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The Beginning after the End #6
Transcendence
I often caught myself pushing away the old memories of my past life. More and more, my past self’s hold on me lessened, allowing me to become the person I wanted to be in this world. But at this moment, I found myself wishing to turn back to the old me - to the cold, rational me that had suppressed his emotions in exchange for having no vulnerability that could be used against him.
Arthur Leywin knew well the cold terror of war. Yet, in his past life as King Grey, he had never lost a friend, mentor, or loved one; he had none to lose. Now, though, Arthur must accept that even those closest to him must take up arms to defend their homes as the enemy force seeks new methods to strike at the heart of Dicathen.
In his quest to stop the approaching army, Arthur must travel to the dwarven kingdom of Darv, gain mastery of the four elements, battle some of the Vritra’s mightiest champions, and overcome a grievous betrayal. Meanwhile, visions of his past life are surfacing with startling frequency, forcing Arthur to contend with the decisions of his past as he struggles to retain a vision of his future.
Arthur Leywin knew well the cold terror of war. Yet, in his past life as King Grey, he had never lost a friend, mentor, or loved one; he had none to lose. Now, though, Arthur must accept that even those closest to him must take up arms to defend their homes as the enemy force seeks new methods to strike at the heart of Dicathen.
In his quest to stop the approaching army, Arthur must travel to the dwarven kingdom of Darv, gain mastery of the four elements, battle some of the Vritra’s mightiest champions, and overcome a grievous betrayal. Meanwhile, visions of his past life are surfacing with startling frequency, forcing Arthur to contend with the decisions of his past as he struggles to retain a vision of his future.
632 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2019
1288 people are currently reading
1867 people want to read
About the author
TurtleMe
47 books1,408 followersTae Ha Lee, writing under the pen name TurtleMe, is a fantasy novelist and webcomic author. Blending elements of Western and Eastern literature, TurtleMe creates a unique and compelling reading experience that resonates with global audiences. His award-winning series, The Beginning After the End, has been translated into over ten languages and has captivated readers worldwide.
Tae Ha, a proud UC Berkeley graduate, currently resides in Seattle with his beloved wife and dog. To find out more, follow @turtleme93 on Instagram.
Tae Ha, a proud UC Berkeley graduate, currently resides in Seattle with his beloved wife and dog. To find out more, follow @turtleme93 on Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
January 4, 2020
Boring, repetitive
I skipped forward half of the book, especially the last third. The whole book is stagnated. There are a few interesting tidbits sprinkle here and there, but same story repeating over and over. For guy trained by the god, MC keep losing or barely survive and either managed to win after being near death or got save by someone else. I lost count how many times MC almost died and didn’t. It is such a contrast how he is constantly being built up as a prodigy and yet keep getting trash around by most people he fought. And please stop making him acting like a teenager when he is supposed to be a 40 years old king.
I skipped forward half of the book, especially the last third. The whole book is stagnated. There are a few interesting tidbits sprinkle here and there, but same story repeating over and over. For guy trained by the god, MC keep losing or barely survive and either managed to win after being near death or got save by someone else. I lost count how many times MC almost died and didn’t. It is such a contrast how he is constantly being built up as a prodigy and yet keep getting trash around by most people he fought. And please stop making him acting like a teenager when he is supposed to be a 40 years old king.
August 19, 2020
3.5/5 The Beginning After the End Book 6 starts a bit slow with a bit of a lull towards the end. It’s odd in that not a whole lot of progression towards the main narrative happens but a lot of stuff still does happen. It is larger than any of the other volumes this far so offers a more substantial read however I find myself missing the more whimsical elements of the first 4 volumes. It’s still an excellent tale that I’ll continue with and more stuff happens in this book than in 5 which was essentially the Dragon Ball Z training episodes. The characters and setting are still a whole lot of fun and this volume gives you a little more in-site into Arthur’s former world which is neat. But there is starting to be such a large cast that I may need a glossary to remember all of the minor players in book 7.
November 15, 2020
DNF 76%
Book is pretty slow, doesn't go anywhere and has these annoying random character perspectives scattered through out. I'm not particularly interested in hearing the POV of some random character and how they think the MC is cute.
Book feels like a big, long, boring training montage where the MC trains, but ends up just being out-classed by his opponents and only surviving by deus ex machina. Which is a real cop-out. MC seems to have dropped a bunch of IQ points, and doesn't leverage the extra experience of his past life. The interspersed past-life flashbacks are annoying.
Book is pretty slow, doesn't go anywhere and has these annoying random character perspectives scattered through out. I'm not particularly interested in hearing the POV of some random character and how they think the MC is cute.
Book feels like a big, long, boring training montage where the MC trains, but ends up just being out-classed by his opponents and only surviving by deus ex machina. Which is a real cop-out. MC seems to have dropped a bunch of IQ points, and doesn't leverage the extra experience of his past life. The interspersed past-life flashbacks are annoying.
February 29, 2020
Review of book 1 - 7
Book 1 - This was very entertaining, and while I have read something similar before, it was an enjoyable read. 4 Stars. However, only two things kept it from being 5 stars. First, there was no REAL conflict in this book. Everything was too easy for the MC and everything was pre-ordained. Second, there was an initial information dump in the form of the MC reading books in a library about his new world, but after this, we do not get much detail. I knew practically nothing about the world, how society works, etc.
Book 2 - This was also entertaining, and 4 stars, kept back because the author seemed to skip over the most enjoyable parts. I wanted to see the MC's first encounters, and read about his journey. Instead, it kind of skips over the interesting bits to summarize a 4 year period.
Book 3 - 5 Stars. The author has hit his stride. You can tell he has gotten better at writing. The author also shows that the MC has flaws and his character is changing. You see that he is not invulnerable and can be harmed.
Book 4 - 5 Stars. In this book, the author explores the wider world a bit more and you start seeing conflict on a larger scale. You finally find people who are insanely strong compared to the MC and it starts exploring the history of the world.
Book 5 - 5 Stars. This is a book of training. While it seems that a book focused mostly on training would be boring, the author did a good job of keeping the reader interested. You start to see the book from others point of view more often.
Book 6 - 4 Stars. This book shows that start of the true war and plot of the series. It is also twice as long as normal. While I normally love longer books, it almost seems as if he is padding the book. 30% of the book seems to come from other's point of view. While the writing was still good, I wanted to experience the world through the MC, not some random person.
Book 7 - 4 Stars. This book suffers from the same problems as the one before it. It is still an enjoyable read, but now about 50% of the book is either from other's point of view, or a flashback from the MC's past life. I will definitely read this series until the end. However, I am no longer furiously devouring it page by page like I did before. I find myself skimming the chapters on side characters and random enemies. There were 3 or 4 full chapters told from an enemy's point of view that ended up being pointless. I won't go into why, as that would be a spoiler.
Book 1 - This was very entertaining, and while I have read something similar before, it was an enjoyable read. 4 Stars. However, only two things kept it from being 5 stars. First, there was no REAL conflict in this book. Everything was too easy for the MC and everything was pre-ordained. Second, there was an initial information dump in the form of the MC reading books in a library about his new world, but after this, we do not get much detail. I knew practically nothing about the world, how society works, etc.
Book 2 - This was also entertaining, and 4 stars, kept back because the author seemed to skip over the most enjoyable parts. I wanted to see the MC's first encounters, and read about his journey. Instead, it kind of skips over the interesting bits to summarize a 4 year period.
Book 3 - 5 Stars. The author has hit his stride. You can tell he has gotten better at writing. The author also shows that the MC has flaws and his character is changing. You see that he is not invulnerable and can be harmed.
Book 4 - 5 Stars. In this book, the author explores the wider world a bit more and you start seeing conflict on a larger scale. You finally find people who are insanely strong compared to the MC and it starts exploring the history of the world.
Book 5 - 5 Stars. This is a book of training. While it seems that a book focused mostly on training would be boring, the author did a good job of keeping the reader interested. You start to see the book from others point of view more often.
Book 6 - 4 Stars. This book shows that start of the true war and plot of the series. It is also twice as long as normal. While I normally love longer books, it almost seems as if he is padding the book. 30% of the book seems to come from other's point of view. While the writing was still good, I wanted to experience the world through the MC, not some random person.
Book 7 - 4 Stars. This book suffers from the same problems as the one before it. It is still an enjoyable read, but now about 50% of the book is either from other's point of view, or a flashback from the MC's past life. I will definitely read this series until the end. However, I am no longer furiously devouring it page by page like I did before. I find myself skimming the chapters on side characters and random enemies. There were 3 or 4 full chapters told from an enemy's point of view that ended up being pointless. I won't go into why, as that would be a spoiler.
March 13, 2021
So the rationale that had encompassed everything is starting to rip from the seams. Arthur, like a 12 year old despite being so called a "King" in the past life started running from battlefront to battlefront, as if the strategic emphasis that he himself had meticulously worded with long strings of boring text were garbage. He left the frontlines to save Tess, then again to save his parents, whom both turned out to not need the saving. The commander ignored a direct order from Arthur to give up part of the wall. I didn't accuse this series in the beginning because it was written by an American but, this is clearly using "Stupidity" as a plot device, and that's literature crime.
May 9, 2025
The fights are at another level, and so is the training.
December 1, 2023
DNF around 50% idk
Finally just one thing too many.
There was this trash talking bad guy character ooh-toes or something (I'm doing the audiobook so no idea how its spelled) and this guy says the most messed up stuff to piss off the hero so he will fight recklessly. Trouble is that I'm sick of that crap. I've had to put up with people like that at work and I'm sick of it. Turrtleme didn't piss of the hero, they pissed off the reader.
That on top of the idiotic choices being made just to create chaos & drama (eye-roll) and yeah, I'm done.
Finally just one thing too many.
There was this trash talking bad guy character ooh-toes or something (I'm doing the audiobook so no idea how its spelled) and this guy says the most messed up stuff to piss off the hero so he will fight recklessly. Trouble is that I'm sick of that crap. I've had to put up with people like that at work and I'm sick of it. Turrtleme didn't piss of the hero, they pissed off the reader.
That on top of the idiotic choices being made just to create chaos & drama (eye-roll) and yeah, I'm done.
April 3, 2020
About a third of this book was taken up by various training, during which the plot failed to advance.
Also, it really irritated me when he deliberately entered into a tap with a traitor at his side against a stronger foe. How does that make any sense? Survival? No problem with deus ex machina.
My enthusiasm is starting to wane.
Also, it really irritated me when he deliberately entered into a tap with a traitor at his side against a stronger foe. How does that make any sense? Survival? No problem with deus ex machina.
My enthusiasm is starting to wane.
January 26, 2023
Notes:
4 Stars for Narration by Travis Baldree
3 Stars for Overall Plot
3.5 Stars for MC Development
I enjoyed the last half more than the first. Not a fan of the "flashbacks" to Grey. The segments are plopped into the main story at weird spots.
4 Stars for Narration by Travis Baldree
3 Stars for Overall Plot
3.5 Stars for MC Development
I enjoyed the last half more than the first. Not a fan of the "flashbacks" to Grey. The segments are plopped into the main story at weird spots.
September 7, 2020
It's been a while since I've been reading the series last....still enjoyable, though it took me a while to get into it again. The battle descriptions are becoming a bit tedious....
January 14, 2024
Did I spend the entirety of the start of the year binge reading a light novel? Yes. Yes, I did.
February 21, 2021
4 Stars. This book shows that start of the true war and plot of the series, but RIP the feels. It's tough to be the wonder boy in a world of no plot armor.
July 7, 2023
INSANITY (I want more King Grey)
July 11, 2022
-I feel like Arthur should just tell Tess about his previous life. It might slightly uncomplicate their somewhat creepy relationship. It's honestly only fair to her, so that she can make the most informed decision since it's clear to both of them that her ultimate goal is to be with him romantically. It may help with her jealousy and confusion over his status as well.
-Barrel-Chested and meaty are being used as adjectives a wee too much for my liking.
-Oh, wow, they let Tess sit in on a big boy discussion.
-But then we take a step back as Tess goes on about how her mother is younger than her father but still past her prime. Women are pieces of meat who degrade after a time, I guess.
-I'm finding the flashbacks interesting actually. I'm not sure what they are doing to inform the present yet if anything, but even if they don't, I like reading about the life of Grey. He is making himself out to be a bit of liar though with all his talk about never having friends or family.
-Arthur's engineering career: replicates detailed designs for steam ship, admits he's not that well versed in technology from his old world, replicates detailed designs for
-Arthur might be an unreliable narrator.
-People were upset about power level discrepancies in other reviews. Buuuuut, I think that it all mostly checks out. The thing with the retrieval of the sword is totally a flow problem though. The editor should have caught that.
-I've touched on something similar to this before with the massacre at the school, but there is definitely a beautiful = good, ugly = bad situation here. Think of the dwarves (their unattractiveness gets brought up a lot in this series), Uto, and the death touch retainer vs Seris, the elves, and humans. This was probably done subconsciously seeing as it's a storytelling trope from the beginning of time, but it does irk me.
-The luxurious parties and long training session (another one) seem ill advised seeing as there's a war going on, but I guess the other lances are around doing things.
-Turtleme is still pretty good at describing fight scenes.
-That little surprise at the end was pretty cool.
-Barrel-Chested and meaty are being used as adjectives a wee too much for my liking.
-Oh, wow, they let Tess sit in on a big boy discussion.
-But then we take a step back as Tess goes on about how her mother is younger than her father but still past her prime. Women are pieces of meat who degrade after a time, I guess.
-I'm finding the flashbacks interesting actually. I'm not sure what they are doing to inform the present yet if anything, but even if they don't, I like reading about the life of Grey. He is making himself out to be a bit of liar though with all his talk about never having friends or family.
-Arthur's engineering career: replicates detailed designs for steam ship, admits he's not that well versed in technology from his old world, replicates detailed designs for
-Arthur might be an unreliable narrator.
-People were upset about power level discrepancies in other reviews. Buuuuut, I think that it all mostly checks out. The thing with the retrieval of the sword is totally a flow problem though. The editor should have caught that.
-I've touched on something similar to this before with the massacre at the school, but there is definitely a beautiful = good, ugly = bad situation here. Think of the dwarves (their unattractiveness gets brought up a lot in this series), Uto, and the death touch retainer vs Seris, the elves, and humans. This was probably done subconsciously seeing as it's a storytelling trope from the beginning of time, but it does irk me.
-The luxurious parties and long training session (another one) seem ill advised seeing as there's a war going on, but I guess the other lances are around doing things.
-Turtleme is still pretty good at describing fight scenes.
-That little surprise at the end was pretty cool.
March 30, 2020
Rating 3.5 stars
There has been something missing in the last couple of books. The princess and his parents where huge parts of the story if not the motivation for Art in the previous books. They have barely been in the story though in the last couple of books. I have a hard time figuring out where the author is taking me. There was a good amount of this book that dealt with Grey (Art's name from his previous life) and his life as an orphan. The story told wasn't one I believe based on what was mentioned in the previous books. The war has begun and Art is made a General and a Lance. Again though I had a hard time following some of the author's choices Another thing that annoyed me a little is how the odds changed. The odds were really stacked against Art and his people, but the author felt like it was a good idea to make those odds even worse? I am starting to get a little frustrated in where the author is taking me. I will continue the series but I am not as enthusiastic as I was early on.
There has been something missing in the last couple of books. The princess and his parents where huge parts of the story if not the motivation for Art in the previous books. They have barely been in the story though in the last couple of books. I have a hard time figuring out where the author is taking me. There was a good amount of this book that dealt with Grey (Art's name from his previous life) and his life as an orphan. The story told wasn't one I believe based on what was mentioned in the previous books. The war has begun and Art is made a General and a Lance. Again though I had a hard time following some of the author's choices Another thing that annoyed me a little is how the odds changed. The odds were really stacked against Art and his people, but the author felt like it was a good idea to make those odds even worse? I am starting to get a little frustrated in where the author is taking me. I will continue the series but I am not as enthusiastic as I was early on.
May 9, 2020
Couldn't finish, writing was very juvenile in nature. Unbelievable characters with stilted dialogue.
November 1, 2024
In The Beginning After the End: Transcendence, the sixth installment of TurtleMe’s series, we’re thrown into the chaos of war alongside Arthur Leywin, who faces mounting challenges as he fights to protect his homeland. As a powerful Lance, Arthur pushes his strength to new limits, only to realize that his role in the battle is just the beginning. He is torn between his past life as King Grey and his current identity as Arthur, grappling with the burden of leadership and choices that will shape not only his fate but also the fate of those around him. Arthur constantly wrestles with the question of who is truly guiding his decisions—King Grey or Arthur?
The world-building in Transcendence remains focused on Dicathen, Arthur’s home continent and the main stage for the ongoing conflict. While this book doesn’t venture beyond Dicathen’s borders, it dives deeper into the land that Arthur is fighting to protect. TurtleMe vividly portrays the landscapes, cities, and people devastated by war, making the stakes feel real and urgent. As Arthur moves from one battle to the next, the story shows the toll of war on both the environment and its inhabitants, making the reader feel the weight of his mission.
Arthur’s character growth is central to the story. His role as a Lance tests him not only physically but emotionally, forcing him to confront the responsibilities that come with his power. His internal conflict between his past as King Grey and his current life as Arthur is at the heart of his journey, shaping his decisions and actions. This struggle adds depth, as Arthur questions his identity, loyalty, and the person he truly wants to become.
TurtleMe’s writing style is refreshing and engaging, drawing readers in without overly complex language. His prose is straightforward, allowing the action-packed scenes to flow smoothly. Given the story’s emphasis on intense battles, TurtleMe keeps each fight fresh and imaginative, preventing them from becoming repetitive or tedious. His vivid descriptions allow readers to visualize each scene in detail, keeping the narrative dynamic and immersive. This fast-paced, action-oriented style makes Transcendence especially enjoyable for fans of well-executed battle sequences.
As someone who grew up a bookworm but lost interest in reading as a busy adult, The Beginning After the End series rekindled that love and excitement for me. TurtleMe’s storytelling feels like a reminder of why I loved reading in the first place. His imagination, paired with accessible and compelling writing, makes it easy to fall into this world. For fans eagerly awaiting each new chapter of the manhwa, I recommend picking up the light novel, which lets you experience Arthur’s journey on a deeper level. This series is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a captivating reincarnation story with a well-crafted protagonist. TurtleMe has created something special, and I can’t recommend it enough.
March 26, 2025
As I have written in previous reviews of books in this series, I am attempting to re-read all of the books again.
As opposed to writing a new review for each book, I intend to cut/paste the "highlights" of my last opinion for each book as I complete them again:
**********************************************************************
The "Beginning after the End" is one of the best fictional series of the 21st Century.
It is not world shaking in it's complexity, but it is/was darned entertaining.
(I am just beginning to read this 6th book in the series. I am VERY grudgingly rating it at 4 stars so far. The story crafting is acceptable, but I am highly disappointed in how emotional, immature and reactionary the author is portraying the protagonist in this work. If "Art" was 38-39 in his first life and has spent 14-15 years on this planet, then his cognitive age should be approx. 54 yoa. Based upon his behavior and thoughts, one would suspect he were instead 17 yoa. I am also rather tired of his emotional fixation with "Tess". No 54 year old male should display such apparently testosterone driven immaturity. *sigh* I believe that this author is more skilled than what he has produced so far in this book.
ADDENDUM: I have made it 68% of the way through this book. It is becoming tedious and depressing. Apparently, the author believes that the story is more fun if the protagonist is always the underdog, under-powered, handicapped, crippled or at some new and unexpected disadvantage. He takes one step forward and two steps back with each new chapter. At this rate, it is going to be VERY hard to make it through what is becoming a joyless series. I may need to take a star off of my review. Yikes!)
I am beginning a campaign of rereading some of the over 1000 books that I have collected over the past approx. 25 years. The Beginning after the End is one of the first in my journey to read all of these works again. Long before I had ever heard of, Isekai, Regression, Game Lit or LitRPG there existed, "The Beginning after the End". Who knows, TurtleMe may have been the Grand Parent of all of those genres? There may be different works, but there are none better. :-)
As opposed to writing a new review for each book, I intend to cut/paste the "highlights" of my last opinion for each book as I complete them again:
**********************************************************************
The "Beginning after the End" is one of the best fictional series of the 21st Century.
It is not world shaking in it's complexity, but it is/was darned entertaining.
(I am just beginning to read this 6th book in the series. I am VERY grudgingly rating it at 4 stars so far. The story crafting is acceptable, but I am highly disappointed in how emotional, immature and reactionary the author is portraying the protagonist in this work. If "Art" was 38-39 in his first life and has spent 14-15 years on this planet, then his cognitive age should be approx. 54 yoa. Based upon his behavior and thoughts, one would suspect he were instead 17 yoa. I am also rather tired of his emotional fixation with "Tess". No 54 year old male should display such apparently testosterone driven immaturity. *sigh* I believe that this author is more skilled than what he has produced so far in this book.
ADDENDUM: I have made it 68% of the way through this book. It is becoming tedious and depressing. Apparently, the author believes that the story is more fun if the protagonist is always the underdog, under-powered, handicapped, crippled or at some new and unexpected disadvantage. He takes one step forward and two steps back with each new chapter. At this rate, it is going to be VERY hard to make it through what is becoming a joyless series. I may need to take a star off of my review. Yikes!)
I am beginning a campaign of rereading some of the over 1000 books that I have collected over the past approx. 25 years. The Beginning after the End is one of the first in my journey to read all of these works again. Long before I had ever heard of, Isekai, Regression, Game Lit or LitRPG there existed, "The Beginning after the End". Who knows, TurtleMe may have been the Grand Parent of all of those genres? There may be different works, but there are none better. :-)
May 10, 2020
Alert
I hate trying to write reviews because there are really only pass/fail results for me. Did I make it all the way through? Yes? 5 stars. No? There would be nothing here to read. In all fairness, if an author holds my attention from page one to the end, they’ve done their job. Anything less than 5 stars is petty criticism from someone incapable of even doing the job let alone doing a better one.
So in respect for the author and their work, I am going to start pasting this along with a generic review I found somewhere. “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Now, since I have to keep explaining myself to people who don't like my reviews, I guess some clarification is in order.
1. I am 100% against criticism for works of art. Art is subjective, meaning reviews are irrelevant. The observer's opinion is only relevant to the observer. It is my belief that regardless of what others might say, I have to experience the art for myself.
2. I read upwards of 20 books a month. The $10/month I spend on K U, feels like I am cheating the authors. But since I can't afford 20 books a month if I were to purchase them directly, all I can offer is a positive review. That leads us to the final point.
3. If I get to the end of a book, then it was worth my time. I give those books 5 stars because it helps the author get exposure. That is the only reason I write reviews at all.
I understand that people are people and they are going to do what they do regardless of my stance. I know the way that I review books upsets some people. I am sorry they feel that way but as many have said, they will just ignore my review going forward. In fact, if you made it this far through my review, you should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews here. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
Cheers
I hate trying to write reviews because there are really only pass/fail results for me. Did I make it all the way through? Yes? 5 stars. No? There would be nothing here to read. In all fairness, if an author holds my attention from page one to the end, they’ve done their job. Anything less than 5 stars is petty criticism from someone incapable of even doing the job let alone doing a better one.
So in respect for the author and their work, I am going to start pasting this along with a generic review I found somewhere. “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Now, since I have to keep explaining myself to people who don't like my reviews, I guess some clarification is in order.
1. I am 100% against criticism for works of art. Art is subjective, meaning reviews are irrelevant. The observer's opinion is only relevant to the observer. It is my belief that regardless of what others might say, I have to experience the art for myself.
2. I read upwards of 20 books a month. The $10/month I spend on K U, feels like I am cheating the authors. But since I can't afford 20 books a month if I were to purchase them directly, all I can offer is a positive review. That leads us to the final point.
3. If I get to the end of a book, then it was worth my time. I give those books 5 stars because it helps the author get exposure. That is the only reason I write reviews at all.
I understand that people are people and they are going to do what they do regardless of my stance. I know the way that I review books upsets some people. I am sorry they feel that way but as many have said, they will just ignore my review going forward. In fact, if you made it this far through my review, you should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews here. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
Cheers
December 22, 2020
One of the better ones, so, it good
Just finished the book and while I can't remember all the thoughts I had for this book reading it, it is one of the better in the series. While it was long I found it fairly paced. The dinner party/event after defeating the first retainer seemed like a bad and "dumb" move at first it did serve for plot. However I can't help but find it could've been handled less extravagantly as Arthur one of the strongest forces if not the strongest of dicathen, was barely able to finish her off. Which leads to my next issue, the Lance's. Their power leveling/scale is confusing. Alea, the one killed by uto (a retainer) years ago; happened to seem easy for uto. Was she the weakest Lance? I would assume so if she died as varay managed to hold her own against a slightly tired Arthur during the training arc. Ofc that doesn't mean she can take uto but at the very least that first retainer. assuming she is the strongest, as she can hold off bairon and olfred (who keep in mind technically was evenly matched with Aya when they fought). And assuming mica and olfred are about the same, are the Lance's even useful? My thoughts are hard to follow but what's the point of these Lance's and hyping them up if the strongest one is about evenly matched with Arthur. Another thing, if the artifact of theirs ultimately hinders any more drastic growth, in the years since alea died, did they train like enough to power up to catch up for the war? It just doesn't wrap around my head, these Lance's. Training arc was nice despite the lack of rush or importance sometimes needed as there is a war but with the end of the book it seems it's easily contained for the moment. Also like the fact that Arthurs life as king grey is finally coming back and serving for the plot, and the fact that he knows he still isn't strong enough and is caught in fear from time to time, like that fight with uto.
Just finished the book and while I can't remember all the thoughts I had for this book reading it, it is one of the better in the series. While it was long I found it fairly paced. The dinner party/event after defeating the first retainer seemed like a bad and "dumb" move at first it did serve for plot. However I can't help but find it could've been handled less extravagantly as Arthur one of the strongest forces if not the strongest of dicathen, was barely able to finish her off. Which leads to my next issue, the Lance's. Their power leveling/scale is confusing. Alea, the one killed by uto (a retainer) years ago; happened to seem easy for uto. Was she the weakest Lance? I would assume so if she died as varay managed to hold her own against a slightly tired Arthur during the training arc. Ofc that doesn't mean she can take uto but at the very least that first retainer. assuming she is the strongest, as she can hold off bairon and olfred (who keep in mind technically was evenly matched with Aya when they fought). And assuming mica and olfred are about the same, are the Lance's even useful? My thoughts are hard to follow but what's the point of these Lance's and hyping them up if the strongest one is about evenly matched with Arthur. Another thing, if the artifact of theirs ultimately hinders any more drastic growth, in the years since alea died, did they train like enough to power up to catch up for the war? It just doesn't wrap around my head, these Lance's. Training arc was nice despite the lack of rush or importance sometimes needed as there is a war but with the end of the book it seems it's easily contained for the moment. Also like the fact that Arthurs life as king grey is finally coming back and serving for the plot, and the fact that he knows he still isn't strong enough and is caught in fear from time to time, like that fight with uto.
September 18, 2022
Transcendence by TurtleMe is a step up from the last book. The War, which has thus far lurked on the horizon, is now real. Or, at least, its supposed to be. Arthur gets nearly killed in his first battle with a retainer, and then he would have died in the second if not for an eleventh hour, if intriguing, intervention. The nagging feeling I had is that the end of the last book seemed to set up an imminent attack by tens of thousands of mages on a particular city. That plot thread is dropped or temporarily frozen. If anything, TurtleMe doesn't quite want to commit to the war as it was promised. A lot of escalations are kept on hold, and Arthur even goes through another training arc after an anti-climactic showdown with someone the readers probably wanted more from. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed until the end, as I think the author was aware of just how much he was slowwalking this conflict. No real spoilers, but it makes the unhurried pace of war more believable. I will say that during the reveal two things happened at the cliff hanger that I have some reservations about. Whether those are dealt with well or if they become drags on the story will depend on the next book.
June 17, 2021
I am torn on this one. The content is not in the same ballpark as the first 5 books. The pace is a lot slower for the last 1/2 of the book. This one isn't available on whisper sync for whatever reason so I read it on Kindle. I am sure the number of editorial mistakes is online with the rest of the series, but Travis didn't edit them out for me this time so I had to filter myself. There wasn't a traditional story progression because the flashbacks sort of took the end of the book climax and the current story took the mid book climax. It wasn't bad though and I of course want to read the next one, I enjoyed it too, but it certainly isn't on par with the others in the series. If you like the first 5 this one will be a let down, but not a disappointment. Think grinding episode or training montage that lasts for the majority of the book. Overall good, but I miss the narration so next one will be on audio.
April 16, 2025
A low 3/5.
Best book in the series yet though that's a low bar.
Some solid action and progression of the story.
Art is still a smug bastard who is hard to witness.
For the first time since the beginning of the story it felt like the "isekai" element actually added something valuable, with the side plot of Grey in Art's original life.
The Grey side story actually feels better written than the main story as it doesn't include superfluous detail on Art's thoughts of how he will increase his mana core and all the bullshit that makes the story slow and boring and cringe.
For the love of god if you want to talk about the innerworkings of a magic system so much make a hard magic system not this loose bendy excuse for a system full of holes and exceptions.
Well I could rant for a while on all the things this story does wrong but I guess I'll just shut up and soldier on.
Best book in the series yet though that's a low bar.
Some solid action and progression of the story.
Art is still a smug bastard who is hard to witness.
For the first time since the beginning of the story it felt like the "isekai" element actually added something valuable, with the side plot of Grey in Art's original life.
The Grey side story actually feels better written than the main story as it doesn't include superfluous detail on Art's thoughts of how he will increase his mana core and all the bullshit that makes the story slow and boring and cringe.
For the love of god if you want to talk about the innerworkings of a magic system so much make a hard magic system not this loose bendy excuse for a system full of holes and exceptions.
Well I could rant for a while on all the things this story does wrong but I guess I'll just shut up and soldier on.
April 1, 2022
I can not continue with the series. Ugh I kept going hoping for a miraculous change since it's steady decline from book 3 but wow I had to force myself to finish just to be sure I would not continue with these books.
Why is the MC who has the mentality of a 50/60 year old doing stupid childish mistakes like taking on an enemy all alone. Why has the author made it a point for the MC to suffer so much for not much development to the character he is still the same with hardly any emotional or mental development. Oh God we get he's the hero he has to suffer to win but it's becoming so damn repetitive. He fights impossible enemies does stupid stuff, survives somehow comes back to worry his family. The End
Why is the MC who has the mentality of a 50/60 year old doing stupid childish mistakes like taking on an enemy all alone. Why has the author made it a point for the MC to suffer so much for not much development to the character he is still the same with hardly any emotional or mental development. Oh God we get he's the hero he has to suffer to win but it's becoming so damn repetitive. He fights impossible enemies does stupid stuff, survives somehow comes back to worry his family. The End
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2020
with war in full swing, Arthur tries to find his balance between what he can and cannot control. His desire to protect everyone he loves is first and foremost in this life, since he let his love ones die in his past life. but in trying to protect them, he is forgetting that they have their own karmas and purpose to live. His infliction of his heart felt duty gets in the way of the joy in equally footed relationships. But as his power grows, he uses it to protect everyone but himself as he continues to veer uncomfortably close to death time and time again only to come back. But it seems the enemy at war with his world is also protecting him - but for what purpose?
January 10, 2023
The main character is an idiot and his unreasonable decisions are the mechanisms the author uses to force drama into the story. There are also a lot of long drawn out pointless overly emotional conversations that could be easily resolved if the MC didn't feel the need to hide things he doesn't need to hide or do and say things he doesn't need to do or say. Luckily for the main character everyone around him is an idiot as well so he is still able to become a great hero despite his mental handicap. It's also very annoying how much time he spends being afraid, he doesn't act like a seasoned warrior but a whiny child... also who writes a book where the hero loses every single fight...
April 1, 2024
Emotional impact 7.7
The cliffhanger… The life or death fights…
Characters 7.9
My highest rating for characters in all the books so far. We finally got enough time to stay with characters to enjoy them. Expanding on previous ones. The overwhelming villain. Plus we have Arthur
Dialogue/acting 7.5
Nothing to complain about here.
Plot 7.8
We are getting into some bigger problems now with the war and we still aren’t even ready. Even tho last book had a training arc I liked this one more. The group dynamic was fun
World building / Power system 7.9
The world just keeps expanding. We finally getting some more info on KING GREY, but only little scraps. We will have to wait some more. And yet again more entertaining powers are shown.
Overall 7.8
These books only get better. I’m expecting an 8 on the next one
The cliffhanger… The life or death fights…
Characters 7.9
My highest rating for characters in all the books so far. We finally got enough time to stay with characters to enjoy them. Expanding on previous ones. The overwhelming villain. Plus we have Arthur
Dialogue/acting 7.5
Nothing to complain about here.
Plot 7.8
We are getting into some bigger problems now with the war and we still aren’t even ready. Even tho last book had a training arc I liked this one more. The group dynamic was fun
World building / Power system 7.9
The world just keeps expanding. We finally getting some more info on KING GREY, but only little scraps. We will have to wait some more. And yet again more entertaining powers are shown.
Overall 7.8
These books only get better. I’m expecting an 8 on the next one
August 9, 2020
I am starting to like this books a bit less with each one. There are still some interesting ideas but Arthur still feels too incredible, even when he loses.
Also, how is this dude a genius at engineering, economics, war, and combat. The insight we have in to his past life gives us no insight into how this dude could draw the blueprints for a train.
I may read the next one as they are all easy reads, but the story is starting to be predictable.
Also, it feels weird how many characters are added and discarded.
Also, how is this dude a genius at engineering, economics, war, and combat. The insight we have in to his past life gives us no insight into how this dude could draw the blueprints for a train.
I may read the next one as they are all easy reads, but the story is starting to be predictable.
Also, it feels weird how many characters are added and discarded.
December 23, 2020
There is a huge plothole.
It seems the author has kept the same steam he started with. Nothing didn't significantly drop in quality as far as I see. I will be reading the next book.
3.5/5 Stars
It seems the author has kept the same steam he started with. Nothing didn't significantly drop in quality as far as I see. I will be reading the next book.
3.5/5 Stars
May 10, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
We see the story change from last books focus on Arthur's training as the war begins and the overall conflict takes shape.
There is more of a focus on Arthur's character, with us learning more about his past life as well as building on his connections with the others around him.
I did find one of the earlier fights that took place slightly convoluted with some of the character details and at times the pace did feel a bit slow, however I still found it enjoyable nonetheless.
I also really enjoyed the latter parts of the book and I feel that it ended on a really strong note, setting up the story nicely for the next books.
We see the story change from last books focus on Arthur's training as the war begins and the overall conflict takes shape.
There is more of a focus on Arthur's character, with us learning more about his past life as well as building on his connections with the others around him.
I did find one of the earlier fights that took place slightly convoluted with some of the character details and at times the pace did feel a bit slow, however I still found it enjoyable nonetheless.
I also really enjoyed the latter parts of the book and I feel that it ended on a really strong note, setting up the story nicely for the next books.
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