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Humanity stands at the brink of extinction.
Earth has been bombarded by forces beyond our understanding.

In the aftermath, monsters rule the Earth while humanity
is forced into a few small safe zones, but not all is lost.

When the shadows fell, so too did hope. Progenitor rays
birthed a new breed of humans, known as supers.

Now those few are all that stands between mankind and
death upon the claws and fangs of monsters.

Warning: this book contained non-conventional relationships
and detailed adult activity.

822 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 2022

465 people are currently reading
293 people want to read

About the author

David Burke

38 books130 followers
David Burke is a mild manner something who tries to enjoy each day a bit more than the last. It dawned upon him at some point that life was racing him by and he wasn’t nearly as young as he used to be.

So now he spends his nights and lunch hours and any other free time he can putting down on paper all the stories that have collected up over a life time.

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5 stars
878 (57%)
4 stars
426 (28%)
3 stars
147 (9%)
2 stars
39 (2%)
1 star
27 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
Profile Image for Steve.
1,614 reviews61 followers
July 17, 2022
Overall pretty good, but one thing I can't abide is a stupid MC, and this guy fit that to a T for much of the book. Eventually his "stats" increased to the point he wasn't stupider than a bag of hammers, otherwise this would have been in the DNF pile. His failure to comprehend basic technical/scientific explanations didn't seem to me to add anything to the story, so I'm not sure why the author chose to make him so thick-headed in the early going.

All I can think is that it was to provide a contrast to when he starts leveling up, much as when he needs to make choices about bonds. His reticence in that regard at least made sense in context of the story, and didn't persist forever. Now that things are rolling, I'm hoping the next book will rate that 5th star which I just couldn't give this one.
Profile Image for Jon Svenson.
Author 8 books112 followers
July 24, 2022
I've read some of this author's books before, so I had a sense of what I was getting myself into. I think the biggest difference between some of those books and Inferna is the level of humor in this one. I laughed out loud a few times, and there were plenty of chuckles in between.

If the humor wasn't there, I doubt I would have read the book.

The story is set in a post apocalyptic world where darkness has descended and turned animals and humans into monsters. Superheroes also show up, and they do their best to keep the darkness at bay. The cities are walled compounds, very similar to the setup in Saving Supervillains.

Each potential hero takes a test, and that decides if they're a hero or not as well as the capabilities they have. Of course, to unlock those capabilities they need to connect with a female ray. Instead of jumping in bed right away, the MC takes his time to learn about the rays, the academy, and what his new body can do.

The editing is very good here, and the stats sheets are comprehensive and quite long. It's easy enough to skip through them and pick out the key upgrades.

Very enjoyable. I'm looking forward to book 2. 5/5*
Profile Image for Dave Stone.
1,348 reviews97 followers
October 7, 2023
I didn't expect to like it
Gamelit / Harem / Sex scenes / Overpowered MC / Magical school / Super hero / Post Apocalypse
I started this book fully expecting to DNF very quickly. I had a few hours to kill before bed and didn't want to start anything serious. I had plotted out my next 3 books and planed to start fresh in the morning.
This is David Burke here, Something he writes is going to tick me off, but I wanted to check Prism Academy off my 'To Be Read' list and this seemed like the perfect time to get it over with. The rule was I'd read it until I didn't like it and then quit.
A safe bet? Oh well.
It isn't great ...but it's never met the DNF conditions I set out so fair is fair, I read it to the end and then started on book 2. It's fun and mildly amusing and I got invested in the characters.
Oh I have some quibbles, but they never quit killed my enjoyment enough to get out of finishing.
Maybe David Burke will be his usual self and I can quit the next one.
Profile Image for Iori.
593 reviews4 followers
October 11, 2023
It was fun but..

The story give a complete world building and I really like it. Corporations running the world and keeping the humans downtrodden? Sign me up, I like those kind of tale where the MC eventually break and reshape the world.
Profile Image for Paps.
562 reviews3 followers
December 25, 2022
An entertaining read with a lot of work to be improved on. The pacing was to slow, the plot threads to diversed and lacked a central focus. The author tried to say to much in an unplanned way.
Profile Image for Leonardo.
75 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2023
I wanted to like it, and it started off well, but there were way too many unrealistic reactions and the characters just didn't feel like people with personalities. It just killed it for me.
520 reviews7 followers
July 21, 2022
Mediocre

Pros: Likable characters, decent dialogue, an emphasis on relationships, and lots of action scenes (yes, that's an entendre).

Cons: Excessive descriptions, high predictability, extreme classicism, nonsensical society, and bland action scenes (still an entendre).

Better than average for super harems, but if you're reading reviews then you won't be impressed.
Profile Image for Arty.
121 reviews9 followers
February 13, 2023
I would give it ZERO stars if I could; because cringe factor was set to 11 for this "thing".Audiobook review. I recently promised myself that by doing a proper deconstruction and critique of an author's work would be beneficial for everyone, in the hopes that the readers fully understand the quality of the published work. A proper analysis would also help the author, in improving their future works. Five hours in of "Prism Academy"; I realized that a simple mud slinging would be apt, for exsistance of this garbage.

Profile Image for Michael Burnett.
1,259 reviews7 followers
July 13, 2022
Great book

Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
Profile Image for Kiba Snowpaw.
Author 2 books24 followers
September 21, 2023
Introduction:
Greetings, fellow beings of HowlStrom. I am Kiba Snowpaw, the alpha male Ice Wolf of our icy realm. With my 36 years of life and the power of ice magic coursing through my veins, I have ventured into the world of literature, specifically the realm of audiobooks. Today, I shall share my thoughts on "Prism Academy #1: Inferna" by David Burke.

Basic Plot Summary:
The Earth, much like our own HowlStrom, stands on the precipice of doom. Unknown forces have bombarded it, leading to the rise of monstrous entities. Humanity, once the dominant species, now cowers in small safe zones. But from the shadows of despair, hope emerges. A new breed of humans, known as supers, has been birthed by the Progenitor rays. These supers are the last line of defense against the monstrous onslaught.

Analysis/Evaluation:
The narrative is a blend of genres, from urban fantasy to post-apocalyptic settings, with a touch of adult themes. The story's setting is reminiscent of our own HowlStrom's winter season, which occurs once every century, bringing with it challenges and adversities.

Characters:
The protagonist, much like many of us in HowlStrom, hails from a challenging background. He's from the slums, a place where dreams are often crushed under the weight of reality. Yet, his journey from the depths of despair to the heights of hope is commendable. However, some reviews suggest that his character development is inconsistent, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by bouts of cluelessness.

Structure:
The story follows a structured path, introducing us to the world, its challenges, and the characters that inhabit it. The pacing, though slow at times, allows for a deeper understanding of the narrative.

Impact:
The tale serves as a reminder that even in the darkest times, hope can emerge. It's a lesson we, the beings of HowlStrom, are all too familiar with.

Hook and Thesis:
The book's hook lies in its unique blend of genres and the introduction of the supers. The underlying thesis seems to be the eternal battle between hope and despair, a theme that resonates deeply with me.

Praise and Critique:
The world-building is commendable, and the introduction of the supers adds a fresh twist to the post-apocalyptic genre. However, the character development, especially that of the protagonist, could have been more consistent.

Evaluation:
Overall, "Prism Academy #1: Inferna" is a captivating read. It offers a fresh perspective on the post-apocalyptic genre and introduces intriguing elements that keep the reader engaged.

Comparison:
The narrative, with its blend of genres, stands out in the crowded market of post-apocalyptic tales. It offers a unique take on the challenges faced by humanity in the face of adversity.

Conclusion:
In the icy realms of HowlStrom, we value resilience, hope, and the power of unity. "Prism Academy #1: Inferna" embodies these values, making it a must-read for all. As Kiba Snowpaw, the alpha male Ice Wolf of HowlStrom, I recommend this tale to all who seek a blend of adventure, hope, and resilience.
Profile Image for David .
97 reviews7 followers
October 30, 2022
At my request I received a copy of this audiobook in order to give a fair and unbiased review

Genre: LitRPG Super hero adventure with harem elements

LitRPG system: Stat based with powers and power types. Fits perfectly with both the hero theme and the augmented human aspects of the book
Power dynamics in harem: The Main Character is central and in charge, but respects and listens to the members.
Explicit/adult material: Explicit and steamy.

Summary:
Aden has long ago given up his dreams of becoming one of the supers. Dreams like that don't last well in the harsh life of the slums.
But one day a super comes to the slums and witness and saves him from a fight he couldn't win. He is invited to take the test to join Prism Academy. The school for super heroes.

Narrators
Voice diversity: Each character has distinct voices and conversation is always easy to follow.
Pacing and intonation: Excellently done. Very immersive, suddenly the book was over.
Sex scenes: Very well done. As immersive as the rest of the story.
Overall: 4.5 / 5 stars.

The book’s strengths.
- The characters have depth and are interesting.
- I find the politics and power plays of the society interesting.
- The action scenes are plentiful but never gets boring or repetitive.
- The premise for how you gain the majority of your superpowers and its consequences creates some hot situations
- Great narration

The book’s weaknesses.
- The stat explanation can be a bit repetitive. It is only brought up at relevant times, but personally I would prefer only being informed of the chances rather than also have the full overview reiterated

Overall: 4.5/5 stars
A great Supers adventure with a great premise and with an added bonus of hot explicit harem elements.
I was at the edge of my seat all the way through and can't wait for the next book in the series to arrive.
Profile Image for Thorsten.
310 reviews4 followers
April 2, 2023
Once in a while, I get an itch for a fun superhero story and this book let me give it a good scratch.

I was a little conflicted about giving it a 4 versus 5-star rating but opted for the 5 because I knew what I was signing up for. The author can tell a fun tale but he also seems to rush his work to the detriment of the editing and attention to detail. In this case, my issues with that were more than offset by the entertainment of the story and some of the great humour elements.

The remaining niggle is how the women tend to be portrayed but I can't pick up a harem-lit novel and then fault it for delivering on its promise. I'm just hopefully optimistic that the limited number of affinities will cap the size of the harem and we get to watch these women develop rather than getting a rotating cast of new faces every book.

I really appreciated that the author made an effort to think about the practical implications of superpower; super strength being a field effect, that you can't dodge lasers, oxygen supplies for fire powers, that sort of thing. Also, this line made me laugh more than it probably should have:

I can see how this is probably a polarizing quote where you either love it or hate it, but I really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Haremsfan.
74 reviews7 followers
October 2, 2022
As required by U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations and Audible.com requirements, I am disclosing that I was given a free review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I have listened to the audiobook, and I have voluntarily left an honest review. Receiving a review copy did not influence my rating nor my review.

“Prism Academy- Inferna: A Litrpg Supers Adventure” is a very enjoyable adventure story that combines monsters, super powers, an academy setting (with the requisite bully and gorgeous classmates), an AI, politics, and an MC who is more than he thought he was.

Our MC needs to bond with six women to unlock his full potential of powers (very reminiscent of Hondo Jinx’s terrific Power Mage series). While his powers do tend toward his being an OP character, he doesn’t have an overly easy time defeating enemies and finding the “right” women to bond with (creating a lifelong commitment).

It’s too bad that the audiobook cover cuts off Inferna’s high heels….there’re several fun comments about them during the story!

“Prism Academy- Inferna” is very well-written, and wonderfully narrated. It deserves my 5* rating, and especially based on the title for book 2, I’m really looking forward to the sequel!
996 reviews13 followers
July 14, 2022
Good new series

Really enjoyed this book. Interesting take on powers nothing too revolutionary but certainly different than some of the others. He's described in a lot of detail Between the refractors and rays Is certainly an interesting dynamic those some other series have had a similar symbiotic relationship. The author has seriously ramped up the Politics and backroom Deals by the end of the book. Seems like everybody wants a pIece of the new guy. Sol Will have his work cut out for him but learning about new abilities gaining new rays and fighting The powers of humanity As well as the powers of darkness. I enjoy the lit or PG elements. I like having a little definition added to the mix. Certainly not excessive the fact that he might be able to spread it Should be a fun conversation. The good News the book was decent length so it Wasn't in a hurry. Lots of battles and different Social environments. I certainly look forward to the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Royal.
121 reviews7 followers
October 5, 2022
Terrible Exposition
DNF @ 5%

You know it's bad when I can't even get through the first few chapters because of how heavy the exposition is. Read 3 scenes so far:

• Two characters talk to each other about information they already know in an effort to explain the world
• The MC just monologues his entire life, from parents to his current situation, while walking down a street
• Superheroes arrive and the MC begins to monologue information about them as well

This is the example teachers give to students on what to avoid when trying to explain things to the reader. Remember kids: present information only as needed and avoid information dumps as much as possible. A scene should do at least two of these things: worldbuilding, character development and/or progressing the plot.
Profile Image for Kevin.
1,710 reviews30 followers
October 19, 2023
I'm only giving this a go because I had the book for months, someone gave it a recommendation, and I kind of like the author.

I don't like academies, and really don't like the cape trope. So a school for superheroes is the last thing I would have willingly read.
I hope this works out, or the book is enough to entertain.

I'm enjoying this so far. There has been little to no actual "classroom" stuff. So I'm willing to continue, and even see myself reading the sequel.

"Call that shade's first rule"... I wonder if that is a shout out camo...

Other than the ridiculous stats, I enjoyed this. There was very little of "academy" so I will pick up the sequel.

This is very similar to Saving Supervillains. I wonder which came first.

3/5 Stars
Profile Image for Al.
234 reviews1 follower
November 21, 2023
Series update: While the series started out OK, it wasn't that great overall. Then in the 4th book the introduction of a crossover character for no apparent reason not only ruined this series but made me lose all desire of reading the Wargod series which I was going to read next. In fact, I have also lost interest in the Laws series also.

There was one character that I think of as tragic. She has issues like many people, but frankly she was interesting and I wanted to see her be a useful character. Sadly the author used this character as a plot punching bag and frankly it was a huge turn off.
47 reviews3 followers
September 25, 2022

Okay story, and one of the better of this sort, but 4 stars becuase the protagonist was annoyingly daft or clueless at times, which was obviously done so he can introduce worldbuilding by asking questions like a toddler...
He asks stuff like "Why is that so?" and then someone else is explaining seemingly basic information (which the protagonist doesn't know shit about cuz he is from the slums). Following this, the protagonist throws around more questions and all of them are explained in the same boring manner.
Sorry for the rant, but it almost made me drop the book.
2 reviews
January 26, 2024
I was worried about this one from the cover art but I’m a sucker for all things superhero so I decided to give it a try.

I’ll be upfront in saying I DNFed this pretty early, but the women in this book are written and treated like one dimensional objects. We learn the size of the heroines busts long before they are given an ounce of personality beyond being arm candy for the male heroes.

Fight scenes were pretty contrived: a really really strong dude won because he was really really strong. And then 3 more paragraphs about how he John Wick punched the bad guys’ faces in.
136 reviews
July 18, 2022
Fun and Enjoyable

Spoiler free. This is a fun book with litrpg elements that are unobtrusive but just present enough. And is a fun mixture of a main character who gets thrust into the spotlight by external forces but takes it in stride and doesn’t let people push him around. The worst enemy always seeming to be humanity and the monsters themselves being a present threat. This is a great power fantasy novel to read when u want some distraction and entertainment. Well done
10 reviews1 follower
July 20, 2022
Cracked the code

This book is what authors in this genre should aspire to write, first and foremost it’s a great story told in a way that brings life to the world and characters. The elements that make the genre what it is are blended in to serve and further the story rather than be the reason for it.
Stands out as what haremlit can be when done perfectly.
Keep up the great work
447 reviews12 followers
September 29, 2022
a interesting Twist on superhero story

I like the World building and I also like the character development and also the fact of the romance was very slow burn. the only thing I thought was a little bit redundant was that when it specified how the stats of the person were done they put it at the beginning of every chapter that told you exactly what the scope was for each class of ABCD which I think they only needed to put in once to classify.
25 reviews
February 17, 2023
Nice story but it was a pain to read through the over sexualized characters. I might have overlooked it if the author didn’t shove it in your eyes every three lines. Not to mention half the book is about double meanings and stupid college pickup lines that are just bad… I’m not against a good harem story but this is just painful. Add to it the plot convenience of the MC obliviousness, just at the right time, to side step foreshadowing.
Thanks but no thanks.
No book 2 for me…
72 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2022
Excellent start to a new series!

What can I say, this kickoff to a new series rocks. I loved the characters, the MC, the world, and the plot. Honestly I could not put this down and the fact this book is twice as long as Burke’s other novel was just amazing. I enjoyed every page and I can’t wait for the next in this series.
Profile Image for Irizumi.
446 reviews3 followers
December 5, 2022
Fantastic read

This is not just another superhero book. Yes there are super powered people and yes there is a good amount of adult content. But there are a bunch of well written “bad” guys in addition to the evil the supers need to destroy to keep the earth safe. Definitely reading all of this series to see what happens next.
144 reviews3 followers
February 20, 2023
Good start to this hero series

This was a good book and while I normally take my time to read, this one did not let me put it down until I finished it.
The plot, characters and progression was enough to get me interested to the very end.

I look forward to seeing how this story develops, especially who the MC will take as his bonds.
Going to the second book now.
195 reviews3 followers
July 13, 2022
How to be a super superhero.

Well that is not an easy task, just ask Aden Samuels. But the benefits are extraordinary. A fun read with action, adventure, political intrigue, and a good bit of just down home sexual fun. Can't wait for the next one.
341 reviews2 followers
July 13, 2022
I love this beginning!

I have read all the other Burke books ,and love his style of litrpg. I was so happy ,when I seen he had created a supers series. This first book was amazing, I can't wait till the next book comes out. Please make it soon.
1,464 reviews15 followers
July 14, 2022
Another great story!!!!

A truly great science fiction story by an expert storyteller!!! You will not be able to put this book down once you start reading it!!! Excellent characters, A progressively powerful MC and fabulous adult fantasy activities!!! More more more!!!
Profile Image for Eric Bertone.
286 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2022
A fun new spin

This story reminds me of a blend of Aaron Crash's American Dragon Series and Jinx's Power Mage. That being said, it is its own book and a fun read even if not an entirely unique premise.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews

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