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The Mechanical Crafter #1
The Mechanical Crafter 1
He was given another chance at life and from the infinite possibilities available he chose to come back as a mechanical man, a Metalman, named Repair. Now he has to contend with a research lab full of gnomes who say he owes them for bringing him back from death, a strange city that is going through a magical industrial revolution, and adversaries that want to see him broken into pieces.
Full of action, adventure, and of course crafting. Join Repair on his adventure through this strange fantasy world where magic and technology meet. He’ll dive into the city’s dungeon to kill monsters for XP, and gather resources to figure out the solutions to his problems. Because if he doesn’t become more powerful, he’ll not only lose his freedom but the life of his friend.
The Mechanical Crafter is a LitRPG adventure.
Full of action, adventure, and of course crafting. Join Repair on his adventure through this strange fantasy world where magic and technology meet. He’ll dive into the city’s dungeon to kill monsters for XP, and gather resources to figure out the solutions to his problems. Because if he doesn’t become more powerful, he’ll not only lose his freedom but the life of his friend.
The Mechanical Crafter is a LitRPG adventure.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2020
676 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 13, 2023
At very nearly halfway, I'm going to bail. It's just kind of boring. Repair spends his time dinking around with squirrel hunts in the dungeon for coppers when he could be making 100 gold an hour just talking to researchers. He befriends a little snot because it reminds him of kids he used to teach (realistic, but I had a hard time caring) and creates dumb little gestures to make up for a lack of facial expressions. The first one he makes up? Gestures for expressing "smug". Dude, nobody likes the smug guy. Lack of that expression is doing you a favor.
And don't get me started with his flirting with the cute cat girl (calls her "kitten" the first time he meets her. And she likes it. This is the single least realistic thing about this not-terribly-realistic story). Dude's a ken doll. There's no there, there and he's making moves on a girl. I don't even want to know what he's going to do about it if anything comes of it...
Between grinding XP with nails (making and destroying) and playing squirrel destroyer for a pittance, I'm confused what I'm supposed to attach to in the story. At the point where he's doing social commentary because the goblins, orcs, and kobolds are being relegated to second-tier citizens in this fantasy steamtopia and realizing that I was headed for a simplistic racism narrative I noped out.
I'm still not sure what I was supposed to engage with in this story.
And don't get me started with his flirting with the cute cat girl (calls her "kitten" the first time he meets her. And she likes it. This is the single least realistic thing about this not-terribly-realistic story). Dude's a ken doll. There's no there, there and he's making moves on a girl. I don't even want to know what he's going to do about it if anything comes of it...
Between grinding XP with nails (making and destroying) and playing squirrel destroyer for a pittance, I'm confused what I'm supposed to attach to in the story. At the point where he's doing social commentary because the goblins, orcs, and kobolds are being relegated to second-tier citizens in this fantasy steamtopia and realizing that I was headed for a simplistic racism narrative I noped out.
I'm still not sure what I was supposed to engage with in this story.
June 13, 2020
Mc is incompetent
This book damn near gave me an ulcer from how incompetent the mc is. Its like the author told the story without taking into consideration the mc's skill and maturity. He was like a graceless blind and deaf buffoon the entire story, and he's way too innocent and Naive for a 40 something year old. Books should be stress relieving not inducing.
This book damn near gave me an ulcer from how incompetent the mc is. Its like the author told the story without taking into consideration the mc's skill and maturity. He was like a graceless blind and deaf buffoon the entire story, and he's way too innocent and Naive for a 40 something year old. Books should be stress relieving not inducing.
March 16, 2021
Note: I listened to an audiobook but as that edition isn't currently listed on Goodreads.com I am placing my review here.
I am really struggling with the low expectations in the litRPG genre. This is a mediocre book that currently has a 4.27 rating on Goodreads.com. Compared to most litRPG it pretty much deserves that rating but then litRPG is infested by individuals who think they can turn their favorite RPG ideas into books without actually learning how to write.
The good: The author tells the story well.
The bad: The author doesn't plot his book well, doesn't explain the inexplicable attraction females have to the mechanical man MC and makes his MC too naive (especially since the MC lived an entire lifetime before being made a mechanical man).
Plot: So the author begins the book with a lot of set up but he handles that well. Eventually, however, the book focuses in on the MC, a mechanical man, wanting to be recognized as a sentient being and not property. To do this he agrees to compete for a grant for the university that currently owns him. However, this book ends with the MC making virtually no headway on that goal. Sure, the MC makes general headway by learning skills and leveling up a couple times but then the book ends. In essence the author really wants to go into endless detail about the many possibilities for development facing his MC at the expense of telling a story with a beginning, middle and END. I was shocked to learn the paperback edition was 420 pages long given how little the story advanced. In fact I only looked at the page count because I was expecting it to be around 150.
Females: I have never encountered a story where a human found an automaton sexually attractive without that automaton appearing human. For two females to find the MC, a wood automaton at the time, attractive because he has abs, is ridiculous. Further it doesn't benefit the story and is an example the author lacking a focus on just what story he is trying to tell.
Naivety: The author gives the MC countless reasons not to trust the gnomes that purportedly own him. Essentially the gnome researchers are: good guy leader, neutral follower, evil follower, all one dimensional. The evil follower constantly says things like: let's just take the MC apart and learn that way. But the good guy and neutral guy constantly let slip indications that they only think of the MC as property in spite of dangling freedom in front of him. Basically, the author gives the MC no real reason to trust these gnomes and yet the MC constantly tells them everything they want to know and goes along with their plans because of the (apparently hollow) promises the gnomes make. Worse, when the MC wants to save his friend's life they openly treat the MC as property and yet the MC somehow fails to recognize this, returning to the university voluntarily and accepting punishment rather than pointing out that if the gnomes actually thought of him as an individual they were the ones in the wrong.
The story [with a complete disregard for spoilers since I don't believe this story can be spoiled]: A human from our world is reincarnated in an ancient device called a mechanical man. This is done by gnomes at a university who agree, tentatively, to recognize the MC, Repair, as a sentient being. As a result, although legally the property of the university, Repair is allowed to go looking for work. What Repair finds is dungeon diving with a goblin, Grebo. This the gives the MC and Grebo a start at leveling up and collecting coin. However, a group of goblins is competing with the gnome university for funding so those goblins jump Repair and Grebo. Repair fixes himself but Grebo has been stabbed with a cursed knife. The curse removing plants are in a mine on the third level of the dungeon. Repair and Grebo hadn't gone past the second level but Repair up grades to an iron exterior and heads to level 3. However, to do this Repair must escape from the gnomes since they don't value goblins and are concerned Repair will get destroyed on level 3. Repair succeeds on level 3 and also discovers evidence of something sinister happening in the dungeon.
Bottom line: Complete lack of story resolution, due in large part to a lack of focus by the author on just what story he is telling and some rather ridiculous story choices with how females treat the MC and the MC's naivety. However, all that is pretty standard in litRPG and the writing is otherwise decent.
I am really struggling with the low expectations in the litRPG genre. This is a mediocre book that currently has a 4.27 rating on Goodreads.com. Compared to most litRPG it pretty much deserves that rating but then litRPG is infested by individuals who think they can turn their favorite RPG ideas into books without actually learning how to write.
The good: The author tells the story well.
The bad: The author doesn't plot his book well, doesn't explain the inexplicable attraction females have to the mechanical man MC and makes his MC too naive (especially since the MC lived an entire lifetime before being made a mechanical man).
Plot: So the author begins the book with a lot of set up but he handles that well. Eventually, however, the book focuses in on the MC, a mechanical man, wanting to be recognized as a sentient being and not property. To do this he agrees to compete for a grant for the university that currently owns him. However, this book ends with the MC making virtually no headway on that goal. Sure, the MC makes general headway by learning skills and leveling up a couple times but then the book ends. In essence the author really wants to go into endless detail about the many possibilities for development facing his MC at the expense of telling a story with a beginning, middle and END. I was shocked to learn the paperback edition was 420 pages long given how little the story advanced. In fact I only looked at the page count because I was expecting it to be around 150.
Females: I have never encountered a story where a human found an automaton sexually attractive without that automaton appearing human. For two females to find the MC, a wood automaton at the time, attractive because he has abs, is ridiculous. Further it doesn't benefit the story and is an example the author lacking a focus on just what story he is trying to tell.
Naivety: The author gives the MC countless reasons not to trust the gnomes that purportedly own him. Essentially the gnome researchers are: good guy leader, neutral follower, evil follower, all one dimensional. The evil follower constantly says things like: let's just take the MC apart and learn that way. But the good guy and neutral guy constantly let slip indications that they only think of the MC as property in spite of dangling freedom in front of him. Basically, the author gives the MC no real reason to trust these gnomes and yet the MC constantly tells them everything they want to know and goes along with their plans because of the (apparently hollow) promises the gnomes make. Worse, when the MC wants to save his friend's life they openly treat the MC as property and yet the MC somehow fails to recognize this, returning to the university voluntarily and accepting punishment rather than pointing out that if the gnomes actually thought of him as an individual they were the ones in the wrong.
The story [with a complete disregard for spoilers since I don't believe this story can be spoiled]: A human from our world is reincarnated in an ancient device called a mechanical man. This is done by gnomes at a university who agree, tentatively, to recognize the MC, Repair, as a sentient being. As a result, although legally the property of the university, Repair is allowed to go looking for work. What Repair finds is dungeon diving with a goblin, Grebo. This the gives the MC and Grebo a start at leveling up and collecting coin. However, a group of goblins is competing with the gnome university for funding so those goblins jump Repair and Grebo. Repair fixes himself but Grebo has been stabbed with a cursed knife. The curse removing plants are in a mine on the third level of the dungeon. Repair and Grebo hadn't gone past the second level but Repair up grades to an iron exterior and heads to level 3. However, to do this Repair must escape from the gnomes since they don't value goblins and are concerned Repair will get destroyed on level 3. Repair succeeds on level 3 and also discovers evidence of something sinister happening in the dungeon.
Bottom line: Complete lack of story resolution, due in large part to a lack of focus by the author on just what story he is telling and some rather ridiculous story choices with how females treat the MC and the MC's naivety. However, all that is pretty standard in litRPG and the writing is otherwise decent.
May 9, 2020
Good
I really liked this book and I think it has a ton of potential. But the author really likes hardcore mode and really makes his characters work for everything they get sometimes to the point of almost dying multiple times. Not that it’s a bad thing it’s just a recurring theme throughout all of his collected works.
Overall this is a really solid opening to a new series with a lot of new and interesting possibilities for our not so human MC. I find his class and the way his body uses his class skills to be very interesting. I would like to see him use his head more instead of going into situations half cocked, but I think he has the potential to really be an interesting character.
So, in closing I would say that I recommend this book and that I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
I really liked this book and I think it has a ton of potential. But the author really likes hardcore mode and really makes his characters work for everything they get sometimes to the point of almost dying multiple times. Not that it’s a bad thing it’s just a recurring theme throughout all of his collected works.
Overall this is a really solid opening to a new series with a lot of new and interesting possibilities for our not so human MC. I find his class and the way his body uses his class skills to be very interesting. I would like to see him use his head more instead of going into situations half cocked, but I think he has the potential to really be an interesting character.
So, in closing I would say that I recommend this book and that I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
September 25, 2020
I came back to do a review of this after losing interest in the second book at about the 1/3 mark. This book is well written, but I realized upon starting the sequel that I really didn't care what happened.
This is the kiss of death for a series, and I'm just dropping out of this one earlier than I have for some series in the past. I can't really put my finger on it; I'm just not invested in the characters, even though it seems like there's a reasonably deep background for the plot. Second book is a direct continuation, so if you like this one a lot there's no reason you won't like the sequel. Just didn't do it for me.
This is the kiss of death for a series, and I'm just dropping out of this one earlier than I have for some series in the past. I can't really put my finger on it; I'm just not invested in the characters, even though it seems like there's a reasonably deep background for the plot. Second book is a direct continuation, so if you like this one a lot there's no reason you won't like the sequel. Just didn't do it for me.
September 15, 2022
I think the main problem is not that the main character used to be a loner shut-in in his human life, the problem is that the author has very little imagination and makes a robot humanoid (without any organic parts) that is weak and feeble minded. With the vast pop culture references that the author makes in his books, it's extremely strange that he could not use The Terminator, RoboCop or any other strong robot as a reference for “Repair”. Although neither were “unbreakable”, they were stronger than their organic counterparts. Repair gets beaten by low level mobs, competitive gnomes, and anyone that wants to… So, what would be the point of writing about such a weak robot? The author should have named Repair, Matt, cause the main character is a floor Matt to everybody he encounters. Such a push-over of a main character is such a let down.
The author does not know the difference between sentience and sapience. Confuses sentience for sapience. Sentience is “the capacity to experience feelings and sensations. The word was first coined by philosophers in the 1630s for the concept of an ability to feel, derived from Latin sentientem, to distinguish it from the ability to think”. So while animals can be sentient because they have sensory organs (that can see, taste, hear, etc.) only the sapient beings have intelligence, conscience, reasoning, common sense, etc. So, sapience is “The character of being sapient; wisdom; sageness; profound knowledge; also, practical wisdom; common prudence: often used ironically.” It is also: “The reasonable soul; the intellective faculty; that which distinguishes men from brutes; reason.”
There is no apparent link (cohesion) between the adventurers at the beginning and the “reincarnated life” that Repair, main character, now has with the gnome researchers. If an adventurer were to find a person/being while out treasure hunting/dungeon delving does that mean that those people/beings would become the property of that adventurer? Since the gnome researchers argued that because they “found” repair in a ruin they were exploring, then Repair is their loot/property. This argument lacks legal and logical reasoning.
I read the Terra series previously. Those three books averaged 150+ pages more than this first book of The Mechanical Crafter series. With a third less pages, this story leaves a lot of details unexplained and unpolished.
This would be the very first time ever that a “robot” would need wood to upgrade his metallic parts and yet the author uses wood to upgrade “Repair’s parts” and defensive levels. Trees are biological and organic, so using tree parts as the ingredients for the "Repair" robot, makes that robot an organic/biological robot as well. Whether or not the robot connects through nerves or veins arteries within his body or not.
Squirrels are omnivores. They eat whatever they can find. Just because they are at the bottom of the food pyramid, does not mean that they are strict vegetarians.
The author does not know the difference between sentience and sapience. Confuses sentience for sapience. Sentience is “the capacity to experience feelings and sensations. The word was first coined by philosophers in the 1630s for the concept of an ability to feel, derived from Latin sentientem, to distinguish it from the ability to think”. So while animals can be sentient because they have sensory organs (that can see, taste, hear, etc.) only the sapient beings have intelligence, conscience, reasoning, common sense, etc. So, sapience is “The character of being sapient; wisdom; sageness; profound knowledge; also, practical wisdom; common prudence: often used ironically.” It is also: “The reasonable soul; the intellective faculty; that which distinguishes men from brutes; reason.”
There is no apparent link (cohesion) between the adventurers at the beginning and the “reincarnated life” that Repair, main character, now has with the gnome researchers. If an adventurer were to find a person/being while out treasure hunting/dungeon delving does that mean that those people/beings would become the property of that adventurer? Since the gnome researchers argued that because they “found” repair in a ruin they were exploring, then Repair is their loot/property. This argument lacks legal and logical reasoning.
I read the Terra series previously. Those three books averaged 150+ pages more than this first book of The Mechanical Crafter series. With a third less pages, this story leaves a lot of details unexplained and unpolished.
This would be the very first time ever that a “robot” would need wood to upgrade his metallic parts and yet the author uses wood to upgrade “Repair’s parts” and defensive levels. Trees are biological and organic, so using tree parts as the ingredients for the "Repair" robot, makes that robot an organic/biological robot as well. Whether or not the robot connects through nerves or veins arteries within his body or not.
Squirrels are omnivores. They eat whatever they can find. Just because they are at the bottom of the food pyramid, does not mean that they are strict vegetarians.
May 14, 2022
3.5 I Don't Own A Holy Hand Grenade Stars
The Mechanical Crafter is the first book in the series of the same title by R. A. Mejia.
This book opens up to a intriguing concept of rebirth. I have yet to stumble upon another similar manifestation of reincarnation, though in some aspects dungeon core novels relate. He has own version of a dungeon fairy in the information stored within his database. The Stasis feature is going to be such a gamechanger in future sequels, once he learns to fully utilize it.
I love that goblins were the predominant race he interacted with. So many other books focus on the 'light races', or even if goblins are the frontliners they are often depicted as evil and unsavory characters. It's enlightening to experience their influence without the air of corruption so prevalent for once. Greebo is going to be so much fun as the only secondary character in this story thus far. While I can't wait for his friend/party base to expand, this little greenskin offers enough intrigue all on his lonesome.
There was at least one character where it felt like the author placed special emphasis on their development, initially, and then just abandoned them to oblivion. Particularly, Miss Silverclaw an attendant at the Adventurer's Guild. Realistically speaking, there is no future romance for her and Repair. However, the abrupt dismissal of her influence on the stories' progression rings a little false.
Outside of the decidedly interesting developments within the dungeon, and experimenting with his own internal systems, my main focus is his ownership. I don't think I'll ever truly enjoy the book series until this annoying aspect of slavery is resolved. I hope the next book focuses on the Ultimate Research Warrior Competition, so we can come to understand the other constructs, his limits in being recognized as a full citizen, and confront the gnomes on their promise to free him.
I feel like so much more should have happened in this book for it to register as truly fulfilling. I only subposit that the amount of info dumping necessary to understand his new race, and the learning curve for the character to settle into his new existence, took so much time that it left little room for action and advancement. I suppose we will know with the next book.
The Mechanical Crafter is the first book in the series of the same title by R. A. Mejia.
This book opens up to a intriguing concept of rebirth. I have yet to stumble upon another similar manifestation of reincarnation, though in some aspects dungeon core novels relate. He has own version of a dungeon fairy in the information stored within his database. The Stasis feature is going to be such a gamechanger in future sequels, once he learns to fully utilize it.
I love that goblins were the predominant race he interacted with. So many other books focus on the 'light races', or even if goblins are the frontliners they are often depicted as evil and unsavory characters. It's enlightening to experience their influence without the air of corruption so prevalent for once. Greebo is going to be so much fun as the only secondary character in this story thus far. While I can't wait for his friend/party base to expand, this little greenskin offers enough intrigue all on his lonesome.
There was at least one character where it felt like the author placed special emphasis on their development, initially, and then just abandoned them to oblivion. Particularly, Miss Silverclaw an attendant at the Adventurer's Guild. Realistically speaking, there is no future romance for her and Repair. However, the abrupt dismissal of her influence on the stories' progression rings a little false.
Outside of the decidedly interesting developments within the dungeon, and experimenting with his own internal systems, my main focus is his ownership. I don't think I'll ever truly enjoy the book series until this annoying aspect of slavery is resolved. I hope the next book focuses on the Ultimate Research Warrior Competition, so we can come to understand the other constructs, his limits in being recognized as a full citizen, and confront the gnomes on their promise to free him.
I feel like so much more should have happened in this book for it to register as truly fulfilling. I only subposit that the amount of info dumping necessary to understand his new race, and the learning curve for the character to settle into his new existence, took so much time that it left little room for action and advancement. I suppose we will know with the next book.
July 12, 2023
This is a progressive litRPG novel with level elements. The story does not turn on one or more affairs of the heart, and there is no bondage or harem porn.
The story is written well enough, although at times the plot drags. It would benefit from serious editing and these days that means going over your writing assiduously and ruthlessly or paying for it. There are too many occasions where the writer has repeated an element of minor importance or explains something torturously when a simpler gloss would do.
Thematically, the underlying idea is that, to be healthy, we are all parts of a variety of communities, and espousing an attitude of kindness and generosity is a winning strategy. If some psychopath puts you at serious peril, you and your mates find them on their own and give them a severe killing. This nonsense of letting some brainless thug beat the hell out of you and the only thing you do about it is gaze at your navel or express how sensitive you are is arrant nonsense and an obvious attempt to create tension without any kind of real thought or ingenuity.
The author draws our attention to racism, which he seems to define as being mean to other people on the basis of their race (or species). I guess this is inarguable. But racism manifests itself in two ways - at an individual level and across a society as a whole (or in a systematic way). Mr Mejia makes mention of this by defining how goblins in his cultural are denied the resources to be able to improve their circumstances, where other races do not experience this kind of oppression. But, whereas his protogonist's story is an examination of racism on a personal level, the wider issues do not receive much treatment in any of the three books.
These stories do not break new ground and they do not open us to a new view of the world, there is nothing ground breaking here. It is a decent story that does not shy away from hackneyed tropes and cliches. But, I did find the relationship between the main character, who is as sexless as a Ken doll, according to the text, and a gnome shield maiden, just a little creepy.
The story is written well enough, although at times the plot drags. It would benefit from serious editing and these days that means going over your writing assiduously and ruthlessly or paying for it. There are too many occasions where the writer has repeated an element of minor importance or explains something torturously when a simpler gloss would do.
Thematically, the underlying idea is that, to be healthy, we are all parts of a variety of communities, and espousing an attitude of kindness and generosity is a winning strategy. If some psychopath puts you at serious peril, you and your mates find them on their own and give them a severe killing. This nonsense of letting some brainless thug beat the hell out of you and the only thing you do about it is gaze at your navel or express how sensitive you are is arrant nonsense and an obvious attempt to create tension without any kind of real thought or ingenuity.
The author draws our attention to racism, which he seems to define as being mean to other people on the basis of their race (or species). I guess this is inarguable. But racism manifests itself in two ways - at an individual level and across a society as a whole (or in a systematic way). Mr Mejia makes mention of this by defining how goblins in his cultural are denied the resources to be able to improve their circumstances, where other races do not experience this kind of oppression. But, whereas his protogonist's story is an examination of racism on a personal level, the wider issues do not receive much treatment in any of the three books.
These stories do not break new ground and they do not open us to a new view of the world, there is nothing ground breaking here. It is a decent story that does not shy away from hackneyed tropes and cliches. But, I did find the relationship between the main character, who is as sexless as a Ken doll, according to the text, and a gnome shield maiden, just a little creepy.
May 12, 2020
Alert
I hate trying to write reviews because there are really only pass/fail results for me. Did I make it all the way through? Yes? 5 stars. No? There would be nothing here to read. In all fairness, if an author holds my attention from page one to the end, they’ve done their job. Anything less than 5 stars is petty criticism from someone incapable of even doing the job let alone doing a better one.
So in respect for the author and their work, I am going to start pasting this along with a generic review I found somewhere. “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Now, since I have to keep explaining myself to people who don't like my reviews, I guess some clarification is in order.
1. I am 100% against criticism for works of art. Art is subjective, meaning reviews are irrelevant. The observer's opinion is only relevant to the observer. It is my belief that regardless of what others might say, I have to experience the art for myself.
2. I read upwards of 20 books a month. The $10/month I spend on K U, feels like I am cheating the authors. But since I can't afford 20 books a month if I were to purchase them directly, all I can offer is a positive review. That leads us to the final point.
3. If I get to the end of a book, then it was worth my time. I give those books 5 stars because it helps the author get exposure. That is the only reason I write reviews at all.
I understand that people are people and they are going to do what they do regardless of my stance. I know the way that I review books upsets some people. I am sorry they feel that way but as many have said, they will just ignore my review going forward. In fact, if you made it this far through my review, you should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews here. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
Cheers
I hate trying to write reviews because there are really only pass/fail results for me. Did I make it all the way through? Yes? 5 stars. No? There would be nothing here to read. In all fairness, if an author holds my attention from page one to the end, they’ve done their job. Anything less than 5 stars is petty criticism from someone incapable of even doing the job let alone doing a better one.
So in respect for the author and their work, I am going to start pasting this along with a generic review I found somewhere. “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Now, since I have to keep explaining myself to people who don't like my reviews, I guess some clarification is in order.
1. I am 100% against criticism for works of art. Art is subjective, meaning reviews are irrelevant. The observer's opinion is only relevant to the observer. It is my belief that regardless of what others might say, I have to experience the art for myself.
2. I read upwards of 20 books a month. The $10/month I spend on K U, feels like I am cheating the authors. But since I can't afford 20 books a month if I were to purchase them directly, all I can offer is a positive review. That leads us to the final point.
3. If I get to the end of a book, then it was worth my time. I give those books 5 stars because it helps the author get exposure. That is the only reason I write reviews at all.
I understand that people are people and they are going to do what they do regardless of my stance. I know the way that I review books upsets some people. I am sorry they feel that way but as many have said, they will just ignore my review going forward. In fact, if you made it this far through my review, you should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews here. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
Cheers
November 1, 2020
Unfortunately the MC is an idiot
This would be a good book, but some things don’t add up. MC dies and is given the choice to reincarnate as any being he wants. Out of thousands of options he chooses to be a metal man (a robot). This makes no sense. Why would the MC choose to be an artificial being with who can’t eat, sleep or have sex just because he wants to craft things. I mean there are plenty of beings that can craft things.
When he wakes up he finds out that his new body is the property of gnomes. These gnomes clearly consider him to be a thing and not a person,and threaten him on multiple occasions. They even try to kidnap him when he’s trying to save the life of his only friend. Yet he agrees to tell them everything he knows about his powers and returns to them voluntarily. He’s an idiot.
On time of that, the leveling system is completely unbalanced. He has to fight these hard battles against higher level monsters for 15 EXP. every level the EXP he needs triples and he only gets 1 stat point per level.
The author made some very unfortunate choices when writing this book.
This would be a good book, but some things don’t add up. MC dies and is given the choice to reincarnate as any being he wants. Out of thousands of options he chooses to be a metal man (a robot). This makes no sense. Why would the MC choose to be an artificial being with who can’t eat, sleep or have sex just because he wants to craft things. I mean there are plenty of beings that can craft things.
When he wakes up he finds out that his new body is the property of gnomes. These gnomes clearly consider him to be a thing and not a person,and threaten him on multiple occasions. They even try to kidnap him when he’s trying to save the life of his only friend. Yet he agrees to tell them everything he knows about his powers and returns to them voluntarily. He’s an idiot.
On time of that, the leveling system is completely unbalanced. He has to fight these hard battles against higher level monsters for 15 EXP. every level the EXP he needs triples and he only gets 1 stat point per level.
The author made some very unfortunate choices when writing this book.
July 7, 2022
an enjoyable story of rebirth as a loving golem of sorts
A last wish as he dies of a life of boredom, poor health and a cheeseburger is granted and our adventurer to be is granted a chance to pick a race and class before embarking on a new different life that he hopes will allow him to avoid the pitfalls of his previous existence.
He selects a race of artificially created beings called Metalmen that last existed hundreds of years ago and is suddenly reborn into the frame as Repair. Strapped down in a lab surrounded by gnomes? Huh, wait why can’t I speak or move…
Repair has to use his brain to escape this situation and also decide what to share with his ‘creators’ at the Gnomish Reaearch Institute who repaired the Metalman body and summoned his soul to it. It’s not too bad to owe as he is sure it was an expensive process, until he learns he is the only or his kind known and they think he’s there property. He agreed to pay them before learning that his debt is over 27,000 gold.
How can a level 1 earn any money?
In the Dungeon adventuring maybe…
A last wish as he dies of a life of boredom, poor health and a cheeseburger is granted and our adventurer to be is granted a chance to pick a race and class before embarking on a new different life that he hopes will allow him to avoid the pitfalls of his previous existence.
He selects a race of artificially created beings called Metalmen that last existed hundreds of years ago and is suddenly reborn into the frame as Repair. Strapped down in a lab surrounded by gnomes? Huh, wait why can’t I speak or move…
Repair has to use his brain to escape this situation and also decide what to share with his ‘creators’ at the Gnomish Reaearch Institute who repaired the Metalman body and summoned his soul to it. It’s not too bad to owe as he is sure it was an expensive process, until he learns he is the only or his kind known and they think he’s there property. He agreed to pay them before learning that his debt is over 27,000 gold.
How can a level 1 earn any money?
In the Dungeon adventuring maybe…
September 2, 2020
Good first
Good 1st book in the series. 1⁄2 chance after a heart attack gives the MC, A former couch potato, a chance to live a new life and be with he wanted to be in his last but never took the time or energy/effort. Reincarnated into a golden like body of a metal man and give and the class of an artificer, he begins a new life in a world with rpg rules. This book encompasses only 4 level and has some fighting and crafting but is also focused on the series foundation building and new friendships. Repair also seems to be popular with the ladies but that may be a dead end as his token body is not ..... Equipped. Think Ken doll. Should be fun watching him overcome that obstacle. The book was good but not overly so. It was a bit dry but enjoyable. I will read the second book and see if it is any better.
Good 1st book in the series. 1⁄2 chance after a heart attack gives the MC, A former couch potato, a chance to live a new life and be with he wanted to be in his last but never took the time or energy/effort. Reincarnated into a golden like body of a metal man and give and the class of an artificer, he begins a new life in a world with rpg rules. This book encompasses only 4 level and has some fighting and crafting but is also focused on the series foundation building and new friendships. Repair also seems to be popular with the ladies but that may be a dead end as his token body is not ..... Equipped. Think Ken doll. Should be fun watching him overcome that obstacle. The book was good but not overly so. It was a bit dry but enjoyable. I will read the second book and see if it is any better.
December 23, 2020
I think I will regret reading this.
Well I didn't regret reading this. It was entertaining enough. I just don't understand why you have to die and be transported to another world so you can make a friend.
I don't even know how he will have a love life. Will he be a giant vibrator?
I'm sure in the next books
Will probably read the sequels to see what happens... Someday.
I hope he doesn't continue blurting out stuff though. If you don't have facial expressions to give you away, I don't see how you start using your mouth to sell yourself out.
2.5/5 Stars
Well I didn't regret reading this. It was entertaining enough. I just don't understand why you have to die and be transported to another world so you can make a friend.
I don't even know how he will have a love life. Will he be a giant vibrator?
I'm sure in the next books
Will probably read the sequels to see what happens... Someday.
I hope he doesn't continue blurting out stuff though. If you don't have facial expressions to give you away, I don't see how you start using your mouth to sell yourself out.
2.5/5 Stars
April 13, 2023
2-3 stars.
Dying the MC gets the chance to be reborn. He decides himself to be a metalman. (obscure reasoning - but well he just died and may be not really awake).
The metal man idea is nice, the world does feel a bit superficial. Gnomes are like the WoW-gnomes.
Average litrpg - some nice ideas but overall i don't feel very attached to the characters and the fact the MC is a metal does not help to identify with him.
A real minus for me are the first and the last chapter as they describe something that is VERY disconnected to the rest of the book. Yeah i see it is how the metal mans hull is retrieved but hinting on a story that is not concluded in this book and is not even mentioned throughout the first book till the last chapter does not appeal to me.
Not sure if i will read the next of this series.
Dying the MC gets the chance to be reborn. He decides himself to be a metalman. (obscure reasoning - but well he just died and may be not really awake).
The metal man idea is nice, the world does feel a bit superficial. Gnomes are like the WoW-gnomes.
Average litrpg - some nice ideas but overall i don't feel very attached to the characters and the fact the MC is a metal does not help to identify with him.
A real minus for me are the first and the last chapter as they describe something that is VERY disconnected to the rest of the book. Yeah i see it is how the metal mans hull is retrieved but hinting on a story that is not concluded in this book and is not even mentioned throughout the first book till the last chapter does not appeal to me.
Not sure if i will read the next of this series.
June 4, 2020
Good story
A good story with creative monsters in the newbie area of the dungeon. I loved the squirrels! The Metalman race is interesting, as it is kind of a merge of golems and A.I. in a steampunk and magic era.
Repair, the protagonist, is reborn as a Metalman after passing away in his prior human life; he does think occasionally about the differences, but does not dwell on it. I feel his character is well balanced. He does have some class abilities that are rare, if not unique, as it seems the rest of the Metalman race is extinct.
There are several challenges ahead for Repair and I look forward to reading about his further adventures.
Note: There were a few grammatical errors, mostly in one section of the book, but not very many.
A good story with creative monsters in the newbie area of the dungeon. I loved the squirrels! The Metalman race is interesting, as it is kind of a merge of golems and A.I. in a steampunk and magic era.
Repair, the protagonist, is reborn as a Metalman after passing away in his prior human life; he does think occasionally about the differences, but does not dwell on it. I feel his character is well balanced. He does have some class abilities that are rare, if not unique, as it seems the rest of the Metalman race is extinct.
There are several challenges ahead for Repair and I look forward to reading about his further adventures.
Note: There were a few grammatical errors, mostly in one section of the book, but not very many.
June 17, 2020
A Solid Book
I liked this novel on quite a few fronts: the characters felt deep, as did the world; the plot was fun and well constructed; the writing is well done and there isn’t an abundance of typos.
What detracted from my enjoyment: the story’s main problem had several other much simpler solutions that never occurred to the MC. None of the other solutions would have been a fun read, but knowing how easy it would have been to save the day just... takes away from the experience.
So, my paltry advice to the author: try to lock those holes down. If the main antagonist is a lack of money (as it boiled down to here), don’t have insanely wealthy folks on the side of the protagonist.
Overall: a solid book I can recommend. I will definitely continue the series.
I liked this novel on quite a few fronts: the characters felt deep, as did the world; the plot was fun and well constructed; the writing is well done and there isn’t an abundance of typos.
What detracted from my enjoyment: the story’s main problem had several other much simpler solutions that never occurred to the MC. None of the other solutions would have been a fun read, but knowing how easy it would have been to save the day just... takes away from the experience.
So, my paltry advice to the author: try to lock those holes down. If the main antagonist is a lack of money (as it boiled down to here), don’t have insanely wealthy folks on the side of the protagonist.
Overall: a solid book I can recommend. I will definitely continue the series.
February 19, 2021
Oh hey, a book that has a character that isn't human :O. Ok, he's still human shaped, but the biology (or lack there of) here does make it different enough that it's not just a pointy eared human situation. In general, it's a good start to a series. The way his body can change with the materials available allows for some interesting directions this can go.
The dungeon it's self is kind of meh, not enough information on how all that works. Portions of it seems to just be an old structure/ruins to explore but other parts are like the 'Dungeon Core' variety with respawning enemies and managed rooms. The guild quest system is kind of confusing as well, why do they want any given quest completed?
The dungeon it's self is kind of meh, not enough information on how all that works. Portions of it seems to just be an old structure/ruins to explore but other parts are like the 'Dungeon Core' variety with respawning enemies and managed rooms. The guild quest system is kind of confusing as well, why do they want any given quest completed?
May 19, 2020
Book one
First I’d like to say that I really enjoyed this story. However it has problems:
Mistakes: Before the 15% mark there is quite a bit of different colored print. There are a couple of mistakes as well, extra words in a couple of sentences. There is also an entire page that had just about every mistake that you can make in writing. Also moles have legs not arms. Go back and fix the mistakes and this is easily a 4.5 star book.
Plot: Guy dies and is given a chance to try again as a metal man in a rpg style world.
Characters: Gnomes drool! Goblins rule!
Seriously the Gnomes are a pack of jerks. While the goblins turned out to be decent freaking people.
6/10
First I’d like to say that I really enjoyed this story. However it has problems:
Mistakes: Before the 15% mark there is quite a bit of different colored print. There are a couple of mistakes as well, extra words in a couple of sentences. There is also an entire page that had just about every mistake that you can make in writing. Also moles have legs not arms. Go back and fix the mistakes and this is easily a 4.5 star book.
Plot: Guy dies and is given a chance to try again as a metal man in a rpg style world.
Characters: Gnomes drool! Goblins rule!
Seriously the Gnomes are a pack of jerks. While the goblins turned out to be decent freaking people.
6/10
May 18, 2020
Metal man with a heart
I had a great time with R. A. Meija's new book. Fun and a bit light-hearted (it could have been grim). It looks suitable for a teen audience. I liked the nods to other authors in the genre and their bacon addiction. Warcraft's goblins and gnomes are the main races showcased. I'm happy when goblins are major characters. I had a great time with the adventure with Repair and look forward to seeing where the author takes it from here. It works well as a standalone novel as well (and the hook at the end).
Score: 8.6 out of 10
I had a great time with R. A. Meija's new book. Fun and a bit light-hearted (it could have been grim). It looks suitable for a teen audience. I liked the nods to other authors in the genre and their bacon addiction. Warcraft's goblins and gnomes are the main races showcased. I'm happy when goblins are major characters. I had a great time with the adventure with Repair and look forward to seeing where the author takes it from here. It works well as a standalone novel as well (and the hook at the end).
Score: 8.6 out of 10
August 4, 2020
A decent start. It's odd to me that people so strongly identify sexless, androgynous bodies with specific genders. The MC clearly still has a strong male identity even after conversion into a purely robotic form, which is fine, but the fact that said robot still flirts and goes on dates and engages in locker room talk is a solid 'meh' from me. It seems somewhat unnecessary, especially since it's treated as a given rather than something the protagonist spends much time reconsidering, despite the limitations of his form.
August 10, 2020
Wow not what I was expecting but wow
I read a lot of LitRPG they all have there start you die and wake up in another world you get transported to another world you go in to a game and the game becomes your life an apocalypse happens your world is change but in this book you have a choice an infinite choice on how you would have lived your life differently... because you died. I love crafting in games and this book drew me in to the crafting although there wasn’t as much as I hoped
I read a lot of LitRPG they all have there start you die and wake up in another world you get transported to another world you go in to a game and the game becomes your life an apocalypse happens your world is change but in this book you have a choice an infinite choice on how you would have lived your life differently... because you died. I love crafting in games and this book drew me in to the crafting although there wasn’t as much as I hoped
Read
August 4, 2021Grabs you from the beginning
Starts off with a bang and gets better as you get further into the story. Very well written and no padding the story with useless scrap to make it longer. The main character chooses to be reborn as a long forgotten race called metal men and as he is learning about his race he also must work off his debt to the gnomes for resurrection. He figures out that dungeon diving is the only way he can make money, along the way he learns much and starts to understand what his skills and class can do
Starts off with a bang and gets better as you get further into the story. Very well written and no padding the story with useless scrap to make it longer. The main character chooses to be reborn as a long forgotten race called metal men and as he is learning about his race he also must work off his debt to the gnomes for resurrection. He figures out that dungeon diving is the only way he can make money, along the way he learns much and starts to understand what his skills and class can do
April 26, 2022
I just want to say this, Grown man BTW. this metal man is 45 years old. being indecisive.this dude is thinking about his relationship with a kid goblin. this book is alright, I'll get book 2. hopefully it'll be better.
The fighting is alright. This story is what I'd call above alright and at the edge of good. No World building. This book is something you'd get if you like reincarnation. Or books where the Mc is a scout type. The start of this book is the best, the middle follows after, the end is the worst
The fighting is alright. This story is what I'd call above alright and at the edge of good. No World building. This book is something you'd get if you like reincarnation. Or books where the Mc is a scout type. The start of this book is the best, the middle follows after, the end is the worst
May 9, 2020
Unputdownable
Loved this one. I had no idea about this new series till someone on FB mentioned it. I've liked the authors other two series so I thought I'd give it a try. It lol like this is going to be his best series yet if he keeps them coming at this quality. MC as a new race that I haven't seen in LitRPG before was a nice change and character has new dynamics.
Hope more are in the pipeline for rapid release!
Loved this one. I had no idea about this new series till someone on FB mentioned it. I've liked the authors other two series so I thought I'd give it a try. It lol like this is going to be his best series yet if he keeps them coming at this quality. MC as a new race that I haven't seen in LitRPG before was a nice change and character has new dynamics.
Hope more are in the pipeline for rapid release!
May 11, 2020
Fun read
Well crafted story. :) It was a fun little adventure that is well written. It kept me interested enough to read it all the way through on one long day off work. I am looking forward to a sequel. One thing that wasnt made clear was why Repair couldn't just scan a high tier weapon and work his way up to fabricating that for $. I must have missed something there. Was a scan for a schematic destructive?
Well crafted story. :) It was a fun little adventure that is well written. It kept me interested enough to read it all the way through on one long day off work. I am looking forward to a sequel. One thing that wasnt made clear was why Repair couldn't just scan a high tier weapon and work his way up to fabricating that for $. I must have missed something there. Was a scan for a schematic destructive?
July 20, 2020
One fine bk
No one of them to go through a lot more so they don’t know how much I have been to the point where they don’t know how much I have been to the other ones and they are not a big deal I just don’t have a 4j email and email I just don’t have a 4j right triangle and I’m not going on the day or so what I can get you know how much you do you get it I just want it I just wanted it but I’m going back in a little more and then I’ll be there I’ll try it and I get.
No one of them to go through a lot more so they don’t know how much I have been to the point where they don’t know how much I have been to the other ones and they are not a big deal I just don’t have a 4j email and email I just don’t have a 4j right triangle and I’m not going on the day or so what I can get you know how much you do you get it I just want it I just wanted it but I’m going back in a little more and then I’ll be there I’ll try it and I get.
September 19, 2020
This will be short.
This book might get better in later chapters, but I'm not willing to go on. In my eyes it suffers from two basic issues.
1. Once again, the MC is drifting. He has no aim or purpose, and I can't wait five more chapters for him to discover the plot.
2. The transition to a non-human avatar failed to take its time to convey how alienating it would feel. The MC is taking way too much in stride. I didn't buy it. And that totally killed the book for me.
This book might get better in later chapters, but I'm not willing to go on. In my eyes it suffers from two basic issues.
1. Once again, the MC is drifting. He has no aim or purpose, and I can't wait five more chapters for him to discover the plot.
2. The transition to a non-human avatar failed to take its time to convey how alienating it would feel. The MC is taking way too much in stride. I didn't buy it. And that totally killed the book for me.
November 8, 2020
Lacks inventiveness
When I was first reading this book and it's description, I was really looking forward to an intelligent engineer finding ways to create clever tools to his problems. Instead the author tries to be clever but does not even try to expand beyond amateurish magic system and dull world building. The MC is stupid and has little to no creativity and the world is so simple and cliched, it was painful.
When I was first reading this book and it's description, I was really looking forward to an intelligent engineer finding ways to create clever tools to his problems. Instead the author tries to be clever but does not even try to expand beyond amateurish magic system and dull world building. The MC is stupid and has little to no creativity and the world is so simple and cliched, it was painful.
May 25, 2023
Metalman reborn
As most RPGlite books start, guy dies and is given a choice to enter a game as a character of his choice. The metalman is born. A worrior race unseen in a thousand years, but a level 1 he's still a weakling.
Meets a goblin "friend" and they go to a dungeon together to level up...
There is so much more that happens and its a good read throughout. Going onto book 2.
Read in 2 days
As most RPGlite books start, guy dies and is given a choice to enter a game as a character of his choice. The metalman is born. A worrior race unseen in a thousand years, but a level 1 he's still a weakling.
Meets a goblin "friend" and they go to a dungeon together to level up...
There is so much more that happens and its a good read throughout. Going onto book 2.
Read in 2 days
May 9, 2020
A great start!
This starts out like many other stories in this genre. However, I soon realized, that despite the typical start, that this would not be the typical Litrpg story. The mc had an interesting and unusual race and class. (I’m trying really, really hard to avoid spoilers.) This is a fun addition to the genre and I can’t wait for the second book.
This starts out like many other stories in this genre. However, I soon realized, that despite the typical start, that this would not be the typical Litrpg story. The mc had an interesting and unusual race and class. (I’m trying really, really hard to avoid spoilers.) This is a fun addition to the genre and I can’t wait for the second book.
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