What do you think?
Rate this book
Law of the Jungle #5
Law of the Jungle #5
A school of ascension once again. But now, instead of the energy-starved Tier Zero, the Seekers have taken on the First Tier, so this school’s a whole different beast. It's massive. It's majestic. It strikes awe into the hearts of the students and nips any thoughts of breaking the rules in the bud. The Seekers are unwelcome here, forthey don’t play by anyone's rules. But aren't rules there to be broken? As for the school… Well, the entire First Tier’s gonna miss it for sure. When the Seekers roll in, one should expect chaos. Trouble will follow them and find them even behind the school's high walls. For such is the law!
- GenresFantasy
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2024
128 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Vasily Mahanenko
101 books1,104 followersBe the first to know when Vasily Mahanenko’s next book is available! Follow him at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/v-mah... to get an alert whenever he has a new release, preorder, or discount!
Vasily Mahanenko is a fantasy author working in the new genre of LitRPG - the MMO-based fantasy and sci fi. His Way of the Shaman series took Russian literature by storm in 2012.
Vasily dipped into his college-days insider knowledge as a hardcore gamer in order to create a believable world of the virtual-reality MMO game. His bestselling series combines fiction and video games, telling the story of Shaman and his friends stuck in the ruthless reality of Barliona. He used his more than ten years' experience as an ERP implementation project manager to approach his writing in a well-organized manner, working to a strict schedule, a set of deadlines and even a budget. At the moment, the series boasts six novels with the seventh one in the works - this time the author expands on stories of Shaman's companions and those who helped and supported him in his trials and tribulations.
The first book of the series has already been translated into English, with more translations to follow, aiming to make the Way of the Shaman series available to the English-language reader in its entirety.
Vasily's other passion is space exploration which is why he now works on a follow-up series entitled Galaktiona. Set in a space-simulator based world, the first book of the series in already finished while Vasily works on its sequel.
Vasily Mahanenko is a fantasy author working in the new genre of LitRPG - the MMO-based fantasy and sci fi. His Way of the Shaman series took Russian literature by storm in 2012.
Vasily dipped into his college-days insider knowledge as a hardcore gamer in order to create a believable world of the virtual-reality MMO game. His bestselling series combines fiction and video games, telling the story of Shaman and his friends stuck in the ruthless reality of Barliona. He used his more than ten years' experience as an ERP implementation project manager to approach his writing in a well-organized manner, working to a strict schedule, a set of deadlines and even a budget. At the moment, the series boasts six novels with the seventh one in the works - this time the author expands on stories of Shaman's companions and those who helped and supported him in his trials and tribulations.
The first book of the series has already been translated into English, with more translations to follow, aiming to make the Way of the Shaman series available to the English-language reader in its entirety.
Vasily's other passion is space exploration which is why he now works on a follow-up series entitled Galaktiona. Set in a space-simulator based world, the first book of the series in already finished while Vasily works on its sequel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 20, 2025
Law of the Jungle #5 elevates the stakes by thrusting its protagonists into the storied halls of the First Tier School of Ascension—an institution rivaling anything in prior books for scale, mystery, and drama.
World‑building & Atmosphere
The First Tier setting is massive, awe‑inspiring, and rule‑bound—yet, narrated through the eyes of the seekers, it feels wild, dangerous, and at times even anarchic. This contrast fuels much of the tension.
Characters & Growth
Vyllea, Zander, and their Seeker allies continue to face systems designed to contain them. Their defiance, moral code, and internal conflicts keep the emotional core strong. Support characters gain more depth as the institutional backdrop reveals new layers.
Plot & Pacing
This installment wraps up several plot threads tied to the First Tier conflict and sets up future arcs from the demon‑side perspective, promising exciting continuation once this phase closes. Despite some readers citing forced roadblocks or built‑in delays to MC progression, the tension and interplay among challengers and mentors remain compelling.
Criticisms & Tropes
Some reviews note familiar cultivation tropes and contrived pacing moments—the MC's inability to claim earned rewards comes across as artificial at times. A few moments feel repetitive or trope-heavy, though still entertaining.
Verdict: This is a potent continuation of the series: vibrant setting, evolving conflict, and high‑tension storytelling keep it engrossing. It leans into familiar LitRPG and wuxia conventions, but Mahanenko executes them with clarity, pace, and energy.
Final Thoughts:
If you enjoy progression fantasy with structured cultivation tiers, complex institutions, and moral ambiguity—this book delivers.
Readers sensitive to cliché plot devices or contrived progression plateaus may find occasional excesses—but the excitement outweighs the flaws.
Overall, I assign 3 / 5 stars. A worthy installment in the Law of the Jungle saga—tense, action‑packed, and full of world‑expanding revelations.
July 13, 2024
Each successive book gets better than the last
I'm a fan of Vasily's works and rave about the way of the shaman. But this series had become my new favourite. Deservedly so.
Set in a world reminiscent of feudal Japan, but with magic powers, with rigid concepts of duty and honour and clan. Where might makes right. The world building is just enough to engage, not distract. With two seekers who seek to live free, by their own code of honour and challenge the injustices. Sounds like a trope done before. And I have read books with this kind of core. But none have ever been as engaging, compelling, and page turning as this series. Plus, it has enough twists and turns that it can be argued it creates its own tropes that others will no doubt attempt to copy.
Every book in this series is a master piece of writing. Exciting, enthralling, and extremely clever. Yet every subsequent book builds on the already high standards and solid foundation of the previous book and then offers the reader more! The story grows, the world, the characters grow. Along with the stakes, the dangers, the thrills, and the excitement.
If you are looking Wuxia book, with nodes meridians, leveling, magic. Fun, excitement, and a devilish plot with interesting surprises, great characters, and that is an enthralling and compelling read. Then you need to read "Law of the Jungle" series by Vasily Mahanenko. A genius writer, and arguably the writer responsible for kick starting the growing interest in LitRPG.
I'm a fan of Vasily's works and rave about the way of the shaman. But this series had become my new favourite. Deservedly so.
Set in a world reminiscent of feudal Japan, but with magic powers, with rigid concepts of duty and honour and clan. Where might makes right. The world building is just enough to engage, not distract. With two seekers who seek to live free, by their own code of honour and challenge the injustices. Sounds like a trope done before. And I have read books with this kind of core. But none have ever been as engaging, compelling, and page turning as this series. Plus, it has enough twists and turns that it can be argued it creates its own tropes that others will no doubt attempt to copy.
Every book in this series is a master piece of writing. Exciting, enthralling, and extremely clever. Yet every subsequent book builds on the already high standards and solid foundation of the previous book and then offers the reader more! The story grows, the world, the characters grow. Along with the stakes, the dangers, the thrills, and the excitement.
If you are looking Wuxia book, with nodes meridians, leveling, magic. Fun, excitement, and a devilish plot with interesting surprises, great characters, and that is an enthralling and compelling read. Then you need to read "Law of the Jungle" series by Vasily Mahanenko. A genius writer, and arguably the writer responsible for kick starting the growing interest in LitRPG.
February 23, 2026
4 Stars
The Law of the Jungle series by Vasily Mahanenko proved to be a gripping blend of wuxia-inspired progression fantasy and survival-driven adventure. It takes the familiar “might makes right” premise and builds it into a richly layered world where Qi cultivation, territorial dominance, and personal ambition all collide.
From the very first book, the stakes are clear: in this world, strength isn’t just an advantage, it’s the only currency that truly matters. Mr. Mahanenko crafts a setting divided into zones, each brimming with danger, opportunity, and the constant threat of betrayal. The pacing is brisk, with battles and breakthroughs coming in satisfying waves, yet there’s enough breathing room for character growth and moral dilemmas to take root.
If you enjoy fast-paced progression fantasy with a martial arts flair, morally complex characters, and a world where every victory comes at a cost, you will definitely want to add the ‘Law of the Jungle’ series to your TBR, it is well worth diving into.
Happy Reading…
The Law of the Jungle series by Vasily Mahanenko proved to be a gripping blend of wuxia-inspired progression fantasy and survival-driven adventure. It takes the familiar “might makes right” premise and builds it into a richly layered world where Qi cultivation, territorial dominance, and personal ambition all collide.
From the very first book, the stakes are clear: in this world, strength isn’t just an advantage, it’s the only currency that truly matters. Mr. Mahanenko crafts a setting divided into zones, each brimming with danger, opportunity, and the constant threat of betrayal. The pacing is brisk, with battles and breakthroughs coming in satisfying waves, yet there’s enough breathing room for character growth and moral dilemmas to take root.
If you enjoy fast-paced progression fantasy with a martial arts flair, morally complex characters, and a world where every victory comes at a cost, you will definitely want to add the ‘Law of the Jungle’ series to your TBR, it is well worth diving into.
Happy Reading…
June 27, 2024
I received a review copy of this book.
Law of the Jungle (book 5) ties up a lot of the threads in this one, and brings this phase of their adventures to a close. The next series of books will likely explore the adventures from the demon side of things. That's very interesting, and I'd like to see where the series goes after this, it certainly won't be boring, that's for sure. If you've read any of the other books in this series, then this one is a must read, especially if you liked any of the previous books. Looking forward to the next series of books in this series.
Law of the Jungle (book 5) ties up a lot of the threads in this one, and brings this phase of their adventures to a close. The next series of books will likely explore the adventures from the demon side of things. That's very interesting, and I'd like to see where the series goes after this, it certainly won't be boring, that's for sure. If you've read any of the other books in this series, then this one is a must read, especially if you liked any of the previous books. Looking forward to the next series of books in this series.
September 26, 2025
Demons, Cultists, and Betrayal
This is the fifth book in the Wuxia Progression series. Finally, the pair of seekers are going to attend school. Oh wait, here come the problems… Not to worry, what is the law of the jungle except that the strong will survive. This time they have to pull out every trick in the book to make it, but just when it’s over, it isn’t over yet. Layers upon layers, but we are now seeing even greater powers that make our two little seekers look like the small fry they are. A fun read with a promise of a big change. The next book sounds promising.
This is the fifth book in the Wuxia Progression series. Finally, the pair of seekers are going to attend school. Oh wait, here come the problems… Not to worry, what is the law of the jungle except that the strong will survive. This time they have to pull out every trick in the book to make it, but just when it’s over, it isn’t over yet. Layers upon layers, but we are now seeing even greater powers that make our two little seekers look like the small fry they are. A fun read with a promise of a big change. The next book sounds promising.
December 28, 2024
MC kills those weaker than him who made the grievous of sin by readily "annoying" him.
MC cries and whines when his life is in the hands of those stronger than him.
He even has the temerity to call them hypocrites.
An exemplar of the adage "a pot calling a kettle black."
Nevertheless, this annoyance is somewhat of a trope from Wuxia/Xianxia cultivation novels, if I were younger I wouldn't mind it.
Despite that vexing trope, the book is still fun, so it's 4/5.
MC cries and whines when his life is in the hands of those stronger than him.
He even has the temerity to call them hypocrites.
An exemplar of the adage "a pot calling a kettle black."
Nevertheless, this annoyance is somewhat of a trope from Wuxia/Xianxia cultivation novels, if I were younger I wouldn't mind it.
Despite that vexing trope, the book is still fun, so it's 4/5.
November 15, 2025
They join the second school in the series and while the adventures are fun, the actual school setup is unrealistic and ineffective. The chaos and death that's allowed--even encouraged--by the school made for some ridiculous plot points. But I liked the characters and how they're growing as people and as powerhouses.
July 11, 2024
pretty good
The characters and story remain entertaining. It does seem, however, that the author is creating artificial roadblocks to the MCs progression. The whole thing of them never being able to claim rewards for their accomplishments seems very contrived.
The characters and story remain entertaining. It does seem, however, that the author is creating artificial roadblocks to the MCs progression. The whole thing of them never being able to claim rewards for their accomplishments seems very contrived.
November 9, 2024
Lost 2 stars for NOT writing a Recap.
I think every reader needs to start doing this to force authors to write a quick Recap chapter, which readers can skip if they remember, and those who don't won't stop reading the series.
I think every reader needs to start doing this to force authors to write a quick Recap chapter, which readers can skip if they remember, and those who don't won't stop reading the series.
July 11, 2024
Great one sitting read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.
July 16, 2024
u already know that you’re buying the next book.
Another great book, the character development is amazing. You won’t be disappointed. This series is well worth the read. SSS so far.
Another great book, the character development is amazing. You won’t be disappointed. This series is well worth the read. SSS so far.
November 17, 2025
It's starting to lose its hold on me. I have no sense that the MCs' power progression is leading to anything other than more power.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews