overly complicated and not really fleshed out. But this is the first book and we're discovering the system as the character does so I'll give it a pass.
My only complaint is the book started off very slowly. The protagonist, Salvos, starts off as a demon larva. She has no real intelligence or personality at this point except a will to survive. However through leveling she quickly evolves and becomes a full-fledged person.
I have no problem with the concept, I actually thought it was quiet interesting. It allowed us to see the character grow from almost literally nothing. The events are rather straight forwards. Enemies attacks the character and she has to fight tooth and nail to survive. And these events really shaped her outlook later in the book and the author does a good job of making the character grow from the experience.
But it took ten chapters (25% of the book) for anything to really happen. So I would have preferred if this progression only took three or four chapters. Ten is just too long. I thought about putting the book down but it was obvious what the author was doing so I just skimmed until the characters started speaking. Then the story really took off from there and was great.
My only complaint is the book started off very slowly. The protagonist, Salvos, starts off as a demon larva. She has no real intelligence or personality at this point except a will to survive. However through leveling she quickly evolves and becomes a full-fledged person.
I have no problem with the concept, I actually thought it was quiet interesting. It allowed us to see the character grow from almost literally nothing. The events are rather straight forwards. Enemies attacks the character and she has to fight tooth and nail to survive. And these events really shaped her outlook later in the book and the author does a good job of making the character grow from the experience.
But it took ten chapters (25% of the book) for anything to really happen. So I would have preferred if this progression only took three or four chapters. Ten is just too long. I thought about putting the book down but it was obvious what the author was doing so I just skimmed until the characters started speaking. Then the story really took off from there and was great.
March 27, 2025
FEELS LIKE READING SHONEN GOODNESS!
This was a reread for me, the second series I recently restarted in order to refresh my memory before continuing on with the books in the series I have yet to read.
Salvos was much as I remembered it: fun, action-packed and benefiting from another great LitRPG System with the additional 'monster evolution' aspect. It reminds me, as I mentioned above, of Shonen manga tonally, and provides the same sort of excitement commonly found in those manga Shonen Jump is best known for.
It was a good book and I'm excited to be getting back into the series!
Ultimately, my main issue lies with the prose. It feels very simplistic, with choices across the board that feel immature at times. This did improve as the book progressed, which leads me to believe it may have simply been a case of a writer rapidly progressing alongside the story. Thankfully, the rest of the book was strong enough to compensate for the prose issue so long as that is not a specific pet peeve of yours.
All of that being said, this was a solid Four Star read for me. It definitely has some ground to cover before it reaches Five Star level, but I'm eager to see if author V.A Lewis - AKA Melas Delta - manages it!
This was a reread for me, the second series I recently restarted in order to refresh my memory before continuing on with the books in the series I have yet to read.
Salvos was much as I remembered it: fun, action-packed and benefiting from another great LitRPG System with the additional 'monster evolution' aspect. It reminds me, as I mentioned above, of Shonen manga tonally, and provides the same sort of excitement commonly found in those manga Shonen Jump is best known for.
It was a good book and I'm excited to be getting back into the series!
Ultimately, my main issue lies with the prose. It feels very simplistic, with choices across the board that feel immature at times. This did improve as the book progressed, which leads me to believe it may have simply been a case of a writer rapidly progressing alongside the story. Thankfully, the rest of the book was strong enough to compensate for the prose issue so long as that is not a specific pet peeve of yours.
All of that being said, this was a solid Four Star read for me. It definitely has some ground to cover before it reaches Five Star level, but I'm eager to see if author V.A Lewis - AKA Melas Delta - manages it!
May 7, 2021
Off to a great start literally
I absolutely enjoyed this book. What made it even better was that this was the authors first publication. The series started on the websiteroyalroad.com and ended up on Kindle. It’s great to see a new author start their work it’s even better when a new author published something and it’s really good.
Now on to the book. First and August 1 work you expect to see some spelling errors in grammar errors none of that here. Instead what you get is the fast-paced compelling story that is different from most in this genre. This is not about a hero out to save the day or someone that got sucked into a video game this is truly a unique approach to the genre we know and love. A demon is born that’s the start I won’t spoil anything else. The stats in the book aren’t overly drawn out the writing is fast paced the action is fast-paced and the story is a good one. I can’t wait for the next book in the series and while I hope Amazon will publish these books fast enough as they are written ads I’ll have to go to The website once I’m done with the next book in the series.
Bravo to the author keep up the good work.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. What made it even better was that this was the authors first publication. The series started on the websiteroyalroad.com and ended up on Kindle. It’s great to see a new author start their work it’s even better when a new author published something and it’s really good.
Now on to the book. First and August 1 work you expect to see some spelling errors in grammar errors none of that here. Instead what you get is the fast-paced compelling story that is different from most in this genre. This is not about a hero out to save the day or someone that got sucked into a video game this is truly a unique approach to the genre we know and love. A demon is born that’s the start I won’t spoil anything else. The stats in the book aren’t overly drawn out the writing is fast paced the action is fast-paced and the story is a good one. I can’t wait for the next book in the series and while I hope Amazon will publish these books fast enough as they are written ads I’ll have to go to The website once I’m done with the next book in the series.
Bravo to the author keep up the good work.
August 3, 2022
I thought that Imps were one of the lowest types of minion hordes, with wings and a kind of mid type of flight?? Is Salvos ignorant cause she is a "loner" or is she just constantly slow? I get that there is no schooling or raising the young in the Netherworld (Underworld - Hell)... but is the author as slow as his main character Salvos, or is he just pretending that his main character does not know anything? Is it because of a pea-sized brain-deal? Kind of like the goldfish that have really short-termed memories?
So Salvos is Over-Powered as an imp. Over-Powered when she levels up to a halfling. Is she shaped like a "girl" because of the cloak? Cause imps look more like ugly cupids or small gargoyles...So I do not understand why everybody that reviews this "light/web novel series" is tagging her as cute?? Because she is "playing dumb"? What is she a "dumb-blonde" - "air-head"?
There are a lot of "monster-evolution" web/light novel series out there: Taming Master, Monster Paradise, Re:Monster, That time I got reincarnated as a Slime, etc... All these are much better series than Salvos. Almost all of them began as Web novels, then became light novel series....
So Salvos is Over-Powered as an imp. Over-Powered when she levels up to a halfling. Is she shaped like a "girl" because of the cloak? Cause imps look more like ugly cupids or small gargoyles...So I do not understand why everybody that reviews this "light/web novel series" is tagging her as cute?? Because she is "playing dumb"? What is she a "dumb-blonde" - "air-head"?
There are a lot of "monster-evolution" web/light novel series out there: Taming Master, Monster Paradise, Re:Monster, That time I got reincarnated as a Slime, etc... All these are much better series than Salvos. Almost all of them began as Web novels, then became light novel series....
June 17, 2021
This book was great fun. I’m always down for a litrpg with a female protagonist.
It is easy to get into the headspace of our MC and get caught up with their fascination with the world. It wasn’t perfect and at times it did feel a little like she should have gotten the hang of things, but was still struggling with the basics. But given what we know of her and how little experience she has I can understand it from a character stand point. Hopefully, she will grow more as the series progresses.
It has some hints about the wider world which is very compelling. I want to know more about how the demon world works and I want to see who our MC will grow to be in relation to that.
The litrpg elements are solid. Nothing super imaginative, but they are consistent. The action keeps a good pace. Skipping over some of the grinding, but still giving us interesting fights.
The narrator does a good job with the story. I found her characterisation to be a great addition to the story.
I’m glad I already have the sequel in my library and I look forward to starting it.
It is easy to get into the headspace of our MC and get caught up with their fascination with the world. It wasn’t perfect and at times it did feel a little like she should have gotten the hang of things, but was still struggling with the basics. But given what we know of her and how little experience she has I can understand it from a character stand point. Hopefully, she will grow more as the series progresses.
It has some hints about the wider world which is very compelling. I want to know more about how the demon world works and I want to see who our MC will grow to be in relation to that.
The litrpg elements are solid. Nothing super imaginative, but they are consistent. The action keeps a good pace. Skipping over some of the grinding, but still giving us interesting fights.
The narrator does a good job with the story. I found her characterisation to be a great addition to the story.
I’m glad I already have the sequel in my library and I look forward to starting it.
June 18, 2021
This wasn't an amazing book it wasn't even a great or fantastic or even very unique book. However it was a solid Litrpg book that was well written and was fairly interesting to listen too. I would say that it is deserving of 3.7 stars for being if not unique, at least not some copy paste mix of other books. It's very much it's own book and if nothing else the author deserves a lot of credit for writing it as well as they did.
The story is interesting it's above the mediocre standard that a lot of books in this genre tend to fall into.
The characters are interesting and feel like individuals.
The world building was so so, nothing elaborate but not too bad either. There's a lot that is left to the imagination and very little answers about the premise of the book, the so called advent.
Was it worth a credit on audible? Yes of that I have no doubt nor reservations of saying it did.
Tess Irondale as a narrator made it very much worth the time.
The story is interesting it's above the mediocre standard that a lot of books in this genre tend to fall into.
The characters are interesting and feel like individuals.
The world building was so so, nothing elaborate but not too bad either. There's a lot that is left to the imagination and very little answers about the premise of the book, the so called advent.
Was it worth a credit on audible? Yes of that I have no doubt nor reservations of saying it did.
Tess Irondale as a narrator made it very much worth the time.
July 12, 2023
A slice of life masquerading as a litRPG, the computer screen that comes up for people is inexplicable, the copious stats people get do nothing to change how dumb they are, the levels are meaningless as they regularly kill monsters and people 20+ levels over them. There is no humor or cleverness to this, the main character is idiot smart like a Despicable Me minion made to amuse children by constantly being a jerk doing what they know is wrong.
People don't act in a believable manner, lacking any caution. The characters gain levels at an absurd rate making the enemies that threaten an entire kingdom in this book be something children in future books could easily handle.
While there are certainly a few good elements here and there, overall it's very poorly conceived and executed. Had the litRPG been dropped and it done as a more traditional fantasy and had the protagonist not been made to amuse 8 year olds, it would have come out better for it.
People don't act in a believable manner, lacking any caution. The characters gain levels at an absurd rate making the enemies that threaten an entire kingdom in this book be something children in future books could easily handle.
While there are certainly a few good elements here and there, overall it's very poorly conceived and executed. Had the litRPG been dropped and it done as a more traditional fantasy and had the protagonist not been made to amuse 8 year olds, it would have come out better for it.
August 19, 2024
DNF after 2 hours of the audiobook.
Too many stats. The demon MC starts as an infant, with no dialogue for 2 hours other than internal monologue focused on reading stats. The MC is completely clueless about everything. There's no HUD or tutorials. Progress is extremely slow and boring. All knowledge comes through painstaking discovery and insight, which takes too long.
The female narrator was good, though. I prefer smart and clever MCs, but this character (Solvos) seems to progress at a near real-time pace. At this rate, I doubt she'll ever become clever. After 2 hours, I think it's still her first day. I don't have the time or enough interest to watch her slowly learn basic concepts like enemies, allies, weapons, and magic.
Oddly, there was a 60-second monologue from the Demon King about dungeon building and its operational goals: "Minions, this is my dungeon. Capture and enslave all newborn creatures. Kill them if you cannot capture them."
Too many stats. The demon MC starts as an infant, with no dialogue for 2 hours other than internal monologue focused on reading stats. The MC is completely clueless about everything. There's no HUD or tutorials. Progress is extremely slow and boring. All knowledge comes through painstaking discovery and insight, which takes too long.
The female narrator was good, though. I prefer smart and clever MCs, but this character (Solvos) seems to progress at a near real-time pace. At this rate, I doubt she'll ever become clever. After 2 hours, I think it's still her first day. I don't have the time or enough interest to watch her slowly learn basic concepts like enemies, allies, weapons, and magic.
Oddly, there was a 60-second monologue from the Demon King about dungeon building and its operational goals: "Minions, this is my dungeon. Capture and enslave all newborn creatures. Kill them if you cannot capture them."
September 4, 2024
The story starts with a demon larva. You read that right - a demon larva. This larva is in the Netherworld, and spends most of its time exploring. Eventually, after facing many dangers, this larva become Salvos.
The Netherworld is intriguing, but what kept me interested was Salvos. Her curiosity is her main characteristic, and it sometimes gets her into trouble. She constantly asks questions, and tries to use logic to figure out the answers for herself. When she meets people, she pesters them with questions, which led to some fun dialog. She's also impatient, so that got her into trouble a few times.
I really liked her, and I loved that she took in new information, and changed her behavior accordingly.
The storyline was fairly standard, but still fun and exciting. I really want to know what Salvos is going to do next.
The Netherworld is intriguing, but what kept me interested was Salvos. Her curiosity is her main characteristic, and it sometimes gets her into trouble. She constantly asks questions, and tries to use logic to figure out the answers for herself. When she meets people, she pesters them with questions, which led to some fun dialog. She's also impatient, so that got her into trouble a few times.
I really liked her, and I loved that she took in new information, and changed her behavior accordingly.
The storyline was fairly standard, but still fun and exciting. I really want to know what Salvos is going to do next.
April 14, 2021
Salvos is a newborn demon of sorts fresh out of the void and ready to explore her new (Nether)world, gaining experience and power while doing so. She quickly decides she is not going to be like other demons. She is NOT a rock. She is not going to mindlessly kill everything just for xp. A decision that is a great boon when she accidentally ends up in the world of mortals together with a much more powerful demon whom is very angry at Salvos. Salvos is going to need human help to survive, thrive and get home.
I have a softspot for litRPG, even more so when it is about monster evolution. Her being an actual demon, not a reincarnated human, and not being a villain (or even an anti-hero) is a very nice change of pace. Love the subdued humor mostly about Salvos' antics exploring the world and lack of understanding on (human) behavior. Sometimes it is a bit inconsistant, but doing so is extremely difficult and would probably make it too crinchy. Now it was the right level of humor for me to enjoy while still being a gritty story. The story itself is well-written if straightforward, although there are hints about more things going on for future plots. The book itself ends at a good point, again, something not too common for self-published books that start as a web-novel.
The games mechanics were ok. They were well integrated into the world. The skills pose a limit on what people and creatures can do, although the abilities of everybody except Salvos are glossed over. Leveling and the use of power felt a bit arbitrary, especially due to the lack of mana (or something similar) and cost for skills. The fact that she can defeat much higher level opponents mostly due to tactics is good (I prefer protagonists using their brain), but it does not fit very well with the idea of game mechanics. Mechanics are light as well with little aggonizing over what skill to take or to plan a path ahead. The world itself felt a bit generic, but in all fairness, that is not what the story is about and we have no idea what we get in the future.
In the end, it was a very enjoyable read and I am looking forward to the next part... (might read ahead on Royal Road).
I have a softspot for litRPG, even more so when it is about monster evolution. Her being an actual demon, not a reincarnated human, and not being a villain (or even an anti-hero) is a very nice change of pace. Love the subdued humor mostly about Salvos' antics exploring the world and lack of understanding on (human) behavior. Sometimes it is a bit inconsistant, but doing so is extremely difficult and would probably make it too crinchy. Now it was the right level of humor for me to enjoy while still being a gritty story. The story itself is well-written if straightforward, although there are hints about more things going on for future plots. The book itself ends at a good point, again, something not too common for self-published books that start as a web-novel.
The games mechanics were ok. They were well integrated into the world. The skills pose a limit on what people and creatures can do, although the abilities of everybody except Salvos are glossed over. Leveling and the use of power felt a bit arbitrary, especially due to the lack of mana (or something similar) and cost for skills. The fact that she can defeat much higher level opponents mostly due to tactics is good (I prefer protagonists using their brain), but it does not fit very well with the idea of game mechanics. Mechanics are light as well with little aggonizing over what skill to take or to plan a path ahead. The world itself felt a bit generic, but in all fairness, that is not what the story is about and we have no idea what we get in the future.
In the end, it was a very enjoyable read and I am looking forward to the next part... (might read ahead on Royal Road).
May 9, 2024
Hmmm, maybe 3.5?
The prose/word choice was kind of shaky, especially at the beginning of the book, and I'm not the hugest fan of stat sheets, etc. But I was intrigued by the concept of the book, and I think Salvos is decently portrayed as a non-human entity that has completely different assumptions and norms about the world. That was probably my favorite part of the book. The way Edithe and Daniel dealt with her/eventually got used to her was also pretty amusing.
With the end, and Salvos getting the power to take on a human appearance, the first book kind of seems like set-up (though very necessary for backstory purposes) for the 'real' story to begin. But it did move quickly and I enjoyed my time reading it overall.
The prose/word choice was kind of shaky, especially at the beginning of the book, and I'm not the hugest fan of stat sheets, etc. But I was intrigued by the concept of the book, and I think Salvos is decently portrayed as a non-human entity that has completely different assumptions and norms about the world. That was probably my favorite part of the book. The way Edithe and Daniel dealt with her/eventually got used to her was also pretty amusing.
With the end, and Salvos getting the power to take on a human appearance, the first book kind of seems like set-up (though very necessary for backstory purposes) for the 'real' story to begin. But it did move quickly and I enjoyed my time reading it overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2024
Can't wait for the next one!!!
First I want to let the author know That I was able to read the 3rd book on amazon So I don't know if they put it back or what but it is available for readers To enjoy Which I did very much Is Siri is fantastic Absolutely in love with it No this is 1 of my favorite genres of books So if you like me You love these books The main character is awesome Well developed I adore the world that this author has built And the intrigue with the backstory of how the main character Has so many secrets that i cant Wait to learn. There's always a cliff Hanger Offsome sort that makes you want to read the next one.
First I want to let the author know That I was able to read the 3rd book on amazon So I don't know if they put it back or what but it is available for readers To enjoy Which I did very much Is Siri is fantastic Absolutely in love with it No this is 1 of my favorite genres of books So if you like me You love these books The main character is awesome Well developed I adore the world that this author has built And the intrigue with the backstory of how the main character Has so many secrets that i cant Wait to learn. There's always a cliff Hanger Offsome sort that makes you want to read the next one.
June 8, 2023
Honestly adorable
Baby demons are adorable. Salvos is funny in the mortal realm, and savage in both. I do have questions about the different type demons spawn with. I hope Salvos can become stronger and also find a way back. I'd be intrigued if the series eventually progresses to her overthrowing the current demon king, but there's no current evidence that will be how this series will go. Daniel is an awkward mystery. I like Edythe. Very engaging story. A few minor typos and odd sentences, but not more than a few.
Baby demons are adorable. Salvos is funny in the mortal realm, and savage in both. I do have questions about the different type demons spawn with. I hope Salvos can become stronger and also find a way back. I'd be intrigued if the series eventually progresses to her overthrowing the current demon king, but there's no current evidence that will be how this series will go. Daniel is an awkward mystery. I like Edythe. Very engaging story. A few minor typos and odd sentences, but not more than a few.
August 12, 2023
Help me read more books
Pretty good story, nice world building, and interesting characters. After reading a review that mentioned the audible version, and that the narrator was perfect for the part, I'm kind of bummed I didn't listen to it on that platform, but nonetheless, I liked the story, and think it will provide interesting story material going forward. Feel free to add this one to your to read shelf if you're a LitRPG fan, it's a pretty decent showing for a first in series.
Pretty good story, nice world building, and interesting characters. After reading a review that mentioned the audible version, and that the narrator was perfect for the part, I'm kind of bummed I didn't listen to it on that platform, but nonetheless, I liked the story, and think it will provide interesting story material going forward. Feel free to add this one to your to read shelf if you're a LitRPG fan, it's a pretty decent showing for a first in series.
January 3, 2025
I actually enjoyed it, it was fun read with fresh ideas and a compelling MC.
After reading so many awful Litrpgs trying to find more worth reading, this was gold. Like most books like this the grammar wasn’t perfect, but the story was great, I loved it. Exactly what the book promised to be, so full points. Also a female mc that is well done, kind of rare in this genre. The whole book was a breath of fresh air, and not relying on the same old tropes, or at least told in an original way.
After reading so many awful Litrpgs trying to find more worth reading, this was gold. Like most books like this the grammar wasn’t perfect, but the story was great, I loved it. Exactly what the book promised to be, so full points. Also a female mc that is well done, kind of rare in this genre. The whole book was a breath of fresh air, and not relying on the same old tropes, or at least told in an original way.
January 20, 2021
Salvos for Demon Queen 2024
Part heart-warming comedy, and part mature themes, this book about the world's most adorable sinnamon bun discovering what it means to truly live combines the Eastern elements of a light novel with Western RPG literature into one entertaining package.
If you're a fan of demon girls, LitRPG, anime tropes, or comedy then this is one you can't afford to miss.
Part heart-warming comedy, and part mature themes, this book about the world's most adorable sinnamon bun discovering what it means to truly live combines the Eastern elements of a light novel with Western RPG literature into one entertaining package.
If you're a fan of demon girls, LitRPG, anime tropes, or comedy then this is one you can't afford to miss.
February 5, 2021
A really fun book!
I really really enjoyed this! The world is fun and well thought out, the system is cool, and the characters are great! The prologue is a little over-written, and I hit a good number of typos and words missing from sentences in chapter one, and that was off-putting, but after that it was very impressively edited! No dragging or slog to be found here, and I eagerly wait for the next installment.
I really really enjoyed this! The world is fun and well thought out, the system is cool, and the characters are great! The prologue is a little over-written, and I hit a good number of typos and words missing from sentences in chapter one, and that was off-putting, but after that it was very impressively edited! No dragging or slog to be found here, and I eagerly wait for the next installment.
July 28, 2021
Excellent read
What an unusual story. Excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed it.I think the author is very good at keeping the demons point of view Less than human But at the same time allowing her to evolve. I can't say much about the story except that the demon is literally spawned and life gets complicated quick. The edition of a human hero Certainly makes for interesting interactions.Looking forward to the next book which I should read immediately.
What an unusual story. Excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed it.I think the author is very good at keeping the demons point of view Less than human But at the same time allowing her to evolve. I can't say much about the story except that the demon is literally spawned and life gets complicated quick. The edition of a human hero Certainly makes for interesting interactions.Looking forward to the next book which I should read immediately.
June 15, 2022
This was peculiar. The author was an infant, his second novel in fact. The characters were flat, the writing was amateur, but the pacing and plot was spot on. Ima read another 100 chapters to find out, but simply not being repulsive is well above the norm.
Salvos is a female demon larvae whom through daring and fortune survived an unlikely birth and competition in the infernal plains. Little becomes her personality, but the plot's intriguing.
Salvos is a female demon larvae whom through daring and fortune survived an unlikely birth and competition in the infernal plains. Little becomes her personality, but the plot's intriguing.
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