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Manaborn #1
Manaborn 1
This is the story about how I died. Not really…I mean, I don’t remember most of it, thank goodness. Long story short, I was betrayed. Some people I thought I could trust invaded my sky palace, stole my women and enslaved my pet shadow hounds.
I was destroyed, utterly. Or so they thought.
Somehow, mana, the source of my previous power, brought me back. The backstabbing weasels think they are safe, barricaded in their strongholds. Here’s the horrible part. They willingly sacrificed their own flesh and blood for security. And they had the nerve to call me evil?
Death wasn’t all bad, I guess. It showed me what was truly important. But before I can get around to living my second life, I have some retribution to dish out.
Yes, some will call me unnatural. Others, evil. Blah blah blah.
I call me the Manaborn.
I was destroyed, utterly. Or so they thought.
Somehow, mana, the source of my previous power, brought me back. The backstabbing weasels think they are safe, barricaded in their strongholds. Here’s the horrible part. They willingly sacrificed their own flesh and blood for security. And they had the nerve to call me evil?
Death wasn’t all bad, I guess. It showed me what was truly important. But before I can get around to living my second life, I have some retribution to dish out.
Yes, some will call me unnatural. Others, evil. Blah blah blah.
I call me the Manaborn.
441 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2021
652 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 15, 2021
This is just poorly written.
The characters are flat and unrealistic. The writing is choppy and difficult to get through. The main character is suppose to be evil but with a second chance to rethink his choices, that is fine if he was not inconsistent. His morality seems randomly forced on, making the whole thing unbelievable. This is a chore to read and never feels real.
The characters are flat and unrealistic. The writing is choppy and difficult to get through. The main character is suppose to be evil but with a second chance to rethink his choices, that is fine if he was not inconsistent. His morality seems randomly forced on, making the whole thing unbelievable. This is a chore to read and never feels real.
September 10, 2021
Weak attempt at a book by an illiterate
Stopped on page 27 at the following sentence:
“I appreciate the offer, but I will respectively decline,” I said, waving her off.
I "respectively" request the author get out of his teens, interact with more than teenagers, and learn how people communicate.
Stopped on page 27 at the following sentence:
“I appreciate the offer, but I will respectively decline,” I said, waving her off.
I "respectively" request the author get out of his teens, interact with more than teenagers, and learn how people communicate.
May 16, 2021
Nah
If you like your MC to be an @$$hole…
I was unimpressed by the characters. The MC didn’t have simple ‘plot armor’, he was empowered by the plot at every turn. Everything was so easy, even his supporting character became a skilled swordswoman with just a few moments of mana…that was too scarce otherwise for the MC to use.
I didn’t read very far, but the overt sexual ogling and over the top quick power up…I just wasn’t interested in going further.
DNF
If you like your MC to be an @$$hole…
I was unimpressed by the characters. The MC didn’t have simple ‘plot armor’, he was empowered by the plot at every turn. Everything was so easy, even his supporting character became a skilled swordswoman with just a few moments of mana…that was too scarce otherwise for the MC to use.
I didn’t read very far, but the overt sexual ogling and over the top quick power up…I just wasn’t interested in going further.
DNF
December 26, 2021
The story is essentially like playing a game with cheats enabled, the MC always wins and any adversity is merely a bump in the road. Also the MC is the perfect man, men want to be him and all women desire him. He is wise and humble also...
June 16, 2021
The MC is just a walking smirk.
August 14, 2021
Story drew me in . . .
Interesting main character. Almost OP!
Likely will be an interesting series of books - seems very well written.
Sexy Sex, bloody fights, Magic . . .
NOT recommended for under 18. Nor anyone squeamish.
Interesting main character. Almost OP!
Likely will be an interesting series of books - seems very well written.
Sexy Sex, bloody fights, Magic . . .
NOT recommended for under 18. Nor anyone squeamish.
August 2, 2022
I think the best parts of this book are the color map and grayscale illustrations inside, the great cover illustration. If the model on the cover were a little rounder she could have been a painting in the Italian Renaissance. Although it says cultivation on the cover, I did not see a cultivation method (at least a traditional one) to make the Ki-Qi-Aether-Mana flow within the body, to get the body stronger, faster, smarter, etc. The main character does not meditate, train or improve his strength, speed, intelligence, hardness, etc. with the "cultivation" that the author writes about but is not real training, real meditating, real moving the Ki-Qi-Mana-Aether around his body, etc. like typical cultivation light novel series. The main character seems to only collect, drink and push pills to himself and his retinue. It is like a modern American drug-addiction story. Instead of creating a "sect" they should have created a "drug-cartel".
It is an isekai-fantasy (reincarnated into the body of another man) novel series. It is a harem-like-retinue with sexual innuendos and sensuous liaisons. So underage minors should not read this story. It's as if the author and main character are making a harem-retinue-platter (Harem Scavenger Hunt), because this is more than half of what is written and what is important to the author and the main character...
Where is this story going? What is the point to this story? If the main character and the retinue were merchants peddling their wares, moving around would be okay, but these characters and this story is not going anywhere (objectives) while moving around the town, etc.
Character and world development is really low. Women are described by their "beauty" and "curves", guys are described by their weapons or professions. Where are the face, body, personality, character, clothing, descriptions?, where are the town governance, trade and population, etc. indicators and approximations? How are the main characters in this story subsisting if they do not have an income, broke out of "jail", etc.?
This first volume has 400+ pages (chapter page has a huge double dragon yin-yang vector) with 39 chapters. So although each chapter is over ten pages on average, the descriptions (imagery) of the characters and places are the minimum.
If revenge is the main motive, why isn't the main character training, improving his abilities and skills, investigating his enemies, etc. etc. etc. making a plan, etc. etc. strategies, machinations, etc. etc. etc. This book needs a story. Needs to develop its characters, develop the towns shown in the map, develop the plot arcs, the antagonists, etc. etc. etc.
It is an isekai-fantasy (reincarnated into the body of another man) novel series. It is a harem-like-retinue with sexual innuendos and sensuous liaisons. So underage minors should not read this story. It's as if the author and main character are making a harem-retinue-platter (Harem Scavenger Hunt), because this is more than half of what is written and what is important to the author and the main character...
Where is this story going? What is the point to this story? If the main character and the retinue were merchants peddling their wares, moving around would be okay, but these characters and this story is not going anywhere (objectives) while moving around the town, etc.
Character and world development is really low. Women are described by their "beauty" and "curves", guys are described by their weapons or professions. Where are the face, body, personality, character, clothing, descriptions?, where are the town governance, trade and population, etc. indicators and approximations? How are the main characters in this story subsisting if they do not have an income, broke out of "jail", etc.?
This first volume has 400+ pages (chapter page has a huge double dragon yin-yang vector) with 39 chapters. So although each chapter is over ten pages on average, the descriptions (imagery) of the characters and places are the minimum.
If revenge is the main motive, why isn't the main character training, improving his abilities and skills, investigating his enemies, etc. etc. etc. making a plan, etc. etc. strategies, machinations, etc. etc. etc. This book needs a story. Needs to develop its characters, develop the towns shown in the map, develop the plot arcs, the antagonists, etc. etc. etc.
January 31, 2024
Good Story, Ruined by Poor Dialogue
In most books I would look forward to the dialogue and interactions between characters, this book oddly did kept me interested enough to finish by the plot movement, but I would often skim through dialogue.
The character interactions ranged from ok to atrocious. Characters just say crap to say it and not follow through, almost like the author was trying to up word count or just forgot to change something from an earlier draft. I don’t mind humor and puns from characters but the author will setup a good serious scene and it will inevitably be ruined for the reader by a joke from the MC. There’s a time and place for comic relief or at least use sparingly if it’s going to break a serious scene, but it’s no longer amusing when the comic relief is just expected.
Some issues include the MC telling one woman no one else will leave a clearing alive then let’s all the survivors go…alive; a lot of dorky dialogue and exposition about intent of the MC that makes the him seem like a cringey showoff when he initially comes off as the type to let his actions speak for themselves; mediocre world building; and plot armor galore.
——Spoilers Below——-
There were also plenty of inconsistencies:
Why are Ceres and Eilin wearing nice expensive clothes that could get ruined to fight abyss monsters and mine for metals, but suddenly can’t wear it to carve up kills? MC finds a girl chained and essentially tortured for decades (impossible as that seems) to plug a mana hole in the tower but frees her just to tell her to stay alone in the tower and don’t leave until he comes to get her…in a few weeks? Yeah ok….fantasy story should at least have believable character motives and behaviors a normal human can relate to in their own species. Also, having adult side characters beg the MC repeatedly to tell them something he (annoyingly) began to state but didn’t finish the thought makes the whole group seem like children playing nah nah I know something you don’t; really? This should not be used as a writing device to build suspense or comic relief for your characters it makes the reader want to punch your MC for being a dolt and not bother with the rest of the book. I felt like the author could be great but would just get in his own way due to the above issues.
To be clear, I was interested enough in the story itself to finish the book, and I may continue reading the sequels purely for the plot, but I’m really hoping the author can cleanse some of these issues up in what I think would otherwise be a very engaging story.
In most books I would look forward to the dialogue and interactions between characters, this book oddly did kept me interested enough to finish by the plot movement, but I would often skim through dialogue.
The character interactions ranged from ok to atrocious. Characters just say crap to say it and not follow through, almost like the author was trying to up word count or just forgot to change something from an earlier draft. I don’t mind humor and puns from characters but the author will setup a good serious scene and it will inevitably be ruined for the reader by a joke from the MC. There’s a time and place for comic relief or at least use sparingly if it’s going to break a serious scene, but it’s no longer amusing when the comic relief is just expected.
Some issues include the MC telling one woman no one else will leave a clearing alive then let’s all the survivors go…alive; a lot of dorky dialogue and exposition about intent of the MC that makes the him seem like a cringey showoff when he initially comes off as the type to let his actions speak for themselves; mediocre world building; and plot armor galore.
——Spoilers Below——-
There were also plenty of inconsistencies:
Why are Ceres and Eilin wearing nice expensive clothes that could get ruined to fight abyss monsters and mine for metals, but suddenly can’t wear it to carve up kills? MC finds a girl chained and essentially tortured for decades (impossible as that seems) to plug a mana hole in the tower but frees her just to tell her to stay alone in the tower and don’t leave until he comes to get her…in a few weeks? Yeah ok….fantasy story should at least have believable character motives and behaviors a normal human can relate to in their own species. Also, having adult side characters beg the MC repeatedly to tell them something he (annoyingly) began to state but didn’t finish the thought makes the whole group seem like children playing nah nah I know something you don’t; really? This should not be used as a writing device to build suspense or comic relief for your characters it makes the reader want to punch your MC for being a dolt and not bother with the rest of the book. I felt like the author could be great but would just get in his own way due to the above issues.
To be clear, I was interested enough in the story itself to finish the book, and I may continue reading the sequels purely for the plot, but I’m really hoping the author can cleanse some of these issues up in what I think would otherwise be a very engaging story.
June 1, 2022
Very creative story
The MC is a reincarnated mage who returns in the body of a thief who died in prison 30 years after his demise. Gaining his freedom fromthe jail, with the help of the thief's also incarcerated gf/partner he sets out to find out who betrayed him to the emperor and put his allies to the sword. He must carefully cultivate his mana, get stronger, build new alliances and put plans in place to take revenge on the emperor and his entrenched supporters. Overall a pretty good story. It was very interesting that the MC took some quality time to explore the bottom of a lake with his gf inside a mana sphere, lets call it a magic imbued scuba diving excursion. This, along with some other scenes gave the story balance as it reminds us to always take some quality time to smell the roses along the journey of life. Looking forward to reading the next installment of the series.
The MC is a reincarnated mage who returns in the body of a thief who died in prison 30 years after his demise. Gaining his freedom fromthe jail, with the help of the thief's also incarcerated gf/partner he sets out to find out who betrayed him to the emperor and put his allies to the sword. He must carefully cultivate his mana, get stronger, build new alliances and put plans in place to take revenge on the emperor and his entrenched supporters. Overall a pretty good story. It was very interesting that the MC took some quality time to explore the bottom of a lake with his gf inside a mana sphere, lets call it a magic imbued scuba diving excursion. This, along with some other scenes gave the story balance as it reminds us to always take some quality time to smell the roses along the journey of life. Looking forward to reading the next installment of the series.
January 14, 2022
I saw and dismissed this book multiple times. Recently the blurb seems that it would be an enjoyable read... so here we go.
I don't know what to make of this book.
It started with a serious tone and the protagonist trying to gain strength to enact his revenge, then it switches to this so-in-love-and-relaxed tone, that you get for being with someone for years (it's been less than a week).
Then you have this comedy tone that feels out of place in the time / world?
I don't really know what to make of it.
I see
I guess I will have to wait for the next book to confirm.
The book was "okay", some parts seemed very odd, but I'm willing to read the sequel.
3/5 Stars
I don't know what to make of this book.
It started with a serious tone and the protagonist trying to gain strength to enact his revenge, then it switches to this so-in-love-and-relaxed tone, that you get for being with someone for years (it's been less than a week).
Then you have this comedy tone that feels out of place in the time / world?
I don't really know what to make of it.
I see
I guess I will have to wait for the next book to confirm.
The book was "okay", some parts seemed very odd, but I'm willing to read the sequel.
3/5 Stars
May 20, 2021
This was a pretty good novel. The main character is a bit of an asshole, but one that is trying to become better. After dying and resurrection in a powerless body, he is focused on revenge, but also on living his new life better -- enjoying life and also working on gaining allies through affection and loyalty rather than through fear. While not too deep, there is a conscious character development, as well as some unexpected depths in what initially appears as two-dimensional characters. E.g. a treacherous enemy may or may not be a true villain; a bit character or two develop in strength and emotional complexity. While the overall plot is straightforward -- gain power with elements of cultivation and politics -- the twists make it more intriguing.
Hope for an equal or stronger sequel.
Hope for an equal or stronger sequel.
May 17, 2021
Dieing is Not the end of an Immortals Life
Being allowed to start life over is an immortals dream and being allowed to be the good(ish) guy the 2nd time around is the best. Sometimes being the good guy requires being bad too. Regaining friends and those to trust is the hardest part.
This story starts out exciting and ends just as exciting. It's jam packed with adventure and evil/good plots for revenge. The MC gains 2 loves and more friends and have started down the road to more conquests and revenge.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and look forward to more dastardly deeds.
Read in 4 days
Being allowed to start life over is an immortals dream and being allowed to be the good(ish) guy the 2nd time around is the best. Sometimes being the good guy requires being bad too. Regaining friends and those to trust is the hardest part.
This story starts out exciting and ends just as exciting. It's jam packed with adventure and evil/good plots for revenge. The MC gains 2 loves and more friends and have started down the road to more conquests and revenge.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and look forward to more dastardly deeds.
Read in 4 days
January 20, 2024
Just not good. Boring and lifeless.
First 20 or so pages, the premise and the idea of the book seemed good and interesting. And then the dialogue started. I can't stress enough how bad the dialogue is in this book, it's cringe, fake and unreal and completely agenda oriented. I supposed strong male character immediately gets taken over by she-boss, can't do anything for himself without the approval of everyone around him. The cover may have been the best thing about this book and even that wasn't that great. Just a bad story waste of time mostly because the dialogue was so horrendous. Waste of time.
First 20 or so pages, the premise and the idea of the book seemed good and interesting. And then the dialogue started. I can't stress enough how bad the dialogue is in this book, it's cringe, fake and unreal and completely agenda oriented. I supposed strong male character immediately gets taken over by she-boss, can't do anything for himself without the approval of everyone around him. The cover may have been the best thing about this book and even that wasn't that great. Just a bad story waste of time mostly because the dialogue was so horrendous. Waste of time.
November 26, 2025
It was exciting but I felt more nervous than happy about it. The title doesn't make sense for what it is, but that's beside the point. Not particularly happy with the questionable love interests, but Ceres was a delight, she was excellent. It's the other potentials that are strange. The plot itself was fine, but nothing went according to plan which kept me guessing. That would be good but it left me wondering why I'm reading something so chaotic because it isn't a good feeling. I don't know if I'll read the next one, even though this one was good.. it just wasn't great.
May 8, 2024
Not a fan, managed to finish it though. Plot is bog standard xianxia, regressor tope. MC has so many problems, the women are not believably written at all, it’s not even that the world is misogynistic/medieval, the just go along with everything the mc says, the fmc gets over the fact the mc supplanted her childhood friend/lover very quickly, like its just briefly mentioned and never meaningfully comes up again.
Three is generous.
Three is generous.
December 16, 2025
Its like oceans 11
Except every move the MC expects the antagonists to make, they don't make, and every countermove they make, there is no contingency plan for, and no matter how many times the MC is caught not knowing wtf is going on, all his people, as well as himself, have the up most confidence in him (I guess cause he knows mystical kung fu?). Its a little weird, but an alright story.
Except every move the MC expects the antagonists to make, they don't make, and every countermove they make, there is no contingency plan for, and no matter how many times the MC is caught not knowing wtf is going on, all his people, as well as himself, have the up most confidence in him (I guess cause he knows mystical kung fu?). Its a little weird, but an alright story.
May 20, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book
Granted this is a story told a different way. But once I got into it was entrancing I couldn't stop reading it. The characters were built with good back story that lead to along to a point that I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen.
The author has delivered a gem in the rough. I can not wait for the next book.
Well done 5*****
Granted this is a story told a different way. But once I got into it was entrancing I couldn't stop reading it. The characters were built with good back story that lead to along to a point that I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen.
The author has delivered a gem in the rough. I can not wait for the next book.
Well done 5*****
July 22, 2021
First cultivation book
I am not a large fan of cultivation books. Having said this I am finding this book intriguing, spontaneous and well written. I encourage you to read and enjoy the beginning adventure of Aiden and his women as they travel the roads of revenge and redemption. Happy reading all.
I am not a large fan of cultivation books. Having said this I am finding this book intriguing, spontaneous and well written. I encourage you to read and enjoy the beginning adventure of Aiden and his women as they travel the roads of revenge and redemption. Happy reading all.
May 16, 2021
A progression story
A dead king come back to live in a new body. His has a plan to grow stronger while getting revenge along the way. I really enjoyed the story. Great characters and looking forward to more from this author.
A dead king come back to live in a new body. His has a plan to grow stronger while getting revenge along the way. I really enjoyed the story. Great characters and looking forward to more from this author.
May 20, 2021
Dang
Nice start to a story. Prolly gonna get bogged down in wanting to draw it out for money, slow the pace to glacial, and then stop writing it after 4 books, like basically every other cultivation harem. But I'll enjoy it till then
Nice start to a story. Prolly gonna get bogged down in wanting to draw it out for money, slow the pace to glacial, and then stop writing it after 4 books, like basically every other cultivation harem. But I'll enjoy it till then
June 16, 2021
Very enjoyable read. Well written plot to engage the reader. Stands above the run of the mill books by the number so prevalent in todays genre dragging out the storyline artificially.
Cannot wait for the next book. Hopefully soon!
Cannot wait for the next book. Hopefully soon!
June 22, 2021
Great read!!!
I literally can't wait for the next book in this series! I'm avidly awaiting the next book. This is the first book by this author I've read. I intend to vontinue following him.
I literally can't wait for the next book in this series! I'm avidly awaiting the next book. This is the first book by this author I've read. I intend to vontinue following him.
June 29, 2021
Great book
Damn I'm loving this story can't wait to read more it's clear dude is smart to build those around him but he hadn't spent enough on himself I hope he can balance it all and still grow strong without becoming an ass
Damn I'm loving this story can't wait to read more it's clear dude is smart to build those around him but he hadn't spent enough on himself I hope he can balance it all and still grow strong without becoming an ass
July 15, 2021
Best book I have read since Kane
Outstanding, really great story and very well written and told. I was hooked from the first paragraph. I almost stayed up all night reading but at my age it didn't work. I am chopping at the bit for the next one.
Outstanding, really great story and very well written and told. I was hooked from the first paragraph. I almost stayed up all night reading but at my age it didn't work. I am chopping at the bit for the next one.
July 26, 2021
Average
The story starts well but I'm tired with all the sexually oriented stories. It's OK to have a part, but if the story is focused on that, we'll just put a warning in the description so people don't get the book.
The story starts well but I'm tired with all the sexually oriented stories. It's OK to have a part, but if the story is focused on that, we'll just put a warning in the description so people don't get the book.
August 9, 2021
Excellent Storytelling
Although a microcosm, great world building, easy action and well fleshed characters without too much back story. Quick, easy and fun read. Looking forward to the next.
Although a microcosm, great world building, easy action and well fleshed characters without too much back story. Quick, easy and fun read. Looking forward to the next.
September 19, 2021
Great read
Loved the authors style. Well developed Main Character.
Though it has very descriptive sex scenes it avoids a lot of foul language that some of this genre use. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Loved the authors style. Well developed Main Character.
Though it has very descriptive sex scenes it avoids a lot of foul language that some of this genre use. Looking forward to the next in the series.
January 27, 2024
a surprisingly good read
It get you in right from the start, I think I finished this book in record time. Just a great book, I am about to get the next and hopefully it will be as good
It get you in right from the start, I think I finished this book in record time. Just a great book, I am about to get the next and hopefully it will be as good
April 2, 2024
Fantastic and seductive
I've read this book 4 times now, and it's still amazing. Character development blends beautifully with the story as events shape the narrative into a captivating tale. One of my favorite cultivation fantasies without overpowering the book with sex.
I've read this book 4 times now, and it's still amazing. Character development blends beautifully with the story as events shape the narrative into a captivating tale. One of my favorite cultivation fantasies without overpowering the book with sex.
January 8, 2025
A 13hr audio book. A disappointment story, the main character is a power hungry psycho who thinks he is reincarnated and turning over a new leaf of life. At this moment I don't think I am going to give the second book a chance. But I did like the powers, levels and non-character story ideas.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews