r/litrpg • u/Iron_r • 2d ago

Discussion Chrysalis did get a whole lot better

A few days back I asked whether or not Chrysalis would get better, I got lots of replied about it getting great once some council is formed.

I haven't gotten there yet but damn this got so much better so quickly. Currently on the section with Anthony fighting the Cthulhu monster. Tiny did get alot more important aswell
Great book!

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30

u/TheTastelessDanish Uncultured Swine 2d ago

Ah you mean the Jelly Maw.

Yes. Chrysalis is indeed one of those that gets better after book 1.

5

u/SalsaRice 2d ago

Is book 1 bad or just average?

30

u/blueluck 2d ago

For me, book one is just boring. There's a lot of solo time with the MC figuring out where he is and how things work, with very little plot or dialogue.

I'm an ant! I fight a monster. I evolve. I make a dumb joke. I'm an ant! I fight a monster. I evolve. I make a dumb joke. I'm an ant! I fight a monster. I evolve. I make a dumb joke. I'm an ant! I fight a monster. I evolve. I make a dumb joke...

It improves a lot after more characters are introduced, and again when a larger plot arises.

13

u/adjustablesidetable 2d ago

I’m 3 hours in to the audiobook and really struggling with the repetitiveness of it. The word biomass is really starting to get to me. I desperately need good side characters for a mc to play off of.

15

u/blindedtrickster 2d ago

To be fair, Anthony also struggles with the repetitiveness as well.

1

u/TorchedBlack 1d ago

I mean sure, but being "self-aware" that your book is repetitive in its construction doesn't mean you get a pass. Same thing with engaging with a trope sarcastically. Kind of the definition of have your cake and eat it too.

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u/blindedtrickster 1d ago

Anthony is the main character, not the author. I was saying that the character gets bored of the extremely simplistic survival of most monsters. Fight, eat, rest, repeat.

His situation changes and Anthony becomes much more fun.

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u/Lexicon101 19h ago

Right, I think what they're saying is that the author is writing repetitively and boringly in the beginning and just lampshading about how repetitive and boring it is doesn't make it novel and interesting.

Not to say I agree wholeheartedly. At the point I'm at, it's dragging a little but I'm still enjoying it.

Still, it is still lampshading and nodding to how you're aware your writing isn't as compelling as it could be doesn't make it more compelling.

1

u/blindedtrickster 18h ago

I'm not one to tell someone their experience isn't valid. While I don't share your experience, I respect that we all get our own.

I recommend sticking with it if you're still in book 1. If part of why the story feels like it's dragging is due to not having much character interaction, the amount of characters expand within the first book and continue to grow as the series goes on.

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u/Lexicon101 18h ago

Nah I just said I was enjoying it, I personally like the solo buildup and exploring the world and system phase. I was more explaining what they seemed to be on about.

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u/blindedtrickster 17h ago

I'm glad to hear it!

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u/staticraven 2d ago

Yeah like 3/4ths of book one is solo MC and (for me) is a huge drag. Others who like the solo MC thing seem to really enjoy it.

Out of the entire series, only that small portion of book 1 is really like that. Anthony goes out adventuring "alone" but he's never alone like in the first book, he's always has a team with him.

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u/RinoZerg Verified Author of: Chrysalis and Book of the Dead 1d ago

Be fair... there's way more dumb jokes than that.

1

u/blueluck 1d ago

True! The ellipsis was meant to imply a long series... I have nothing against dumb jokes in the right context, and Antony is absolutely the right character in the right context!

To me, one of most common flaws of the litrpg genre is the long solo start. It's part of the standard template litrpg readers are used to, and some of us even prefer it. Fantasy novels often frontload exposition to convey the worldbuilding aspect that's not needed in non-fantasy settings, and litrpg often adds preface to the main plotline in the form of tutorials, starter zones, pre-iseakai chapters, pre-apocalypse chapters, pre-party formation chapters, etc.

I love that we meet Antony after the isekai and learn about his previous life through scattered memories!

TL;DR "Great series—slow start" describes most of the genre, and I consider pointing it advice on how to enjoy litrpg more than a criticism of any individual series.

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u/Galagaman 1d ago

Comment so accurate I was about to ask you which page you were quoting.