An existence spent being forced to kill others to satiate a Monster.
Where the only thing to look forward to was the blessed, if brief, period of time between paying that bribe.
Except that very same Monster is and isn’t Rene.
It just happened to live inside his own mind and force him to do what it wanted. Rather than being an actual Monster.
That was Rene’s entire life until a fateful day changed that. Where he died in a mission gone wrong.
When he met the Watcher in the afterlife, and took on a new life. A life of idyllic bliss that involved having a family.
Until he was kidnapped and taken to a new city. A city where Rene broke free, set down roots, opened a business, an orphanage, an underground gang, and began taking over.
Rene has become the Hood, the Mask, and young Anatolis all in one.
Where he continues to take more power with the Anatolis bankroll, his blade, or someone else’s blood.
Except as he gains more power, he becomes more of a target.
With every day, more people are targeting one of his lives and what they can take from him.
The city is about to be pitched head-first into the front lines of more than one fight to the death.
It has no idea, and it’s one true defender is a serial-killer turned hitman who became a bounty hunting money-lender that moonlights as a gang leader.
All before the month is over.
Warning and minor spoiler: This novel contains graphic violence, undefined relationships/harem, unconventional opinions/beliefs, and a hero who is as tactful as a dog at a cat show. Read at your own risk.
I feel like I could just copy and paste my review from other books from this author. The first book in the trilogy is always the best. It sets the stage and introduces the characters. There is always the start of a harem but no actual sex in the first book. The second book is when the sex starts happening, but unlike the Randi Darren books, it isn't graphic. The second book is still interesting but I always start to wonder where the story is going. Recently there has been more and more integration in the Runner universe. Some people like this, but I really don't. I don't care how everything is connected. I like these as stand alone trilogies. There was a little of a revisionist history in this one as well If the trend holds up, I would expect the next book to be the worst in the series. Despite my complaint I still read almost all of his books (there are a few that I have skipped) and I do enjoy the style of this author's writing.
The cross-series tie-ins come thick and fast in this one (which ones in the semi-spoiler section below) so things are definitely building in the Runnerverse. This is a typical WDA book with harems which build beyond the management capacity of any mortal man. Anyway, a good read that moves well, and some diverse action broke things up effectively without derailing the story.
Shirley!? I can't wait to see them reconnect in whichever of these series it happens. Having both Felix and the revelation that Rene's world is that of Alex Brit would be pushing it if it weren't in the grand design.
Rene and his Monster return for more rhyming goodness. We get the city cleaned up more, some more answers and the first of the jobs for the Watcher taken care of. A nice little foray into another story. Plus some questions sort of answered as to the ambiguous fates of other characters in the sovereign-verse.
I am like 4 hours in to this one I am starting to regret wasting my time. I usually like the second installement in his series because they are good. But it's like the author can't help himself and selfsabotages his own series by always connecting them too other series he's written. I don't understand his thought process at all. This "interconnecting" all his series just serves to make the series go from great to mediocre at best. Honestly at this point I'm starting to wonder if he is obssessed with linking all his series together. I loved the first book and couldn't wait to listen to this one. But after only 2-3 hours in I already felt that he had killed the series for me. I think honestly that I am done with any books from this author at this point. It usually goes book 1 is great I love it, too book 2 is really good but it's starting to become less about the plot and more just throw random women at the MC. By the 3rd book he has completley and utterly destroyed the hope for a good ending and all that's left is the bitternes of hopes being dashed again.
I have been waiting for this book for some time! Unfortunately, like most Arand books, I am now forced to wait again for the next book. Ah well: I’ll just read it a few more times then before waiting.
Of all the characters in Runner’s worlds, Rene has been by far the most visceral, vicious, and broken. He doesn’t have Vince’s power, but if Vince is (say) a bear, then Rene is a berserk wolverine or fisher.
Once again women dominate his life in creative ways, even more so in this book than in the first book. It’s nice to see how his life changes and improves because of it. It’s also nice to see the women grow as well: learning new secrets and capabilities, establishing relationships with each other, and growing distinct personalities.
There is also joy in the mission into the multiverse, where we see a well-known scene from a different POV. Now I’m going to have to go read that one again to see if it touches more on this version.
If there’s any downside to the book it’s just the strength needed to cling to the plot as it sweeps you along. So. Much. Action. The rapid-fire pace is fun though, and makes for a great story. I wasn’t kidding about re-reading it either, so I can take my time to n the next iterations to further appreciate everything.
One big ol’ thumbs-up on this one. Well written and edited. Fast-paced. Rambling narrative. Action-packed. Stuffed with action, even. [cough] Definitely recommended - for the more adult readers (17+).
The more this fantasy-sci-fi-novel series progresses, the less sense it makes. It turns out the only thing constant in this series now, is the incredible amount of sex the main character, Rene is having with almost every woman he encounters. The few good things that the "Monster-Watcher-God" and Rene were doing in the first volume dwindle in this second volume, while the organized crime syndicate that Rene and his retinue is creating (whorehouses, gambling joints, etc) grow so much this has turned into a weird mafia with Beast-Folk and world teleportation fantasy sci-fi novel series. Even though it has three volumes and the cover illustrations are incredible (look like art that should be seen in a museum), the story is not interesting, feels totally flat, the sex is just too much, so much in fact, I am thinking of testing possible STD's (sexually transmitted diseases)that might get passed on by reading all the sexual intercourse that Rene is having with everybody. A kind of (reading transmitted sexual diseases - RTSD's) How can an author dedicate this kind of novel to his "loving wife" and rest of his family? Do they actually read this? What do they actually think? Author stated at the beginning of the series, that his family always believed he would become an author, but, can this actually be considered writing worth any merit? I congratulate the illustrator. I am ashamed of the author.
I had this book for months and put off reading it. Book one was such an angry disjointed mess that I subconsciously didn't want to read book two.
This has gotten worse. The author used to focus on telling a story, and used the harem elements as a vehicle to further the story / plot along. Now he is using the story as a vehicle to further the harem elements along.
This book from the beginning was about cringey relationships, that are copy pasted from the author's other books. This is getting worse and worse.
Ah. "Lost or forgotten"
This was a "meh" for me. It's only because I committed to complete the author's little interconnected universe that I will continue the series.
A lot more meta-plot stuff in this one, but I think it works really well. The core fantasy world plot remains interesting and well realised, and the characters continue to be likeable.
There are plenty of action scenes and the main character's harem grows. Sex scenes are of the fade-to-black variety, with lots of innuendo.
Still the same grammar issues as in previous series, and lie/lay is back again, so perhaps my review of the first book was optimistic. Positive anymore is distracting every time I see it, too. There's also a mix-up with names: the Watcher is called Runner a couple of times, which may be correct, but neither the reader nor the main character should know that in this book. There also seem to be more words missing from sentences than I've noticed in the author's other books. But overall it's still fairly well written for a self-published Kindle Unlimited book.
I'm really looking forward to finding out how this one ends.
So our beloved hero has finally been given "permission" to sleep with his first wife (legit nobility line), 2nd wife (she's the brains), concubine, mistress, Oracle and his Trio. Did I miss anyone? Oh yes, the house maid, who I hear is just incredible. lol
I enjoyed the story since I enjoyed the hero from the last story. His monster is hilarious.
But when my husband asked me how my book was, I just told him its getting WAY too complicated. And it was. It is. And its getting to be too much. The sex isn't even fun- it just seems to happen (mostly off page) and with little emotion. But they all "love" each other for some reason, I just can't seem to feel it. Its becoming frustrating.
The worst part is that this authors "voice" seems familiar, I keep feeling like I have read his books before but I haven't. Its just the same type I have read from Kurtis Eckstein. But I think Kurtis had the interpersonal relationships figured out better.
I probably won't be following the rest of the series regardless of the high rating. 3.5 for me now.
Well this story was definitely a lot of action a lot of fight scenes and also a little bit of love in here and. It also had humor that I found entertaining as well as the interactions that the main character has with his women and his life. This second book was a very good ending for the story and yet it does leave other options for further storytelling who knows hopefully in the future we'll be able to read more of what happens with Rene and his women.
Really like this series! As far as harem books go it’s quite clean. No details and those parts are skipped.
It starts out slow spending a little too much time on relationship drama, but quickly picks up afterward.
Like the first book, I loved the inner monologue with his crazy skitzo half! Also, Andrea Parseneau is a genius narrator!
I also like how the author interweaves the various cosmos of his other series together and explains things that weren’t fleshed out. Also love how he finds ways of mocking the MCs of the other series.
Hey, an improvement since the 1st installment! Once again we're plunged into new worlds with few details and even fewer explanations for the MC's choices. Either this is a flaw in the author's style, or a masterful writing from a 1st-person view - I suspect it's the former case. Anyway, it feels (a bit) more realistic this time, and the harem scenes that define the genre are finally here, so I guess it's better than the 1st book.
But in any case, the cover of Aurora can't compare to that of Irini!
I GAVE IT FIVE STARS FOR THE GENERAL GREATNESS OF THIS BOOK. IT KEPT ME ON EDGE AND UNABLE TO PUT IT DOWN. THE CHARACTER WAS VERY INTERESTING AND THE WOMEN. WOW! IT WAS VERY ENTERTAINING! I ENJOYED IT IMMENSELY AND HOPE THAT YOU COULD CONTINUE WITH OTHER ADVENTURES OF THIS CHARACTER AND THE REST OF THE CAST! SOONER THEN LATER!!!!! ALSO, BOOK ONE WAS ALSO GREAT!!
I get that this is harem fiction, but I just love this author. There were two different places in this book where the author wrote an internal monologue for the protagonist, mainly about random ways his mind works, that I felt perfectly describes the way my own mind works. Except he said it better than I could ever say it, and he did it as a throwaway comment about his own mental health. Enjoyable.
It has been a long time since I read a book, preferring instead to listen to them, but when I found out there wasn’t an audio version, I submitted to the literary form and boy was I glad I did. Same great cast, same great relationships, and same great broken MC. As I said before, Rene is by far my favorite character of the Arand world, and this book proves that point even more. I’m going to download the third in the series immediately!
A funny continuance of A boy and his monster/harem
One of the more fun books of William D. Arand. Another continuation of the universe of worlds in various states of existence, and the overgod's assassin. He deals with, women, politics, University, and superheroic mounts that can be stuffed into one's inventory. More worlds continue to integrate and cross over as time goes on in the series, and things continue to build.
Thank God he didn't add anyone else to the harem because God damn. Half the book is a harem manager. Combine that with the fact it's lost the magic of the first book, and the main character feels over powered, and that makes me not recommend this book. It no longer feels like a video game. There's no morality meter, no video game narration, no nothing but the meaningless skill levels. There's good things here but most of it is buried. The cast isn't forgottenable, but it's just too big.
Keep em coming!! Recently found out the correct way of reading into the universes created according to the story line. Wish I had found earlier instead of having to put the timeliness myself after reading out of order. That being send, Monsters Mercy is turning out to be my favorite trilogy!! Keep em coming!!
My sense of humor may be a little twisted, because I thought this was not just a great follow up on the first book, but hilarious. Story is staying true to start, and you can see how MC is slowly changing, but mostly in a good way. Very much look forward to next book.
I think what I enjoy most about errand and what he does is that he's able to seamlessly input humor and with everything in a way that it's always funny without taking away from the main elements of whatever is going on. I have been enjoying this universe for quite some time and I'm looking forward to whatever comes next.
I am not a very good reviewer but I do love to read and there're very few authors/stories that can truly catch my attention this series is one of them. The first page grabs you and sucks you in to the point that you forget about everything around you. I highly recommend this series.
Plot was fun, nothing spectacular. There were *many* connections to the larger universe, often in unexpected ways. It is quite fun, but gosh I would appreciate it if the author could put together a diagram or a timeline or something.
Maybe I’ll do that one day, when I have WAY too much time on my hands.
I have a request to the author, PLEASE continue this series for awhile before you write a different series? This is really a great one to keep going and this could go for awhile.
I really enjoy the way you took the psychopath from Earth and had him reborn and changed in another world. This is top notch fantasy and I hope to read more of it soon.
Great read and so much happening throughout I could hardly put it down. I love the “side mission” bit as this ties multiple worlds together and leaves you wanting more. Also the printed book was another great touch.
Looking forward to the next one now so give this a read and enjoy a great story.
Every time I read one of your novels I'm just upset that it's over and I can't read more in the series. 100% enjoyable as always. I look forward too the next installment of everyone of your novels by any one of your author names. (It's a hassle to keep up with the different pen names this author has and the interconnected stories but it's well worth it).
I love this crazy little assassin. Always with the over the top theatrics, and the mentally threatening to punch a god in the crotch. I've read all of this author's books by all his aliases, except for his newest alias but I will soon, and I love when he does crossover cameos. All around great book and can't wait for more.
This book moves fast and is an even more exhaustive romp than the first. Rene’s story expands and connects with other people and other stories in ways both minor and major. Things move so fast that you’re as exhausted as Rene is at the end. Looking forward to the last book in this trilogy.
The story continues right off at the end of book 1, we delve more into the outside world and what's happening between the nations but while also having its scenes. Great progress to story and a another wonderful end like the end of book 1 where our MC is bewildered at what to do with his harem