The Apocalypse Game has begun, and all of humanity is up for grabs. To the victor go the spoils.
My name is Killian Dunn. I'm eighteen, a high school senior, a gamer, and, oh yeah, the Harbinger of the Apocalypse. Not exactly what I had in mind as a career path.
Reality took a nosedive when Armageddon came knocking. It brought with it classes, levels, and skills, as well as a horde of Lovecraftian abominations to use them on.
I never wanted any of this, but the sick god who orchestrated this whole nightmare has my family. Their lives are forfeit if I refuse to play his game.
He left me no choice but to accept my role and play my part—not as just another piece on the chessboard, but as the king—the Demon Lord of the Black.
But if I'm the villain, then there must also be a hero. On the side of White stands the Archangel, and they're as determined as I am to win.
The prize? A single wish.
With it, I can protect my family, fix everything that's broken, and save the whole damn world.
This book is incredibly frustrating - to the point where I really struggled to finish it. I don't like being negative, but I want this to be helpful for the author if they read these reviews.
The characters are weird! One girl gets sexually abused (by more than one person) and beaten, left on a disgusting mattress tied up...the literal next day comes and she is absolutely fine! No PTSD, no after effects of a brutal mass rape, nothing. She's fine to the point where she is able to be left in charge of all the survivors of a town/city and in charge of the military. Now, I'm no psychologist but I reckon an event like that might change someone a touch. Include that in the story - they don't have to act like a normal person after a trauma. It isn't a normal thing to do.
Another character sees all of his squad mates (he's a soldier) brutally murdered by monsters...minutes later he is absolutely fine again...ready to joke around and follow our MC with absolutely no motivation for doing so. If a squad of ten trained soldiers got wiped out around him, what does this fully grown soldier think he's going to achieve with a teenaged boy and girl combo who were literally in school a month (or in the MCs case, 2 days) earlier with next to zero combat experience? It just doesn't make sense!
These aren't even the weirdest character choices in this book! There is a borderline inappropriate relationship that our MC engages in (where he is essentially groomed from childhood by a god) and even though she is hot, naked and in the bath with out teenaged boy MC...he declines from any sexy time or even any sexy thoughts. Has the author ever met/been a teenage boy?!
The bit that makes it really fall down for me though is the guns. Guns, guns and more guns. What is the point in having strength and agility stats if the only thing they really do is shoot everything until it dies. Occasionally he gets out his overpowered melee abilities, but he openly does it with reluctance. If he could, our MC would just shoot everything dead. It makes for fights with no consequence. Injuries heal within minutes - they just mention that it hurts a bit occasionally. They don't try to learn new methods, just shoot it until it's dead or they run out of bullets. Boring is the only word I can use to describe this aspect of the book.
I don't like giving out negative reviews, but I think this book really triggered me. It is all the worst parts of American authors in this genre. Don't get me wrong, there are some really amazing ones, but the ones that have puritanical MCs where sex is concerned, and lots of gun porn...well, it just isn't my thing.
Killian Dunn is a fairly average teenager, one with a smart mouth that gets him into trouble more often than not. But as a rule, he is not a bad person. At the start of the story, we are introduced to him, his family, him in his normal life setting. Then his life takes a sudden and dramatic turn when the demonic entity ‘Callisto’ enters his life. He has taken every single person that Killian knows, put them into a kind of statis, and gives Killian a choice, they can die there, or, he can play Callisto’s game. The world it seems, has been turned into a war zone, good vs evil, and Callisto wants Killian to be his Demon Lord, the King of his evil forces. Killian initially says no, but when Callisto offers him a wish (and eventually they haggle to 5 wishes), in which Killian can use one of them to return the world, and everything and everyone in it back to how it was before Callisto started this, Killian reluctantly agrees. Unfortunately, Killian is a month behind, the Apocalypse has been going for weeks, and Killian finds himself alone, at Level 1, in a hostile environment. Overrun by Calisto’s beasts, ravaged by demon spawn, half the planet has fallen already. We get to follow Killian’s story, as he meets up with several people, some from his school (Adeline makes for one of the best characters in the story, and is just brilliant), and there are multiple new characters that Killian runs into as he begins his journey to try and ‘End the World’ and win his wish from Callisto. Killian has to work out what to do in order to win, he has established that this is a game of Chess, he is the King for the Black side, and therefore there is a King for the white side (one that has a month head start on him). He has also worked out that he can turn people into powerful ‘chess’ pieces, changing their classes from the fairly mundane game classes, into the ‘Dark Side Chess’ pieces of his side. There is a very strong LitRPG element to this story, with the various character classes, and the overall chess aspect of the game. It does not impede the story though, it is woven into it in a really clever way so that it only adds to the story telling, making it an intricate part of the story, and utterly captivating. As someone who has played chess most of their life, I actually found the concept of the chess pieces woven in as constructs to be really fascinating, and Sinclair used the concept really well. In the latter parts of the story, you really get to see some of the pieces come to life and it makes for an intriguing storyline. The character work in the story is excellent, Killian, as this kid who has been lured into this deal with the loss of everything he holds dear (and who wouldn’t take that deal at his age?), and now trapped in the roll of villain. He plays the roll so well, as the anti-hero, the ‘Demon Lord’ the thing that every one wants to destroy, but at the end of the day, he is using his abilities for good, as he doesn’t want evil to win. It is a fascinating conundrum to watch. The people he attracts to him as his loyal followers are just outstanding – some of them are just extraordinary, and make the story truly brilliant. I don’t want to give any spoilers, as a couple of the characters really make this story something special. You find yourself completely entranced by aspects of this story, wondering where it is going, and the connections, how it is all going to play out. There are a lot of really fascinating ‘System’ stories, but this one is one that has some truly intriguing world-building concepts. The world-building of course, is just mind-blowing. The world itself has been torn-asunder, with demons of all types (and they are beautifully described), ripping people and places to pieces. Humanity is fighting to its very last. This is a brutal book, there is some seriously graphic scenes in this book. I should add, that there are some very graphic scenes of sexual assault and torture – there is material in here that will act as a trigger for some readers. This is a book that is suitable for over 18 only. It is a brutally realistic story. Sinclair has taken the apocalypse and looked at it for all of its horrors, not just the demonic ones, but those inevitable ones that are committed by humans when they are faced with situations in which they have the power over others, and can either help them, or take advantage of them. Those with good souls help, those with evil in their hearts take advantage. Unfortunately, as is the way with humanity, there is some of both, and Sinclair does not shy away from the truth of it in this book. One of the really great parts of this story is the way that the characters deal with the brutality in this story, it is heart breaking at times watching the changes coming over Killian, but very powerful to. This is a really great story, there are so many layers to it, it is actually really well done for the type of story it is, it isn’t just a ‘Kill-Em All’ type story, but one with a purpose, and some psychological aspects to it as well. I am fascinated to see how it plays out, and can’t wait for the next book!! If you like LitRPG with an Apocalyptic twist (and you don’t mind the brutality of full on war), then this is a really exceptional story.
Killian Dunn is a fairly average teenager, one with a smart mouth that gets him into trouble more often than not. But as a rule, he is not a bad person. At the start of the story, we are introduced to him, his family, him in his normal life setting. Then his life takes a sudden and dramatic turn when the demonic entity ‘Callisto’ enters his life. He has taken every single person that Killian knows, put them into a kind of statis, and gives Killian a choice, they can die there, or, he can play Callisto’s game. The world it seems, has been turned into a war zone, good vs evil, and Callisto wants Killian to be his Demon Lord, the King of his evil forces. Killian initially says no, but when Callisto offers him a wish (and eventually they haggle to 5 wishes), in which Killian can use one of them to return the world, and everything and everyone in it back to how it was before Callisto started this, Killian reluctantly agrees. Unfortunately, Killian is a month behind, the Apocalypse has been going for weeks, and Killian finds himself alone, at Level 1, in a hostile environment. Overrun by Calisto’s beasts, ravaged by demon spawn, half the planet has fallen already. We get to follow Killian’s story, as he meets up with several people, some from his school (Adeline makes for one of the best characters in the story, and is just brilliant), and there are multiple new characters that Killian runs into as he begins his journey to try and ‘End the World’ and win his wish from Callisto. Killian has to work out what to do in order to win, he has established that this is a game of Chess, he is the King for the Black side, and therefore there is a King for the white side (one that has a month head start on him). He has also worked out that he can turn people into powerful ‘chess’ pieces, changing their classes from the fairly mundane game classes, into the ‘Dark Side Chess’ pieces of his side. There is a very strong LitRPG element to this story, with the various character classes, and the overall chess aspect of the game. It does not impede the story though, it is woven into it in a really clever way so that it only adds to the story telling, making it an intricate part of the story, and utterly captivating. As someone who has played chess most of their life, I actually found the concept of the chess pieces woven in as constructs to be really fascinating, and Sinclair used the concept really well. In the latter parts of the story, you really get to see some of the pieces come to life and it makes for an intriguing storyline. The character work in the story is excellent, Killian, as this kid who has been lured into this deal with the loss of everything he holds dear (and who wouldn’t take that deal at his age?), and now trapped in the roll of villain. He plays the roll so well, as the anti-hero, the ‘Demon Lord’ the thing that every one wants to destroy, but at the end of the day, he is using his abilities for good, as he doesn’t want evil to win. It is a fascinating conundrum to watch. The people he attracts to him as his loyal followers are just outstanding – some of them are just extraordinary, and make the story truly brilliant. I don’t want to give any spoilers, as a couple of the characters really make this story something special. You find yourself completely entranced by aspects of this story, wondering where it is going, and the connections, how it is all going to play out. There are a lot of really fascinating ‘System’ stories, but this one is one that has some truly intriguing world-building concepts. The world-building of course, is just mind-blowing. The world itself has been torn-asunder, with demons of all types (and they are beautifully described), ripping people and places to pieces. Humanity is fighting to its very last. This is a brutal book, there is some seriously graphic scenes in this book. I should add, that there are some very graphic scenes of sexual assault and torture – there is material in here that will act as a trigger for some readers. This is a book that is suitable for over 18 only. It is a brutally realistic story. Sinclair has taken the apocalypse and looked at it for all of its horrors, not just the demonic ones, but those inevitable ones that are committed by humans when they are faced with situations in which they have the power over others, and can either help them, or take advantage of them. Those with good souls help, those with evil in their hearts take advantage. Unfortunately, as is the way with humanity, there is some of both, and Sinclair does not shy away from the truth of it in this book. One of the really great parts of this story is the way that the characters deal with the brutality in this story, it is heart breaking at times watching the changes coming over Killian, but very powerful to. This is a really great story, there are so many layers to it, it is actually really well done for the type of story it is, it isn’t just a ‘Kill-Em All’ type story, but one with a purpose, and some psychological aspects to it as well. I am fascinated to see how it plays out, and can’t wait for the next book!! If you like LitRPG with an Apocalyptic twist (and you don’t mind the brutality of full on war), then this is a really exceptional story.
“This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
As the title says this is a review for Kindle Unlimited and as such is a reflection of my enjoyment of the book and in no way reflects cost to value analysis. I hate trying to define my enjoyment and describe facets of it that would appeal to someone else. It is simply not my style. But for the sake of those fishing for clues:
Character development: good Game elements: heavy Harem elements: none Summary: really unique story. Be fun to see how it progresses.
I will happily discuss the book with you on Goodreads if you are so inclined. As always, I am open to debates and arguments, but also vain enough to seek acknowledgement, so feel free to roast me or applaud my efforts. Either is acceptable, because if you are paying attention to me then you are at least considering the book. And THAT my friends is exactly why you see my comments here.
A fun spin on the system apocalypse style books, enough crunch to give it a nice litrpg feel without being overwhelming. I enjoyed the cast, and the moral dilemmas facing what is fundamentally a nice kid who has to do evil things. Relationship thing for the MC felt a little wierd, but I'm withholding judgement for now. I liked the system, and the supporting cast was pretty fun as well. Tentatively excited for book 2 as long as the author doesnt decide to suddenly go harem/polygamy in book 2 like his Hive Knight series with no warning.
Mistakes: There are a few. I've listed them on Goodreads.
Plot: A bored god decided to make humanity play a game. The biggest problem with this book is the battle scenes. From the writing you would think that hordes of monsters are about to eat the heroes. Then when the battle is finished you find out that it was only a handful.
Characters: I really liked how the MC basically ignores his first minion even though they are both naked and in the shower. I'm glad that this didn't go all wish fulfilment.
Here's why. The social set up has zero creativity. The start of the game only works if the apocalypse is meant to be a blooper reel. Character choices make no narrative sense and seem thrown in to elicit scenes from a bad screenplay. The MC is meant to be a gamer in advance placement courses, but shows no ability to plan or strategize. This is a concept with no effort put in to fill it out, so why should I put in effort to finish it.
Unholy…get it? Well anyways i was expecting this to be more of a disappointment then it actually was…i mean only thing i didnt like was that theres no clear way for him to end the world but oh well. With how good this was to read im disappointed it took me only around 10-ish hours and im now gonna have to wait for the next book. But its a book ill be excited to read so i can wait :)
Bloody near gave this up in the early stages because of the MC. Fortunately, plot developments sorted him out enough that the story could shine through.
Decent game system apocalypse book overall, so I won't rehash the blurb here. If it (the blurb) appeals this book is likely worth your time.
Interesting take on a very well used genre. The MC isn't outrageously overpowered. Character building is top notch and really brings each character to life. Recommend highly and waiting for more in this series. Also definitely interested in his other books.
I love the premise of this book and really enjoyed the character development. I love the different skills and abilities that were imagined for the story. I need to make sure I read that second book to see how it all develops.
This was a breath of fresh air. I had this book in my library for one time, and always found a reason not to read it. And now I can't wait for number two!
I liked the character developments, the relationships, the history, the spells and weapons. I didn't care for the missing item that all we gamers love: LOOT!!!
I thought this book was my thing but was disappointed. Only managed to read first few chapters before giving up. Mc boring and story just didn't get going