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.
DNF at 58% Now that I don't want to quit Gamelit / Harem / Sex scenes / Overpowered MC / Magical school / Super hero / Post Apocalypse I really tried to keep going but it just got worse and worse. Book 1 I expected to quit but it was good enough to keep going. Now I want to keep going I just can't. Any author who can't tell the difference between building tension, and building frustration is an author I have no use for. Hey David Burke, do you like to be messed with? Do you like getting poked at? Do you enjoy it when somebody messes with you over something you care about, or something you're trying to pay attention to? No? You don't like getting messed with? Then why do you do it to your readers? A writer must use caution and a light tough when building tension in a story. If the writer is building tension by adding aggravation in the MC's life that must be balanced. A little bit goes a LONG way. Make sure you are not just teasing the reader with manufactured BS that doesn't fit the situation, or isn't in character for the person acting, or something that breaks continuity.
Look I tried to gently put the book down, walk away, go drink a glass of water, and come back when I've got it in perspective. I gave it half and hour. I told myself, "it's just a super hero harem book. It's not even an isekai RPG harem book. Lighten up". But when I picked the book back up the dissonance made me feel queasy. I just couldn't bare it.
Not good at all. The end sex scene is atrocious and disgusting. First girl (who is straight (her words not mine)) gets peer pressured into being with a woman and is literally used as a fluffer by a previously completely lesbian character that the MC made bi. Beyond awful book.
I read the first book a few months ago, it was pretty good, but had the issues most David Burke books have, a pretty iffy MC. The problem I have with his MCs is that they all start off very dumb and have zero sense of humor, but somehow still likable in my opinion, because they usually stand up for themselves, are assertive when they need to be, and they're very friendly, that is until they get a harem. Burke then proceeds to turn his MC's into brainless idiots who can't stand on their own two feet without his harem members, and proceeds to make any decision the MC finally makes on his own so bad that he then says he will always listen to them instead of making a decision for himself. While all this is happening, the inner monologues are just embarrassing to listen to sometimes, they are all so "woe, is me". When things don't go his way or when his harem members ask him to add more members so he can power himself and them up, his self pity inner monologues just makes me cringe because Burke usually gives his MCs far too much power while letting him have his choice of beautiful, intelligent and strong willed women, so you can only just eye roll at his "plight". It was the same in Descent and it's the same here, you've already made it a harem Burke, you don't need to make the MC throw himself a pity party every time he needs to expand his harem, especially when the ones that SHOULD be having the pity party (his harem) are usually intelligent enough to realize while it isn't something they want to happen since they will be sharing more, it needs to happen for their survival. I really hope one day Burkes MC's can stay consistent through a series and not just become a pet/sex toy for his harem, because the rest of the time he creates exciting worlds, fun powers and interesting fights. Rant about the MC over.
Now onto the rest of the book...it was bad. It's a 2/5 for me, where book 1 was an easy 4/5. The main thing is, the plot BARELY moves forward in a 16 hour audiobook from where the end of book 1 left off. The entire time it's just Aiden training, monologuing, yelling at the AI or flirting with his harem. It wasn't until 3/4th the book that things start moving forward because he was TSTL and didn't think to get his ex-gf out of the slums in book 1 because he didn't trust anyone, so she gets kidnapped and he decides to negotiate with terrorists aka the council and queenie. He ends up in a dire situation again without anyone but Queenie, who is a grade a psycho but has a strong power, In those few sentences are all the significant things that happen. Oh and the whole reason he got into the shitty situation with Queenie and the council, his ex gf Cara is long forgotten. I will read the next book because why not, I'm sometimes a glutton for punishment. Maybe it will step up and be as good as book 1 (which also had flaws, but was interesting enough to not harp on them too much).
4.5 stars. Seems almost like a bait-and-switch with the title, but a good story and well written. We begin to see that humanity isn't a solid block against the darkness, but that would surprise nobody who has any sense of our history.
The author has painted a really dire situation for what remains of us, and I'm wondering how he's going to pull this out. There is no actual law that says humanity must triumph (or even survive), so the gang appears to have its work cut out for it. Minor spoiler follows.
I don't feel that we saw much utility from the MC's supposed "ultimate weapon" against the darkness. The use in book one suggests Light's Judgement eradicates dark energy, but we don't see any use on his supposed allies who are sliding toward the dark side. Seem (to me) that this would be a good way to keep people on the right side of things, or at least from turning into darkness monsters. Of course we see a former colleague headed in that direction, so maybe we'll see some preventative use of it in the future.
Introduction: Greetings, fellow beings of HowlStrom. I, Kiba Snowpaw, the Alpha Ice Wolf, have journeyed through the vast landscapes of literature and have come across a tale from another realm, one that resonates with the icy winds and the magic that courses through my veins. As the winter season grips our world, I find solace in the stories of other worlds, and today, I bring forth my thoughts on "Prism Academy #2 - Demis" by David Burke.
Basic Plot Summary: In this sequel, a new Prism emerges, but the monstrous waves threaten humanity more than ever. Aden, our protagonist, is caught in a whirlwind of voices, challenging his understanding of his past and destiny. As he navigates through the complexities of building a team, training, and confronting new threats, he grapples with the realization that the most terrifying monsters might just be those who wear human skin.
Analysis/Evaluation: David Burke crafts a world filled with intrigue, power dynamics, and the age-old battle between light and darkness. The narrative is enriched with elements of fantasy, superheroes, science fiction, and adult themes, making it a melting pot of genres that keeps the reader engaged.
Characters: Aden stands out as a character who is constantly evolving, trying to find his place amidst chaos. His internal struggles, combined with external pressures, make him a relatable figure. The women around him, each with their unique personalities and backgrounds, add depth to the story, highlighting the complexities of relationships in a world teetering on the brink of destruction.
Structure: The book is structured in a way that allows for character development, world-building, and plot progression to occur simultaneously. While the pacing might seem slow at times, it is essential for setting up the intricate details of the universe Burke has created.
Impact: "Prism Academy #2 - Demis" delves deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of power, control, destiny, and the gray areas of morality. It serves as a mirror to our society, reflecting the best and worst of humanity.
Hook and Thesis: The underlying question of whether one's destiny can truly be altered if it has been manipulated is a compelling hook that drives the narrative. It challenges the reader to question the nature of fate and free will.
Praise and Critique: Burke's world-building is commendable, and his character development is intricate. However, some readers might find certain scenes and character decisions challenging to digest. The exploration of relationships, especially in the context of a harem, might not resonate with everyone, but it adds a layer of complexity to the narrative.
Evaluation: While the book has its strengths, especially in its detailed world-building and character dynamics, it also has areas that might polarize readers. The balance between action and introspection, coupled with the exploration of mature themes, makes it a read suited for a mature audience.
Comparison: Compared to its predecessor, "Prism Academy #2 - Demis" delves deeper into the psyche of its characters, offering a more introspective look at their motivations and challenges. While the first book set the stage, this sequel raises the stakes, pushing the narrative into darker territories.
Conclusion: In the icy realms of HowlStrom, where magic and might reign supreme, stories like "Prism Academy #2 - Demis" serve as a reminder of the complexities of the human spirit. David Burke's tale is a roller-coaster of emotions, challenging perceptions and pushing boundaries. As the Alpha Ice Wolf, I appreciate tales that make one reflect, and this book does just that. May the icy winds of HowlStrom guide you on your literary journeys.
Okay Burke… well played… at first I was extremely worried at the intro to this book about his patrons not liking how this book turned out and then I read the reviews about people crying and being extremely disappointed… now, Burke has made me very upset in the past with his tower mage series 🤦🏽♂️ but I promised to give another chance because I happened to have liked the actual series just not the ending. Now, onto this book. Let me just say that first off I’m going to go against the norms and say I actually liked Queenie 😂. Sometimes Sol can be a bit of a chad and goodie goodie and I just want the guy to let loose and “get some” and when he hooked up with queenie that’s exactly what he did… no pun and double entendres hahaha. But what I mean is everyone has been stepping on his feet, bossing him around, doing all that they can to just bend the Prism to THEIR will when HE is the Prism. They need to do things by HIS rules. So when he was just going with the flow and destroying BAD PEOPLE I was cheering. I mean these people were bad, they were corrupt and filled with shadow. Some were just husks so far gone that they’ve been lost in the world of evil for decades. You cannot blame him for taking out the trash. Queenie just removed his limiter for a bit. Now, I will also say I like Sybilla but at the same time she’s a whiner and I get tired of her theatrical performances. At first Queenie’s mom annoyed me but I actually ended up liking her and respecting her at the end. As far as cara goes she’s trash. She should be treated as such. She dumped him. She’s a drug addict and used her drug usage to try and influence him and control him. She’s TRASH. From what I’m seeing I’m sure she will be the next villain coming up. I think this is what Burke is planning. I mean Sol hasn’t even gone to visit her yet.but you can tell she’s been tampered with. Why he’s not concerned about that is anybody’s best guess. Also Burke now that I’ve done research on him, I know he’s around my age because all of the Easter eggs has me laughing my head off 🤭😂. He’s a genius! Petra Mitchell, loves to fly the F85, in the military (ok Maverick Pete Mitchell from top gun) the f85 was the goblin back in the 50s😂 also tune in Tokyo was from the old movie girls just want to have fun with Jonathan Silverman! Then the three seashells had me in TEARS lol from demolition man 😂😭🤭. I couldn’t stop laughing. Also demis is his wing woman also a top gun reference ( you can be my wingman anytime iceman)😂. So many Easter eggs. He did that in tower mage as well. Not going to mention the light sabres haha. Anyways, I liked this book and saddened at queenies demise but understood it. What has impact been doing though? 🤷🏽♂️🤔 no one mentions that guy. Anyways. Onto the next book! Don’t let us down Burke!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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
Summary: Aden is prism and everyone wants a piece of him. Worse they want to dictate who he bonds with. If Aden wants to stay his own man hard calls are necessary as well as the love and support of the women around him.
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. Girls all have their own lives and goals, but have a strong loyalty once bonded. Explicit/adult material: Explicit and steamy. The powers make for some interesting scenes.
Narration: 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: 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. - There are less action scenes than in the fist. They are still excellently done and for me it was a good level. - Less action but more time devoted to get to know the girls and the world. I love it. - Great narration
The book’s weaknesses. - The book does offer some challenging scenes. Some might struggle with some more FF focus FFM scenes. - There is a subplot that robs the MC of some agency, which I could see being tough for those for whom self-insertion is important.
Overall: 5/5 stars Though I can see why this book is a bit dividing I think the dividing parts are foreshadowed well and make sense with the characters and their world. I enjoyed the book immensely and can't wait to see where it goes from here.
If you expect Aden to finish his training, fight monsters at the front lines, discover more about his mother or the nature of the shadows, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Instead, he will be fighting mostly humans on his journey to find and free his ex-girlfriend.
Pros: The book is very well-written, especially when it comes to portraying scenes, characters and conveying emotions. The relationships between the main characters are well fleshed out and mostly relatable. Not sure if this is a pro but Aden is pretty much a god in this book and effectively stands above the law.
Cons: Unfortunately, the plot starts falling apart in this book. While bad decisions are nothing new to this series, the first book seemed to highlight and exaggerate them to the point that it felt deliberate and had me genuinely laughing out loud at some of the plot points. However, my suspension of disbelief failed to cover for what is going on in the second book. The plot of this book can best be described as “Stuff’s just kinda happening”. It feels like the author came up with the key plot points and then connected them with straight lines. Aden makes some truly baffling decisions. Not only do they seem terrible but it’s also unclear what he wanted to achieve in the first place. His actions seem designed to move him to the next fight scene as quickly as possible, without requiring a logical explanation. Aden also never stops to think about why he is doing what he’s doing. This and some of the other character’s actions left me scratching my head at what’s going on multiple times. Additionally, the stakes are rather low, with the storyline of freeing Aden’s ex-girlfriend driving the plot. She only appeared at the beginning of the first book, and I doubt many readers will have the emotional attachment to her that would justify the plot of this book.
TLDR: If you don’t think about the plot too much, the book is a well-written power fantasy that is a good bit of mindless fun.
Ugh. I wanted to love this series so bad. I really liked the first book. And was excited for this one. Demis was my favorite character (a lesbian in a world of hetero supers). Boy was I disappointed. First off, like nothing happens in 2/3 of this book. The Queenie character was useless because it was already pretty established that Sybilla was going to bond with Aden so I didnt care at all for her. And at the end, the worst happened. The self described lesbian Demis has a three way with the MC and the "I'm not into girls" Jen. I feel the author could have made the MC and Demis bond emotionally as friends who love platonically. Making both the MC and Demis even more unique in the messed up world. Sadly, we just got the "lesbian needs a good dicking" scene.
I really liked the universe the author was building that explored the worst of humanity and capitalism with the existential threat of shadow monsters. Sexy superheroes was the cherry on top. Unfortunately, this book ruined any chance of me continuing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Book 1 was fresh and funny, and I really enjoyed it. Now we're at book two, and despite the title telling us which ray the prism will join with, it takes a heck of a long time to get there.
Meanwhile, Aden's former girlfriend Cara has been kidnapped. Even more than that, I just didn't enjoy spending as much time with Aden as I did in book 1. This time around, Aden (and my extension his AI partner in crime) are solely focused on power. Which is a complete 180 from book 1, when he wanted to be in control of his own destiny.
There are still echoes of that same approach, but now Aden is focused on power. He wants to be stronger, and if that means hurting his friends he'll do it. I'm not counting the times Aden says he's not like that, because actions speak louder than words.
Aden wants his cake and eats it too.
The editing is good if not great, and I thought the book was a bit long for the story it's trying to tell. Like another reviewer mentioned, I think this is the last book I'll be reading for this series.
I don't know where the rating 4.3 came from but this book ain't that. I'll give it maybe 2.5.
The MC is a pussy. There, I said it. For someone who's powerful, I expected a bit of balls on him but he got none. The way he just accepts the psycho woman as his is stupid. The way he let go a known criminal afterwards (because of morals) is also stupid. Is like Batman letting Joker lives every time, but worse. And I still don't get the leverage this 'board' of council has over him if he didn't comply to their wishes. What, like, will they fire him? He was already ready to leave the academy anyway. They obviously not powerful enough to hurt/kill him. This plot hole is really jarring to me. I don't think their motivation is well written.
Authors like Eric Vall is ranked kinda low in my 'harem authors' list but David Burke managed to put himself lower, so congratulations.
The story continues, with an unexpected curve ball when a bond gets terminated. Good worldbuilding continues as the characters are realistic, being defined by events that shaped them. These events, as with real people left them with hang ups, foibles, and sometimes just plain wickedness in their makeup. There are self-serving politicians, administrators, soldiers, waitresses, filthy lawyers, business moguls and people from all walks of life represented. There are also lots of storyline threads to be pursued from Priska, to Sybilla, to Inertia, to the Widow, to the Shadow's minions vs the light.
Second book of this superhero series is still going strong. I still enjoyed the ongoing plot and characters.
Though one thing I had issues with was the MC's constant struggle to bond and that out of nowhere made him bond with Queenie instead of Sybilla and the angst that followed. Another thing was the fact that even though this book was titled Demis, I feel that she was covered less here than in the first book and more emphasis on Queenie. At least the MC got her in the end.
Still I am willing to continue this to book 3 and see the bonding of Sybilla and the question on who will be the Orange bondmate.
I really enjoyed book 1 of the series and book 2 is a worthy continuation. Consistent world building with a hero who knows what he wants and what he doesn't. Despite all his power the main character is still a human being with all the imperfections and decisions that entails. With great power comes great responsibility or ignore it at your own peril. Literally giving in to the shadows is a bad decision in this setting. But no spoilers! Enjoy the book! I certainly did!
The author left a warning at the beginning of the book. Heed it
In excellent book. Though very frustrating it parts the author was kind enough to leave a warning. I'm not sure it helped or hurt. The anticipation thing. The interpersonal interactions are obviously a key point to the series. Nothing in this book changes that. The power and the fighting is fun and the new powers are certainly enjoyable to learn about. So far I've enjoyed the direction of the series and this book Obviously Expands upon that. I look forward to the next book.
I enjoyed this second installment but found it weaker than the first book. The entire Queenie storyline just didn't work for me; the sequence felt simple and forced from its inception to its eye-rollingly convenient resolution and aftermath.
I did like the Demis storyline. The criticisms that he's turning a lesbian straight are unwarranted and she's one of the few more complex and interesting female characters. More Demis, less Molly, please.
I hope we can put the entire Queenie thing behind us and just go back to more consistently good storytelling in the next one.
Prism Academy- Demis picks up right were Inferna ended and then kicks takes the series to the next level. It was an emotional rollercoaster ride that was non stop! Definitely totally excited for the next book in this series. Aden is the type of MC you can root for but at the same time you shake your head at for mistakes he makes. Well written series by David Burke!
I have to say that the author has really outdone himself with this series. I don’t know where he gets his ideas from but they are amazing. These books remind me of some of Asimov’s stuff - no lie. It’s really good, really involved and has a lot of intrigue. I’ve enjoy additional series by this author (Four Laws). Great writing. Ready for number four, etc.
While I'm still enjoying the series, it's slightly annoying to hear the protag talk about being good with tech since book one, and still not seeing that in action as yet.
Another excellent story in this new series!!! The author definitely gave us more information in this twisted world our imagination gets to play in!!!!! To no ones surprise who has read this authors other works,this is another great science fiction fantasy blend series that will give you hours of enjoyment!!!
Another amazing follow up from DB. Dude just keeps writing hit after hit. I follow him on patreon and had the opportunity to read this already and I cannot wait for book 3.
Definitely a twist in there I wasn’t expecting. So many of these superpower and hero genres have the mc that nothing ever goes wrong. To see the tense fights and crushing moments he endures while coming out on top is great. Looking forward to the next.
I absolutely love this series! I can’t get enough! This one had a lot of twists and turns that didn’t see coming but I think it came out for the best. Next one will be absolutely amazing and I can’t wait!
I think this is my favorite David Burke series so far, while I enjoyed his other books greatly, something about this one feels like I absolutely need to know what’s next, can’t wait for November 28th
The title gives it away, but it hero finally bags his wingman.. I mean wing woman. As much fun as the book was, new dramatic plot threads are in play now as well. Bring on the next book!
I didn't think I could enjoy a sequel as much as the 1st book in a series but wow this one sure dispelled that misconception!!! This book was easily just as good as the 1st and leaves me drooling for the next installment!
Awesome continuation. If the first. Author does an awesome job of creating tension, even with an MC that is almost too powerful for his own good. Looking forward to future installments at he takes the fight forward!
A few thoughts, questions, if there are shadows wouldn't there be light beings? Who in prism is the "widow"? I'm sure he is going to bond the psychic/seer, but who will be the sixth?
There were points in the story that were a little slow, or less liked, but I can see how they were supposed to build character. Overall though this was a very fun read and I can't wait for book 3.
Definitely a great book and the disclaimer at the beginning makes a lot more sense once you fully read the book. Has a much different feel then the prior books but incredible all the same. Already about to start the next one.