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The Hero of the Valley #1
The Hero of the Valley
A progression fantasy with LitRPG elements.
Duncan grew up in an isolated valley, determined to become a hero of legend. When he is flung through a portal to a land far from his home, he must survive and grow stronger quickly. New forces led by powerful otherworldly beings are beginning to make their presence felt, and he has been chosen by Medim's absent gods to face them. Assuming, of course, that he can navigate a society he doesn't entirely understand and find allies he can trust.
Duncan grew up in an isolated valley, determined to become a hero of legend. When he is flung through a portal to a land far from his home, he must survive and grow stronger quickly. New forces led by powerful otherworldly beings are beginning to make their presence felt, and he has been chosen by Medim's absent gods to face them. Assuming, of course, that he can navigate a society he doesn't entirely understand and find allies he can trust.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
September 24, 2021
This book came out of left field for me. I saw that it had some good reviews and I took a chance, and I'm so glad that I did.
Duncan is a normal teen trying to advance in a fantasy world by delving into dungeons. He's far from the best, but he's also not the worst. The skills he acquired on his 16th birthday will go a long way to making him that much better of an adventurer.
The nameless small town he lives in has three dungeons, the lowest of which is the goblin dungeon. Duncan does a few runs, but strange things start happening. The monsters inside that everyone is tired of start to have a few new additions. Usually, higher level additions. People tell him that the dungeons don't like him, and there doesn't seem to be another explanation.
Duncan grinds until he's given permission to try the wilderness dungeon, which is a sprawling dungeon with a bunch of different biomes. It's there that things take a turn for the different, around the 21% mark.
I won't spoil what the change is, and I was undecided whether it's a good or bad change. Still, it sets him on a new path, one that he grabs with both hands and starts leveling.
That's the setup. This book is pure LitRPG, and feels like it could have been written ten or twenty years ago. It has that element of timelessness to it. And the thing that makes it stand out from the pack are the sword skills and how they come across on the page. They're extremely nuanced and well written, for good reason it seems as the author was a swordsman himself.
The book has a fine balance between showing what is happening in detail without overdoing it, and still maintaining the action and adventure. It's hard to pull off, and I've read other books written by swordsmen who go into such great detail about the weapons that the story suffers.
Not here.
The story is logical, and while Duncan comes across as slightly OP (especially near the end, which felt rushed), it's because of his skills and how he uses them.
Honestly, I had a fantastic time reading this book. The story is linear, the progression is detailed yet logical, the notifications are there but not overwhelming, and while the plot is a bit single minded, I think that might change in book 2.
Highly recommended. 5/5*
Duncan is a normal teen trying to advance in a fantasy world by delving into dungeons. He's far from the best, but he's also not the worst. The skills he acquired on his 16th birthday will go a long way to making him that much better of an adventurer.
The nameless small town he lives in has three dungeons, the lowest of which is the goblin dungeon. Duncan does a few runs, but strange things start happening. The monsters inside that everyone is tired of start to have a few new additions. Usually, higher level additions. People tell him that the dungeons don't like him, and there doesn't seem to be another explanation.
Duncan grinds until he's given permission to try the wilderness dungeon, which is a sprawling dungeon with a bunch of different biomes. It's there that things take a turn for the different, around the 21% mark.
I won't spoil what the change is, and I was undecided whether it's a good or bad change. Still, it sets him on a new path, one that he grabs with both hands and starts leveling.
That's the setup. This book is pure LitRPG, and feels like it could have been written ten or twenty years ago. It has that element of timelessness to it. And the thing that makes it stand out from the pack are the sword skills and how they come across on the page. They're extremely nuanced and well written, for good reason it seems as the author was a swordsman himself.
The book has a fine balance between showing what is happening in detail without overdoing it, and still maintaining the action and adventure. It's hard to pull off, and I've read other books written by swordsmen who go into such great detail about the weapons that the story suffers.
Not here.
The story is logical, and while Duncan comes across as slightly OP (especially near the end, which felt rushed), it's because of his skills and how he uses them.
Honestly, I had a fantastic time reading this book. The story is linear, the progression is detailed yet logical, the notifications are there but not overwhelming, and while the plot is a bit single minded, I think that might change in book 2.
Highly recommended. 5/5*
January 2, 2022
Boring action. 85% of the book is the same repetitive action narrative. It read like pure fighting choreography; sterile to the point of being bland. If you're into that kind of thing give this book a try. This book just lack something that make me as a reader feel involve with the main character and story. he feel like a robot, and we read from his perspective so everything felt shallow as a result. There are other cons too; almost no world building, no support characters, no relationship, no main antagonist, no tension(no the fight does not feel tense at all).
November 6, 2021
Book one
Mistakes: I found only two. Listed them on Goodreads.
Plot: Lots of dungeon diving and character growth. The stat pages could be condensed to only show stuff that upgrades. As is they take up a lot of space to show information that doesn't grow every time.
Characters: I liked that the MC does a lot of solo delving. Lots of loot is also a big plus.
8/10 Looking forward to book two.
Mistakes: I found only two. Listed them on Goodreads.
Plot: Lots of dungeon diving and character growth. The stat pages could be condensed to only show stuff that upgrades. As is they take up a lot of space to show information that doesn't grow every time.
Characters: I liked that the MC does a lot of solo delving. Lots of loot is also a big plus.
8/10 Looking forward to book two.
December 22, 2021
This is one of the best progressive fantasies I've read that even has a dash of litrpg and a pinch of cultivation. Exactly the experience I hope for when I pick up a random book I've never heard of.
Character 8/10, Plot 9/10, Setting-Game Mechanics 10/10, Writing 8/10, Enjoyment 10/10
Such a fun read. Duncan had enough personality and competence to keep the solo parts of the book entertaining and there was a revolving door of realistic supporting characters to add variety. The story is pretty straightforward and this book almost reads to me as an origin story of sorts for Duncan and I get the sense that the "main plot" as we know it will start advancing in the next book.
While the overall story might have only gotten the groundwork laid, I didn't feel any stagnation. There was a lot of grinding, both for loot and levels, but the author did a great job of only going into explicit detail for the fights that introduced new concepts or characterization. Many others were summarized to give the feeling of a training montage until something new or noteworthy came up.
I really enjoyed the setting. It reminded me of a young guy from the Last Dungeon area getting sent to a starter village and then learning about the world while simultaneously discovering how different he was from everyone. The dungeon mechanics were like the Divine Dungeon series and the character growth was an interesting mix of stats, affinities, and techniques. The author grounded it all in reality as much as possible, with even the idea of Levels being referred to as a social practice or school of thought in a certain empire that relies on a soul gem quantifying a person's info (or attempting to).
The writing was functional with pretty clean grammar. There are a few nits I could pick, namely being a little too descriptive during some of the fight scenes. Specifying which foot is a person's pivot foot and which hand reaches out to grapple an enemy's right hand sometimes took me out of the scene and into a mental game of twister as I'm trying to synchronize my original visualization with the new details. Evidently, Duncan fights southpaw when he uses a shield which threw me off at one point.
Knowing something about fighting is usually a blessing and a curse for a writer. On one hand, it lets you write scenes realistically and with authority. On the other hand, many knowledgeable authors have a tendency to over-describe movements and techniques because they went through the effort of choreographing a really great fight. The problem is that people who aren't familiar with fighting will get lost in the terminology and specifics while even the readers who know the terms might envision the fight a bit differently and feel interrupted by the interjection of too many details. At the end of the day, the scene is a combination of the text on the page and the reader's imagination. There's a fine line to walk between the two.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait to dive into the next one. Some readers might feel like there are a few too many battle scenes in this book, but it was just right for me. I felt like it scratched the itch I've had for a good Dungeons & Dragons-inspired battle that doesn't devolve into buffoonery. I also liked how the author handled power creep. Duncan was definitely a bit overpowered, but he still has a lot of room to grow and the fight scenes read that way.
I think progressive fantasy readers need to read this book right now. I would also recommend this for gamelit and Litrpg readers even though it is definitely soft rather than crunchy with the stats.
Character 8/10, Plot 9/10, Setting-Game Mechanics 10/10, Writing 8/10, Enjoyment 10/10
Such a fun read. Duncan had enough personality and competence to keep the solo parts of the book entertaining and there was a revolving door of realistic supporting characters to add variety. The story is pretty straightforward and this book almost reads to me as an origin story of sorts for Duncan and I get the sense that the "main plot" as we know it will start advancing in the next book.
While the overall story might have only gotten the groundwork laid, I didn't feel any stagnation. There was a lot of grinding, both for loot and levels, but the author did a great job of only going into explicit detail for the fights that introduced new concepts or characterization. Many others were summarized to give the feeling of a training montage until something new or noteworthy came up.
I really enjoyed the setting. It reminded me of a young guy from the Last Dungeon area getting sent to a starter village and then learning about the world while simultaneously discovering how different he was from everyone. The dungeon mechanics were like the Divine Dungeon series and the character growth was an interesting mix of stats, affinities, and techniques. The author grounded it all in reality as much as possible, with even the idea of Levels being referred to as a social practice or school of thought in a certain empire that relies on a soul gem quantifying a person's info (or attempting to).
The writing was functional with pretty clean grammar. There are a few nits I could pick, namely being a little too descriptive during some of the fight scenes. Specifying which foot is a person's pivot foot and which hand reaches out to grapple an enemy's right hand sometimes took me out of the scene and into a mental game of twister as I'm trying to synchronize my original visualization with the new details. Evidently, Duncan fights southpaw when he uses a shield which threw me off at one point.
Knowing something about fighting is usually a blessing and a curse for a writer. On one hand, it lets you write scenes realistically and with authority. On the other hand, many knowledgeable authors have a tendency to over-describe movements and techniques because they went through the effort of choreographing a really great fight. The problem is that people who aren't familiar with fighting will get lost in the terminology and specifics while even the readers who know the terms might envision the fight a bit differently and feel interrupted by the interjection of too many details. At the end of the day, the scene is a combination of the text on the page and the reader's imagination. There's a fine line to walk between the two.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait to dive into the next one. Some readers might feel like there are a few too many battle scenes in this book, but it was just right for me. I felt like it scratched the itch I've had for a good Dungeons & Dragons-inspired battle that doesn't devolve into buffoonery. I also liked how the author handled power creep. Duncan was definitely a bit overpowered, but he still has a lot of room to grow and the fight scenes read that way.
I think progressive fantasy readers need to read this book right now. I would also recommend this for gamelit and Litrpg readers even though it is definitely soft rather than crunchy with the stats.
May 3, 2022
This has (almost) everything I want from a litrpg. Tons of progression, interesting action, and a very intriguing overarching plot.
October 12, 2025
This book was exactly what I was in the mood for. I wanted a fast-paced, dungeon-crawling novel with a leveling system and rare drops—and this book delivered.
Overall, I loved it and tore through it. The dungeons were interesting and filled with a variety of monsters. The worldbuilding was solid enough to make it feel like its own unique world, though nothing about it particularly stood out. It’s basically a world with dungeons and some cool, interesting elements, but I don’t think anyone is going into this book expecting deeply layered worldbuilding. Readers are here for the progression of the main character—and let me tell you, there is a ton of progression.
We follow Duncan, a novice dungeon delver, as he starts exploring dungeons with his group. During one of his first delves, he’s attacked by a panther that kills half his team but drops an affinity stone for Space, Spirit, and Mind. These, combined with his existing affinities for Body and Blade, give him a huge advantage in the dungeons. Duncan is then accidentally teleported out of his safe valley and into the Arnite Empire, where he’s forced to survive on his own.
From there, Duncan continues delving solo, gaining massive amounts of strength and experience. Eventually, he learns that he’s been chosen by the gods to defend his world from seven immense beings that have invaded. By the end of the book, he acquires another affinity stone for Healing and is about to begin his training at the Academy of Steel.
I really enjoyed this book, but I did have one main complaint: Duncan stuck to the same routine for most of the story. He’d go into a dungeon, spend a week or a month there, return to town to sell his loot to the guild—and then repeat. I actually found myself caring more about Duncan’s interactions with the guild than his time inside the dungeons, since those scenes felt more dynamic and fresh.
That said, I loved the dialogue and character interactions, and I’m really looking forward to the next book. I have a feeling it’ll break the repetitive dungeon cycle now that Duncan is heading to the Academy of Steel.
Overall, I loved it and tore through it. The dungeons were interesting and filled with a variety of monsters. The worldbuilding was solid enough to make it feel like its own unique world, though nothing about it particularly stood out. It’s basically a world with dungeons and some cool, interesting elements, but I don’t think anyone is going into this book expecting deeply layered worldbuilding. Readers are here for the progression of the main character—and let me tell you, there is a ton of progression.
We follow Duncan, a novice dungeon delver, as he starts exploring dungeons with his group. During one of his first delves, he’s attacked by a panther that kills half his team but drops an affinity stone for Space, Spirit, and Mind. These, combined with his existing affinities for Body and Blade, give him a huge advantage in the dungeons. Duncan is then accidentally teleported out of his safe valley and into the Arnite Empire, where he’s forced to survive on his own.
From there, Duncan continues delving solo, gaining massive amounts of strength and experience. Eventually, he learns that he’s been chosen by the gods to defend his world from seven immense beings that have invaded. By the end of the book, he acquires another affinity stone for Healing and is about to begin his training at the Academy of Steel.
I really enjoyed this book, but I did have one main complaint: Duncan stuck to the same routine for most of the story. He’d go into a dungeon, spend a week or a month there, return to town to sell his loot to the guild—and then repeat. I actually found myself caring more about Duncan’s interactions with the guild than his time inside the dungeons, since those scenes felt more dynamic and fresh.
That said, I loved the dialogue and character interactions, and I’m really looking forward to the next book. I have a feeling it’ll break the repetitive dungeon cycle now that Duncan is heading to the Academy of Steel.
December 4, 2021
This is a toss up, here's why. . .
The first third is terrible, no sugar coating it. It is a dry set up filled with flat, boring characters. The whole thing could be condensed to a few chapters. It almost made me quit. After that, it gets good. The story gets interesting, it gets other characters that finally feel like real people. The only remaining issue is the MC is widely OP and a bit sociopathic, at the three quarter mark that is explained in the narrative. So if you are okay with a mary-sue character this is great for you. If not, give it try and see what you think. Either way just power through that first third even if you have to skim it, you're not going to miss anything.
The first third is terrible, no sugar coating it. It is a dry set up filled with flat, boring characters. The whole thing could be condensed to a few chapters. It almost made me quit. After that, it gets good. The story gets interesting, it gets other characters that finally feel like real people. The only remaining issue is the MC is widely OP and a bit sociopathic, at the three quarter mark that is explained in the narrative. So if you are okay with a mary-sue character this is great for you. If not, give it try and see what you think. Either way just power through that first third even if you have to skim it, you're not going to miss anything.
December 1, 2021
Like a good burger that’s missing some toppings
This book is like a great burger but it’s missing some toppings. In fact I think it would better be described as a really thick beefy burger that’s missing some toppings. Overall the book is good but there are instances where you might see some contradiction there are times where you will want more story less dungeon Delvin and there are times where you want to know more about the world and the MC overall. In this book you get a lot of fighting in dungeons and some of the other stuff that you need to open up a book to make it more palatable you don’t get a lot of that at least not enough when you have this much fighting it was almost too much it was good but there were times when it felt like just too much perhaps even rushed.
Now one area of concern for me in the book is contradiction. Early on we are told a certain system doesn’t work. Then all throughout the book that system is used repeatedly. In fact one major point of discussion is brought up about leveling and leaving let’s leave it at that. It ultimately doesn’t make sense when you really think about it and examine the MC stats at the end of the story. I found myself asking how is this going to work out this just doesn’t quite make sense the ideas are here but it’s like I have a nice pieces of wood that don’t fit together well they need some refinement. I say again this is a good book but a little bit more thought should’ve went into making sure all of these ideas go together well.
I’ll still be reading the next volume in the series I want to see how things end the author is going to have to work to type this all together and make it make sense we’ll see what happens.
This book is like a great burger but it’s missing some toppings. In fact I think it would better be described as a really thick beefy burger that’s missing some toppings. Overall the book is good but there are instances where you might see some contradiction there are times where you will want more story less dungeon Delvin and there are times where you want to know more about the world and the MC overall. In this book you get a lot of fighting in dungeons and some of the other stuff that you need to open up a book to make it more palatable you don’t get a lot of that at least not enough when you have this much fighting it was almost too much it was good but there were times when it felt like just too much perhaps even rushed.
Now one area of concern for me in the book is contradiction. Early on we are told a certain system doesn’t work. Then all throughout the book that system is used repeatedly. In fact one major point of discussion is brought up about leveling and leaving let’s leave it at that. It ultimately doesn’t make sense when you really think about it and examine the MC stats at the end of the story. I found myself asking how is this going to work out this just doesn’t quite make sense the ideas are here but it’s like I have a nice pieces of wood that don’t fit together well they need some refinement. I say again this is a good book but a little bit more thought should’ve went into making sure all of these ideas go together well.
I’ll still be reading the next volume in the series I want to see how things end the author is going to have to work to type this all together and make it make sense we’ll see what happens.
January 20, 2022
Disappointing what is up with Authors in this sub genre and the need to overpower characters from the start. It’s like being in World Of Warcraft then a player kills you who has hacked the game and is nearly indestructible or using cheats. We call it God Mode for players in the real world.
The author obviously has not played a game like Dark Souls what is for Hardcore Players what Duncan is not, he is barely out of the equivalent of Fantasy Play School except he can wield powerful skills woohoo frightening.
I prefer a book with surprises, twists not a character who is only good because of his overpowered skills and items. I can predict his battles and dungeons, throughout the whole story, he will get more powerful, rarely any challenges, it’s boring. One of these books what has me saying are we there yet!
A good G.M does not throw around Holy Avengers and Vorpal Swords for any reason especially a character with those advantages.
This is a bad trend in LITRPG, the author has clearly not got the memo Heroes do not need God Help to be special. I am sorry but it shows just a complete lack of creativity thankfully there is some hope there is authors who actually can!
Just don’t waste your time.
The author obviously has not played a game like Dark Souls what is for Hardcore Players what Duncan is not, he is barely out of the equivalent of Fantasy Play School except he can wield powerful skills woohoo frightening.
I prefer a book with surprises, twists not a character who is only good because of his overpowered skills and items. I can predict his battles and dungeons, throughout the whole story, he will get more powerful, rarely any challenges, it’s boring. One of these books what has me saying are we there yet!
A good G.M does not throw around Holy Avengers and Vorpal Swords for any reason especially a character with those advantages.
This is a bad trend in LITRPG, the author has clearly not got the memo Heroes do not need God Help to be special. I am sorry but it shows just a complete lack of creativity thankfully there is some hope there is authors who actually can!
Just don’t waste your time.
January 7, 2022
Solid
I enjoyed it. Read the next book as well. MC makes some good decisions, gets ‘lucky’, then gets lucky(?). The change from a more vague ‘system’ to the more defined but weaker ‘soulgem’ system was neat.
Clean prose. Very clean. Also quite family friendly, with no sex and little innuendo, though the second novel has coed dorms and bathing.
The bad: it’s pedantic. From the loot being catalogued - in detail, with monetary assessment, in repetitive format - to each fight being covered even when it’s essentially the same set piece. As much as the MC advances rapidly, even the character sheet is displayed a few more times than is truly necessary (but it’s also understandable as a teenager is obviously going to look as his shiny new toy…a lot).
I still think it’s quite good. And I look forward to the release of book 3.
I enjoyed it. Read the next book as well. MC makes some good decisions, gets ‘lucky’, then gets lucky(?). The change from a more vague ‘system’ to the more defined but weaker ‘soulgem’ system was neat.
Clean prose. Very clean. Also quite family friendly, with no sex and little innuendo, though the second novel has coed dorms and bathing.
The bad: it’s pedantic. From the loot being catalogued - in detail, with monetary assessment, in repetitive format - to each fight being covered even when it’s essentially the same set piece. As much as the MC advances rapidly, even the character sheet is displayed a few more times than is truly necessary (but it’s also understandable as a teenager is obviously going to look as his shiny new toy…a lot).
I still think it’s quite good. And I look forward to the release of book 3.
January 6, 2022
DNF - Review written at 70% of the book complete.
Standard Lit-RPG. Nothing special, but nothing truly bad with the plot. The author however writes his combat in a very clinical manner. This wouldn't be problem in other books, but this book is extremely combat heavy. So much that when you read this dry prose over and over again, it feels like reading a combat log in a video game.
With so many other great books out there, this just feels like a waste of time.
Standard Lit-RPG. Nothing special, but nothing truly bad with the plot. The author however writes his combat in a very clinical manner. This wouldn't be problem in other books, but this book is extremely combat heavy. So much that when you read this dry prose over and over again, it feels like reading a combat log in a video game.
With so many other great books out there, this just feels like a waste of time.
July 21, 2022
You could argue that this story brings little that is new to the genre. Everything is familiar and yet... it's so good.
The set-up takes about a quarter of the book and then we get to the pivotal plot development. A low-key "stranger in a strange land" sort of thing. I can't point at any one thing and say it was amazing but, taken as a whole, the book is delightfully addictive. I've rolled straight into book two and it's looking good.
The set-up takes about a quarter of the book and then we get to the pivotal plot development. A low-key "stranger in a strange land" sort of thing. I can't point at any one thing and say it was amazing but, taken as a whole, the book is delightfully addictive. I've rolled straight into book two and it's looking good.
January 3, 2022
One man in armor in a world of NPCs
So first off everything about this book is very well done, story, fighting, the world etc. EXCEPT theres basically only 1 character and a bunch of NPCs. The main character cares about no one, has no meaningful interactions in the second half of the book at all and just fights a lot of monsters. And I like a good monster fight dont get me wrong, but there needs to be some kind of anything else happening. He doesn't even interact enough with people to be the hero of the valley! He saves 1 random barmaid that's not hero material. Hopeful for the next book that since he's going to an academy he'll be forced to interact with people or maybe even god willing make a single friend. My favorite chapter was when he met some adventurers and delved together it was tons of fun, never happens again the whole book. So frustrating, but everything besides side characters is done great.
So first off everything about this book is very well done, story, fighting, the world etc. EXCEPT theres basically only 1 character and a bunch of NPCs. The main character cares about no one, has no meaningful interactions in the second half of the book at all and just fights a lot of monsters. And I like a good monster fight dont get me wrong, but there needs to be some kind of anything else happening. He doesn't even interact enough with people to be the hero of the valley! He saves 1 random barmaid that's not hero material. Hopeful for the next book that since he's going to an academy he'll be forced to interact with people or maybe even god willing make a single friend. My favorite chapter was when he met some adventurers and delved together it was tons of fun, never happens again the whole book. So frustrating, but everything besides side characters is done great.
January 2, 2022
Action, action!
Like my title suggests this was non stop action. Which to me got a little repetitive. Also there is very little character development. Especially regarding supporting characters. The plot was thin and full of foreshadowing which might pay off in the next book. But not here. Not bad, but not great.
Like my title suggests this was non stop action. Which to me got a little repetitive. Also there is very little character development. Especially regarding supporting characters. The plot was thin and full of foreshadowing which might pay off in the next book. But not here. Not bad, but not great.
April 10, 2023
I read the four books in this series in less than a week. It puts progression in LitRPG at its most epic! Cultivation doesn’t even really start to build until book four. I can’t wait for the next book!
November 30, 2021
Good OP fun. I like.
To begin with the story is basically about a special person who becomes very OP for what he does. That's not necessarily a bad thing since it seems he's been passively groomed for a task by some gods. It seems that there are some new covers to the world that nobody knows about that are going to meddle. So our hero he is unknowingly being groomed to help deal with this problem. He is strong he is a loner And he likes to fight. That said he is a good person and doesn't want to Be aggressive towards others.The system in this series seems to be a mix of rpg plus cultivation and some stuff slightly in between. It is Very interesting that the system in this series seems to be a mix of RPG plus cultivation and some stuff slightly in between. Very interesting overlap. There seem to be limits on abilities but Maybe those will be superseded in the future. Either way there is no love interest In this book At all. Though I don't necessarily want this to be a romance novel or harem the MC at some point will be lonely. A little sad in that aspect. However until then the fun continues. The book itself is a mixed of 1st person and 3rd person with a lot of detail at the beginning of various encounters and experiences. Then tapering off to a more generalistic approach. Seems like a good mix that as a reader you don't get bored and yet can progress through a fair amount of time in the MCs world\life. I certainly enjoyed this book and will be getting the second 1 as soon as I can.
To begin with the story is basically about a special person who becomes very OP for what he does. That's not necessarily a bad thing since it seems he's been passively groomed for a task by some gods. It seems that there are some new covers to the world that nobody knows about that are going to meddle. So our hero he is unknowingly being groomed to help deal with this problem. He is strong he is a loner And he likes to fight. That said he is a good person and doesn't want to Be aggressive towards others.The system in this series seems to be a mix of rpg plus cultivation and some stuff slightly in between. It is Very interesting that the system in this series seems to be a mix of RPG plus cultivation and some stuff slightly in between. Very interesting overlap. There seem to be limits on abilities but Maybe those will be superseded in the future. Either way there is no love interest In this book At all. Though I don't necessarily want this to be a romance novel or harem the MC at some point will be lonely. A little sad in that aspect. However until then the fun continues. The book itself is a mixed of 1st person and 3rd person with a lot of detail at the beginning of various encounters and experiences. Then tapering off to a more generalistic approach. Seems like a good mix that as a reader you don't get bored and yet can progress through a fair amount of time in the MCs world\life. I certainly enjoyed this book and will be getting the second 1 as soon as I can.
March 7, 2022
Interesting world building, okayish people (and not exactly a great MC, but bearable) - BUT.
The fights. And there are a lot of them. They are as interesting as written soccer match reports. And they go on and on and on and on, one boring detail about who attacked whom (big spider => guy A, small spider => woman B, etc) and with what tool. IT IS BOOOOORING.
I think the fight scenes may appeal to people who like reading financial reports or the mentioned soccer reports. Too bad that a lot of the book consists of those fight scenes. With them cut out it would actually be kind of good. MAKE IT STOP! THE BOREDOM! NOT ANOTHER FIGHT, PLEEAAASE!
Now that I think about it, it's not only the fights. It's the entire progression that is waaayyy too clinical. It reads like a report. Actually, I only find the *potential* good, the idea of the world that was described. The execution of everything is just bad though. "He has a lot of potential" is what you write when you don't want to say anything bad about someone. It's what I have to say about this story. It also implies that the potential remains unfulfilled.
The fights. And there are a lot of them. They are as interesting as written soccer match reports. And they go on and on and on and on, one boring detail about who attacked whom (big spider => guy A, small spider => woman B, etc) and with what tool. IT IS BOOOOORING.
I think the fight scenes may appeal to people who like reading financial reports or the mentioned soccer reports. Too bad that a lot of the book consists of those fight scenes. With them cut out it would actually be kind of good. MAKE IT STOP! THE BOREDOM! NOT ANOTHER FIGHT, PLEEAAASE!
Now that I think about it, it's not only the fights. It's the entire progression that is waaayyy too clinical. It reads like a report. Actually, I only find the *potential* good, the idea of the world that was described. The execution of everything is just bad though. "He has a lot of potential" is what you write when you don't want to say anything bad about someone. It's what I have to say about this story. It also implies that the potential remains unfulfilled.
Read
May 2, 2023One of the strengths of this book is its well-developed characters, each with their own distinct personalities and motivations. Marcus, in particular, is a relatable and likable hero whose bravery and determination make him a joy to follow. The world-building is also impressive, with richly imagined settings and a fascinating system of magic that adds depth and intrigue to the story.
The plot is well-paced and full of action and suspense, with plenty of surprises and twists to keep readers on their toes. The writing is smooth and engaging, making this book a page-turner that is hard to put down. As Volume 1 ends on a cliffhanger, readers will be eager to dive into the next installment and continue the adventure with Marcus and his companions.
Overall, "The Hero of the Valley" Volume 1 is a thrilling and well-crafted fantasy adventure that will appeal to readers of all ages. Highly recommended for fans of epic quests, magical worlds, and unforgettable characters.
The plot is well-paced and full of action and suspense, with plenty of surprises and twists to keep readers on their toes. The writing is smooth and engaging, making this book a page-turner that is hard to put down. As Volume 1 ends on a cliffhanger, readers will be eager to dive into the next installment and continue the adventure with Marcus and his companions.
Overall, "The Hero of the Valley" Volume 1 is a thrilling and well-crafted fantasy adventure that will appeal to readers of all ages. Highly recommended for fans of epic quests, magical worlds, and unforgettable characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2021
Thrilling LitRpg
Beautifuly crafted litrpg story. Ignore the terrible cover graphic, not reflective of book quality. Refrshing as the mc doesn't understand the cultivation or leveling system and grows in knowledge alongside the reader which keeps the stats fresh.The creativity of the various monsters and dungeon diving encounters is enormous and keeps the reader entertained through the story. The plot focuses on growth of the mc and does an excellent job ridding the line between fast paced growth while avoiding a ridiculous amount of Overpowerment. Challenges to the mc prevail throughout the story and the building plot line of an eminent gods' war make us eager for the next book in the series. Hoping to pre-order book 2
Beautifuly crafted litrpg story. Ignore the terrible cover graphic, not reflective of book quality. Refrshing as the mc doesn't understand the cultivation or leveling system and grows in knowledge alongside the reader which keeps the stats fresh.The creativity of the various monsters and dungeon diving encounters is enormous and keeps the reader entertained through the story. The plot focuses on growth of the mc and does an excellent job ridding the line between fast paced growth while avoiding a ridiculous amount of Overpowerment. Challenges to the mc prevail throughout the story and the building plot line of an eminent gods' war make us eager for the next book in the series. Hoping to pre-order book 2
May 15, 2022
Comes off as a litRPG take on George R. R. Martin's Ser Duncan in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms". The problem is that it is not even close to being as well written and there is no second character to offset the extremely boring MC. I was never able to connect with the MC or to care about him. MC did this... MC does that... I was told he was doing stuff, but I stopped caring. The MC is almost simple-minded in his simplicity in behavior, and yet he learns and alters magic that is staggeringly complex and leaves him OP. When you stop giving the author credit for writing such a wholesome and down to earth character (I kept thinking of how much it was a ripoff of Ser Duncan), the story itself loses alot of its luster and becomes tiring to read.
November 10, 2023
Pop corn!
I've finished the first 4 books. They're a solid 3.5+, but not much more than that in my opinion. They're easy to read and I read them like watching an action movie, because in the end it's basically action here.
The main problem is that after reading them, I'm left with very little. The elements of politics/impact on the world are missing in favor of a completely unnatural crescent that consists of watching him do dungeons, kill bad guys, do dungeons, switch from a Western to an Eastern system but keeping the former (yes :D) and do dungeons.
His human relationships are undeveloped, to the point where each secondary character has no flavor at all, in favor of the MC.
Fun, but I'm likely to forget it by the time the next volume comes out... Thanks anyway :)
I've finished the first 4 books. They're a solid 3.5+, but not much more than that in my opinion. They're easy to read and I read them like watching an action movie, because in the end it's basically action here.
The main problem is that after reading them, I'm left with very little. The elements of politics/impact on the world are missing in favor of a completely unnatural crescent that consists of watching him do dungeons, kill bad guys, do dungeons, switch from a Western to an Eastern system but keeping the former (yes :D) and do dungeons.
His human relationships are undeveloped, to the point where each secondary character has no flavor at all, in favor of the MC.
Fun, but I'm likely to forget it by the time the next volume comes out... Thanks anyway :)
November 6, 2021
This was an interesting mix of genres..
I have to say that it was a great book for those who like or love Realrpg and/or Western Cultivation fantasy novels.
The book is about a young man, who has been destined for greatness and hardships due to changes in his world at large. The mix of Realrpg and cultivation was very well explained and executed. The plot and story are intriguing and exciting. The rapid changes in his situations are fascinating and fun. I enjoyed his personality and perspective. I really like where the story is heading!
Looking forward to the next installment with great anticipation!
I have to say that it was a great book for those who like or love Realrpg and/or Western Cultivation fantasy novels.
The book is about a young man, who has been destined for greatness and hardships due to changes in his world at large. The mix of Realrpg and cultivation was very well explained and executed. The plot and story are intriguing and exciting. The rapid changes in his situations are fascinating and fun. I enjoyed his personality and perspective. I really like where the story is heading!
Looking forward to the next installment with great anticipation!
April 27, 2023
Maybe it should have been called training montage
So far as I can tell other than him getting teleported to somewhere random, there was no actual plot development in this book. It was just a bunch of random dungeon dives and fights and a long list of loot. The character discovering why he is so OP is glossed over and just back to more random dungeon dives and fights. All of this could have been skipped over, but then the book would have been 10 pages long. If you like overly descriptive fight scenes and no plot movement, then this might be the book for you. We will see if book 2 gets any better.
So far as I can tell other than him getting teleported to somewhere random, there was no actual plot development in this book. It was just a bunch of random dungeon dives and fights and a long list of loot. The character discovering why he is so OP is glossed over and just back to more random dungeon dives and fights. All of this could have been skipped over, but then the book would have been 10 pages long. If you like overly descriptive fight scenes and no plot movement, then this might be the book for you. We will see if book 2 gets any better.
August 11, 2025
I would say this is not a book in the traditional sense. There is barely a plot, and the thinnest of characters. It is just a constant repetitive listing of battles, statistics, and loot. Unlike like any other book I’ve read that is a majority action, this one has no drama to it at all. It is hard to describe how boring this style of writing is. I ended up skimming well over half the book because of it.
The characters personality devolves from a naive youth to a blank slate of a character that just murders every “monster” with no hesitation, remorse, or consequences. There are interludes that affect nothing, and character interactions that go nowhere.
The characters personality devolves from a naive youth to a blank slate of a character that just murders every “monster” with no hesitation, remorse, or consequences. There are interludes that affect nothing, and character interactions that go nowhere.
December 6, 2021
An original take
An interesting take on the litrpg genre. It is well written with very few typos.
Interesting character, well described fights.
The only place where it struggles is the lack of plot. It is more of a description of the MC’s wandering around, moving from fight to fight with no goal in mind. This can get tiresome at times making it feel like you’re reading the phone book. BUT overall the book is good, entertaining and promises good things to follow.
It is not perfect, but it is definitely better than 90% of the litrpg books I have read this year.
An interesting take on the litrpg genre. It is well written with very few typos.
Interesting character, well described fights.
The only place where it struggles is the lack of plot. It is more of a description of the MC’s wandering around, moving from fight to fight with no goal in mind. This can get tiresome at times making it feel like you’re reading the phone book. BUT overall the book is good, entertaining and promises good things to follow.
It is not perfect, but it is definitely better than 90% of the litrpg books I have read this year.
March 14, 2022
Just noise. Pointless and repetitive.
If you've read the first 100 pages of the book, then you've read all of it.
It's just page after page of the same damn things over, and over, and over again; mind-numbing levels of redundant drivel.
Why 2 stars then? Because the premise around the litRPG elements, and the discussions involved, are interesting enough. And I can't help but feel that the book would be significantly better if only the author learnt how to craft engaging scenes.
If you've read the first 100 pages of the book, then you've read all of it.
It's just page after page of the same damn things over, and over, and over again; mind-numbing levels of redundant drivel.
Why 2 stars then? Because the premise around the litRPG elements, and the discussions involved, are interesting enough. And I can't help but feel that the book would be significantly better if only the author learnt how to craft engaging scenes.
October 8, 2021
Just what I wanted
Polished grammar, really interesting world and overarching storyline. I never got mad or frustrated with the mc’s choices. When he interacted with other characters it felt natural. really like a focused solo mc so that’s great! I think this book needs a more exciting pic…. And maybe title, this book should jump out at litrpg fans more then it does. Thanks for the story will get the next one
Polished grammar, really interesting world and overarching storyline. I never got mad or frustrated with the mc’s choices. When he interacted with other characters it felt natural. really like a focused solo mc so that’s great! I think this book needs a more exciting pic…. And maybe title, this book should jump out at litrpg fans more then it does. Thanks for the story will get the next one
October 24, 2021
Entertaining LitRPG fantasy in the vein of Unsouled and He Who Fights with Monsters.
October 8, 2021
starts off a bit slow but then ramps up
Admittedly I almost gave up on the book in the early parts. It was well written, bit I just couldn’t see reading a whole book the way it was going. Around 25% though there was a nice change and the story hooked me. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Admittedly I almost gave up on the book in the early parts. It was well written, bit I just couldn’t see reading a whole book the way it was going. Around 25% though there was a nice change and the story hooked me. I look forward to the next book in the series.
October 12, 2021
For the fans of Gamelit and Western Cultivation this is a must read
I took up the book as the description was interesting. I loved the book. Could not put it down. The MC is logical and very likable. If you like Solo Leveling or Infinite World Series. This is right up your alley. It was great to see that book 2 is already announced. Can’t wait 👍🏻.
I took up the book as the description was interesting. I loved the book. Could not put it down. The MC is logical and very likable. If you like Solo Leveling or Infinite World Series. This is right up your alley. It was great to see that book 2 is already announced. Can’t wait 👍🏻.
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