Taming the Spirit: A story of the Phase Shift

Phase Shift #2.6

by Kyle Johnson

The Shift is a deadly, new world, and that doesn't change just because Troias is alone in it for the first time. His people depend on him, and there are new challenges to be faced, new enemies to fight, and new allies to make. With an untested warrior at his side, he'll hurl himself into battle once more - but does he even care about victory or defeat?Taming the Spirit is a side novel set between Power Flux and Death Web, at the same time as Death of Fear.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2021

About the author

Kyle Johnson is a kids gymnastics and martial arts instructor who teaches outside of Chicago. He's worked on cruise ships, traveled the world, climbed glaciers, ziplined between mountains, and even danced in the end of a rainbow.

Currently, his main hobbies include helping his wife raise their two kids, because after that, who's got time for hobbies?

Reviews

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another between-books story in the series. This is essentially what Troias was doing while Annalise was having her catharsis in Eau Claire. There isn't the kind of interesting character development here with Troias that we got with Annalise so I consider this one more skippable.

This is a beads-on-a-string plot with Troias handling various emergencies for his territory. He takes Angelina with him, which had me worried because of her open crush on him.

I ended up liking their interactions together, actually. If anyone had character development in this story, it was her. Otherwise, this was pretty much an action interlude with a final loner bit at the end where Troias gets an upgrade.

I'm going to be a little stingy on the stars for this one, not least because I don't like Troias' response to Annalise needing to do her thing. His withdrawal feels a bit manufactured and seeing his internal musings there made me like him a little less. So I'm going to call this three stars and be glad it wasn't worse.

A note about Chaste: There are, thankfully, no shenanigans in this story. Frankly, I'd have probably dropped the series if there had been any. So just as well.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Troias the Terror; Baron, leader, former MMA fighter trying to save as many humans

As he can. Humanity isn’t okay and has not survived the Shift as well as could be hoped. Troias continues to claim, rebuild and try to save more humans and more of our civilized locations.
After his partner, love, and best friend left to work on her own issues, he is left adrift and unable to move forward. Throughout this novel he works through his personal emotional issues and feelings as he processes them and works to heal himself. He has been hiding his pain all this time but emotions and pain drive themselves so he needs to deal with it all, soon!
Oh and there’s a spirit vortex calling to him, one he did not best or claim before. The time has come.

[Roberto Flores · Rating 2 out of 5]

When writing a "good person", everyone always focuses on the "good" and forgets the "person".

That is what happened here. Add in numerous choices that no longer seem character driven, but narrative driven. Your story no longer seems like the characters are in control, so it no longer feels real. If you want to put in traumatic parts to your story, you had best know how to write traumatized characters. This does not.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little disappointed

For a "side story" I enjoyed it, but was also very confused and disappointed by the number of mistakes/typos and a couple (small) things which contradict events or information from books 1 and 2.

I've read quite a few books from this author before, and this is very atypical so kinda blew my mind a bit.

[William Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice

I do wish I had read this before the 3rd full novel. Because now I want to read that book *again*. And who’s got time for that?

This actually has quite a bit of ‘meat’ to it, for a novella.

I am really looking forward to the 4th full novel (6th book).

[Crystal Fortner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The other side of the last book...

So this one brings us back to our hero and let's us follow what happened to him while the last book happened. I enjoyed it and feel like we are hitting a tipping point soon...

[Lukas Kneeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

I look forward to the next in line for f this series. It has been more entertains than I would have thought initially.

[John Upchurch · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

I loved that you explored both main characters needs separate and connected them in the storyline. The future looks great for the next books!!

[Johnie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read

I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who like LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Stellar work once again from Kyle Johnson! Lots of action and adventure, kingdom building and monsters. Looking forward to the next one!