What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rules #3
Grempire
Who the hell is Virgonius Simp?!
To answer this all-important question, Sam must venture through the world of Somerset one last time. Of course, he isn’t exactly a willing participant, but Grem Lynn, queen of the gremlins, doesn’t really give him much choice.
Tasked with destroying a conspiracy to overthrow her Grempire – get it? – Sam sets out with his odd group of people and talking animals.
They’ll face many challenges along the way, including radical cultists, evil bunnies, and a never-ending series of bridges, guarded by annoying trolls.
To answer this all-important question, Sam must venture through the world of Somerset one last time. Of course, he isn’t exactly a willing participant, but Grem Lynn, queen of the gremlins, doesn’t really give him much choice.
Tasked with destroying a conspiracy to overthrow her Grempire – get it? – Sam sets out with his odd group of people and talking animals.
They’ll face many challenges along the way, including radical cultists, evil bunnies, and a never-ending series of bridges, guarded by annoying trolls.
- GenresFantasy
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2020
50 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 5, 2022
In the parlance of Reddit, I'm gonna give this book an upvote and tell it to go f**k itself.
Seriously, I am giving this book an angry upvote.
Why?
Because it doubled down on the tropes, was awesomely self-aware, notched it up a few more times, and then, when we get to the end, it flips us the bird, telling us that WE ALREADY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, and then it followed through.
Yes, the book stuck to its landing, gave us exactly what we knew it would be, and then blew another raspberry at the very end.
Oh, yeah, and this book has a special shout-out to all trolls.
I mean, never mind all the trolls being mana-blasted off bridges in the STORY. That's just fun LitRPG stuff and the whole series is still a fun LitRPG anyway.
BUT PERHAPS THIS PARTICULAR BOOK WENT A BIT TOO FAR.
Or we could just call it a fan-fiction of itself and dismiss it. Righteously. And laugh the entire time.
Whatever. I'm half amused and half pissed off and both are screaming for supremacy.
Oh, yeah, Oster, I'm gonna give you two birds right now. Enjoy them. :)
Seriously, I am giving this book an angry upvote.
Why?
Because it doubled down on the tropes, was awesomely self-aware, notched it up a few more times, and then, when we get to the end, it flips us the bird, telling us that WE ALREADY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, and then it followed through.
Yes, the book stuck to its landing, gave us exactly what we knew it would be, and then blew another raspberry at the very end.
Oh, yeah, and this book has a special shout-out to all trolls.
I mean, never mind all the trolls being mana-blasted off bridges in the STORY. That's just fun LitRPG stuff and the whole series is still a fun LitRPG anyway.
BUT PERHAPS THIS PARTICULAR BOOK WENT A BIT TOO FAR.
Or we could just call it a fan-fiction of itself and dismiss it. Righteously. And laugh the entire time.
Whatever. I'm half amused and half pissed off and both are screaming for supremacy.
Oh, yeah, Oster, I'm gonna give you two birds right now. Enjoy them. :)
December 27, 2020
Genuinely disappointed
Honestly I cannot believe the author published this, well, at least certain parts of this book.
The editing was good. The character interactions flowed well and were funny. The story could’ve been great. But the author essentially threw a childish temper tantrum and ended the story because he got some reviews he didn’t like.
Then he took an entire page to break the fourth wall so he could tell his readers to **** themselves.
Truly a pathetic ending to a good story because he got his feelings hurt.
Honestly I cannot believe the author published this, well, at least certain parts of this book.
The editing was good. The character interactions flowed well and were funny. The story could’ve been great. But the author essentially threw a childish temper tantrum and ended the story because he got some reviews he didn’t like.
Then he took an entire page to break the fourth wall so he could tell his readers to **** themselves.
Truly a pathetic ending to a good story because he got his feelings hurt.
November 30, 2020
Big ole middle finger to the haters
A-Aron you all right buddy? This series is dead but I hope you don't get bitter about all the negatively you got for these books. You went a little off the deep end at the end there man. Perhaps a small break to center yourself is what you need, as long as it doesn't personally inconvenience me like delaying the next book you're releasing that I'm really looking forward to. Take the time you need. Big fan keep up the great work!
A-Aron you all right buddy? This series is dead but I hope you don't get bitter about all the negatively you got for these books. You went a little off the deep end at the end there man. Perhaps a small break to center yourself is what you need, as long as it doesn't personally inconvenience me like delaying the next book you're releasing that I'm really looking forward to. Take the time you need. Big fan keep up the great work!
January 29, 2021
I really like this series. Unfortunately bad reviews and trolls discouraged the author from continuing. Even though he ended it sooner than he wanted to, he wrapped it up without leaving you hanging and I appreciate that.
October 25, 2020
amazing
i absolutely loved the book and the storyline i’m a bit sad that this is the end of their adventures but i thought the book was great.
i absolutely loved the book and the storyline i’m a bit sad that this is the end of their adventures but i thought the book was great.
August 31, 2023
First, let me say that I respect the decision of the author to finish a series that he had decided wasn't working well. Unfortunately, all the goodwill generated by that decision was squandered by fourth-wall breaks used to insult readers.
Leaving that aside, this book is not good. The characters that were sympathetic in the first book have become offensive on many levels. The light elements of trope lampshading have become ham-handed and pervasive. The background game, which was weak, but at least somewhat coherent, has become completely stupid. And the somewhat interesting story that was promised in the first book was abandoned in favor of the worst sort of hack writing.
When combined with the utterly stupid ending, this is a serious disappointment.
While other series from this author have been quite reasonable, this really isn't. This might be the worst prog fantasy series I've ever read*.
Other than those minor issues, it's great. Particularly the ... special ... note to the reader at the end of the book.
* Upon reflection, that's not quite right. This is _definitely_ the worst prog fantasy series I've ever read.
Leaving that aside, this book is not good. The characters that were sympathetic in the first book have become offensive on many levels. The light elements of trope lampshading have become ham-handed and pervasive. The background game, which was weak, but at least somewhat coherent, has become completely stupid. And the somewhat interesting story that was promised in the first book was abandoned in favor of the worst sort of hack writing.
When combined with the utterly stupid ending, this is a serious disappointment.
While other series from this author have been quite reasonable, this really isn't. This might be the worst prog fantasy series I've ever read*.
Other than those minor issues, it's great. Particularly the ... special ... note to the reader at the end of the book.
* Upon reflection, that's not quite right. This is _definitely_ the worst prog fantasy series I've ever read.
February 22, 2021
SO SO
The plot was not bad and this series had me busting a gut at time. But to be honest the main character was a bit annoying. Furthermore, if this series were to be 5books I don't think I would of kept up with it if the main character didn't evolve a little ...this would of had to happen in book 3 which it didn't it just got worse...and nothing but stew was getting old. The highlight in the series was when the MC figured out he could cook and made fry rabbit meat.
In the end I don't regret supporting this series I was just a bit disappointed with the many annoyances in the plot.
The plot was not bad and this series had me busting a gut at time. But to be honest the main character was a bit annoying. Furthermore, if this series were to be 5books I don't think I would of kept up with it if the main character didn't evolve a little ...this would of had to happen in book 3 which it didn't it just got worse...and nothing but stew was getting old. The highlight in the series was when the MC figured out he could cook and made fry rabbit meat.
In the end I don't regret supporting this series I was just a bit disappointed with the many annoyances in the plot.
April 29, 2021
Uh...
Okay so this is the end. Sam and friends fight their way through adventures and have a deus ex machina encounter and resolution with the overlord. It was still fun. Until...
Sam was far more angry and crass than in the last two. The characters became more two dimensional and stopped growing.Then halfway through the characters go from meta conversations to fourth wall breaking ones and never go back. At one point the story stops just so the author can rant. (The reason why turns out to be detailed in an addendum on the book.) It ultimately felt like two different stories forced to be one.
I would still recommend it so that the reader has closure on the story.
Okay so this is the end. Sam and friends fight their way through adventures and have a deus ex machina encounter and resolution with the overlord. It was still fun. Until...
Sam was far more angry and crass than in the last two. The characters became more two dimensional and stopped growing.Then halfway through the characters go from meta conversations to fourth wall breaking ones and never go back. At one point the story stops just so the author can rant. (The reason why turns out to be detailed in an addendum on the book.) It ultimately felt like two different stories forced to be one.
I would still recommend it so that the reader has closure on the story.
February 14, 2021
If I take this in the context that I was wanting the story to continue I was disappointed... a lot. Pushing that back a bit with the understanding I was in the vast minority I guess, the book was an acceptable wrap up. I at least have to be thankful for that much, too many times the series are abandoned. With that said, Aaron Oster thank you for giving an acceptable ending and giving us the context!
December 29, 2020
The early satire of the series ended up blandly on the nose
I think the elements of satire that the author leaned into more with this book compared to its predecessors lost some of the charm and gained a bit more of the chore. It’s unfortunate bc there is a lot to be satirized about the books, fans, authors and tropes of litrpg, that could have stood for more committed roasting. Instead the author took a bit of a cop out, though with the ultimate resolution of the series in a tantalizing cliffhanger sort of way.
I think the elements of satire that the author leaned into more with this book compared to its predecessors lost some of the charm and gained a bit more of the chore. It’s unfortunate bc there is a lot to be satirized about the books, fans, authors and tropes of litrpg, that could have stood for more committed roasting. Instead the author took a bit of a cop out, though with the ultimate resolution of the series in a tantalizing cliffhanger sort of way.
Read
December 2, 2021Really good.
SPOILERS AHEAD. I really enjoyed the book but a few parts definitely could've been better. The troll eating Zews was hilarious and totally on brand for this series . But them getting super OP armor was kinda annoying. It made that part way less satisfying because we didn't get to see them level up. Still an amazing read and I appreciate your work. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
SPOILERS AHEAD. I really enjoyed the book but a few parts definitely could've been better. The troll eating Zews was hilarious and totally on brand for this series . But them getting super OP armor was kinda annoying. It made that part way less satisfying because we didn't get to see them level up. Still an amazing read and I appreciate your work. Thanks for taking the time to read this.
January 13, 2023
Sam defeats all obstacles all quest an the overlord an returns to earth .
Sam was transported to an alternate world Somerset in order to return to earth he had to get stronger an defeat the overlord in order to return to earth . He concomplished all that an won .recommend reading excellent series .
Sam was transported to an alternate world Somerset in order to return to earth he had to get stronger an defeat the overlord in order to return to earth . He concomplished all that an won .recommend reading excellent series .
October 23, 2020
Very entertaining read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like litRPG type of books.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it highly to anyone that like litRPG type of books.
November 4, 2020
Trope filled insanity
The tropes come to an end(?) Maybe. Fun book that filled the time until I get to read Aaron’s next book!
The tropes come to an end(?) Maybe. Fun book that filled the time until I get to read Aaron’s next book!
November 22, 2020
More more
Plz give us more that one hell of a cliff hanger. We want more. Plz need another book my god it was good
Plz give us more that one hell of a cliff hanger. We want more. Plz need another book my god it was good
December 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this series. It is quirky and fun. I wish it would have gotten the full 5 books, but I m happy it at least got complete.
March 1, 2021
Honestly a bit of a slog to finish this one. Loved the first two, finished this one, but it took real effort. It felt like the author was intentionally sabotaging himself.
March 10, 2021
A weird, sad and disappointing end to a series I was quite enjoying.
December 12, 2021
Pure trash from a hypocritical, immature author with a fuse so short it's imaginary.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews