Grilled Armageddon

Cooking with Disaster #1

by Dakota Krout

The world as we knew it is gone. Food and water are poison. Learn the new rules, or die trying.

Eli ‘Nacho’ Naches is a fearsome assassin who has lost everything in a post-apocalyptic world full of monstrous creatures. He knows where he fits in this horror-show, and he’s only been hanging around to see what’s going to be thrown at him next. When he’s finally put in chains and sent to the chopping block, he goes readily… only to be unexpectedly sent back in time to his younger body with his memories intact, and the chance to make a difference.

But Nacho isn’t interested in saving the world. He just needs to save the people that matter to him, and give them a chance to survive in a world where everything but the air itself is poison. Knowing that all their lives are on the line, Nacho the battle-scarred killer needs to get his college-age friends to listen to him, plan their builds, and secure a safe location to bunker down. Obviously, each of those goals is an Epic quest all on its own.

Welcome to the Juxtaposition. May Your Future Be Delicious.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Magic, Post Apocalyptic, Role Playing Games

460 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2024

About the author

Author of the best-selling Divine Dungeon, Completionist Chronicles, and Full Murderhobo series, Dakota Krout was chosen as Audible's top 5 fantasy pick of 2017, has been a top 5 bestseller on Amazon, and a top 6 bestseller on Audible.

He draws on his experience in the military to create vast terrains and intricate systems, and his history in programming and information technology helps him bring a logical aspect to both his writing and his company while giving him a unique perspective for future challenges.

Publishing my stories has been an incredible blessing thus far, and I hope to keep you entertained for years to come! -Dakota Krout

Reviews

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want your grimdark System apocalypse with a side of cannibalism, this is the story for you! And not just any old cannibalism, but the entire structure of the system drives people to prey on other people, rewarding them for every depravity. Okay, just rewarding killing and eating people, but you can see what kind of population that will lead to succeed.

I was interested in Nacho and his friends. For a while. But if your premise leans on your protagonist have a class of "Common Cook", having him be a bad cook and reluctant to do actual cooking, and beyond resistant (to the point of being actually combative) about developing cooking skills, maybe wasn't the right plot move to make. By the third time Nacho convinced his friends to power up over taking anything for himself I just got tired. And it wasn't long after that I stopped caring about anything.

Honestly, I knew this was going to be a stretch going into it. I don't like grimdark and I was hoping that being a cook would lighten the tone enough for me to enjoy. Turned out that was a bad bet. One star but with the caveat that it has interesting characters and worldbuilding and if you're comfortable in grimdark immersion, this might be up your alley.

[Dave Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's good stuff here, but the bad outweighs the good
This is a LitRPG, Grimdark, Earth converted to a game system, post apocalypse/survival, dungeon progression kinda thing. With that title I thought this was going to be like Delicious in Dungeon, or Cleaver's Edge (Morcster Chef) but it's not. both of those things are light and fun. This is a lot more like Randidly Ghosthound & Trojan Nightmare (Apocalypse Cultivation) except the World System is meaner than either of those, there is less fun and more suffering (like Dungeon Crawler Carl), and MC has friends, so he's not all alone. Post traumatic stress and long term psychological break down are a factor in this book if that tells you anything.
This book suffers from two fatal flaws
#1. The main character is introduced as total scum. Unlikable human garbage. He finds a kind of redemption but you know what they say about first impressions. That just poisoned the whole book from page one and I could never get behind this backstabbing, murderous thug.
#2. There is just no point.
The game is rigged against them, they are all going to die badly. The book makes it clear there will be no winning this game. You can only prolong your suffering, increase your trauma, and put off your death until later. I usually DNF any book where I would urge the characters to suicide, but this is Dakota Krout... I had to give it and extra chance.
I felt stressed out through the book expecting someone to die. By the end I was exhausted and didn't care what happened next. I'm just not a fan of Grimdark.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

People will definitely disagree with what I'm about to say, but remember that this is my personal opinion and you are allowed to disagree with me.

Way to many puns! It gets old fast.
For being the top assassin the MC is really rather stupid. Here is why I feel that way.
The MC spends a lot of time planning how to change the future and save his friends. First chance he gets the plan goes out the window. The MC doesn't know how to cook, yet he grabs a cooking class.
Okay, fine I get this. Most people don't want to be a cannibal. Yet for the first half of the book he does little to nothing with his class.
He cleaned the poison from the watermelon seed and just threw it away.
More time is spent on puns and feelings than anything else, which makes the last part of the book feel kinda crushed in. Meaning he goes from being a terrible cook to a good one with the flip of a page.
More time could have been spent on the MC learning to cook, but it was used up for puns.

I don't tend to really enjoy books with nods to other works or pop culture thrown in.

This book wasn't bad, but it could have been so much better.
Spelling and editing were top notch as far as I can tell.

6/10 overdid the puns. It's wasn't punny!

[Achille B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4

#FreeNacho he only killed a couple hundred ppl cuz y’all told him too

[Akshay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grilled Armageddon (Cooking with Disaster, #1) by Dakota Krout:

Grilled Armageddon, the first book in the Cooking with Disaster series by Dakota Krout, presents a unique blend of culinary creativity and post-apocalyptic chaos. Krout, known for his inventive approach to the LitRPG genre, delivers a tantalizing premise that promises a feast for both the imagination and the palate. However, while the book offers moments of culinary delight and inventive world-building, it falls short in fully delivering on its potential, resulting in a narrative that feels undercooked and lacking in depth.

Krout's writing style is engaging, with vivid descriptions and mouth-watering depictions of culinary creations that transport readers into the heart of the post-apocalyptic world. However, the pacing feels uneven at times, with moments of culinary brilliance overshadowed by long stretches of exposition and world-building.

In Grilled Armageddon, readers are introduced to the protagonist, a talented chef navigating the dangers of a world ravaged by catastrophe. As the protagonist journeys through this perilous landscape, they must rely on their culinary skills to survive and thrive in a world where food is both a source of sustenance and power.

The world-building in this installment is imaginative, with Krout skillfully blending elements of fantasy and dystopia to create a setting that feels both familiar and fantastical. From the bustling markets of makeshift settlements to the treacherous wilderness teeming with monstrous creatures, the world of Grilled Armageddon is rich in detail and ripe for exploration.

However, while the world-building is a highlight of the book, the characterization feels lacking in comparison. The protagonist, while talented and resourceful, lacks depth and complexity, with little in the way of meaningful character development or growth. The supporting cast fares slightly better, but still feels underdeveloped and one-dimensional, serving primarily as foils for the protagonist rather than fully realized individuals.

In conclusion, while Grilled Armageddon offers a tantalizing glimpse into a world of culinary chaos and post-apocalyptic adventure, it ultimately falls short in fully delivering on its promise. While it may satisfy readers hungry for a unique blend of genres, it leaves much to be desired in terms of character development and narrative depth.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Grilled Armageddon (Cooking with Disaster, #1) serves up a tantalizing concoction of culinary creativity and post-apocalyptic chaos, but ultimately falls short of achieving true greatness. With its uneven pacing and underdeveloped characters, it leaves readers craving more substance and depth. However, for fans of Dakota Krout's inventive storytelling, it offers a flavorful appetizer to what promises to be a delectable series.

[David U. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very funny litRPG post apocalyptic time-travel story. At this point I know what I’m getting into when I pick up a Dakota Krout book and I’m always here for it. The side characters and the friendship of the main trio felt genuine. My only gripe was the MC’s reluctance to use his cooking skills for a vast majority of the book. Really only at the very end does he actually start cooking regularly and improving on the food choices. Overall a solid book, and there’s still so much more we don’t know about other apocalyptic threats, the system as well as the cross humans. Can’t wait for the next one. 4.2/5

[Horia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book's topic and style feel like seeing someone dancing like nobody's watching at a funeral service.

It's grim, dark, and centered around a goreish concept, yet it's also full of banter, puns, and centered around friendship. The main character used to be the top ranked assassin in the whole world, yet after the reset he adopts a "common cook" player class.

Mmmmnope! #Pass

I strongly believe in Krout's ability to deliver a great story with quality writing. "Full Murder Hobo" is one of my top 3 funny series of all time, and for that I will give this guy a chance with any of his projects.

This series though, gets a skip from me (for now). Hopefully it'll pivot in a better direction with the next installments.

[Danny Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of the regression trope and this kind of has it but it is done in an original way. The MC is interesting. He has the ability to be extremely OP but unknowingly nerfs himself because of his decision. I appreciate some of the struggle that the MC goes through. I loved the story and the characters are really fun. I’m excited to see what happens next.

[alfred b courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than Thought it would be.

[Cassidy Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many puns, so little time. This was great, unique, and hilarious 😂. Can't wait for part 2.

[Brent Mair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dakota's books don't always hit with me but this was a home run. Lots of fun and endearing characters.

[Astro Dune · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah, this can't be Dakota krout, even though I do not like his books, they are atleast competent, this one was simply lazy, u know the expression "half baked", that is the best description for this book, survival for survival sake, no hope since it's clear from the start that u are going to die no matter what u do, and then there is the system, basically take one step forward and loose the leg, no I am not kidding that is what the main issue of the book is, and everyone is facing problems throughout the book solely cause the system is mean and for no reason other than some wierd enjoyment of the gods?
A book about surviving in the system at its core, and then the core is seriously flawed, yeah no that does not make a good book, very bad enjoyment factor and too much trauma bs , the mc keeps hiding super important info from his friends for "trauma reason", mc and his friends see a few of the people from his last trip, people who were responsible for his death, people who he wants to kill to avoid the bad future, so what does the mc do, "i won't tell my friends about that" , and giving some bs reason about them too weak to face them now, as if telling the truth would unleash some stupid factor and they would start fighting at the same time, so what he does, he bottles it all up and wait to spring it up at a latter date, yeah sure, why would u give them time adjust to it, no it's better to spring it on them when it time to do the deed, which I am sure would never lead to a pointless nonsense drama between them.
Yeah k rant over, no more time to waste on this, Dakota was somewhat in good graces, but the magic is gone and there is too little time in the world to give chance to bad writers.

Just to clear one point up, I do not discourage the writer, but when there is so little thought put in the book, it's just sad to read stuff like this, it just make u bitter about other writers, do it's better to avoid bad writers and encourage new ones who just might become gold.

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one…well one more my style at least.

TL; DR: Puns, cooking, the end of the world, everything in Grilled Armageddon is a recipe for success, as characters and story combine for a compelling and delicious story.

I really liked this one, it’s somehow both serious and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The characters and the world matters without being too out of touch. Nacho, Brie, and Reuben make a great trio of characters and I’m already waiting to read the next one.

Characters: As stated, the three main cheeses are a solid front group; they each clearly have their own personalities and I genuinely loved seeing their relationships with one another. Too often, I think people try to make friends totally different from one another when realistically, they’re friends, they’ll have similarities. Outside characters had personalities too, Crave and Tay were two of the most colorful for me, but they could’ve been a little more fleshed out.

Setting: The start of the juxtaposition fits right in with few problems and I never questioned the state of the world. That’s a solid there for a litRPG.

Story: I actually really liked the beginning; the premise makes a lot of sense and I want to know more about the patrons. I’m glad to have gotten to where we are and the ending was solid too. Honestly, there weren’t even parts that dragged, but I didn’t like some of the “don’t tell them yet to protect them” pieces.

Writing: It’s good, pretty good. I think after listening to some DK for a couple books and change, I’ve figured out his style and can appreciate it. He writes like a serial author and it’s evident in some of the storytelling, but it isn’t bad by any means. It’s just never going to change your life.

I really liked this book, didn’t love it, but that’s a whole other level. I’ll happily get the next of these books soon enough so that I can enjoy it too.

4.3 🌟

[Alesay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.6 stars. One of the things that I love about LitRPG books, in general, is the character progression. I love their determination to improve, fight, and lead (responsibility/power). The MC only loosely checks two of those boxes. While I understood that cooking and food would be prominent aspects of this book, I wasn't expecting them to replace fighting. I wasn't impressed with Nacho's lack of fighting, especially since he used to be a top assassin. It just doesn't seem practical. While interesting, I do not like the story's progression system.

While I enjoyed experiencing the story through Nacho, it's kind of weird to have him as the main character. I feel like Nacho The Cook doesn't quite fit in, especially since the cooking aspect wasn't that explored/deep dispite being a prominent aspect. I low-key feel like his potential is wasted, and he's not making the best use of his time. I really enjoyed the beginning chapters, and seeing the shift in Nacho's behaviour/actions was a bit weird/disappointing, even with the knowledge that he'll become more essential as the series continues.

I liked Nacho's friends well enough. I like how supportive they are, and they help round out the MC quite nicely. I look forward to seeing how they grow.

The other side characters are meh. There's not much information on them, and I don't care if they survive.

This book has a lot of puns and forced humour. While not necessarily bad, they take away too much from the severity of the situation. The character's situation is quite awful; however, it doesn't feel like it a lot of the time. The balance is a bit off.

Despite my complaints, I enjoyed this book. It's very different, and I will likely read the next book.

[Thai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dakota Krout's Grilled Armageddon brings readers into the vibrant and complex world of LitRPG storytelling. The novel has many hallmarks of the genre—immersive world-building, intriguing mechanics, and a main character navigating game-like challenges. While the concept shows potential, the execution leaves room for improvement.

The pacing of the story is one of its most notable drawbacks. Unlike many LitRPGs that dive into the action early and keep the momentum going, Grilled Armageddon unfolds at a slower tempo. This deliberate pacing may appeal to readers who enjoy deep dives into mechanics and incremental world-building, but it risks alienating those seeking a fast-paced adventure.

The novel also struggles to make a strong first impression. While the setup introduces intriguing elements, it doesn't fully capitalize on them, making the opening chapters feel underwhelming. For a genre that thrives on pulling readers in quickly, this is a missed opportunity.

That said, Krout's storytelling shows promise. The intricate details and potential for character growth hint at an engaging series if future installments address the pacing and deliver more dynamic storytelling. Fans of LitRPG who enjoy methodical world-building may still find this book worth exploring.

Rating: 3/5
Grilled Armageddon has potential but stumbles in its initial outing. It's a decent read for those with patience, but it may not leave a lasting impression on newcomers to the genre

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like LitRPGs with a little twist. This one starts out with Nacho, our hero, being murdered by members of his own guild. He then "wakes up" in his dorm room three and a half years earlier—six months before Armageddon and the beginning of the nightmare that follows the end of the world.

Nacho has one massive concern—he wants his friends to survive Armageddon this time. And yet, telling them what happened would make them all think he is crazy. So, he starts to prepare for the end, and when Armageddon happens, he has a chance to do things differently. He takes on a new class—not the assassin he was the first time around but a common cook. Because the biggest problem of the future is food and food is what powers the ability of people to use their class skills. By taking the cook class, he hopes to give his friends the major advantage of being able to safely eat whatever they kill.

In truth, I thought the story was a little slow getting started, but when the friends have their "Walking Dead" moment and start to worry about whether or not they can trust other people in this new environment, the tension rose tremendously. It's a fun story. The new system gives no instructions on how to use the skills people acquire, but Nacho has a tremendous amount of knowledge from his first time through the Apocalypse and this is a tremendous advantage to his friends and him. Too bad he knows absolutely nothing about cooking.

[Oluwademilade · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I felt the urge to throw my kindle at the wall. I kept reading past that point and stopped at 60% when I actually started to hate myself.

There is a serious issue with pacing. The first 100 pages is a bunch of time skips and summaries and is essentially a prologue. I’m serious, the plot doesn’t start until you’re over 100 pages in.

Let me explain the book:

1. Starts off as the MC “Nacho” gets executed.
2. MC goes back in time 3.5 years to six months before the apocalypse.
3. He maxes out a bunch of credit cards and starts taking knife and archery classes.
4. Apocalypse starts and he spends the rest of the book (I skipped to the end to check and did a word search to be sure) lamenting that talking about cannibalism and the cross humans (humans from another world brought into the apocalypse who want to kill Earth humans) is awkward.
5. It takes 84% before he finally tells his friends about cross humans and it literally takes 3 sentences.
6. He never tells them about the cannibalism and instead spends pages complaining about it being awkward.

That’s the book in a nutshell. 1/10 don’t recommend.

I only made it this far because I liked some of the author’s previous work but I just can’t. This is a hot mess.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regression, Second Chance, Litrpg

This book plunges you into a grim apocalypse with a unique class (satiation), offering a blend of dark humor and a lot of puns. While not catering to all LitRPG fans, it's more somber tone sets it apart.I have read some of Dakota Krout's other series (The Completionist Chronicles and Full Murderhobo) and I feel this fits what I’d expect from him as an author, but your mileage may vary on that feeling. The protagonist, Nacho, is far from likable, yet his memory of being an assassin to a struggling cook adds an interesting change of pace. Despite some frustrating moments and questionable decisions, the supporting cast, Brie and Reuben, inject much-needed balance. The three-person group dynamic worked well. The world, though bleak, is intriguing, compelling you to keep reading. The introduction of the satiation class promises an engaging sequel. The solid narration of the audiobook enhances the experience, especially for Kindle Unlimited subscribers who can snag it for a steal. I have already purchased the sequel because I’m invested. However, be prepared for unsettling themes like cannibalism.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grilled Armageddon is another cooking LitRPG, only based on the name of this one, you'd expect a whole lot more cooking than we actually got. There's a lot of loose ends left at the end of this one, and a pile of unanswered questions about the system, even with the main character coming back from the system's future, so I expect there will be more books in this series explaining the system and how it works better. This isn't like the Cleaver's edge cooking series, where you get complete recipes, but it is a story about someone trying to learn to cook, having had a career change from being an assassin the previous round with the system. It makes for an entertaining story to be sure.

[Bender · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of Book 1 and halfway into Book 2.

Though the series seems to be cooking themed, apart from food named puns there's not really any cooking or even focus on cooking, other than some vague plan of the MC that he never really seriously works towards.

The prose is easy, though with lots of telling and very little showing. MC has to monologue explain everything rather than take readers along the journey. Character also are very pedestrian with nothing really unique to set them apart. Reuben esp was annoying with his constant need to pun (none of which I found funny) without consideration to the situation. Stereotypical villain and a unmemorable supporting cast, just fails to add any value.

Between cannibalism and putrid mana meats the series does a lot to put me away from anything vaguely appetizing, which is ironic considering the name and purported theme.

Gave up halfway into Book 2.

[Saedi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will begin this by saying I liked the concept of this enough to listen through the 3rd book. I like the overall concept and world building, and don’t dislike the characters (though are not given much depth).
Honestly the writing style is kinda cringe. The interruption of every piece of dialogue or description with puns is not my favorite, and some of the actions the main character takes don’t even make sense within the contexts of his experiences or ability. Honestly I think part of the reason why I’ve held on this long is that I’ve been listening to the audiobook and the narrator is doing a good job.
Anyway, there’s a lot of flaws but I’m interested enough in the world building that I’m going to stick around for a while…. So 🤷

[Andy Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grilled Armageddon

When the world was transformed by the Juxtaposition, Nacho lost the only people that mattered in his life. Both he and the world went down a very dark path, until he eventually was killed. That’s when his boon kicked in and he woke with 6 months to prepare to save himself and his friends. Maybe things can be different this time.

Dakota does not disappoint. Even when this series gets crazy dark, he is able to lighten it up with his own brand of punny humor. Stick it out through the prologue. Like I said, seriously dark. The main characters are a blast to read and it’s very interesting to see Nacho deal with the PTSD around everyone who is just now experiencing the trauma. When he goes into the Juxtaposition a second time, there is a huge change that prevents him from being instantly OP and a know it all. MacLeod Andrews does a great job with narration.

Content Warning: cannibalism

[Fria Hiemstra · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5* audio read

This is a difficult one to review or maybe I'm just complicating things. The book started off interesting setting out the characters, but once what's his name enters the tutorial I was bored out of my mind. I wanted to push through though otherwise I would have stopped reading around here. When the three friends entered the Juxtaposition I enjoyed the book again - the monsters and fighting were cool and I liked the different foods that are cooked or messed up and removal of the manna and subsequent experience points earned. I want to give the second book a chance but I'm not in a hurry since the reviews are also all over the place and I've got more than enough other books to keep me busy.

[Jack Vinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new litRPG series from Dakota Krout. This one takes a topic that is usually ignored in these kinds of books (and in most RPGs) - food is critical to survival. In this case, people's hunger and thirst are critical quantities on which their magic and special abilities operate. If they go too long without food and drink, it becomes disastrous. Interesting take on the resource management aspect of games.

This is the first in a planned series with Eli "Nacho" Naches and his friends (and enemies) try to survive in a new world with monsters and strange gods and hard-to-find SAFE food and drink.

[Arty · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious.
The author needs to rekindle his spark, because he has been loosing said spark in the last few novels. Grilled Armageddon, is another series that's boring and convoluted. The characters seem to lack substance, erratic with their emotions and illogic at times. For example: the main character, comes up with with a detail and logical plan; which gets abandoned for a very illogical and incomprehensible reasons. Especially, after the characters spend whole chapters explaining their thought out plans.
Simply put, the author's formula: Main character has a problem-> the book spends whole chapters coming up with a plan with detail solutions and reason -> the main character does not follow plan -> the character suffers and stays a loser -> by luck the MC gets some points -> squanders it by doing something dumb and suffers-> ...and it an endless cycle.
Cooking with disaster ...is a disaster like the murder hobo series or even the completion series. I think he needs to write something else; because the author has lost his edge.

[Roberto Flores · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has a horrendous balance issue. It is very dark and meant to be souls level difficulty, but the lack of information and the random monster attacks at the very start preclude that. This is an obvious no win possible scenario, the thing keeping it going is plot armor. The main character has so much trauma that he refuses to do anything with his class, the one he picked on a whim, for the first two thirds of the book. The attempt at some overarching storyline using the patrons falls flat as the main motivation is just blatantly untrue.

[Andy Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book I've read by author Dakota Krout was very good. He spins a great yarn about an apocalypse where all humanity is placed into an alien world where everyone is trying to kill them.
That's not so bad. They get credit for killing stuff and can level up supernatural skills. But . . . food is a killer--literally.

Most food will kill you and that gets worse as you level up. But . . . Nacho got a boon. He got a sneak peak at what's coming and he's fully prepared. So he chooses . . . to become a cook.

The book is a good combination of action adventure with humor. Enjoy!

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. It's a little different take on the apocalypse LitRPG genre, but it is a really engaging story. I especially appreciated that the MC had to struggle to learn to cook, as that was not something he was any good at before the apocalypse.

It was a fun story with a strong theme of friendship that I really enjoyed. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out!

[Robert Baucom · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's different. I gave it a 5 stars because it is well thought out. And the story moves along at a fast pace. It has puns. Which makes me wonder how long he sat making the puns to go with the dialog of the friends talking. And it seems so much so like a couple of friends just feeding off of each other on puns. I'm thinking this may become a cult classic like the princess bride movie. Only time will tell.

[Devan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bad cooking regressor story

Too many bad puns literally every opportunity ruined the story and immersion.

The eating/drinking dynamic while a fun idea didn’t work for the story. If the puns didn’t kill the story flow enough then the need to literally eat and drink every 30 seconds (no exaggeration) did.

Intriguing story idea, bad execution.