Introduction:
Alright, fellow furries and fantasy fanatics, gather 'round because I’ve got a book review that’s going to take you on a wild, fur-raising ride through the absurd and tantalizing world of *I Summoned My WHAT?!: Book 1* by Montgomery Quinn. This spicy gem, released in August 2022, is a mix of harem fantasy, LitRPG, and isekai madness, all wrapped up in a rollercoaster of sarcastic humor and questionable life choices. Whether you’re here for the plot, the smut, or just the sheer chaos, this book has got something to keep your tail wagging. So let’s dive in and break down what makes this story a howling good time (or not)!
Plot Summary:
Our protagonist, Calon, starts off as your typical guy with heroic aspirations—literally dying in a house fire while saving his neighbor. But death is just the beginning for Calon, as he’s thrown into an alternate reality version of South East Queensland, Australia. This world is familiar in some ways but twisted in others, filled with goblins, magic, and a system of tutorials that seem to have a mind of their own.
Calon, captured by goblins, stumbles upon a summoner stone and—through a series of miscommunications and accidental commands—summons his step-sister, Evie, who appears not as her usual self but as a succubus. Things get even crazier when he adds more characters to his harem, including Evie’s girlfriend Chrissy, who gets transformed into a griffin hybrid, and Suki, a Neko girl who’s eager to be Calon’s pet.
The plot is chaotic and filled with the kind of misadventures that make you wonder if the author was just having a laugh while writing it. But amidst the madness, there’s a loose narrative thread about Calon trying to navigate this bizarre world, figure out his new powers, and keep his growing harem from tearing each other (or him) apart.
The Author:
Montgomery Quinn, also known as Average Joe, is a writer who clearly knows his audience and isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of what’s expected in the harem and LitRPG genres. Quinn’s style is fast-paced, irreverent, and doesn’t shy away from explicit content. His other works, like *Oathbreaker: Goblin’s Allure* and *Hell: A Haremlit Men’s Fantasy*, follow a similar vein of mixing humor, action, and adult themes into stories that are as much about the journey as they are about the destination.
Quinn’s writing is clearly aimed at readers who enjoy a good laugh, some steamy scenes, and a plot that doesn’t take itself too seriously. While he may not be winning literary awards anytime soon, Quinn’s books have carved out a niche in the harem LitRPG genre, offering something that’s both entertaining and just a little bit outrageous.
Characters:
Now, let’s talk about the motley crew that makes up the heart (and soul) of this book.
- Calon: Our hero—or maybe just our hapless protagonist—Calon is a guy who’s in way over his head. He starts off with noble intentions but quickly finds himself in a world where the rules are different, and he’s constantly playing catch-up. Calon’s journey is one of survival, adaptation, and trying to keep his head above water while dealing with a harem that’s as unpredictable as it is alluring.
- Evie: Calon’s step-sister, who becomes a succubus after being summoned into this new world. Evie is a complex character, caught between her old life and her new reality. Her relationship with Calon is fraught with tension—both sexual and emotional—and she often takes the lead in their interactions, flipping the typical power dynamic on its head.
- Chrissy: Evie’s girlfriend, who is summoned by Calon as a griffin hybrid. Chrissy is not thrilled with her new form or her new life, and her resentment towards Calon creates a lot of tension in the story. She’s a strong-willed character, and her interactions with Calon are some of the most emotionally charged in the book.
- Suki: The Neko girl who’s all too happy to be Calon’s pet. Suki is a bit of a one-note character—she’s playful, submissive, and eager to please—but she adds to the harem dynamic and provides some lighter moments amidst the drama.
Structure:
I Summoned My WHAT?! is structured like a typical harem LitRPG, with a series of episodic adventures that build towards a loose overarching plot. The pacing is fast in the beginning, with a lot of action and humor driving the story forward. However, things slow down a bit in the middle as the book tries to delve deeper into the relationships between the characters and the moral implications of Calon’s summoning powers.
The book’s chapters are short and snappy, making it an easy read despite some of the more complex themes it tries to tackle. The narrative is linear, with most of the story being told from Calon’s perspective, which helps keep things grounded even as the plot spirals into absurdity.
Themes & Analysis:
While on the surface, this book might seem like a simple harem fantasy, there are some deeper themes at play.
- Identity and Transformation: Each of the characters is dealing with some form of transformation, whether it’s Calon adapting to his new life as a summoner, Evie grappling with her succubus nature, or Chrissy coming to terms with her new griffin form. These transformations are not just physical but also emotional, as each character struggles with their new identities and what they mean for their relationships with each other.
- Power Dynamics: The power dynamics in this book are constantly shifting, particularly between Calon and his summons. While Calon is technically the summoner, he’s often at the mercy of his harem, who have their own agendas and aren’t afraid to push back. This subversion of the typical power fantasy is both interesting and, at times, frustrating, as it creates a lot of tension in the story.
- Morality and Consequences: The book raises some interesting questions about the morality of summoning people into this world without their consent, particularly in Chrissy’s case. While the story doesn’t fully explore these themes, it does touch on the idea that Calon’s actions have real consequences, both for himself and for the people he summons.
Scenes:
When it comes to the more explicit scenes, *I Summoned My WHAT?!* doesn’t hold back. The interactions between Calon and his harem are steamy, and the book definitely leans into its adult themes.
The scenes with Evie are particularly charged, as they explore the complicated relationship between her and Calon. There’s a lot of tension between them, and the book does a decent job of balancing the humor with the more serious aspects of their relationship.
Chrissy’s scenes are a bit more complex, as they deal with her resentment towards Calon and her discomfort with her new form. While these scenes are still explicit, they’re also tinged with a sense of unease, which adds an interesting layer to the story.
World-Building:
The world of I Summoned My WHAT?! is a strange blend of familiar and fantastical. Set in a twisted version of South East Queensland, Australia, the world is filled with goblins, magic, and all sorts of fantastical creatures. However, the world-building is a bit thin, with most of the focus being on the characters and their interactions rather than the broader context of the world.
The magic system is similarly vague, with Calon’s summoning abilities being more of a plot device than a fully fleshed-out system. This might be disappointing for readers who enjoy detailed world-building, but it fits with the book’s tone of chaotic adventure.
Praise & Critique:
There’s a lot to like about I Summoned My WHAT?! if you’re in the mood for something light, funny, and a bit risqué. The characters are quirky, the dialogue is snappy, and the action scenes are fast-paced and entertaining. The book doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s part of its charm.
However, it’s not without its flaws. The pacing can be uneven, especially in the second half, and the lack of depth in the world-building might leave some readers wanting more. The explicit content is also a double-edged sword—while it’s handled with humor, it might not be for everyone, particularly if you’re looking for a more serious exploration of the themes the book touches on.
Comparison:
Compared to Quinn’s other works, I Summoned My WHAT?! is very much in line with his style—fast-paced, humorous, and not afraid to get a little weird. If you’ve read *Oathbreaker: Goblin’s Allure* or *Hell: A Haremlit Men’s Fantasy*, you’ll find a lot of the same elements here. However, this book leans more heavily into the humor and less into the darker themes that some of his other works explore.
Personal Evaluation:
As an experienced ice wolf with a strategic mind and a playful nature, I found I Summoned My WHAT?! to be a fun, if somewhat flawed, read. The book’s chaotic energy and irreverent tone kept me engaged, even when the plot started to wear thin. The characters, while not particularly deep, were entertaining, and I appreciated the way the book balanced its humor with some of the more serious themes.
That said, the lack of depth in the world-building and the uneven pacing were definite drawbacks for me.
The book could have benefited from a bit more focus on developing its setting and exploring the implications of Calon’s summoning abilities.
Conclusion:
In the end, I Summoned My WHAT?! is a book that knows exactly what it wants to be—a fun, fast-paced harem fantasy with a healthy dose of humor and spice. If you’re looking for a light, entertaining read that doesn’t take itself too seriously, then this book is worth checking out. However, if you’re after something with a bit more depth or a more fully developed world, you might want to look elsewhere.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 paws. It’s a fun romp, but it’s not without its flaws. Still, it’s a solid start to what could be an entertaining series, and I’m curious to see where Quinn takes the story next.