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Crystal Core #1
Crystal Core
Ryan lived his life on Earth trapped in his own body. The doctors couldn't explain what was happening to him, but slowly his body was crystalizing.
Then the portal opens up on the ceiling of his hospital room. He'd seen that one in enough anime to recognize what was happening. It couldn't possibly be worse than the hell that was his life on Earth, not that he was given any choice.
Now, those who summoned him expect some type of hero. That isn't Ryan. Ryan wants freedom. He wants to live his life his way. He'll do the right thing when confronted with it, but he isn't out to be anyone's savior.
Of course in a world under a brutal siege and surrounded by powerful cultivators, Ryan realizes the only path to freedom is becoming strong enough to make his own path. For once, the mysterious disease will work in his favor as he forms his Crystal Core.
Notes: This story features slow burn romantic interests, world building, a cultivation system with a litrpg framework, making fun of cultivation tropes, powerful supporting characters who have their own motivations and background, and an MC who has potential but is still growing in power. Be warned there is some mild cussing from some of the characters and the MC undergoes a great deal of personal growth this book so that he will be in the place he needs to be for the rest of the series.
Then the portal opens up on the ceiling of his hospital room. He'd seen that one in enough anime to recognize what was happening. It couldn't possibly be worse than the hell that was his life on Earth, not that he was given any choice.
Now, those who summoned him expect some type of hero. That isn't Ryan. Ryan wants freedom. He wants to live his life his way. He'll do the right thing when confronted with it, but he isn't out to be anyone's savior.
Of course in a world under a brutal siege and surrounded by powerful cultivators, Ryan realizes the only path to freedom is becoming strong enough to make his own path. For once, the mysterious disease will work in his favor as he forms his Crystal Core.
Notes: This story features slow burn romantic interests, world building, a cultivation system with a litrpg framework, making fun of cultivation tropes, powerful supporting characters who have their own motivations and background, and an MC who has potential but is still growing in power. Be warned there is some mild cussing from some of the characters and the MC undergoes a great deal of personal growth this book so that he will be in the place he needs to be for the rest of the series.
552 pages, Paperback
First published November 27, 2023
854 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
David Burke
38 books130 followersDavid Burke is a mild manner something who tries to enjoy each day a bit more than the last. It dawned upon him at some point that life was racing him by and he wasn’t nearly as young as he used to be.
So now he spends his nights and lunch hours and any other free time he can putting down on paper all the stories that have collected up over a life time.
So now he spends his nights and lunch hours and any other free time he can putting down on paper all the stories that have collected up over a life time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
November 29, 2023
Book one
I thought that this was going to be a cool cultivation story. I was wrong.
It's a setup book for a haram story.
The MC is stupidly overpowered, but must learn about his power. The cultivation has no depth to it.
The three girls fighting over the MC make me want to hurl. As does his oh so innocent act.
I've always disliked when the MC takes the time to check out a female in the middle of a life or death situation. He or she, he in this instance should be totally focused on the fight.
The editing isn't very well done. You have everything from extra words, to numbers in the middle of words. I posted what I found on Goodreads.
The font changes size and colors.
This is some teenage boy wish fulfillment story that I won't be looking for on Royalroad or anywhere else.
3/10 This just wasn't what I look for in a good story.
I thought that this was going to be a cool cultivation story. I was wrong.
It's a setup book for a haram story.
The MC is stupidly overpowered, but must learn about his power. The cultivation has no depth to it.
The three girls fighting over the MC make me want to hurl. As does his oh so innocent act.
I've always disliked when the MC takes the time to check out a female in the middle of a life or death situation. He or she, he in this instance should be totally focused on the fight.
The editing isn't very well done. You have everything from extra words, to numbers in the middle of words. I posted what I found on Goodreads.
The font changes size and colors.
This is some teenage boy wish fulfillment story that I won't be looking for on Royalroad or anywhere else.
3/10 This just wasn't what I look for in a good story.
May 11, 2024
This one was hard to get through.
I wanted so bad to like it, there were so many elements I enjoyed. But unfortunately the execution was just too poor. The main character constantly (and I mean constantly) oscillates between smart, and extremely stupid. He correctly identifies problems and makes a decision on how he'll behave (this is great), and then a few pages later immediately goes back on that decision and makes a dumb choice. This was extremely frustrating and made me confused as to what his character was actually supposed to be. For the love of god, if I have to read the same paragraph about his "lack of game" again, I'm going to scream and gouge out my eyeballs.
I agree with the review from Johnny, it feels so ridiculous that he's looking at someone's dead body, or someone is trying to murder him, and he's like "wow tits". Like jesus christ dude, there's a time and a place. How pathetic can you get to be thinking about boobs while giving someone CPR? Plus, CPR is NOT SEXY, if you're doing it right you'll probably break most of the patient's ribs. So unless you find breaking bones hot, then you should really not be in that mood. Also, mouth to mouth is not recommended anymore for CPR.
The book is also in desperate need of some serious editing to cut down on length, fix grammar and spelling, and streamline basically everything. Was this even edited?
I wanted so bad to like it, there were so many elements I enjoyed. But unfortunately the execution was just too poor. The main character constantly (and I mean constantly) oscillates between smart, and extremely stupid. He correctly identifies problems and makes a decision on how he'll behave (this is great), and then a few pages later immediately goes back on that decision and makes a dumb choice. This was extremely frustrating and made me confused as to what his character was actually supposed to be. For the love of god, if I have to read the same paragraph about his "lack of game" again, I'm going to scream and gouge out my eyeballs.
I agree with the review from Johnny, it feels so ridiculous that he's looking at someone's dead body, or someone is trying to murder him, and he's like "wow tits". Like jesus christ dude, there's a time and a place. How pathetic can you get to be thinking about boobs while giving someone CPR? Plus, CPR is NOT SEXY, if you're doing it right you'll probably break most of the patient's ribs. So unless you find breaking bones hot, then you should really not be in that mood. Also, mouth to mouth is not recommended anymore for CPR.
The book is also in desperate need of some serious editing to cut down on length, fix grammar and spelling, and streamline basically everything. Was this even edited?
April 11, 2024
A harem wuxia story
DNF at 39%
As a married man myself, i absolutely understand why the author chose the first step for summoning a legendary hero has to be to find him several headstrong, privileged wifes.. Nothing is more likely to motivate the hero to charge suicidally against demon hordes to get rid of penned up frustrations and aggressions.. *rofl*
I am big fan of well written wuxia stories and had high hopes, but unfortunately, i found this book more suited for lonesome male teenagers.. The prudish protagonist who goes on and on about his former trauma and the manga-like female characters kept grating on my nerves.
I already know that the hero will improve inbelievably fast, that all women will love him and will be jealously fighting for his affection while he keeps behaving like a prudish, awkward teen boy around them.. I am too old for this..
DNF at 39%
As a married man myself, i absolutely understand why the author chose the first step for summoning a legendary hero has to be to find him several headstrong, privileged wifes.. Nothing is more likely to motivate the hero to charge suicidally against demon hordes to get rid of penned up frustrations and aggressions.. *rofl*
I am big fan of well written wuxia stories and had high hopes, but unfortunately, i found this book more suited for lonesome male teenagers.. The prudish protagonist who goes on and on about his former trauma and the manga-like female characters kept grating on my nerves.
I already know that the hero will improve inbelievably fast, that all women will love him and will be jealously fighting for his affection while he keeps behaving like a prudish, awkward teen boy around them.. I am too old for this..
June 1, 2024
I honestly don't know how to feel about this book. There is a lot of repetitive thoughts in it due to the nature of the character. I was over it and skipped those sections as believe me, after the 15th time, I GET IT!
The description of the book doesn't due justice to what the genre actually is. It is more closely related to a cultivation style book than it is to a video game style book. This book was a slower read for me as I am not a huge fan of the genre in general. Plus it also ends up being a Harem style book as well, which... no thank you.
Below is a broad semi detailed description of what happens. Spoilers some might say.
So let's review what happens...
Main character on earth is struck by a rare disease (seems similiar to Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva , also called Münchmeyer disease) where the body is slowly crystalizing. Left unable to do anything but watch TV (barely as his eyes are starting to crystalize) and convert Oxygen into Carbon DiOxide (again, barely), he gets summoned to another world where all of the crystal in his body is changed into his core.
Three leaders have summoned him using a little bit of blood from each of their daughters in the spell to act as anchors to keep him in their realm; and each daughter is now officially his wife (CONGRATULATIONS on your nuptials that you never asked for!).
Because of his hero status, he is unable to actually utilize any of the specialized techniques that each clan wants to teach him because his mana doesn't work that way.
He gets to battle some monsters, participate in a tournament to decide who gets to take his virginity (he is a stud horse apparently), and escape into the wilds for freedom... oh, and kidnapped by one of his wives who turns out to be a PSYCHO!!
Have fun reading the fine details.
The description of the book doesn't due justice to what the genre actually is. It is more closely related to a cultivation style book than it is to a video game style book. This book was a slower read for me as I am not a huge fan of the genre in general. Plus it also ends up being a Harem style book as well, which... no thank you.
Below is a broad semi detailed description of what happens. Spoilers some might say.
So let's review what happens...
Main character on earth is struck by a rare disease (seems similiar to Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva , also called Münchmeyer disease) where the body is slowly crystalizing. Left unable to do anything but watch TV (barely as his eyes are starting to crystalize) and convert Oxygen into Carbon DiOxide (again, barely), he gets summoned to another world where all of the crystal in his body is changed into his core.
Three leaders have summoned him using a little bit of blood from each of their daughters in the spell to act as anchors to keep him in their realm; and each daughter is now officially his wife (CONGRATULATIONS on your nuptials that you never asked for!).
Because of his hero status, he is unable to actually utilize any of the specialized techniques that each clan wants to teach him because his mana doesn't work that way.
He gets to battle some monsters, participate in a tournament to decide who gets to take his virginity (he is a stud horse apparently), and escape into the wilds for freedom... oh, and kidnapped by one of his wives who turns out to be a PSYCHO!!
Have fun reading the fine details.
July 28, 2024
Fairly meh
Honestly I had to struggle to finish this book. I get that the MC spent years in the hospital with no life, but he is so one dimensional that it is staggering.
His entire drive is, I want to live my life how I want, he tries to act like he’s mature but just comes across as a petulant child. The whole back 1/3 of the book is focused on who is going to get to claim his virginity and it’s just awkward.
The characters are all fairly bland. The only one who seems interesting is the one who is schizophrenic and hearing her mother’s dead voice…. That says a lot about the quality of the writing.
Honestly just falls flat and too much of a struggle to care about finishing the series.
Honestly I had to struggle to finish this book. I get that the MC spent years in the hospital with no life, but he is so one dimensional that it is staggering.
His entire drive is, I want to live my life how I want, he tries to act like he’s mature but just comes across as a petulant child. The whole back 1/3 of the book is focused on who is going to get to claim his virginity and it’s just awkward.
The characters are all fairly bland. The only one who seems interesting is the one who is schizophrenic and hearing her mother’s dead voice…. That says a lot about the quality of the writing.
Honestly just falls flat and too much of a struggle to care about finishing the series.
May 21, 2024
Fine as a cultivation book, kind of a failure as a harem book
October 16, 2024
I love the narrators and they did their best.
September 26, 2024
Great book
Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
August 9, 2024
Lately, I've been into LitRPG and cultivation. And while this story does has some nice points to it, it's also a harem fiction. I wasn't even aware those exist until now ...
I'm going with 3 stars, because there are some interesting plot points there. But nothing more
I'm going with 3 stars, because there are some interesting plot points there. But nothing more
February 12, 2024
4 OH, Great So Now I'm A Monster Lure Stars
Crystal Core is the first book in the LitRPG Cultivation Adventure series by David Burke.
Surprisingly, I find I really enjoyed this book. The premise behind transmigration and Hero summoning ideology has always been entertaining in its opposing forces. But my surprise stems mainly from the deeply entrenched harem aspects, which usually are overplayed and come across only as sleazy. The outlook the ML had towards his forced connections to three women was refreshing, especially in this genre.
Burke clearly defined each of the women as individuals and gave them enough difference in personality to outline their own characters. Shikumi is the most concerning of his entanglements, given the evidence of a traumatic childhood leading her away from sanity. With Lian following at a close second given how much character development is in her future. Her upbringing has not been easy either. Elu is clearly the favorite, given how well she and Ryan have already bonded and come to understand one another.
That there was so little actually defined of the coming invasion leaves something to be desired. One confusing battle against undead forces and a glimpse into the orc masterminds behind the horde threat does not alleviate any of my concern for this struggling hero's future.
Crystal Core is the first book in the LitRPG Cultivation Adventure series by David Burke.
Surprisingly, I find I really enjoyed this book. The premise behind transmigration and Hero summoning ideology has always been entertaining in its opposing forces. But my surprise stems mainly from the deeply entrenched harem aspects, which usually are overplayed and come across only as sleazy. The outlook the ML had towards his forced connections to three women was refreshing, especially in this genre.
Burke clearly defined each of the women as individuals and gave them enough difference in personality to outline their own characters. Shikumi is the most concerning of his entanglements, given the evidence of a traumatic childhood leading her away from sanity. With Lian following at a close second given how much character development is in her future. Her upbringing has not been easy either. Elu is clearly the favorite, given how well she and Ryan have already bonded and come to understand one another.
That there was so little actually defined of the coming invasion leaves something to be desired. One confusing battle against undead forces and a glimpse into the orc masterminds behind the horde threat does not alleviate any of my concern for this struggling hero's future.
January 5, 2024
Was only ok
This could have been a really good for me. There were just too many things missing. There was really no character development, other than the MC. There was very little actual action, a lot of talk and introspection from the MC. It got a little tiring. But the most annoying (and disappointing) thing about this book? The terrible editing. This is not something I would have expected from Mr Burke. Wrong words used a lot. Doubled up words. Ahhh...
This could have been a really good for me. There were just too many things missing. There was really no character development, other than the MC. There was very little actual action, a lot of talk and introspection from the MC. It got a little tiring. But the most annoying (and disappointing) thing about this book? The terrible editing. This is not something I would have expected from Mr Burke. Wrong words used a lot. Doubled up words. Ahhh...
December 22, 2023
What a shame. I enjoyed the first two thirds-ish of the book but suddenly it was back to the cheesy dialogue and cringey situations from his earlier books. Guess I’ll check back again in a couple of years.
April 29, 2024
over the harem trope
😪 not another basic harem fic with tsunderes and constant underestimating of the OP MC 😭 I'm so over the tropes
😪 not another basic harem fic with tsunderes and constant underestimating of the OP MC 😭 I'm so over the tropes
May 7, 2024
Cheesy
The dialogue is rough. The narration leaves much to be desired. MC has no real growth, and the wives are paper thin characters lacking originality.
The dialogue is rough. The narration leaves much to be desired. MC has no real growth, and the wives are paper thin characters lacking originality.
July 13, 2024
Not for Me
Did not finish at 38%. Writing wasn't bad but not very good, either. Kept pulling me out. Not for me.
Did not finish at 38%. Writing wasn't bad but not very good, either. Kept pulling me out. Not for me.
March 8, 2025
Would I would have liked to have known starting the story
Potential spoiler warning. I do my best to separate my personal preferences from the quality of the work so please know that aside from some editing issues the writer delivered a well-written story. I would say solid B tier. That said going into it I would have liked to have known that this series is a part of a connected universe and that it is not connected to one additional series but actually two so far as I can tell. These other two stories are actually written under the authors other name Sean Oswald. The names are Dragon sorcerer and welcome to the Multiverse. Now, Amazon does this thing where it recommends books and there's no way to tell it that you're not interested so the recommendations repeat. Unfortunately this means that if I come across an author that writes in a way that I'm not a fan of and thus probably am not going to remember him unless they didn't absolutely horrific job, there is a strong likelihood that I could accidentally end up picking up another one of their books. If as is the case with this author they are excellent at writing the first couple of books at a series before things start to fall apart or again in this case require knowledge of another story, it puts the reader into the difficult position of walking away or buying into the other story whether they want to or not. Personally I'm one of those people that does not like every song on a soundtrack and it's not really any different when it comes to storytellers. My final thoughts now that I have finished the five books is that I do not like that one of the leading ladies killed an innocent girl and there were no consequences. I do not like that the hero of the story spent an inordinate amount of time preaching about the equality of women only to silence his ladies when there was no immediate need for expediency thus making them appear stupid and him appear as though he was only spouting platitudes. That largely comes up in the last book. With five books it is also somewhat difficult to fully flesh out the seven wives thus creating a circumstance where the initial three are developed but then fade to the background and the Final Four are never really developed all that well in my opinion. Finally it is the crossover issue that I mentioned where it might have been good if I had read Dragon sorcerer before this one, but as I said this one looked interested in to me and that one did not. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I now decided to go read Dragon sorcerer I would find the same issue for not having read Welcome To The Multiverse first.
Potential spoiler warning. I do my best to separate my personal preferences from the quality of the work so please know that aside from some editing issues the writer delivered a well-written story. I would say solid B tier. That said going into it I would have liked to have known that this series is a part of a connected universe and that it is not connected to one additional series but actually two so far as I can tell. These other two stories are actually written under the authors other name Sean Oswald. The names are Dragon sorcerer and welcome to the Multiverse. Now, Amazon does this thing where it recommends books and there's no way to tell it that you're not interested so the recommendations repeat. Unfortunately this means that if I come across an author that writes in a way that I'm not a fan of and thus probably am not going to remember him unless they didn't absolutely horrific job, there is a strong likelihood that I could accidentally end up picking up another one of their books. If as is the case with this author they are excellent at writing the first couple of books at a series before things start to fall apart or again in this case require knowledge of another story, it puts the reader into the difficult position of walking away or buying into the other story whether they want to or not. Personally I'm one of those people that does not like every song on a soundtrack and it's not really any different when it comes to storytellers. My final thoughts now that I have finished the five books is that I do not like that one of the leading ladies killed an innocent girl and there were no consequences. I do not like that the hero of the story spent an inordinate amount of time preaching about the equality of women only to silence his ladies when there was no immediate need for expediency thus making them appear stupid and him appear as though he was only spouting platitudes. That largely comes up in the last book. With five books it is also somewhat difficult to fully flesh out the seven wives thus creating a circumstance where the initial three are developed but then fade to the background and the Final Four are never really developed all that well in my opinion. Finally it is the crossover issue that I mentioned where it might have been good if I had read Dragon sorcerer before this one, but as I said this one looked interested in to me and that one did not. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I now decided to go read Dragon sorcerer I would find the same issue for not having read Welcome To The Multiverse first.
October 11, 2024
Story is to nonsensical and contrived while at times lacking continuity of plot wherein facts that are divulged are forgotten about later on as if so and so never happened or this and that statement was never made. Its as if major plot errors were missed all the way through to the Audiobook. I also think I caught at least two basic text errors missed in editing while listening due to how jarring it was hearing said be read out loud.
The way the story is written the MC comes across as absurdly dense (truly stupid really) lacking deductive reasoning, common sense.. logic. He's an intellectual blank just following along a one track plotline without real agency. Example: MC literally just fell asleep when he was about to consider his cultivation etc by way of his status page. The type of person who keeps playing the three shell game thinking the fix can't possibly be in. The guy who has never heard about being the frog in the well.
Add to this that the MC barely clues in to things even after he has been both shown then told. (Repeatedly at times)
He also, the few times when guessing, deducing, or straight up assuming things, goes with the opposite of what's obviously most probable. Then there is the absurd obliviousness.. It all makes for an extremely frustrating listening/reading experience.
---Spoiliers---
This all ties in to the main characters idiotic, unsubstantiated and cockamamy idea that his affliction from earth is going to kill him any second here in this new world which he finds himself in. All without the slightest consideration for any other possibilities. This continues for at least the first half of the book.
I still have 6 hours left to go and by the deceiver its a slog.
*edit*
The nonsense just piles on as the story progresses. Like the Sect leader of the Skymana clan who apparently is also an absurd fool.. like active stupid. One wonders how that guy managed to reach his position and the pain it must be for his underlings who must be propping him up.
On the whole as a read the story feels sus and lacks flow.
The way the story is written the MC comes across as absurdly dense (truly stupid really) lacking deductive reasoning, common sense.. logic. He's an intellectual blank just following along a one track plotline without real agency. Example: MC literally just fell asleep when he was about to consider his cultivation etc by way of his status page. The type of person who keeps playing the three shell game thinking the fix can't possibly be in. The guy who has never heard about being the frog in the well.
Add to this that the MC barely clues in to things even after he has been both shown then told. (Repeatedly at times)
He also, the few times when guessing, deducing, or straight up assuming things, goes with the opposite of what's obviously most probable. Then there is the absurd obliviousness.. It all makes for an extremely frustrating listening/reading experience.
---Spoiliers---
This all ties in to the main characters idiotic, unsubstantiated and cockamamy idea that his affliction from earth is going to kill him any second here in this new world which he finds himself in. All without the slightest consideration for any other possibilities. This continues for at least the first half of the book.
I still have 6 hours left to go and by the deceiver its a slog.
*edit*
The nonsense just piles on as the story progresses. Like the Sect leader of the Skymana clan who apparently is also an absurd fool.. like active stupid. One wonders how that guy managed to reach his position and the pain it must be for his underlings who must be propping him up.
On the whole as a read the story feels sus and lacks flow.
November 30, 2023
A great read
Initially I was concerned that this was another money grab attempt at writing a Cultivation fantasy in a growing genre, with little or no thought to details or story-arcs. I was thankfully, VERY wrong.
I loved it. The MC keeps tropes to a minimum and has reasonable and sane thought processes. The world takes the standard Sect mindset, but fleshes out the clans and characters to the point they are 3 dimensional and vibrant, rather than copy-paste. The love interest is unique and has her own agency, rather than just swooning at the sight of the MC, and they work together to grow into a couple. The progression system pulls from several established tropes, but adds twists and flavor that garnish the plot with depth and nuance.
4/5 stars. The book needed to be about 10-20% longer to really let us sink into this world and become more familiar with the characters. I personally would love to have more of the Sect leaders and the weapons master, they felt like they had the potential to be alive, but their screen time was so brief, that they ended up rather shallow. The only characters with any actual agency are the MC, the Love Interest, and the grandma. Everyone else is just set dressing, and that's a shame because this world could be much more. I'd love to read this as more of an epic than a novel, but I'm not a writer. I look forward to the rest of the series.
Initially I was concerned that this was another money grab attempt at writing a Cultivation fantasy in a growing genre, with little or no thought to details or story-arcs. I was thankfully, VERY wrong.
I loved it. The MC keeps tropes to a minimum and has reasonable and sane thought processes. The world takes the standard Sect mindset, but fleshes out the clans and characters to the point they are 3 dimensional and vibrant, rather than copy-paste. The love interest is unique and has her own agency, rather than just swooning at the sight of the MC, and they work together to grow into a couple. The progression system pulls from several established tropes, but adds twists and flavor that garnish the plot with depth and nuance.
4/5 stars. The book needed to be about 10-20% longer to really let us sink into this world and become more familiar with the characters. I personally would love to have more of the Sect leaders and the weapons master, they felt like they had the potential to be alive, but their screen time was so brief, that they ended up rather shallow. The only characters with any actual agency are the MC, the Love Interest, and the grandma. Everyone else is just set dressing, and that's a shame because this world could be much more. I'd love to read this as more of an epic than a novel, but I'm not a writer. I look forward to the rest of the series.
September 10, 2024
Okay simple story, very predictable and a bit bland.
The overall story, the world building in the characters were developed well enough to be enjoyable. However the story is constantly over explained and every event or interaction is an expose of inner thoughts that become tiresome and feel like you're reading in eighth grade level book. The relationships are rather cringe and unrealistic, with the main character always trying to find balance with the supporting characters.
But I don't like about the story is that all the characters, the main character and it's The supporting cast really have no agency for the entire book. ( 400 pages in the main character is forced outside of the plot line narrative and finds himself briefly trying to survive and make decisions for himself that was the most exciting section of the book and it lasted for maybe 20 pages. It was used as a means to get all the supporting cast familiar with the main character. Almost immediately after that scene all the characters lost their agency again) The story is forced along by events that are uncontrollable by anyone and so there's really no suspense or any type of mystery to the story. Overall it makes a story very bland and boring because you know it's just following a predictable trope. I don't know if I'll read book two, as it just was too bland and I can almost predict how the entire journey will go.
The overall story, the world building in the characters were developed well enough to be enjoyable. However the story is constantly over explained and every event or interaction is an expose of inner thoughts that become tiresome and feel like you're reading in eighth grade level book. The relationships are rather cringe and unrealistic, with the main character always trying to find balance with the supporting characters.
But I don't like about the story is that all the characters, the main character and it's The supporting cast really have no agency for the entire book. ( 400 pages in the main character is forced outside of the plot line narrative and finds himself briefly trying to survive and make decisions for himself that was the most exciting section of the book and it lasted for maybe 20 pages. It was used as a means to get all the supporting cast familiar with the main character. Almost immediately after that scene all the characters lost their agency again) The story is forced along by events that are uncontrollable by anyone and so there's really no suspense or any type of mystery to the story. Overall it makes a story very bland and boring because you know it's just following a predictable trope. I don't know if I'll read book two, as it just was too bland and I can almost predict how the entire journey will go.
October 29, 2025
I feel like the author ruined his own book pretty much at the beginning.
The Mc gets teleported to another world, as chosen hero, where he becomes basically a glorified slave and has to do what the ruling powers, some arrogant and very unlikable cultivators, tell him to „whether he wants to or not“.
After years of being imprisoned by his own sick body in his original world, letting someone else take away his freedom is the last thing the Mc wants to do.
The whole situation is written in a way that makes you genuinely hate the sects that imprison the Mc, which is why its galling to read the rest of the book as the Mc develops what I would define as Stockholm Syndrome. His very smart decision to not trust his captors and keep his secrets close to heart lasts a whole 3 chapters before he reveales his stat sheet and accepts his role as hero as well as the brutal training. The fact that he accepted his role and even leaned into it wouldn’t be bad on its own, but it just doesn’t work with the beginning of the story. It makes the Mc seem like an idiot.
Also the fact that the three sects started fighting for the virginity of the Mc was genuinely disturbing. I usually dislike this comment but: Imagine if it had been a female protagonist. With a male its slightly more acceptable but the whole situation is still weird af.
Apart from everyone getting involved in the Mc s*xlife, the second half was more enjoyable, but not enough to make for a better rating.
The Mc gets teleported to another world, as chosen hero, where he becomes basically a glorified slave and has to do what the ruling powers, some arrogant and very unlikable cultivators, tell him to „whether he wants to or not“.
After years of being imprisoned by his own sick body in his original world, letting someone else take away his freedom is the last thing the Mc wants to do.
The whole situation is written in a way that makes you genuinely hate the sects that imprison the Mc, which is why its galling to read the rest of the book as the Mc develops what I would define as Stockholm Syndrome. His very smart decision to not trust his captors and keep his secrets close to heart lasts a whole 3 chapters before he reveales his stat sheet and accepts his role as hero as well as the brutal training. The fact that he accepted his role and even leaned into it wouldn’t be bad on its own, but it just doesn’t work with the beginning of the story. It makes the Mc seem like an idiot.
Also the fact that the three sects started fighting for the virginity of the Mc was genuinely disturbing. I usually dislike this comment but: Imagine if it had been a female protagonist. With a male its slightly more acceptable but the whole situation is still weird af.
Apart from everyone getting involved in the Mc s*xlife, the second half was more enjoyable, but not enough to make for a better rating.
December 7, 2023
The most interesting thing about this book to me is that it has an editor listed, because did they ever do a bad job. The writing is repetitive, dull, lifeless, and vague. Characters are introduced, ignored for a few hundred pages, and then killed off to no impact both to the reader and to the absolutely insufferable protagonist. Beyond the issues of craft, the book is laced with typos and grammatical errors to the point that is unacceptable for even a book I got for free via Kindle Unlimited.
The book starts with an Isekai premise, as the obnoxiously genre-savvy protagonist is happy to point out, despite smugly mentioning how he wasn't really a big fan of anime, a claim that is not borne out by the constant references to anime, pop culture, and most especially other better works in the same LITRPG Cultivation genre. The book then attempts to add a layer of harem but the wives of the protagonist (because of course he has wives magically granted to him upon arriving in the world) are all shallow and uninteresting when they get any page time at all.
The adult content in the book is all innuendo and fades to black, which is fine but makes it seem like the harem premise is wasted, or that it is being forced into the book to try and broaden the audience, but doing it badly.
The book starts with an Isekai premise, as the obnoxiously genre-savvy protagonist is happy to point out, despite smugly mentioning how he wasn't really a big fan of anime, a claim that is not borne out by the constant references to anime, pop culture, and most especially other better works in the same LITRPG Cultivation genre. The book then attempts to add a layer of harem but the wives of the protagonist (because of course he has wives magically granted to him upon arriving in the world) are all shallow and uninteresting when they get any page time at all.
The adult content in the book is all innuendo and fades to black, which is fine but makes it seem like the harem premise is wasted, or that it is being forced into the book to try and broaden the audience, but doing it badly.
April 24, 2024
A book that probably should have been a harem isekai than a cultivation novel. The author has made some interesting characters that are able to keep you reading on through all the cultivation stuff, which is quite frankly boring.
The main character is given basically whatever he needs either through the author himself or the characters in the book. The book also fails to really have any sort of rival or major conflict. It hints about a major conflict but the main character doesn't appear to work towards it at all.
Going back to the characters they all have their distinct motivations and personalities. They also clearly have dreams and desires. Basically they are complex characters that draw you in. The interactions are enjoyable and not super stale due to the complexity of these characters.
Overall besides the few minor descriptions of foreplay and thankfully no descriptions of sex (personal thing for me, I have no interest in reading that) the book manages to have characters and future relationships that you will look forward to reading while failing to make an interesting world or cultivation story.
The main character is given basically whatever he needs either through the author himself or the characters in the book. The book also fails to really have any sort of rival or major conflict. It hints about a major conflict but the main character doesn't appear to work towards it at all.
Going back to the characters they all have their distinct motivations and personalities. They also clearly have dreams and desires. Basically they are complex characters that draw you in. The interactions are enjoyable and not super stale due to the complexity of these characters.
Overall besides the few minor descriptions of foreplay and thankfully no descriptions of sex (personal thing for me, I have no interest in reading that) the book manages to have characters and future relationships that you will look forward to reading while failing to make an interesting world or cultivation story.
December 26, 2024
Crystal Core
Ryan has had an incurable disease that is slowly turning his body to crystal. After 11 years of this disease, he can’t move at all and can barely breathe. That’s when a portal opened above his bed and isekaied him into a cultivation world called the Divided Realms. Just thrilled to be able to stand up again, Ryan learns that he is the Hero destined to protect the Realms from invasions of the Horde. One more thing, he now has three wives.
Harem is not my thing, so I passed up this series back when it first came out. I probably wouldn’t have given it a shot if it wasn’t going to intersect with Welcome to the Multiverse. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the female characters actually had personalities and were not just there to throw themselves at the MC. Having said that, sex is a part of story and is brought up quite often. However, everything is kept PG-13 and everything Fades to Black. All in all, this is a great story and it stand strong on its own, even without the connection to Welcome to the Multiverse. Daniel Wisniewski and Rebecca Woods do a fantastic job with the dual narration!
Content Warning: Fade to Black sex
Ryan has had an incurable disease that is slowly turning his body to crystal. After 11 years of this disease, he can’t move at all and can barely breathe. That’s when a portal opened above his bed and isekaied him into a cultivation world called the Divided Realms. Just thrilled to be able to stand up again, Ryan learns that he is the Hero destined to protect the Realms from invasions of the Horde. One more thing, he now has three wives.
Harem is not my thing, so I passed up this series back when it first came out. I probably wouldn’t have given it a shot if it wasn’t going to intersect with Welcome to the Multiverse. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the female characters actually had personalities and were not just there to throw themselves at the MC. Having said that, sex is a part of story and is brought up quite often. However, everything is kept PG-13 and everything Fades to Black. All in all, this is a great story and it stand strong on its own, even without the connection to Welcome to the Multiverse. Daniel Wisniewski and Rebecca Woods do a fantastic job with the dual narration!
Content Warning: Fade to Black sex
December 19, 2023
Another great isekai story from David Burke
The MC a former cripple on earth is summoned by cultivators as a hero of legend to stand against a horde of monsters invading the Divided Realms. As he progresses, he realizes that what was a disease on earth is a boon in the Realms.
As with the author's previous work, the story is interesting, with plot twists as well as cultivation, world building and gamer jargon. The MC must learn how to not just survive in the new world, but level up and prosper. The most interesting aspect of the book, to me, is the relationship of the yandere spider assassin, Shikumo. She is definitely coo-coo for coco-puffs! I can't wait to see how that relationship develops considering that she has infiltrated his "safe space." Of course the other relationships with Elu and Lian will need time and experiences upon which to grow. While Rurren the sect head of the ninja clan (though its called Nijamae) is an interesting character, being much different from the other stuck up, sect leaders. Still all three sects have something to teach the MC as the Orc horde makes ready to invade.
Thats good reading material! I'm looking forward to the next book.
The MC a former cripple on earth is summoned by cultivators as a hero of legend to stand against a horde of monsters invading the Divided Realms. As he progresses, he realizes that what was a disease on earth is a boon in the Realms.
As with the author's previous work, the story is interesting, with plot twists as well as cultivation, world building and gamer jargon. The MC must learn how to not just survive in the new world, but level up and prosper. The most interesting aspect of the book, to me, is the relationship of the yandere spider assassin, Shikumo. She is definitely coo-coo for coco-puffs! I can't wait to see how that relationship develops considering that she has infiltrated his "safe space." Of course the other relationships with Elu and Lian will need time and experiences upon which to grow. While Rurren the sect head of the ninja clan (though its called Nijamae) is an interesting character, being much different from the other stuck up, sect leaders. Still all three sects have something to teach the MC as the Orc horde makes ready to invade.
Thats good reading material! I'm looking forward to the next book.
March 1, 2024
A Deadly Syndrome Becomes The Source Of Power.
Ryan has a medical condition which has caused his skin, muscles, and other soft tissues to vitrify, or crystallize. He has spent nearly half his life confined to a hospital bed; being studied by doctors who are attempting to understand what is happening to him. Then, miraculously, A portal opens above his bed and pulls him into another universe — The Divided Realms.
In some regards this is a great boon; Ryan's disease seems to be cured. He can move about on his own for the first time in eleven years. In other regards his situation is less beneficial; he now has people who see him as a
Destined Hero. A Hero they all wish very much to control.
This is an Isekai, Cultivation, LitRPG novel. It has many of the tropes one would expect of the genre and is a good read for those who enjoy this genre.
Ryan has a medical condition which has caused his skin, muscles, and other soft tissues to vitrify, or crystallize. He has spent nearly half his life confined to a hospital bed; being studied by doctors who are attempting to understand what is happening to him. Then, miraculously, A portal opens above his bed and pulls him into another universe — The Divided Realms.
In some regards this is a great boon; Ryan's disease seems to be cured. He can move about on his own for the first time in eleven years. In other regards his situation is less beneficial; he now has people who see him as a
Destined Hero. A Hero they all wish very much to control.
This is an Isekai, Cultivation, LitRPG novel. It has many of the tropes one would expect of the genre and is a good read for those who enjoy this genre.
November 30, 2023
Exciting new world to delve into
I have read other books from this author in the past, but this book finally resonated enough for me to become a Patreon. It is a great introduction to a world that feels like it could be massive and feels as if it could have some slice of life arcs naturally integrated into the cultivation and adventure main themes of the series. Has some minor 4th wall break jokes in it as the MC jokes about having MC vibes and plot armor prior to getting injured and is paced decently for a first book. I hope this series goes into the double digit number of volumes, but I could see it being wrapped up in as few as four (including this one) without things feeling more rushed than they already do. Can’t wait until #2 comes out
I have read other books from this author in the past, but this book finally resonated enough for me to become a Patreon. It is a great introduction to a world that feels like it could be massive and feels as if it could have some slice of life arcs naturally integrated into the cultivation and adventure main themes of the series. Has some minor 4th wall break jokes in it as the MC jokes about having MC vibes and plot armor prior to getting injured and is paced decently for a first book. I hope this series goes into the double digit number of volumes, but I could see it being wrapped up in as few as four (including this one) without things feeling more rushed than they already do. Can’t wait until #2 comes out
December 2, 2023
Awesome
I've seen complaints about this first book being ftb, personally I wasn't disappointed by this. The author took the time to build the story rather then focus on the sexy scenes. Speaking of the story, what a great mix of litrpg and cultivation. I'm loving the female leads, although so far the focus has mainly been on one of them the appearances of the others has been enough to firmly plant them in the story and reveal their personalities. The MC is pretty good so far, I like that he's not the typical just go along with everything MC. I'm hoping he keeps maturing because his attitude at this point isn't really very realistic in some aspects. I am very much looking forward to book 2.
I've seen complaints about this first book being ftb, personally I wasn't disappointed by this. The author took the time to build the story rather then focus on the sexy scenes. Speaking of the story, what a great mix of litrpg and cultivation. I'm loving the female leads, although so far the focus has mainly been on one of them the appearances of the others has been enough to firmly plant them in the story and reveal their personalities. The MC is pretty good so far, I like that he's not the typical just go along with everything MC. I'm hoping he keeps maturing because his attitude at this point isn't really very realistic in some aspects. I am very much looking forward to book 2.
March 15, 2024
Not a bad beginning
World building is very limited and parsed out like bread crumbs. It's an interesting story though and I like what the author is doing. I definitely enjoyed it. I would have preferred that it was a little bit better pace, but the pacing was still a lot better than many books in the genre. The protagonist is also not totally overpowered. He definitely has some advantages, but he's also coming into the system without any training or abilities, whereas everyone else's age has them. So while he's starting behind, you definitely see his growth potential is way sharper than the average person
World building is very limited and parsed out like bread crumbs. It's an interesting story though and I like what the author is doing. I definitely enjoyed it. I would have preferred that it was a little bit better pace, but the pacing was still a lot better than many books in the genre. The protagonist is also not totally overpowered. He definitely has some advantages, but he's also coming into the system without any training or abilities, whereas everyone else's age has them. So while he's starting behind, you definitely see his growth potential is way sharper than the average person
March 26, 2024
Interesting variation
Alternate universe, LitRPG, cultivation, fantasy creatures and races, harem fade to black
The tie-in to the origin and its effect on his manifestation in the new world was intriguing. Pretty sure that mana has to do with magic, and martial arts cultivation is properly called ki, but whatever, it's Burke's story so he can call it what he wants. Two supporting characters had names misspelled, and there were errors that using a spellchecker would have revealed. The number of errors wasn't too much to deal with, so one ding. Intrigued by the story and will purchase book 2.
Alternate universe, LitRPG, cultivation, fantasy creatures and races, harem fade to black
The tie-in to the origin and its effect on his manifestation in the new world was intriguing. Pretty sure that mana has to do with magic, and martial arts cultivation is properly called ki, but whatever, it's Burke's story so he can call it what he wants. Two supporting characters had names misspelled, and there were errors that using a spellchecker would have revealed. The number of errors wasn't too much to deal with, so one ding. Intrigued by the story and will purchase book 2.
August 6, 2024
David Burke, K.D. Roberson and Bruce Sentar have become welcome alternatives to cut and paste fantasy harem book series that authors like Eric Vall, Logan Jacobs, and Dante King have fallen into putting out.
I think the author does a great job with his cast of secondary characters. Sure, he plays with the same familiar and sometimes overused tropes that are common in the genre, but he definitely knows how to write characters that are truly brought to life by the usual cast of voice actors that he gets. Which is good because there are like 6 of them that can do this genre justice with both their range of character performances, along with not letting the erotic parts just feel awkward.
I think the author does a great job with his cast of secondary characters. Sure, he plays with the same familiar and sometimes overused tropes that are common in the genre, but he definitely knows how to write characters that are truly brought to life by the usual cast of voice actors that he gets. Which is good because there are like 6 of them that can do this genre justice with both their range of character performances, along with not letting the erotic parts just feel awkward.
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