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Phase Shift #3
Death Web: Phase Shift 3
Death is the one, true constant in the Shift. This is something Troias has learned in his journey to become Baron of Wisconsin, and most of that death has come from his hands. He's battled monsters spawned from legends and nightmares and slaughtered powerful guardians of energy-rich Vortices. Now, though, he faces a new sort of enemy: his fellow man. The Shift doesn't breed trust, and it's hard to tell friends from foes - especially with assassins hunting him relentlessly. It's time for Troias to return home, to Chicago, but once there, what will he find? Will he build new alliances, or will the hand patting his back be clutching a knife? He's trapped in a web of death and deceit, and the only way out is through the center...
- GenresFantasy
751 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2021
180 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Johnson
30 books53 followersKyle Johnson is a kids gymnastics and martial arts instructor who teaches outside of Chicago. He's worked on cruise ships, traveled the world, climbed glaciers, ziplined between mountains, and even danced in the end of a rainbow.
Currently, his main hobbies include helping his wife raise their two kids, because after that, who's got time for hobbies?
Currently, his main hobbies include helping his wife raise their two kids, because after that, who's got time for hobbies?
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 16, 2023
This is third in a series with plot and character progression. Read them in order.
I’m dnfing this, and it makes me sad. The overarching plot in this one has a villain group of assassins and they broke my immersion. If you have to give a villain group a bunch of breaks for them to be viable, you should probably try for a different source of conflict. For this group to be a threat to civilization (including Troias’ growing community), they have to a) overcome the safe zone protections, b) train uber-powerful assassins, c) in complete secrecy, d) with a production base that gives them lots of spiffy OP gadgets, e) have dozens of these assassins waiting in the wings, and finally have Troias be too stupid to realize that assassins rigged out with sophisticated savant tech means he should maybe be suspicious of the envoys from a super-savant oriented community. It’s. Too. Much. I frankly lost it when the assassin PoV (have I mentioned that I hate bad-guy PoVs) has them allocate a dozen more resources to the “take down Troias” mission and shift targets to destabilizing the community—i.e. take out his friends and leaders. So apparently, they’ve managed to secretly train dozens of uber powerful assassins in complete secrecy and with perfect operational discipline in less than a year?!? It’s one thing when they target Troias. Targeting all of his friends means that either a) they’re all completely incompetent and all miss and thus this threat is just silly or b) we’re going to have a manufactured emotional hit when someone we love dies. I’m not on board with this and am bailing before I see which stupidity we go with.
Sorry, this doesn’t work with the background we know. The author didn’t so much place his thumb on the scale as he just climbed right on and started jumping around. Plus, I read blurbs ahead and this group is still a thing in book 7. So yeah. I’m done. One star even though at least some of that is my emotional response to losing a series I had become attached to.
I’m dnfing this, and it makes me sad. The overarching plot in this one has a villain group of assassins and they broke my immersion. If you have to give a villain group a bunch of breaks for them to be viable, you should probably try for a different source of conflict. For this group to be a threat to civilization (including Troias’ growing community), they have to a) overcome the safe zone protections, b) train uber-powerful assassins, c) in complete secrecy, d) with a production base that gives them lots of spiffy OP gadgets, e) have dozens of these assassins waiting in the wings, and finally have Troias be too stupid to realize that assassins rigged out with sophisticated savant tech means he should maybe be suspicious of the envoys from a super-savant oriented community. It’s. Too. Much. I frankly lost it when the assassin PoV (have I mentioned that I hate bad-guy PoVs) has them allocate a dozen more resources to the “take down Troias” mission and shift targets to destabilizing the community—i.e. take out his friends and leaders. So apparently, they’ve managed to secretly train dozens of uber powerful assassins in complete secrecy and with perfect operational discipline in less than a year?!? It’s one thing when they target Troias. Targeting all of his friends means that either a) they’re all completely incompetent and all miss and thus this threat is just silly or b) we’re going to have a manufactured emotional hit when someone we love dies. I’m not on board with this and am bailing before I see which stupidity we go with.
Sorry, this doesn’t work with the background we know. The author didn’t so much place his thumb on the scale as he just climbed right on and started jumping around. Plus, I read blurbs ahead and this group is still a thing in book 7. So yeah. I’m done. One star even though at least some of that is my emotional response to losing a series I had become attached to.
December 23, 2021
Nope, I am done. Over eighty percent through and I don't care anymore.
Build a series around a warrior type that doesn't want to lead and then make him a Baron, he ignores infrastructure and obvious threats over and over. Add in a pacifist bent of forgiving ANYTHING, maiming the same people four times in a battle was just ridiculous, dismisses all thought of consequence. Story points are becoming more and more inorganic and unrealistic. The direction that Annalise took ruined her character. Troias' reaction to her arrival ruined any respect he had. The endpoints being introduced at the start of the book then being completely ignored highlight the poor writing producing a railroaded story that lacks any realism.
Build a series around a warrior type that doesn't want to lead and then make him a Baron, he ignores infrastructure and obvious threats over and over. Add in a pacifist bent of forgiving ANYTHING, maiming the same people four times in a battle was just ridiculous, dismisses all thought of consequence. Story points are becoming more and more inorganic and unrealistic. The direction that Annalise took ruined her character. Troias' reaction to her arrival ruined any respect he had. The endpoints being introduced at the start of the book then being completely ignored highlight the poor writing producing a railroaded story that lacks any realism.
January 25, 2023
had to take this book down to three stars because of questionable decisions, the MC makes.
First of all, let me say, this is an excellent Siris It is well worth the three or four stars I have given it. i’ve taken this book down to three stars because of the decisions, the author had the MC or his sidekick make. No spoilers but you will see what I’m talking about. If you read this book and or series, it is worth it, but I just had to shake my head because of some of the decisions that were made such as letting assassins get away. MC is still very likable along with his sidekick Anna Lise. They are much better together than separate. This is a great team, and the author leaves the bedroom when the sex scenes are occurring. That is a good thing because if I wanted to read porno, I’d get a porno book. Story is good and I will continue to read it and the best thing is the series is done so you don’t have to wait, trust me I read a lot of books. This is worth the read.
First of all, let me say, this is an excellent Siris It is well worth the three or four stars I have given it. i’ve taken this book down to three stars because of the decisions, the author had the MC or his sidekick make. No spoilers but you will see what I’m talking about. If you read this book and or series, it is worth it, but I just had to shake my head because of some of the decisions that were made such as letting assassins get away. MC is still very likable along with his sidekick Anna Lise. They are much better together than separate. This is a great team, and the author leaves the bedroom when the sex scenes are occurring. That is a good thing because if I wanted to read porno, I’d get a porno book. Story is good and I will continue to read it and the best thing is the series is done so you don’t have to wait, trust me I read a lot of books. This is worth the read.
September 9, 2023
Such a disappointment
The first two books were great. Author shouldn't have tried to have two mc's though as the female should have stayed his partner. Trying to make her independent just spoilt everything as her betrayal was just ignored and no man is that forgiving. The story then became unimportant to me and I couldn't bare continuing. So I stopped reading as I don't care about her at all any more and don't want to know what happens as she should have been written out of the story once she betrayed everyone.
The first two books were great. Author shouldn't have tried to have two mc's though as the female should have stayed his partner. Trying to make her independent just spoilt everything as her betrayal was just ignored and no man is that forgiving. The story then became unimportant to me and I couldn't bare continuing. So I stopped reading as I don't care about her at all any more and don't want to know what happens as she should have been written out of the story once she betrayed everyone.
November 20, 2021
I have been completely drawn in to Troias’ world and life!
I don’t know why this story draws me in so much but it’s a great unique setting for an apocalypses with a guy just doing the best he can to protect what he sees as his own dying species, he continues to run into less than honorable people. He’s grown his budding nation using a vow that goes both ways and protects his people and him from each other as best as possible in this new harsh reality of the Shift!
He has reached deep beyond what he should multiple times to power impossible feats, the Source of all power should have killed him. Yet it didn’t. He survived and let go to recover each time, a feat few beings have ever managed. His totem, Ren, is hiding a lot from him for his own good as well as to gate the knowledge more for what he wants to handle.
However, soon the time will come where others will be told of his reaching, and it will affect more than just earth as Power calls to Power.
Another exciting, emotional roller coaster sees some unfortunate deaths, betrayals and surprising little dramas that left me charged up and sad for the end of the book!
I don’t know why this story draws me in so much but it’s a great unique setting for an apocalypses with a guy just doing the best he can to protect what he sees as his own dying species, he continues to run into less than honorable people. He’s grown his budding nation using a vow that goes both ways and protects his people and him from each other as best as possible in this new harsh reality of the Shift!
He has reached deep beyond what he should multiple times to power impossible feats, the Source of all power should have killed him. Yet it didn’t. He survived and let go to recover each time, a feat few beings have ever managed. His totem, Ren, is hiding a lot from him for his own good as well as to gate the knowledge more for what he wants to handle.
However, soon the time will come where others will be told of his reaching, and it will affect more than just earth as Power calls to Power.
Another exciting, emotional roller coaster sees some unfortunate deaths, betrayals and surprising little dramas that left me charged up and sad for the end of the book!
June 13, 2022
I love the story, but please use grammarly
I really like this storyline as it's an interesting mix of being a LitRPG without being a LitRPG, a treatise on society and what it is to be human, without also being such, and a page-turning storyline to boot!
But please, please, have someone read it for grammar and typos. I keep reporting the errors through Kindle's built in feature to do so, but I don't know what happens to those anyway, and if I weren't already reading this for free via Kindle Unlimited, I might ask for a refund for the service of reporting you so many typos. The first few books were fine. Books have some typoes. Just, this one had a lot. Hopefully, though, my having reported them will mean that someone, either Amazon or the author Kyle, will make it better for anyone else who reads it.
Also, Amazon, it would be really cool if you would do some sort of gameification thing for reporting content errors, kind of like how Google maps gives points for answering questions about places. And maybe an advanced reporting menu that lets me do it with fewer taps, because the number of taps for each typo is also a good deal of my gripe here.
I really like this storyline as it's an interesting mix of being a LitRPG without being a LitRPG, a treatise on society and what it is to be human, without also being such, and a page-turning storyline to boot!
But please, please, have someone read it for grammar and typos. I keep reporting the errors through Kindle's built in feature to do so, but I don't know what happens to those anyway, and if I weren't already reading this for free via Kindle Unlimited, I might ask for a refund for the service of reporting you so many typos. The first few books were fine. Books have some typoes. Just, this one had a lot. Hopefully, though, my having reported them will mean that someone, either Amazon or the author Kyle, will make it better for anyone else who reads it.
Also, Amazon, it would be really cool if you would do some sort of gameification thing for reporting content errors, kind of like how Google maps gives points for answering questions about places. And maybe an advanced reporting menu that lets me do it with fewer taps, because the number of taps for each typo is also a good deal of my gripe here.
August 16, 2021
Alert
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. I am simply saying that I liked it. I would like you to read it and make your own decision. After all, you are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.
Cheers
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. I am simply saying that I liked it. I would like you to read it and make your own decision. After all, you are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.
Cheers
July 2, 2021
Woohoo!!!
A lot of emotional stuff at the beginning, but WOW does it come down to fighting at the end. Really enjoying this. Excellent moments of levity.
Minimal crunchiness, but also a complex system of percentage bonuses that makes for seriously complex schema.
Not graphic and no harem, but also not family friendly.
Pretty clean prose. Nothing that really pulled me out.
Yeah, I’m going to pre-order the next one.
A lot of emotional stuff at the beginning, but WOW does it come down to fighting at the end. Really enjoying this. Excellent moments of levity.
Minimal crunchiness, but also a complex system of percentage bonuses that makes for seriously complex schema.
Not graphic and no harem, but also not family friendly.
Pretty clean prose. Nothing that really pulled me out.
Yeah, I’m going to pre-order the next one.
September 16, 2021
Books 1-3:
Brilliant LitRPG for fans of System Apocalypse type books.
Great prose, characters I could like and relate too, doesn't fail any common sense checks, fun roller coaster action ride + a new and Novel magic system.
Good progression both in geography and in plot with no repetitive stats and power uses. Kept me hooked all through.
Loved it and finished all 4 books in a binge read week. Can't wait for book 5.
Highly recommended!
Brilliant LitRPG for fans of System Apocalypse type books.
Great prose, characters I could like and relate too, doesn't fail any common sense checks, fun roller coaster action ride + a new and Novel magic system.
Good progression both in geography and in plot with no repetitive stats and power uses. Kept me hooked all through.
Loved it and finished all 4 books in a binge read week. Can't wait for book 5.
Highly recommended!
May 7, 2022
I like it, but the MC doesn't seem to add up for me. For someone so "ruthless" he gives way too many chances to people who fuck with him and his people. The study of how hard it is to trust in an apocalypse (or any time, really) was good, but it seemed that this could have been shorter and achieved the same effect.
For the record, Annalise should suck it up and be first wife, as in this case it actually makes sense for Trioas to have more than one.
For the record, Annalise should suck it up and be first wife, as in this case it actually makes sense for Trioas to have more than one.
May 14, 2022
None stop
Troias, Annalise and his allies face new challenges assassins, betrayal and awakened monsters are just the start ,but fighting is easy, it's the rise of politics that is leaving a bad smell ,people are struggling and fighting for their very existence and all the parasites want is to be safe and comfortable ,like the shift cares. Hopefully Troias can enlighten these idiots on the new reality.
Troias, Annalise and his allies face new challenges assassins, betrayal and awakened monsters are just the start ,but fighting is easy, it's the rise of politics that is leaving a bad smell ,people are struggling and fighting for their very existence and all the parasites want is to be safe and comfortable ,like the shift cares. Hopefully Troias can enlighten these idiots on the new reality.
October 16, 2022
Sssssooooooo goooooooodduh.
Really this world is layered and exciting and perfectly paced and thrilling and full of surprises and inspiring and has decent LGBTQ representation and.... And now I've got to go finish all the homework it made me miss or I'll flunk my certification exam. I can take a "brain break" in an hour. Yeah. I'll just read "a few chapters" of the next book. Just a few...*twitch twitch*
Really this world is layered and exciting and perfectly paced and thrilling and full of surprises and inspiring and has decent LGBTQ representation and.... And now I've got to go finish all the homework it made me miss or I'll flunk my certification exam. I can take a "brain break" in an hour. Yeah. I'll just read "a few chapters" of the next book. Just a few...*twitch twitch*
July 7, 2021
An okay book.
I enjoyed the book but it was pushing the boundary to being inappropriate. It was not crossed for me but it was getting close in the sex and nudity aspect. So it lost a star. Additionally some of the minor characters are homosexual and lesbian but did nothing inappropriate.
Lastly it contained a little bit of profanity. For this reason it lost another star.
I enjoyed the book but it was pushing the boundary to being inappropriate. It was not crossed for me but it was getting close in the sex and nudity aspect. So it lost a star. Additionally some of the minor characters are homosexual and lesbian but did nothing inappropriate.
Lastly it contained a little bit of profanity. For this reason it lost another star.
July 16, 2021
Great action and world building!
Yet another excellent effort in a series that just keeps getting better. The much heralded return to Chicago is nigh and relationships need to be rebuilt before…well stuff.
The system and town building is great, no harem, and few write action as well.
Yet another excellent effort in a series that just keeps getting better. The much heralded return to Chicago is nigh and relationships need to be rebuilt before…well stuff.
The system and town building is great, no harem, and few write action as well.
July 23, 2021
A very good book
I very much enjoyed this book.
I didn't like the fact that some of the previous plot and story of the series were in a book or books, not in the series. But a synopsis was provided at the beginning for them.
Looking forward to the next book, hopefully it's a linear continuation in the series!
I very much enjoyed this book.
I didn't like the fact that some of the previous plot and story of the series were in a book or books, not in the series. But a synopsis was provided at the beginning for them.
Looking forward to the next book, hopefully it's a linear continuation in the series!
September 4, 2021
Great read!
I am truly enjoying this new series. A unique way to do an old system in a way to make it new. The day-to-day writing of the series is interesting and fun to read. The underlying story and the real reason for everything happening is even more interesting. Looking forward to the next book.
I am truly enjoying this new series. A unique way to do an old system in a way to make it new. The day-to-day writing of the series is interesting and fun to read. The underlying story and the real reason for everything happening is even more interesting. Looking forward to the next book.
July 3, 2021
Good one
This was a great book for the series. I truly enjoyed the MC and the support characters. A well developed story arch although the villain in this book was a little obvious.
This was a great book for the series. I truly enjoyed the MC and the support characters. A well developed story arch although the villain in this book was a little obvious.
August 26, 2021
No words to describe
Wow. Just wow. Love this series. Fantastic story, amazing narrative. In depth character building. Professional editing for you who go nuts over that. Only gripe…Build that air and fire man…sheesh.
Wow. Just wow. Love this series. Fantastic story, amazing narrative. In depth character building. Professional editing for you who go nuts over that. Only gripe…Build that air and fire man…sheesh.
October 26, 2021
It’s fun and beyond what I expected
I’ve personally enjoyed the series thus far, it’s been a great story, well written and rounded characters that feel real, I have no qualms aside from that near fridging at the end of book 2.
I’ve personally enjoyed the series thus far, it’s been a great story, well written and rounded characters that feel real, I have no qualms aside from that near fridging at the end of book 2.
December 29, 2021
Still enjoying the series
Sometimes when I get to the fifth book and a series I am ready for it to be over even if I really like the concept and characters. The new twist at the end of this book ensures that I am still very interested in what happens.
Sometimes when I get to the fifth book and a series I am ready for it to be over even if I really like the concept and characters. The new twist at the end of this book ensures that I am still very interested in what happens.
September 3, 2023
Was good, but...
I was really enjoying this story, but then it described naked woman torture in too much detail. I found myself thinking about it and realized that garbage in was garbage out. Sorry, sorta, but I cannot continue reading this.
I was really enjoying this story, but then it described naked woman torture in too much detail. I found myself thinking about it and realized that garbage in was garbage out. Sorry, sorta, but I cannot continue reading this.
July 5, 2021
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend it to anyone who like LitRPG type of book and lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend it to anyone who like LitRPG type of book and lots of action.
July 14, 2021
Interesting
I am really looking forward to the next. Good kingdom building coupled with character growth. I especially like the team mates moments
I am really looking forward to the next. Good kingdom building coupled with character growth. I especially like the team mates moments
July 27, 2021
Good Read
This story of the Earth going into a RPG world was a very entertaining fast paced action packed read that I really enjoyed reading.
This story of the Earth going into a RPG world was a very entertaining fast paced action packed read that I really enjoyed reading.
August 1, 2021
7/10
Overall, a good read. Still somewhat lacking on the litrpg genre expectations imo, but better than many in the genre. If food, it’d be chain restaurant food.
Overall, a good read. Still somewhat lacking on the litrpg genre expectations imo, but better than many in the genre. If food, it’d be chain restaurant food.
September 2, 2021
What time is it?
Seriously, I don’t even know. Could not put the book down to go to sleep. Can’t wait for more Phase Shift, but right now I’m looking into the author’s other books.
Seriously, I don’t even know. Could not put the book down to go to sleep. Can’t wait for more Phase Shift, but right now I’m looking into the author’s other books.
January 31, 2022
great book
Hope this next one is just as good.loved the plot twist and the action. Please continue with the action and adventure
Hope this next one is just as good.loved the plot twist and the action. Please continue with the action and adventure
Read
March 23, 2022Great book
Stellar work once again from Kyle Johnson! Lots of action and adventure, monsters and magic. Looking forward to the next one!
Stellar work once again from Kyle Johnson! Lots of action and adventure, monsters and magic. Looking forward to the next one!
March 5, 2023
Step up we do...
Another book, another good story. Background characters moving forward, storyline hinted at in other books picking up. It's all good!
Another book, another good story. Background characters moving forward, storyline hinted at in other books picking up. It's all good!
August 1, 2023
Great but also seems a little drawn out. The “twist” isn’t really a twist and is entirely predictable as well but I’ve been enjoyed the very brief alternate POVs which is rare for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews