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RE: Monarch #3
Whitefall
With his nemesis gone from the continent, pursuing her nefarious agenda, Cairn ends his self-imposed exile and returns to find the Infernals on the brink of war.
The disaster is averted with concessions that include Cairn himself returning to Whitefall.
But what he finds beyond the capital gates is a place very different from the home he remembers.
Read, as Cairn advances his magic, reunites with his family, takes control of his regiment and grapples with a world that has transformed in his absence. And uncovers a conspiracy that might just be his undoing.
The disaster is averted with concessions that include Cairn himself returning to Whitefall.
But what he finds beyond the capital gates is a place very different from the home he remembers.
Read, as Cairn advances his magic, reunites with his family, takes control of his regiment and grapples with a world that has transformed in his absence. And uncovers a conspiracy that might just be his undoing.
- GenresFantasyTime Travel
586 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2023
99 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 30, 2024
The quality of writing decreased from first to second to the third book dramatically.
The timeloop element is close to non-existent.
The gods' games wane out and are forgotten.
The angst, the pain, the lessons are nowhere to be found.
Everyone unlocks superpowers after a few magical hours of therapy. Why? And How? And for what reason?
All these were replaced with a childish love story, some funny-wannabe "missions", and a completely incredible father-son redemption fairytale.
Ending suddenly with a cliffhanger? Why? Just that readers would pay to read the first chapter of the next book? Why not trying to write such a good story that instead of cliffhangers, people would want to be reading the next book for the great story waiting to unravel?
That's stupid, I won't continue the series.
The entire first book was built on the idea that grit and pain when coped-with would be leading to progress. I'm not fully bought into that, but the premise was set pretty nicely. Just to have people awakening left and right after one pep-talk in book III. Why throw everything away?
I'm disappointed and I won't continue the series.
The timeloop element is close to non-existent.
The gods' games wane out and are forgotten.
The angst, the pain, the lessons are nowhere to be found.
Everyone unlocks superpowers after a few magical hours of therapy. Why? And How? And for what reason?
All these were replaced with a childish love story, some funny-wannabe "missions", and a completely incredible father-son redemption fairytale.
Ending suddenly with a cliffhanger? Why? Just that readers would pay to read the first chapter of the next book? Why not trying to write such a good story that instead of cliffhangers, people would want to be reading the next book for the great story waiting to unravel?
That's stupid, I won't continue the series.
The entire first book was built on the idea that grit and pain when coped-with would be leading to progress. I'm not fully bought into that, but the premise was set pretty nicely. Just to have people awakening left and right after one pep-talk in book III. Why throw everything away?
I'm disappointed and I won't continue the series.
July 9, 2023
What a cliffhanger
What a cliffhanger. I mean, what a frickin cliffhanger. The book was really good for most of the last half of it, right after his sister got her magic, leading up to the contest at the end. It was phenomenal. The rest was uh, okay.
What a cliffhanger. I mean, what a frickin cliffhanger. The book was really good for most of the last half of it, right after his sister got her magic, leading up to the contest at the end. It was phenomenal. The rest was uh, okay.
July 6, 2023
Great Book!
The story just keeps getting better and better. Cairn finally makes it back to Whitefall. I can’t wait for the next one!
The story just keeps getting better and better. Cairn finally makes it back to Whitefall. I can’t wait for the next one!
April 8, 2024
Thisss is the intro I wanted when I read book 2. It’s understandable why the author reintroduced the plot and characters because of the period in between books so really it’s my fault for spacing them lol. Anyhow it’s a really nice reminder nicely integrated.
Tho I was caught off guard right from the start. I felt everything that happened last book was gone. Such a quick and drastic shift from book 2 last page to book 3 page 30?
But I liked seeing Cairn go back to Whitefall and navigate the world he left behind and everything that changed + family dynamic! . His relationship with Maya frustrated at times but it turned out nicely. Idk if I mentioned this at book 1 review but I wasn’t comfortable with the characters having romantic feelings to each other cuz one is a kid and one isn’t, bbut Cairn mentioned this time that he had memories of his older self but mentally and physically he was still a kid, glad we solved that haha
Lastly we have the ending… I’m so sorry for my boy 😔😔😔 boy can’t catch a break fr. I hope this series has a happy ending tho I don’t know how that’d happen cuz he’s scarred for life with all these traumatic experiences he’s being thrown into smh.
Tho I was caught off guard right from the start. I felt everything that happened last book was gone. Such a quick and drastic shift from book 2 last page to book 3 page 30?
But I liked seeing Cairn go back to Whitefall and navigate the world he left behind and everything that changed + family dynamic! . His relationship with Maya frustrated at times but it turned out nicely. Idk if I mentioned this at book 1 review but I wasn’t comfortable with the characters having romantic feelings to each other cuz one is a kid and one isn’t, bbut Cairn mentioned this time that he had memories of his older self but mentally and physically he was still a kid, glad we solved that haha
Lastly we have the ending… I’m so sorry for my boy 😔😔😔 boy can’t catch a break fr. I hope this series has a happy ending tho I don’t know how that’d happen cuz he’s scarred for life with all these traumatic experiences he’s being thrown into smh.
July 22, 2023
I found this to be quite a strange book because it felt very different from the previous two books in that it was slow-paced, plodding around Whitefall for much of the story in what might loosely be described as political intrigue (for me it was dull page-filler type fare), with something occasionally happening but mostly not. The last 10% of the book gets interesting and it culminated in a pretty big twist at the end which was probably worth the rest of it, but compared to the other two this was quite weak and dull.
September 17, 2025
Definitely a step down in quality. The author disregarded many major characterizations of THEIR characters. Characters acting unlike themselves. Plot that is not as well woven as the original book.
Other reviews comment there is less time looping. And that is true. But given the arc the MC has gone through (read: trauma) that is the only “new” characterization that makes sense.
I left so many comments/notes in the book that boil down to “why the fuck is the author ruining their own story?” And “why take a good plot that is well crafted and ruin it for little gain/reason?”
In a lot of ways it’s worse than picking up a trash novel and reading it. I KNOW the author is capable of writing a really damn good book. I finished the first book in basically one sitting because I could not put it down and it was just that well written. Now I’m mostly propelled by momentum and wanting to see Cairn/Maya get together. Truly a shame.
Other reviews comment there is less time looping. And that is true. But given the arc the MC has gone through (read: trauma) that is the only “new” characterization that makes sense.
I left so many comments/notes in the book that boil down to “why the fuck is the author ruining their own story?” And “why take a good plot that is well crafted and ruin it for little gain/reason?”
In a lot of ways it’s worse than picking up a trash novel and reading it. I KNOW the author is capable of writing a really damn good book. I finished the first book in basically one sitting because I could not put it down and it was just that well written. Now I’m mostly propelled by momentum and wanting to see Cairn/Maya get together. Truly a shame.
August 28, 2023
The first quarter of the book is trash. Later on the book gets better fortunately.
It is fascinating that the author seems not to be slavic as the endless incomplete or half sentences in the book seem to be a subpar translation from a slavic language.. Translation errors i could forgive better than sole sloppiness or constant usage of slang.. The author desperately needs a good editor!!
I found the development that sheer everybody around the protagonist all of a sudden turns out to be a strong mage (despite not being so in the last incarnation!) rather preposterous.
It is fascinating that the author seems not to be slavic as the endless incomplete or half sentences in the book seem to be a subpar translation from a slavic language.. Translation errors i could forgive better than sole sloppiness or constant usage of slang.. The author desperately needs a good editor!!
I found the development that sheer everybody around the protagonist all of a sudden turns out to be a strong mage (despite not being so in the last incarnation!) rather preposterous.
June 29, 2024
Review de los tres libros que he leído: 3/5
Trama normal, mundo básico pero con suficientes nuevas ideas, pero la escala de tiempo del libro no queda nada clara y en momentos se contradice, mientras que el desarrollo de los personajes, tanto del prota como del resto, me parece poco natural y demasiado acelerado, especialmente en el primero.
Puede que lea las siguientes entregas, pero no será una prioridad
Trama normal, mundo básico pero con suficientes nuevas ideas, pero la escala de tiempo del libro no queda nada clara y en momentos se contradice, mientras que el desarrollo de los personajes, tanto del prota como del resto, me parece poco natural y demasiado acelerado, especialmente en el primero.
Puede que lea las siguientes entregas, pero no será una prioridad
August 18, 2024
I loved this because of all the changes we find out from all the choices and accomplishments that Cairn has made. I love that he got to see his favourite baby sister, Annette. His once sickly mother, his changed father and that he got the chance to make things right with older sister, Sera.
What I do not like so much about Cairn is how selfish he is in regards to the way he treats Maya. She's the best thing and most honest relationship he's ever had and he seriously takes her for granted.
What I do not like so much about Cairn is how selfish he is in regards to the way he treats Maya. She's the best thing and most honest relationship he's ever had and he seriously takes her for granted.
July 12, 2023
Solid Continuation
I would say this is the weakest of the 3 books so far. After a crazy first two our protagonist kicks back and mentally centers himself in this one. Still a great read and kept me enraptured to the end, but hopefully the next one we jump back on the roller coaster.
I would say this is the weakest of the 3 books so far. After a crazy first two our protagonist kicks back and mentally centers himself in this one. Still a great read and kept me enraptured to the end, but hopefully the next one we jump back on the roller coaster.
July 17, 2023
This was such an amazing book! I loved the political intrigue focus of the book so much. As amazing as the world building the character growth and interactions is where the story really stands out. I loved every chapter of this book! One of my favorites of the summer. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for book 4!
July 10, 2023
Third book still great
Third book is still great. Scratched a lot of itches for me, light political intrigue, light statesmanship, fantasy and magic, apocalypse rewind, and characters I care about. Chefs kiss. My only gripe was it was either too short or would've been too long.
Third book is still great. Scratched a lot of itches for me, light political intrigue, light statesmanship, fantasy and magic, apocalypse rewind, and characters I care about. Chefs kiss. My only gripe was it was either too short or would've been too long.
August 9, 2023
Good but the previous two were better
This is one of the best books i have read so far and i have read lots, a nice progression but having read the two previous books this has fallen short but still great
This is one of the best books i have read so far and i have read lots, a nice progression but having read the two previous books this has fallen short but still great
May 21, 2025
Found the Lillian Chapters to be a distraction, I even stopped reading because it got too annoying. I picked up the book to finish it while on a plane and tolerated through the final Lillian chapters.
September 6, 2025
Family, Growth, and High Stakes
A powerful return to the capital! Book three revisits earlier threads beautifully while deepening Cairn’s growth and setting the stage for an even grander next act.
A powerful return to the capital! Book three revisits earlier threads beautifully while deepening Cairn’s growth and setting the stage for an even grander next act.
July 22, 2023
A Rather Disappointing Sequel
It has neither the charm of the first book nor the world building of the second. All in all a rather soulless book.
It has neither the charm of the first book nor the world building of the second. All in all a rather soulless book.
September 13, 2023
nice
Lots of foundation work being set for the next book, lots of new capabilities/ alliances being built I’m sure will make the next books more intense.
Lots of foundation work being set for the next book, lots of new capabilities/ alliances being built I’m sure will make the next books more intense.
October 24, 2023
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.
January 12, 2024
Reading this book was the highlight of my day until I finished it. Waiting for the next Installment eagerly. I'm glad I stumbled upon this series.
July 8, 2024
bad ass
This book is a work of genius. I was captivated from start to finish. There wasn’t a dull moment. My only grievance is that it ended
This book is a work of genius. I was captivated from start to finish. There wasn’t a dull moment. My only grievance is that it ended
August 6, 2024
Quality dropped in the second but back to best of first excited for the series again
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews