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Wild Wastes #5
Wild Wastes 5
Before world war two could reach its conclusion, the world suffered what could only be defined as a cataclysm.
Legend has it that an experiment failed. Catastrophically so. And when it failed, the center of the United States, from the Sierra Nevada to the Mississippi river became "The Waste", where everything changed.
Except it didn't only happen in North America. In fact, it happened all around the world.
Few places were spared, though only a handful experienced it as deeply as the United States did.
In The Wastes of the world, every fantasy creature, fairy tale demon, or mythological monster exists. From Orcs, to Neriads, Ogres, Trolls, Wraiths, Elves, Harpies, and even Beastmen. They all exist, and all despise humankind.
For North America, in the shattered bones of the country, the west and east coasts new governments have rose, then fell.
Vince has become the master of a major portion of the Wastes of North America. Responsible for everything and everyone inside his boundaries. There is little that doesn’t fall under his purview.
He's delivered the world-view of Yosemite to Europe.
Or more specifically, the Iberian peninsula.
Waging a war to free the inhabitants from an oppressive regime that believes all magic is wrong.
Every form of magical ability is a crime and the only punishment is death.
Vince is going to close out his appeal to their judicial system with vengeance.
All while giving them a heavy taste of Legion technology.
An appeal that’ll change the lives of everyone across the whole of Europe.
Legend has it that an experiment failed. Catastrophically so. And when it failed, the center of the United States, from the Sierra Nevada to the Mississippi river became "The Waste", where everything changed.
Except it didn't only happen in North America. In fact, it happened all around the world.
Few places were spared, though only a handful experienced it as deeply as the United States did.
In The Wastes of the world, every fantasy creature, fairy tale demon, or mythological monster exists. From Orcs, to Neriads, Ogres, Trolls, Wraiths, Elves, Harpies, and even Beastmen. They all exist, and all despise humankind.
For North America, in the shattered bones of the country, the west and east coasts new governments have rose, then fell.
Vince has become the master of a major portion of the Wastes of North America. Responsible for everything and everyone inside his boundaries. There is little that doesn’t fall under his purview.
He's delivered the world-view of Yosemite to Europe.
Or more specifically, the Iberian peninsula.
Waging a war to free the inhabitants from an oppressive regime that believes all magic is wrong.
Every form of magical ability is a crime and the only punishment is death.
Vince is going to close out his appeal to their judicial system with vengeance.
All while giving them a heavy taste of Legion technology.
An appeal that’ll change the lives of everyone across the whole of Europe.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2022
229 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 2, 2025
Feels disjointed and incomplete/ should be a 2 star book
The continuing story of Vince's European campaign.
I had a hard time following Wild Wastes 4 and thought I'd missed tie-in events in Super Sale on Superheroes. Now I'm done with Wild Wastes 5 and I think the incomprehensibility of this story is due to the writing. I did the audiobook for this one and something important is left out. Either this is heavily abridged or the text versions has visual cues to indicate the passage of time like a row of dash marks across the page that the audio is missing. This story seems to jump around without reason, logic or explanation to the reader. First Vince is here doing this thing with these women, and Then he's somewhere else with different people and the story never signals the change happening.
Contains all the degrading sex and ethical compromises we've come to expect from Randi Darren.
---UPDATE 2 years later-----
when I picked this book back up I couldn't remember a single thing that happened. even as I reread every word, that did not jog my memory. There was no "Oh yeah" moment just as you are re reading where you remember as you are reading. Nope. Totally forgettable.
Now I've read it twice, and there is not much to it. The reason I couldn't remember it is because there isn't much there to be remembered.
The continuing story of Vince's European campaign.
I had a hard time following Wild Wastes 4 and thought I'd missed tie-in events in Super Sale on Superheroes. Now I'm done with Wild Wastes 5 and I think the incomprehensibility of this story is due to the writing. I did the audiobook for this one and something important is left out. Either this is heavily abridged or the text versions has visual cues to indicate the passage of time like a row of dash marks across the page that the audio is missing. This story seems to jump around without reason, logic or explanation to the reader. First Vince is here doing this thing with these women, and Then he's somewhere else with different people and the story never signals the change happening.
Contains all the degrading sex and ethical compromises we've come to expect from Randi Darren.
---UPDATE 2 years later-----
when I picked this book back up I couldn't remember a single thing that happened. even as I reread every word, that did not jog my memory. There was no "Oh yeah" moment just as you are re reading where you remember as you are reading. Nope. Totally forgettable.
Now I've read it twice, and there is not much to it. The reason I couldn't remember it is because there isn't much there to be remembered.
September 28, 2022
The only reason this even gets a 3 is because there was some story movement near the end. Honestly, this was about 100 pages of actual worthwhile story/character development. The rest was a lot of now typical fluff about how hot all the women are, how Vince is going to kill and eat everyone, etc. I don't even know how to categorize it, but I'm sure you'll know what I mean if you've read the last few books.
The author states he's working on a new series with a "reasonable" size of harem (apparently that's three). I'm hoping that breaks out of the spiral I see these Runnerverse stories descending into.
The author states he's working on a new series with a "reasonable" size of harem (apparently that's three). I'm hoping that breaks out of the spiral I see these Runnerverse stories descending into.
September 16, 2022
Every issue with the last book, but amplified.
It has been so long since the first two trilogy that I can not remember all the characters. Since more just keep getting dumped in, it hardly matters. Recycled storyline make it even less important.
It has been so long since the first two trilogy that I can not remember all the characters. Since more just keep getting dumped in, it hardly matters. Recycled storyline make it even less important.
October 4, 2022
Back to basics and a crazy Epilogue
Vince and company are still working on problems in Europe. They wander a bit and Vince does some Ranger-ing.
SPOILERS BELOW
They run into some problems with the local gods, but Vince beats one, Johanna, and adds her to his Pantheon.
Leila, Dam, and Red get lost in the Portal Storm, but don't die. We'll see them again, eventually.
The final battle is a bit rushed, and stops as Vince runs away because Ryker needs him. As he gets yanked to a new battlefield we learn some important things:
1. His world is paused. When he gets back it will be exactly as he left it.
2. Ryker is pulling him to Runner for the big Avengers style battle.
3. Alaric, Runner's first kid hijacks his transport and uses it to free his mom, who has been stuck fighting Zeus since the end of the Runner trilogy. Vince is sworn to secrecy about this.
The book ends with Vince running to show Seville the video of Seville's kid singing the song about her daddy that Runner recorded after he freed them.
Vince and company are still working on problems in Europe. They wander a bit and Vince does some Ranger-ing.
SPOILERS BELOW
They run into some problems with the local gods, but Vince beats one, Johanna, and adds her to his Pantheon.
Leila, Dam, and Red get lost in the Portal Storm, but don't die. We'll see them again, eventually.
The final battle is a bit rushed, and stops as Vince runs away because Ryker needs him. As he gets yanked to a new battlefield we learn some important things:
1. His world is paused. When he gets back it will be exactly as he left it.
2. Ryker is pulling him to Runner for the big Avengers style battle.
3. Alaric, Runner's first kid hijacks his transport and uses it to free his mom, who has been stuck fighting Zeus since the end of the Runner trilogy. Vince is sworn to secrecy about this.
The book ends with Vince running to show Seville the video of Seville's kid singing the song about her daddy that Runner recorded after he freed them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2022
Still Good
I’m still a fan of the series, it’s still good; even though I’m not a fan of the whole harem thing and I feel that the overly detailed sex descriptions are completely unnecessary, the main character and the action is quite good. The ending was more a stopping of the story rather than a conclusion, much of the storyline was indeed everything I expected. I’m looking forward to some of the lingering elements to be resolved. Hopefully, there will be more mixing with Felix soon.
I’m still a fan of the series, it’s still good; even though I’m not a fan of the whole harem thing and I feel that the overly detailed sex descriptions are completely unnecessary, the main character and the action is quite good. The ending was more a stopping of the story rather than a conclusion, much of the storyline was indeed everything I expected. I’m looking forward to some of the lingering elements to be resolved. Hopefully, there will be more mixing with Felix soon.
September 22, 2022
Returns to some of the original Wild Wastes activities
A bit of a throwback to the original books,Vince gets some one on many battles as he struggles to overthrow parts of this planets Europe continent starting with Spain. I enjoyed the book, but some of it gets a bit confusing as so much is happening in various locations, it then tries to tie it all into the overall story that all of the books are heading towards. Will be interesting to see where the author takes it.
A bit of a throwback to the original books,Vince gets some one on many battles as he struggles to overthrow parts of this planets Europe continent starting with Spain. I enjoyed the book, but some of it gets a bit confusing as so much is happening in various locations, it then tries to tie it all into the overall story that all of the books are heading towards. Will be interesting to see where the author takes it.
September 27, 2022
Absolutely love this series
One of my favorite series of all times. And the fact that the author dropped two new books in a very small time frame is awesome. Lots going on here in this book and without any spoilers I am frustrated with the ending. Not because it was bad. But because I don’t want to have to wait for the next one in whatever time frame it will be released. Need that book six already.
One of my favorite series of all times. And the fact that the author dropped two new books in a very small time frame is awesome. Lots going on here in this book and without any spoilers I am frustrated with the ending. Not because it was bad. But because I don’t want to have to wait for the next one in whatever time frame it will be released. Need that book six already.
October 25, 2022
Delicious
Alternate universe magic dragons elves harem monster girls
Vince and his people are back in book 5, focusing on the war in Iberia. War moves north and the two other nations seek to resist the forces of Yosemite. If you like the previous books, you will be pleased with this delectable tale with over four hundred pages of story to immerse yourself in. Still hate cliffhangers. Enjoyed, even so.
Alternate universe magic dragons elves harem monster girls
Vince and his people are back in book 5, focusing on the war in Iberia. War moves north and the two other nations seek to resist the forces of Yosemite. If you like the previous books, you will be pleased with this delectable tale with over four hundred pages of story to immerse yourself in. Still hate cliffhangers. Enjoyed, even so.
September 18, 2022
awesome
Awesome, awesome, awesome. Getting so close to the end of all of this. Great fun with Vince, and a whole lot of intrigue as far as where it will go next.
An unusual number of typos compared to everything else as though he rushed it a bit, but not enough to detract from the overall story. Loved it!
Awesome, awesome, awesome. Getting so close to the end of all of this. Great fun with Vince, and a whole lot of intrigue as far as where it will go next.
An unusual number of typos compared to everything else as though he rushed it a bit, but not enough to detract from the overall story. Loved it!
September 25, 2022
Another 10/5
I love Randi Darren books. I love William D Arend books. I love A.R. Rends book.... I'm happy that these series will be finished out. Major props to the author for such fleshed out stories and sticking with it. Not many could/would do that and I respect him for it.
Not t to mention I love the books
I love Randi Darren books. I love William D Arend books. I love A.R. Rends book.... I'm happy that these series will be finished out. Major props to the author for such fleshed out stories and sticking with it. Not many could/would do that and I respect him for it.
Not t to mention I love the books
September 16, 2022
Great continuation! Can't wait until it all comes together
Great continuation and I love Vince's EU adventure, can't wait until it all comes together in the series of books and to see Vince again in book 5
Great continuation and I love Vince's EU adventure, can't wait until it all comes together in the series of books and to see Vince again in book 5
September 17, 2022
Very good book
This is a fine fantasy harem adventure novel. It is well written and edited. The fast if characters are fabulous. I really like Renata and Johanna. I anxiously await the sequel.
This is a fine fantasy harem adventure novel. It is well written and edited. The fast if characters are fabulous. I really like Renata and Johanna. I anxiously await the sequel.
September 24, 2022
Its all coming together...
When I started reading runner's story for the 1st time I understood that it would be a wild ride. I got a little hung up on the Seville story But for the most part this author has not disappointed. I look forward to the exciting conclusion.
When I started reading runner's story for the 1st time I understood that it would be a wild ride. I got a little hung up on the Seville story But for the most part this author has not disappointed. I look forward to the exciting conclusion.
September 26, 2022
Well worth the wait !!!!!
As always a very enjoyable read!!! A fantastic and interesting blend of science fiction and fantasy adventure that will keep you enthralled from beginning to end!!! I can't wait to see wht comes next from this author!!!!
As always a very enjoyable read!!! A fantastic and interesting blend of science fiction and fantasy adventure that will keep you enthralled from beginning to end!!! I can't wait to see wht comes next from this author!!!!
October 3, 2022
Wild Tale
Vince goes through a number of trials. The battle for Spain is moving forward, but a new enemy appears mucking things up. Lots of action, adventure and spice. Not to mention God's being a PITA. What a cliffhanger! Bring on the next book!,
Vince goes through a number of trials. The battle for Spain is moving forward, but a new enemy appears mucking things up. Lots of action, adventure and spice. Not to mention God's being a PITA. What a cliffhanger! Bring on the next book!,
October 4, 2022
Give me more
Can't wait for the audiobook of this to come and I can't wait for the next book in the series that come out great from start to finish meet new characters and learning a whole new side of old ones
Can't wait for the audiobook of this to come and I can't wait for the next book in the series that come out great from start to finish meet new characters and learning a whole new side of old ones
October 9, 2022
Wow!
More Sir, can I please have more.
This world of stories continues to spin and i, for one, couldn't be happier. The gang is getting together. This is such a vast story line that if you have somehow landed here, without going there first, then you must be lost.
More Sir, can I please have more.
This world of stories continues to spin and i, for one, couldn't be happier. The gang is getting together. This is such a vast story line that if you have somehow landed here, without going there first, then you must be lost.
October 24, 2022
Excellent!!!
My only complaint is that it’s over lol, another amazing story like we’ve came to expect from M. Darren, funny, sexy and action packed with a great story in an interesting world
My only complaint is that it’s over lol, another amazing story like we’ve came to expect from M. Darren, funny, sexy and action packed with a great story in an interesting world
January 12, 2024
amazing
I love this series. Every book has been a fun adventure. These series that all intertwine really make your imagination run rampant. I’m looking forward to the next installation in any of the series
I love this series. Every book has been a fun adventure. These series that all intertwine really make your imagination run rampant. I’m looking forward to the next installation in any of the series
September 16, 2022
Great
Always amazing, really excited that every thing is finally coming together!! Cant wait for the next wild waste or avengers which ever comes first
Always amazing, really excited that every thing is finally coming together!! Cant wait for the next wild waste or avengers which ever comes first
September 20, 2022
Amazing
I love this series soo much I cannot get enough of it the story is so entrancing and the characters are just awesome
I love this series soo much I cannot get enough of it the story is so entrancing and the characters are just awesome
Read
September 20, 2022I enjoyed it
Jeez what a cuff hanger I hope the next of your books pick up where this left off. Weird to pluck someone right in the middle of battle
Jeez what a cuff hanger I hope the next of your books pick up where this left off. Weird to pluck someone right in the middle of battle
September 23, 2022
Good addition
Love it. need more Vince, and Felix for that matter. Can't wait for WW6, or would it be Remnant 4 or MM4 after that ending?
Love it. need more Vince, and Felix for that matter. Can't wait for WW6, or would it be Remnant 4 or MM4 after that ending?
September 29, 2022
Great book
As always this book was awesome deep intriguing opened up new possibilities for further book the story is as strong as ever
As always this book was awesome deep intriguing opened up new possibilities for further book the story is as strong as ever
October 10, 2022
Awesome story
I am enjoying this continue action pack adventure of Vincent and his many wives and goddesses as they continue to take over their world.
I am enjoying this continue action pack adventure of Vincent and his many wives and goddesses as they continue to take over their world.
October 12, 2022
Strong battles
Interesting background for future books. Most of this is just background material. Great battles at the end. Then a strange epilog. Still mostly worth the read.
Interesting background for future books. Most of this is just background material. Great battles at the end. Then a strange epilog. Still mostly worth the read.
October 14, 2022
So glad it's back.
I am so happy this series is back but now I am waiting on the next one. Oh well there are worse fates than waiting on a great read.
I am so happy this series is back but now I am waiting on the next one. Oh well there are worse fates than waiting on a great read.
November 6, 2022
Excellent story
Great story with characters growing. Good world building. It is mature for a reason.
I look forward to seeing the next book.
Great story with characters growing. Good world building. It is mature for a reason.
I look forward to seeing the next book.
November 7, 2022
Very good
It was very interesting to read and one of the best in the set so far with the end in sight we can only hope for a great final of a lead in to a new series
It was very interesting to read and one of the best in the set so far with the end in sight we can only hope for a great final of a lead in to a new series
November 7, 2022
Oh surprise!
Vince meets some surprising newcomers. You'll like them but I'm going to let you read the book😉😊.
P.s. new use for a canteen.
Vince meets some surprising newcomers. You'll like them but I'm going to let you read the book😉😊.
P.s. new use for a canteen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews