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Magic Eater #2
Growth
Freed from the dungeon, Tad now has a wider world to explore, even as he is pursued by an enemy intent on using Tad's power for his own ends.
More of his forgotten past will be revealed even as he finds out more about his place in the multiverse. New allies and new enemies will appear.
More of his forgotten past will be revealed even as he finds out more about his place in the multiverse. New allies and new enemies will appear.
540 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2025
566 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 10, 2026
This is second in a LitRPG series that you should read in order. That said, the author has a very good "what happened before" section that means you don't have to.
You know mostly what you are going to get with this story. Kind of. I mean, there were chapters in the early story that had me impatient and fighting the urge to correct the author about how water works (seriously, Fara being adapted to sea diving was so lame it made me want to pull out flow charts and physics lectures). And it didn't help that he threw an extra sea dungeon in for no reason. Certainly nothing to do with plot or characters.
But I liked the ship captain and I liked the ship and I liked a lot of other things that happened once they got past the whole weird swimming bits. Tad continues to be engaging now that his horizons have opened up a bit. And I like that the world isn't entirely populated with power hungry jerks and that he has fallen in with mostly good people doing their best to be mostly good.
I'm going to call this four stars because I very nearly stopped reading during the porpoiseless swimmy bits (heh—there really were no porpoises but also no purpose. and now I've ruined the joke by explaining it...). Tad is still fleeing powerful and power hungry jerks, but I'm all about the friends he is making along the way.
A note about Chaste: Tad is still romance free. And its just as well. There really are no prospects and he certainly has enough on his plate as it is.
You know mostly what you are going to get with this story. Kind of. I mean, there were chapters in the early story that had me impatient and fighting the urge to correct the author about how water works (seriously, Fara being adapted to sea diving was so lame it made me want to pull out flow charts and physics lectures). And it didn't help that he threw an extra sea dungeon in for no reason. Certainly nothing to do with plot or characters.
But I liked the ship captain and I liked the ship and I liked a lot of other things that happened once they got past the whole weird swimming bits. Tad continues to be engaging now that his horizons have opened up a bit. And I like that the world isn't entirely populated with power hungry jerks and that he has fallen in with mostly good people doing their best to be mostly good.
I'm going to call this four stars because I very nearly stopped reading during the porpoiseless swimmy bits (heh—there really were no porpoises but also no purpose. and now I've ruined the joke by explaining it...). Tad is still fleeing powerful and power hungry jerks, but I'm all about the friends he is making along the way.
A note about Chaste: Tad is still romance free. And its just as well. There really are no prospects and he certainly has enough on his plate as it is.
August 3, 2025
Not as good as the first book
A lot of filler in this one. Felt like 3-5 chapters of story separated by endless pages of the sort of inner monologue one gets during tabletop RPG character building, cut-and-paste repetitions of the entire character packet, and magic item design that's so Monty Hall as to loose all meaning. Just...felt like fast-forwarding through most of this one. First book was solid. This one was phoned in.
A lot of filler in this one. Felt like 3-5 chapters of story separated by endless pages of the sort of inner monologue one gets during tabletop RPG character building, cut-and-paste repetitions of the entire character packet, and magic item design that's so Monty Hall as to loose all meaning. Just...felt like fast-forwarding through most of this one. First book was solid. This one was phoned in.
July 24, 2025
Ehh. Super Sloppy
The good…
Fara. Hands down the best part of this book. His lizard friend is the most interesting character.
The bad…
Holy power creep Batman.
The story is ridiculous. The MC keeps getting more and more ridiculous powers.
The writing is repetitive, there’s definitely a formula of ‘here’s x number of choices’ then the mc pontificates on each one, talks about how he’s tempted by something, and then picks the single most overpowered one every time. The plot armor isn’t even armor, it’s a plot world.
Anytime he’s in a clinch, the deus ex comes out. There’s so much god in this machine it actually takes quarters and dispenses it.
The good…
Fara. Hands down the best part of this book. His lizard friend is the most interesting character.
The bad…
Holy power creep Batman.
The story is ridiculous. The MC keeps getting more and more ridiculous powers.
The writing is repetitive, there’s definitely a formula of ‘here’s x number of choices’ then the mc pontificates on each one, talks about how he’s tempted by something, and then picks the single most overpowered one every time. The plot armor isn’t even armor, it’s a plot world.
Anytime he’s in a clinch, the deus ex comes out. There’s so much god in this machine it actually takes quarters and dispenses it.
February 6, 2026
5 🌟 love the magic/enchantments. Read on KU.
July 22, 2025
The story is really good?
The unreasonably long stat sheet and skill descriptions are absolutely bricking this book though. It's a crutch and takes up way too much screen time. Especially the system messages you don't even need to read anything but the last line of each of them. This is not a 600+ page book it's half that, maybe.
The unreasonably long stat sheet and skill descriptions are absolutely bricking this book though. It's a crutch and takes up way too much screen time. Especially the system messages you don't even need to read anything but the last line of each of them. This is not a 600+ page book it's half that, maybe.
July 23, 2025
Love the story but…
As a Patreon supporter of Sean, I’d love to have been able to give this a 5 star rating. However, there was sloppiness in the final version. Having read it previously on Patreon, I mainly skimmed through the book, but when doing so caught three mistakes, one typo, one word mixup and one formatting mistake. Love the story and direction, but the lack of attention to detail looses a star. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
As a Patreon supporter of Sean, I’d love to have been able to give this a 5 star rating. However, there was sloppiness in the final version. Having read it previously on Patreon, I mainly skimmed through the book, but when doing so caught three mistakes, one typo, one word mixup and one formatting mistake. Love the story and direction, but the lack of attention to detail looses a star. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
December 9, 2025
This book gives me a sense that the MC never seems to learn from any mistake or otherwise painful or perilous situation he gets into. He often just barges blindly ahead in the moment, and then tries to convey a sense of intelligence when it's less important to think quickly. Can't say I'm a huge fan.
I find the MC frustrating. The book was fine otherwise. I think I shall have a little skim through the third, but I haven't decided for sure.
****
6%: I feel like some narrative clarity is being lost or discarded in favor of flowery prose. It feels like the facts are being needless circled and wended through just so the sentences can be longer. Two pages to suss out whether or not the boat spoke to the MC, when it couldn't have been anything BESIDES the ship.
7%: The MC is pondering over not being able to speak his lizard friend's language outside of the dungeon, and instead of just...continuing to learn the language, he's of course pondering some enchanted item. He's really a one trick pony
17%: MC is present with a magic spear that's always sharp and never breaks and thinks "that's it?" and it perfectly illustrates my main gripe with this character. Despite all the training he did in the first book no one bothered to teach him it's best to be good at a few things instead of trying to be crap at all the things.
22%: MC barely knows how to swim and certainly doesn't know how to spear fish, but insists that he can contribute to the spear fishing expedition better than his naturally aquatic companion that grew up spear fishing. And of course, he makes a complete dog's breakfast of it. While ineptly trying to spear a fish, all he does is chum the water and attract a group of sharks. In a panic, he uses one of his magic abilities and mostly just manages to nearly kill himself. Honestly the incompetence on display this early on doesn't bode well.
24%: MC does not have the sense god gave a goat. Despite often having to face painful consequences for foolish impulsiveness, MC still cannot control himself and has yet again gotten into hot water.
34%: Once again the MC proves himself a liar about not being a fighter, and gets absolutely wrecked because he won't specialize in any kind of fighting style. And once again, surely, the MC will not learn from this experience and will instead seek to grab up even more useless abilities.
I find the MC frustrating. The book was fine otherwise. I think I shall have a little skim through the third, but I haven't decided for sure.
****
6%: I feel like some narrative clarity is being lost or discarded in favor of flowery prose. It feels like the facts are being needless circled and wended through just so the sentences can be longer. Two pages to suss out whether or not the boat spoke to the MC, when it couldn't have been anything BESIDES the ship.
7%: The MC is pondering over not being able to speak his lizard friend's language outside of the dungeon, and instead of just...continuing to learn the language, he's of course pondering some enchanted item. He's really a one trick pony
17%: MC is present with a magic spear that's always sharp and never breaks and thinks "that's it?" and it perfectly illustrates my main gripe with this character. Despite all the training he did in the first book no one bothered to teach him it's best to be good at a few things instead of trying to be crap at all the things.
22%: MC barely knows how to swim and certainly doesn't know how to spear fish, but insists that he can contribute to the spear fishing expedition better than his naturally aquatic companion that grew up spear fishing. And of course, he makes a complete dog's breakfast of it. While ineptly trying to spear a fish, all he does is chum the water and attract a group of sharks. In a panic, he uses one of his magic abilities and mostly just manages to nearly kill himself. Honestly the incompetence on display this early on doesn't bode well.
24%: MC does not have the sense god gave a goat. Despite often having to face painful consequences for foolish impulsiveness, MC still cannot control himself and has yet again gotten into hot water.
34%: Once again the MC proves himself a liar about not being a fighter, and gets absolutely wrecked because he won't specialize in any kind of fighting style. And once again, surely, the MC will not learn from this experience and will instead seek to grab up even more useless abilities.
March 5, 2026
Very Disappointing
I am 50% through this book and the disconnect I felt at the end the first book continues, but unlike the first book there is a lot of fluff, so much skimming. Tad, despite having a huge amount of dexterity points, all of a sudden can't seem to walk a path without stumbling, weird and not consistent with the previous book. Either the author who wrote this book isn't the same as the first or he has forgotten what he wrote in the last book.
Tad is also struggling after one fight! How could he have gotten so much weaker since the first book??? He's no longer looting his dungeon kills?? Who's writing this book?? Tad has very high perception, but can't perceive something coming down a tunnel until it attacks??? Tad has a magic eating ability which he had trained for months, but instead of using it against a mage, uses some ability to run away. So dumb! The writing is so disjointed, I could write so many examples of the discrepancies from the first book, it would take pages and pages! The author, or whoever is writing this book, has completely ignored the fact about Tad having received 6 months of intense training from the other world, including combat training.
After the 50% mark the book got a little better, but still an enormous amount of fluff in the form of repetitive introspection and previous events. Tad still forgets he has a powerful magic eating power. To me the story lines have gone off the rails. I would not recommend this book and won't be getting the next one, which I heard was worse.
I am 50% through this book and the disconnect I felt at the end the first book continues, but unlike the first book there is a lot of fluff, so much skimming. Tad, despite having a huge amount of dexterity points, all of a sudden can't seem to walk a path without stumbling, weird and not consistent with the previous book. Either the author who wrote this book isn't the same as the first or he has forgotten what he wrote in the last book.
Tad is also struggling after one fight! How could he have gotten so much weaker since the first book??? He's no longer looting his dungeon kills?? Who's writing this book?? Tad has very high perception, but can't perceive something coming down a tunnel until it attacks??? Tad has a magic eating ability which he had trained for months, but instead of using it against a mage, uses some ability to run away. So dumb! The writing is so disjointed, I could write so many examples of the discrepancies from the first book, it would take pages and pages! The author, or whoever is writing this book, has completely ignored the fact about Tad having received 6 months of intense training from the other world, including combat training.
After the 50% mark the book got a little better, but still an enormous amount of fluff in the form of repetitive introspection and previous events. Tad still forgets he has a powerful magic eating power. To me the story lines have gone off the rails. I would not recommend this book and won't be getting the next one, which I heard was worse.
October 6, 2025
It’s fine, the MC is a lot more annoying in this one. He keeps going on and on about how much he wants to be a shopkeeper and just own a store, when it’s incredibly obvious he’s only ever going to be a fighter. As others has said the pacing is worse in this, the world building isn’t as good, and the MCs inability to learn or grow into anything besides “idk what I am and I’ll never know” and “Everytime I get an upgrade I’m going to hem and haw over every little choice when the only answer is the last option every time”
The consistent harking on how Fara and the MC are strictly platonic is annoying, say it once then move on. It’s not like there’s any sexual tension or anything
It’s fine, a little tedious but fine
The consistent harking on how Fara and the MC are strictly platonic is annoying, say it once then move on. It’s not like there’s any sexual tension or anything
It’s fine, a little tedious but fine
February 15, 2026
Very Good and frustrating at the same time
This author writes a good book but will also frustrate you with some of the stupid things his many characters do. The world building is amazing but also a slow burn (too slow) to more details. For all the skills the main character has at his disposal, he certainly seems to lack common sense most of the time. The MC suffers mommy/daddy issues for sure after having grown up in an orphanage. The MC also has so many battle options that he forgets which to use during fight scenes, which can be annoying to the readers. Support characters are plentiful and equally skilled.
This author writes a good book but will also frustrate you with some of the stupid things his many characters do. The world building is amazing but also a slow burn (too slow) to more details. For all the skills the main character has at his disposal, he certainly seems to lack common sense most of the time. The MC suffers mommy/daddy issues for sure after having grown up in an orphanage. The MC also has so many battle options that he forgets which to use during fight scenes, which can be annoying to the readers. Support characters are plentiful and equally skilled.
August 2, 2025
Another wild ride
There is no rest for our MC here.. fighting and crafting and a whole lot of it. But that's what I like about this series. And I do enjoy that some of the big enemies die and stay dead. Some authors like to recycle the bit baddie. I don't subscribe to that. Overcome the evil, put it to rest permanently. I'm looking forward to the next book and a little bit of cleanup from this one. Certain characters are fun, and i'm very interested to see what happens to them.
There is no rest for our MC here.. fighting and crafting and a whole lot of it. But that's what I like about this series. And I do enjoy that some of the big enemies die and stay dead. Some authors like to recycle the bit baddie. I don't subscribe to that. Overcome the evil, put it to rest permanently. I'm looking forward to the next book and a little bit of cleanup from this one. Certain characters are fun, and i'm very interested to see what happens to them.
January 11, 2026
Getting silly
First, a full 20% of the text of this book is stat pages, most of which are copy/paste. Thats ridiculous. Secondly, everything Tad touches turns to overpowered nonsense. He cracks a new level EVERY TIME he crafts or fights, so he never has to suffer any ill effects from being a walking magic eating legendary item maker. His power is on par with the highest level fighters in the world after being level 0 6 months ago, and everyone seems to know what he is except him. Its getting silly.
First, a full 20% of the text of this book is stat pages, most of which are copy/paste. Thats ridiculous. Secondly, everything Tad touches turns to overpowered nonsense. He cracks a new level EVERY TIME he crafts or fights, so he never has to suffer any ill effects from being a walking magic eating legendary item maker. His power is on par with the highest level fighters in the world after being level 0 6 months ago, and everyone seems to know what he is except him. Its getting silly.
March 12, 2026
Gave up about halfway through
I liked the first book, it had a lot of great content and I liked the world building. In the second it seemed as though a major person of the book was about crafting. At once one he crafts some armor, then right after that crafts a weapon, and that process takes over 20 pages.
I don't have a problem with crafting, I loved the Aster Fall series, but there's only so many times in one book I need to sift through this before I get bored.
It was cradting overload, and that's not why I read books.
I liked the first book, it had a lot of great content and I liked the world building. In the second it seemed as though a major person of the book was about crafting. At once one he crafts some armor, then right after that crafts a weapon, and that process takes over 20 pages.
I don't have a problem with crafting, I loved the Aster Fall series, but there's only so many times in one book I need to sift through this before I get bored.
It was cradting overload, and that's not why I read books.
July 21, 2025
Compelling story & characters
I only wish it was longer! The plot has enough hooks and the world building is both detailed & open ended enough that I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Enjoyed the nerdy references both subtle & unsubtle, and eagerly anticipate further hints at how this series, especially the fae courts, integrate into the multiverse and whether they’ll feature in WTTM
I only wish it was longer! The plot has enough hooks and the world building is both detailed & open ended enough that I can’t wait for the next instalment!
Enjoyed the nerdy references both subtle & unsubtle, and eagerly anticipate further hints at how this series, especially the fae courts, integrate into the multiverse and whether they’ll feature in WTTM
August 23, 2025
even better
Sooooo good! This addition to the series was even better than book 1, which I didn’t think was possible because I adored book 1. There are some amazing battles where Tad is at a serious level disadvantage and we meet lots of new side characters. As always it was over way too soon, I can’t wait till October when book 3 releases! I definitely ,highly recommend this series!
Sooooo good! This addition to the series was even better than book 1, which I didn’t think was possible because I adored book 1. There are some amazing battles where Tad is at a serious level disadvantage and we meet lots of new side characters. As always it was over way too soon, I can’t wait till October when book 3 releases! I definitely ,highly recommend this series!
September 16, 2025
The adventure continues
More of the MC's heritage is revealed. His parents were unlikely lovers from opposite fae courts who were brought together by machinations of a high ranking void noble for his own purposes. His pardnts suffered seperation and exile for their relationship. Meanwhile, both lawgivers and the duke's henchmen seek to harm the MC and the crew of their ship. They also encounter demonic influenced hobgoblins.
More of the MC's heritage is revealed. His parents were unlikely lovers from opposite fae courts who were brought together by machinations of a high ranking void noble for his own purposes. His pardnts suffered seperation and exile for their relationship. Meanwhile, both lawgivers and the duke's henchmen seek to harm the MC and the crew of their ship. They also encounter demonic influenced hobgoblins.
October 28, 2025
level up level up level up
Blowing through a good chunk of levels fighting…sharknados, hobgoblins and demon crustaceans, also a lot of choice anxiety when you level up and the system gives you a dilemma of good soul-searching choices for your build.
Who are you, who do you want to be, how do you balance long term growth with near term survival.
What happens if your old captors find you and still outlevel you by a factor of two?
Blowing through a good chunk of levels fighting…sharknados, hobgoblins and demon crustaceans, also a lot of choice anxiety when you level up and the system gives you a dilemma of good soul-searching choices for your build.
Who are you, who do you want to be, how do you balance long term growth with near term survival.
What happens if your old captors find you and still outlevel you by a factor of two?
July 23, 2025
Loved the continuation
Loved the continuation of this series. Can't wait for the next one to come out. Was wondering how the direction of the story would go , and I guess say Sean Oswald has hit it out of the park again! The development of both characters and the arcs in story . Highly recommended
Loved the continuation of this series. Can't wait for the next one to come out. Was wondering how the direction of the story would go , and I guess say Sean Oswald has hit it out of the park again! The development of both characters and the arcs in story . Highly recommended
September 18, 2025
I need to look again at what 5 stars means
This has forced me to look again at what 5 stars means. The world building is exceptionally rich in detail, substance and meaning. The characters are depicted in a way that makes you care for their wellbeing and success. I can't wait for the next episode. If you listen via Audible, you will love the narration. Highly recommended 👌
This has forced me to look again at what 5 stars means. The world building is exceptionally rich in detail, substance and meaning. The characters are depicted in a way that makes you care for their wellbeing and success. I can't wait for the next episode. If you listen via Audible, you will love the narration. Highly recommended 👌
September 26, 2025
DNF @31%. So our MC is on a magical boat that could have keys to his past--being chased by not one, but two groups of baddies--when he decides to stop and gather food for a few chapters and then discovers a wild dungeon and goes on a multi-chapter dungeon dive. Our wild chase scene goes on hold for at least half a dozen chapters. Not sure, I gave up.
November 10, 2025
I am a fan of Sean Oswold. However this series is a disapointment. I have stopped reading book 3 after only 10%. For me the story has to be credible, in this case it has stopped being credible. The hero is engaged in a fight with low level monsters yet is struggling which makes no sense as he had progressed to taking on master tier monsters in book 2. This was frustrating enough for me to stop reading the series.
July 28, 2025
Great continuation. Looking forward to the next one.
Sean Oswald does a great job making stories that progress smoothly without being overly predictable, and it feels like his writing just keeps getting better.
Sean Oswald does a great job making stories that progress smoothly without being overly predictable, and it feels like his writing just keeps getting better.
July 29, 2025
Very enjoyable!
Nice progression and continued growth for Tad! We get to finally get some more answers about his past and what's going on as well as set the stage for plenty of future funsies! Sean doesn't dissapoint!
Nice progression and continued growth for Tad! We get to finally get some more answers about his past and what's going on as well as set the stage for plenty of future funsies! Sean doesn't dissapoint!
August 3, 2025
4.5 stars. Well written and paced, and managed to close out one nemesis of the MC in only the second book. Not quite a 5 overall, but a good continuation from book 1. Book 3 looks to open the story up even more, so I look forward to where it goes.
August 7, 2025
Not as good as the first but still worth a read
I understand some people like reading about crafting but dang! Crafting a dozen items in a row over a few dozen pages is a bit much for me. Otherwise a decent read
I understand some people like reading about crafting but dang! Crafting a dozen items in a row over a few dozen pages is a bit much for me. Otherwise a decent read
August 8, 2025
Loved it!!!
The only bad thing I have to say about this book at this time is that it will feel like an eternity having to wait until the 3rd one is released.
I love how refreshingly original is the way the MC's abilities develop.
The only bad thing I have to say about this book at this time is that it will feel like an eternity having to wait until the 3rd one is released.
I love how refreshingly original is the way the MC's abilities develop.
August 13, 2025
3.5 Stars - I really want to like this series, and I like the world it's set in, but for some reason I keep struggling. More than once I wanted to set this book down and go read/watch something more entertaining. In the end, it got where it was going, I just hope the next book has fewer slow spots.
August 16, 2025
a great 2nd book
But please, don’t have your characters notch any more arrows, have them nock them instead.
A fun series with some fun and unique ideas.
And you are right, giving the full stat sheet a chapter of its own works well.
But please, don’t have your characters notch any more arrows, have them nock them instead.
A fun series with some fun and unique ideas.
And you are right, giving the full stat sheet a chapter of its own works well.
September 14, 2025
Book two
I think that this improved the story from book one.
Lots of growth for the characters and plenty of loot.
Lots of action as well. I look forward to book three.
7/10 The first stat page chapter wasn't needed since we had just been told the MC's stats.
I think that this improved the story from book one.
Lots of growth for the characters and plenty of loot.
Lots of action as well. I look forward to book three.
7/10 The first stat page chapter wasn't needed since we had just been told the MC's stats.
September 16, 2025
Excellent book 2!
I loved book two and following Tad’s growth as a crafter adventurer. Plot was on point and more of the mystery of Tad’s origin is found out. Love that the author puts the stats in their own chapters. I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!
I loved book two and following Tad’s growth as a crafter adventurer. Plot was on point and more of the mystery of Tad’s origin is found out. Love that the author puts the stats in their own chapters. I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews