The chips and cheese are down. The Great Devourer has come. Time to throw one continent of a tantrum.
Artorian has finally come to an accord with Eternium in the name of destroying the demon infestation. By relying on his past successes in Eternia, successful alliances, races believing in their sun-deity with all their hearts, and exotic new artifacts: Artorian throws the first stone to accelerate the beginning of Eternium’s end.
The remaining infernal leadership is on his hit list, and ticking them off is a task he is overjoyed to complete from beginning to encore. After all…
Even demons can find redemption in the face of glorious explosion damage.
I have gone back and forth on this series. Sometimes I enjoy its meandering, eccentric, and generally unexpected wanderings. Other times, I think my neck seizes up from whiplash with all the plot zigzags.
Asgard, unfortunately, felt like it was just plot flailing.
Maybe it is just that I'm aggrieved I had to wait for the book. Maybe it is unfair of me to expect more. Maybe it is because literally nothing interesting happened in the last book (or 3) when it comes to Artorian's cultivation base and nothing interesting happens in this one there either.
A highly recommended series which we can hope picks up again with another arc. Well worth reading, not a technically loaded series but rather one of Love and Compassion.
Exciting, comical, exhausting. So many concepts, silly puns, and even a cute town based on a petting zoo. Artorian's Archives is one of my favorite series.
This was a very good addition in which significant things really do happen. Books 7, 8 & 9 of this series are causing some growing pains. This book helped with those, however, there are still some issues with this entire series.
When you are this far in and everyone has changed species once or twice, not to mention their name, and you've got 8 previous books of history and characters from a completely different book series joining in, the reader has an awful lot of baggage to carry around. After book 7, I didn't get the next one because I was overwhelmed. I actually reread it before starting book 8. That helped a lot as I was able to get myself grounded again. I was able to remember who was perhaps a whale a few books back verses being a spider or a tree.
OSC once said that as an author everything you mention in a book is picked up and carried in the reader's backpack. So don't mention something like a Volkswagon Beetle, unless you are going to reward them for carrying the weight of that in their backpack for the length of the book. At this point in the Artorian's archive, we've got a few beautifully connected and well organized freight cars of items coming along behind us. And even though everything in those cars IS likely to be mentioned again as a "reward", I must say that the load is getting a bit heavy.
Story was better than the last book but very...complicated. There were so many references to past books in the series that succeeded in being recognized as a reference, but failed to jog my memory fully, that I found myself often confused about what was going on. The author also had an absolute plethora of references to other fantasy books, movies, RL events, etc, that it was just...too much. Felt like the device was overused.
I got the audio book and it was well done, but due to all the references I couldnt quite remember, it was tedious to have to stop what i was doing to back up and listen to it again trying to figure out what was being referenced and if it was important to the plot.
If I'm honest I'm not really enjoying the series anymore but overall it was a decent series, i just kinda wish it would end because it seems like i understand less and less each book.
Fun from the start and great addition to the series. Friends dropped off the series because it was getting a scattered. The earlier books were significantly more story driven and the later books had become more system/points focused. All that to say that this book finishes with the last two thirds being much more story driven once again and tying together some of the loose strands from prior books. Next on the docket will hopefully by an encyclopedia of characters for those of us without the blessing of world class recall or photographic memory. Sooooo many incredible characters that have each had beautiful parts to play in this story arc and yet I can’t remember each one as their physical forms, and at times names have morphed through the series. Again, this is part of the tapestry the author has woven and which I’m grateful. Just need some help for my non-cultivator mind over here
This is a combined review for Artorian's Archives #9, 10, and 11 as I read them back to back and it's all just starting to blur together for me anyways.
Is this series just one long string of pop-culture references haphazardly tied together with chewing gum? Seriously, 80% of the things that happen or the characters say seems to be a random reference of some kind. It's getting to the point that I'm beginning to suspect the 20% of original content is actually just pop-culture refences I don't get. The story is such a slog with very little happening most of the time. And the Meta aspects of it are getting worse, they're talking about things in terms of books and chapters now with unveiled allusions to the other books. And they think there are going to be HOW MANY of these? -_- I might have to abandon the series at this rate.
It got good at the end but there's a lot to get past.
I've generally enjoyed the Artorians Archives books but this is probably my least favourite. The constant, unnecessary pop culture references feel really crowbared in and every time Artorian meets an old character the pacing grinds to a halt regardless of what is happening or the urgency of the actual events of the moment. It was good around these things but they are so numerous that it really made it hard to read so I'm not sure if I recommend it or not.
Review: I have never been disappointed in any novel that Dakota Krout was involved in…until now. This last installment started out well paced and cogent. Then it takes the usual turns of a stuttering story line and begins hopping around like a spastic rabbit. Artorian is a great character and carries the series yet turns to shjt with statements like “cheeky”, “adorable” and “smirking” being pounded into your sub conscious while he goes about his self-centered business as the embodiment of love? I had a hard time liking Artorian as he evolved with virtuous intent while everyone worshiped his self-deprecating personality. The snuggling version of little Artorian in the lap of the Ice Lady was truly barfable with a writers self-indulgency for smugness. Pur shjt imho.
The ending sucks because there is no closure. A writers gimic to hold the door open for another series that will provide no entertainment value if based on the same dismal character that failed a readership.
Artorian is still at it. He is in a rampant rush to get through Asgard before Barry breaks free. Time gets short. Demons trade sides, the Barry breaks loose! Odin does more harm than good, because he wants a rematch with Artorian first. Artorian visits his past friends and closes loose threads. The confrontation comes and Artorian must make the hard choice to put Barry down and Save everyone in Cal. He wins but is in bad shape.
This is not a stand alone, but a continuation. It is still a fun romp. It does read as one massive resolution to the arc what with all the old characters being revisited and threads tied up. Still a great story. Please enjoy.
Once again our boys came up to bat in a big way. Artorian's story is now coming together nicely. I can't wait to see his progress next book. There are so many things I want to know now, and at least as many about which I could speculate, but that won't do me ANY good, because Dakota and Dennis both know how to spin their stories in predictable ways, then flip that on its head and give a twist I never saw coming. Beautiful once again, from the cover art through every single page to the final words penned. Love it!
I didn’t count, but it seems that half the book was taken with the epic battle that has been building over the last several books. And it seems that Artorian is not yet done with his shenanigans.
As with many multi-volume books, there are references to previous characters and events that could be better established. Some of the references seem to be intentionally vague.
One of the best litrpg books series I've ever read and recommend to anyone I know who enjoys a good joke with a side of philosophy. It's not only good litRPG it is also just a good series. Even with a good portion of the drugs being meta on a level that put any type of Comic-Con to shame this was enjoyable because of its creativity on how the jokes were executed. To those who don't like this type of comedy: Fork you Asgard!
enjoyed the MC and the additional characters story a little bit too convoluted and long.
This is a very good story that’s why I’ve decided to continue reading the series. The book is a little convoluted with the storyline and should be tightened up. I think sometimes the story is disjointed and confusing. That’s why it did not receive a five star rating from me. Enjoy the characters and am going to read the next book.
I love the way the Author has built up the character Artorian and I really enjoy the silly little pop culture stuff that you throw in out of nowhere. Again I wish it was longer but I understand that all good books have to end sometime. Thank you for another great book.
Are there some real world references I could live without? Yes. Buut I absolutely love every other aspect of this book and this series. I love Love being Artorian's Law and how perfect it captures some very real concepts and emotions. It's an amazing addition to the series which I sincerely hope has one more in it.
The adventures of Artorian have been long and unique. In Asgard, Artorian gets to meet up with many of the people he met along the way and face some foes that he has been a menace for a long time.
It has been a long adventure but it feels like Artorian is finally getting to the end where he can finally get a good nap in a deep pile of comfy pillows.
I really was hoping to get more regrets this book, but after the slow start, it delivered, as per usual, with things I never even knew I wanted rather than what I said I wanted.
This book was everything I was hoping for in the next step in the story. It lagged a bit in the middle with a slight predictability, but it picks up the momentum of the beginning at the end.
This book had me cackling to myself. I’m sure there were strange looks. Loved all the references within.. very funny.. loved the series so far. Loved this episode. Looking forward to the next book
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who like LitRPG,dragons,elves and progression type of books with lots of action.
This whole series needs an editor that is willing to cut the first 20-40% of the book out, and the other nonsense-back-slapping parts and focus on the character growth and action.
Ehh, what started out as a good story kindof stopped flat. The man was ruthless and driven in the first few books... Now he just acts like a spoiled child most of the time.