Everything's too easy

Lewis Alexander and Rozelyn Rader, in my opinion, did a great job on this story and the story itself is interesting but infuriating, and not well executed in my humble opinion. It suffers from some of the usual harem tropes and 'everything-comes-easy-for-MC' storytelling.

There are times when MC figures things out he shouldn't know, just because the author wants something to happen. Dues ex Machina style. For example, they're fighting some monsters as a final exam and suddenly MC figures out that they can combine their powers out of nowhere because it's not something they were ever told by any of their instructors that it was possible. He just decides it's a possibility and guess what, it works! Women also easily fall in love with MC without him having to make any effort. For example, his first love is eager and encouraging him to sleep with and have relationships with other women, of course, because it "excites her." Several of the women in his group are already eyeing him and making flirtatious smiles, etc. MC does something that has the punishment of death, but one of the instructors just handwaves away the punishment and just gives him a "stern talking too" (MC's own words). MC will make promises about things he had no way of knowing he could fulfill. This was also part of the everything-comes-easy-for-MC trope. In an environment where there are high promises of death in all of the training, he promises his team that no one will die.

MC also will decide to do something, make a significant change of mind or way of his life only to turn around and act like he didn't in his inner monologues. For example, he was a thief and supposedly doesn't like answering to authority, etc. All of that tropey stuff. Several times throughout the story he decides he's going to do things the right way, only to question authority (mind you, he's in this fantasy world's equivalent of something like the Dirty Dozen where he's been forcefully conscripted into this world's elite military force) and sometimes thinks about ways to break the rules all because it was something he did in his previous life despite being told several times there would be severe punishments. For example, on their first free day, they're told not to go to certain places on the campus, because they're off-limits and surrounded by a magical field that would cause all kinds of pain. MC is thinking that there has to be some way to get around it if he pokes and prods at it, thankfully he never does.

There are also problems with this world and the way they recruit these people. First of all, they're all criminals. That doesn't exactly garner loyalty. Second of all, all of their tests and trials come with a high risk of death. Their graduation rate is extremely low, very, really, seriously low. How do they even boost their needed numbers if their way of training kills all of their recruits? Also, the trainers never give their trainees enough information to prepare for any of the aforementioned exams. It makes for an interesting story, but from a logistical and military perspective, it's the dumbest thing anyone could think up.

The way they get their magical abilities is traumatic, long story short, they die over and over and over again to gain their magical abilities (it's not real), but throughout the story, only one character reacts to this event with any type of realistic psychological response. After the ordeal, she walks away from her friends and disappears into the shadows of a tree and when confronted, lets her anxiety explodes from her lips like a broken faucet. The rest of the characters just get over this traumatic experience and are eager for the next one just to get power. The first time it happens to the MC, he has no real reaction to it. No fear. And this is ultimately the overall problem I had with the story. MC never suffered any real consequences, never feared for anything actually, he just meanders through all of these events, opens his mouth and says dumb things at times, challenges authority, etc. with no real consequences, no actual reactions to any of the life situations most of the time. He's standing in front of someone he tried to rob who can kill him with a snap of her fingers, he tries to pretend to still be defiant instead of humble. He got in trouble and made an instructor mad, instead of going to the aftermath sincerely apologetic and humbled (regardless of the justification of what he did) he once again tries to stand defiant rather than be humbled. I'm not saying that he should cow-tow to people, but the faux bravado and faux-alpha-maleism is so, overdone.

Beyond this, the story had potential but needed a bit more glue to stick some things together and a MC that had more of a personality beyond "I was once a street rat and a thief and it hardened me so I know thing" which resulted to as I said above, him randomly "figuring things out" just because and the just because was because he lived a hard life.

3 people found this helpful

5 stars

love this book really great start to a new series. a great blend of Action, world building and sex

2 people found this helpful

Starts strong and ends strong

Great first book in a new series. The beginning of the book starts fast and I immediately felt comfortable with the MC. The middle third of the book was a little slower but still gives peaks of drama and humor. The final third of the book also ends strong with great fights and achievements.
The narrators were excellent, and it was easy to tell which character was speaking just by the different voices used by the narrators.
I am greatly looking forward to the next installment of this book.

1 person found this helpful

Phenomenal opening story full of excitement

This story line is nonstop excitement. Well developed characters with both depth and background usually unseen. The performance of readers brings the characters to life, providing a great level of enjoyment.

Like anime?

I thought it was quite good. Almost like anime. 👍 Great start! Nice description, not too much.

wow, just...wow

I love it when you try a book you're not sure about and it becomes your instant favorite! I loved this world, the battle mage concept, the ever present danger and especially the way spells are learned I'm completely blown away and I need more.

Good Story, but fails to fully explore situations

I think the author skips over some great potential situations. Almost like he is in a hurry to get finished. The MC seems to go unpunished on a lot of serious situations, where others would be challenged to get through their punishments. As their cohort goes through training, there are missed opportunities to play them off against other older classmen. Things seem to come too easy to Leo. Still it leaves you wanting to know what's next for them.

A Pleasant Surprise

I came into this with expectations of subpar story, and heavy on random "woohoo" moments. By the end I was invested and want more. One of the few books were a harem makes more sense then not.

must read

dante king does an amazing job in all his Writing, he has pick a wonderful team to deliver especial audio. this book is another testament of how well the author does. If you like fantasy, if you like to see the underdog rise up, if you like magic and fighting. Then this is the book for you.

Okay

Book is slow and not much actually happens. It has a decent story though. Could be worse and better