Tim

Good OP progression story with deep enough world

Reviewed: 06-16-25

Good start, I broke my rule of starting a series when only book 1 is out. I did have to play this at 1.4 speed due to really slow reading (maybe even artificially, how else could 1.4 sound normal). Overall story is good with a legitimate system and world. MC is OP but only compared to his cohort, there are many others characters stronger. There is s risk of so many skills and stats that everything becomes meaningless, but that is for later. No interference with YA yet, hopefully it doesnt enter, also please no school or tournaments in next books or I am out.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Good enough plot to look past some elements

Reviewed: 03-28-25

Daniels performance is a Daniel performance and voice. It is good and voices are well done. Every time I get upset at the Captain not acting calm the writing actually indicates with panic in his voice.

The plot of the book is interesting and I will continue but the details are all over the place. I mostly have a hard time putting myself in the moment and imagining the action because of temporal, spacial elements. Missiles arrive in space battles instantly, sometimes there is time for dialog, other times a moment delay causes impact, are these ships 10 feet from each other or are they separated. I mostly have to stop trying to imagine it and just listen. Ground combat is similar.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

The quintessential litrpg

Reviewed: 02-21-25

,This series and Randidly Ghosthound are the ultimate progression, cultivation (or not) series. If you have not started these you have over 300 hours of continuous progression and story. Already read them? You have 300 hours of relistening while you wait for the next 27 hour installment which until recently came out quarterly.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Really good and smart writing

Reviewed: 10-22-24

Really smart writing and amazing performance. I do not agree with the YA reviews, it’s about a teen, sort of, but does not deal with YA themes even avoids them. This was a very fun listen and now I am off to listen to book 2.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Good but might want to wait

Reviewed: 10-05-24

The first two of these book are good and well written. My only complaint is book 1 is a setup book (origins) and this book is the start. It seems the author is working on another series also which implies the next book might not be out for another year. It might be worth waiting a year or two while these stories build up for a more complete experience, especially considering the short length compared to other long running series (27 hours every quarter).

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Continues to hold attention

Reviewed: 09-30-24

Every time I foresaw the end of the hook the story takes a new lease and keeps the interest and the commitment going. This is a fun self-aware book that keeps the reward going. I am looking forward to the next in the line.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Not much I can add

Reviewed: 09-30-24

It is amazing how a 26 hour book 7 in a series can make me seriously hold on to every second left not wanting it to end and wanting the next to release soon. The beginning is a little confusing, with so much going on and it being 3 months since the last book. Once I repositioned in it, I cared about each of story lines. Also glad to wrap up some and launch new. The end of the book isn't a cliff hanger but leaves you soo ready for next chapter. Well done, this and DoF are true pinnacles of what the genre can be.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Based on other books not others in the series

Reviewed: 05-05-24

This is not the best in the series but still heads above other books. The overall book is great its just in some details I hope the author tightens up.
1. His daughter is really poorly handled. All she does is question his decisions, not know whats going on(sometimes asking questions in inappropriate times), and be a weakness for him. She needs to be developed more and given some agency.
2. I felt like too often there is some random complication introduced that has no contribution to the story other than delay progression. Almost like it’s for word count. A few caused eye rolls while listening.
3. The ending parts had the most of these issues. Some really cheap IMO that sort of made me mad.

So all said, this is a a great book that could have been edited down to be more perfect.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great writing, performance, and characters.

Reviewed: 04-06-24

These are always good. One small critique, as is sometimes the case of these books which are a slice of a long cultivation story, this one is missing any large story payoffs and is instead continual challenges and growth. Even the wins that are there happen so quickly and with so little recognition I felt a little unrewarded ( 😀 ). Lastly some interactions with main characters are skipped but they seem to have caught up in the background made feel like I was missing those.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Need to remember what this series is

Reviewed: 09-03-23

Its important to remember what this series is, it is actually one long journey of Zach's cultivation. Not a series of books meant to stand on their own. I recently went back and relistened to all 10 books. Some books have major plot events and advancement of secondary plots, such as earth's advancement in the integration. Other books are spent with Zach shoring up deficiencies in his cultivation. All in all this whole series is one long journey of Zach's cultivation. And it is excellent.

That said, it can be hard when you wait 3 months and the next step is random gap filling in his cultivation. This is a very unique (to me) series and I imagine I will listen to the entire series many times. I can imagine after a while there will be huge gaps in time while Zach ponders the heavens for decades.

"What will be, will be".

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!