The Guild Collective is applying pressure. Combat is heating up. That’s how diamonds are made.
Rockland is reeling from the loss of his family. All he found of them were missing limbs after the battle for New York, where the heavyweights of Empire and the Mechanolords fought. Only dangerous combat and bear wrestling were able to take his mind off the tragedy, but for a Chimera Knight those battles turned into new Territories across the massive, now borderless, country once called Canada.
Pulled from the path of self-destruction at the last moment, Rocky learns how to better use violence to achieve his goals in the apocalypse. Meliora’s enemies have allied and joined up to wipe out anyone in their way. Only because of his increased senses does Rocky find hints that the Grotto’s attempted extinction is a cover. It’s reason? To keep humanity's attention on survival and away from something far greater. There’s a secret the Mechanolords are concealing, a place of power they need to access to achieve their true goals: the lost city of Atlantis.
Everyone needs the oldest place of power in existence for their own reasons, but the Legendary guardian of the city would rather destroy the planet than fail to protect the newly arisen sanctum.
Maybe the therapy was glossed over quite a bit, but I liked Rocky’s resulting outlook a lot better in this book compared to the last few. And I liked his interactions with Sela even more. Before I feel like he was just being bossed around or resisting like a petulant child at times. I appreciate that he is making his own decisions in a more healthy way.
Grimdark start was enough to nearly have me abandoning this book. I like nice stories. Perseverance was rewarded though and another great instalment has been delivered. There is a lot of combat and dungeon runs in this one which I normally am less interested in but the author throws in enough varying mechanics that I have to keep reading. I recommend this series to all fans of LITRPG
This was a pretty good book. The characters were relatable, and the conflict was interesting and engaging. There were a few parts of the story that seemed disjointed but other than that I enjoyed this book.
I loved this addition to the series. I found myself reading it when I was supposed to be working, or paying attention to other people, or sleeping. I can’t wait for the next one!
But it is hard to reach, and even harder to enter. This is the prime focus of the book, although the main character learns some things about themselves and their place in the world before that happens. He continues to have problems focusing, bu has adopted an interesting approach to mindfulness that seems to be helping along the way.
I could have used some more reminders about some of people that are referenced in the book from previous installments of the series. Why were they important or interesting?
Wasn't what I was expecting but did not disappoint
While this book was not the dark Rocky story I was expecting it more than made up for it in the ability to move the story arc forward while keeping interest in the story as a whole
It’s good and moves the over all story along nicely. The middle bobs down a bit with pacing as they figure out some new systems but picks up again into the end. New problems arise at the end to be dealt with in a further installment
Mythologies collide as Rocky, Rockland Barkclay, continues his quest to prepare the remnants of humanity for the coming invasion of the Galactic Guilds' forces. The Mechanolords and Apep's minions continue to cause trouble for the free Territories of what was once Canada; while Rocky battles with his tangled emotions and personal responsibilities to family and friends AND balancing those against saving the whole human race. Being a hero turns out to be hard work!
While being a strong example of the LitRPG genre, this book, and the series of which it is a part, may be of I treat to readers of the broader Fantasy genre as the statistic blocks for the character summaries are easy to gloss over for those who find no interest in the Rocky's quantified advancements.
Rocky was a bit all over the place in this book. I understood his despair in the beginning, and the long road to finding his way out of his darkness. But then he waffled between whining, genius, and fits of rage. Perhaps these were all signs of his PTSD, but mightn’t someone like Gary have pointed that out to Rocky, to help him identify when he’s having an episode? If this isn’t PTSD related, then it was baffling and irritating to see Rocky vacillating in his character.
I enjoyed seeing Atlantis becoming both exactly what Selma was arguing for, and yet, nothing at all of what she expected. I’m curious to learn more about what happened to Gaia and what the future holds for both Gaia and Meliora. What are the Algonquins up to, and does it have anything to do with the revelation Sela found at the end of the book? And what exactly are the Guild Collective doing when they kill a planetary god? Do they even understand it themselves?
I didn't enjoy this book quit as much as the others. I'm not exactly liking the way the MC is acting. He's going a bit dark broody and selfish. Ⅱ half of the book certainly accelerates things But I was a bit dismayed that a lot went on behind the scenes And resort of throne at the reader. Much of that happened during that early dark broody stuff. I'm sure it some sort of plot element but I didn't like it. I'm not feeling as much of the energy in the series it seems a bit more mechanical at this point. I certainly like the setting and the idea but it doesn't seem to have the same deal as earlier books. Missing some of it's excitement essence. BMC did have a few moments where he worked on himself is cultivation and his crafting. With those bits of discovery we're far to rare. Just not feeling the loot excitement and discovery excitement in this one.
After the events of the battle of New York, Rocky feels that he has little to live for and throws himself at territory bosses. Rocky has yet to realize that his family was found alive. Not only that, Atlantis has emerged from the watery depths. There is just the matter of the world serpent made of all the litter in the oceans…
Please understand that the last book was about breaking Rocky. The beginning of the book finds him at ‘Rocky bottom’. This is a story of recovery and making yourself better than you were. The last book was certainly a down book, but it is the apocalypse after all. This book is a lot more fun! I can’t wait for the next book in the Ether Collapse.
This was surprisingly disappointing given how book three ended.
I thought there was going to be a transition to give the series new life. Instead it was walked back and tell into old, over used tropes. This book felt stale and tired. The story was predictable and boring. This was not new life, it was a death knell.
Ryan DeBruyn’s Ether Collapse has stood the passage of time with unparalleled ease, as a long-time fan, I had to repick up the series with the release of the fourth book and despite nearly 3 years having passed since the first book was publicized, countless details were so vivid within my recollection I could have sworn I’d just picked up the series
The world continues to spiral in its apocalypse the gang head off to claim Atlantis. It’s a fun fast paced installment in the ongoing saga. I enjoyed it. (I just waited a while after reading before writing this and so I’ve gotten fuzzy on details.) but I do enjoy it, I do recommend it, and I look forward to the next one.
Really enjoyable, I was a bit disappointed by book 3, but this one was solid from start to finish. Only thing: the ending is perhaps a bit rushed, but otherwise, the book would have been a mamooth.
Was a good read, in particular because the MC and his sidekick have stopped behaving like teenagers. :)
Truly a wonderful continuance of the Ether Collapse series. I can’t wait for the best one, wait, I can’t remember if someone died this time or not oh boy. Did we finally get a book without a heart wrenching death?
Th title sums it up to me. Everything that I have found lovable in this series continues, and characters work through learning from some difficulties that have been struggles for awhile.
Yup five stars, ended up binge reading this series. All the books were original invoked various emotions which is something I value in a book. In the end they are enjoyable reading.
As with all the others, I can't put it down once I start! I'm pretty sure I just started this book yesterday morning or the day before. At least that's what it feels like.
An interesting story line but the characters need better development. A mature main character free of teenage relationship poor me woes in the middle of a apocalyptic of evil would be something to consider
Absolutely amazing series of books. Would highly recommend to other lovers of the litrpg category or even just fantasy lovers. Cannot wait for the 5th installment of the book.