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An Outcast In Another World #1
Human Insanity
Rob didn't think of himself as anyone special, but when a pitch-black portal tried to wrap his best friend in chains, he stepped up without thinking and found himself ensnared instead. His moment of heroism results in being torn away from everyone he knew and loved, kidnapped by an unknown force that leaves him with a note in his pocket stating: "Good luck."
After being thrown into the wilderness of Elatra, a hostile fantasy world ruled by levels, stats, progression, and bizarre video game logic, he finds himself entirely out of his depth. Armed with nothing but a sword and the clothes on his back, he sets out on his the first day, and almost dies. On the second day, he almost dies again. On the third, he began to notice a worrying trend. And almost dies.
It doesn't get any easier from there.
Overcoming the wilds is just the first step in his journey; the society of Elatra is incredibly hostile to humans, having just come off of a devastating war that left over half the population dead, and getting the locals to trust the last human in existence is a struggle in and of itself. Between being powerless in a world that hates him and suffering under a System that is altering his mind in unwanted ways, Rob quickly finds that monsters aren't nearly the biggest thing to worry about.
As far as LitRPG isekai adventures go, Rob drew the short straw in many ways. But that's okay - all the bullshit in the world won't keep him down. He'll carve out a place in this world with his bare hands if necessary. He'll survive, and then he'll thrive.
Whether anyone wants him to or not.
After being thrown into the wilderness of Elatra, a hostile fantasy world ruled by levels, stats, progression, and bizarre video game logic, he finds himself entirely out of his depth. Armed with nothing but a sword and the clothes on his back, he sets out on his the first day, and almost dies. On the second day, he almost dies again. On the third, he began to notice a worrying trend. And almost dies.
It doesn't get any easier from there.
Overcoming the wilds is just the first step in his journey; the society of Elatra is incredibly hostile to humans, having just come off of a devastating war that left over half the population dead, and getting the locals to trust the last human in existence is a struggle in and of itself. Between being powerless in a world that hates him and suffering under a System that is altering his mind in unwanted ways, Rob quickly finds that monsters aren't nearly the biggest thing to worry about.
As far as LitRPG isekai adventures go, Rob drew the short straw in many ways. But that's okay - all the bullshit in the world won't keep him down. He'll carve out a place in this world with his bare hands if necessary. He'll survive, and then he'll thrive.
Whether anyone wants him to or not.
449 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2021
1067 people are currently reading
857 people want to read
About the author
KamikazePotato
25 books74 followersHello all you lovely people! My name is Brett - a.k.a. KamikazePotato - and I've been a massive fan of fantasy stories since the first time I first picked up a book. Over the years, I've devoured well over 100 fantasy novels, dozens of fantasy video games, plenty of fantasy TV shows and movies...you get the idea.
Naturally, this made me want to create a fantasy world of my own. Around the time I decided to sit down and write a story I would actually share with everyone, I also got into the LitRPG genre, and here we are.
I plan to write plenty more stories in this genre, and to spread my wings out to other genres as well! Writing is a joy, and so is getting to see people enjoy what I've created.
Naturally, this made me want to create a fantasy world of my own. Around the time I decided to sit down and write a story I would actually share with everyone, I also got into the LitRPG genre, and here we are.
I plan to write plenty more stories in this genre, and to spread my wings out to other genres as well! Writing is a joy, and so is getting to see people enjoy what I've created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
September 2, 2023
While Rob is compelling, I ditched out at about three-quarters. Two factors just don't interest me. The first is that humanity was wiped out because they suffer a unique malady called "Leveling High". For them, gaining levels gives them a unique high that becomes addictive and turns them into killing machines searching out that next high. Addiction sucks and saddling the hero with one he literally has no choice over and cannot quit (because he has to survive and that means fighting for his survival) is an awful lot of suck to live through.
The second is that everyone hates humans. Not without cause, but can you really blame a people faced with complete extinction from creating a doomsday spell so destructive it wipes out vast numbers of their enemies? Of course you can! Frankly, I can't blame anyone in this scenario because horrible things happened all around. Unfortunately, the only human left is the isekaied Rob. Who is now left as a target for all the animosity that happened a mere eight years ago. It's completely unfair and yet reasonable. And I was mildly interested to see if he could navigate that hatred until we see the world's biggest, most powerful people issue absolute edicts to execute him, sight unseen. Which means there is literally no path to peace for Rob no matter what he does.
So we know that not only will he have to fight whatever is behind the monster surge the people he met are fighting, but he's also going to face the animosity of literally every possible refuge. And that's more than I care to indulge.
I'm giving this a second star because the author does a good job with characterization and the plot was engaging. I wanted to see the friends Rob makes grow and overcome their prejudice and gain respect and appreciation. Also, Kiera is just awesome. I wish the background had been more conducive to my engagement, but there are just too many factors weighing against it.
The second is that everyone hates humans. Not without cause, but can you really blame a people faced with complete extinction from creating a doomsday spell so destructive it wipes out vast numbers of their enemies? Of course you can! Frankly, I can't blame anyone in this scenario because horrible things happened all around. Unfortunately, the only human left is the isekaied Rob. Who is now left as a target for all the animosity that happened a mere eight years ago. It's completely unfair and yet reasonable. And I was mildly interested to see if he could navigate that hatred until we see the world's biggest, most powerful people issue absolute edicts to execute him, sight unseen. Which means there is literally no path to peace for Rob no matter what he does.
So we know that not only will he have to fight whatever is behind the monster surge the people he met are fighting, but he's also going to face the animosity of literally every possible refuge. And that's more than I care to indulge.
I'm giving this a second star because the author does a good job with characterization and the plot was engaging. I wanted to see the friends Rob makes grow and overcome their prejudice and gain respect and appreciation. Also, Kiera is just awesome. I wish the background had been more conducive to my engagement, but there are just too many factors weighing against it.
December 29, 2023
4/5
A litRPG adventure with humor, hearts, camaraderie and badass level-ups
✅ Likable and witty MC who's strong and vulnerable which makes him a guy to root for
✅ Intresting secondary characters
✅ Well paced and written
The only issue I had with this one is sometimes the book felt a little dragged but it only a minor issue.
On to the sequel without a wait... 🏃
A litRPG adventure with humor, hearts, camaraderie and badass level-ups
✅ Likable and witty MC who's strong and vulnerable which makes him a guy to root for
✅ Intresting secondary characters
✅ Well paced and written
The only issue I had with this one is sometimes the book felt a little dragged but it only a minor issue.
On to the sequel without a wait... 🏃
December 1, 2021
Does not make sense
This is a weak fantasy novel, that the author added an rpg element with lot of stats, but did not understand what that meant. None of the fights made sense, not if you included the stats of the animals and people he is fighting. A level 48 ranger missing hitting a level 4 no class multiple times.
The writing is weak, boring and does not flow well. The author never played an RPG, and did not include the stats of the mobs, in the direction of the fight. I would not be surprised that he wrote most of the story first, then added numbers to it.
This is a weak fantasy novel, that the author added an rpg element with lot of stats, but did not understand what that meant. None of the fights made sense, not if you included the stats of the animals and people he is fighting. A level 48 ranger missing hitting a level 4 no class multiple times.
The writing is weak, boring and does not flow well. The author never played an RPG, and did not include the stats of the mobs, in the direction of the fight. I would not be surprised that he wrote most of the story first, then added numbers to it.
September 3, 2024
Human Insanity by KamikazePotato was a solid LitRPG novel that blended action and intrigue with a character driven story.
The story followed Rob, an ordinary man who acted swiftly when a pitch-black portal tried to wrap his best friend in chains. He stepped up without thinking and found himself ensnared instead. Before he knew what was happening he was transported through a portal into a world where magic and RPG-like stats determined one's survival. Rob’s new reality was far from welcoming as he soon discovered that he was the last surviving human after a cataclysmic war! It was a fun premise.
The worldbuilding in this series was very solid. The world Rob is thrust into was dominated by five major races: Elves, Dwarves, Merfolk, Dragonkin, and Harpies. This uneasy alliance of races banded together to wipe out humanity, fearing the humans' unique ability to level up rapidly, a trait that made them powerful, but also dangerously unstable. Humans often fell victim to the “levelling high,” an addictive rush from gaining power too quickly which drove many of them to madness. Now, as the sole remaining human, Rob had to navigate this world carefully by balancing his need for power with the constant threat of losing his sanity.
The majority of the story in this first instalment of the series took place in an elven village where Rob found himself both an outsider and a dangerous curiosity. The village is where he spent most of his time in this first book learning about this new world’s rules and forging tenuous relationships with the very reticent Elven locals. All the folks in this world lost friends and family in the war against the humans (the war wiped out all of humanity and around half of the other races populations) so half the villagers wanted him dead just for existing! KamikazePotato did a good job of bringing this village to life. There was a bit of intrigue and drama with the intricate social hierarchies and the underlying tension that Rob’s presence created.
One of the more enjoyable aspects of the story was Rob’s growing relationship with Kira, an elf who was something of an outcast within her own community. Kira was a likeable character. She was smart, tough, resourceful, and empathetic, yet still a little vulnerable as she had to struggle in a society that doesn’t fully accept or respect her. Rob’s relationship with her evolved naturally throughout the story. It started with mutual curiosity after a chance meeting and developed into a genuine friendship based on shared struggles and mutual respect. Their dynamic added an emotional heart to the story making the challenges they faced together feel even more significant. Her presence also helped Rob from wallowing in loneliness and despair in this awful new world he found himself stuck in!
While the novel mainly focused on Rob’s experiences within the elven village it hinted at the broader world beyond, offering glimpses of the other races—Merfolk, Dragonkin, and Harpies—that dominated this realm. These brief encounters teased the potential for future developments and adventures in the later books.
The action in Human Insanity was a little dull but at least it was not overly long. The combat was not just physical as Rob had to carefully manage a delicate political situation and carefully manage his stats and abilities to avoid falling into the trap of the levelling high that others in this world so feared as a curse of humanity. This constant balancing act between gaining power and maintaining his sanity added a layer of psychological tension that added an extra dimension to the usual survival tale.
I liked the fact that this was more Isekai or portal fantasy than regular LitRPG. This was a real fantasy world with a magic system that was intricately tied to the RPG elements of the story. The way stats influenced every aspect of life in this world added a unique layer of strategy to the story. Rob’s journey was as much about understanding and mastering these systems as it was about surviving the dangers that lurked around every corner.
While the book is mostly well-paced there was occasional moments where the focus on grinding or stat management slows the story and it had a few dull spots. That said, on the whole this was pretty readable despite its few flaws.
All in all Human Insanity was a solid portal fantasy/LitRPG novel that mixed action with character-driven storytelling. Rob’s journey as the last human in a world that both feared and hates him was compelling enough. Rob himself was a pretty likeable guy which made him easy to root for on his journey. Not the best book I’ve ever read but I’ll definitely move onto the next instalment of the series.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Audio Note: Neil Hellegers did a decent job with the audio. If he had a flaw it is that he struggles with the female dialogue.
The story followed Rob, an ordinary man who acted swiftly when a pitch-black portal tried to wrap his best friend in chains. He stepped up without thinking and found himself ensnared instead. Before he knew what was happening he was transported through a portal into a world where magic and RPG-like stats determined one's survival. Rob’s new reality was far from welcoming as he soon discovered that he was the last surviving human after a cataclysmic war! It was a fun premise.
The worldbuilding in this series was very solid. The world Rob is thrust into was dominated by five major races: Elves, Dwarves, Merfolk, Dragonkin, and Harpies. This uneasy alliance of races banded together to wipe out humanity, fearing the humans' unique ability to level up rapidly, a trait that made them powerful, but also dangerously unstable. Humans often fell victim to the “levelling high,” an addictive rush from gaining power too quickly which drove many of them to madness. Now, as the sole remaining human, Rob had to navigate this world carefully by balancing his need for power with the constant threat of losing his sanity.
The majority of the story in this first instalment of the series took place in an elven village where Rob found himself both an outsider and a dangerous curiosity. The village is where he spent most of his time in this first book learning about this new world’s rules and forging tenuous relationships with the very reticent Elven locals. All the folks in this world lost friends and family in the war against the humans (the war wiped out all of humanity and around half of the other races populations) so half the villagers wanted him dead just for existing! KamikazePotato did a good job of bringing this village to life. There was a bit of intrigue and drama with the intricate social hierarchies and the underlying tension that Rob’s presence created.
One of the more enjoyable aspects of the story was Rob’s growing relationship with Kira, an elf who was something of an outcast within her own community. Kira was a likeable character. She was smart, tough, resourceful, and empathetic, yet still a little vulnerable as she had to struggle in a society that doesn’t fully accept or respect her. Rob’s relationship with her evolved naturally throughout the story. It started with mutual curiosity after a chance meeting and developed into a genuine friendship based on shared struggles and mutual respect. Their dynamic added an emotional heart to the story making the challenges they faced together feel even more significant. Her presence also helped Rob from wallowing in loneliness and despair in this awful new world he found himself stuck in!
While the novel mainly focused on Rob’s experiences within the elven village it hinted at the broader world beyond, offering glimpses of the other races—Merfolk, Dragonkin, and Harpies—that dominated this realm. These brief encounters teased the potential for future developments and adventures in the later books.
The action in Human Insanity was a little dull but at least it was not overly long. The combat was not just physical as Rob had to carefully manage a delicate political situation and carefully manage his stats and abilities to avoid falling into the trap of the levelling high that others in this world so feared as a curse of humanity. This constant balancing act between gaining power and maintaining his sanity added a layer of psychological tension that added an extra dimension to the usual survival tale.
I liked the fact that this was more Isekai or portal fantasy than regular LitRPG. This was a real fantasy world with a magic system that was intricately tied to the RPG elements of the story. The way stats influenced every aspect of life in this world added a unique layer of strategy to the story. Rob’s journey was as much about understanding and mastering these systems as it was about surviving the dangers that lurked around every corner.
While the book is mostly well-paced there was occasional moments where the focus on grinding or stat management slows the story and it had a few dull spots. That said, on the whole this was pretty readable despite its few flaws.
All in all Human Insanity was a solid portal fantasy/LitRPG novel that mixed action with character-driven storytelling. Rob’s journey as the last human in a world that both feared and hates him was compelling enough. Rob himself was a pretty likeable guy which made him easy to root for on his journey. Not the best book I’ve ever read but I’ll definitely move onto the next instalment of the series.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Audio Note: Neil Hellegers did a decent job with the audio. If he had a flaw it is that he struggles with the female dialogue.
December 1, 2021
This kept popping up as a recommended read and I'm glad I finally took a chance on it 'cause I'm totally diggin' this world created by Kamikaze Potato. Also, Keira is one badass little hottie!
September 28, 2021
Book one
Mistakes: This is a very well written and edited book. Any mistakes I found will be listed on Goodreads. I don't think that there was more than one.
Plot: This is other world portal fantasy. I'd have liked some loot.
Characters: Why do humans always get the fast learner trait? Honestly we are an incredibly stupid species. I liked that leveling up is addictive.
8/10
Mistakes: This is a very well written and edited book. Any mistakes I found will be listed on Goodreads. I don't think that there was more than one.
Plot: This is other world portal fantasy. I'd have liked some loot.
Characters: Why do humans always get the fast learner trait? Honestly we are an incredibly stupid species. I liked that leveling up is addictive.
8/10
October 12, 2021
Rating 4.0 stars
This was pretty good. Had a lot of emotion, a good example of how history is written by the winners and how people are people no matter what race. The story starts with 2 friends walking on a college campus Jason and Rob. Jason is the one with everything going for him, great personality, quarterback, ripped and Rob is his snarky friend. A dark portal opens up and grabs Jason. Everyone else runs but Rob jumps in and tackles Jason out of the way only to be dragged into the portal himself. The next thing he hears before everything changes is the words "You'll do". Rob then wakes up on another world with purple grass and find that this world has game like mechanics. He is all alone and immediately almost dies. After that he almost dies again and he follows that up with almost dying one more time. By necessity he has one of the weirdest builds I have read about in a litrpg book
This was pretty good. Had a lot of emotion, a good example of how history is written by the winners and how people are people no matter what race. The story starts with 2 friends walking on a college campus Jason and Rob. Jason is the one with everything going for him, great personality, quarterback, ripped and Rob is his snarky friend. A dark portal opens up and grabs Jason. Everyone else runs but Rob jumps in and tackles Jason out of the way only to be dragged into the portal himself. The next thing he hears before everything changes is the words "You'll do". Rob then wakes up on another world with purple grass and find that this world has game like mechanics. He is all alone and immediately almost dies. After that he almost dies again and he follows that up with almost dying one more time. By necessity he has one of the weirdest builds I have read about in a litrpg book
November 3, 2021
I was quite enjoying this until I realised that the poor guy wasn’t ever going to get a break. Every victory there’s a pullback and reveal to make it a loss. Some people like that I guess. I don’t.
October 30, 2021
I went into this like I do with most Litrpg (with low expectations), and basically only hoping it would be decent enough to finish. Not only did I finish, but I can happily say that I even enjoyed the book.
Character 7/10, Plot 7/10, Game Mechanics 7/10, Writing 7/10, Enjoyment 7/10
Personally, I wasn't a big fan of the MC, mostly because I don't consider "snarky" to be an actual personality so much as a single trait or merely a defense mechanism. All too often in gamelit, snarky is the default substitute for a personality and it's why the characters are plain and never fully realized. Luckily, this story had a fairly solid supporting cast, so the overall group dynamics carried me through the book even though I wanted a bit more characterization.
The plot was the strongest element of the story for me and was an interesting look at what a classical D&D world might look like if a few things went wrong politically. In a nutshell, humans are afflicted by Leveling High, where they become increasingly addicted to the euphoric effects of leveling up. Combined with their Fast Learner racial trait, this led humans on a downward spiral of addiction that stripped the decency and humanity from people and turned them into battle-crazed monsters who see all life as nothing but XP waiting to be reaped. This led to a series of escalating skirmishes that evolved into a world war and eventually into a genocide.
The game mechanics were straightforward and basic, though in this case that was a good thing since this story was fairly softcore with regard to stats and skills. There was a fair amount of level and skill discussion, but not an overabundance of number crunching. Some people might feel that there are a few too many skill descriptions or stat screens, but it didn't cross that line with me personally.
The writing was one of the stronger and also weaker parts of this book. One one hand, the prose itself was better than average for the genre and had few mistakes. On the other hand, I felt that the writing tactics and techniques could use some work. There were a lot of scene inconsistencies, such as a person with only one hand rummaging through a pack and drinking a couple of health potions, only to notice afterward that their sword was still clutched in their remaining hand. It made me do a double-take and briefly broke my immersion in the scene.
The early part of the book also tried a bit too hard to establish the seriousness of the new world and, to me, it just felt a little too over the top and mopey early. A lot of the dialogue was also a bit too on the nose with people saying exactly what they felt and meant rather than speaking like normal people with their true thoughts and intentions being more between the lines.
From an enjoyment perspective, the premise also hurt this story. While leveling high was interesting as a premise, it also denied me much of the enjoyment that I come to gamelit to indulge in: that of leveling up. So there was a double-edged sword at work here story-wise. I don't want to feel guilty about doing things I enjoy, so it was a hindrance to be saddled with an MC who was afraid to level.
I still found myself invested in the story and I sat down to read it during my weekend rather than only during lunch breaks. That is the line between a book being good vs merely ok for me.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in something a little different. Even if it isn't quite to your taste, it's still worth your time.
Character 7/10, Plot 7/10, Game Mechanics 7/10, Writing 7/10, Enjoyment 7/10
Personally, I wasn't a big fan of the MC, mostly because I don't consider "snarky" to be an actual personality so much as a single trait or merely a defense mechanism. All too often in gamelit, snarky is the default substitute for a personality and it's why the characters are plain and never fully realized. Luckily, this story had a fairly solid supporting cast, so the overall group dynamics carried me through the book even though I wanted a bit more characterization.
The plot was the strongest element of the story for me and was an interesting look at what a classical D&D world might look like if a few things went wrong politically. In a nutshell, humans are afflicted by Leveling High, where they become increasingly addicted to the euphoric effects of leveling up. Combined with their Fast Learner racial trait, this led humans on a downward spiral of addiction that stripped the decency and humanity from people and turned them into battle-crazed monsters who see all life as nothing but XP waiting to be reaped. This led to a series of escalating skirmishes that evolved into a world war and eventually into a genocide.
The game mechanics were straightforward and basic, though in this case that was a good thing since this story was fairly softcore with regard to stats and skills. There was a fair amount of level and skill discussion, but not an overabundance of number crunching. Some people might feel that there are a few too many skill descriptions or stat screens, but it didn't cross that line with me personally.
The writing was one of the stronger and also weaker parts of this book. One one hand, the prose itself was better than average for the genre and had few mistakes. On the other hand, I felt that the writing tactics and techniques could use some work. There were a lot of scene inconsistencies, such as a person with only one hand rummaging through a pack and drinking a couple of health potions, only to notice afterward that their sword was still clutched in their remaining hand. It made me do a double-take and briefly broke my immersion in the scene.
The early part of the book also tried a bit too hard to establish the seriousness of the new world and, to me, it just felt a little too over the top and mopey early. A lot of the dialogue was also a bit too on the nose with people saying exactly what they felt and meant rather than speaking like normal people with their true thoughts and intentions being more between the lines.
From an enjoyment perspective, the premise also hurt this story. While leveling high was interesting as a premise, it also denied me much of the enjoyment that I come to gamelit to indulge in: that of leveling up. So there was a double-edged sword at work here story-wise. I don't want to feel guilty about doing things I enjoy, so it was a hindrance to be saddled with an MC who was afraid to level.
I still found myself invested in the story and I sat down to read it during my weekend rather than only during lunch breaks. That is the line between a book being good vs merely ok for me.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in something a little different. Even if it isn't quite to your taste, it's still worth your time.
April 6, 2024
Human Insanity: An Isekai with Bite, But Leaves You Wanting More
Gripping premise: The last human, Rob, is thrust into a world where his entire race is reviled for a past cataclysm. He faces not only physical dangers but also the unrelenting hatred of those around him.
Compelling characters: Rob is a well-developed protagonist, fighting for survival while grappling with unfair prejudice. The supporting cast, especially Kiera, adds depth and complexity to the story.
Emotional depth: The book explores the emotional toll of Rob's situation, the burden of being the sole representative of a hated race, and the lingering trauma of the world's history.
Relentless negativity: The constant animosity Rob faces can become draining at times. The lack of any truly supportive human presence reinforces this isolation.
Unanswered questions: The ending leaves many mysteries unresolved, including the reason for Rob's summoning and the nature of the "Leveling High" addiction.
Unconventional progression: Rob's unique "vitality build" might not appeal to readers who prefer characters with more varied skillsets.
Human Insanity, the first book in KamikazePotato's An Outcast In Another World series, offers a unique isekai experience that delves into darker themes and leaves you pondering long after the final page.
Strengths:
Gripping premise: The last human, Rob, is thrust into a world where his entire race is reviled for a past cataclysm. He faces not only physical dangers but also the unrelenting hatred of those around him.
Compelling characters: Rob is a well-developed protagonist, fighting for survival while grappling with unfair prejudice. The supporting cast, especially Kiera, adds depth and complexity to the story.
Emotional depth: The book explores the emotional toll of Rob's situation, the burden of being the sole representative of a hated race, and the lingering trauma of the world's history.
Points to Ponder:
Relentless negativity: The constant animosity Rob faces can become draining at times. The lack of any truly supportive human presence reinforces this isolation.
Unanswered questions: The ending leaves many mysteries unresolved, including the reason for Rob's summoning and the nature of the "Leveling High" addiction.
Unconventional progression: Rob's unique "vitality build" might not appeal to readers who prefer characters with more varied skillsets.
Overall:
Human Insanity is a well-written and thought-provoking isekai that stands out for its darker themes and nuanced exploration of prejudice. It's a gripping tale with strong characters and emotional depth, but be prepared for a bittersweet experience with lingering questions and a protagonist facing constant adversity.
Recommended for: Fans of darker isekai, emotionally charged narratives, and character-driven stories with complex themes.
Final verdict: 1 out of 5 stars (A gripping tale with strong characters and thought-provoking themes, but weighed down by negativity and unanswered questions.)
December 9, 2021
Good book
I don’t normally write reviews as that’s my wife’s hobby, reading books and writing reviews, but this was a good book. Give it a chance.
I don’t normally write reviews as that’s my wife’s hobby, reading books and writing reviews, but this was a good book. Give it a chance.
December 1, 2021
It's tricky to write a sassy MC, as too often it moves from sass to snark. What I liked most about this one is how the MC, despite being perpetually on the the brink of a nervous breakdown, manages to hold his tongue so often that he levels a skill doing it.
Rob is almost too balanced given the circumstances, but you can see through the range of flippant behaviour to how hard he's working to keep it together after being ripped from his world and nearly killed repeatedly in his first week. He's in an unenviable position for a number of reasons, and that is what drives the story. This held my attention throughout and I look forward to the next one.
Rob is almost too balanced given the circumstances, but you can see through the range of flippant behaviour to how hard he's working to keep it together after being ripped from his world and nearly killed repeatedly in his first week. He's in an unenviable position for a number of reasons, and that is what drives the story. This held my attention throughout and I look forward to the next one.
March 22, 2022
2 hours into the book and I could already tell that I didn't enjoy anything about it. Despite that I gave it another hour then I gave up. Let me sum up those first 3 hours for you. . That's the first 3 hours. Don't waste your time or money on this worse than mediocre book.
August 22, 2022
Good. The narrator is excellent.
January 19, 2023
This story has lots of good reviews, but I feel let down by the story.
The litRPG elements are just barely integrated into the story and world and only show up in combat. Level-ups and new skills are regularly achieved in the middle of combat as a direct solution the protagonist requires to solve a problem or win a fight.
This makes the leveling feel very artificial and just a tool to progress the story instead of an integral part of the world.
Normally characters grow as a result of combat, not in the middle of it to actually survive. To me, this is an elemental logical fallacy that ruins the whole story for me, as only a marginal amount of skill gains and level-ups happen outside of "live or die" combat situations.
I do not see how the class system and fantasy world work, it just appears to be a playing field for the protagonist to exist in. It is artificial, unimaginative, and lacks depth and immersion.
Interactions with other people, especially with the "beautiful Elf woman he will totally fall in love with" and his "bromance friendship on earth", feel cringe and unrealistic.
While the writing isn't bad, the story and world-building are not to my liking and while I did finish the first book in its entirety, I will not be reading any further books in this series.
The litRPG elements are just barely integrated into the story and world and only show up in combat. Level-ups and new skills are regularly achieved in the middle of combat as a direct solution the protagonist requires to solve a problem or win a fight.
This makes the leveling feel very artificial and just a tool to progress the story instead of an integral part of the world.
Normally characters grow as a result of combat, not in the middle of it to actually survive. To me, this is an elemental logical fallacy that ruins the whole story for me, as only a marginal amount of skill gains and level-ups happen outside of "live or die" combat situations.
I do not see how the class system and fantasy world work, it just appears to be a playing field for the protagonist to exist in. It is artificial, unimaginative, and lacks depth and immersion.
Interactions with other people, especially with the "beautiful Elf woman he will totally fall in love with" and his "bromance friendship on earth", feel cringe and unrealistic.
While the writing isn't bad, the story and world-building are not to my liking and while I did finish the first book in its entirety, I will not be reading any further books in this series.
August 7, 2022
To go from one of many to the only one of your hated kind is a shock
Add on that the world Rob has been kidnapped and sent to has magic, classes and so many RPG game elements that it can be surreal. Sadly giant infected rabid animals attacking you tends to put a damper on the fun exploration of a new world and the system that runs reality here.
It’s gonna be a strange one for Rob, but at least he is sure that he is a pawn and was put here. Just no clue why when he beyond hates and fears humans craziness.
He meets and works to move from enemy to friend as he bonds with the elves his age training to be Rangers. So great beasts and even a dungeon are found in this story as well as a former college student who is now fighting to survive in an RPG world come to life.
Add on that the world Rob has been kidnapped and sent to has magic, classes and so many RPG game elements that it can be surreal. Sadly giant infected rabid animals attacking you tends to put a damper on the fun exploration of a new world and the system that runs reality here.
It’s gonna be a strange one for Rob, but at least he is sure that he is a pawn and was put here. Just no clue why when he beyond hates and fears humans craziness.
He meets and works to move from enemy to friend as he bonds with the elves his age training to be Rangers. So great beasts and even a dungeon are found in this story as well as a former college student who is now fighting to survive in an RPG world come to life.
July 21, 2022
Absolutely fun story
Pretty classic portal RPG story, but the fun is in the telling. I really enjoyed the level of snark and generally zany humor that seasoned the narrative. I thought the leveling and class/abilities system was solid, and the worldbuilding was excellent. Love the main character and all his companions, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series!
Pretty classic portal RPG story, but the fun is in the telling. I really enjoyed the level of snark and generally zany humor that seasoned the narrative. I thought the leveling and class/abilities system was solid, and the worldbuilding was excellent. Love the main character and all his companions, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series!
December 11, 2021
Damn.. This was really good. There were parts that made me frown. But really it was good!
Would recommend it to those who enjoy litrpg style books... ::)
This book made me laugh really hard in a couple spots... (End of chapter 36 is one of them..Sorry no spoilers for you.. READ IT !) Really made me howl with laughter.
Would recommend it to those who enjoy litrpg style books... ::)
This book made me laugh really hard in a couple spots... (End of chapter 36 is one of them..Sorry no spoilers for you.. READ IT !) Really made me howl with laughter.
March 2, 2023
2.5
It’s interesting enough that I decided to pick up the next in the series, but it is drawn out enough that I’m not confident the story is going to get moving. The MC is fine—I don’t love or loathe him.
I do appreciate that the leveling is spread out in the party. I don’t much care for the “leveling high” device for personal taste reasons. I don’t like addiction stories much and I fear that’s going to become a major part of the series.
It’s interesting enough that I decided to pick up the next in the series, but it is drawn out enough that I’m not confident the story is going to get moving. The MC is fine—I don’t love or loathe him.
I do appreciate that the leveling is spread out in the party. I don’t much care for the “leveling high” device for personal taste reasons. I don’t like addiction stories much and I fear that’s going to become a major part of the series.
February 1, 2024
The initial idea sucks...that a person that had no intention to be sent to another world, with his best friend, gets sent to a world that hates humans, and he is the only human there...What is the point? To apologize for what humanity did in that other world? To bring back to life the millions of people that were killed in the war? Who would want to read this type of story. It's not funny, it's not entertaining, the main character whines about everything, and hardly does a thing well. Has no idea how to survive, has no martial arts training, no survival abilities, no perseverance, not a positive bone in his body...
Even if the author would pay people to read a story like this one, I am sure that most would not read it, would not finish it, would send the author to hell... or worse...I think the title "Human Insanity" is related to the author's "insanity" and delusion in thinking that anybody would find this a story interesting to read...
The main character, Rob is such an idiot that he dares to talk crap/think crap about the genocide, mass-killings that took place in the scourge. More than "reading abilities" and "translation abilities", the author should have given the main character I.Q. and E.Q. points, so that at least, he would not be an immature, naïve, moron...
That and the story lacks a main theme, lacks secondary arcs, it goes on and on, but doesn't really go anywhere. The main character gets isekai-ed instead of his "best-friend", but again, doesn't really say why?
Even if the author would pay people to read a story like this one, I am sure that most would not read it, would not finish it, would send the author to hell... or worse...I think the title "Human Insanity" is related to the author's "insanity" and delusion in thinking that anybody would find this a story interesting to read...
The main character, Rob is such an idiot that he dares to talk crap/think crap about the genocide, mass-killings that took place in the scourge. More than "reading abilities" and "translation abilities", the author should have given the main character I.Q. and E.Q. points, so that at least, he would not be an immature, naïve, moron...
That and the story lacks a main theme, lacks secondary arcs, it goes on and on, but doesn't really go anywhere. The main character gets isekai-ed instead of his "best-friend", but again, doesn't really say why?
March 11, 2022
2.75 stars
This story had a lot of holes that I just couldn’t gloss over to enjoy the book.
Why would Rob not try to learn Elvish rather than depend on everyone else to accommodate him? Why would a week of surviving completely negate a mage class? - he still has Fast Learner and should be able to get parity fairly quickly. Why does each race have a god, except for the humans? Why was his only goal to get more HP rather than to build up his strength to be able to fight better?
Why do only humans get Leveling High, and why did it take so long for them to succumb to it, if that is even what happened in The Scourge? Why would the Powers have sought to bring a human back to this world? It seems to take a lot of effort, and there doesn’t seem to be any reward, other than, perhaps, entertainment value.
Why did Rob have problems being upgraded after he was initialized into the System? Why did he not even think of trying to review his System messages to figure out what happened? What role do the gods play in this world? We’re they angered, happy, or any other emotion when their followers opted for genocide? How is it that no one is wondering how Rob is controlling and ameliorating the effects of Leveling High?
If the humans were the only thing keeping the Fiends from sweeping down into the southern lands, why have they made such little progress in the last 8 years?
This story had a lot of holes that I just couldn’t gloss over to enjoy the book.
Why would Rob not try to learn Elvish rather than depend on everyone else to accommodate him? Why would a week of surviving completely negate a mage class? - he still has Fast Learner and should be able to get parity fairly quickly. Why does each race have a god, except for the humans? Why was his only goal to get more HP rather than to build up his strength to be able to fight better?
Why do only humans get Leveling High, and why did it take so long for them to succumb to it, if that is even what happened in The Scourge? Why would the Powers have sought to bring a human back to this world? It seems to take a lot of effort, and there doesn’t seem to be any reward, other than, perhaps, entertainment value.
Why did Rob have problems being upgraded after he was initialized into the System? Why did he not even think of trying to review his System messages to figure out what happened? What role do the gods play in this world? We’re they angered, happy, or any other emotion when their followers opted for genocide? How is it that no one is wondering how Rob is controlling and ameliorating the effects of Leveling High?
If the humans were the only thing keeping the Fiends from sweeping down into the southern lands, why have they made such little progress in the last 8 years?
October 18, 2021
- Isekai
- Meddling gods (?)
- Snarky interface
- Stats, class and skills, no other interface or inventory
- Melee MC
- Small pov changes, mostly just MC
Some bleak themes which is a little startling compared to my usual light-humourous litrpg. Liked the MC. I liked how he dealt with his trauma of being teleported and his near death experiences.
There were a few.. questionable explanations earlier in the book. Especially the scene where he jumps on-top of a bear but then somehow strikes it from below and through the mouth and up in the brain? Which made me vary of more mistakes, but none occurred after that incident.
This was a good solid book throughout, but what bumped it up from a 4 to a 5 is entirely in the last 10-20% of the book. Which was.. a roller coaster of excitement to me.
- Meddling gods (?)
- Snarky interface
- Stats, class and skills, no other interface or inventory
- Melee MC
- Small pov changes, mostly just MC
Some bleak themes which is a little startling compared to my usual light-humourous litrpg. Liked the MC. I liked how he dealt with his trauma of being teleported and his near death experiences.
There were a few.. questionable explanations earlier in the book. Especially the scene where he jumps on-top of a bear but then somehow strikes it from below and through the mouth and up in the brain? Which made me vary of more mistakes, but none occurred after that incident.
This was a good solid book throughout, but what bumped it up from a 4 to a 5 is entirely in the last 10-20% of the book. Which was.. a roller coaster of excitement to me.
June 2, 2022
An excellent book. While working inside of the typical stranger thrust into another world scenario, this author introduced interesting twists and turns. The characters practically jump off of the page. We learn more about them as the story goes along. The alternate world is an interesting, if dark, place.
The overall story arc is obvious from the first word, but the way the story gets there is impressive. The writing style makes the characters worthy of emotional investment.
I can't wait to see how the second book in the three book series goes.
The overall story arc is obvious from the first word, but the way the story gets there is impressive. The writing style makes the characters worthy of emotional investment.
I can't wait to see how the second book in the three book series goes.
September 16, 2021
Not for me
The book starts slow with standard relocation to alternate world fair. It loses me completely when the MC meets elves who disclose the genocide of humans in the alternate world. Yes, GENOCIDE, which is decidedly not my favorite way to give depth to a storyline or world build. I abandoned the story in disgust at this point.
The book starts slow with standard relocation to alternate world fair. It loses me completely when the MC meets elves who disclose the genocide of humans in the alternate world. Yes, GENOCIDE, which is decidedly not my favorite way to give depth to a storyline or world build. I abandoned the story in disgust at this point.
September 27, 2025
Dude, I didn’t expect this one.
TL; DR: An Isekai that carries its own caveats and bares them proudly, Human Insanity is full of everything you could want in a litRPG while still carving out a niche for itself that lets it stick in your mind.
Holy cow, I didn’t see this one coming. This was one of those books that I kept seeing pop up on my “for sale” that just always seemed to be there. I didn’t love the blurb, didn’t particularly like the premise, but then I listened to it and it was AWESOME. I realize my last two books haven’t had the most professional sounding reviews, and I’m ok with that. The last one was a “hell yeah” because it was a dude kinda book: explosions, monsters, dinosaurs, guy gets girl at the end for dramatic kiss, (spoilers don’t count on other book reviews do they?), haha laughter final line. It was very…dude. This book is a “hell yeah” book too, but for all of the much better reasons.
Characters: There’s depth and heart and character and gosh dang feelings for these guys. It’s great; I’m so used to mediocre litRPG that lack depth in their major/minor characters. Rob is great, I felt for him; Keira is great, I felt for her. Somehow, this random series turned out to be a great collection of people I could root for, the minor characters too.
Setting: The world of Elantra is complex and multifaceted and I’m really excited to find out more. There are two scenes in particular that do a great job of setting the stage for the rest of the series, and make me very curious as to what dynamics will be revealed next.
Story: It’s actually really good. I can figure out what the end goal will be, and no character has figured it out yet. That’s good writing. Nobody has stated anything explicitly, but the pieces are there. With that out of the way, this book makes sense. There aren’t any weird behaviors or motivations, the things I was going to question got either explained or set up to be elaborated on later. It’s a great system and it really brought together all of the various points in the journey.
Writing: Everything felt like it meant something; characters had impact, even if they were only there for a moment. There was depth, there was heart, and I got attached to people without knowing any better. I loved it and I’m darn happy that there’s more.
There are two things that have me really pumped to read the next book in this series:
1. So far, I can’t wait to see what happens, how the events of this book have impacted the characters, what to look forward to
2. It’s a finished series and I’m so ready for one of those
I know I called it a “hell yeah” book, but I kid you not that I’m driving my car and listening to this and just whispering or shouting “hell yeah” at multiple points. Dang am I glad I read this.
4.7 🌟
TL; DR: An Isekai that carries its own caveats and bares them proudly, Human Insanity is full of everything you could want in a litRPG while still carving out a niche for itself that lets it stick in your mind.
Holy cow, I didn’t see this one coming. This was one of those books that I kept seeing pop up on my “for sale” that just always seemed to be there. I didn’t love the blurb, didn’t particularly like the premise, but then I listened to it and it was AWESOME. I realize my last two books haven’t had the most professional sounding reviews, and I’m ok with that. The last one was a “hell yeah” because it was a dude kinda book: explosions, monsters, dinosaurs, guy gets girl at the end for dramatic kiss, (spoilers don’t count on other book reviews do they?), haha laughter final line. It was very…dude. This book is a “hell yeah” book too, but for all of the much better reasons.
Characters: There’s depth and heart and character and gosh dang feelings for these guys. It’s great; I’m so used to mediocre litRPG that lack depth in their major/minor characters. Rob is great, I felt for him; Keira is great, I felt for her. Somehow, this random series turned out to be a great collection of people I could root for, the minor characters too.
Setting: The world of Elantra is complex and multifaceted and I’m really excited to find out more. There are two scenes in particular that do a great job of setting the stage for the rest of the series, and make me very curious as to what dynamics will be revealed next.
Story: It’s actually really good. I can figure out what the end goal will be, and no character has figured it out yet. That’s good writing. Nobody has stated anything explicitly, but the pieces are there. With that out of the way, this book makes sense. There aren’t any weird behaviors or motivations, the things I was going to question got either explained or set up to be elaborated on later. It’s a great system and it really brought together all of the various points in the journey.
Writing: Everything felt like it meant something; characters had impact, even if they were only there for a moment. There was depth, there was heart, and I got attached to people without knowing any better. I loved it and I’m darn happy that there’s more.
There are two things that have me really pumped to read the next book in this series:
1. So far, I can’t wait to see what happens, how the events of this book have impacted the characters, what to look forward to
2. It’s a finished series and I’m so ready for one of those
I know I called it a “hell yeah” book, but I kid you not that I’m driving my car and listening to this and just whispering or shouting “hell yeah” at multiple points. Dang am I glad I read this.
4.7 🌟
June 15, 2024
Human Insanity was a good example of what a LitRPG novel should read like; it ensures that a good story is being told first and foremost.
There are still many of the usual pitfalls of the genre (solo tutorial/survival chapters being the most irritating one for me), but this book does a good job of creating characters I can care about, a fleshed-out world for the story to exist in, and some engaging conflict to keep me hooked. Most importantly, this didn't feel like I was reading about someone describing their most recent experience playing a game; it instead felt like I was reading the story of a man named Rob who was taken against his will to another world where there is a magic system that has gamer mechanics.
There are only two things letting this story down:
1. Lack of a destination - This book doesn't feel like it has any drive to get anywhere. All the characters are purely reactive to the situation they find themselves in, and they don't seem to have any desire that they are chasing other than to survive the trials thrown at them. It leaves the story feeling directionless, and that lack of focus allowed my mind to drift at times.
2. A weaker second half - The most substantial part of this story is in the opening half, as the main character must first find a way to survive the situation he finds himself in and then must find a way to ingratiate himself into a society that has good reason to hate him. Most of the character growth for the main character and the side characters happens here as everyone is introduced and must find a way to fall into the roles that the story needs them to be in going forward. The good news is that this felt organic and was well done for the most part. The bad news is that once everyone finds their place, the rest of the story becomes quite formulaic. It's almost like the story has decided the set-up is out of the way now, so it can just settle into some good old-fashioned action and levelling up.
Neither of these issues were major flaws for me, but they were enough to knock a star from this review.
Overall, though, this was a solid first entry in a new series, and I look forward to seeing where it goes next. There were some interesting pathways for future stories opened up by the way the novel ended, and I hope to see some of that potential realised going forward.
There are still many of the usual pitfalls of the genre (solo tutorial/survival chapters being the most irritating one for me), but this book does a good job of creating characters I can care about, a fleshed-out world for the story to exist in, and some engaging conflict to keep me hooked. Most importantly, this didn't feel like I was reading about someone describing their most recent experience playing a game; it instead felt like I was reading the story of a man named Rob who was taken against his will to another world where there is a magic system that has gamer mechanics.
There are only two things letting this story down:
1. Lack of a destination - This book doesn't feel like it has any drive to get anywhere. All the characters are purely reactive to the situation they find themselves in, and they don't seem to have any desire that they are chasing other than to survive the trials thrown at them. It leaves the story feeling directionless, and that lack of focus allowed my mind to drift at times.
2. A weaker second half - The most substantial part of this story is in the opening half, as the main character must first find a way to survive the situation he finds himself in and then must find a way to ingratiate himself into a society that has good reason to hate him. Most of the character growth for the main character and the side characters happens here as everyone is introduced and must find a way to fall into the roles that the story needs them to be in going forward. The good news is that this felt organic and was well done for the most part. The bad news is that once everyone finds their place, the rest of the story becomes quite formulaic. It's almost like the story has decided the set-up is out of the way now, so it can just settle into some good old-fashioned action and levelling up.
Neither of these issues were major flaws for me, but they were enough to knock a star from this review.
Overall, though, this was a solid first entry in a new series, and I look forward to seeing where it goes next. There were some interesting pathways for future stories opened up by the way the novel ended, and I hope to see some of that potential realised going forward.
September 28, 2021
A very underrated gem of a book, I had neutral expectations for it and came out very pleasantly surprised. This is very much a character-driven novel where the author has taken standard portal fantasy framework and added malevolent twists to it.
* What starts as a survival thriller turns into psychological/survival thriller.
* By virtue of being human the MC has an incredible isekai cheat.... with a brutal twist to it that has an incredible lore-relevant consequences.
* The standard humans/non-humans racism is present and extremely lore-relevant... only this time, the MC is the one on the receiving end of it.
* The MC and his compatriots are not immune to trauma and a gigantic part of the story overall is how FUBAR'd everything is, how discrimination, tribalism, lack of unity and racism all rear their ugly heads and destroy reasoning not long after the "major victory"; how even those of their own races will denigrate and turn on each other with ease when there's no longer an easy target to vent upon, and how this wears down the compassion of even good people.
* The litrpg system is the god of this world and the utter belief that it's impartial and fair.... only for the MC's arrival to subtly start to reveal that not only is it not impartial... it's quite possibly malevolent.
I very rarely write reviews but this gets high praise from me as a litrpg with strong character focus that does not feel horribly contrived and shallow. There's plenty of number crunching, there's a good amount of action, but what really needs to be shined upon is the characters and their relationships.
* What starts as a survival thriller turns into psychological/survival thriller.
* By virtue of being human the MC has an incredible isekai cheat.... with a brutal twist to it that has an incredible lore-relevant consequences.
* The standard humans/non-humans racism is present and extremely lore-relevant... only this time, the MC is the one on the receiving end of it.
* The MC and his compatriots are not immune to trauma and a gigantic part of the story overall is how FUBAR'd everything is, how discrimination, tribalism, lack of unity and racism all rear their ugly heads and destroy reasoning not long after the "major victory"; how even those of their own races will denigrate and turn on each other with ease when there's no longer an easy target to vent upon, and how this wears down the compassion of even good people.
* The litrpg system is the god of this world and the utter belief that it's impartial and fair.... only for the MC's arrival to subtly start to reveal that not only is it not impartial... it's quite possibly malevolent.
I very rarely write reviews but this gets high praise from me as a litrpg with strong character focus that does not feel horribly contrived and shallow. There's plenty of number crunching, there's a good amount of action, but what really needs to be shined upon is the characters and their relationships.
October 6, 2021
4 I Believe I'm Going To Bathe. Vigorously. Stars
An Outcast in Another World is the first book in the Human Insanity series by KamikazePotato.
This book was a surprise. I've been in what amounts to a slump of epic proportions, or so it seems at times. The Blight in all its horror and questionable intentions led us on a merry chase of intrigue and plot building throughout this book.
Do I wanna stab the author for presenting certain character progression lines, and wiping them from existence without much regard for my sanity in the wake of such actions? Maybe a little *shrugs*
There are times when I wondered whether these gods sitting around the table were simply playing an advanced formula of D&D with the lives of Elatara world... Does not strip any of the reality and true existence from this cast of characters, but such a line of questioning definitively shifts the story as a whole...
Was it the gods or The Blight that plucked him from Earth and deposited him here? Was there any real purpose behind his abduction? Or was this turn of events mere happenstance? Can we expect Jason to some how make it to this fantasy world? Or Rob to succeed in returning home? So many questions left unanswered at this end of this book. I did however still enjoy the journey in spite of the myriad of mysteries still left to ponder.
Also, extreme and endless props to the author for the overwhelming amount of funnies that had me giggling and creating way too much noise at stupid o'clock in the middle of the night.
An Outcast in Another World is the first book in the Human Insanity series by KamikazePotato.
This book was a surprise. I've been in what amounts to a slump of epic proportions, or so it seems at times. The Blight in all its horror and questionable intentions led us on a merry chase of intrigue and plot building throughout this book.
Do I wanna stab the author for presenting certain character progression lines, and wiping them from existence without much regard for my sanity in the wake of such actions? Maybe a little *shrugs*
There are times when I wondered whether these gods sitting around the table were simply playing an advanced formula of D&D with the lives of Elatara world... Does not strip any of the reality and true existence from this cast of characters, but such a line of questioning definitively shifts the story as a whole...
Was it the gods or The Blight that plucked him from Earth and deposited him here? Was there any real purpose behind his abduction? Or was this turn of events mere happenstance? Can we expect Jason to some how make it to this fantasy world? Or Rob to succeed in returning home? So many questions left unanswered at this end of this book. I did however still enjoy the journey in spite of the myriad of mysteries still left to ponder.
Also, extreme and endless props to the author for the overwhelming amount of funnies that had me giggling and creating way too much noise at stupid o'clock in the middle of the night.
November 22, 2025
Sins of the trade
This book subscribes to writing ideals that I feel plague this genre. The first issue is constant deliberation monologuing that adds no value to the story. It’s the very simple concept of show don’t tell yet we are constantly trapped in Robs head and well… Rob is an idiot. Which brings up the next issue.
And everybody clapped syndrome. The main character will behave in completely inappropriate ways and yet, against any logic or rational, it works out for them. An example is Rob meeting people who will decide his fate. How does he introduce himself? “Name’s Rob.” Yeah… It’s cringe inducing. Like that person you know who tells stories that are obviously lies and you can’t help but cringe.
And finally the ween’s out colloquialisms. Sayings that are so blatantly forced in there it’s like a child just learned then and is now forcing every sentence to have one. No one talks like that. Colloquialisms are used but infrequently and usually referring to somewhat ethereal topics. Not “so are we meeting with the head honchos?” I mean come on. Why? It comes across as insecurity in the form of saying things another couldn’t possibly understand so that you feel superior in some sad way.
The writing is ok and the plot had potential but none that matters if it’s diluted with decisions that stutter the reading experience. This book is like a peanut butter jelly sandwich. It should be good in theory but someone mixed tuna fish in there and every time you just start to enjoy the delectable sandwich you get a mouthful of tuna.
This book subscribes to writing ideals that I feel plague this genre. The first issue is constant deliberation monologuing that adds no value to the story. It’s the very simple concept of show don’t tell yet we are constantly trapped in Robs head and well… Rob is an idiot. Which brings up the next issue.
And everybody clapped syndrome. The main character will behave in completely inappropriate ways and yet, against any logic or rational, it works out for them. An example is Rob meeting people who will decide his fate. How does he introduce himself? “Name’s Rob.” Yeah… It’s cringe inducing. Like that person you know who tells stories that are obviously lies and you can’t help but cringe.
And finally the ween’s out colloquialisms. Sayings that are so blatantly forced in there it’s like a child just learned then and is now forcing every sentence to have one. No one talks like that. Colloquialisms are used but infrequently and usually referring to somewhat ethereal topics. Not “so are we meeting with the head honchos?” I mean come on. Why? It comes across as insecurity in the form of saying things another couldn’t possibly understand so that you feel superior in some sad way.
The writing is ok and the plot had potential but none that matters if it’s diluted with decisions that stutter the reading experience. This book is like a peanut butter jelly sandwich. It should be good in theory but someone mixed tuna fish in there and every time you just start to enjoy the delectable sandwich you get a mouthful of tuna.
December 15, 2021
Loved it. A bit slow at first but I've noticed this with all LitRPG books so I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. Rob is a fun MC who's trying to make the best out of this really bad situation he's found himself in. Thrown into a strange world with elves, dwarves, mer people and frenzied, infected animals, he has to figure out how it all works with this game-like leveling system while trying his best to stay alive. He tries to face this with humor because it's all he has, and after a bit, he gathers friends, too. Glad the author didn't stay with the lone wolf.
I like the twist of humans being the bogeyman and how Rob goes about showing the wary, fearful people of the world that he's (mostly) harmless.
The author did a good job also showing the despondent side of Rob, and I honestly felt bad for the poor guy. He keeps it together for the most part, but he shows his human side when he misses his old life. Props to the author for going there with Rob, but not staying there.
The story ends with the main conflict of the story resolved, but you see way more of a crap show headed in poor Rob's direction. The epilogue was sadly sweet.
I heartily recommend.
I like the twist of humans being the bogeyman and how Rob goes about showing the wary, fearful people of the world that he's (mostly) harmless.
The author did a good job also showing the despondent side of Rob, and I honestly felt bad for the poor guy. He keeps it together for the most part, but he shows his human side when he misses his old life. Props to the author for going there with Rob, but not staying there.
The story ends with the main conflict of the story resolved, but you see way more of a crap show headed in poor Rob's direction. The epilogue was sadly sweet.
I heartily recommend.
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