Retribution

The Beginning after the End #10

by TurtleMe

I didn’t want to be worshiped like some deity, an instant replacement for the asuras who kept trying to kill these people despite having for so long been looked up to as gods.

“I’m not your savior.”

Arthur Leywin has finally returned to the continent of Dicathen, but his home is still firmly in the hands of the enemy. His display of unprecedented power brings hope to his allies and fear to his enemies, but it also more deeply embroils him in a conflict between the godlike asuras, with Agrona Vritra on one side and Kezess Indrath on the other. With the crimes of his past life haunting him in the form of the Legacy, Arthur can no longer afford to hone only his own strength, but he must also empower those closest to him or risk losing them all.

Genres: Fantasy, Light Novel, Fiction, Magic, Adventure, Audiobook, Action

600 pages, Unknown Binding

About the author

Tae Ha Lee, writing under the pen name TurtleMe, is a fantasy novelist and webcomic author. Blending elements of Western and Eastern literature, TurtleMe creates a unique and compelling reading experience that resonates with global audiences. His award-winning series, The Beginning After the End, has been translated into over ten languages and has captivated readers worldwide.

Tae Ha, a proud UC Berkeley graduate, currently resides in Seattle with his beloved wife and dog. To find out more, follow @turtleme93 on Instagram.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

more please

this whole series is absolutely amazing best litrpg book I have come across yet and I have an extensive library. I simultaneously couldn't wait to read this book while at the same time not wanting it to end asmi watched my progress bar leap from 22% read to 99%read. I can only hope that the next book comes out more quickly then the previous books as it feels like a lifetime between each book. Turtleme your an amazing writter I love this series and absolutely cannot wait for the next book. I don't have any complaints on this series I have reread it several times I have also listened to it on audible, nice choice of narrators and even thi I just read it as soon as it is out on audible I intend to listen to it. if you are reading this Turtleme where do you draw your inspiration from? what books would you recommend I read while waiting for book 11?

[Cohen Shellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, but also hated everything after learning the correct way to pronounce Regis.

[Dimitar Kalinkov · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a letdown since the previous book. Maybe I'm just pretentious, but it feels like the author just started randomly bloating the books. Here we are in this one yet again in some school ARC, but this time not as a student professor, but as an adult professor. And what happened after that you may ask? Well, a tournament ARC of course... Nothing of substance happens, of course Arthur powers up a bit, but that's not the thing here. This book makes the previous book feel like it just swiped the sheets clean, so we can start with everything again, because of the obvious shitty writing of the first books. Of course the writing here is very good, but as I've said, it lacks the story substance. Artur just forgets about his main goal from the previous book and starts doing some random shit... Just awful. If it wasn't for the cool fight scenes, characters, and the general fan service, I would have rated this lower.

[Windrunner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational. I loved everything about this book. I was particularly impressed by the development of characters like Aldir, Bairon, Lyra, Nico and Cecilia, all of them now having so much more depth as the war impacts their views and they start to question their allegiance. It had amazing fights, Arthur vs the Wraiths had me in absolute awe. And the ending was beautiful. Now we wait another year for book 11 🥲

[Hellscythe_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished book and want to read book 10 can I know were to read it i read all other books from jn novels

[Rizza✧˖° · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars just for the last chapter alone! UGH! MINDBLOWN!

[Gus Tiernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top series of all time, crying now that I have to wait a year for vol 11 😿

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rip Aldir

[Ryan John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sylvie is back bitches.... Lol sorry had to say it. (pardon the spelling coz I'm listening not reading as my eyesight is deteriorating).

Recap.. MC reunites with his family. Pairs with his scientist pal to enhance his warriors. Grandpa Elf is in mourning apparently he wasn't as devastated by his own wife's passing, his son and his daughter-in-laws passing, and not even his Grandmother's passing, but is in shambles after his friend passed away... Nope she's wasn't his side piece either. Just that the author thought all of his readers are that big of idiots. Anywho, so Arthur is elevated to General and essentially a one man army. Starts taking back his continent. His sister AND only his sister gets a rune and of course she would get the most EPIC ONE duhh. Cue in a training montage. Man more I write this recap I realize this book doesn't deserve a 5 star rating, it was quite formulaic indeed. First off why the fuck would TURTLEME agree to 2 person narration?? I guess he was winning too much so they decided they would like to fail. Just look at what happened to RED RISING by Pierce Brown after audible producers or the studios decided to have more than 1 narrator. It just ruins the experience for the listener and his sales suffered so for that reason alone it loses 1 star.
MC only has his sister granted the rune and takes Mica and their POW to the dungeon and of course gets him and his sis OP"d.
MC gets summoned back to Asura land makes a non-aggression pact, gets magical chains put on his core which he breaks and fakes. Nico has a crisis of conscience, and tries to makes amends with Arthur by retuning dragon mama's core or he might have booby trapped it who knows. Meanwhile Legacy has her memories back as well but she maybe travelling down the path of evil.
Asura who nuked (world eater) eleven homeland also comes to his senses and has falling out with Indrath and killed the ones who came to arrest him. He helps supercharge Sylvie's egg and just doesn't want to deal with anything and has decided to die. BUTTTTT as this awesome series is going down the hill way of a shitty B FILM, he will be back to set things right - - I think. Oh and Scythe Seris kinda killed/nuked Nico and Legacy and showed everyone that Asura/Vritra are not Gods by killing one on live broadcast, which resulted in a backlash of mana for Legacy and she was overcharged and her core went kaboom. Buuuuut stay with me on this B film direction SHEEEEE WILL BE BACK with evil vengeance, and have showdown with King Grey. I'm actually deducting 2 stars for basic stupidity and 1 star for foisting a second narrator, not on us but on TRAVIS FUCKING BALDREE.

P. S. I LOVE THIS SERIES and that's why I gave it the rating I did. I firmly believe in providing creative criticism/feedback but receiving it on my reviews lol. These reviews shouldn't be echo chambers or circle jerks for authors. If you didn't like something and still give it a 5 that guarantees that authors won't read (if in fact they actually do) or continue to do what irked you in the first place.
Holllly... This was a bizarre recap

[Matthew Higer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yea!!!

Well, thank you for another installment. I have waited along time for this to come out. This read through took me longer than the others, but it was pretty good. Nice ending... I'd say it about time. Lol. This installment garnished the progression of some of the other characters. However, I felt like those progressions.. well, they could have been more in-depth (paint the picture) in terms of how those characters felt or what they needed to do or how they experienced their advancement. As it was others' advancement in this installment, I am looking forward to the next stage of advancement for our beloved main character. Thanks.

[Bradley Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better with every volume!

Every time I open one of these books, I am transported to a fantastical realm of possibility.
The characters stick with me, and I feel the loss right along side arthur. I have to admit that I almost lost it during this volume's relic tomb ascent. You had me there TurtleMe! Great book, and very satisfying conclusion to the book. I can't wait for the next installment.

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.

The writing, the story, the development—it is all sublime. Being the 10th book I have purchased and read, I can once more say I’m not disappointed. The ending left me wanting more, leaving me—us—in a cliffhanger.

However, I will happily wait for the next book to see what happens next. Absolutely recommend buying this book. Trust.

[Michael Finglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down.

As with every installment in this series, whether I wanted to or was able to put it down was irrelevant, as the excellent plot hooks demanded that I read it at a record pace. In fact this time around I read book 9 in preparation for it.
To anyone debating whether to start this series, all I'll say is you won't regret it!
Here's to Book 11 👏

[Ruben Del Rio Regueira]

Where can we buy / read the #10 book?

[Gustavo Steinmetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Rating based on Immersive Reading 🎧

Story: 5 ⭐/ 5 ⭐
Narration: 3 ⭐/ 5 ⭐
General: 5 ⭐/ 5 ⭐

TurtleMe, Thank You For This Masterpiece ❤️

-- NO SPOILER SECTION --

Main Points Summary:
-> The last chapter's confirmation of a major fanbase theory is a standout highlight.
-> Exceptional writing quality, particularly at the beginning and end, with captivating hooks and cliffhangers.
-> Middle sections, though less intense, remain engaging and entertaining.
-> Noticeable character development with an increased focus on character interactions, setting this volume apart from its predecessors.

A Journey of Highs and Lows:
"Volume 10 of The Beginning After The End" series is an emotional whirlwind. The book's crowning achievement is its final chapter, which beautifully and emotionally validates a major fan theory, creating a deep connection with the readers. For devoted fans, keep tissues handy – this experience is a tearjerker (speaking from personal experience).

Character Evolution and Emotional Resonance:
Arthur's character development is particularly striking in this volume. The shift from his solitary training to more dynamic and engaging interactions with other characters brings a refreshing depth and contrast to the darker tone of earlier books.

Narration Critique:
The introduction of a new narrator alongside Travis Baldree presents several issues. Firstly, Travis's narration is already exceptional, so why the change? The new narrator's performance pales in comparison, leading to a noticeable drop in quality and a jarring experience. Her habit of inhaling at the end of sentences is distracting, akin to enduring a repetitive noise while trying to concentrate on a good book. Travis's portrayal of female voices, though different, is more familiar and preferable to me. The decision to have multiple voices for the same character depending on the narrator of the chapter was more confusing than helpful. Despite her emotional delivery, which I appreciate, the change in narration was more disruptive than beneficial.

Final Thoughts:
"Volume 10" is a critical installment in the series, marked by its deep character development and emotional narrative. Its strengths lie in the engaging beginning and end, the emotional highs of the climax, and the significant evolution of Arthur's character. I'm incredibly excited to see how the revelations in the last chapter will unfold in Volume 11. This book not only entertains but also ignites a fiery anticipation for what's next.

-- SPOILER SECTION --

Aya Development Critique:
One aspect that left me disheartened was Aya's untimely demise. Her death, though impactful, felt like a lost opportunity to explore a character filled with potential. Aya, my favorite lance, and a favorite for many due to her mysterious and charismatic nature, deserved more development. Particularly after the transformative events in the Forest of Elshire, her character's potential was sadly left unfulfilled.

Anticipating Sylvie & Regis' Interplay:
Eagerly looking forward to the dynamic between Sylvie's sagacity and Regis' sarcasm! It promises to be a delightful mix of wit and wisdom. Imagining Sylvie navigating life with not just one, but essentially two Arthurs, brings a humorous anticipation to their future interactions.

[Francesco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vote: 3,75
Class: L-B1 (FP)

(a ten eleven volumes comic novel)

Sadly I only just noticed (a few pages ago) that this is not the final installment but I have to wait for the last one to be come out...
I was reading the web comic and the novel side by side, and now that only the novel remains I'm speeding up with reading the story, hoping to catch up when the comic is going to come out.
Sadly I thought the novel series was complete but it isn't yet
Truth be told, I'm beginning to think that the novel is actually better than the comic!
I have to say that I wasn't expecting much by this series, and I thought that it was almost like a screenplay of the web comic that made me discover these novels.
However that's not true: maybe the translation is not perfect, but this series is really a great fantasy series, good characters, amazing world building and it is really well written, with multiple POV that really let you know more of each character.
In this volume we Art is back in Dichaten, while in Alacrya much is happening. A crescendo that prepare you for the Series finale.
Well done, TurtleMe
And please, be fast!

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

We may have a Dragon Ball Z situation here where just a few key players are in god mode and everyone else watches from their televisions at home. That could be good or bad depending on the person. For me it skews bad, but I'm willing to go into the battles to come with an open mind.

The implanted memories and knowing the enemies' names toward the beginning was kinda cringe for me as well.

But I did give this 5 stars, so it must not have been that bad. The characters continue to grow and in this 10th installment we've come along way. I've become pretty happy with the portrayal of the female characters as we move along. Cecilia's story line is particularly interesting in this one. We see more and more into the Djinn and their confrontation with the Asuras. The consequences of conscience and war crimes come to light. And the surprise at the end left me feeling thrilled.

[Gregory Conran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to like Book 10, but found it very slow and hard to read

Found myself skipping pages in this book. I don’t think it advanced the story well or did homage to developing the characters. Almost like it was written to try and advance the politics or events brought up in prior books. Kind of want the series to be over after this long read. I’ll certainly buy the next (last?) book in the series to hopefully start enjoying the characters again. King Grey needs to show his majesty and stop being a boy, methinks.

[becky read lukan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best plotline I have ever read

Well written, well thought out, and surrounded by a vast world. Characters will draw you in and make you feel as if they're your friends too. I felt myself growing alongside Arthur. I felt joy, sadness, surprise, and excitement on ever page. Filled with vivid descriptions and a vast vocabulary, you will find yourself attached to the people of this world as if you lived there yourself.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opening to this book gets me every time, I have read the opening maybe 30 times and I can't help but cry every time. Well needed catharsis from the previous 3 entries. I am curious to see where the author goes from here because he is fond of building plot points that distract from where he is going..

[Charles Oben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

Really well written and excellent fight scenes. I just personally didn't like all the focus on the side characters and the main plot didn't develop that much. Now at book 10 in the series, it feels like the book is starting to drag a bit and I want more main plot development Vs adding a lot of focus and POV to side characters this late in the story.

[Victor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favorite book of the series yet.

THis book is so fantastic and its honestly the top book of the series im so happy sylv is back and im enjoying see another side of the alacryans and how they all aren’t just bad people. they’re just doing what their agrona is asking of them though somepeople just do it for the sport.

[Edric Salone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another solid edition to the saga

There’s a lot taking place in this book and a lot of new character perspectives are explored. Be prepared for adventure, high strung battles, treachery and deception. Turtle Me goes back and forth between continents and conflicts filling in gaps of the story while prepping us for the large scale war to come.

[stewzin [fateless] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es una caricia al alma ver que arthur ya volvió con su familia y que esta todo bien, aunque obviamente es la calma antes de la tormenta, estos capítulos más tranquilos eran necesarios y por dios que necesidad de detallar tanto a los monstruos de las "relictombs" son horribles esos bichos, voy a terminar con pesadillas de tanto imaginármelos

[Jayson P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read, a nice story with great action

I enjoy reading Turtleme's work. Very captivating story. Can't wait for the next book. I guess I have to wait another year, or just re-read the 10 books again.

[Anthony Q. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward to the next book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book it was full of lore better balance between shifting perspectives and makes me want to read into the night. Thanks for getting back into reading this is a good series to start on.

[Josiah Ploeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Continuation Of Arthur’s Tale

TurtleMe continues his high quality of writing in this excellent continuation. My biggest gripe is the lack of a quick rundown on what happened previously since so much time passed since the last book. Can’t wait for the next!

[Pam Brann · Rating 5 out of 5]

the beginning after the end: Retribution, book 10

I love these books, I love the characters too. I read them very quickly. I hope the next one comes out soon, last time I waiting a very long time.

[Thorsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very, very good. I had been ready to give up on the series back in book 7 but since Arthur's rebirth in book 8, it's just been fantastic. This book had some great action, some wonderful revelations, and a brilliant ending.