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Path of the Berserker #4
Path of the Berserker 4
A world destroyed. An axe to grind. And a path to infinite power. Welcome to my reality.
School is out, but my education is just beginning.
My trials at Du Gok Bhong Academy pushed me to my limits and then some, fueling my breakthrough into the Sacred Soul Realm. But with new power comes new responsibilities, and my twin Dao to not only defeat the empire but protect it from the demonic scourge of the Cursed Stars has me on a collision course for the Hell Worlds.
Good thing that’s where I’m headed next. Now the only thing standing between me and returning to Earth a full-fledged Legionnaire, is a planet full of eldritch demons ready to tear me a new one.
With my problems back home multiplying and the ones ahead of me looking even worse, the odds are against me like never before. But that’s okay.
Beating the odds is just what a Berserker does.
Path of the Berserker Book 4 is a progression fantasy novel that contains immortal cultivators, an oppressive intergalactic dynasty, rage-inducing imperial bureaucracy, magical spirit beasts, fantastical martial arts and one pissed-off MC who’s sick of it all. Fans of western-style cultivation fantasy, post-apocalypse and Xianxia will enjoy.
Click buy to read now!
School is out, but my education is just beginning.
My trials at Du Gok Bhong Academy pushed me to my limits and then some, fueling my breakthrough into the Sacred Soul Realm. But with new power comes new responsibilities, and my twin Dao to not only defeat the empire but protect it from the demonic scourge of the Cursed Stars has me on a collision course for the Hell Worlds.
Good thing that’s where I’m headed next. Now the only thing standing between me and returning to Earth a full-fledged Legionnaire, is a planet full of eldritch demons ready to tear me a new one.
With my problems back home multiplying and the ones ahead of me looking even worse, the odds are against me like never before. But that’s okay.
Beating the odds is just what a Berserker does.
Path of the Berserker Book 4 is a progression fantasy novel that contains immortal cultivators, an oppressive intergalactic dynasty, rage-inducing imperial bureaucracy, magical spirit beasts, fantastical martial arts and one pissed-off MC who’s sick of it all. Fans of western-style cultivation fantasy, post-apocalypse and Xianxia will enjoy.
Click buy to read now!
548 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 4, 2025
really good book
This series avoids the pitfalls of many other similar series; namely, the MC actually has a personality and it isn't a harem, which are two mortal sins.
Otherwise, the story is fast paced and very engaging.
As an aside, I've been subscribed to Mr Scott on Patreon for a while now and he has regular updates and is very responsive in the group messages.
This series avoids the pitfalls of many other similar series; namely, the MC actually has a personality and it isn't a harem, which are two mortal sins.
Otherwise, the story is fast paced and very engaging.
As an aside, I've been subscribed to Mr Scott on Patreon for a while now and he has regular updates and is very responsive in the group messages.
February 7, 2025
Hell planet
Well, this book was chock full of awesome. Max has some pretty good stompy boots. A lot of action. A lot of nail biting. It's a bit shorter than the previous books, but very focused. An exciting ride.
Well, this book was chock full of awesome. Max has some pretty good stompy boots. A lot of action. A lot of nail biting. It's a bit shorter than the previous books, but very focused. An exciting ride.
February 5, 2025
Fanfreakingtastic!
What an amazing book! I absolutely loved this book and such wonderful characters! I can not wait for the next book to come out!
What an amazing book! I absolutely loved this book and such wonderful characters! I can not wait for the next book to come out!
March 10, 2025
Cannot Wait For The Next!!
I highly recommend reading the first 3 books before jumping head first into this one. This series is extremely well written and entertaining. A bonafied page turner.
I highly recommend reading the first 3 books before jumping head first into this one. This series is extremely well written and entertaining. A bonafied page turner.
February 25, 2025
Edge of my seat? My seat was non-existent
I could barely sit still from the need to get to the next page for the last quarter of the book. We got to see the real Berserker and I’m surprised my phone didn’t burst into flames with how fast I was reading.
Man, what a scene of horror and righteous fury. 15/10 (kept vague as possible to avoid spoilers)
I could barely sit still from the need to get to the next page for the last quarter of the book. We got to see the real Berserker and I’m surprised my phone didn’t burst into flames with how fast I was reading.
Man, what a scene of horror and righteous fury. 15/10 (kept vague as possible to avoid spoilers)
May 17, 2025
great series
Loved it I look for forward to the next installment its one of my favorite series. Love the character growth
Loved it I look for forward to the next installment its one of my favorite series. Love the character growth
February 22, 2025
Enthralling
I skipped classes and would’ve skipped work if I wasn’t able to read during it just because I couldn’t put it down, especially the entire second half of the book
I skipped classes and would’ve skipped work if I wasn’t able to read during it just because I couldn’t put it down, especially the entire second half of the book
February 19, 2025
solid read all 4 in 4 days
This series has Ben quite interesting. I enjoy the opposing cultivation while being powerful and able to punch up tiers, it has its growth stages and struggles. This book highlighted a lot that the character whil main has a society to operate and follow I.
This series has Ben quite interesting. I enjoy the opposing cultivation while being powerful and able to punch up tiers, it has its growth stages and struggles. This book highlighted a lot that the character whil main has a society to operate and follow I.
May 13, 2025
wow
I really enjoyed this series and I really don't write reviews but this was really great to read!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND
I really enjoyed this series and I really don't write reviews but this was really great to read!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND
February 12, 2025
FUDGING AMAZING!!!
DUDE... This series so far has got me gripped and twisted around it's luscious FINGER.
Mann Props to Rick Scott because the laborious work he has put into this Story and Plot is just such a breath of Fresh AIR. You can honestly feel how The Odds are truly against Max in every word and sentence in the series; the time crunches he has to muscle his way through to be able to accomplish a goal has really got me clutching my PEARLS and Screaming into my Pillow.
LMAOO, KEEP IT UP RICK!!!
DUDE... This series so far has got me gripped and twisted around it's luscious FINGER.
Mann Props to Rick Scott because the laborious work he has put into this Story and Plot is just such a breath of Fresh AIR. You can honestly feel how The Odds are truly against Max in every word and sentence in the series; the time crunches he has to muscle his way through to be able to accomplish a goal has really got me clutching my PEARLS and Screaming into my Pillow.
LMAOO, KEEP IT UP RICK!!!
February 11, 2025
best book so far, Rick keeps making some of the best fiction to read. I love the Daoist and cultivation theme.
Truly one of my favorite reads, I’ve already read it through twice. You won’t be disappointed this time the story is as good as I’ve read so far.
Truly one of my favorite reads, I’ve already read it through twice. You won’t be disappointed this time the story is as good as I’ve read so far.
February 5, 2025
This is easily one of my favorite two progression series of the dozen or so I have read. The characters, the pace, the story, the combat, the lighting fast progression. This is a progression fantasy series on steroids, pumping away top tier adrenaline on all levels!
It my opinion, the progression fantasy genre, and all its sub-genres, is itself a sub-genre of power fantasy. This means that the stories serve as a medium for us the readers to escape reality for a while and indulge in stories where the good guys get powerful and the good guys win.
So knowing, as we all should, that the good guys win, what is it that makes a good series? What makes a great series? Again, for me what makes a good series is excelling at one or more of the pillars of this genre. The first is characters. We admire even love our characters and we similarly despise or hate our villains yet are curious about them, and importantly not in a contrived manner. The second is progression and/or magic system. We want to see constant progression, not eight books in one grade. We like detailed and engaging magic systems. The third pillar is plot. We have a plot that is engaging in its pace, in its ability to grip us with its twists and turns and reveals, and its lack of being contrived. The last is combat. We want lots and lots of fights, against monsters and people. Fights that aren’t repetitive but engaging and exciting.
To be a good series, you only really need to excel at two of these, and you can add some flavor with some niches like slice of life, base building, or comedy. But to be great, you have to excel at them all.
Folks, for the first two novels of this series, I thought the author was already doing virtually all of this at the highest level save for the fact some of the fights were repetitive in that Max would fight an overpowered opponent, almost die, then dig deep and pull out the win. But between the last novel and this one, which can be considered a pair to each other as the Hell Worlds Arc, the author has closed that gap. Now sometimes Max just destroys people, as he should. Being overpowered isn’t a fault with this genre, it’s a feature because this is power fantasy. It’s okay to indulge us readers with it from time to time, in moderation.
What I especially love about this series is how the author weaves the many strands of our favorite characters and villains with roots starting much earlier in the books, coming together in ways, where again we already know the outcome because of its nature as power fantasy, but still coming together in ways we haven’t foreseen. Keeping the stakes vivid and palpable. Making us wonder what will happen next. And making us turn the page to find out.
For instance, we all knew Jei Su Long was gonna betray Max, but who could have foreseen how it unfolded here? Unpredictable! And just the way the author then simultaneously weaves in the Terra plots to all reach their apex simultaneously is a chef’s kiss. We also can see some things that don’t seem to make sense about the world building, but those aren’t problems with the plot, they are hints at the future of it. There is more to empire’s narrative of Hell Worlds and Blood Moons. Something else is going on. I can’t wait to find out!
Nothing but praise for this series. It and the coincidentally-named The Path of Ascension are my two favorites in this genre. Ascension does everything top shelf as well, it suffers from some unfortunate cover art that put me off for some time, but I’m so glad I finally gave in. It hits on all cylinders. But Berserker might have the edge, cause the payoffs are so satisfying.
As to other titans of the genre, I enjoy Primal Hunter but there’s numerous fillers there. The overall plot is fairly boilerplate as well, but it makes up for those shortfalls with great combat, great characters and comedy.
Defiance of the Fall is deeply flawed from the beginning, too focused on the main character and way too drawn out with numerous fillers of its own and extremely drawn out progression and less and less combat as we go on.
Dungeon Crawler Carl is amazing in its ingenuity and irreverence. It’s easy to see why it’s the first series likely to be adapted to television. But 18 floors is too much, it’s already getting repetitive, despite each floor having great storylines, characters and imaginative combat. It’s stagnating in the fact it may take a decade to finish the series with Carl and Donut stagnating too, no character growth, the end just doesn’t seem tangible.
Unbound is a great series for combat and progression but the characters and plot are boilerplate and uninteresting.
The worst of these popular series by a mile is He Who Fights With Monsters. I think over the course of nine books, the author has forgotten what genre he’s writing for. Almost no progression at this point at all, and the last book we got a rare grade upgrade but he glossed over it. The combat is uninspired, the plots boring, and the characters unrealistic. I also think the author has never had a real romantic relationship with another person, he writes how a juvenile would imagine relationships to be.
And that’s another point Berserker and Ascension does so well, characters with realistic romantic relationships. So refreshing.
So if all my typing isn’t enough for you to pick up this series, I don’t know what you want in a progression book. This is how we should feel when reading power fantasy!
One aside, there is a single continuity error in this book. During the second deployment when Max is rushing to intercept the Legionnaires and sees the skiff crashing, he makes an internal comment about how Jei Su Long must be screwing things up. But why would he assume JSL is there? JSL didn’t make the decision to do two more tours until after he’d abandoned Max and his team on the planet. The established protocol was that people on JSL’s position being allowed to fake their way to a jade robe was that they did one tour and deuced it. Max didn’t spot JSL until a couple of paragraphs later. The author should consider editing this before the audiobook is recorded. Let Max see the skiff crashing then see JSL and be confused as to what’s going on.
But that aside, I hope this series climbs its way to the top of the charts, where it deserves to be!
It my opinion, the progression fantasy genre, and all its sub-genres, is itself a sub-genre of power fantasy. This means that the stories serve as a medium for us the readers to escape reality for a while and indulge in stories where the good guys get powerful and the good guys win.
So knowing, as we all should, that the good guys win, what is it that makes a good series? What makes a great series? Again, for me what makes a good series is excelling at one or more of the pillars of this genre. The first is characters. We admire even love our characters and we similarly despise or hate our villains yet are curious about them, and importantly not in a contrived manner. The second is progression and/or magic system. We want to see constant progression, not eight books in one grade. We like detailed and engaging magic systems. The third pillar is plot. We have a plot that is engaging in its pace, in its ability to grip us with its twists and turns and reveals, and its lack of being contrived. The last is combat. We want lots and lots of fights, against monsters and people. Fights that aren’t repetitive but engaging and exciting.
To be a good series, you only really need to excel at two of these, and you can add some flavor with some niches like slice of life, base building, or comedy. But to be great, you have to excel at them all.
Folks, for the first two novels of this series, I thought the author was already doing virtually all of this at the highest level save for the fact some of the fights were repetitive in that Max would fight an overpowered opponent, almost die, then dig deep and pull out the win. But between the last novel and this one, which can be considered a pair to each other as the Hell Worlds Arc, the author has closed that gap. Now sometimes Max just destroys people, as he should. Being overpowered isn’t a fault with this genre, it’s a feature because this is power fantasy. It’s okay to indulge us readers with it from time to time, in moderation.
What I especially love about this series is how the author weaves the many strands of our favorite characters and villains with roots starting much earlier in the books, coming together in ways, where again we already know the outcome because of its nature as power fantasy, but still coming together in ways we haven’t foreseen. Keeping the stakes vivid and palpable. Making us wonder what will happen next. And making us turn the page to find out.
For instance, we all knew Jei Su Long was gonna betray Max, but who could have foreseen how it unfolded here? Unpredictable! And just the way the author then simultaneously weaves in the Terra plots to all reach their apex simultaneously is a chef’s kiss. We also can see some things that don’t seem to make sense about the world building, but those aren’t problems with the plot, they are hints at the future of it. There is more to empire’s narrative of Hell Worlds and Blood Moons. Something else is going on. I can’t wait to find out!
Nothing but praise for this series. It and the coincidentally-named The Path of Ascension are my two favorites in this genre. Ascension does everything top shelf as well, it suffers from some unfortunate cover art that put me off for some time, but I’m so glad I finally gave in. It hits on all cylinders. But Berserker might have the edge, cause the payoffs are so satisfying.
As to other titans of the genre, I enjoy Primal Hunter but there’s numerous fillers there. The overall plot is fairly boilerplate as well, but it makes up for those shortfalls with great combat, great characters and comedy.
Defiance of the Fall is deeply flawed from the beginning, too focused on the main character and way too drawn out with numerous fillers of its own and extremely drawn out progression and less and less combat as we go on.
Dungeon Crawler Carl is amazing in its ingenuity and irreverence. It’s easy to see why it’s the first series likely to be adapted to television. But 18 floors is too much, it’s already getting repetitive, despite each floor having great storylines, characters and imaginative combat. It’s stagnating in the fact it may take a decade to finish the series with Carl and Donut stagnating too, no character growth, the end just doesn’t seem tangible.
Unbound is a great series for combat and progression but the characters and plot are boilerplate and uninteresting.
The worst of these popular series by a mile is He Who Fights With Monsters. I think over the course of nine books, the author has forgotten what genre he’s writing for. Almost no progression at this point at all, and the last book we got a rare grade upgrade but he glossed over it. The combat is uninspired, the plots boring, and the characters unrealistic. I also think the author has never had a real romantic relationship with another person, he writes how a juvenile would imagine relationships to be.
And that’s another point Berserker and Ascension does so well, characters with realistic romantic relationships. So refreshing.
So if all my typing isn’t enough for you to pick up this series, I don’t know what you want in a progression book. This is how we should feel when reading power fantasy!
One aside, there is a single continuity error in this book. During the second deployment when Max is rushing to intercept the Legionnaires and sees the skiff crashing, he makes an internal comment about how Jei Su Long must be screwing things up. But why would he assume JSL is there? JSL didn’t make the decision to do two more tours until after he’d abandoned Max and his team on the planet. The established protocol was that people on JSL’s position being allowed to fake their way to a jade robe was that they did one tour and deuced it. Max didn’t spot JSL until a couple of paragraphs later. The author should consider editing this before the audiobook is recorded. Let Max see the skiff crashing then see JSL and be confused as to what’s going on.
But that aside, I hope this series climbs its way to the top of the charts, where it deserves to be!
February 13, 2025
It's worth it
I picked up the first book after the third one had already been published. I pretty much binge the three, one right after the other. I didn't know that the release date for book 4 was so close at hand and so when I got up this morning it was quite the pleasant surprise. I will say that I do try to separate the quality of the work from my personal opinion. I believe that the writer has done a fantastic job. For my personal taste I can say that I enjoyed approximately 90% of the book. It is a little jarring considering how the last book wound down to then have our main character come off more on the weak side at the beginning. That said by the end of the book the main character is displaying incredible power to deal what's coming his way. There are some chapters that are dedicated to the other characters which I really like. Not every series that I've read does that and it gives depth to the supporting characters that for going that does not. There is a choice that the author made in regard to Allegiant team that I really didn't like but I stayed with the book and clearly understand why he went down that route. The author does flip back and forth between characters as we build that final crescendo. And then lastly I will say that I absolutely hate Cliffhangers. It is almost always a deal break for me. That said, this was less of a cliffhanger and more of a tease as to what's coming in the next book or at least in one of the next books.
I picked up the first book after the third one had already been published. I pretty much binge the three, one right after the other. I didn't know that the release date for book 4 was so close at hand and so when I got up this morning it was quite the pleasant surprise. I will say that I do try to separate the quality of the work from my personal opinion. I believe that the writer has done a fantastic job. For my personal taste I can say that I enjoyed approximately 90% of the book. It is a little jarring considering how the last book wound down to then have our main character come off more on the weak side at the beginning. That said by the end of the book the main character is displaying incredible power to deal what's coming his way. There are some chapters that are dedicated to the other characters which I really like. Not every series that I've read does that and it gives depth to the supporting characters that for going that does not. There is a choice that the author made in regard to Allegiant team that I really didn't like but I stayed with the book and clearly understand why he went down that route. The author does flip back and forth between characters as we build that final crescendo. And then lastly I will say that I absolutely hate Cliffhangers. It is almost always a deal break for me. That said, this was less of a cliffhanger and more of a tease as to what's coming in the next book or at least in one of the next books.
August 5, 2025
The soup is getting thin.
“General Gong,” Tai Su Long said. “If you do not arrest this man, I will see to it that you—” “No need,” I said, stepping towards the skiff. “I’ll come of my own free will. Take my native ass back to prison.”
Most of the last book and so far this book has devolved into this over used ploy, 'Cronyism and political rot.' Don't need to worry about monsters ravaging the Universe, the entire point of the story has devolved to the persecution of Max because he is not of the ruling elite. And the main character is becoming every more willing to heroically take the injustice, and buckle under to political pandering and the influence of wealthy interests. I believe this is happening because the author is attempting to keep the series turning out more material quickly to take advantage of its current interest. Problem is writer, Rick Scott, isn't adding enough new ingredients and the soup is getting thin.
“General Gong,” Tai Su Long said. “If you do not arrest this man, I will see to it that you—” “No need,” I said, stepping towards the skiff. “I’ll come of my own free will. Take my native ass back to prison.”
Most of the last book and so far this book has devolved into this over used ploy, 'Cronyism and political rot.' Don't need to worry about monsters ravaging the Universe, the entire point of the story has devolved to the persecution of Max because he is not of the ruling elite. And the main character is becoming every more willing to heroically take the injustice, and buckle under to political pandering and the influence of wealthy interests. I believe this is happening because the author is attempting to keep the series turning out more material quickly to take advantage of its current interest. Problem is writer, Rick Scott, isn't adding enough new ingredients and the soup is getting thin.
August 15, 2025
seriously, winning the toughest battle of his life so far by puking?… Cmon, I realize authors gotta be original and there are only so many ways to make a plot twist (which happens literally in every fight of the main character, so often that it is already predictable and makes the reader wonder how will this battle twist this time), but that was a new low even for this series. Made me not wanna continue reading the rest of the (future as of now) books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2026
Another good entry. This book starts right where the last one left off. We do get some resolution by the end of the book but not fully. The ending was satisfying though. There was a lot of path progress. Things are seemingly becoming formulaic with the plots of the books. There is an entitled noble antagonist who bullies the MC, MC retaliates and gets in trouble due to said retaliation and then the legal combat comes into play. It is entertaining but the next book is set up to do the same.
February 5, 2025
Felt rehashed.
Everything in this book has been done before in this series. We've already had the "Kelsie and Max are linked" fight, we've already had the "young master betrayal and rescue of the damsel" arc (with exactly the same characters no less)
This entire book felt predictable and boring. Every single character having the same juvenile 15y/o personality doesn't help.
Everything in this book has been done before in this series. We've already had the "Kelsie and Max are linked" fight, we've already had the "young master betrayal and rescue of the damsel" arc (with exactly the same characters no less)
This entire book felt predictable and boring. Every single character having the same juvenile 15y/o personality doesn't help.
February 27, 2025
Chun squared
Nicely written, decent action scenes, but, good lord, can't we have a MC that has something besides pudding between his ears? I know it's all the rage to have MC's that are strong, true of heart and are meat heads. I think it's must be far easier to write strong arm simple minded goofballs. Come on, how about a strong intelligent character?
Nicely written, decent action scenes, but, good lord, can't we have a MC that has something besides pudding between his ears? I know it's all the rage to have MC's that are strong, true of heart and are meat heads. I think it's must be far easier to write strong arm simple minded goofballs. Come on, how about a strong intelligent character?
March 8, 2025
As someone who raised a daughter of short stature, I found the entire "Little Princess" arc disgusting. Our "hero" is literally sickened because he is faced with a 40+ year old woman who essentially has proportional dwarfism. The whole arc is just blatant height discrimination and I can't continue reading this shit.
February 15, 2025
Great series
Awesome book and series I wish the villains didn't get away with as much be as they do but it is not enough to stop me from reading further I'm going to go crazy waiting for the next book
Awesome book and series I wish the villains didn't get away with as much be as they do but it is not enough to stop me from reading further I'm going to go crazy waiting for the next book
February 15, 2025
Good Read
Enjoyed the continuation of Max’s adventures. His hot headedness is annoying sometimes but he’s also a berserker so it feels in character. Will definitely be reading the next once it comes out!
Enjoyed the continuation of Max’s adventures. His hot headedness is annoying sometimes but he’s also a berserker so it feels in character. Will definitely be reading the next once it comes out!
October 26, 2025
Definitely a better entry than the last however, as a series I feel the plot has become scattered and instead of excelling in its niche it’s drowning in all the plot points and ideas it try’s to grapple with.
February 16, 2025
Another winner 🏆
Love thus series - lots of action, creative progession system, and an MC that's a unique balance of powerhouse and Chun.
Love thus series - lots of action, creative progession system, and an MC that's a unique balance of powerhouse and Chun.
February 17, 2025
Another great story
I really love the books and stories that Rick Scott does, I have read all of his books. Can't wait to read book five of Berserker series.
I really love the books and stories that Rick Scott does, I have read all of his books. Can't wait to read book five of Berserker series.
February 21, 2025
solid
A Segway to something great I think. But a necessary and well crafted one. Thanks Rick for a wonderful world to get lost in.
A Segway to something great I think. But a necessary and well crafted one. Thanks Rick for a wonderful world to get lost in.
March 12, 2025
Another great instalment to the series
What a rollercoaster this book is. Max is really taking a beating just trying to get back home.
Can't wait for the next book
What a rollercoaster this book is. Max is really taking a beating just trying to get back home.
Can't wait for the next book
March 26, 2025
Outstanding.
It's just a classic, good vs. evil.
No woke nonsense.
Excellent series.
Lively, funny and entertaining.
What a breath of fresh air.
It's just a classic, good vs. evil.
No woke nonsense.
Excellent series.
Lively, funny and entertaining.
What a breath of fresh air.
May 15, 2025
It was a good read.
July 3, 2025
loved it, great vibes
January 2, 2026
love this series so far
Probably one of my top five cultivation fantasy books. And so far every single book has been an absolute joy to read
Probably one of my top five cultivation fantasy books. And so far every single book has been an absolute joy to read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews