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Battle Mage Farmer #2
Germination
For John Sutton, things are finally looking up... For now...
The farm is running smoothly, the local bandits have been pacified, and he is starting to understand how magic works. Though none of that will matter if he can’t get his Doom Points under control.
As Ellie seeks to join the ranks of Class Holders, the mystery surrounding her grandmother grows and the two of them set off to discover the truth. But her legacy as a Witch is not the only mystery that needs to be explored. A strange plant is growing in Ferdie’s field, and it’s given John a new quest.
Meanwhile, a secret organization spreading its tendrils of influence throughout the war-weary world is plotting to destroy the fragile peace John fought so hard to achieve. As the shadows that surround this world are peeled back, he'll need every ounce of wisdom and restraint he has ever possessed to keep from blowing the whole thing up himself.
The farm is running smoothly, the local bandits have been pacified, and he is starting to understand how magic works. Though none of that will matter if he can’t get his Doom Points under control.
As Ellie seeks to join the ranks of Class Holders, the mystery surrounding her grandmother grows and the two of them set off to discover the truth. But her legacy as a Witch is not the only mystery that needs to be explored. A strange plant is growing in Ferdie’s field, and it’s given John a new quest.
Meanwhile, a secret organization spreading its tendrils of influence throughout the war-weary world is plotting to destroy the fragile peace John fought so hard to achieve. As the shadows that surround this world are peeled back, he'll need every ounce of wisdom and restraint he has ever possessed to keep from blowing the whole thing up himself.
431 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2022
1437 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
September 17, 2022
Wow! And to say I scorned this series because of the cheesy title! I apologize for my conceit, dear author!
I am delightfully surprised at the depth of this tale. While there are times where the narration stumbles a bit, the story is mature and entertaining. I would go as far as saying that it's actually improved!
I especially love how the budding romance is delicately distilled. I kept expecting it to devolve into the usual pattern but it never did, raising my respect for the author greatly. It's such a change from the gross self-insert stuff this genre has become notorious for that it bears mentioning: this book does it right!
As for the actual plot, it hasn't progressed as much as I hoped it would, but there was enough character development for Ellie that I won't complain.
It's really rare for me to still be this enthused at a second book in a LitRPG series. I'm REALLY impressed.
I am delightfully surprised at the depth of this tale. While there are times where the narration stumbles a bit, the story is mature and entertaining. I would go as far as saying that it's actually improved!
I especially love how the budding romance is delicately distilled. I kept expecting it to devolve into the usual pattern but it never did, raising my respect for the author greatly. It's such a change from the gross self-insert stuff this genre has become notorious for that it bears mentioning: this book does it right!
As for the actual plot, it hasn't progressed as much as I hoped it would, but there was enough character development for Ellie that I won't complain.
It's really rare for me to still be this enthused at a second book in a LitRPG series. I'm REALLY impressed.
August 29, 2022
Filled with lousy exposition, dull conversations, lazy plot devices, and randomized "doom points," this is just a shadow of the original novel. More or less like what happened in Nova Terra. Given how good the author's first books are, maybe he should just focus on single, self-contained adventures. Definitely not interested in the next.
August 24, 2022
Book 1 of this series was a good mix of restoring an old farm, sorting out the various people and interests in the valley, and John dealing with deadlier situations.
In book two the farming disappears. We get a small scene where Ellis waxes the cheese before taking off for the big city, and that's it. The rest is pure action and adventure very similar to the author's previous series.
The problem is that I liked the farming aspect. I'm a farmer myself of sorts, and the steady pace appeals to me. Now that's gone as John and Ellie face one threat after another, from giant spiders to a cult they don't understand to beings that defy description.
On the plus side there are a bunch of other farming LitRPG books out there, so I can read them instead.
The editing here is fine. The only notifications we see are about the ever increasing doom points along with a few spells he learns, and that's it.
Overall, I'm disappointed. There was balance in book 1, but that's been overtaken in book two taking some of the fun out of the series.
4/5*
In book two the farming disappears. We get a small scene where Ellis waxes the cheese before taking off for the big city, and that's it. The rest is pure action and adventure very similar to the author's previous series.
The problem is that I liked the farming aspect. I'm a farmer myself of sorts, and the steady pace appeals to me. Now that's gone as John and Ellie face one threat after another, from giant spiders to a cult they don't understand to beings that defy description.
On the plus side there are a bunch of other farming LitRPG books out there, so I can read them instead.
The editing here is fine. The only notifications we see are about the ever increasing doom points along with a few spells he learns, and that's it.
Overall, I'm disappointed. There was balance in book 1, but that's been overtaken in book two taking some of the fun out of the series.
4/5*
August 27, 2022
My first review has disappeared. How strange. Still doesn’t change anything. When writing a story about an OP character it is the side characters and the quality of the story that matters. This has little errors all through it.
September 7, 2022
Rating 4.5 stars
A good addition to this new series. There wasn't as much of the farming aspect in this one. John and Ellie spend a good time away from the farm. First to get her a class and going back to her hometown for more information. Then once she is a class holder she is part of the team used to help John in the lost mage tower. We get some more information about what happened in the past. The doom points keep going up and there doesn't seem to be much John can do about it. Overall a lot more action in this one without much new to the farming aspect but it was still very good.
A good addition to this new series. There wasn't as much of the farming aspect in this one. John and Ellie spend a good time away from the farm. First to get her a class and going back to her hometown for more information. Then once she is a class holder she is part of the team used to help John in the lost mage tower. We get some more information about what happened in the past. The doom points keep going up and there doesn't seem to be much John can do about it. Overall a lot more action in this one without much new to the farming aspect but it was still very good.
September 29, 2024
I really freakin loved that lol 😂 whyyyy is it so good??
February 4, 2024
** Edit: 4th February 2024 **
I decided to bump the review up by another star on a re-read of the series. Without my own biases of where I wanted this story to go, I enjoyed it way more.
** Original Review **
I enjoyed reading this latest installment, but at the same time I have to admit to being a little disappointed. The first book teased this series as someone who was putting his adventuring ways behind him as he has already been there, done that and not made any progress to stop the coming apocalypse. Through farming and exploring other (I assumed more peaceful) life choices and magic paths, he was actually reversing the apocalypse.
This is something that fascinated me as it promised a story different to the usual adventurer style stories out there. I thought that we might take a step away from the action led cliches of the genre and explore some of the infinite possibilities of fantasy stories that are largely unexplored.
Unfortunately, this book seems to abandon that path in favour of a much more familiar adventuring style role. It wasn't necessary bad, in fact I enjoyed it. But it is disappointing because it is abandoning what made this series so interesting to me. An OP protagonist trying to stop the apocalypse is a story trope I'm not just familiar with, but absolutely love. But an OP protagonist doing so through unconventional means and thereby delivering a story that hasn't been done many, many, many times before is something vastly more interesting.
So overall, this book was good, but the first book promised a story that would have been much better. I have my fingers crossed that the next book can get this series back on track.
I decided to bump the review up by another star on a re-read of the series. Without my own biases of where I wanted this story to go, I enjoyed it way more.
** Original Review **
I enjoyed reading this latest installment, but at the same time I have to admit to being a little disappointed. The first book teased this series as someone who was putting his adventuring ways behind him as he has already been there, done that and not made any progress to stop the coming apocalypse. Through farming and exploring other (I assumed more peaceful) life choices and magic paths, he was actually reversing the apocalypse.
This is something that fascinated me as it promised a story different to the usual adventurer style stories out there. I thought that we might take a step away from the action led cliches of the genre and explore some of the infinite possibilities of fantasy stories that are largely unexplored.
Unfortunately, this book seems to abandon that path in favour of a much more familiar adventuring style role. It wasn't necessary bad, in fact I enjoyed it. But it is disappointing because it is abandoning what made this series so interesting to me. An OP protagonist trying to stop the apocalypse is a story trope I'm not just familiar with, but absolutely love. But an OP protagonist doing so through unconventional means and thereby delivering a story that hasn't been done many, many, many times before is something vastly more interesting.
So overall, this book was good, but the first book promised a story that would have been much better. I have my fingers crossed that the next book can get this series back on track.
August 26, 2022
John brushed past Ellie to attack the giant spider with his steely sword of steel.
"He touched me" Ellie thought, blushing. "He's incredible."
John thrust his deadly blade of death at the spider, while shouting "Ellie be careful!"
"He said my name" Ellie thought, blushing furiously. "He's so incredible."
"Wow, that sharp blade of sharpness really hurts" thought the spider. "This guy's skill is incredible."
"Wait a minute, wasn't he supposed to be a farmer" the wheat thought to itself. "Well, at least no one can deny that he is incredible."
I still like the underlying premise but the clunky writing is significantly worse, the nonsense forced romance between two characters with no chemistry is terrible, and there is about 2/3 less farming which was the main distinctive part of book 1. Dropping this series.
Here is an actual quote from the book:
"He touched me" Ellie thought, blushing. "He's incredible."
John thrust his deadly blade of death at the spider, while shouting "Ellie be careful!"
"He said my name" Ellie thought, blushing furiously. "He's so incredible."
"Wow, that sharp blade of sharpness really hurts" thought the spider. "This guy's skill is incredible."
"Wait a minute, wasn't he supposed to be a farmer" the wheat thought to itself. "Well, at least no one can deny that he is incredible."
I still like the underlying premise but the clunky writing is significantly worse, the nonsense forced romance between two characters with no chemistry is terrible, and there is about 2/3 less farming which was the main distinctive part of book 1. Dropping this series.
Here is an actual quote from the book:
Ataya shot a glare at her, half angry, but with a good amount of helplessness and anger mixed in.
August 26, 2022
First of all, this isn't Battle Mage Farmer 2.
This is all about Ellie the Witch.
It has even less farming than the last book, and has a lot more action.
Despite my grievances, I liked large parts of this book. It was better written, and stuff was better explained. You got a much better sense of the apocalypse system, and you really figure out whats going on with it (even if John doesn't). You also get a better image of who John is and just how impactful the history of the Eternal Flame. (He isn't your standard OP MC)
I liked this era of Ellie getting to know John and coming into her power.
But I almost feel like the book title is false advertisement, it has VERY little to do with farming. And book 2 even had a lot less slice-of-life elements than book 1. Book 1 was "OP MC trying to retire and getting interrupted", book 2 was chaotic and full of action and dangerous events.
I'll read book 3, but.. this was a disappointment.
This is all about Ellie the Witch.
It has even less farming than the last book, and has a lot more action.
Despite my grievances, I liked large parts of this book. It was better written, and stuff was better explained. You got a much better sense of the apocalypse system, and you really figure out whats going on with it (even if John doesn't). You also get a better image of who John is and just how impactful the history of the Eternal Flame. (He isn't your standard OP MC)
I liked this era of Ellie getting to know John and coming into her power.
But I almost feel like the book title is false advertisement, it has VERY little to do with farming. And book 2 even had a lot less slice-of-life elements than book 1. Book 1 was "OP MC trying to retire and getting interrupted", book 2 was chaotic and full of action and dangerous events.
I'll read book 3, but.. this was a disappointment.
October 17, 2022
I wanted to like this a bit more than I did, which seems to be the trend for books by this author. It was still an ok read and fans of the author will probably enjoy it.
The plot was pretty interesting and the premise a good one, even if there were a few too many similarities with other books for my taste. I wondered when the next Beware of Chicken book was coming out.
The biggest drawback was the writing itself, which could use some work. There was clunky syntax, some proofreading errors, grammar issues, and misused words like sown instead of sewn.
There was also a lot of head-hopping during scenes that involved multiple characters. It's like when a fight scene in a movie has too many edits and cuts and it's what separates a decent action scene from a great one. Not to mention, it also risks making the scene more difficult to follow. Go watch some old Jackie Chan fight scenes and see how few cuts there are and how well the action plays out. The same thing happens with a well-written scene from a single point of view.
As it was, the story still held my interest and answered a few questions from the first book. I got a little bored toward the end since things were so predictable, but I guess it set up the next book just fine. I can't say I'm excited to read it, but there's a fair chance that I will.
The plot was pretty interesting and the premise a good one, even if there were a few too many similarities with other books for my taste. I wondered when the next Beware of Chicken book was coming out.
The biggest drawback was the writing itself, which could use some work. There was clunky syntax, some proofreading errors, grammar issues, and misused words like sown instead of sewn.
There was also a lot of head-hopping during scenes that involved multiple characters. It's like when a fight scene in a movie has too many edits and cuts and it's what separates a decent action scene from a great one. Not to mention, it also risks making the scene more difficult to follow. Go watch some old Jackie Chan fight scenes and see how few cuts there are and how well the action plays out. The same thing happens with a well-written scene from a single point of view.
As it was, the story still held my interest and answered a few questions from the first book. I got a little bored toward the end since things were so predictable, but I guess it set up the next book just fine. I can't say I'm excited to read it, but there's a fair chance that I will.
February 2, 2024
This series is still a lot of fun! Not quite as good as the first book. There is a lot less farming in this one, and a heck of a lot more world building, fighting, and secrets revealed. John continues to breeze through life (mostly) trying to keep his doom points down, and his skill points up. I appreciated the glimpses into the wider world, and speculating on how they are going to affect John and his idyllic life on the farm.
The audiobook continues to be the way to engage in this series for me. I noted some other comments about the quality of the writing - I did not feel / notice those faults through the audiobook medium. The narrator continues to have me spellbound with his variety of voices, and measured pacing (though I'd recommend listening on 1.5x speed).
I already have Book #3 on hold, however, I'm undecided how long I will continue this series. At first it was a DnD style book with farming and an insanely OP main character, where we explored his retirement with some occasional fights. It feels like the tone has changed with this book, with the lack of attention on farming in favor of a more traditional DnD battle. Because of that change, I'm not sure if what grabbed me in the first book will continue to grab me as the series goes on. But for right now, I'm still along for the retirement of John Sutton and his merry band.
The audiobook continues to be the way to engage in this series for me. I noted some other comments about the quality of the writing - I did not feel / notice those faults through the audiobook medium. The narrator continues to have me spellbound with his variety of voices, and measured pacing (though I'd recommend listening on 1.5x speed).
I already have Book #3 on hold, however, I'm undecided how long I will continue this series. At first it was a DnD style book with farming and an insanely OP main character, where we explored his retirement with some occasional fights. It feels like the tone has changed with this book, with the lack of attention on farming in favor of a more traditional DnD battle. Because of that change, I'm not sure if what grabbed me in the first book will continue to grab me as the series goes on. But for right now, I'm still along for the retirement of John Sutton and his merry band.
August 28, 2022
There is less stuff about the farm than in book one. There's nothing wrong with the farm bits, but another book detailing too much of what went on would have lost me.
The big picture comes more into focus here, but that "system" telling him that he's hastening the end of the world every time he does something would probably have had me call its bluff by now. Fortunately John doesn't (quite) do do that, so we have a third book to look forward to.
It is a good balance to the OP character though. Looks like they're getting the band back together, and hopefully Ellie can help with John's PTSD before he does something unfortunate, like destroy the entire world.
The big picture comes more into focus here, but that "system" telling him that he's hastening the end of the world every time he does something would probably have had me call its bluff by now. Fortunately John doesn't (quite) do do that, so we have a third book to look forward to.
It is a good balance to the OP character though. Looks like they're getting the band back together, and hopefully Ellie can help with John's PTSD before he does something unfortunate, like destroy the entire world.
April 15, 2023
Battle Mage Farmer: 2
The last book ended at the start of winter. This one starts the following spring, a few months later. The mystery killer preying on the valley's more reticent residents continues from the previous book, but not resolved here, since most of this story doesn't take place on the farm. With doom points mounting, John turns his attention towards the active quest he can address at the moment, figuring out the source of the mysterious plant in Ferdie's field. Author keeps things interesting with lots of plot threads, engaging and developing characters, and periods of excitement mixed in amongst the farming life. Still going strong, looking forward to the sequel.
The last book ended at the start of winter. This one starts the following spring, a few months later. The mystery killer preying on the valley's more reticent residents continues from the previous book, but not resolved here, since most of this story doesn't take place on the farm. With doom points mounting, John turns his attention towards the active quest he can address at the moment, figuring out the source of the mysterious plant in Ferdie's field. Author keeps things interesting with lots of plot threads, engaging and developing characters, and periods of excitement mixed in amongst the farming life. Still going strong, looking forward to the sequel.
August 5, 2024
Det är fortsatt mysigt att läsa om den pensionerade magikerns Farmville-upplevelser. Småskaligt men spännande, och härlig lättsmält fantasy. Ingen stor litteratur, men perfekt om man bara vill läsa lite fantasy utan att behöva anstränga sig så jävla mycket för att hänga med, vilket man ju vill ibland.
January 15, 2024
I loved it but it felt slightly more rushed than the first one. I would’ve liked more time spent on Ellie and her journey but it felt as though the author really wanted to get to the action. Still enjoyed it a lot!
July 23, 2024
I would not read again but if the third book became free I would read it
August 15, 2024
A lot of small plot holes...
But, overally quite a good book......
But, overally quite a good book......
December 7, 2024
Slice of life, what else can I say?
August 28, 2022
I was drawn in immediately. It's one of those stories that are so addictive you'll consider calling in sick just to free up some reading time. My only complaint is about its length. I need more Seth.
November 15, 2025
Good-bad 6.5
August 30, 2025
Ok, but John is getting on my nerves.
She was truly a lovely young woman and her expression was enough to awaken a desire to protect in even the fiercest warrior, but John’s calm face didn’t even twitch.”
The entire book is full of this cringe shit. Not sure if I should read any more of this.
She was truly a lovely young woman and her expression was enough to awaken a desire to protect in even the fiercest warrior, but John’s calm face didn’t even twitch.”
The entire book is full of this cringe shit. Not sure if I should read any more of this.
September 23, 2023
This second book was just as good as the first. All of the characters were expanded and I loved every piece of watching them grow. When you add in some twists and peril and you got yourself a damn good second entry. ONTO THE NEXT!
September 18, 2022
This series is dropped
It's gotten too ridiculous with the doom points and John not proactive and eliminating his enemies and waiting for Doom points to go up. The last battle he could have saved a dozen lives if he just was proactive. If he got that many doom points like in his last fight he would have been over 100 easily years and years ago when he was FORCED to fight. Don't get me started on some low ranked Earl roaming around unchecked without anyone knowing and getting thr Holy Knights after him.
Another topic why does John even care if he fails the quest, he was forced summoned to a random world that didn't really care about him, a world that forced him to fight, so why should he care?
It's gotten too ridiculous with the doom points and John not proactive and eliminating his enemies and waiting for Doom points to go up. The last battle he could have saved a dozen lives if he just was proactive. If he got that many doom points like in his last fight he would have been over 100 easily years and years ago when he was FORCED to fight. Don't get me started on some low ranked Earl roaming around unchecked without anyone knowing and getting thr Holy Knights after him.
Another topic why does John even care if he fails the quest, he was forced summoned to a random world that didn't really care about him, a world that forced him to fight, so why should he care?
August 9, 2023
Unfortunately, the more the story progresses the more ridiculous some aspects become.
The constant use of the really awkward term "class holder" and the misuse of the terms "legend" and "legendary" is annoying and offputting. My favorite ridiculous sentence in the book was "he became a legend in secret".
The relatively small amount of amassed doom points seem absolutely implausible given the backstory of the MC who keeps using his mana for sheer everything obstinately and constantly ignoring the fact this causes the majority of this "doom points".
The constant use of the really awkward term "class holder" and the misuse of the terms "legend" and "legendary" is annoying and offputting. My favorite ridiculous sentence in the book was "he became a legend in secret".
The relatively small amount of amassed doom points seem absolutely implausible given the backstory of the MC who keeps using his mana for sheer everything obstinately and constantly ignoring the fact this causes the majority of this "doom points".
December 15, 2025
Germination (Battle Mage Farmer #2) by Seth Ring
A sequel that trades the pastoral calm of the first installment for a broader, more volatile world-view, Germination cements John Sutton’s dual identity: a man desperate to heal the land with a hoe in one hand, and a nuclear deterrent forced to incinerate his enemies with the other.
Plot Progression & The Shift in Tone:
If Domestication was about establishing a sanctuary, Germination is about realizing that sanctuary cannot exist in a vacuum. The story picks up a few months after the first book, moving from late winter into spring. While John Sutton still yearns for the simple life of cheese-making and wheat-threshing, the narrative scope widens significantly. The cozy “Stardew Valley” vibes are frequently interrupted by high-stakes LitRPG action, a shift that alienated some readers looking for pure slice-of-life but satisfied those craving lore and combat.
The plot bifurcates into two main drives: John’s struggle to grow a specific mana-resistant wheat to fulfill a quest (and lower his apocalyptic Doom Points) and Ellie’s dangerous journey to unlock her grandmother's legacy. The farm is no longer just a retreat; it’s a base of operations. The introduction of an inverted mage tower and a secret organization plotting to destabilize the fragile peace forces John off the farm and back into the role of the reluctant god-tier combatant.
Character Arcs & Spoilers:
The most significant development in this volume belongs to Ellie. No longer just the damsel or the farmhand, she steps into her own power. The narrative confirms her lineage as a Witch—a class viewed with suspicion and fear. Her class transferal ritual, aided by a magically summoned storm, is a standout sequence that solidifies her transition from dependent to partner. She isn't John’s equal in raw power (no one is), but she becomes his equal in agency and motivation.
John’s arc is one of escalating tension. We learn more about the terrifying nature of his Doom Points. It becomes clear that the System isn't just gamifying his life; it is actively adversarial, seemingly punishing him for the very actions required to save the world. This creates a compelling paradox: to save his valley, he must use power; to use power is to hasten the apocalypse. This culminates in John having to wipe out a corrupt adventuring party—a moment of brutal, Clint Eastwood-esque violence that reminds the reader that the Farmer title is just a thin veneer over the Battle Mage.
The Supporting Cast & Creatures:
The menagerie continues to steal the show. Ferdie the Bull and Sigvald the Rooster return, providing levity amidst the gloom. However, the introduction of a mysterious, mana-corrupted plant in Ferdie's field serves as a creeping horror element, turning the cozy farm setting into a potential ground zero for a new magical plague. We also see the integration of Evan, a new farmhand with a strong work ethic, fleshing out the found family dynamic that anchors John’s humanity.
Critique of Mechanics & Pacing:
Germination suffers slightly from sequel expansion syndrome. The tight focus of the first book occasionally sprawls into exposition-heavy dialogue and head-hopping perspective shifts that can clutter action scenes. The farming, while present (John building a harvester is a nice touch), takes a backseat to dungeon-delving and politics. Additionally, the romance remains agonizingly slow-burn—John and Ellie are dancing around each other with a hesitation that borders on frustrating for some, though it fits John’s emotionally stunted, PTSD-ridden character profile.
The Spoiler-Heavy Climax:
The book concludes with high-octane violence that shatters the pastoral illusion. John and his team confront the threats lurking in the Mage Tower and the secret organization manipulating the region. The battles are visceral, highlighting the gap between John and the rest of the world. He doesn't just defeat enemies; he obliterates them. The resolution of the immediate threats—pacifying the bandits and securing the valley—feels earned, but the rising Doom Counter hangs over the happy ending like a guillotine, ensuring that peace is temporary.
Verdict:
Germination is a strong, if slightly uneven, continuation. It sacrifices some of the unique farming charm of the debut for necessary world-building and character progression. It successfully raises the stakes, transforming John from a retiree hiding from the world into a guardian forced to reshape it.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✩ (4/5) — A darker, action-heavy harvest that deepens the lore and cements the series as a standout in the OP-protagonist subgenre.
January 17, 2025
Series Info/Source: This is the second book in the Battle Mage Farmer series. I borrowed this on audiobook from Audible.com.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this a bit more than the first book in this series. This series continues to move slow, but I do really like the world and the characters. My husband and I have been listening to this on audiobook and I think he enjoys it a bit more than I do (although he also agrees it is very slow). If I am not the one driving, I tend to fall asleep while we are listening to this and I think it is just because not much happens. I can fall asleep for an hour and mu husband can give me a one sentence recap of what happened...so it's just not very fast-paced.
In this book, Ellie is seeking to join the class-holders and John is trying to "grow wheat" in an attempt to progress his quest and stop the apocalypse. Then the strange plant from the first book gives John a side-quest. John and Ellie must venture out from the farm to not only unlock the secrets behind Ellie's witch ancestry but also to track down a strange inverted mage tower.
I really love the characters in this series. There is a good balance of male and female characters, and they all have intriguing pasts and personalities. I love how we are slowly finding out more about John, and I also enjoyed watching Ellie grow more in power. We learn a lot about Ellie's past in this book. There are some decent action scenes, and I enjoy these as well.
I struggle with how slow this is moving. Things are described in very meticulous detail and I think this is some of what slows the story down. We still don't understand why John is gaining apocalypse points and how he can reduce them (although we get a bit more information around that). Also, talk about slow burn romance...John and Ellie are still dancing around each other...I think they brushed hands in this book.
We listened to this on audiobook, and the narration was better on this book. While listening to the first book, we had a lot of issues with John's voice being too low and soft and Ellie's voice being too high and strident, this was forcing us to increase and decrease the volume constantly. In this book audiobook, I felt like the sound was a lot better balanced.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I like a lot of things about this series. I just can't get over how slow it moves and how much detailed description we get. I really wish things just moved faster. That being said, I really do love this world and I love the characters here. I think the beasts and magic are fascinating. I want to learn more about this world and watch Ellie and John both grow and change their power. I just hope I can stay awake through the audiobook to do so! We already started listening to the third book in this series. I would recommend to those who enjoy LitRPG that is a bit light on the RPG side but has some intriguing magic and good character growth. Just be prepared for a sluggish moving story.
Thoughts: I enjoyed this a bit more than the first book in this series. This series continues to move slow, but I do really like the world and the characters. My husband and I have been listening to this on audiobook and I think he enjoys it a bit more than I do (although he also agrees it is very slow). If I am not the one driving, I tend to fall asleep while we are listening to this and I think it is just because not much happens. I can fall asleep for an hour and mu husband can give me a one sentence recap of what happened...so it's just not very fast-paced.
In this book, Ellie is seeking to join the class-holders and John is trying to "grow wheat" in an attempt to progress his quest and stop the apocalypse. Then the strange plant from the first book gives John a side-quest. John and Ellie must venture out from the farm to not only unlock the secrets behind Ellie's witch ancestry but also to track down a strange inverted mage tower.
I really love the characters in this series. There is a good balance of male and female characters, and they all have intriguing pasts and personalities. I love how we are slowly finding out more about John, and I also enjoyed watching Ellie grow more in power. We learn a lot about Ellie's past in this book. There are some decent action scenes, and I enjoy these as well.
I struggle with how slow this is moving. Things are described in very meticulous detail and I think this is some of what slows the story down. We still don't understand why John is gaining apocalypse points and how he can reduce them (although we get a bit more information around that). Also, talk about slow burn romance...John and Ellie are still dancing around each other...I think they brushed hands in this book.
We listened to this on audiobook, and the narration was better on this book. While listening to the first book, we had a lot of issues with John's voice being too low and soft and Ellie's voice being too high and strident, this was forcing us to increase and decrease the volume constantly. In this book audiobook, I felt like the sound was a lot better balanced.
My Summary (4/5): Overall I like a lot of things about this series. I just can't get over how slow it moves and how much detailed description we get. I really wish things just moved faster. That being said, I really do love this world and I love the characters here. I think the beasts and magic are fascinating. I want to learn more about this world and watch Ellie and John both grow and change their power. I just hope I can stay awake through the audiobook to do so! We already started listening to the third book in this series. I would recommend to those who enjoy LitRPG that is a bit light on the RPG side but has some intriguing magic and good character growth. Just be prepared for a sluggish moving story.
March 25, 2024
Why did you read this book?
I liked the first book and wanted to continue the series.
What format did you read this book in?
Read it as an eBook on Kindle.
Is this an educational book or a book for entertainment?
I read this book for pure entertainment purposes.
What genres do you think this book belongs to?
Fantasy, Horror, Religion, Romance, Suspense
What was your favorite part of the book?
I think my favorite part of the book is when the corrupt adventuring party gets what coming to them.
Who would you suggest this book to?
I don’t think that I would suggest this book to anyone unless they don't mind overpowered main characters that can destroy the world.
What is your general opinion/ rating of this book?
Sadly, I won’t be continuing this series. In this book, the main character is even more overpowered and not well-balanced. The story arc of the wolf king, the main character, and the corrupt adventuring party was my favorite story in the book. All the others were lackluster in comparison. Towards the end, I found my eyes glossing over, and I lost interest in the series. I have found that everything came too easily for the characters inside the story. There was nothing that posed a real challenge to the protagonists in the series. Although some may like those types of stories, it wasn't for me. Overall, unless you really like power fantasy stories, I would skip this one.
Any trigger warnings?
Racial and Religious: Racism, Racial Profiling, Use of the Word Savage, Slavery, Talk of Superior Race, Microaggressions, Prejudice, Witch Prosecution
Mental Health: Trivializing Mental Illness, Romanticized Mental Illness, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Trauma, Child Abandonment, Nightmares about Traumatic Events, Non-consent behavior
Sexual Content: Sexual Predator
Violence and Death: Death of a Loved One, Infant Death, Graphic Deaths, Mass Death, Murder, Execution, Decapitation, Burning People, Extreme Violence, Gore, Mutilation, Mutilation of Corpses, Cutting of Limbs, Forced Blood Draining, Violence against Children, Animal Cruelty, Escalating Violence, Described Blood, Graphic Violence,
Other: Slut Shaming, Oppression, Bullying, Profanity, Classism
I liked the first book and wanted to continue the series.
What format did you read this book in?
Read it as an eBook on Kindle.
Is this an educational book or a book for entertainment?
I read this book for pure entertainment purposes.
What genres do you think this book belongs to?
Fantasy, Horror, Religion, Romance, Suspense
What was your favorite part of the book?
I think my favorite part of the book is when the corrupt adventuring party gets what coming to them.
Who would you suggest this book to?
I don’t think that I would suggest this book to anyone unless they don't mind overpowered main characters that can destroy the world.
What is your general opinion/ rating of this book?
Sadly, I won’t be continuing this series. In this book, the main character is even more overpowered and not well-balanced. The story arc of the wolf king, the main character, and the corrupt adventuring party was my favorite story in the book. All the others were lackluster in comparison. Towards the end, I found my eyes glossing over, and I lost interest in the series. I have found that everything came too easily for the characters inside the story. There was nothing that posed a real challenge to the protagonists in the series. Although some may like those types of stories, it wasn't for me. Overall, unless you really like power fantasy stories, I would skip this one.
Any trigger warnings?
Racial and Religious: Racism, Racial Profiling, Use of the Word Savage, Slavery, Talk of Superior Race, Microaggressions, Prejudice, Witch Prosecution
Mental Health: Trivializing Mental Illness, Romanticized Mental Illness, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Trauma, Child Abandonment, Nightmares about Traumatic Events, Non-consent behavior
Sexual Content: Sexual Predator
Violence and Death: Death of a Loved One, Infant Death, Graphic Deaths, Mass Death, Murder, Execution, Decapitation, Burning People, Extreme Violence, Gore, Mutilation, Mutilation of Corpses, Cutting of Limbs, Forced Blood Draining, Violence against Children, Animal Cruelty, Escalating Violence, Described Blood, Graphic Violence,
Other: Slut Shaming, Oppression, Bullying, Profanity, Classism
April 6, 2024
You See Me Farming…
It has been 8 months since John arrived on the Burrow’s farm. One of John’s active quests was to grow wheat that would survive under most conditions to help the normal folks post the Great War. The farm is growing very well. Ellie and Ben have been there since before John arrived and Thomas who was previously John’s Adjunct has been helping out on the farm. Evan joined based on the recommendation of Sven. He handles a lot of the milking and the deliveries to the village. Evan has a great work ethic and has shown his worth to the farm. Ellie no longer shares the room with Ben since he moved into the bunk house with Evan and Thomas. But life on the farm continues.
The upgrades John made to the house like water pipes, hot water, cart system to the cheese barn, etc. have made life easier. After checking his last field of wheat, he realizes that his current wheat crop will not fulfill his quest. There is still too much mana in the crop. The harvest was coming up and John did want to do things by hand over days and weeks. He goes to his hidden forge and builds a harvesting ‘machine’. It still requires someone to push it up and down the field but with some tweaks, it works and cuts down the harvest time to 2 days. The threshing still takes a week since he doesn’t have anything prepared.
John helps Ellie prepare for her class transferal completion. She could become a witch which was started by her grandmother before something went wrong or she could possibly even die. She decides that she needs to try and complete her grandmother’s wishes. As the storm approaches that will allow Ellie to attempt completing the transference, John detects a presence that is scaring all of the other animals near the farm. He warns Thomas to keep an eye on the farm animals, though the magical beasts seem to sense something is coming. And so it begins…
It has been 8 months since John arrived on the Burrow’s farm. One of John’s active quests was to grow wheat that would survive under most conditions to help the normal folks post the Great War. The farm is growing very well. Ellie and Ben have been there since before John arrived and Thomas who was previously John’s Adjunct has been helping out on the farm. Evan joined based on the recommendation of Sven. He handles a lot of the milking and the deliveries to the village. Evan has a great work ethic and has shown his worth to the farm. Ellie no longer shares the room with Ben since he moved into the bunk house with Evan and Thomas. But life on the farm continues.
The upgrades John made to the house like water pipes, hot water, cart system to the cheese barn, etc. have made life easier. After checking his last field of wheat, he realizes that his current wheat crop will not fulfill his quest. There is still too much mana in the crop. The harvest was coming up and John did want to do things by hand over days and weeks. He goes to his hidden forge and builds a harvesting ‘machine’. It still requires someone to push it up and down the field but with some tweaks, it works and cuts down the harvest time to 2 days. The threshing still takes a week since he doesn’t have anything prepared.
John helps Ellie prepare for her class transferal completion. She could become a witch which was started by her grandmother before something went wrong or she could possibly even die. She decides that she needs to try and complete her grandmother’s wishes. As the storm approaches that will allow Ellie to attempt completing the transference, John detects a presence that is scaring all of the other animals near the farm. He warns Thomas to keep an eye on the farm animals, though the magical beasts seem to sense something is coming. And so it begins…
October 7, 2024
Germination (Battle Mage Farmer #2) by Seth Ring - 4/5 Stars
First and foremost, I want to state that I am not an author. I have no idea what it takes to write a book. I am a consumer with an OPINION, and only an opinion, based on my life experiences. Furthermore, this is mostly written for... myself!
"Germination," the second book in the Battle Mage Farmer series, pleasantly surprised me by being slightly more engaging than the first installment. I'm not entirely sure why, but it might be due to the comfort of returning to familiar characters or improved pacing. The story expands beyond John's dry wit and stoic personality, adding depth and intrigue.
The narrative continues to blend slice-of-life elements with traditional RPG mechanics, focusing on character development and the unfolding mysteries surrounding John's world. The farm is running smoothly, local bandits have been pacified, and John is starting to understand magic better. However, the looming threat of his Doom Points remains a constant challenge.
Ellie's journey to become a Class Holder adds another layer of complexity, as does the mystery surrounding her grandmother. Meanwhile, a strange plant in Ferdie's field offers John a new quest, intertwining personal growth with broader world-building.
Overall, I rate "Germination" 4 stars. It's highly enjoyable and has enough intrigue to keep me interested in continuing the series. While it may not be a book I'll reread repeatedly, I'm eager to see how the entire series unfolds.
Rating Scale:
5 stars - Exceptional, life-changing
4 stars - Highly enjoyable, likely to reread, would recommend
3 stars - Decent read, might not remember long-term
2 stars - Not for me, struggled to finish
1 star - Poorly written or factually incorrect
First and foremost, I want to state that I am not an author. I have no idea what it takes to write a book. I am a consumer with an OPINION, and only an opinion, based on my life experiences. Furthermore, this is mostly written for... myself!
"Germination," the second book in the Battle Mage Farmer series, pleasantly surprised me by being slightly more engaging than the first installment. I'm not entirely sure why, but it might be due to the comfort of returning to familiar characters or improved pacing. The story expands beyond John's dry wit and stoic personality, adding depth and intrigue.
The narrative continues to blend slice-of-life elements with traditional RPG mechanics, focusing on character development and the unfolding mysteries surrounding John's world. The farm is running smoothly, local bandits have been pacified, and John is starting to understand magic better. However, the looming threat of his Doom Points remains a constant challenge.
Ellie's journey to become a Class Holder adds another layer of complexity, as does the mystery surrounding her grandmother. Meanwhile, a strange plant in Ferdie's field offers John a new quest, intertwining personal growth with broader world-building.
Overall, I rate "Germination" 4 stars. It's highly enjoyable and has enough intrigue to keep me interested in continuing the series. While it may not be a book I'll reread repeatedly, I'm eager to see how the entire series unfolds.
Rating Scale:
5 stars - Exceptional, life-changing
4 stars - Highly enjoyable, likely to reread, would recommend
3 stars - Decent read, might not remember long-term
2 stars - Not for me, struggled to finish
1 star - Poorly written or factually incorrect
May 12, 2025
DR
The Apocalypse draws closer. Progressing the quest to 'Feed the Nations' Ellie and John set out with a merchant caravan to sell their wheat and revisit Ellie's past. Exploring the mansion of direct descendant of one of the prime 7 classes new truths about class holders are uncovered. Only one relic from the original summoning of the first 7 class holders is left in the world. A feudal lord in search of a missing adventurer party visits the idyllic valley bringing trouble in his tracks.
An apprentice of a necromancer John had faced years ago makes an appearance, setting up the future conflict. Encountering plains equestrian-banditry tribe under the flag of ecclesia and the flag of the eternal flame both parties agree to trade, increasing Lepiera's national strength and stability. as well as adding new formidable allies to the valley's, Sutton farm's specifically, side. A derelict mage tower has been brought back online, but at what cost and what new dangers will it attract.
Conclusion: 4/5. Listened on Audible for 1 credit. Narrated by: Michael Kramer. It's not hard to write an overpowered characters, it's hard to maintain reader's engagement in a story involving them. The character having a history of emotional trauma and psychological disenfranchisement ought to do the trick. Sven, the eternal flame burns forever, understood this the best. I look forwards to more trauma dumping and would be glad to see the continuation of society separating a symbol from a cult of personality. Terrible value for the length of the book, buying it with USD- 1.79 $/hour ( 21.49$ / 12 hrs 00 mins ).
Values:
Terrible: >1.66 $/hour
Bad: 1 - 1.66 $/hour
Good: <1 $/hour
Dream: 0.4 - 0.27 $/hour
The Apocalypse draws closer. Progressing the quest to 'Feed the Nations' Ellie and John set out with a merchant caravan to sell their wheat and revisit Ellie's past. Exploring the mansion of direct descendant of one of the prime 7 classes new truths about class holders are uncovered. Only one relic from the original summoning of the first 7 class holders is left in the world. A feudal lord in search of a missing adventurer party visits the idyllic valley bringing trouble in his tracks.
An apprentice of a necromancer John had faced years ago makes an appearance, setting up the future conflict. Encountering plains equestrian-banditry tribe under the flag of ecclesia and the flag of the eternal flame both parties agree to trade, increasing Lepiera's national strength and stability. as well as adding new formidable allies to the valley's, Sutton farm's specifically, side. A derelict mage tower has been brought back online, but at what cost and what new dangers will it attract.
Conclusion: 4/5. Listened on Audible for 1 credit. Narrated by: Michael Kramer. It's not hard to write an overpowered characters, it's hard to maintain reader's engagement in a story involving them. The character having a history of emotional trauma and psychological disenfranchisement ought to do the trick. Sven, the eternal flame burns forever, understood this the best. I look forwards to more trauma dumping and would be glad to see the continuation of society separating a symbol from a cult of personality. Terrible value for the length of the book, buying it with USD- 1.79 $/hour ( 21.49$ / 12 hrs 00 mins ).
Values:
Terrible: >1.66 $/hour
Bad: 1 - 1.66 $/hour
Good: <1 $/hour
Dream: 0.4 - 0.27 $/hour
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