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Pentacle #1
Transcendental Misappropriation
Danny's life was going well. He had a steady job and plans to buy his own place. That was until some rogue junk mail decided he needed a change of scenery.
Now Danny's got a new start in another world and he needs to make sure he doesn't squander this opportunity at making the most of this new life.
Now Danny's got a new start in another world and he needs to make sure he doesn't squander this opportunity at making the most of this new life.
447 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 29, 2017
99 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 6, 2018
Loved it
I liked almost everything about this book. The story was interesting and easy to follow and the characters mostly humorous and believable. The magic system was just the right amount of complex and intriguing. The litrpg elements were toned down alot but it worked very well.
There were two things I didn't like. Around the 66% mark there was a huge leap of 5 years. Skipping that much of the story was unnecessary and I found myself questioning if anything actually happened during these years. Feels like it was just a way to make the characters older which was a shame.
The second thing I didn't like was the ending. Feels like it ended in some random place with a big twist. Honestly, I would have been happier if it ended sooner. On the bright side, the epilogue was great fun.
All in all super good and I'm looking forward to the next book!
I liked almost everything about this book. The story was interesting and easy to follow and the characters mostly humorous and believable. The magic system was just the right amount of complex and intriguing. The litrpg elements were toned down alot but it worked very well.
There were two things I didn't like. Around the 66% mark there was a huge leap of 5 years. Skipping that much of the story was unnecessary and I found myself questioning if anything actually happened during these years. Feels like it was just a way to make the characters older which was a shame.
The second thing I didn't like was the ending. Feels like it ended in some random place with a big twist. Honestly, I would have been happier if it ended sooner. On the bright side, the epilogue was great fun.
All in all super good and I'm looking forward to the next book!
January 20, 2018
Easily one of the greats
This book is a ceramic of several genres but leans heavily on lit peg and fantasy. The MC is a doofus which is alarming g because he has 28 years of experience already. It is his uncanny ability to learn and grow from his hardships is what kept me from writing him off. He is strong yet weak and is unique in every way. There is death and pain and soul searching. Give this a read. I promise you won't be disappointed.. would have got 5 stars but it has some grammatical issues.
This book is a ceramic of several genres but leans heavily on lit peg and fantasy. The MC is a doofus which is alarming g because he has 28 years of experience already. It is his uncanny ability to learn and grow from his hardships is what kept me from writing him off. He is strong yet weak and is unique in every way. There is death and pain and soul searching. Give this a read. I promise you won't be disappointed.. would have got 5 stars but it has some grammatical issues.
February 1, 2018
So this was a fun read and a bit different from most died in this world, born in a new world type story. I like the fact that the MC while uber powerful has some serious shortcomings due to how he perceives things and also about how he goes about trying to use his abilities. I'm trying to not give away a lot, but it is a different spin on how things generally go with OP characters, except that this OP character has the ability to be killed in a moments notice. So if you like Isakai type novels, this is a wonderful one to read with a nice twist.
January 8, 2018
Awesome
Very good read, I can't wait for the sequel. Comparisons to Delvers LLC are accurate, but I enjoyed this a lot more.
Very good read, I can't wait for the sequel. Comparisons to Delvers LLC are accurate, but I enjoyed this a lot more.
August 9, 2018
OK book, guy is born in another world with magic and a gender imbalance. It's handled pretty well though, as he is not perving on every girl in site. We spend alot of time with him growing up and honestly it was kind of scary, even though he and adult he is obviously limited by his body. He does not know what people are saying or why they do what they do. I started getting paranoid that there was some big secret but that was not the case. There was an innocent explanation.
The thing is the world is a has more women that men and their family happened to have a man without magic, but he is still highly valued for marriage. The odd behaviors was the family member trying not to talk about magic in case other family did not have any, as a kindness. it looked like men might not be able to use magic, or read and write, because I keep reading scenes of the women preventing him from getting book. Reason for this was because most books are protect by noble families as business.
I dont know if author was trying to make me feel this way, but if so it was well done, cause i found myself thinking of societies that prevented women from reading and put myself in their shoes of having the people who you love "tie one arm behind your back" so to speak.
As he grows of age he does eventually go to magic school, and does the whole "gotta to hide my true power" thing but gets discovered, he eventually joins an elite team with 3 other girls who want to marry him. They fight goblins and such.
Biggest problem is the MC is overpowered and he always gets his way. In one scene we see his behavior seemingly catch up to him. he is told by putting himself in danger he risked the future of his teammates because if they failed to protect their powerful future husband nobody would want to marry them, and they face punishment for his behavior. Not only that he turns out to be weakest compared to the other teams. But this amazing scene is soon forgotten and he goes back to disobeying orders, experimenting during mission and getting rewarded and praised for his actions.
Another part I did not like is when he threw a tantrum and used his special powers to threaten a teacher who had information he wanted about his mother. He did not do anything like this again, but I have scene to many MC in books like this go the route of bullying everyone who denies him anything and looking down because he thinks the world revolves around him.
So I think I would have to read second book to see if I would recommend this book to others. If this was a oneshot I would give it a speed read.
The thing is the world is a has more women that men and their family happened to have a man without magic, but he is still highly valued for marriage. The odd behaviors was the family member trying not to talk about magic in case other family did not have any, as a kindness. it looked like men might not be able to use magic, or read and write, because I keep reading scenes of the women preventing him from getting book. Reason for this was because most books are protect by noble families as business.
I dont know if author was trying to make me feel this way, but if so it was well done, cause i found myself thinking of societies that prevented women from reading and put myself in their shoes of having the people who you love "tie one arm behind your back" so to speak.
As he grows of age he does eventually go to magic school, and does the whole "gotta to hide my true power" thing but gets discovered, he eventually joins an elite team with 3 other girls who want to marry him. They fight goblins and such.
Biggest problem is the MC is overpowered and he always gets his way. In one scene we see his behavior seemingly catch up to him. he is told by putting himself in danger he risked the future of his teammates because if they failed to protect their powerful future husband nobody would want to marry them, and they face punishment for his behavior. Not only that he turns out to be weakest compared to the other teams. But this amazing scene is soon forgotten and he goes back to disobeying orders, experimenting during mission and getting rewarded and praised for his actions.
Another part I did not like is when he threw a tantrum and used his special powers to threaten a teacher who had information he wanted about his mother. He did not do anything like this again, but I have scene to many MC in books like this go the route of bullying everyone who denies him anything and looking down because he thinks the world revolves around him.
So I think I would have to read second book to see if I would recommend this book to others. If this was a oneshot I would give it a speed read.
March 2, 2018
Very good story, good ending..
Liked: Good plot development and character growth.
Dislike: A few editing errors that are ofputting when you see them. Seems like there was only one amateur proofreader.
Liked: Good plot development and character growth.
Dislike: A few editing errors that are ofputting when you see them. Seems like there was only one amateur proofreader.
February 22, 2018
Amazing Story
Well written, a few words were messed up, but there were very few.
Over all, loved it. Give it a buy, you won't regret it.
Well written, a few words were messed up, but there were very few.
Over all, loved it. Give it a buy, you won't regret it.
May 18, 2021
This is a review/rant of the first two books, not just the first. Also, this was the first time I saw a series, where the author manages to lose a lot of readers with each book, while the average rating of the books decreases. When most series lose readers, since the remaining people are the core audience, the ratings will increase. Not here. Robert Harper made the most ballsy decision ever: making his books less enjoyable for his core audience with each new addition, while annoying the rest enough, to stop reading his work.
I liked the first book. I'd say it's around 4 stars. Then I read the second one... The only time I was this pissed about an authors talent for ruining their own work, was when I read "Art of the Adept 2 - The Sudden and Unexplained Mental Disability of MC".
The first book starts out ok. Truck-kun continues his murder-spree on earth, and urges another poor soul into OP isekai heroism. After these shockingly unexpected events, we follow around MC on his quest for power and personal freedom(?).
The book is enjoyable. MC gets a bit too strong a bit too quickly for my tastes, but he still has to overcome some obstacles, and isn't juggling Dreadgods on his second birthday, so that wasn't a huge problem. The society of the new world is waay more thought out, than any other isekai books I've read, which was highly appreciated. MC (mostly) makes realistic decisions, thinks through the consequences of his actions, and while being kind, he acclimates to the new environment with admirable caution/paranoia. The other characters also behave more or less normal. There's an obligatory school bully, but luckily only for maybe 5 paragraphs. My only gripe was with the random 5 year jump, but that was inevitable. Still, a more seamless transition would have been nice.
Then, in book 2, the author chose to drink the biggest barrel of rancid milk he could find, and started showering MC in a continuous stream of shit. Suddenly MC becomes an idiot, testing risky fire magic alone, inside a random forest, next to the campsite of his sleeping, closest friends. Then our esteemed writer decides, that MC doesn't just need to be stupid, but also pathetic, making his hair + eyebrows burn away (he was already reduced to a disturbing skeleton at this point, so there's that). Then author canonically ensures us, that MC's dick is tiny, because that's the most important and necessary information about this whole world. Of course, if you haven't died laughing yet, don't fret. Turns out is basically a GOD, so we can have him push around MC as much as possible, at one time risking international relations between 2/5 of the world's countries, in the name of so called "comic relief".
It's just sad. Took up 18 hours of my life I'll never get back (+the number of days my current rage ate away from my lifespan). Don't read it.
I liked the first book. I'd say it's around 4 stars. Then I read the second one... The only time I was this pissed about an authors talent for ruining their own work, was when I read "Art of the Adept 2 - The Sudden and Unexplained Mental Disability of MC".
The first book starts out ok. Truck-kun continues his murder-spree on earth, and urges another poor soul into OP isekai heroism. After these shockingly unexpected events, we follow around MC on his quest for power and personal freedom(?).
The book is enjoyable. MC gets a bit too strong a bit too quickly for my tastes, but he still has to overcome some obstacles, and isn't juggling Dreadgods on his second birthday, so that wasn't a huge problem. The society of the new world is waay more thought out, than any other isekai books I've read, which was highly appreciated. MC (mostly) makes realistic decisions, thinks through the consequences of his actions, and while being kind, he acclimates to the new environment with admirable caution/paranoia. The other characters also behave more or less normal. There's an obligatory school bully, but luckily only for maybe 5 paragraphs. My only gripe was with the random 5 year jump, but that was inevitable. Still, a more seamless transition would have been nice.
Then, in book 2, the author chose to drink the biggest barrel of rancid milk he could find, and started showering MC in a continuous stream of shit. Suddenly MC becomes an idiot, testing risky fire magic alone, inside a random forest, next to the campsite of his sleeping, closest friends. Then our esteemed writer decides, that MC doesn't just need to be stupid, but also pathetic, making his hair + eyebrows burn away (he was already reduced to a disturbing skeleton at this point, so there's that). Then author canonically ensures us, that MC's dick is tiny, because that's the most important and necessary information about this whole world. Of course, if you haven't died laughing yet, don't fret. Turns out is basically a GOD, so we can have him push around MC as much as possible, at one time risking international relations between 2/5 of the world's countries, in the name of so called "comic relief".
It's just sad. Took up 18 hours of my life I'll never get back (+the number of days my current rage ate away from my lifespan). Don't read it.
February 5, 2018
Fun story
I enjoyed the storyline. At first I didn't like the MC so much, but he sort grew on me. There were more than a few errors, grammatical and spelling, that took away from the immersion once I got into the story. They weren't really spelling errors, i.e., bead when I know the author meant been (damned autocorrect). Still a fun story and I look forward to the next book.
I enjoyed the storyline. At first I didn't like the MC so much, but he sort grew on me. There were more than a few errors, grammatical and spelling, that took away from the immersion once I got into the story. They weren't really spelling errors, i.e., bead when I know the author meant been (damned autocorrect). Still a fun story and I look forward to the next book.
July 9, 2018
Book one
Rather interesting book. I'm normally not a but fan of this type of story. As reincarnation books to this was well done.
The relationships didn't feel creepy due to the MC not constantly lusting after the girls that he is to marry. Having the MC be awkward and uncomfortable around the three preteens felt right. Even though the the MC has the body of a preteen he has the mind of an adult. The balance struck was well done.
I'm off to read book two and hope you will give this book a try.
Rather interesting book. I'm normally not a but fan of this type of story. As reincarnation books to this was well done.
The relationships didn't feel creepy due to the MC not constantly lusting after the girls that he is to marry. Having the MC be awkward and uncomfortable around the three preteens felt right. Even though the the MC has the body of a preteen he has the mind of an adult. The balance struck was well done.
I'm off to read book two and hope you will give this book a try.
April 25, 2018
Hard to classify exactly, really.
It's one of those books in which the protagonist is reincarnated, and for some reason gaming mechanics apply. Because some ancient arch-mages decided to provide that for people, to prepare them for the coming Absolute Evil Apocalypse. The thing sounds interesting, but I fear it might devolve in the classic harem rpg fantasy with insanely OP hero that's the trash barrel of litrpg.
We'll see what the next book yields.
It's one of those books in which the protagonist is reincarnated, and for some reason gaming mechanics apply. Because some ancient arch-mages decided to provide that for people, to prepare them for the coming Absolute Evil Apocalypse. The thing sounds interesting, but I fear it might devolve in the classic harem rpg fantasy with insanely OP hero that's the trash barrel of litrpg.
We'll see what the next book yields.
January 9, 2018
Good book but...
Despite what some of the other reviewer’s have said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the world that was created… Although there was a strong lack of overall plot and no real goal for the main character, I still would’ve rated it a four except for the really horrible and potentially pointless cliffhanger ending...
Despite what some of the other reviewer’s have said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the world that was created… Although there was a strong lack of overall plot and no real goal for the main character, I still would’ve rated it a four except for the really horrible and potentially pointless cliffhanger ending...
January 21, 2018
Good overall. Needs more polish.
Tons of editing issues plague a very solid story, dialogue, and world building. I found the story believable and accessible, but the misspellings, tense transitions, and perspective transitions were jarring. One or two are easily forgiven, but this work is rife with them. A professional editor could have made this a 5 star book.
Tons of editing issues plague a very solid story, dialogue, and world building. I found the story believable and accessible, but the misspellings, tense transitions, and perspective transitions were jarring. One or two are easily forgiven, but this work is rife with them. A professional editor could have made this a 5 star book.
September 15, 2020
The MC is almost 30 when he dies, but he acts like a 15-year-old at the beginning. As the story progresses he gets dumber and dumber. When his body is one of a teenager, he starts acting like a 7-year-old. At some point it felt like I was reading about Aang the Airbender but even more childish. The story itself is absolutely boring, the second characters flat, and the MC hate-inducing.
January 10, 2018
Amazing
This book kept me up way past bedtime. I love it when I buy a book on a whim, and it ends up being as good as this one. Well worth the money!
This book kept me up way past bedtime. I love it when I buy a book on a whim, and it ends up being as good as this one. Well worth the money!
August 17, 2018
This is a meaty book.
Nice premise and interesting execution, but a lot of time spent on discovery and world building with very little happening until the last third of the book.
Nice premise and interesting execution, but a lot of time spent on discovery and world building with very little happening until the last third of the book.
April 19, 2019
Well balanced system, great characters and lots of fun. I like the growth of the main character, and I'm very much looking forward to the second book.
June 1, 2021
Rating 4.0 stars
Started off a little slow but I ended up really enjoying this book. The story is about someone from earth who dies and ends up being reborn on another world with all his memories from his previous life. This world has magic though. Most people don't get access to this magic until they are 7 years old but the MC awakens his magic when he is still a baby. He knows enough to hide this fact though. The first half of the book is him growing up until about 7 years old. Then he goes off to school to be trained as a wizard and the last half of the book is either him in school or him training with his team. He ends up being 12 years old by the end of the book. I enjoyed the magic system and the world building. I liked the story though because I put myself in the MCs place I don't think I would like it if it happened to me.
Started off a little slow but I ended up really enjoying this book. The story is about someone from earth who dies and ends up being reborn on another world with all his memories from his previous life. This world has magic though. Most people don't get access to this magic until they are 7 years old but the MC awakens his magic when he is still a baby. He knows enough to hide this fact though. The first half of the book is him growing up until about 7 years old. Then he goes off to school to be trained as a wizard and the last half of the book is either him in school or him training with his team. He ends up being 12 years old by the end of the book. I enjoyed the magic system and the world building. I liked the story though because I put myself in the MCs place I don't think I would like it if it happened to me.
November 23, 2019
The title says it all. This first book blew me away. Such a different take on a tired genre. It is "reincarnated in a new world" fiction with a welcome twist. The MC ends up in a matriarchal society, is *not* OP and starts off his new life as a baby! It was really interesting! The MC plays things cautiously and tries to fly under the radar. Again, really cool.
Unfortunately, the author overreacted to a couple of vocal critics (here on goodreads) and sort of drove the series into the bush in books 2 and 3. Yes, we can't have the dreaded "passive Japanese-like MC". etc etc. You know the drill... Now look, I like some of those other series! But this one was so different. It was a breath of fresh air.
By book 3 the MC is way *OP* and is well on his way to overthrowing the political order of things, Long story short, by book 3, it feels like 80% of the other portal fiction out there. I shake my head. Book 1 was so amazing. The author should have stuck to his original vision of something really different.
Unfortunately, the author overreacted to a couple of vocal critics (here on goodreads) and sort of drove the series into the bush in books 2 and 3. Yes, we can't have the dreaded "passive Japanese-like MC". etc etc. You know the drill... Now look, I like some of those other series! But this one was so different. It was a breath of fresh air.
By book 3 the MC is way *OP* and is well on his way to overthrowing the political order of things, Long story short, by book 3, it feels like 80% of the other portal fiction out there. I shake my head. Book 1 was so amazing. The author should have stuck to his original vision of something really different.
April 2, 2018
This story was fascinating. The premise is new and creative. The MC is a good guy with good intentions. The story flows at a nice pace and is entertaining without holding that heavy shadow of some major threat looming the entire time. There’s plenty of action and story development without the usual suspects of stress and anxiety over what’s to come. The epic nature and smooth flow of the story reminded me of a Hemingway or McMurtry novel- but the editing is terrible so just be prepared to overcome that as you read.
A great first book for this author!
A great first book for this author!
November 25, 2018
Great Start
A great start to this series, ending in a cliffhanger that made me buy book #2 immediately. So... sort of a spoiler alert, but yeah not really. It’s good.
So we have a fascinating world and magic system here, along with some good social dynamics. That gets fuzzy for a while, but the action and magic make up for it, right until the end.
Straight up: book 1 here is very recommended, and is enjoyable. The series is fun too, so you should enjoy the other books as well.
A great start to this series, ending in a cliffhanger that made me buy book #2 immediately. So... sort of a spoiler alert, but yeah not really. It’s good.
So we have a fascinating world and magic system here, along with some good social dynamics. That gets fuzzy for a while, but the action and magic make up for it, right until the end.
Straight up: book 1 here is very recommended, and is enjoyable. The series is fun too, so you should enjoy the other books as well.
March 19, 2018
Typical main character with lots more abilities than the rest of the magic community. Character development and story line are quite decent. Would probably give it a 4 star if not for the cliff hanger ending. As a general rule, I don't read the subsequent book/series of a cliff hanger ending. It doesn't take much, the next 10-20 pages to put a good conclusion to book then start with the subsequent book.
April 3, 2018
I liked the story and continue with the second book. Nevertheless I have to agree with other comments and say that the editor didn't do his job with this book. Some errors could have being solved by just using automatic corrector.
I don't expect for writers to be focusing on grammar this is editor’s job. So please be more attentive in the future since so many mistakes are distracting when you are reading.
I don't expect for writers to be focusing on grammar this is editor’s job. So please be more attentive in the future since so many mistakes are distracting when you are reading.
July 12, 2018
A hidden gem!! Picked it up and couldn’t put it down. The worse part of the book was the magical nomenclature (spell names) and that’s saying something considering the scope of the book. The magic system was unique and solid. The MC building was pretty decent and the book put a nice twist on the classic coming of age story/stranger in a new world.
Was it absolutely perfect, no. However, for what it is, it’s pretty solid.
Was it absolutely perfect, no. However, for what it is, it’s pretty solid.
June 4, 2021
Like a Weird Shaped Onion
There’s a good if slow story here with a familiar reincarnation into a magic world theme, but there is an exponential curve to the layers of depth that stack up once we pass about half way which is jarring at times and a lot of odd decisions for an mc that in one moment is OP but in the next simply a lamb to the slaughter.. it’s a little hard to get a good read on that. But as I’ve said, I did enjoy my time with this book and the narration is great.
There’s a good if slow story here with a familiar reincarnation into a magic world theme, but there is an exponential curve to the layers of depth that stack up once we pass about half way which is jarring at times and a lot of odd decisions for an mc that in one moment is OP but in the next simply a lamb to the slaughter.. it’s a little hard to get a good read on that. But as I’ve said, I did enjoy my time with this book and the narration is great.
April 15, 2018
Brilliant
I was on the fence about buying this for a long time. Eventually just bought it... wow I wish I didn’t wait for so long... when did it get dark outside? I could have sworn it was just afternoon. Well paced, interesting story, enjoyable characters and neat forms of magic. What’s not to love?
I was on the fence about buying this for a long time. Eventually just bought it... wow I wish I didn’t wait for so long... when did it get dark outside? I could have sworn it was just afternoon. Well paced, interesting story, enjoyable characters and neat forms of magic. What’s not to love?
August 20, 2018
Fun book to read, specially if you grew up playing rpgs. Story was over all weak and has a non ending with a last page cliffhanger. Basically it all points out to make you read a series and the book barely stands on it's own. Would have been good not to feel like someone is trying to make you read 3 books without actually writing each one, but just dividing a longer one.
October 4, 2021
Very entertaining but found a lot of grammar mistakes. Lots and lots of annoying mistakes like repeating words, missing commas and wrong phrases. Im not a native english speaker and usually it doesn't bother me but I found so many mistakes that it kinda ruined my overall experience. Not a bad book, just abandoned.
January 2, 2022
This series'name is a mouthful. I missed this in my search of books over the years (maybe the cover and name helped with that).
I hope it turns out to be good.
What an unexpected gem. This book turned out to be highly entertaining. Sad that I didn't find it until now.
Will definitely be picking up the sequel.
3.5/5 Stars
I hope it turns out to be good.
What an unexpected gem. This book turned out to be highly entertaining. Sad that I didn't find it until now.
Will definitely be picking up the sequel.
3.5/5 Stars
March 14, 2022
I enjoyed this book as I was reading it, ignoring some aspects of the story that bothered me. We’ll, having just read a good chunk of book 2 (now abandoned) I’m coming back to this review to lower my rating by a star and warn potential readers off. What seems like a fun little Isekai litRPG, is actually a stealth prologue to yet another sleazy harem fantasy. This first book is actually a lot of fun, but just stop at the end of this one and pretend the sequels don’t exist.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews