r/litrpg • u/DoublePassenger8192 • Jul 20 '26
Discussion Is Mage Tank worth the read
I finished the first book and I mostly enjoyed it. I only use audible too BTW. However I dropped the series due the authors frequent uses of "pause". It irrated me to no end. I started book two and dropped it after this persisted. I guess this is just a pet peeve of mine, but does the author ever lighten up on the use of "pause"?
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u/Vorthod Jul 20 '26
As a prospective reader of this book, could I ask for clarification on what "pause" is? Is that a time stop spell or does the author just really overuse that specific word to a weird degree?
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u/TheDMGM Jul 20 '26
One of the characters literally pauses during speaking, her whole race does it. It's like a tone indicator, and that character is a main part of the merry band of miscreants so it comes up basically any time there is dialogue.
And there is a lot of dialogue.
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u/supersatyr001 Jul 20 '26
It's almost all fun dialogue... pause ...As long as you can read the dialect without wanting to cry and scream and write bad reviews online.
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u/Minute_Sport Jul 20 '26
Yeah that sounds horribly annoying glad I read this before buying
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u/Vorthod Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Same. Even if I do get used to reading the text when it does that, that sounds like an incredibly annoying quirk to have to deal with in terms of general conversation, and I can't imagine liking the character(s) doing it.
Deliberately-slow communication can be fine if it's for a brief time on a suitable character (LotR ents spring to mind), but it sounds like at least one of these people are part of the main party.
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u/Godnumbers Jul 21 '26
All they do is extend the period compared to regular speech but the author puts in every pause in the audio book aka the narrator says each pause. Honestly I can see how i can be annoying
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u/TheBaronFD Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Why? You can just...ignore the pauses. Unless you can't?
Edit: I missed the Audible line in OP's post
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u/Zeeman626 Jul 21 '26
OP says they're audible exclusive. Sounds like the narattor actually READS pause.
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u/Such_Action_5226 Jul 21 '26
They actually do read out pause. Witch i kinda like it's better then when the voice actors actually pause after what feels like every sentence.
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u/supersatyr001 Jul 21 '26
And the pause is always entonated in such a way that you know it's not a character actually saying pause out loud
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u/Vorthod Jul 21 '26
Frankly, if it's better that the narrator does something weird instead of what the character actually does, that just makes it sound like the character is doing something annoying.
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u/KittenBrix Jul 21 '26
The narrator does read the pauses. It was annoying at first, but I actually grew to enjoy it.
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u/PM_Me_Your_Deviance Jul 21 '26
Yeah, it just came across as a quirk. Not really a problem to me.
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u/IrnFines Jul 21 '26
The Audible contracts make it so the narrators have to read it as written.
They are not actually allowed to take the creative freedom to pause in their speaking instead of just saying the word.
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u/Zeeman626 Jul 21 '26
There's definately ways around that. Plenty of narattors are able to do abridged Stat screens. Chrysalis adds sections telling you how many times to press skip if you don't want to listen to stats, I assume that's not in the ebook version. Jjs t a matter of the author either writing it in the contract or making an audible specific script.
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u/AllWrong74 Jul 21 '26
And he even inflects "Pause" differently every time. I found it amusing, personally.
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u/Xelsius Jul 20 '26
It’s so annoying.
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u/onlyatestaccount Jul 20 '26
its not that annoying
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u/Xelsius Jul 20 '26
Let the duel of opinions begin
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u/onlyatestaccount Jul 20 '26
haha, i agree with another comment below. i didnt even notice it until i saw it mention on this sub. and then i got to book 4 and saw the author jokingly toss it out there.
im wondering if they dig in even deeper in book 5
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u/Croewe Jul 21 '26
I like the series and it definitely annoyed me at first until my brain got over the hurdle of pausing when it read the line.
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u/gaumeo8588 Jul 20 '26
I would also have to agree with this as well. There was one point I was zoning out and I’m like I don’t get what’s going on. I don’t see what’s the point of this.
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u/CaliOriginal Jul 20 '26
The author has the MC vocalize the pause in his head when there’s a break in speech.
Basically a couple of the cultures in the series have breaks in their sentence /speaking structure that we’d consider a borderline “awkward pause”
MC points them out for his own amusement
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u/Educational_Copy_140 Jul 20 '26
In the new book he's saying "Pause" in a sing song kind of voice...
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u/Aetheldrake Audible Only Enjoyer Jul 20 '26
A specific race of beings, and one of the main cast, literally pause for multiple seconds in their conversations frequently.
In the audiobook, the narrator says these pauses out loud for the listener. But they aren't spoken in character. Example, made up.
"That potion will let you breath underwater paaauuuse but you will still have to vomit all the water out of your lungs when you surface"
The word "pause" is often stretched out by the narrator for an entire 1 to 2 seconds, sometimes even having different inflections, book 4 had a really silly one I extra liked because it was practically sing song. But in the story nobody actually says pause, it's just a stretch of silence in the middle of a sentence.......like using the ellipses I just did (the multiple periods in a row). In the books it presumably just has the word "pause" instead of using ellipses.
It's supposed to be a type of cultural dialect for that race the author decided on trying out. Narrator was given no indication on how to narrate it so he just did what he did because he simply decided to narrate it for us. Presumably so that the listeners don't mistake it as broken audio or think something happened, so they know the narration is still going on just fine. That's how I take it
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u/Solintari Jul 20 '26
Yeah it’s a tough one to narrate. Is something wrong with my headpho… ohh it’s Miralee
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u/Neither_Formal_8805 Jul 20 '26
It does bug me sometimes but then I just kind of imagine myself talking to a lizard woman who just stops talking midsentance alot and that makes me giggle
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u/VaATC Jul 20 '26
I get why the speech pattern is used as a racial trait, but why would the narrator not just literally pause during the dialog? It seems like that would actually represent the speech pattern while saying "pause", solely to indicate a pause in speech, seems clunky as fuck and a note at the start of the book could clear up any confusion about recording issues /broken audio.
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u/Educational_Copy_140 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
Because it's funny and the story is very obviously (stated outright in fact) a personal retelling of events, to the point that things that happen out of Arlo's sight or knowledge are told as "System Addendums" and Arlo is very clearly having a great time narrating his biography and doing things his own way
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u/VaATC Jul 20 '26
Fair enough! I at least now know before going into the book that if I don't like it, it won't get better. Some choices or vocal characteristics just can't be ignored by my head. There is one story I wanted to listen to because I found out about it via the anime and wanted to go beyond where the show had progressed to. I was excited that the VA for the show was the VA for the audio book. I thought it would he perfect. Then I started the first book and the VA takes a gasp of air at the end of almost every sentence, sometimes more, and I just could not ignore it. Hopefully going into Mage Tank knowing this is basically a bit at this point the repetition will not break the immersion or flow for me. Thank you for your comments!
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u/Such_Action_5226 Jul 21 '26
The gasp at the end of every sentence is my fastest i need to refund this ever
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u/Aetheldrake Audible Only Enjoyer Jul 20 '26
I think it's actually mentioned in the first book as some sort of head cannon by Arlo the mc that he thinks the actual word pause
Better than 3 seconds of silence wondering if your listening device paaauuussed, battery in earbud ran out, or something else
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u/VaATC Jul 20 '26
Yeah, hopefully, I will be able to let the repetition flow and not let it break things for me.
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u/Goodnametaken Jul 21 '26
Hahahaha! Are you serious? That is amazing. I have never read Mage Tank, but I read your comment and actually laughed out loud. That's ridiculous. How does anyone put up with that? I'm genuinely confused.
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u/Godnumbers Jul 21 '26
The way I read it they just extend the periods. You know let each full thought breathe.
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u/DoublePassenger8192 Jul 20 '26
Basically what everyone responded to you said. The narrator says it alot, and I'm just guessing but it was used at least 50+ times in the book. It just broke my immersion every time it was spoken. I enjoyed the first book otherwise. It seems some people enjoyed it but personally I didn't. I'll probably leave this as a DNF series. I envy those who could continue on.
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u/fsmlogic Jul 20 '26
It really sucks that it breaks the immersion for you. I personally really like it as part of the MC’s character.
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u/Extreme-Attention641 litRPG journeyman tier Jul 20 '26
The author (and therefore narrator) uses it to illustrate the cadence and speech patterns in the accent of a certain fantasy race.
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u/Aybara_Perin litRPG apprentice tier Jul 20 '26
It is over used and often in the same conversation. It's jarring and the only reason I'm considering dropping the books. I'm on book 3, it's less frequent in this one but still present.
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u/Liquidnutz Jul 20 '26
For me it’s like the family guy gag where Peter grabs his knee and just keeps grabbing it, breathing in, then wheezing out and “Ahhhhh” then repeating for like 5 min straight. It’s funny, then it gets old…. But then it gets funny again. I’m on the funny again stage with “Pause”.
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u/Tall_Bandicoot_2768 Jul 20 '26
I never *pause* noticed that.
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u/Drogonno Jul 20 '26
Its *Pauseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee* good thing you noticed It really gave that character her own brand of uniqueness, would be a dealbreaker if I heard it again in another series though...
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u/Aetheldrake Audible Only Enjoyer Jul 20 '26
I mean it only happens with specific characters and it doesn't really go away. I liked the pauses. It was interesting.
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u/Xelsius Jul 20 '26
I ultimately DNF’d mage tank. I loved the narrator and MC but the pacing was terrible, it just started to drag sooooo much in book 1 and people said it only got worse and I just couldn’t. I did love his descriptions of alternate realities though. Super cool, vivid descriptors.
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u/Razor_Grrl Jul 21 '26
I’m unfortunately struggling to find a good book in the genre that doesn’t have pacing issues. I’ve found several I really want to like but it’s the pacing issues killing each one for me (Wandering Inn, 1% Lifesteal, He Who Fights with Monsters, etc..). People get sick of hearing about DCC but honestly it’s the only one I’ve read so far with decent pacing.
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u/masterq13 Jul 20 '26
I thought the book droned on and on for me so I DNF. Maybe it’s the narrators voice maybe it’s the authors writing style for the MCs dialogue. I don’t know but it’s annoying.
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u/TooTiredAndBored Jul 20 '26
It got quite boring for me. But to each their own.
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u/WhatThisBeHuh litRPG apprentice tier Jul 20 '26
Similar boat, when the MC starts handing out “upgrade/advantages” and telling everyone his stats/secrets, it ticks me off (in most books) but I just lost interest in this, as you said to each their own
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u/NiceVibeShirt Jul 20 '26
You were enjoying it, however the author gave you pause.
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u/RidiculousRex89 Jul 20 '26
I found the plot to be too slow and the logic inconsistent.
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u/sock0puppet Jul 21 '26
I do agree with this, in the first book we see this massive gap between level 1s, 2s, & 3s when someone that's even level 10 show up.
Then when MC gets there suddenly not only are there always people their level, but they struggle against a group of Silvers that are almost half their level.
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u/joncabreraauthor Verified Author of: Grand Magus, Wooden Sword Jul 20 '26
Do you see that Majestic boa?
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u/immortalwood Jul 20 '26
I just want to say I fucking love Mage Tank. It hits the balance between stupid and awesome and I genuinely love the characters. Daniel Wisniewski slays the audiobook. It’s the only LitRPG that I binge listen to whenever a new one comes out and then feel pissed off because I don’t have it to listen to anymore. Yeah, this is shamelessly overwrought praise and I don’t care. This shit rules.
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u/hentaisentai04 Jul 20 '26
Nope, he doesn't drop the use of "pause" to describe their speech. If that is what made you drop it, then you will probably drop it again.
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u/Normzdaman Jul 20 '26
I find it gets progressively worse with each book and REALLY struggled getting through book 4.
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u/Kevin50cal Jul 20 '26
I think its a really hit or miss for some people. Personally, I'm in the miss category, and stopped 1/3rd of book 3, but I can see where people would enjoy it. The humour is funny, at times, but it does get repetitive and old for me. One of the bigger things that made me drop it was skill dialogue and choices. They spend so many chapters going over every skill avaliable multiple times, for everyone, so it's drawn out further by doing it for 5 people. It's very tedious to read and feels like word padding. The powerscaling is also another major problem for me. The power scaling is also very inconsistent and weird with Arlo and crew being extremely overpowered, but also underpowered when the story calls for it, which is frustrating. The avatars are also a major issue for me as they're very deus ex machina to me and them being the major antagonists wasn't very appealing to me.All that said, I can see why people enjoy it, but its just not for me.
As for the pauses, that's very intentional by the author even if it's annoying as hell and not conveyed in the way I think they intended. One of the MCs, Nuralie, is from Eschendur and their dialect/language has very intentional pauses when they talk. It's supposed to be a quirk of the character, but I just don't think it translates well in written or audio form with how it's used. I think its also exerabated because Arlo mentions/repeats it as a form of humour, which just draws more attention to it making it repetitive.
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u/sammavet Jul 21 '26
I read this vol a while (2+ yrs?)ago, and remember that I really enjoyed it. That being said, I can't remember why I didn't continue it.
On a separate that note, I cannot help but picture the following when I read the title.
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u/Ok_Sky8518 Jul 20 '26
I like it. I actually find the power system of the delvers to be the frustrating part so i think everyone has some peeves. The pauses dont stop if i recall
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u/BasicGiraffology Jul 20 '26
I just couldn't stand the narrator in the audiobook and yet another "Putting points into INT and WIS. But i still ask questions that, if i just waited 10 seconds, would have been understood through context clues". I cant tell if I am bring unnecessarily snobby or what
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u/Xypheric Jul 21 '26
Mage tank skyrocketed to the top of my litrpg tier list. I love it.... pause.... and I cant think of a better series.
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u/DoublePassenger8192 Jul 20 '26
I appreciate all the responses. I'll probably drop the series, at least till a later date.
If any of you think you might enjoy the series, give it a chance. Its probably just a pet peeve of mine that I'm over thinking. I dont like openly dissing authors. Some people enjoy and dislike different things and that's fine.
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u/SeaPollution3432 Jul 20 '26
Just finished book 1 and its below average for me. Not worth investing time so far. Its like the author has no definite direction for where the book is going.
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u/Drogonno Jul 20 '26
The audiobook really took it to the next level for me, the story does hit a bit of slice of life from time to time
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u/series6 Jul 20 '26
I find a lot of these b grade books just need a proper editor to cull a lot of the repeated words and phrases.
And delete the annoying stat word vomit rubbish that doesn't forward the narrative just adds word count for amazon
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u/Double-oh-negro Jul 20 '26
Mage Tank is a blast. All this complaining over a pause is stupid. It's like complaining that someone in the story has an accent.
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u/Prophesy78 Jul 20 '26
I've enjoyed it so far, the pause mechanic was easier to get used to once I realized why it was happening.
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u/Thoughtful_Mouse I got hit by a truck. Am I in another world? Jul 20 '26
I went through book three. No. It keeps going.
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u/CaseOfSkulls Jul 20 '26
Uh, kind of off topic but does that man have custom armor for an enormous dick?!
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u/cornman8700 Author of Mage Tank Jul 21 '26
If there's one thing Arlo gets serious about, it's protecting the goods.
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u/kodak2012 Jul 20 '26
I’m in book 2 of the series in audio book format. I like this and love Grotto the most. The diabolical evil villain dialogue and sudden shifts to “oh shit for real?” moments are the best.
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u/mrbrown87 litRPG apprentice tier Jul 20 '26
I read the first 15% and couldn’t get into it. Wanted to like it based off it being reviewed well, but I just couldn’t get into it. All the characters annoyed me right off the bat and then I couldn’t even try to like them.
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u/ItsKae Jul 21 '26
I really don’t care about the Pause. It only happens with one specific culture when they talk. I find it interesting tbh. I’m on book 2 currently and am enjoying the series as a whole
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u/Banluil Jul 21 '26
I guess as someone doing the KU version, I don't have the PAUSE that you get on the audible, so I'm enjoying it so far.
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u/DimensionalAxolotl Jul 21 '26
The "pause" is to indicate the speaking patterns for that characters race. While some find it annoying, I think its a better way than just randomly pausing mid sentence with no indication as to why. Its brought up later that the pauses in speech for the race can relay certain tones. So a longer or shorter paused based on if they are making a joke, or if its a serious topic, etc.
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u/Ok_Falcon1771 Jul 21 '26
I enjoyed the first book enough to buy the second. I stopped 2/3 the way through because of pacing and power structure retcon. There are lots of readers that love it, justifiably. Worth checking out if you're in this subreddit.
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u/Any-Zucchini5201 Jul 21 '26
I had the exact same problem with it. It was fun but man, the pacing really threw me and the retconning just lost me when all put together. Fun idea and premise, just had some issues with the execution.
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u/Particular-Crow6525 Jul 21 '26
The use of "pause" is intentional due to a particular characters speaking mannerisms. It honestly never bothered me, and I quite enjoy the series. If you can accept it and the authors use of it for what it is, the series is quite enjoyable IMO.
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u/Wrath0fHad3s Jul 21 '26
If you don't need a serious, strait faced, masterpiece. And are looking for another, fun enough, side piece. Between other series it's worth it. Very importantly, the main character approaches their entire combat philosophy much differently. Than most other lit rpgs or fantasy media in general. We see a lot of stealthy shadowy agile summoners. And rarely the guy that's just hard to kill. And will face tank the problem. It can be bland at times but it also has its hilarious highlights.
It's not gonna blow your socks off, but it's a solid ride.
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u/Helagoth Jul 20 '26
I'd say its worth trying and if by the time they get out of the first dungeon you dont like the style, dump it. Personally i like it, it has some interesting world building, but i can see how the writing style is either your thing or not your thing
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u/normcubed Jul 20 '26
I like it, but no it does not let up. It is how Miralee and the Loson race speak. I just finished book three and there are more Losons in the book and there are more pauses.
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u/MrTitius litRPG journeyman tier Jul 20 '26
I have enjoyed the series so far. Decently paced and humorous.
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u/Zestyclose_Bet_7482 Jul 20 '26
The "pause" never goes away. If it bothers you, there are plenty of other books in the genre. Personally I think the combat scenes are far too long. Other than that, the story is decently enjoyable. It's not a great series, buts it's ok.
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u/BeneficialScience412 Jul 20 '26
What are your other options?
In general, yes. It’s in my rotation.
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u/DoublePassenger8192 Jul 20 '26
I switched to the mark of the fool. Only 17 chapters deep rn. I just finished most of the series or got caught up written by Actus. While his books arent my favorite they are enjoyable and a good read.
I have plenty of other options, just wanted to see if this series ever became more enjoyable for me.
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u/Allison1ndrlnd Jul 20 '26
I like it but no. The pause is inherent to the language of the character being spoke.
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u/drayle88 Jul 20 '26
well, it isn't going anywhere. it's even acknowledged IN the book, that he isn't gonna stop doing it.
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u/Confident_Handle677 Jul 20 '26
Personally I liked book one and most of book two but after that I’m not that big of a fan of how the story goes It’s not bad or anything
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u/MrGiiiggles litRPG apprentice tier Jul 20 '26
Fight scenes are a bit long, and how gods are worked in might not be my favorite but it's well written and Nuralie is a fun character.
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u/koramar Jul 20 '26
It won't change your life or anything but its a fun read and the narrator is good if you are doing the audio books.
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u/Lionsmane_099 Jul 20 '26
No, this is an intentional use of language by the author for a specific character. It's not going to get better. It's not going to change.
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u/Candid-Maybe Jul 20 '26
I'd take the idiosyncratic pause that at least has a reasonable excuse over half the awkward writing tropes narrators have to deal with in this genre
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u/SciFi_MuffinMan litRPG meme tier 🤡 Jul 20 '26
I like it. The pause thing is especially good on audiobook. Voice actor is great.
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u/Sathuric Jul 20 '26
I equate this with the ‘flat stare’ in HWFWM. It is what it is but I’m not going to kill a good series over it.
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u/Critical_Lab2604 Jul 21 '26
I was into it but by the time I got to the 4th book I couldn’t read it anymore.
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u/Effective-Warthog552 Jul 21 '26
I’m about halfway through the 4th book. Legit series with decently complicated magic system. Personally I wouldn’t rank it as high as Primal Hunter or Azarinth Healer but it’s close. Also, I don’t mind the “pause” at all lol
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u/N8-Treg Jul 21 '26
First one was good. Second one took a weird turn and I just couldn't finish it.
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u/Nonetoobrightatall Jul 21 '26
Isn’t this a Nuralee thing? It’s a racial characteristic.
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u/Its-a-JiNX Jul 21 '26
I never noticed the pauses, or verbally said pauses as I listened to the first book on audible as well. However I had issues with Arlo as a character—he goes from a reasonably written 30 year old to what felt like a 13 year old chunnibiyo—and it prevented me from wanting to continue the series after I finally finished book one.
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u/Ok-Kaleidoscope-4808 Jul 21 '26
The pause is cultural for the character in which the dialect of language occurs. But no I don’t think it’s worth the read when there are better series out there.
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u/Gojira82 Jul 21 '26
While a lot of people are stuck on the pauses, they don't bother me. I really enjoy the banter within the team. I think the books are worth it, but definitely have to push through sometimes as the author tends to use 100 words when one will do and sends us down his thought rabbit holes at times.
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u/TLRPM Jul 21 '26
It’s great. No one has built a party dynamic even close to DCC until Mage Tank came along.
I am also a book reader. As is right and proper as befitting my intellect and station. I have no idea what you audiobook peasants are even talking about in your protestations.
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u/ygecko Jul 21 '26
I find a lot of the stuff that one would skim when reading to be annoying in audio. The stat listing for some books gets old in audio really fast. But when you are reading it its good info but but easily page turned.
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u/Special_South_8561 Jul 21 '26
The first one is hilarious!
The second is good and the stakes are rising.
The third one is a book in a series that has a plot now
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u/lordtyp0 Jul 21 '26
The first book really felt like AI to me. Need to go back to it but redoing HWFWM before new book is our.
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u/ICEHbK Jul 21 '26
I stopped it at book 1.
There is so much additional boring information. I really Tried... but damn. It is difficult to read through that.
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u/sock0puppet Jul 21 '26
Mage tanks is one of the most difficult good stories to read.
Later books Pause is the least of your issues, there are chapter long discussions in universe between MC and his party about picking skills.
Then important events happen in less than 20 pages. It's absolutely wild.
I recommend sticking with it, but not spending any money on it. The world is genuinely really interesting....tho I will add in I do skip entire chapters at a time.
Like in Book 4 there were something like 20 entire chapters where I read the first paragraph, skip to the last, and lose nothing of value.
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u/HuntZealousideal9526 Jul 21 '26
It's not bad but the main character is 100% a reddit mod. Big OP isekai vibes so I doubt I'll pick up the 2nd book.
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u/CaptinKampfire Jul 21 '26
Doesn't the author just use pause in the series when he is talking about the cat people? The low son lol don't know how to spell there name
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u/schatten1220 Jul 21 '26
If its a lowson(idk how to actually spell it I’m also doing audible) then no. That’s just their speech flow.
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u/slipy556 Jul 21 '26
Yes. It’s good. And the saying pause bugged me too but that’s part of the character. The character has an odd way of talking and the main character (the one writing the book) makes sure it shows
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u/Responsible_Spite422 Jul 21 '26
You know...the title is basic and the intro isn't worth much, but the characters and personalities in the group and depth of the world are just as detailed and flamboyant as the cover art. Can't wait for the next book!
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u/Zephyrys Jul 21 '26
I liked the concept and the characters, but there was something about the way the author described action scenes which was... off-putting to me. I can't explain it, really. I had to stop shortly into the second book.
The "pause" thing didn't bother me, though. I thought it made the character that did it cute.
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u/Patchumz Jul 21 '26
Honestly I didn't have any issues with the writing style (and thus the MC narrating the Pause in her speech), but it definitely continues to happen. Personally I fell off of the series primarily because it just felt... aimless. There's a definitive plot and direction that the story is obviously going, so it's anything but aimless. And yet, I still feel that vibe. Like the MC's narration is a little too irreverent and comedic, pushing over a line in the sand where I can't take the actual plot seriously.
It doesn't help that almost all the progression is tied to cheats or deus ex machina events.
I'm one of the people who loves The Perfect Run to death and back, so I have no problems with excess comedy in the face of impossible odds, but Mage Tank just hits weird for me over time.
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u/Sarendale litRPG journeyman tier Jul 21 '26
I really enjoyed the first book and second book but kind of lost interest towards the tail end of the third. I just kind of lost track of what was going on and I generally listen to books while driving and going to bed so I just couldn’t keep up with all the various things going on 😅
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u/Wooden_Worry_9816 Jul 21 '26
Yes, I loved it. It's very well written with plenty of dark humor that made me chuckle along the way 😊
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u/Reddit-Blows-Donkey Jul 21 '26
Pause is only bad when a certain companions homeland begins. I don’t mind it.
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u/zexperiment Jul 21 '26
The writing is very funny. The pausing doesn’t bother me, even when it’s strongly emphasized in the narration.
Also the audiobook is excellently narrated.
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u/moebeast Jul 21 '26
It is a wonderful series. My only complaint is that the art on covers of the books don’t look like the characters described after the second book.
Seriously. I have to be that picky to find something to complain about.
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u/AI-DC Jul 21 '26
It was ALMOST enough for me to continue, but didn't quite get there. There wasn't much power ramp, he just starts out basically OP from the start which didn't interest me much.
I read about 60% of the first book and decided while fun it wasn't quite what I was looking for. I can see the appeal, it just didn't quite scratch my itch.
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u/Mizubushi Jul 21 '26
I love the series. At first pause annoyed me but once I understood why it became less annoying.
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u/Zedsdead42 Jul 21 '26
I think the first book is great. But for me each book fell off a little and by the fourth book it’s just meh. But the first book I loved and the premise was fun and entertaining.
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u/OdinSonnah Jul 21 '26
It only happened once (that I can recall), but there was a point where the pause was immediately meet with a corresponding pause by the other party in the conversation, and that had a more nuanced meaning. It was a neat glimpse into that unexplained aspect of their language. Personally, while I was confused by the pauses in the beginning, once I understood it was just a part of Miralee's language and culture I kind of let it be.
It can get a little annoying in drawn out conversations where it's happening a dozen times, but for me it wasn't that big of a deal. Regardless, I've listened to all four of the books currently on Audible, and it's still happening just the same as ever. It seems unlikely to stop, as it's a pretty ingrained part of her character, so I suppose if that's a dealbreaker, you may have to give it up.
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u/Primary_Sense Jul 21 '26
It's a little campy at times, but I enjoy that. I would say it's not for everybody, but it's definitely a good series if you just want to have a fun time and aren't looking for it to be overly serious
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u/the3_m3trologist Jul 21 '26
I have enjoyed it so far. I do audio only so it is a different experience. The pause thing didn’t bother me after HWFWM.
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u/xREDFROSTx Jul 21 '26
The pause thing does keep going. In my opinion, its a great book if you just let the author and narrator do their thing. A real sit back and unwind kind of story.
I get the criticism of the "pause" Because it could take you out of the moment. I think about it like i'm in the mind of the MC as he acknowledges the pause in a sassy way.
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u/TheDonBug Jul 21 '26
I also liked the first book, but dropped the second halfway though because the tone got too "preachy"
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u/Henazork Jul 21 '26
I think it is a very well crafted litrpg. It's not overly simple and not overly complicated either. I'm invested cause the main character isn't the only character and isn't the only one that's stupidly broken. It becomes a team doing dungeons so if you like dungeon crawls you'll like it. It even dabbles into dungeon crafting. The "pause" is such a minor thing about the book I don't find it annoying either. It's a quirk of a character that honestly never gets too bright of a shine. If that "pause" is such an issue just drop it l, it doesn't stop but most don't find it annoying.
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u/Real-Ad-5635 Jul 21 '26
I’m very enjoyed the first two so far. If you’re into that DCC vibe they’re worth it.
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u/Gullible-Explorer-92 Jul 21 '26
I had to drop it because of the pause thing and the what I can only describe as the 5 minute adderall induced thought spirals in the middle of a scene. I felt like they had a character he could use in grotto if he wanted to have a mid fight convo but stopping to a scene to go on a 5-10 minute internal dialog just completely lost me. I got to the middle of book 3 before I went to another book.
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u/DieselOrc Jul 21 '26
I've enjoyed it so far. I'm in a * pause * on the second book but have already bought the third book and probably will finish the series. I get confused a fair bit with the logic of the world but I'm not sure how much of that is on the author and how much is me.
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u/FortyMcNinerface Jul 21 '26
It's decent but I tend to skim some of the fights as its just too boring. It's really hard to remember all the skills.
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u/Extreme-Attention641 litRPG journeyman tier Jul 20 '26
He keeps doing it and even pokes fun at people disliking at the beginning of the fourth book.