What do you think?
Rate this book
Arcane Magus: A Progression Fantasy Adventure
A progression fantasy / LitRPG - style adventure.
Book one of the Arcane Magus trilogy.
At 15 years old, Ryul Castillon is blissfully unaware of the magic, beasts and mythical beings that dwell in the realm of Erendor. However, his life dramatically changes as strange things start happening and the real world is opened up to him.
As he discovers his true lineage, Ryul finds himself being hunted by various beings and factions that seek to control or destroy him. However, discovering new friends and allies, and through his father's old journal, he finds the world of questing, instanced dungeons, alchemy and other abilities to level up and hone, as a new path is laid out before him - one of high risk but one full of adventure and rewards.
Teen / YA LitRPG Fantasy Adventure with leveling, quests, dungeons and trade skills.
UK Eng.
Book one of the Arcane Magus trilogy.
At 15 years old, Ryul Castillon is blissfully unaware of the magic, beasts and mythical beings that dwell in the realm of Erendor. However, his life dramatically changes as strange things start happening and the real world is opened up to him.
As he discovers his true lineage, Ryul finds himself being hunted by various beings and factions that seek to control or destroy him. However, discovering new friends and allies, and through his father's old journal, he finds the world of questing, instanced dungeons, alchemy and other abilities to level up and hone, as a new path is laid out before him - one of high risk but one full of adventure and rewards.
Teen / YA LitRPG Fantasy Adventure with leveling, quests, dungeons and trade skills.
UK Eng.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2022
184 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 15, 2023
Really vague and unearned Op skills
This book somehow still feels vague even when it's describing the characters, the setting and the world. The main character is a bit grumpy and disbelieving which starts the reader off disliking him slightly. Also, none of his abilities feel earned. The book skips over his first bout of learning skills and just shows us his skills a week after he arrives at the guild. For a brand new book, you expect that the first few bouts of learning and gaining skills are going to be explicitly detailed so you understand how it works and how learns and uses it and that lets you like him. It also sets it up to be vague later if you need to be. This one just feels like it glosses over all of the important parts that you'd want to read.
For example, his first alchemy attempt, he doesn't even have to measure what goes into the pot or set it up for a certain amount of time and then check the flame or even monitor it! He just puts the ingredients into the pot and next thing you know he's handing out vials of his potion. Alchemy felt like it was going to be one of the big things that he had to learn and had to adjust to and he'd never had to do any of that. He also receives from the beginning a bunch of overpowered weapons, protections, rings, necklaces, etc and it doesn't feel fair or earned! They don't even let us experience awe and amazement or even happiness with him because he's just so bland to all of the things happening around him. I quit around 40%.
This book somehow still feels vague even when it's describing the characters, the setting and the world. The main character is a bit grumpy and disbelieving which starts the reader off disliking him slightly. Also, none of his abilities feel earned. The book skips over his first bout of learning skills and just shows us his skills a week after he arrives at the guild. For a brand new book, you expect that the first few bouts of learning and gaining skills are going to be explicitly detailed so you understand how it works and how learns and uses it and that lets you like him. It also sets it up to be vague later if you need to be. This one just feels like it glosses over all of the important parts that you'd want to read.
For example, his first alchemy attempt, he doesn't even have to measure what goes into the pot or set it up for a certain amount of time and then check the flame or even monitor it! He just puts the ingredients into the pot and next thing you know he's handing out vials of his potion. Alchemy felt like it was going to be one of the big things that he had to learn and had to adjust to and he'd never had to do any of that. He also receives from the beginning a bunch of overpowered weapons, protections, rings, necklaces, etc and it doesn't feel fair or earned! They don't even let us experience awe and amazement or even happiness with him because he's just so bland to all of the things happening around him. I quit around 40%.
September 1, 2023
Suprise by just how good this was.
I expected a good read as this is my general type of story, but the depth of it caught me off guard. This was only book one and it still does feel very early in the series. However the set up to the greater world was entertaining. The MC is 15-16 so there was some Naivety but it was Par for the course. It was nothimg that made you put the book down. He is also early in his development not OP but strong for his age and should become OP if things progress according to plan.
There was a budding romance between supporting charachters, not the MC, but to this point it didnt make the male charachter a bubbling idiot who will risk everything for a girl, so thats a plus.
In book 2 id look forward to the MC's growth. Everytime he gains a skill or item theres a rise in the excitment level of the book.
This would also do good on Audible with the right Narrator.
I expected a good read as this is my general type of story, but the depth of it caught me off guard. This was only book one and it still does feel very early in the series. However the set up to the greater world was entertaining. The MC is 15-16 so there was some Naivety but it was Par for the course. It was nothimg that made you put the book down. He is also early in his development not OP but strong for his age and should become OP if things progress according to plan.
There was a budding romance between supporting charachters, not the MC, but to this point it didnt make the male charachter a bubbling idiot who will risk everything for a girl, so thats a plus.
In book 2 id look forward to the MC's growth. Everytime he gains a skill or item theres a rise in the excitment level of the book.
This would also do good on Audible with the right Narrator.
June 13, 2024
2 1/2 stars. A pretty standard progression/LitRPG story in another world with a teenage main character eventually identified as the chosen one. Ryul is a young and somewhat naïve character but very likable. What I particularly like are the friends he makes along the way and how they become a team. It is rough going sometimes but overall they come together and help each other.
The system that he falls into is decently described and at other times not, particularly associated with alchemy. He just throws things into a bowl and gets a potion. That could definitely be described better about his failures, heat, etc. Also, it says that he and most others don't believe in magic and monsters, etc. Yet, as he is travelling monsters and magic are popping up all over the place causing problems for the general population and yet people don't seem overwhelmed by oh, my god, magic is real. It seems that it is a lot more well-known that originally presented.
The system that he falls into is decently described and at other times not, particularly associated with alchemy. He just throws things into a bowl and gets a potion. That could definitely be described better about his failures, heat, etc. Also, it says that he and most others don't believe in magic and monsters, etc. Yet, as he is travelling monsters and magic are popping up all over the place causing problems for the general population and yet people don't seem overwhelmed by oh, my god, magic is real. It seems that it is a lot more well-known that originally presented.
September 18, 2025
Good, but flawed.
Overall it’s a decent story. There’s a lot of formatting mess going on in the book that makes it very difficult to read at times.
The first 10% of the book is misery porn, written to impress upon the reader just how bad the MC’s life is. It’s like the beginning of Harry Potter. Because of course, for the best of all Young Adult novels, the MC must be a sad orphan.
Once you get past that, it steadily improves.
The magic system is… ehh, but there are some fun little bits along side it.
We will see where the rest of the series goes.
Overall it’s a decent story. There’s a lot of formatting mess going on in the book that makes it very difficult to read at times.
The first 10% of the book is misery porn, written to impress upon the reader just how bad the MC’s life is. It’s like the beginning of Harry Potter. Because of course, for the best of all Young Adult novels, the MC must be a sad orphan.
Once you get past that, it steadily improves.
The magic system is… ehh, but there are some fun little bits along side it.
We will see where the rest of the series goes.
April 1, 2024
Humble Hero With Lots Of Power
I had previously read this book awhile ago but forgot but am so glad I did a reread because I definitely lost important information. I enjoyed the slow pace of the story where things seem to happen organically instead of being rushed. I'm looking forward to the next book and I'm really glad the series has already continued.
I had previously read this book awhile ago but forgot but am so glad I did a reread because I definitely lost important information. I enjoyed the slow pace of the story where things seem to happen organically instead of being rushed. I'm looking forward to the next book and I'm really glad the series has already continued.
September 16, 2025
Fun Book
Andrew G Wood has a way of developing wonderful characters and interesting relationships not only of the interpersonal kind but also brings in racial relations between children and adults. Very well written.
Andrew G Wood has a way of developing wonderful characters and interesting relationships not only of the interpersonal kind but also brings in racial relations between children and adults. Very well written.
December 6, 2022
Wood's Books
One of A Wood's best books imo, looking forward to when he releases the next installment. Characters are fun and well thought out, the story proceeds at a good pace.
One of A Wood's best books imo, looking forward to when he releases the next installment. Characters are fun and well thought out, the story proceeds at a good pace.
August 28, 2023
Very good one sitting 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.
July 6, 2024
Easy to read
A good story and easy to understand. The author should not use slang terms for ordinary words. I had to look up some of the words.
A good story and easy to understand. The author should not use slang terms for ordinary words. I had to look up some of the words.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews