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Elemental Alpha
Create lycanthropes. Give them elemental powers. Save the world.
Jerrell Hawkins has a plan. He’s going to marry Nadine Hartwell, study magic at University, and serve his kingdom in the ongoing war in the prestigious Orichalcum Company led by the hero of the realm. To do this, he needs to obtain a Class. When his plan to create a new, powerful spellcasting class fails, he fears all is lost. Then an enemy sleeper agent burns down his world and Nadine is infected with lycanthropy.
But Jerrell’s pursuit of a new Class leaves him with strange, controversial abilities. He can create and bond lycanthropes. What’s more, he’s learning to use elemental magic. Along with Nadine, now his bonded companion, he enlists in the military to enact vengeance for the destruction of their home.
Their enemies are numerous, their abilities make their allies uncomfortable, and nothing is simple. Not even the fate of the world, which just might rest on Jerrell Hawkins’ shoulders.
Jerrell Hawkins has a plan. He’s going to marry Nadine Hartwell, study magic at University, and serve his kingdom in the ongoing war in the prestigious Orichalcum Company led by the hero of the realm. To do this, he needs to obtain a Class. When his plan to create a new, powerful spellcasting class fails, he fears all is lost. Then an enemy sleeper agent burns down his world and Nadine is infected with lycanthropy.
But Jerrell’s pursuit of a new Class leaves him with strange, controversial abilities. He can create and bond lycanthropes. What’s more, he’s learning to use elemental magic. Along with Nadine, now his bonded companion, he enlists in the military to enact vengeance for the destruction of their home.
Their enemies are numerous, their abilities make their allies uncomfortable, and nothing is simple. Not even the fate of the world, which just might rest on Jerrell Hawkins’ shoulders.
497 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2021
125 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
October 15, 2021
Rating 3.0 stars
I had a rollercoaster of reactions while reading this story. Started off good, then was really good, then just alright, then good again, then a little boring, back to good and then ended kind of bad. The story ended up being complicated. There was a plot inside a plot. My problem is I liked then plot but didn't like the plot inside the plot angle. The magic system was very interesting and I liked how that was handled early on. The MC had to work hard to get what he had and his gains were explained in detail. Then in the second half he becomes insanely OP and has incredible gains without much work.
The story follows Jerrel Hawkins. He is a young man who is trying to get into the magic university so he can be with the woman he loves and they can start their lives together. Everyone needs to serve 2 years in the service so if he doesn't get into the school he will have to go straight to the service. HE hasn't settled on his nodes though. Most people follow a set path with their nodes which will give them a class they can use in the future. 3 nodes form the base of that class. Jerrel is different. He thinks he has found something unique that will get him a very powerful class. When his girlfriend comes back from university she gifts him the last node he needs but he doesn't end up with a class. While he is away from the village something happens. Overall I really enjoyed the first half of the book but that ending and the second half kind of ruined it for me.
I had a rollercoaster of reactions while reading this story. Started off good, then was really good, then just alright, then good again, then a little boring, back to good and then ended kind of bad. The story ended up being complicated. There was a plot inside a plot. My problem is I liked then plot but didn't like the plot inside the plot angle. The magic system was very interesting and I liked how that was handled early on. The MC had to work hard to get what he had and his gains were explained in detail. Then in the second half he becomes insanely OP and has incredible gains without much work.
The story follows Jerrel Hawkins. He is a young man who is trying to get into the magic university so he can be with the woman he loves and they can start their lives together. Everyone needs to serve 2 years in the service so if he doesn't get into the school he will have to go straight to the service. HE hasn't settled on his nodes though. Most people follow a set path with their nodes which will give them a class they can use in the future. 3 nodes form the base of that class. Jerrel is different. He thinks he has found something unique that will get him a very powerful class. When his girlfriend comes back from university she gifts him the last node he needs but he doesn't end up with a class. While he is away from the village something happens. Overall I really enjoyed the first half of the book but that ending and the second half kind of ruined it for me.
February 27, 2021
My first
My first Liam book and I gotta say was never interested in his writing but this is one of the best by far KU fantasy stories I've read. Helluva twist at the end
My first Liam book and I gotta say was never interested in his writing but this is one of the best by far KU fantasy stories I've read. Helluva twist at the end
March 14, 2021
Imaginative
A very interesting system of magic. Could be fascinating to watch it develop further.
Harem and some furry porn. Two scenes, as I recall. To be fair, the MC *is* a teenage (late teens) boy and the first werewolf he bonds was his girlfriend before she was infected, so...
What I didn’t really like:
one secondary character ‘knows’ it’s a game. And he references real-world stuff. His place in the narrative make a lot more sense at the end, but the references pulled me from the novel. Because his belief and knowledge isn’t really made clear until quite late in the book.
I will likely get a sequel if/when it comes out. Some interesting stuff.
A very interesting system of magic. Could be fascinating to watch it develop further.
Harem and some furry porn. Two scenes, as I recall. To be fair, the MC *is* a teenage (late teens) boy and the first werewolf he bonds was his girlfriend before she was infected, so...
What I didn’t really like:
one secondary character ‘knows’ it’s a game. And he references real-world stuff. His place in the narrative make a lot more sense at the end, but the references pulled me from the novel. Because his belief and knowledge isn’t really made clear until quite late in the book.
I will likely get a sequel if/when it comes out. Some interesting stuff.
March 20, 2021
Well written (a few minor grammar/homonym issues aside) and well paced. It's an enjoyable read, not to be taken too seriously, although I do have a few questions for the programmers of this particular game.
The harem bits aren't overdone and the MC is pretty balanced, all things considered. Really, nothing that jumps out at me as a significant deficiency, so I'll definitely give the next one a try.
The harem bits aren't overdone and the MC is pretty balanced, all things considered. Really, nothing that jumps out at me as a significant deficiency, so I'll definitely give the next one a try.
March 22, 2021
Book one
Mistakes: The sex added nothing to the story. Other than that I found nothing wrong with this book editing wise.
Plot: Was kinda convoluted. Plot within plots. Not really very military either.
Characters: Most are just there to die. Again such detailed sex wasn't needed and added nothing to the story.
5/10
Mistakes: The sex added nothing to the story. Other than that I found nothing wrong with this book editing wise.
Plot: Was kinda convoluted. Plot within plots. Not really very military either.
Characters: Most are just there to die. Again such detailed sex wasn't needed and added nothing to the story.
5/10
April 28, 2021
Jerrell is a young teenager on the cusp of adulthood, ready to study at the university of magic and the military service afterward all the while looking for the perfect combination of motes (basic skill set such as for example the ability to cast elemental spells) to form a powerful and unique class. Things don't go as planned when his home town is destroyed in the war and he ends up with a combination of motes that does not work so well at a first glance and his girlfriend as a werewolf bound to him as a companion.
Interesting world building, different and detailed enough to get my attention. Decent characters, especially for the genre. The game mechanics are original and interesting, mostly through showing a pattern of motes, each representing a set of abilities that interact with each other to create spells and powers. How the motes form is a bit arbitrary, and while what is created makes sense, at times it feels a bit like the ability comes just in time to save the day. Intriguing plot.
There are a few minor nit picks, mostly the slow start, a few contradictions (e.g. no warmage joins unit X, and then one of the fellow trainees does join X) and some aspects are a bit predictable. It is a harem situation, but that should not come as a surprise (and it is not something I dislike automatically), and I have seen worse versions of the trope. Bonding suggests slavery and mind control, but that is not the case. It is very much a choice of all involved and there is no mind control. No my biggest issue is the "twist". It is done well in this novel, but it is a risky move and one that is to handle in such a way that it ruins my enjoyment of the story. It is mostly a personal dislike, since for me it tends to remove any sense of suspense and I have come across a couple of similar twists that just ended making the whole story feel meaningless.
Still, I am likely to read the sequel. It has potential both as a good story or as one I will dislike. I will see...
Interesting world building, different and detailed enough to get my attention. Decent characters, especially for the genre. The game mechanics are original and interesting, mostly through showing a pattern of motes, each representing a set of abilities that interact with each other to create spells and powers. How the motes form is a bit arbitrary, and while what is created makes sense, at times it feels a bit like the ability comes just in time to save the day. Intriguing plot.
There are a few minor nit picks, mostly the slow start, a few contradictions (e.g. no warmage joins unit X, and then one of the fellow trainees does join X) and some aspects are a bit predictable. It is a harem situation, but that should not come as a surprise (and it is not something I dislike automatically), and I have seen worse versions of the trope. Bonding suggests slavery and mind control, but that is not the case. It is very much a choice of all involved and there is no mind control. No my biggest issue is the "twist". It is done well in this novel, but it is a risky move and one that is to handle in such a way that it ruins my enjoyment of the story. It is mostly a personal dislike, since for me it tends to remove any sense of suspense and I have come across a couple of similar twists that just ended making the whole story feel meaningless.
Still, I am likely to read the sequel. It has potential both as a good story or as one I will dislike. I will see...
June 17, 2021
This was decent for the most part, although the tone was pretty inconsistent. Happy-go-lucky adventure, rip-roaring military fantasy, grimdark political struggle, and of course a bit where he turns into bloody Hornblower because ship’s captain. Anyway, it was still pretty enjoyable until the author just took a big dump on everything at the end. It was stupid and broke the rest of the story, making it pointless. And Cronin isn’t funny, he’s embarrassing. He sounds like a desperate middle-aged dad trying to impress a bunch of teenagers. “I’m with it! I’m hip!” Maybe that was meant to be the point. Whatever it was, I didn’t like it. I’m cross because it would have been good without the meta-ironic rubbish.
June 14, 2022
Really fun read. There are a couple sex scenes, and I was at one point worried it would be too much, but there's a lot more to appreciate even if you aren't interested in that. I'd say my only complaint is that based on his abilities, I feel like he should get SOME sort of shapeshifting, derived from those he bonded with. That would take this series to the next level of interest for me. He doesn't as much feel like an alpha of the group, and more as a separate entity commanding the group, in the sense that he is so much separated from what makes his group unique, which is shapeshifting. I'd argue his class should allow for shapeshifting without the damage the virus otherwise causes to your pattern.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2021
An interesting take
It's not everyday you get a litRPG style story from the perspective of what we would view as an NPC. Especially one that takes the route this story did. I wasn't prepared for the amount of death despite the forward about the amount of military and war related activity that was researched. The side character were interesting, the world is interesting. Could use some editing. But I enjoyed it over all.
On a completely separate note, given his story proclivities, I would pay good money to see if Lawson could write a polyam relationship without the aid of magical cultures to smooth the way.
It's not everyday you get a litRPG style story from the perspective of what we would view as an NPC. Especially one that takes the route this story did. I wasn't prepared for the amount of death despite the forward about the amount of military and war related activity that was researched. The side character were interesting, the world is interesting. Could use some editing. But I enjoyed it over all.
On a completely separate note, given his story proclivities, I would pay good money to see if Lawson could write a polyam relationship without the aid of magical cultures to smooth the way.
September 5, 2021
Pleasantly surprised!
It took me a minute to get into this story because it was a a bit much a bit fast but after a few chapters I really started getting into it.
I love a good underdog story, even better when there’s magic and super powers involved.
I loved watching these characters develop throughout the story. Fun and intriguing plot twist that pops up here and there. The narration was pretty good most of the time once I got used to the females having a deeper voice.
This is book 1 with an HEA although the overall story continues on. If you enjoy this genre, I recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
It took me a minute to get into this story because it was a a bit much a bit fast but after a few chapters I really started getting into it.
I love a good underdog story, even better when there’s magic and super powers involved.
I loved watching these characters develop throughout the story. Fun and intriguing plot twist that pops up here and there. The narration was pretty good most of the time once I got used to the females having a deeper voice.
This is book 1 with an HEA although the overall story continues on. If you enjoy this genre, I recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
February 24, 2021
Yup
Mr. Lawson has created an epic fantasy tale. Epic. The scope of this first entry is immense, we get detailed characters. All of whom are granted more than enough page time to become fully fleshed personalities. I loved the magic system, and the blend of Eastern and Western tropes to describe it to us.
Plus the visuals were stunning. All the locations popped off the page and allowed you to immerse yourself. This novel impressed me as the level of writing has once again stepped up for Mr. Lawson. Can't wait for another!
Mr. Lawson has created an epic fantasy tale. Epic. The scope of this first entry is immense, we get detailed characters. All of whom are granted more than enough page time to become fully fleshed personalities. I loved the magic system, and the blend of Eastern and Western tropes to describe it to us.
Plus the visuals were stunning. All the locations popped off the page and allowed you to immerse yourself. This novel impressed me as the level of writing has once again stepped up for Mr. Lawson. Can't wait for another!
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February 28, 2021Great Beginning To A Great Series!!😁
Liam has always provided us readers with good stories, but his latest series has taken our reading his tales to a new level!😎
The characters, the plot twists, and his world buildings in this book forced, yes FORCED me to keep reading it from start to finish for a whole day and a half and at the end making me wish I came across this book after the second already came out to be read which I plan to do when it finally gets written!!😁😁
Well done Liam!!!😎😉🎖
Liam has always provided us readers with good stories, but his latest series has taken our reading his tales to a new level!😎
The characters, the plot twists, and his world buildings in this book forced, yes FORCED me to keep reading it from start to finish for a whole day and a half and at the end making me wish I came across this book after the second already came out to be read which I plan to do when it finally gets written!!😁😁
Well done Liam!!!😎😉🎖
March 8, 2021
Mostly 5 stars
For the most part this was an excellent book with a very creative and organic magic skill tree and very sympathetic and compelling characters. SPOILER ALERT!!!
I found it jarring and broke immersion when the world was declared a programmed world and the characters were implied to be mostly sentient NPC's. One of the main characters made many references to "real world" authors, stories, computers, etc. I suppose it is a tribute to the skill of the author that I was immersed in this game world that was portrayed as a fantasy litrpg world.
For the most part this was an excellent book with a very creative and organic magic skill tree and very sympathetic and compelling characters. SPOILER ALERT!!!
I found it jarring and broke immersion when the world was declared a programmed world and the characters were implied to be mostly sentient NPC's. One of the main characters made many references to "real world" authors, stories, computers, etc. I suppose it is a tribute to the skill of the author that I was immersed in this game world that was portrayed as a fantasy litrpg world.
March 24, 2021
I quit. This one hurt. It was so good till it got lazy.
The writing was good, the pacing on point. The MC kept trying, kept going forward. There were parts I hated, but it was content. I loved reading those parts, that is five star writing. Then. Then a session was added. The MC turned into a cheap harem anime trope. That is insulting to the reader and just shear lazy writing. Just shy of halfway I quit. If you don't want to put effort into writing, I don't want to put effort into reading.
The writing was good, the pacing on point. The MC kept trying, kept going forward. There were parts I hated, but it was content. I loved reading those parts, that is five star writing. Then. Then a session was added. The MC turned into a cheap harem anime trope. That is insulting to the reader and just shear lazy writing. Just shy of halfway I quit. If you don't want to put effort into writing, I don't want to put effort into reading.
May 11, 2021
Potential
Mixed quality. Lots of good world building, politics, power systems, and relationship interactions. Some good side characters and set pieces. Some bad characters, annoying plot points, and tedious opening.
The MC is a real issue, with a base personality of insecure failure mired in guilt, an artificial overlay of confidence and decisiveness, and a disgustingly powerful ability set that gets better the more he adds magical animal girls to his harem.
I will give the sequel a chance but I cannot recommend this book.
Mixed quality. Lots of good world building, politics, power systems, and relationship interactions. Some good side characters and set pieces. Some bad characters, annoying plot points, and tedious opening.
The MC is a real issue, with a base personality of insecure failure mired in guilt, an artificial overlay of confidence and decisiveness, and a disgustingly powerful ability set that gets better the more he adds magical animal girls to his harem.
I will give the sequel a chance but I cannot recommend this book.
May 15, 2021
Hey will return cultivation novel with a twist
This is the second book in the series and as the first it has lots of action and lots of fight scenes. The main character is still lacking confidence in himself but he is getting better and stronger as time goes along. And his harem is still alive and well and he has a new member which arguments his power even more and it does not distract away from the story. The story is rich in writing and the characters seem to come alive off the page or the Kindle app as this is what I'm reading on.
This is the second book in the series and as the first it has lots of action and lots of fight scenes. The main character is still lacking confidence in himself but he is getting better and stronger as time goes along. And his harem is still alive and well and he has a new member which arguments his power even more and it does not distract away from the story. The story is rich in writing and the characters seem to come alive off the page or the Kindle app as this is what I'm reading on.
February 28, 2021
Very strong first book
I was almost put off by the ‘illustrated’ description, but there is very little illustration and it is simply very good litrpg. Some harem but adds to the storyline and isn’t overly intrusive which is a positive. Good idea, unusual use of powers and levelling making it slightly different to most litrpg and will be interesting to see where he takes the second book.
I was almost put off by the ‘illustrated’ description, but there is very little illustration and it is simply very good litrpg. Some harem but adds to the storyline and isn’t overly intrusive which is a positive. Good idea, unusual use of powers and levelling making it slightly different to most litrpg and will be interesting to see where he takes the second book.
May 30, 2021
More gamelit than LitRPG. There are only minimal LitRPG elements, though it does take place inside a game (thus the gamelit classification), otherwise, I'd simply call it fantasy, and be done with it.
Overall, it's not a bad story, and I'll certainly read more in the series if there are more, but if you're looking for a real LitRPG story, especially if you're hunting stats and progression, this isn't the story you're looking for.
Overall, it's not a bad story, and I'll certainly read more in the series if there are more, but if you're looking for a real LitRPG story, especially if you're hunting stats and progression, this isn't the story you're looking for.
June 18, 2021
Good universe but weak MC
Good skills. Unique skillset. Supposedly there are classes, but we never see one. The world has magic and dungeons are extinct. The unfortunate thing is the MC is young, acts young most of the book, and is weak. Worse, everyone but 2 people hate him most of the book. It's not enoughnthry are at war, the author thought the MC should suffer more by having family killed and everyone hate him. Depressing drama. 3.5 stars.
Good skills. Unique skillset. Supposedly there are classes, but we never see one. The world has magic and dungeons are extinct. The unfortunate thing is the MC is young, acts young most of the book, and is weak. Worse, everyone but 2 people hate him most of the book. It's not enoughnthry are at war, the author thought the MC should suffer more by having family killed and everyone hate him. Depressing drama. 3.5 stars.
February 26, 2021
Bottom line up Front, Fun read, interesting story, intriguing world build and leveling system. Well worth your time. Looking Forward to Further Adventures of the Elemental Alpha.
I enjoyed the story, interesting construction of the world and leveling system, good character development, and an intriguing twist on the LitRPG story line and hard to put down.
I enjoyed the story, interesting construction of the world and leveling system, good character development, and an intriguing twist on the LitRPG story line and hard to put down.
February 27, 2021
A good read.
The writing is good and I liked the characters. The first half was good, but I did not get as much enjoyment from the 2nd half so I knocked off a star. There is, a twist, and it works well, but things seemed rushed near the end. Overall, I would recommend picking it up. I would like to see where the story goes.
The writing is good and I liked the characters. The first half was good, but I did not get as much enjoyment from the 2nd half so I knocked off a star. There is, a twist, and it works well, but things seemed rushed near the end. Overall, I would recommend picking it up. I would like to see where the story goes.
March 21, 2021
Please Put Content Warnings
Great story but needs to have content warnings in the description. Was excited to read the story since I didn’t see any explicit content warnings. Was very sad I needed to put the book down because I don’t read books with explicit sex in them. Can only give 3 stars because didn’t finish the book. Was shaping up to be a 5 star story.
Great story but needs to have content warnings in the description. Was excited to read the story since I didn’t see any explicit content warnings. Was very sad I needed to put the book down because I don’t read books with explicit sex in them. Can only give 3 stars because didn’t finish the book. Was shaping up to be a 5 star story.
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April 20, 2021Wrong ratng
It started good but changed to something stupid really fast!! Their should have been warnings about the pornography in this book!! Why add it ? It does nothing for the story at all!! .Who but a teenager wants to read porn? I do not recommend this book waste of time reading!!
It started good but changed to something stupid really fast!! Their should have been warnings about the pornography in this book!! Why add it ? It does nothing for the story at all!! .Who but a teenager wants to read porn? I do not recommend this book waste of time reading!!
February 22, 2021
Enjoyed the story with the plot twists and how the story deviates from similar books I’ve read. The book’s end with wrapping up most of the plot threads to leave some plot to continue to the next book.
February 22, 2021
Such a good book and characters. Had be glued to my kindle reading waiting to know what happened next. And what I read was worth losing sleep over. A book I plan to read again and again.
*I was given this free review copy ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.*
*I was given this free review copy ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.*
February 23, 2021
Brilliant
Liam steps up and puts his take on the LitRPG scene , he gives us a well developed world and an interesting magic system. The characters are likeable, the plot moves at a good pace and never slows and does offer some nice twists.
Eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
Liam steps up and puts his take on the LitRPG scene , he gives us a well developed world and an interesting magic system. The characters are likeable, the plot moves at a good pace and never slows and does offer some nice twists.
Eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
February 24, 2021
Best book yet
One of the things I love best about Lawson's books are the believable characters and his world building. This is his most ambitious book and it paid off in spades.
I can't wait to read the next in the series and find out what new surprises are in store.
One of the things I love best about Lawson's books are the believable characters and his world building. This is his most ambitious book and it paid off in spades.
I can't wait to read the next in the series and find out what new surprises are in store.
March 12, 2021
Loved it
Ok so the story is fast paced in the beginning. Events seem to happen on top of each other but once it gets rolling at about half way though the book it drags you kicking and screaming to the end
Ok so the story is fast paced in the beginning. Events seem to happen on top of each other but once it gets rolling at about half way though the book it drags you kicking and screaming to the end
March 14, 2021
Nice
I was so into this book that I started and finished it in one long long sitting. The only complaint I have is that I had to keep switching between my reading seats to stay comfortable .
I was so into this book that I started and finished it in one long long sitting. The only complaint I have is that I had to keep switching between my reading seats to stay comfortable .
March 18, 2021
Great book and amazing start of a new story
I really amazing story I really love this 1Just what I thought I knew who the bad guy is going to be but they're a left turn at me that twist really got me I will definitely buy the next book
I really amazing story I really love this 1Just what I thought I knew who the bad guy is going to be but they're a left turn at me that twist really got me I will definitely buy the next book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews