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Defiance of the Fall #5
Defiance of the Fall 5
The Tower of Eternity holds unimaginable treasures... for those strong enough to claim them.
The clock is ticking, and Earth is on the verge of being swallowed by the Undead Empire. Zac has one final chance to gain the power needed to deal with the threat; the upper levels of the Tower.
But even if he survives the challenges of the 81 levels, another trial await him outside. A bounty has been placed on his head by the System itself, and the young elites of the whole sector are sharpening their knives.
Meanwhile, something is brewing in the Mystic Realm. An event that could change the fate of Earth.
The clock is ticking, and Earth is on the verge of being swallowed by the Undead Empire. Zac has one final chance to gain the power needed to deal with the threat; the upper levels of the Tower.
But even if he survives the challenges of the 81 levels, another trial await him outside. A bounty has been placed on his head by the System itself, and the young elites of the whole sector are sharpening their knives.
Meanwhile, something is brewing in the Mystic Realm. An event that could change the fate of Earth.
649 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2022
1326 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
February 7, 2024
We did it 5 parts of defiance of the fall probably in 14 months or so since i found out about this genre, probably won't be as good a year as last year for defiance of the fall for me, because right now i feel full, so either 1 more towards the end of the year, or maybe one more at June we will see.
JF Brink the writer is litrpg for me, he is the defining writer of the genre for me till i read for someone who gets more than 4 stars from me, even then JF Brink will hold a higher ranking for me because it's 5 four stars in a row while nobody else got higher than 3 stars from me.
They are all great ideas i love them, but way too many things i don't like about most of them unlike here, not that here is perfect either, and i am not sure what it will take for me to give a litrpg novel 5 stars yet.
All incursions on Earth have been defeated and closed except the church of everlasting dao, The fanatics persevere, will Zac need to follow them into the research mystic realm to beat them?
I feel the Tal Eladar are going to be judged next book, They are obviously not happy with their deal with Zac and he can't allow such a security breach in his backyard if he leaves Earth again to deal with something.
Also probably next issue we finish the road to sovereignty quest, one year is a long time, but it's about time Zac got some rest.
Again The Mystic realm the convergence of fates, Zac will probably beat all the dominators inside there as well.
Literally this is the only thing that's left now that we can guess for sure will happen next, The wild cards will be the tokens that Zac have, but i don't believe he needs to use said tokens this early, they should be his way to D grade after he deals with the comparatively small fries on Earth.
JF Brink the writer is litrpg for me, he is the defining writer of the genre for me till i read for someone who gets more than 4 stars from me, even then JF Brink will hold a higher ranking for me because it's 5 four stars in a row while nobody else got higher than 3 stars from me.
They are all great ideas i love them, but way too many things i don't like about most of them unlike here, not that here is perfect either, and i am not sure what it will take for me to give a litrpg novel 5 stars yet.
All incursions on Earth have been defeated and closed except the church of everlasting dao, The fanatics persevere, will Zac need to follow them into the research mystic realm to beat them?
I feel the Tal Eladar are going to be judged next book, They are obviously not happy with their deal with Zac and he can't allow such a security breach in his backyard if he leaves Earth again to deal with something.
Also probably next issue we finish the road to sovereignty quest, one year is a long time, but it's about time Zac got some rest.
Again The Mystic realm the convergence of fates, Zac will probably beat all the dominators inside there as well.
Literally this is the only thing that's left now that we can guess for sure will happen next, The wild cards will be the tokens that Zac have, but i don't believe he needs to use said tokens this early, they should be his way to D grade after he deals with the comparatively small fries on Earth.
May 23, 2022
As a fan of this series, it pains me to say that I didn't enjoy this book much. He Who Fights With Monsters had a similar dip at book 3 for me and it rebounded nicely, so I can only hope the same holds true for this series.
There were two major problems for me with this book:
1. Way too much exposition
2. Nothing actually felt important
I don't know whether the long explanations of hypothetical skill and build routes and such got even longer in this book or whether I was maybe more interested earlier in the series, but it seemed like the bloat of random info was more noticeable here. It felt like for every 1 page of actual events happening, there were 10 pages of filler info on possible choices that would fall to the wayside. Just endless pontifications of how more strength would be useful because of x, but some extra wisdom would be nice because of y, etc.
The most unfortunate thing is that when some things finally did happen, they didn't seem to matter much because the power creep had gotten so out of hand. I'll just say that some things that were set up as story obstacles were basically just dealt with easily and it felt like there was no real satisfaction or payoff. It's like the joke about completing all the side missions and getting overleveled before showing up to the first boss. While it's fun for a brief moment, it mostly just ruins the experience that you should have had.
It seemed like there was too much effort spent setting up possible future subplots and it came at the cost of properly completing the existing ones. I can only hope that things shape up in the next book.
There were two major problems for me with this book:
1. Way too much exposition
2. Nothing actually felt important
I don't know whether the long explanations of hypothetical skill and build routes and such got even longer in this book or whether I was maybe more interested earlier in the series, but it seemed like the bloat of random info was more noticeable here. It felt like for every 1 page of actual events happening, there were 10 pages of filler info on possible choices that would fall to the wayside. Just endless pontifications of how more strength would be useful because of x, but some extra wisdom would be nice because of y, etc.
The most unfortunate thing is that when some things finally did happen, they didn't seem to matter much because the power creep had gotten so out of hand. I'll just say that some things that were set up as story obstacles were basically just dealt with easily and it felt like there was no real satisfaction or payoff. It's like the joke about completing all the side missions and getting overleveled before showing up to the first boss. While it's fun for a brief moment, it mostly just ruins the experience that you should have had.
It seemed like there was too much effort spent setting up possible future subplots and it came at the cost of properly completing the existing ones. I can only hope that things shape up in the next book.
June 22, 2022
This was good to get back to LitRPG after enjoying a lot of my beloved lesfic. Watching Zac getting stronger is always fun especially when there's a lot of action whilst he does it. None of the tedious leveling talk.
The scenes with the other characters (his sister, Emily and the Valkyries) were a bit short so I'm hoping things pick up in the next book.
The scenes with the other characters (his sister, Emily and the Valkyries) were a bit short so I'm hoping things pick up in the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2023
Read these in order
So I've been gulping these down wholesale while we travel and get settled in Kochi. And since they follow one after the other, I have no idea what happened in this one (as opposed the next or the next). So I'll probably copy this same review for all the ones so far.
Important things to note: if you liked it so far, you're likely to continue enjoying it. Zac is the Zaciest Zac in the multiverse and he continues to Zac every chance he gets. If you like it, you're likely to continue liking it.
A note about Chaste: Zac is very single-minded and there's so much going on that he really doesn't have time to do much with relationships. Which is good for his followers and hangers on, but will likely end up lonely, eventually.
So I've been gulping these down wholesale while we travel and get settled in Kochi. And since they follow one after the other, I have no idea what happened in this one (as opposed the next or the next). So I'll probably copy this same review for all the ones so far.
Important things to note: if you liked it so far, you're likely to continue enjoying it. Zac is the Zaciest Zac in the multiverse and he continues to Zac every chance he gets. If you like it, you're likely to continue liking it.
A note about Chaste: Zac is very single-minded and there's so much going on that he really doesn't have time to do much with relationships. Which is good for his followers and hangers on, but will likely end up lonely, eventually.
May 22, 2022
Fairly decent
Mechanics are good to discuss, but they should not be the focus and the story, didn't enjoy the broken story as much as previous books. If the series continues to focus in detail on Mechanics- I will simply focus my reading elsewhere.
Mechanics are good to discuss, but they should not be the focus and the story, didn't enjoy the broken story as much as previous books. If the series continues to focus in detail on Mechanics- I will simply focus my reading elsewhere.
May 21, 2022
The amount of time spent out of world makes the whole back end convoluted.
The characters are not well defined so you do not remember all of them. This leads to confusion what with the overly complex twists in the storyline. This book is trying to be too much and is failing because of its hubris.
The characters are not well defined so you do not remember all of them. This leads to confusion what with the overly complex twists in the storyline. This book is trying to be too much and is failing because of its hubris.
May 20, 2022
On the move
This drops right in to the action, so you might want to refresh your memory with a few chapters from book 4.
This drops right in to the action, so you might want to refresh your memory with a few chapters from book 4.
May 23, 2022
At times a slog
Overall, the story is pretty good, but the first part is written in a way that all of it is telling instead of showing which makes it kind of boring as it’s just being narrated as past events instead of described in a way that’s easy to get into and be immersive. From the story outline perspective, the first section is him climbing the tower, surviving outside of the tower after the exits, coming back to earth and immediately defeating two small attacks on Port Atwood, then he is off to close the undead incursion. The end.
One thing I really didn’t enjoy were the small scenes from other perspectives where you had no idea who the author was talking about and had to guess or figure out who they were later. It would’ve been very helpful to have some small information regarding who was being talked about especially when they were a new character.
Overall, the story is pretty good, but the first part is written in a way that all of it is telling instead of showing which makes it kind of boring as it’s just being narrated as past events instead of described in a way that’s easy to get into and be immersive. From the story outline perspective, the first section is him climbing the tower, surviving outside of the tower after the exits, coming back to earth and immediately defeating two small attacks on Port Atwood, then he is off to close the undead incursion. The end.
One thing I really didn’t enjoy were the small scenes from other perspectives where you had no idea who the author was talking about and had to guess or figure out who they were later. It would’ve been very helpful to have some small information regarding who was being talked about especially when they were a new character.
March 4, 2025
Termina (más o menos) un arco de la historia y quedo muy muy satisfecho con el resultado.
En este mes de febrero he leído estos 5 libros que equivalen en tamaño aproximadamente a leer dos veces completas ESDLA y una vez más la comunidad. ¡Ese es el nivel de enganche que provoca!
En este mes de febrero he leído estos 5 libros que equivalen en tamaño aproximadamente a leer dos veces completas ESDLA y una vez más la comunidad. ¡Ese es el nivel de enganche que provoca!
March 17, 2025
This series has yet to grow old on me. Still devouring it at a genuinely worrisome rate.
This book in particular had some really cool moments, but some pretty dumb ones, too. I don't know if I hope this story gets better so I can enjoy it more, or worse, so I can be done with it.
This book in particular had some really cool moments, but some pretty dumb ones, too. I don't know if I hope this story gets better so I can enjoy it more, or worse, so I can be done with it.
May 27, 2022
4.5 stars. I found this more interesting than book 4, or at least it held my attention better. There are a lot of moving parts, but this one seems to have progressed the story in a useful fashion, something I felt was lacking in the previous book.
May 25, 2022
I enjoyed this book a lot.
This series continues to be entertaining as I really enjoy the MC and the world building. The story continues to evolve in new and interesting ways as the plot unfolds.
This series continues to be entertaining as I really enjoy the MC and the world building. The story continues to evolve in new and interesting ways as the plot unfolds.
August 26, 2025
Every incremental step of the story has to be followed by pages of introspection and cultivation. The MC needs to ponder everything without actually coming to any real epiphanies. The fight scene go on forever and everything is described in so much "detail" that don't actually add much of anything. We're way too much in the head of the MC, it's all telling through mind reading instead of showing.
I love the epic world building but I hate how sluggish, bloated, and convoluted things got. I liked the first book quite bit but every book has been getting worse in these aspects.
The author can write great characters and character interactions but this is rarely done. Instead there's a vast cast of supporting characters that are bland and only there to carry the story forward. The bigger issue is that there's no great antagonists which makes the conflicts boring.
Shockingly boring for such an awesome world and story.
I love the epic world building but I hate how sluggish, bloated, and convoluted things got. I liked the first book quite bit but every book has been getting worse in these aspects.
The author can write great characters and character interactions but this is rarely done. Instead there's a vast cast of supporting characters that are bland and only there to carry the story forward. The bigger issue is that there's no great antagonists which makes the conflicts boring.
Shockingly boring for such an awesome world and story.
June 21, 2023
Axe fella let the sexy demon he was tryin to bang die, and proceeds to turn her soul into a necklace that he wears while he tries to bang other people. PEAK sigma male grindset 💪🏼.
Also he killed all the zombies on earth. So he can check that off his to-do list ✅
Still has to deal with the space Nazis though :/
Also he killed all the zombies on earth. So he can check that off his to-do list ✅
Still has to deal with the space Nazis though :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2023
4.5 stars. Fast read.
October 12, 2024
3.75 a little slow and too much internal disuccion on which path to take. The ending was great again
April 16, 2023
For something that was built up and built up, it was over rather quickly....
The tower stuff was cool but did drag on a bit too long (could have been much, much worse though...). The hints of politics was neat and I want more. The hints of the mystic realms stuff I'm not really interested in so the next book will likely be a struggle.
The tower stuff was cool but did drag on a bit too long (could have been much, much worse though...). The hints of politics was neat and I want more. The hints of the mystic realms stuff I'm not really interested in so the next book will likely be a struggle.
August 11, 2022
KU Review
This series always holds my interest. Even with an op mc, the story stays interesting. And it maintains focus on the mc for the most part. Many series at this point are suffering scope creep.
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis.
This series always holds my interest. Even with an op mc, the story stays interesting. And it maintains focus on the mc for the most part. Many series at this point are suffering scope creep.
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis.
May 24, 2022
decent
Overall a good read, but it felt somewhat jammed pack with wrapping up and consolidating aspects of the storyline without introducing much novelty. If food, it’d be fast food.
Overall a good read, but it felt somewhat jammed pack with wrapping up and consolidating aspects of the storyline without introducing much novelty. If food, it’d be fast food.
May 20, 2022
Tower Climbing commence!
This was one of my favorite arcs in the series, the tower and its various layers are super cool! We get to see some really nice progression for Zac, as well as be introduced to some very important new characters! It’s everything you love about Defiance of the Fall, now with even more good stuff!
This was one of my favorite arcs in the series, the tower and its various layers are super cool! We get to see some really nice progression for Zac, as well as be introduced to some very important new characters! It’s everything you love about Defiance of the Fall, now with even more good stuff!
May 26, 2022
Rating 4.0 stars
This has been a weird series for me. Mainly because I like the series but there are certain books that I didn't like. I didn't really like the first half of the first book and then it got better. Usually if I really like a series there isn't much difference between the books in that series. Some are better than others of course but they are all the same style and thus feel the same. This one was different. While fighting in the tower, it didn't seem like Zack was struggling and making advancements. It felt like he was just enduring. There were many fights were Zack just kept enduring the onslaught of someone he was fighting until they ran out of stamina and he ended up winning. Not really fun reading about a person who can't land a single blow on his opponent and keeps getting hit to all of a sudden win the fight. It also seemed like he wasn't controlling where he was taking his build. It seemed like he needed to always find something to help offset something else that was done to him in the past so that he can keep going. The duality core, the splinter in his mind. So he tries to solve one of his problems by adding another problem, which turns into a new problem that ends up being okay and can lead to a new path? The fighting was just weird as well. Zack came up with a technique to stab himself in both shoulders in order to perform a devastating move. WTF? And he started practicing that as a legitimate move? Then there was the ending. There was just so much buildup for it to end like that. Zack spent the majority of the time alone and while I feel he is best alone, I also think there needs to be more group interactions. The author created really interesting side characters and it is a shame they aren't featured more in the story. Overall I still like the series but this wasn't my favorite book in the series. I hope it picks up again in the next one.
This has been a weird series for me. Mainly because I like the series but there are certain books that I didn't like. I didn't really like the first half of the first book and then it got better. Usually if I really like a series there isn't much difference between the books in that series. Some are better than others of course but they are all the same style and thus feel the same. This one was different. While fighting in the tower, it didn't seem like Zack was struggling and making advancements. It felt like he was just enduring. There were many fights were Zack just kept enduring the onslaught of someone he was fighting until they ran out of stamina and he ended up winning. Not really fun reading about a person who can't land a single blow on his opponent and keeps getting hit to all of a sudden win the fight. It also seemed like he wasn't controlling where he was taking his build. It seemed like he needed to always find something to help offset something else that was done to him in the past so that he can keep going. The duality core, the splinter in his mind. So he tries to solve one of his problems by adding another problem, which turns into a new problem that ends up being okay and can lead to a new path? The fighting was just weird as well. Zack came up with a technique to stab himself in both shoulders in order to perform a devastating move. WTF? And he started practicing that as a legitimate move? Then there was the ending. There was just so much buildup for it to end like that. Zack spent the majority of the time alone and while I feel he is best alone, I also think there needs to be more group interactions. The author created really interesting side characters and it is a shame they aren't featured more in the story. Overall I still like the series but this wasn't my favorite book in the series. I hope it picks up again in the next one.
July 16, 2022
I made the mistake of reading parts of this story on Royal Road. The mistake coming from the fact that before I said I had to stop reading it there, I don’t know where the story transferred over to the published.
As such, I missed a few chapters between #4 and #5. Nonetheless, that’s on me.
This again is another awesome story, things continue to move along and the main character continues to gain in power. There’s some pretty great scenes where we are introduced to more of the cosmos and the duality continues to come more and more into play.
As such, I missed a few chapters between #4 and #5. Nonetheless, that’s on me.
This again is another awesome story, things continue to move along and the main character continues to gain in power. There’s some pretty great scenes where we are introduced to more of the cosmos and the duality continues to come more and more into play.
September 25, 2023
Defiance of the Fall #5 is a bit weird. How the story handles the demoness was strange, weird, and felt like a way to liberate Zac to pursue other romantic pursuits, especially among the future feminine power houses of the multiverse that he's developed connections with. The tower sequence had Zac speed through some sections, but even then it felt dragged out. I'm not sure these authors know how to write a climactic scene without dragging things out, because all notable threats are dealt with in the span of a handful of small chapters during the final confrontation. It doesn't matter how many hundreds of chapters were built playing up a threat or working around a threat, the climax can be settled in no more than five chapters once Zac is in the right place and right time to force a confrontation. That makes the other chapters feel like filler, especially when the battle with someone like the Lich takes up less chapters than Zac's contemplations over his class upgrade and subsequent forced leveling. Things are interesting, and there's good and interesting character work, but there's also something a bit... off.
August 10, 2024
My interest is starting to wane, and looking ahead it seems the author intends to putt around the mystic realm for a couple more books 🥱
Too much focus on random unconnected events/fights and not enough arc-ing conflict.
I read through the mostly superfluous tower chapters itching to find out about the fallout of his bounty and the town being attacked only to have him fly over the battle, weep over Alea, then spend an eternity eating unhealthy amounts of level-up pills.
I like to think Rou Jin from “Beware of Chicken” is somewhere just shaking his head at Zac’s wonton greed and drug addiction.
Too much focus on random unconnected events/fights and not enough arc-ing conflict.
I read through the mostly superfluous tower chapters itching to find out about the fallout of his bounty and the town being attacked only to have him fly over the battle, weep over Alea, then spend an eternity eating unhealthy amounts of level-up pills.
I like to think Rou Jin from “Beware of Chicken” is somewhere just shaking his head at Zac’s wonton greed and drug addiction.
September 5, 2023
Filler and disappointment
The whole tower section which was over half the book felt like filler content and what happened with Alea was an awful waste of a good character. Very disappointed in this one.
The whole tower section which was over half the book felt like filler content and what happened with Alea was an awful waste of a good character. Very disappointed in this one.
August 8, 2025
Ogras, my love<3
August 29, 2025
A really good entry in the series.
May 29, 2022
Book 5 basically wraps up almost every item that was still outstanding from the first four books. I won't list out what those are, but this book creates a clean slate (except for one thing) to setup book six.
We start with Zac working his way through the Tower of Eternity, making friends and enemies alike. This the one continuous portion of the book before it breaks into piecemeal things that need to be done to save Earth. I won't spoil what they are.
As in book 4, there were a few dead spots that had me looking at other books to read. I started in on Limitless Seas book 2, and started another before finally finishing this book. It isn't that the action isn't good, it's that when Zac is working through his gains or trying to figure something out it takes a while for him to do it.
Just as in the Iron Prince by Luke Chmilekno, this series is about one person: Zac. His sister is secondary, as are Ogras, Thea, Thwonkin' Billy and all the rest. They're support characters, and while they help Zac or join him in taking down harder challenges, it was apparent during this book that they're simply not on the same level as Zac.
Which I think brings the series down a notch. Zac obviously needs someone to counsel him as his first reaction is to physically beat down the problem instead of dealing with them. I hope that changes in book 6.
The action is good, the editing is decent to okay, and while the stat sheets are there, they're mostly in the background.
This is another enjoyable edition of Defiance of the Fall. 5/5*
We start with Zac working his way through the Tower of Eternity, making friends and enemies alike. This the one continuous portion of the book before it breaks into piecemeal things that need to be done to save Earth. I won't spoil what they are.
As in book 4, there were a few dead spots that had me looking at other books to read. I started in on Limitless Seas book 2, and started another before finally finishing this book. It isn't that the action isn't good, it's that when Zac is working through his gains or trying to figure something out it takes a while for him to do it.
Just as in the Iron Prince by Luke Chmilekno, this series is about one person: Zac. His sister is secondary, as are Ogras, Thea, Thwonkin' Billy and all the rest. They're support characters, and while they help Zac or join him in taking down harder challenges, it was apparent during this book that they're simply not on the same level as Zac.
Which I think brings the series down a notch. Zac obviously needs someone to counsel him as his first reaction is to physically beat down the problem instead of dealing with them. I hope that changes in book 6.
The action is good, the editing is decent to okay, and while the stat sheets are there, they're mostly in the background.
This is another enjoyable edition of Defiance of the Fall. 5/5*
September 14, 2024
I like this series, I really do and I will probably continue with the series. BUT the books are long and there is so much going on that it is hard to focus on any one specific thing. I really want just shorter books that deal with big events one at a time. I feel it would give us time to process the event and not have to come up with time altering events that take place right in the middle of a battle that was supposed to be the biggest/ dangerous/ life or death up to this point.
The Tower of Eternity could have just been one book. With all the details and backstories and people. It was a whole other world in itself. We spent more time on the items Zac was purchasing than some events in the Tower.
Dealing with the Undead Empire was built up for 2 or so books before all being over in a matter of chapters.
The short chapters from other characters POV are one offs and cover nothing but to add to future plots that just aren't important right now. I want to know more about Billy, Thea, Emily, Kenzie, Orgas. With each book being about 800 or so pages it would be nice to have more of a break from Zac.
The Tower of Eternity could have just been one book. With all the details and backstories and people. It was a whole other world in itself. We spent more time on the items Zac was purchasing than some events in the Tower.
Dealing with the Undead Empire was built up for 2 or so books before all being over in a matter of chapters.
The short chapters from other characters POV are one offs and cover nothing but to add to future plots that just aren't important right now. I want to know more about Billy, Thea, Emily, Kenzie, Orgas. With each book being about 800 or so pages it would be nice to have more of a break from Zac.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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