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Viceroy's Pride #2
Invasion
Factional infighting among humanity. Alien invasions ramping up. Only one human with magic.
Dan did everything they told him to do. Shadowy organizations implanted him with experimental nanobots. He went through months of grueling training to learn the skills he would need as Earth’s representative. Learned magic despite the best efforts of ravenous monsters and aliens alike as he survived a hostile planet!
He was still too late. Returning home to a changed planet, Dan found that the elves had already invaded; taking over most of the Amazon and fortifying it against modern incursion. The leaders of humanity are frantically working to put his hard-earned magic into play against the alien occupation.
If he doesn’t want to be just a footnote in the tale of the invasion and enslavement of mankind, it’s time for Dan stop doing what they tell him… and do what needs to be done.
Dan did everything they told him to do. Shadowy organizations implanted him with experimental nanobots. He went through months of grueling training to learn the skills he would need as Earth’s representative. Learned magic despite the best efforts of ravenous monsters and aliens alike as he survived a hostile planet!
He was still too late. Returning home to a changed planet, Dan found that the elves had already invaded; taking over most of the Amazon and fortifying it against modern incursion. The leaders of humanity are frantically working to put his hard-earned magic into play against the alien occupation.
If he doesn’t want to be just a footnote in the tale of the invasion and enslavement of mankind, it’s time for Dan stop doing what they tell him… and do what needs to be done.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2022
112 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Cale Plamann
30 books112 followersA lifelong fan of Fantasy and Science Fiction, I usually spent my nerdy energy creating overly elaborate homebrew RPG campaigns. As it became harder and harder to juggle schedules for a half dozen players, I eventually made the logical choice and just cut them out of the picture entirely.
Now I write novels. They whine a lot less about critical failures.
Now I write novels. They whine a lot less about critical failures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 26, 2022
Plamann's world is all sorts of awesome, but his imagination on the humans is on the pessimistic spectrum. Daniel, Jennifer, Samantha, Abe and the others are all on the side I'd be on... but the majority of humans are serious POS. And I for one, don't even fault that considering the politicians America has in their line up. Yikes!
I have high hopes for Dan and Jen though... I have all my fingers and toes crossed that they get rid of these twats for the good of humanity.
I have high hopes for Dan and Jen though... I have all my fingers and toes crossed that they get rid of these twats for the good of humanity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2022
messy
There’s too much going on. Stuff that should have easily been explained in the narrative wasn’t, pages were spent as a supporting character justified their actions, the military is both incompetent and highly skilled, and the MC continues to be feckless even after what he survived in the first book.
Unforced errors also bothered me. Generals don’t have offices in ‘the Capitol’, so there is no reason crashing through a random window would find *exactly* the one they were looking for. Why were the Smithsonian buildings burned down *before* the coup troops assaulted into the area? How fast are ‘trenches’ dug?!?
The magic system is interesting. And when the MC isn’t dithering, things move well. I just think adding a subplot with Illuminati makes for a messier narrative than it needed to be.
There’s too much going on. Stuff that should have easily been explained in the narrative wasn’t, pages were spent as a supporting character justified their actions, the military is both incompetent and highly skilled, and the MC continues to be feckless even after what he survived in the first book.
Unforced errors also bothered me. Generals don’t have offices in ‘the Capitol’, so there is no reason crashing through a random window would find *exactly* the one they were looking for. Why were the Smithsonian buildings burned down *before* the coup troops assaulted into the area? How fast are ‘trenches’ dug?!?
The magic system is interesting. And when the MC isn’t dithering, things move well. I just think adding a subplot with Illuminati makes for a messier narrative than it needed to be.
March 23, 2022
Loved Dan’s story, but the situation on Earth wasn’t believable
Ow did the Viceroy’s Pride get to the Thoth Foundation? In the last book, they specifically said that it was in an Air Force facility, and that Henry was irritated that he couldn’t study it…
I’m a little disappointed in Dan for not showing more leadership/purpose since that was one of the things that he supposedly learned in the last book. I also don’t believe that you wouldn’t have the military acting in the midst of a coup. Both sides of the conflict would be using their influence on the chain of command to deploy the armed forces in their favor. I can see how individuals, and units, might choose one side, or the other, but they wouldn’t be completely left out of the fight - and there is no way that the soldiers/sailors/airmen/marines wouldn’t be chomping at the bit to fight.
Ow did the Viceroy’s Pride get to the Thoth Foundation? In the last book, they specifically said that it was in an Air Force facility, and that Henry was irritated that he couldn’t study it…
I’m a little disappointed in Dan for not showing more leadership/purpose since that was one of the things that he supposedly learned in the last book. I also don’t believe that you wouldn’t have the military acting in the midst of a coup. Both sides of the conflict would be using their influence on the chain of command to deploy the armed forces in their favor. I can see how individuals, and units, might choose one side, or the other, but they wouldn’t be completely left out of the fight - and there is no way that the soldiers/sailors/airmen/marines wouldn’t be chomping at the bit to fight.
January 30, 2022
Off the rails… litrpg
The book cover was weird has there on earth so a medieval type town made no sense has most of the novel was set in the Amazon rainforest and modern cities. It made a false impression on story but has I read the story became overwhelming in storylines to following that became an over-budget C-list type movie with no deep details in the psyche of the Gillian’s are dialog of how they did it we got are facts from the protagonist opinion of how it happen not how it really happened.
The book cover was weird has there on earth so a medieval type town made no sense has most of the novel was set in the Amazon rainforest and modern cities. It made a false impression on story but has I read the story became overwhelming in storylines to following that became an over-budget C-list type movie with no deep details in the psyche of the Gillian’s are dialog of how they did it we got are facts from the protagonist opinion of how it happen not how it really happened.
October 20, 2022
This book was a mixed bag for this reader. On the one hand, I really want to applaud it for taking this book further afield from the traditional path these system apocalypse books tend to tread. However, on the other, a lot of this story felt rushed in order to progress the plot to the level the author wanted. A result of this rushing was that some essentials were glossed over; most notably, character work.
A lot of the new characters were not fleshed out nearly as well as they needed to be to work in this story. This went double for the new magical recruits as a lot of their training was glossed over in favour of getting them out into the field as quick as possible. I can see why the author did this as it allowed him to progress the story much faster and get to the more ‘meaty’ elements of his story. However, it sacrificed a lot of the depth this story would have achieved by taking the time to develop these characters.
Essentially, a lot of this story felt like it was very surface level, rushing through one plot point to the next plot point to get to the end of the novel. This robbed this book of the emotional weight and impact needed to get me really invested, and by the end of the story, I was not nearly as engaged as I was at the end of the first story.
This is a difficult thing for me to admit because I like it when authors move away from formulaic writing to deliver something new, but I think this book would have benefited from taking one small step back into at least one trope of the genre; progressing the main character a new level with every book. Grounding the story in Daniel’s growth might be a little more familiar as a story, but it would give us a more even foundation for the other more creative plot elements to happen and keep us invested in what is happening. Instead, this book felt like Daniel was just a tool for these things to happen through.
That being said though, a big strength of this novel continues to be that Daniel reacts to situations in non-traditional protagonist ways. Where normally a protagonist might keep quiet and accept a tongue lashing, Daniel will speak out. Where a protagonist would usually instantly forgive a transgression of another character (often an unforgivable transgression), Daniel holds a grudge. When an over-the-top authority figure gives Daniel shit, Daniel gives it right back and doesn’t have to be brought down a peg or reminded of his place (there is a time and place for a protagonist getting humbled, but sometimes it is good to see the tables turn and the protagonists humble other characters).
So overall, as mentioned earlier, this was a mixed bag. It is not the slam dunk 5-stars that I awarded the first novel, but it is deserving of the 4-stars I gave it here, and I think there is plenty of room for this series to get grow to new levels going forward.
A lot of the new characters were not fleshed out nearly as well as they needed to be to work in this story. This went double for the new magical recruits as a lot of their training was glossed over in favour of getting them out into the field as quick as possible. I can see why the author did this as it allowed him to progress the story much faster and get to the more ‘meaty’ elements of his story. However, it sacrificed a lot of the depth this story would have achieved by taking the time to develop these characters.
Essentially, a lot of this story felt like it was very surface level, rushing through one plot point to the next plot point to get to the end of the novel. This robbed this book of the emotional weight and impact needed to get me really invested, and by the end of the story, I was not nearly as engaged as I was at the end of the first story.
This is a difficult thing for me to admit because I like it when authors move away from formulaic writing to deliver something new, but I think this book would have benefited from taking one small step back into at least one trope of the genre; progressing the main character a new level with every book. Grounding the story in Daniel’s growth might be a little more familiar as a story, but it would give us a more even foundation for the other more creative plot elements to happen and keep us invested in what is happening. Instead, this book felt like Daniel was just a tool for these things to happen through.
That being said though, a big strength of this novel continues to be that Daniel reacts to situations in non-traditional protagonist ways. Where normally a protagonist might keep quiet and accept a tongue lashing, Daniel will speak out. Where a protagonist would usually instantly forgive a transgression of another character (often an unforgivable transgression), Daniel holds a grudge. When an over-the-top authority figure gives Daniel shit, Daniel gives it right back and doesn’t have to be brought down a peg or reminded of his place (there is a time and place for a protagonist getting humbled, but sometimes it is good to see the tables turn and the protagonists humble other characters).
So overall, as mentioned earlier, this was a mixed bag. It is not the slam dunk 5-stars that I awarded the first novel, but it is deserving of the 4-stars I gave it here, and I think there is plenty of room for this series to get grow to new levels going forward.
August 1, 2022
I do not understand why this author (and at least another one) have made the elves of fantasy novel series the antagonists, slavers and torturers of the humans...I believe that a legal case of calumny and defamation proceeds. Thousands of authors have made the Elves into the kindest, wisest, oldest, humanoid-kin in the Fantasy worlds. Authors like J.R.R. Tolkien (from Lord of the Rings), all of the Asian light novel authors, and most of the Western authors have believed in the kindness, camaraderie and civility of the Elves. If this unknown author wanted to chastise the Elves, he could have used the Dark Elves as the antagonists of his fantasy novel series. They fight for the supremacy in the Universe with the evil Orakh.
This second volume is a Battle Royale. Humans versus elves, Countries and regions versus each other, most versus Dan and the company that has invested heavily in Research and Development of magic, artifacts and weaponry for Henry Ibis and the Thoth Foundation.
So all the inner conflicts and everybody betraying everybody else, creating coups in their respective countries and regions, etc. was mostly because of greed, self interest and to make it easier for the alien invaders to conquer Earth.
So why a dystopia? Why is Dan the only magic user on Earth? If all he needed was to ingest the special crystals, why didn't Earth create a special army and send them all to Twilight for training, additional abilities and leveling up??
The author wanted it all to depend on a regular Joe, foolish and lackluster, main character, Dan. Even though Dan is probably the strongest human on Earth, he lacks character, lacks moral fiber, lacks a large group of soldiers or adventurers to help him protect Earth from the Elf and Orakh invasion.
This Battle Royale, everybody against everyone else, lacks common sense, the fact that the author hates Elves, lacks sense and this story is not that entertaining or interesting.
This second volume is a Battle Royale. Humans versus elves, Countries and regions versus each other, most versus Dan and the company that has invested heavily in Research and Development of magic, artifacts and weaponry for Henry Ibis and the Thoth Foundation.
So all the inner conflicts and everybody betraying everybody else, creating coups in their respective countries and regions, etc. was mostly because of greed, self interest and to make it easier for the alien invaders to conquer Earth.
So why a dystopia? Why is Dan the only magic user on Earth? If all he needed was to ingest the special crystals, why didn't Earth create a special army and send them all to Twilight for training, additional abilities and leveling up??
The author wanted it all to depend on a regular Joe, foolish and lackluster, main character, Dan. Even though Dan is probably the strongest human on Earth, he lacks character, lacks moral fiber, lacks a large group of soldiers or adventurers to help him protect Earth from the Elf and Orakh invasion.
This Battle Royale, everybody against everyone else, lacks common sense, the fact that the author hates Elves, lacks sense and this story is not that entertaining or interesting.
January 28, 2022
4.5. Still rounds to a 5 since I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't as good as book one. For one thing, the dry/dark humour of the first book was almost entirely absent. A lot of moving parts in this one, but the MC finally grows a proper spine, so it has that going for it.
Lots of potential for more more books, and as always I will read them as long as they continue to hold my interest. One thing that will put me off though, is if the MC loses his battle to stop becoming a full murder hobo. He seems well positioned with friends to keep him level, but there will be a lot more killing no matter what happens.
Other reviews have noted how this doesn't cast humanity and Earth in a good light. I think the corruption and stupidity on display is pretty accurate for us overall. Lots of options for the MC to leave Earth behind though...
Lots of potential for more more books, and as always I will read them as long as they continue to hold my interest. One thing that will put me off though, is if the MC loses his battle to stop becoming a full murder hobo. He seems well positioned with friends to keep him level, but there will be a lot more killing no matter what happens.
Other reviews have noted how this doesn't cast humanity and Earth in a good light. I think the corruption and stupidity on display is pretty accurate for us overall. Lots of options for the MC to leave Earth behind though...
January 30, 2022
Excellent next installment
Dan is not Your typical hero, but he's learning. Most of this segment takes place on earth. Dan is beset on all sides by some sort of opposition, both internal and external. He's got to learn to take charge of his own future if you wants to secure the future for earth. He doesn't learn as much magic in this But he learns more about the forces that are raid against him and humanity. Including Humanity itself, not that that's a big surprise. However throughout this he is not alone and he is slowly getting a few friends and they are also now magically inclined. Certainly to few and to weak For what needs to be done but it's a start. By the end of this book the stage is certainly set for future growth... And conflict. Makes me want the next book yesterday but ill just have to wait.
Dan is not Your typical hero, but he's learning. Most of this segment takes place on earth. Dan is beset on all sides by some sort of opposition, both internal and external. He's got to learn to take charge of his own future if you wants to secure the future for earth. He doesn't learn as much magic in this But he learns more about the forces that are raid against him and humanity. Including Humanity itself, not that that's a big surprise. However throughout this he is not alone and he is slowly getting a few friends and they are also now magically inclined. Certainly to few and to weak For what needs to be done but it's a start. By the end of this book the stage is certainly set for future growth... And conflict. Makes me want the next book yesterday but ill just have to wait.
March 1, 2022
I loved the first book, great pacing and rpg elements and a good bit of dry humor. This one kind of strayed away from that. There was hardly any progression with skills/spells and the supporting characters were just not interresting. We could have gotten so much more intel out of the space station thralls, or Merella. That aside, I do want to read the third book so I will stick with 4 stars for this entry. If you are going to have litRPG in the title, you should give us that progression power that we crave, please Cale.
March 23, 2022
Aside from global politics being simplified to cartoonish levels, this was another win for me. At first, I felt Daniel's character had been nerfed, at least compared to the end of book one. Eventually, I reconciled the problem as being a change of reference. At the end of book one he's powerful in a small backwater, but with the start of book two, we're comparing him to elite Elvish forces. That's fair enough.
I worry that with his growing abilities and complete lack of fear, the story will devolve into a speed run. We'll see.
I worry that with his growing abilities and complete lack of fear, the story will devolve into a speed run. We'll see.
January 27, 2022
This is a book about a planet that needs to die.
This has no one but horrible people. The main character is at no time in control. He is just a sheep going where pointed. I am fervently waiting for the space orcs to come kill everyone, it is what they deserve. My level of contempt for all the characters combined with a general lack of direction in the story rate this at three stars.
This has no one but horrible people. The main character is at no time in control. He is just a sheep going where pointed. I am fervently waiting for the space orcs to come kill everyone, it is what they deserve. My level of contempt for all the characters combined with a general lack of direction in the story rate this at three stars.
February 27, 2022
This sucks.
So far
This seems to be a protagonist versus the world type story.
I didn't expect the book to go where it went. While some parts were annoying, I don't have a problem reading the sequel.
3/5 Stars
So far
This seems to be a protagonist versus the world type story.
I didn't expect the book to go where it went. While some parts were annoying, I don't have a problem reading the sequel.
3/5 Stars
January 29, 2022
Really enjoyed this book
I have really enjoyed this book and series. Each book seems to get better and better. I cannot wait until the next book in the series. I like how the book seems to give an honest reaction to how earth might react. Love the story telling and the world building.
I have really enjoyed this book and series. Each book seems to get better and better. I cannot wait until the next book in the series. I like how the book seems to give an honest reaction to how earth might react. Love the story telling and the world building.
February 15, 2022
KU Review
Finished this one the same day I finished the first. That should tell you how much I enjoyed it. Good story with twists that keep it from stagnating as the series unfolds.
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.
Finished this one the same day I finished the first. That should tell you how much I enjoyed it. Good story with twists that keep it from stagnating as the series unfolds.
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.
August 13, 2024
Gets out of the protagonist being stuck in a medievel world. But still the combination of modern and fantasy equipment doesn't improve. Many tactics are avoided by having the action in the Amazon, but it is still very odd. The end is dumb and contrived, but I assume for the setup of the final book.
January 24, 2022
The book was fun to read and enjoyable. Yes, the book had a few challenges, but when I read a book, I want to be entertained. The challenges did not make the book unenjoyable.
I read the entire book in one sitting from start to finish and didn't put it down.
I read the entire book in one sitting from start to finish and didn't put it down.
February 11, 2022
Roller coaster decent. Looking forward to more.
Roller coaster decent. Looking forward to more. This is a rollicking good ride and a different nuance to the many sided apocalyptic die. Enjoy.
Roller coaster decent. Looking forward to more. This is a rollicking good ride and a different nuance to the many sided apocalyptic die. Enjoy.
February 12, 2022
Not as good as book 1
Decent, a lot of boring sections. Story gets stale and characters still remain shallow. The pl9t gets unrealistic even for sci-fi / fantasy and it's stuffed with fluff that just takes away from the story.
Decent, a lot of boring sections. Story gets stale and characters still remain shallow. The pl9t gets unrealistic even for sci-fi / fantasy and it's stuffed with fluff that just takes away from the story.
February 12, 2022
Good story!
Oh boy, out of the elves and into the oarks! What shall a divided world do? Although, if many of the great powers have been taken down, who or what fired the rockets at them. I'll still read the next one.
Oh boy, out of the elves and into the oarks! What shall a divided world do? Although, if many of the great powers have been taken down, who or what fired the rockets at them. I'll still read the next one.
March 20, 2022
Well enjoyed
A great follow up to the first book if a little far fetched with some of the politics. The action and magic more than make up for it however as we follow the war between the elves and Earth. The next book looks like it will just be as good so on to that one as well.
A great follow up to the first book if a little far fetched with some of the politics. The action and magic more than make up for it however as we follow the war between the elves and Earth. The next book looks like it will just be as good so on to that one as well.
October 16, 2022
Awesome
Loved the second part to this series! The story our developing nicely. Characters are great , would looking to see more of the system development , but overall highly recommended
Loved the second part to this series! The story our developing nicely. Characters are great , would looking to see more of the system development , but overall highly recommended
November 29, 2022
excellent
This series is a bit of a surprise to me. I thought I was getting a different book but got this by mistake, a mistake I am grateful for.
This is a fantastic blend of fantasy and sci-fi.
Very well done!
This series is a bit of a surprise to me. I thought I was getting a different book but got this by mistake, a mistake I am grateful for.
This is a fantastic blend of fantasy and sci-fi.
Very well done!
January 28, 2022
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.
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.
January 28, 2022
Great follow up
Great follow up from the first book. Interesting premise, cool universe / lore, and an engaging protagonist. Looking forward to the next book!
Great follow up from the first book. Interesting premise, cool universe / lore, and an engaging protagonist. Looking forward to the next book!
January 29, 2022
Good book
I enjoyed this book and will be getting book 3 when it comes out. Hope to keep learning about new threats and evolving magic.
I enjoyed this book and will be getting book 3 when it comes out. Hope to keep learning about new threats and evolving magic.
January 29, 2022
Getting ready to Rock
Good but not a great sequel. Good continuity with the main storyline, but could use more depth and character development.
Good but not a great sequel. Good continuity with the main storyline, but could use more depth and character development.
February 1, 2022
Good book
I enjoyed the book. Ran into a few typos. Other than that no complaints. Quick read and a good enough story.
I enjoyed the book. Ran into a few typos. Other than that no complaints. Quick read and a good enough story.
February 5, 2022
okay
Overall, not a bad story. Short and somewhat entertaining, but lacking in anything truly innovative or intriguing. If food, it’d be fast food. Maybe gas station food.
Overall, not a bad story. Short and somewhat entertaining, but lacking in anything truly innovative or intriguing. If food, it’d be fast food. Maybe gas station food.
February 6, 2022
Awesome!
The series is spectacular great character development and world building.
I can't wait for the next instalment of the series.
The series is spectacular great character development and world building.
I can't wait for the next instalment of the series.
Read
February 8, 2022Great book
Stellar work once again from Cale Plamann! Lots of action and adventure, magic and Elves. Looking forward to the next one!
Stellar work once again from Cale Plamann! Lots of action and adventure, magic and Elves. Looking forward to the next one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews