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Vigil Bound #1
Vigil's Justice
Magic weapons. Deadly monsters. Epic quests. All just another day in the life of a Vigil.
Boyd Knight found his calling when he joined the Marines and qualified for the elite Force Recon. He’d found a tribe and a family, so when a hand grenade landed near his team, he jumped on it without thought or regret.
But instead of winding up dead, he wakes up butt naked in a cave full of monsters with a knife in one hand and a pistol in the other. He’s been chosen by Raguel, Five-Faced God of Justice, and entrusted with the power of the Vigil Bound. Every kill makes him stronger, and thanks to the Ascendant System, Boyd can level up, unlock increasingly powerful spells, and even harness the abilities of the monsters he’s been dispatched to hunt.
If he can survive the deadly shapeshifter stalking him from the shadows, Boyd’s second life promises to be even more ass-kickingly epic than his first.
Boyd Knight found his calling when he joined the Marines and qualified for the elite Force Recon. He’d found a tribe and a family, so when a hand grenade landed near his team, he jumped on it without thought or regret.
But instead of winding up dead, he wakes up butt naked in a cave full of monsters with a knife in one hand and a pistol in the other. He’s been chosen by Raguel, Five-Faced God of Justice, and entrusted with the power of the Vigil Bound. Every kill makes him stronger, and thanks to the Ascendant System, Boyd can level up, unlock increasingly powerful spells, and even harness the abilities of the monsters he’s been dispatched to hunt.
If he can survive the deadly shapeshifter stalking him from the shadows, Boyd’s second life promises to be even more ass-kickingly epic than his first.
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2022
1068 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
James A. Hunter
79 books1,110 followersJames Hunter is a full-time ink slinger, a member of SFWA, and the bestselling author of Vigil Bound, Rogue Dungeon, Shadowcroft Academy, Bibliomancer (The Completionist Chronicles Expanded Universe), and the litRPG epic Viridian Gate Online! In addition to writing, James also runs Shadow Alley Press, an industry leader that specializes in publishing LitRPG, Fantasy, and selection Science Fiction.
James is a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). He’s also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—’cause that’s totally a real thing. And a spaceship captain, can’t forget that. Okay … the last one probably isn’t true. When not writing or spending time with family, James occasionally finds time to eat and sleep.
Find out more about James Hunter at www.ShadowAlleyPress.com
James is a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). He’s also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—’cause that’s totally a real thing. And a spaceship captain, can’t forget that. Okay … the last one probably isn’t true. When not writing or spending time with family, James occasionally finds time to eat and sleep.
Find out more about James Hunter at www.ShadowAlleyPress.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
April 27, 2023
Hunter is a really good author. Solid craft. Excellent descriptions. Evocative characters. Plus, a heroic marine with a Colt 1911 shooting magic bullets? Heck yes.
Only...
If you have a marine with a magical Colt 1911, you should probably have a plot that centers on shooting evil in the face for justice. Having a social engineering challenge with a marine who refuses to be less than a hard-case regardless of circumstance is just not appealing. I mean, Boyd is all arming up with a stealth and social manipulation build and I just couldn't care less. Sherlocking a doppelgänger stalking the night isn't what I wanted to see.
And while I was grousing in my head about the wrong fight for the hero, I got annoyed with his constant full-bore "banter". And that reminded me how stupid his first fights were (where he gave the initiative away for free to foes obviously out to eat him). And I couldn't bring myself to pick it up again after putting it down.
I'm going to give this a second star because, as I said, the craft is a notch above and I just didn't click with the story being told. So it was two stars worth of power-fantasy entertainment and I wish the author had a different story to tell with this setup.
Only...
If you have a marine with a magical Colt 1911, you should probably have a plot that centers on shooting evil in the face for justice. Having a social engineering challenge with a marine who refuses to be less than a hard-case regardless of circumstance is just not appealing. I mean, Boyd is all arming up with a stealth and social manipulation build and I just couldn't care less. Sherlocking a doppelgänger stalking the night isn't what I wanted to see.
And while I was grousing in my head about the wrong fight for the hero, I got annoyed with his constant full-bore "banter". And that reminded me how stupid his first fights were (where he gave the initiative away for free to foes obviously out to eat him). And I couldn't bring myself to pick it up again after putting it down.
I'm going to give this a second star because, as I said, the craft is a notch above and I just didn't click with the story being told. So it was two stars worth of power-fantasy entertainment and I wish the author had a different story to tell with this setup.
March 9, 2023
The action at the start was so brutal but the synopsis let's you know what's going to happen so it's not a shock when Boyd dies.
The rest of the book was slow going and watching Boyd level up was pretty boring too, but at the same time it's good to see he's not some OP main. He's flawed which I like too but he also cares about the people. Big heart that he hides with his gruffness.
I liked it enough to read the next book. I look forward to seeing how Boyd gets stronger and how he deals with politics.
The rest of the book was slow going and watching Boyd level up was pretty boring too, but at the same time it's good to see he's not some OP main. He's flawed which I like too but he also cares about the people. Big heart that he hides with his gruffness.
I liked it enough to read the next book. I look forward to seeing how Boyd gets stronger and how he deals with politics.
February 13, 2023
I wanted to like this, and I guess it had its strengths, but ultimately it missed the mark for me.
Character - 5/10, Plot - 6/10, Setting/Game Mechanics - 7/10, Writing 7/10, Enjoyment 2/10
The character is a marine who jumps on a grenade in the opening chapter and is reincarnated as a God's representative on another world. He's basically a very generic military guy playing a role similar to a Witcher. I read a lot of military sci-fi and enjoy soldier characters, but not this one too much. He just seemed like a jackass and I didn't like him much. The same can be said for all of the characters really.
The plot was extremely slow moving and followed our MC as he does some small bits of monster hunting to gain strength while also investigating mysterious killings in an old mining town. Most things about this book sound really interesting when I describe them, but were pretty boring in practice.
The setting and game mechanics were good, I suppose, but it's just hard to get excited about them. It felt like the author was trying too hard to do something "different", but calling your strength stat Brawn and your health stat Verve isn't really changing much and definitely doesn't justify the huge amounts of infodumping that happen. Learning about the skills while seeing them in action would have made the book feel less like a drag, but the game system was set up for infodumping, so it is what it is.
The writing was both good and horrible. It was good in that there weren't really any big grammar problems or proofreading errors. The unfortunate thing about this is that it gets my hopes up a little, but then most of the tactical writing choices were ones that diminished my enjoyment. The author just seemed like he was trying too hard all the time. The MC would constantly think "a good marine knows this or that" and I would be thinking "A good marine doesn't need to think about what a good marine thinks about all the damn time". It just felt like the author was pushing too hard to make the MC come across as a hardboiled military badass and it mostly fell flat for me.
It's also a mild pet peeve of mine to spend so much time in the opening chapter on pointless stuff that won't matter once we move to the real plot. All I want is a snapshot of our character. Who he is, what he does, what his flaws are. Just briefly. Then lets go about showing me how he changes in the new world. But nope, none of that here. Just a flat line instead of a character arc.
The descriptions were also overflowing with pointless similes that turned the handful of action scenes into boring events. Rather than just describing what is currently happening, we would always get flashback memories and then similes and metaphors within the flashback.
I will say that despite all of these complaints, I feel like the author actually wrote the story that he set out to write. So rather than say it wasn't good, I think it's more a difference of opinion here for me.
People who have read other books by this author and are fans will probably enjoy this. People who have read other books by him (I have read 4) and really don't get much from them, probably won't get much here either. I thought the premise of this one might make up for it since it was a bit different than usual, but I think it's just the author's writing style that fails to connect with me.
Character - 5/10, Plot - 6/10, Setting/Game Mechanics - 7/10, Writing 7/10, Enjoyment 2/10
The character is a marine who jumps on a grenade in the opening chapter and is reincarnated as a God's representative on another world. He's basically a very generic military guy playing a role similar to a Witcher. I read a lot of military sci-fi and enjoy soldier characters, but not this one too much. He just seemed like a jackass and I didn't like him much. The same can be said for all of the characters really.
The plot was extremely slow moving and followed our MC as he does some small bits of monster hunting to gain strength while also investigating mysterious killings in an old mining town. Most things about this book sound really interesting when I describe them, but were pretty boring in practice.
The setting and game mechanics were good, I suppose, but it's just hard to get excited about them. It felt like the author was trying too hard to do something "different", but calling your strength stat Brawn and your health stat Verve isn't really changing much and definitely doesn't justify the huge amounts of infodumping that happen. Learning about the skills while seeing them in action would have made the book feel less like a drag, but the game system was set up for infodumping, so it is what it is.
The writing was both good and horrible. It was good in that there weren't really any big grammar problems or proofreading errors. The unfortunate thing about this is that it gets my hopes up a little, but then most of the tactical writing choices were ones that diminished my enjoyment. The author just seemed like he was trying too hard all the time. The MC would constantly think "a good marine knows this or that" and I would be thinking "A good marine doesn't need to think about what a good marine thinks about all the damn time". It just felt like the author was pushing too hard to make the MC come across as a hardboiled military badass and it mostly fell flat for me.
It's also a mild pet peeve of mine to spend so much time in the opening chapter on pointless stuff that won't matter once we move to the real plot. All I want is a snapshot of our character. Who he is, what he does, what his flaws are. Just briefly. Then lets go about showing me how he changes in the new world. But nope, none of that here. Just a flat line instead of a character arc.
The descriptions were also overflowing with pointless similes that turned the handful of action scenes into boring events. Rather than just describing what is currently happening, we would always get flashback memories and then similes and metaphors within the flashback.
I will say that despite all of these complaints, I feel like the author actually wrote the story that he set out to write. So rather than say it wasn't good, I think it's more a difference of opinion here for me.
People who have read other books by this author and are fans will probably enjoy this. People who have read other books by him (I have read 4) and really don't get much from them, probably won't get much here either. I thought the premise of this one might make up for it since it was a bit different than usual, but I think it's just the author's writing style that fails to connect with me.
January 11, 2023
The main character is ungrateful, pretentious and a total pr*ck. Apparently falling on a grenade is a thing for authors that write about ex-military characters in fantasy novel series.
The main character chooses to have his "best-friend" with him in his isekai (reincarnation into another world as a Vigil), but the omniscient and omnipotent "gods" can't get his best friend to reincarnate (into a physical body, so he is a bonded guide spirit that does not have enough mana to stay all the time and does not know anything about the new world). So, the "gods" just reincarnate Boyd, the main character. Again, the "gods" let him choose his over-powered (OP) abilities, weapons and artifacts and the main character chooses a magic gun? Not thunder, fire, gravity, nuclear, all-powerful abilities or weapons but a "magical gun" that can store up to 13 bullets?? It's almost an oxymoron, no? Who would be idiotic enough to choose a gun in a magical world? and have that same gun use bullets? In magical worlds you could have asked for a staff that shoots fire and thunder, could have chosen a sword that freezes, burns, creates earth, dark, light magic, etc. why would one choose a gun that has only 13 bullets? what is the main character going to do once he runs out of bullets? throw away the magical gun? Make more magical bullets from scratch? with his sub-zero capacity-knowledge-ability in this "medieval-magical-fantasy-other-world"?
The same omniscient and all powerful "gods" send the main character "naked"...they have so little magical powers and/or skimp on magical cost, so that they have no strength (gas, energy, mana) to actually wear armor, clothes, magical equipment on the main character. If that weren't already at full nonsensical, then a girl from an inn/tavern feeds him (for free, acts generous and genuinely interested in him and all he can say to thank her generosity is that she is probably "friendly with everybody" (hinting that she is somehow the town slut)??? Main character rescues a sprite and it's the first "sprite" in history that has bad attitude and is not "tinkerbell" in any way??
The main character does not know what he is supposed to do, because he did not ask the "gods" that reincarnated him, and apparently, sending him to another world, gave him "traveler's amnesia" Could the author be "flying by the seat of his pants to a more degree than this? Should the author use some dice, ask an astrologer, or post his readers?
So, what could be the point, main plot arc of this story, if even the author does not know it? What is wrong with this author? Why is this story so nonsensical?
The main character chooses to have his "best-friend" with him in his isekai (reincarnation into another world as a Vigil), but the omniscient and omnipotent "gods" can't get his best friend to reincarnate (into a physical body, so he is a bonded guide spirit that does not have enough mana to stay all the time and does not know anything about the new world). So, the "gods" just reincarnate Boyd, the main character. Again, the "gods" let him choose his over-powered (OP) abilities, weapons and artifacts and the main character chooses a magic gun? Not thunder, fire, gravity, nuclear, all-powerful abilities or weapons but a "magical gun" that can store up to 13 bullets?? It's almost an oxymoron, no? Who would be idiotic enough to choose a gun in a magical world? and have that same gun use bullets? In magical worlds you could have asked for a staff that shoots fire and thunder, could have chosen a sword that freezes, burns, creates earth, dark, light magic, etc. why would one choose a gun that has only 13 bullets? what is the main character going to do once he runs out of bullets? throw away the magical gun? Make more magical bullets from scratch? with his sub-zero capacity-knowledge-ability in this "medieval-magical-fantasy-other-world"?
The same omniscient and all powerful "gods" send the main character "naked"...they have so little magical powers and/or skimp on magical cost, so that they have no strength (gas, energy, mana) to actually wear armor, clothes, magical equipment on the main character. If that weren't already at full nonsensical, then a girl from an inn/tavern feeds him (for free, acts generous and genuinely interested in him and all he can say to thank her generosity is that she is probably "friendly with everybody" (hinting that she is somehow the town slut)??? Main character rescues a sprite and it's the first "sprite" in history that has bad attitude and is not "tinkerbell" in any way??
The main character does not know what he is supposed to do, because he did not ask the "gods" that reincarnated him, and apparently, sending him to another world, gave him "traveler's amnesia" Could the author be "flying by the seat of his pants to a more degree than this? Should the author use some dice, ask an astrologer, or post his readers?
So, what could be the point, main plot arc of this story, if even the author does not know it? What is wrong with this author? Why is this story so nonsensical?
July 21, 2023
An action-packed fantasy, Vigil's Justice follows Boyd Knight, a Marine resurrected with magical powers. Deadly monsters, epic quests, and intriguing characters make it an adrenaline-fueled ride from start to finish. The compelling storytelling and engaging world-building will captivate fans of military fantasy.
October 18, 2023
DNF 43%
This is not a terrible book, but it lacks a driving force. There's way too much exposition and the protagonist seems to think he's living in a comedy... nothing is taken seriously.
This is not a terrible book, but it lacks a driving force. There's way too much exposition and the protagonist seems to think he's living in a comedy... nothing is taken seriously.
November 25, 2022
bloody brilliant!
I loved reading Boyd’s adventure, and damn I can see how a Vigilant is needed there! If you’re at all on the fence about this book? Read it. Read it now!
I loved reading Boyd’s adventure, and damn I can see how a Vigilant is needed there! If you’re at all on the fence about this book? Read it. Read it now!
April 2, 2024
Meh.
Not the authors best work, and if you are a fan of James Hunters other work--this may come as a disappointment.
For starters, the author has departed from his usual Rated PG writing and into PG 13 or rated R territory. Casual swearing, sophmoric humor, and left leaning philosophy taint the story throughout, as well as every woman being sexualized and desperate to get into the MC's pants.
The story itself was mediocre with nothing really new or interesting--a fairly standard blending of US Marine and fantasy, and my least favorite book by the author.
I will not be reading any more in the series, and don't recommend the series to anyone who really likes the authors previous work.
Not the authors best work, and if you are a fan of James Hunters other work--this may come as a disappointment.
For starters, the author has departed from his usual Rated PG writing and into PG 13 or rated R territory. Casual swearing, sophmoric humor, and left leaning philosophy taint the story throughout, as well as every woman being sexualized and desperate to get into the MC's pants.
The story itself was mediocre with nothing really new or interesting--a fairly standard blending of US Marine and fantasy, and my least favorite book by the author.
I will not be reading any more in the series, and don't recommend the series to anyone who really likes the authors previous work.
March 4, 2023
In the first few paragraphs he spends whole sentences describing a particularly heinous fart? It’s a weird opener but quite indicative of the character, and although well-written, I didn’t really get on with him. When he woke up with a magic gun that was it for me. I find that whole ‘gun in a fantasy world’ trope extremely dull and I didn’t want to stick around to see what he did with it. Something to do with farts probably. Maybe it’s a fart gun? I couldn’t say.
August 15, 2022
A brand new series from James A. Hunter of Viridian Gate Online fame, brings us a fantastic first book whereby we meet our hero, a marine during the war in Iraq who throws himself on a grenade in order to protect his friends lives, and whose heroic crazy act draws the attention of The Five who offer him another chance at life. However he is asked to take on the mantle of the Vigil, ready to bring about justice, valor, balance and truth. He was to be a pawn in a game of risk on a cosmic scale, abiding by the rules of the ascendant system, on the world of Alkran which was out of balance and of concern to these overseers. Boyd Knight accepts only if he is granted his deceased friend Cal as his spirit guide. He was not just a vigil but an Inkarnate and he joined up with a pixie called Renholm, who is a big pain in the ass, and his sturdy steed, a cat called Sir Jacob-Francis and an arbitrator called Arturo who together try to rid Ironmoor of the menace which was killing off the towns citizens. Boyd soon realises that there was more behind the deaths in this quiet town than just a monster, politics, corruption and ritual magic were behind the chaos. Boyd fights many battles against the mortka monsters thus advancing and upgrading in order to face the biggest threat of all in a final battle. This is a massive adventure, full of battles fought by arms and magic, fae monsters, human greed, as well as loyalty and doing what needs to be done to bring balance and put the world to rights once again. I really loved book 1 and look forward to further adventures with Boyd Knight our Vigil, champion of righteousness!
March 6, 2023
Decent mystery isekai, featuring a main protagonist who wields a magical gun and a melee weapon to enact justice as deemed fit by the five-faced god. The procedural/mystery focus was well-executed, and the setting and main antagonist were compelling and well thought out. The best villains are those with a human element, and this story did a decent job of fleshing out the backstory of the antagonist.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much character development, and the main character wasn't very tactful or the smartest bulb, although he had his moments. The litrpg elements, such as Boyd's ability to respec, were decent, but the progression wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked. There wasn't the experience you get from leveling up and viewing new and more powerful abilities so much as simply unlocking abilities we had already read about, and the attributes initially felt more like limitations.
While the villain was given some fleshing out and humanization, the same couldn't be said for the side characters, such as Maggie or Cal, who felt somewhat snubbed in the story. I think a spirit guide from the world could have made for a more interesting dynamic for the main character to interact with. The representation of the wealthy residents in the town was also rather one-dimensional, lacking the nuance you might expect from a more fleshed-out cast. I was interested to see the interplay between the wealthier members of the town at the party Boyd was invited to, but instead, Boyd acted his usual belligerent self, and all the wealthy individuals seemed to be portrayed in a poor light simply because they had wealth, which the story was a bit hazy on.
I found it strange that Boyd decided to take over some of the riches and provide for the orphans and those affected without really interacting with them. It felt hollow to me, like he was taking most of the spoils but giving some back to the poor while others took over the job of actually helping them. A truly virtuous individual who cares about the less fortunate would have engaged with them first, but this is ultimately a minor complaint.
Not the biggest fan of gunslinger types in fantasy settings but I think this was done alright even if I probably would have preferred the guns being replaced with crossbows or bows. Since it was a magical recreation it fits slightly better in the world though.
Despite my reservations about some of the writing choices, I still enjoyed the story and the decently fleshed-out antagonist and setting and although the conclusion was rather obvious halfway through he story, I nonetheless enjoyed the mystery and problem-solving elements that led to the stories conclusion. If the characters are more fleshed out, and the plot isn't a direct repeat, I think I'll likely enjoy the sequel to this as well.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much character development, and the main character wasn't very tactful or the smartest bulb, although he had his moments. The litrpg elements, such as Boyd's ability to respec, were decent, but the progression wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked. There wasn't the experience you get from leveling up and viewing new and more powerful abilities so much as simply unlocking abilities we had already read about, and the attributes initially felt more like limitations.
While the villain was given some fleshing out and humanization, the same couldn't be said for the side characters, such as Maggie or Cal, who felt somewhat snubbed in the story. I think a spirit guide from the world could have made for a more interesting dynamic for the main character to interact with. The representation of the wealthy residents in the town was also rather one-dimensional, lacking the nuance you might expect from a more fleshed-out cast. I was interested to see the interplay between the wealthier members of the town at the party Boyd was invited to, but instead, Boyd acted his usual belligerent self, and all the wealthy individuals seemed to be portrayed in a poor light simply because they had wealth, which the story was a bit hazy on.
I found it strange that Boyd decided to take over some of the riches and provide for the orphans and those affected without really interacting with them. It felt hollow to me, like he was taking most of the spoils but giving some back to the poor while others took over the job of actually helping them. A truly virtuous individual who cares about the less fortunate would have engaged with them first, but this is ultimately a minor complaint.
Not the biggest fan of gunslinger types in fantasy settings but I think this was done alright even if I probably would have preferred the guns being replaced with crossbows or bows. Since it was a magical recreation it fits slightly better in the world though.
Despite my reservations about some of the writing choices, I still enjoyed the story and the decently fleshed-out antagonist and setting and although the conclusion was rather obvious halfway through he story, I nonetheless enjoyed the mystery and problem-solving elements that led to the stories conclusion. If the characters are more fleshed out, and the plot isn't a direct repeat, I think I'll likely enjoy the sequel to this as well.
December 19, 2023
It's borderline fraud at this point, it's quite obvious that this is a cash cow by using his own name, let me explain.
Most of the 4 star and above reviews are borderline false, they praise a story that doesn't exist, they call simplistic and lazy story some kind of master piece, and worst of all, it's quite clear that this is a proxy book.
The reason why I am calling it a fraud is simple, the writer paid some random upcoming novelist or some other unknown writer to write a book, he provided that person with a story line, a premise and some some general layout of the way to go about it, like fantasy, isekai, a mc with enough knowledge of games to know the system , but with a personality dumb enough to fill the book with expositions for the readers and not too bright of a person so that the writer won't have to come up with good scenarios and just write something basic and call it k.
Now the reason I am certain of this is simple, it's a very common practice, famous writers take a diffrent pen name to write books that they do not want to associate with their name directly, and the reverse is true too, some writers pay others to write books for them and pay them a small amount and publish it in their own name and if it's a hit then good and if it's not they they simply call it's an experiment and that that.
It's a much more open practice in the music industry in fact i remember some scandal about taylor Swift when one her extra famous songs was not written by her and she refused to acknowledge the girl who wrote it or something.
But all that said the most obvious clue is in the book in itself, no self respecting writer who is aware of the genre they are dabling into, would write a book filled with all the basic blunders and constant inconsistencies of such a story.
The feeling I get when reading this book can be described as follows...
It's like calling someone superman and then declaring a rock called kryptonite his weakness, a rock mind you, that is a few black holes away and is practically unobtainable and serves no use other that the weakness of the op mc, but then for plot convience, evey gutter ra around the corner has one, and when u ask why, the writers says "ehh..just roll with it", and then when u are done rolling u realise it was not just dirty water, it was shit.
Have a nice day, and don't waste time in this one it's a lazy book.
If u like litrpg read
The primal hunter
He who fights monster
Dragon heart book 1 : stone will (one of the best)
Nova terra
System change (sunrise cv)
Defiance of the fall
And if u want some casual murder like the Orient express or knives out
Agetha Christie books
Edmund Crispin books
Most of the 4 star and above reviews are borderline false, they praise a story that doesn't exist, they call simplistic and lazy story some kind of master piece, and worst of all, it's quite clear that this is a proxy book.
The reason why I am calling it a fraud is simple, the writer paid some random upcoming novelist or some other unknown writer to write a book, he provided that person with a story line, a premise and some some general layout of the way to go about it, like fantasy, isekai, a mc with enough knowledge of games to know the system , but with a personality dumb enough to fill the book with expositions for the readers and not too bright of a person so that the writer won't have to come up with good scenarios and just write something basic and call it k.
Now the reason I am certain of this is simple, it's a very common practice, famous writers take a diffrent pen name to write books that they do not want to associate with their name directly, and the reverse is true too, some writers pay others to write books for them and pay them a small amount and publish it in their own name and if it's a hit then good and if it's not they they simply call it's an experiment and that that.
It's a much more open practice in the music industry in fact i remember some scandal about taylor Swift when one her extra famous songs was not written by her and she refused to acknowledge the girl who wrote it or something.
But all that said the most obvious clue is in the book in itself, no self respecting writer who is aware of the genre they are dabling into, would write a book filled with all the basic blunders and constant inconsistencies of such a story.
The feeling I get when reading this book can be described as follows...
It's like calling someone superman and then declaring a rock called kryptonite his weakness, a rock mind you, that is a few black holes away and is practically unobtainable and serves no use other that the weakness of the op mc, but then for plot convience, evey gutter ra around the corner has one, and when u ask why, the writers says "ehh..just roll with it", and then when u are done rolling u realise it was not just dirty water, it was shit.
Have a nice day, and don't waste time in this one it's a lazy book.
If u like litrpg read
The primal hunter
He who fights monster
Dragon heart book 1 : stone will (one of the best)
Nova terra
System change (sunrise cv)
Defiance of the fall
And if u want some casual murder like the Orient express or knives out
Agetha Christie books
Edmund Crispin books
February 20, 2023
Vigil's Justice is an action-packed and thrilling novel that will keep you turning the page from beginning to end. This novel is a true testament to James Hunter's writing skills and will transport you to a world of danger and adventure.
Vigil, the main character, is a complex and compelling protagonist whose motivations and actions are unpredictable and thrilling. The character development of Vigil is expertly crafted, and he will keep you engaged and invested in the story from beginning to end.
The story is well-structured, with a clear and compelling narrative arc. The suspense and tension are expertly crafted, and several twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end. The action scenes are intense and well-developed, and they will leave you breathless.
The world-building in Vigil's Justice is equally impressive. The author creates a fully realized, dark, and dangerous world, and the descriptions of the various locations and events are vivid and imaginative. This world-building adds depth and realism to the story, making the reader feel right in the middle of the action.
In conclusion, Vigil's Justice is a must-read for fans of action-adventure and vigilante stories. James Hunter's writing is top-notch, and the characters and plot are engaging and thrilling. If you haven't read this novel yet, I highly recommend that you do. It's a page-turner that deserves all the praise it has received.
Vigil, the main character, is a complex and compelling protagonist whose motivations and actions are unpredictable and thrilling. The character development of Vigil is expertly crafted, and he will keep you engaged and invested in the story from beginning to end.
The story is well-structured, with a clear and compelling narrative arc. The suspense and tension are expertly crafted, and several twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end. The action scenes are intense and well-developed, and they will leave you breathless.
The world-building in Vigil's Justice is equally impressive. The author creates a fully realized, dark, and dangerous world, and the descriptions of the various locations and events are vivid and imaginative. This world-building adds depth and realism to the story, making the reader feel right in the middle of the action.
In conclusion, Vigil's Justice is a must-read for fans of action-adventure and vigilante stories. James Hunter's writing is top-notch, and the characters and plot are engaging and thrilling. If you haven't read this novel yet, I highly recommend that you do. It's a page-turner that deserves all the praise it has received.
May 10, 2023
4 Wearing The Skins Of Fallen Enemies Is The Perfect Way To Establish Dominance Stars
Vigil's Justice is the first book in the Vigil Bound series by James Hunter.
While the reasoning behind the antagonist was always a mystery, it was far too easy to decipher even with limited information who was the most suspicious character in this "trade hub." I feel let down to have not experienced any of the in-depth information dive into this world society, one would expect in starting their second life on a completely different planet. I am hopeful that the Citadel's summons will lead to a more political climate and war zone in the next book.
I truly enjoyed getting to know this cast of characters. I will miss having Arturo in the main squad after Boyd leaves this area to explore the rest of the world. I was honestly wondering whether he would end of joining this new Inkarnate on his journey to rid this world of evil....
On the other hand, it is a definitive fact that Cal and Renholm are enough eccentric crazy to keep the story interesting all on their lonesome. I am excited to experience how Cal's power builds and manifests in the future. And while Renholm draws the same questions from me, I'm mostly anticipating what nefarious and complicated Fae trouble he will unleash on our MC..
Vigil's Justice is the first book in the Vigil Bound series by James Hunter.
While the reasoning behind the antagonist was always a mystery, it was far too easy to decipher even with limited information who was the most suspicious character in this "trade hub." I feel let down to have not experienced any of the in-depth information dive into this world society, one would expect in starting their second life on a completely different planet. I am hopeful that the Citadel's summons will lead to a more political climate and war zone in the next book.
I truly enjoyed getting to know this cast of characters. I will miss having Arturo in the main squad after Boyd leaves this area to explore the rest of the world. I was honestly wondering whether he would end of joining this new Inkarnate on his journey to rid this world of evil....
On the other hand, it is a definitive fact that Cal and Renholm are enough eccentric crazy to keep the story interesting all on their lonesome. I am excited to experience how Cal's power builds and manifests in the future. And while Renholm draws the same questions from me, I'm mostly anticipating what nefarious and complicated Fae trouble he will unleash on our MC..
March 21, 2024
...considering B1-4.
B1 shows great promise. Grabbed attention early as the MC is smart & unique(to me) in that his magical weapon is gun* in a magical/medieval world.
Positives (not 4* because not not enough pay off so far):
#1 Comic-relief character shows promise to rival Donut from DCC, but underutilized.
#2 Each book has a (Scobie-doo)mystery... but as per my intelligence, the MC comes to the right conclusion too easily/without proper evidence hence calling it Scobie-doo.
#3 The magic options are explained to the point i spaced out. MC shows signs he will become OP in an interesting world, but so far just meh.
#4 interesting base building beginnings.
Negatives:
-B3 is just a cash grab. 3+4 should have been 1 book.
-Space out moments when MC describes items/abilities he wont even actually equip.
-B2 story line seem abandoned in B3+4... will probably come back, but it showed a unused
resource for MC to the point of being a seemingly plot hole.
--*=even with magic gun, the MC relies on a transform to magic his way out of later conflicts.
IE Shows great promise, but even in B4, was hoping it would be a 4*/a favorite, but just pretty good in the end/so far.
B1 shows great promise. Grabbed attention early as the MC is smart & unique(to me) in that his magical weapon is gun* in a magical/medieval world.
Positives (not 4* because not not enough pay off so far):
#1 Comic-relief character shows promise to rival Donut from DCC, but underutilized.
#2 Each book has a (Scobie-doo)mystery... but as per my intelligence, the MC comes to the right conclusion too easily/without proper evidence hence calling it Scobie-doo.
#3 The magic options are explained to the point i spaced out. MC shows signs he will become OP in an interesting world, but so far just meh.
#4 interesting base building beginnings.
Negatives:
-B3 is just a cash grab. 3+4 should have been 1 book.
-Space out moments when MC describes items/abilities he wont even actually equip.
-B2 story line seem abandoned in B3+4... will probably come back, but it showed a unused
resource for MC to the point of being a seemingly plot hole.
--*=even with magic gun, the MC relies on a transform to magic his way out of later conflicts.
IE Shows great promise, but even in B4, was hoping it would be a 4*/a favorite, but just pretty good in the end/so far.
September 16, 2022
So the good; Luke Daniels performing the voice work on audio side.
And you have everything else which I don't know, I have some issue with. Mainly the battle scenes and constant reminder that he was a two tour Marine.
Battle 1, he does have a hand gun and apparently can only shoot 3 rounds and he is tapping out of magic. Kind of like old DnD rules with wizards who only can use magic missile 3 -4 times per day then go into a dungeon and die really fast.
He shoots his load and then drops his gun, he gets knocked down and some how with a Kabar in his other hand DIDNT stab the ever loving shit out of said monster that he let into melee range?
Battle 2,
He shoots his load and then drops his gun AGAIN, gets knocked down AGAIN, didn't stab the ever loving shit out of said monster AGAIN.
Battle 3,
First encounter with city quest mob; he sits and gawks at said monster and watches the thing eat, he let the monster charge him. Did the MC unload the Gun into the back of the head of the mob when it was eatting? Noooooope. Oh and he gets knocked down again. At this point the MC should be dead but he has greater author plot armor.
And you have everything else which I don't know, I have some issue with. Mainly the battle scenes and constant reminder that he was a two tour Marine.
Battle 1, he does have a hand gun and apparently can only shoot 3 rounds and he is tapping out of magic. Kind of like old DnD rules with wizards who only can use magic missile 3 -4 times per day then go into a dungeon and die really fast.
He shoots his load and then drops his gun, he gets knocked down and some how with a Kabar in his other hand DIDNT stab the ever loving shit out of said monster that he let into melee range?
Battle 2,
He shoots his load and then drops his gun AGAIN, gets knocked down AGAIN, didn't stab the ever loving shit out of said monster AGAIN.
Battle 3,
First encounter with city quest mob; he sits and gawks at said monster and watches the thing eat, he let the monster charge him. Did the MC unload the Gun into the back of the head of the mob when it was eatting? Noooooope. Oh and he gets knocked down again. At this point the MC should be dead but he has greater author plot armor.
October 19, 2022
I just couldn't get into this one. The MC was ok, but the story was a drag. Way too much explanation that was about as fun to read as a thick manual to a game. The world building and magic system felt half baked and the character's progression was pretty much limited to one big level up. Other than the MC, the other characters don't progress in any meaningful way at all.
I usually burn through LitRPG books, but that feeling of "can't wait to devour the next section" was entirely missing from this one. The book ended up taking a lot longer to read than they normally do because I just didn't pick it up that often. The ending was pretty obvious and generally unsatisfying.
The writing didn't have the glaring editing errors that the genre sometimes has and the MC's military background was an interesting angle, but overall this one was a miss (IMO).
I usually burn through LitRPG books, but that feeling of "can't wait to devour the next section" was entirely missing from this one. The book ended up taking a lot longer to read than they normally do because I just didn't pick it up that often. The ending was pretty obvious and generally unsatisfying.
The writing didn't have the glaring editing errors that the genre sometimes has and the MC's military background was an interesting angle, but overall this one was a miss (IMO).
July 16, 2023
Help me read more books
Somewhat unique LitRPG offering. It uses tokens, which I've seen done before, but it also doesn't use direct levels, there's tiers in addition to the levels in each tier. Seen that before too, but the combination of the two is something I don't remember seeing, and while it doesn't really contribute a whole lot to the story, it does lend it a mildly interesting aspect of progression. Besides that, the story is interesting as well, and it looks like I'll be continuing with this series. For those of you who haven't read anything by this author yet, you might want to add them to your to read shelf. I tend to like books by this author, and I suspect most LitRPG fans will too.
Somewhat unique LitRPG offering. It uses tokens, which I've seen done before, but it also doesn't use direct levels, there's tiers in addition to the levels in each tier. Seen that before too, but the combination of the two is something I don't remember seeing, and while it doesn't really contribute a whole lot to the story, it does lend it a mildly interesting aspect of progression. Besides that, the story is interesting as well, and it looks like I'll be continuing with this series. For those of you who haven't read anything by this author yet, you might want to add them to your to read shelf. I tend to like books by this author, and I suspect most LitRPG fans will too.
October 19, 2024
Wow. Mixing the features of LitRPG, modern weapons, medieval weapons, and magic in one story. We are following Boyd Knight from the battlefield of Iraq to a mystical world in another universe when magic, mythical legends, and horrors come to life. He has to learn what his "new" life entails and where he fits. This LitRPG even has a little mystery that needs to be solved as Boyd must figure how to be a Vigil and rid the sleep town of a monster that is killing town folks. He will get help from a drunkard priest and wise-cracking, smartass pixie who loves to remind Boyd that he is just a "stink meat sack." I really enjoyed this first installment to the Vigil Bound series. I look forward to continuing the series and Boyd's adventures in the future.
December 24, 2022
Raguel , the five faced God of justice.
Boyd escaped death to be reborn as a Vigil , a warrior for justice. Boyd is okay , he has a big heart and assisted by Cal his spirit buddy , Redholm a pixie with nefarious tendencies and Arturo who is more than the priest he appears he is tasked with hunting down the Hexbright , a monster way out of his league , Boyds one flaw is that he's not the smartest tack in the box , I'd figured out who was the Hexbright about halfway through the tale , but he's a persistent hero and aside from the confusing magic and overpowering abilities quite satisfactory.
Boyd escaped death to be reborn as a Vigil , a warrior for justice. Boyd is okay , he has a big heart and assisted by Cal his spirit buddy , Redholm a pixie with nefarious tendencies and Arturo who is more than the priest he appears he is tasked with hunting down the Hexbright , a monster way out of his league , Boyds one flaw is that he's not the smartest tack in the box , I'd figured out who was the Hexbright about halfway through the tale , but he's a persistent hero and aside from the confusing magic and overpowering abilities quite satisfactory.
September 17, 2022
this book is a homerun, it’s all the highlights.
This is a five star book, plenty of action, a great MC, and the premise is excellent. an RPG book
That allows the MC to rotate his abilities. Plus you have modern weaponry as well. What more could you ask for. All the side characters are likable not a dull moment in the book. Now, unfortunately, I have to wait for the next book. I don’t usually give five stars for books, but this book deservedly earned them. if you haven’t read this book, I urge you to go ahead and read it.
This is a five star book, plenty of action, a great MC, and the premise is excellent. an RPG book
That allows the MC to rotate his abilities. Plus you have modern weaponry as well. What more could you ask for. All the side characters are likable not a dull moment in the book. Now, unfortunately, I have to wait for the next book. I don’t usually give five stars for books, but this book deservedly earned them. if you haven’t read this book, I urge you to go ahead and read it.
October 1, 2022
Hunter does it again!!!
I absolutely loved Viridian Gate Online so I knew that I’d like this but I didn’t think that I’d love it so much. Being a veteran of the war in Iraq, I completely connected with Boyd, Cal and Art(once his story was revealed). I was them and knew guys like them.
Anyway, I’ll if you’re on the fence about this book then do yourself a favor and get this book. You won’t be disappointed. Especially if you like audiobooks because Luke Daniels is in absolute top form here. Cal and Renholm are the standouts and I can’t wait to see where they go from here!!!
I absolutely loved Viridian Gate Online so I knew that I’d like this but I didn’t think that I’d love it so much. Being a veteran of the war in Iraq, I completely connected with Boyd, Cal and Art(once his story was revealed). I was them and knew guys like them.
Anyway, I’ll if you’re on the fence about this book then do yourself a favor and get this book. You won’t be disappointed. Especially if you like audiobooks because Luke Daniels is in absolute top form here. Cal and Renholm are the standouts and I can’t wait to see where they go from here!!!
November 20, 2022
Didn’t the blurb say something about a pixie arson? Did I miss that?
I was a bit amazed that I actually believed that Boyd was a Marine. I happen to have just finished a book where the MC was retired Navy and referred to himself as a soldier, so my expectations were a bit low.
Some of Boyd’s choices seemed odd for someone who professed to be an avid gamer, but it wasn’t so odd that it threw me out of the story. It will be interesting to see where things will go from here. How are things being hidden from Raguel? Are there Vigilant who have betrayed their oaths?
I was a bit amazed that I actually believed that Boyd was a Marine. I happen to have just finished a book where the MC was retired Navy and referred to himself as a soldier, so my expectations were a bit low.
Some of Boyd’s choices seemed odd for someone who professed to be an avid gamer, but it wasn’t so odd that it threw me out of the story. It will be interesting to see where things will go from here. How are things being hidden from Raguel? Are there Vigilant who have betrayed their oaths?
January 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Normally I'll read a few chapters of whatever book I'm currently in during lunch every day but I found myself unable to stop reading this one. The main character is a US Marine that gets whisked away to another world of monsters and magic but continues to act like you'd expect a Marine to act. Weapons? How about a Kbar and a 1911? Magic? Shoot flames from your hand. Finish the mission, then finish flirting with the barmaid. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
May 29, 2025
This books started out with such promise. The protagonist is engaging. More importantly, the descriptions and details popped off the page. However, as the book slowly turns into a RPG/video with pop-up stats and rules, it gets more like reading someone relating a D&D campaign instead of reading a book. DNF because it clearly strays from useful fiction to video game/board game realm of 'entertainment.'
Again, so much potential...but clearly targeted at a very narrow niche of board/video gamers that might read, too. Can't recommend to any but a narrow few readers.
Again, so much potential...but clearly targeted at a very narrow niche of board/video gamers that might read, too. Can't recommend to any but a narrow few readers.
November 27, 2022
Justifiable Good
Hunter does it again with a typical hero story but with broad powers, a fellow marine ghost and a special dispensation from the gods to route out injustice.
With the expected levelling system in place and a few interesting opportunities offered by his Vigil role this gives some great action and creativity for the reader.
As this is Hunter and I haven't came across a bad book from him yet then this series will only go from strength to strength.
Hunter does it again with a typical hero story but with broad powers, a fellow marine ghost and a special dispensation from the gods to route out injustice.
With the expected levelling system in place and a few interesting opportunities offered by his Vigil role this gives some great action and creativity for the reader.
As this is Hunter and I haven't came across a bad book from him yet then this series will only go from strength to strength.
February 11, 2023
Part litrpg, part detective story
Great intro from the inestimable James Hunter. Nice windy plot, mixed with litrpg goodness and some good ol fashioned monster hunting. The detective part/twist was a little obvious, but still entertaining enough to make for a great story. Only complaint is the rehash of the abilities was a bit much - felt more like space filler than reminder. Maybe a link to the abilities in the back of the book? Anywho, great book, on to the next one!
Great intro from the inestimable James Hunter. Nice windy plot, mixed with litrpg goodness and some good ol fashioned monster hunting. The detective part/twist was a little obvious, but still entertaining enough to make for a great story. Only complaint is the rehash of the abilities was a bit much - felt more like space filler than reminder. Maybe a link to the abilities in the back of the book? Anywho, great book, on to the next one!
February 28, 2023
The main character fully embodies the jarhead mentality of Marines I’ve served with, and applies it to a gun LitRPG experience. The mystery in the story is a bit predictable but I appreciated how the character handled the situation and relied on his friends rather than try and be the Jack of all trades Rambo/Detective on his own. The ending is satisfying and fully resolved the issues in the story and then leaves room for the next adventure.
July 8, 2023
Oorah!
What an entertaining read! The MC is all grit. Able to use the interesting divine boon system in ways no vigil before him has done, he tirelessly applies his Marine training to improvise, adapt and overcome in a strange new world full of all of humanity's frailties and incredible monsters to boot. Can't wait to see what Boyd and Renholm, his murderous pixie sidekick, get up to next!
What an entertaining read! The MC is all grit. Able to use the interesting divine boon system in ways no vigil before him has done, he tirelessly applies his Marine training to improvise, adapt and overcome in a strange new world full of all of humanity's frailties and incredible monsters to boot. Can't wait to see what Boyd and Renholm, his murderous pixie sidekick, get up to next!
August 3, 2023
A fun monster killing story. Kind of a LitRPG Witcher tale. I enjoyed the characters and the action was fast and frenetic. The game elements dragged at the flow at times but they were few. Also I listened to the audiobook and I generally love Luke Daniel's performances but at times he dropped into a hillbilly voice and it grated. Fortunately those instances were quick and overall did not distract too much from the story.
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