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Apocalypse Knights #1

Apocalypse Knights 1

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The apocalypse is coming… can one war hero stop it?

Maximo Strident, war veteran and member of local law enforcement, never wanted to enter the dungeon. With promises of wealth beyond his imagination, his squad mates managed to convince him.

Max isn’t a Knight, so he has no magical equipment or spells that could help him against monsters. What he does have, however, are the sword forms he learnt at the Blade Academy. These forms are formidable martial arts that make him the match of Level 0 monsters. But Level 99 monsters? He doesn’t stand a chance.

When something goes horribly wrong inside the dungeon, Max meets the legendary hero: Artur Brightblade. This hero grants him something he never dreamed of: a unique class and the ability to become a Knight.

Armed with this new class and the powers it provides, Maximo is going to clean up the Knights-Errant and solve the mystery of the dungeon. He’ll have to learn how to cast spells, work within a cohort, level up most effectively, and craft wargear worthy of his class. If he doesn’t, the apocalypse will destroy everything he knows and loves.

527 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 8, 2022

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D.B. King

79 books119 followers

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5 stars
425 (53%)
4 stars
238 (29%)
3 stars
103 (12%)
2 stars
18 (2%)
1 star
11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Jon Svenson.
Author 8 books116 followers
February 23, 2022
I picked this up after not reading for a few weeks after catching the virus.

Max is an ex-enforcer (sort of the police filled with ex-military) who is also ex-military. He's bitter about the world, and is having trouble finding something to fill his days with.

Two other enforcers steal a sword out of the evidence lock-up and talk him into going to the local dungeon. Max knows it's a dumb idea, but he goes along with it anyway. Entering the dungeon, his friends give him the sword because he's a swordmaster, yet also a failure to his father who runs the sword academy and had planned for Max to take it over.

Taking the sword, he touches the dungeon with it and the monsters jump from level 1 to level 99.

I'll stop the recap there. There is a lot of world building in this story, not just in terms of how the knights-errant (dungeon delvers) fight but also in the political landscape, history, and much more. Honestly, it takes until the 68% mark until we see the words apocalypse knight in the book.

The beginning is necessary but also slow, so I recommend pushing through it.

I liked the book. The fights are solid, and there are some interesting techniques used as Max wades through them. At its heart this is a dungeon diving book, just with a lot more on the line if Max can't complete the dungeon and kill the warden (boss).

4/5*
147 reviews2 followers
January 11, 2026
A Solid, if Grumpy, Start to a Promising LitRPG Series [3.5/5 Stars]

Alright, book friends, I finally dove into Apocalypse Knights 1 by D.B. King, and it was a bit of a rollercoaster. Imagine taking a grizzled, disillusioned war veteran and dropping him into a high-stakes dungeon crawl with RPG mechanics—that's the vibe here. It’s a classic LitRPG setup with some intriguing twists, and while I had some gripes, I finished it eager to see where the series goes. A solid 3.5 out of 5 stars for a fun, if sometimes frustrating, foundation.

Key Themes: More Than Just Stats
Found Family & Cohort Loyalty: Beneath the monster-slaying, this is a story about building a team. Max, our bitter protagonist, starts alone but is forced to learn how to trust and lead a "cohort". The slow development of this ragtag group of Knights-Errant provides the story's emotional backbone, moving from reluctant alliances to genuine camaraderie.

Power, Responsibility & Legacy: Max is gifted immense power not for personal glory, but to prevent an apocalypse. The book explores the weight of that responsibility. It also digs into the legacy of past heroes (like the legendary Artur Brightblade) and asks what it means to be a true hero versus just a powerful fighter.

Institutional Corruption & Reform: The world of the Knights-Errant isn't all shiny armor. Max quickly discovers complacency and corruption within the established orders. A major thread is his mission to "clean up the Knights-Errant," challenging a broken system from within, which adds a satisfying layer of political intrigue to the dungeon diving.

Character Analysis: Grumpy Hero, Quirky Sidekick
Maximo "Max" Strident: Let's be real—Max is kind of an abrasive jerk, especially at the start. A disgraced war veteran and enforcer, he's cynical and quick to insult. His growth is less about becoming nice and more about channeling his hardened competence and latent honor into a leadership role. Seeing this damaged, pragmatic man reluctantly accept his role as a leader is the core of his arc.

The Sidekick (A Major Point of Contention): Without spoilers, Max acquires a non-human companion fairly early on. This character is the most polarizing element of the book. Some readers (like me) found them a charming source of humor and a great foil for Max's seriousness. Others found their forced, rapid attachment to Max jarring and annoying. Your mileage will definitely vary here.

Writing Style & Pacing: A Slow Burn That Pays Off
The prose is straightforward and functional, prioritizing clear action and system explanations over lyrical beauty. The tone is gritty and grounded, fitting Max's perspective. The pacing, however, is a common critique. The first half is heavy on world-building, system setup, and political context. One reviewer noted it takes a significant chunk of the book to even see the words "Apocalypse Knight". I advise patience—once the core cohort forms and the dungeon diving kicks into high gear, the plot accelerates satisfyingly. The fight scenes are a highlight, described with a tactical eye that LitRPG fans will appreciate.

What I Liked vs. What Grinded My Gears
Liked:

The Unique "Arcanist" System: Max's class and his approach to spellcrafting and item crafting feel fresh and intelligent. It's not just about big numbers; it's about creative combinations.

The High Stakes: The looming apocalypse isn't just background noise. The sense of urgency and scale feels real, raising the story above a simple grind.

The Promise of the Cohort: Once the team gels, their dynamic is fun and holds great potential for future books.
Disliked:

Max's Unfiltered Rudeness: His abrasiveness can be over-the-top, sometimes making it hard to root for him before his softer side (rarely) shows.

Pacing Humps: That slow, exposition-heavy start is real. It risks losing readers before the story finds its footing.

Dialogue & "Tell, Don't Show": At times, characters deliver information in awkward chunks, making some conversations feel more like exposition dumps than natural speech.

Final Verdict & Who Should Read It
Pick up Apocalypse Knights 1 if: You love detailed LitRPG systems and tactical combat, enjoy a good "found family" team dynamic, and don't mind a gruff, morally grey protagonist. It's perfect for fans of series that blend dungeon crawling with larger world-saving plots.

Maybe skip it if: You need a fast-paced start, require a traditionally likable hero, or are bothered by dialogue that can feel a bit clunky. If you're looking for deep, poetic prose, this isn't it.

Think of this as a strong series opener with some first-book roughness. The unique magic system, high stakes, and promising team dynamics convinced me to add Book 2 to my TBR. Just be ready to push through a slower first act to get to the good stuff.
50 reviews
May 18, 2022
This is a vaguely LitRPG story, where the protagonist is a damaged but honourable professional who takes up a challenge for the betterment of the world etc.
Except, like so many other books, MC does not stand for main character but Mean Cunt. Hhe is an absolute arsehole to everyone he meets, even when there is no need. It's not as if such people don't exist. We've all met them. But, they are, universally, not the kind of person who enlighten those who have fallen by the wayside to give up their life of error and sin so as to tread upon the way of righteousness.
Generally speaking, people as downright nasty as this vicious prick get jumped by the bunch he has just finished insulted and given a proper kicking. More to the point, he keeps getting a proper kicking until his personality adjusts or his brains leak out his ears and he forgets why he just came upstairs.
This is lazy writing. I do not recommend this book. If you are looking for decent fantasy, read the upcoming Republican Primaries.
38 reviews2 followers
March 4, 2022
An exciting read.

DB King has done it again, another great adventure starts here. The hero, Max Strident, is a former war hero who made a name for himself fulfilling his duties as an Enforcer. However politics costs him his rank and nearly his career. Demoted to the lowest rank as an Enforcer, and trying to help support an old teammate who was hurt on the job, he is forced to help two fellow Enforcers as they plan to enter a level 0 dungeon in hopes to earn some money. The adventure that follows leads Max down a path that he only dreamed about, becoming a Knights-Errant.

The characters in this book are very interesting and really draw you into the book. The storyline and world you are introduced to are well thought out and capture your interest. In all, this is yet another great series by DB King, that is sure to capture your imagination with characters that will find a place in your heart.


Profile Image for Kevin.
1,766 reviews31 followers
June 16, 2022
I'm seventy percent sure that DB King is Dante King. The previous book I read by the author didn't give concrete evidence, but this book is giving me the forced quick friends vibe I got from Creation Mage.
The only thing missing is the smut. I'm not even too interested with the story when the quick friend horny sidekick became a mainstay.

The book was overall "regular fare" to me. The author had an interesting way to have his protagonist use powers, but I think he (the author) fumbled it.

Also, it wasn't until the last quarter of the book that it got interesting enough (maybe because before it was the build up?).

I don't know if I will read the sequel or not.

2.5/5 Stars
Profile Image for Jim.
388 reviews9 followers
October 27, 2022
Dungeons and heroes call Knights-Errant are the elite of this realm

And in a constant battle with each other as dungeons appear and disgorge their monsters to wreak havoc, the Knights-Errant use their mystical abilities, skills and spells really, to battle and destroy the monsters and dungeons. For centuries they’ve been in a balance of sorts, or that is what everyone thinks at least until a hero from the past does something unlikely to upset that balance and gives a disgraced Enforcer a soul lens as they are called and the ability to gain levels and use spells and class abilities.
What our fresh hero Max figured out later is that the level 99 hero, Arthur Brightblade, has decided that Max is the only hope for the entire planet as he sets him on a collision course with an apocalypse.
1,034 reviews14 followers
January 31, 2022
Very good new series

So good new series. Lots of combat and learning. Progression is slow in the rpg system however is is fast for the MC because he has prior training and a new and unknown class. This is of course the crux of the issue... Why. He is late to the system and with new class. This whole book is a discovery for him and the people around him. He is and will keep upsetting the status quo as long as there is a danger to deal with. I love the swordsman ship as well as the crafting (spell and item) and hope to see more throughout the series. There may be the possibility of expanding the classes known to the system and this could be interesting as well. I look forward to the next book it can't come soon enough.
Profile Image for Johnny.
2,239 reviews86 followers
February 3, 2022
Book one

Mistakes: I listed most of what I found on Goodreads. I'd like to add that carrying a sword in your mouth would be very difficult. I doubt that it is very practical.

Plot: On a world where dungeon invasion has been stopped at phase four a man is trying to destroy the world, but he gives another man the ability to stop him. (Why? This doesn't make sense.) Sword forms get pulled out of thin air. The MC is flipping over peoples heads and pulling other impractical moves while still at a low level.

Characters: I don't really find the MC that interesting. He has said he was going to reform the group that fights the dungeons, hasn't even started.

5/10
5 reviews
December 6, 2023
Enjoyable LitRPG

Normally LitRPG books are one of two extremes - stat dumps every other page or at the other end, maybe once in the book so it can actually be called LitRPG. This book struck a great balance between those two.

The progression was very measured - at the end of the book, Max (the MC) was level 2, well on his way to level 3, but the pace wasn’t slow. King has put together a logically consistent world, with thought behind the progressions and stats. Main MC has a great backstory and arrived organically at where he needed to in the story. Heading to purchase the second book in the series now!
21 reviews3 followers
January 21, 2022
good but needs a re edit

Don’t let the title deceive you, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot is interesting and the setting is original. My problem lies with the dialogue. It comes off awkward at times, with many characters volunteering information that is better left to subtext, and exclaiming things that can be left as implicit through facial expressions or internal discourse. I would recommend a re edit of the book with the intent of “show don’t tell” firmly kept in mind. That said I’ll be awaiting the next instalment of the story eagerly.
Profile Image for Laura.
38 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2022
It really is good....but i'm iffy about where the author might go from here....>.<;;
its such a good set up and it could REALLY go either way! i REALLY don't want this story to tank!
So, the story is well balanced. each character has his or her place and it works so freaking well.
The Bat is my ABSOLUTE fave addition to the story. She makes my EVER-LIVIN DAY! without that bat i think the book would have gotten a bit boring, dry, and VERY confusing. the bat fixes so many plot holes and is such a breath of fresh air....i want her as a plushie.....
Profile Image for John-Torleif  Harris.
2,732 reviews14 followers
February 9, 2022
Fascinating new series

I especially liked that Max is already a fully trained and accomplished swordsman, before he received his lens. His accomplishments are believable, and his progression is fascinating. I like that his strength is exactly stemming from the ‘weakness’ that his father tried to beat out of him. And I wonder if, during the course of his story, Max is going to have to face and maybe even defeat his family members.
39 reviews
January 24, 2022
great story. waiting for book 2

The story is great. The MC Is intelligent , likable and makes good choices. The level system is good and the MC’ uniqueness of combining powers gives him a good edge. There is a little bit of crafting though I hope it gets more attention in book 2.
Profile Image for Clint Young.
849 reviews
February 8, 2022
KU Review

Good read. Interesting take on the game elements and the structure of the world and dungeons. Looking forward to the next ones.

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.
230 reviews
April 10, 2022
Has potential

The story has potential but the plot is one where the main character is written to have awesome powers and all the answers. A little too much of he conquered this and he conquered that, toward the end a new character was introduced that gives me hope moving forward that this might turn out to be a good series
200 reviews5 followers
January 11, 2022
Nice easy read

All the things you love about the genre, wrapped up in an easy to digest package. A well crafted multi-layered story, with relatable characters and enough stats to keep you immersed.
85 reviews2 followers
January 12, 2022
A great beginning

A broken warrior who has been left to rot meets with a fate that he cannot turn down and makes him into something new with the chance to save the world thrown into it all. This story is a great new litrpg entry and I can't wait for more of the series.

Profile Image for Steve.
1,669 reviews68 followers
January 17, 2022
A good read which held my attention. The edgy/asshole MC can get tiresome quickly, but this bitter protagonist got over himself quickly enough to avoid a serious problem. His bitterness was understandable, but it can still be tiresome to read. Looking forward to the next one.

65 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2022
love love love love love

Now this is the quality writing I expect from DBKing. I am actually really excited about this series b/c I can share with my kids and we can read some of the same stuff!
Profile Image for Patrick Campbell.
65 reviews
February 18, 2022
This is going to be a good one

I stumbled upon this book couple days ago and I’m glad I did. I found this storyline to be different and entertaining from some of the other LITRPG books I’ve read as a recent. Looking forward to the next one
80 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2022
Great start

A pretty enjoyable start, it has A LOT of potential going forward and with book 2 available there's no wait involved. Also the other book, crafters fate, seems to be a interesting read... Fingers crossed the 2nd book doesn't take long to be released
41 reviews
January 11, 2022
Good read

Enjoyable with some new ideas for Litrpg. Doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel but does add its own flair. Absolutely worth checking out.
64 reviews
January 12, 2022
Great book

What a thrilling adventure reading this book! I can't wait for the next one to come out. Read this book now!
775 reviews5 followers
January 12, 2022
Great book

Interesting world and the story is well written. Highly recommend this book to anyone. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series
Profile Image for Tiuri.
485 reviews
January 12, 2022
Hugely fun and entertaining. Nice world-building and even an underlying theme. Can't wait for the sequel.
Profile Image for James Riley.
1,369 reviews20 followers
January 14, 2022
An awesome new series

I loved this book. It started off quickly and never let me down. The characters were fun and the action was well done. I can't wait for the next one.
1,502 reviews6 followers
January 15, 2022
Excellent

Fantastic read! I absolutely loved it! I can not wait for the next one to be release! Such great characters in this book!
Profile Image for Michael Burnett.
1,306 reviews8 followers
January 18, 2022
Great book

Great book I can't wait to read the next book in the series I would recommend this author to anyone
670 reviews15 followers
January 22, 2022
Good story

Easy to read the MC was likable, not pages and pages of game stastics just enough to keep it intersting ,a good story
163 reviews
January 26, 2022
A fun new litrpg

I really enjoyed this one and this coming from a person who has read many in the genre. Great characters fun power scaling can’t wait for more!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews