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Sybil #1
Primordial Ascension
Magic is fading, and humanity is at the brink of extinction.
Sybil lived and breathed the life of a miner, delving deep into monster-infested caverns and perilous shafts, risking her life to unearth Relics of an ancient past for food and shelter. That is until one day, she discovers a Relic that would change her fate from a simple miner to an Ascended — a Relic that connected her to the magic that was once lost.
[You have acquired the aspect of Fallen Flames.]
A Relic that gave her freedom .
Sybil lived and breathed the life of a miner, delving deep into monster-infested caverns and perilous shafts, risking her life to unearth Relics of an ancient past for food and shelter. That is until one day, she discovers a Relic that would change her fate from a simple miner to an Ascended — a Relic that connected her to the magic that was once lost.
[You have acquired the aspect of Fallen Flames.]
A Relic that gave her freedom .
741 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2023
460 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 23, 2023
This is bleak as a tundra on the edge of space. Also, I hated Sybil's dad (without even having met him, just on the basis of what we know from Sybil) and her desire to actually have anything to do with the jerk made me dislike her a bit as well.
Needless to say I didn't last long. One star and I'm a bit relieved not to have to worry about it any further.
Needless to say I didn't last long. One star and I'm a bit relieved not to have to worry about it any further.
April 30, 2023
Book one
I stopped reading this at 375 pages.
It just doesn't work for me. The MC should have died a dozen times over. Conversation with the overseers was awkward and didn't seem to fit the situation.
The fact that she keeps leaving safer areas without really searching for any loot bothers me. In the vault she should have uncovered the body as it probably had more items than just the bracelet. The library with the weird bedroom. She can read but takes no time to learn anything in the library, A place of knowledge.
The entire father daughter dynamic is odd and gives me a creepy vibe. The MC is abandoned as a child to be a slave in a mine, yet she goes on this crazy quest to meet her father. Who has done nothing for her but left her a magic book that he leaves cryptic messages in. Also he is apparently spying on her. Why doesn't he give any real advice? Why is she blindly following him?
The entire story just feels awkward and off. I might check book two to see if the writing improves but for now I give this a 3/10
I stopped reading this at 375 pages.
It just doesn't work for me. The MC should have died a dozen times over. Conversation with the overseers was awkward and didn't seem to fit the situation.
The fact that she keeps leaving safer areas without really searching for any loot bothers me. In the vault she should have uncovered the body as it probably had more items than just the bracelet. The library with the weird bedroom. She can read but takes no time to learn anything in the library, A place of knowledge.
The entire father daughter dynamic is odd and gives me a creepy vibe. The MC is abandoned as a child to be a slave in a mine, yet she goes on this crazy quest to meet her father. Who has done nothing for her but left her a magic book that he leaves cryptic messages in. Also he is apparently spying on her. Why doesn't he give any real advice? Why is she blindly following him?
The entire story just feels awkward and off. I might check book two to see if the writing improves but for now I give this a 3/10
January 5, 2024
I don't like books or authors that use their main character's as target practice/punching bags. This first book is a never ending barrage of monster encounters, mining employee encounters, etc. With Sybil having spent her first 20 years as a mining slave with little to no food, friends or family, she has no martial arts training, no physical training, no magical training and yet, with every opponent encountered she is wounded (which is nonsensical/irrational) (especially if you consider how malnoursihed/untrained/inexperienced she was for those 20 lonely and hungry years.
There is no real main theme. At least not explained by the author or main character. Sybil wants to see if she can meet her Dad again in the end of the world, just because she has a magical diary that acts more like smart phone (with instant messaging from her supposed Dad) than an actual book or diary. She uses magic, weapons, like if she had formal training. (No formal training of any kind).
There are no maps, no inside illustrations, no character summaries, no real world descriptions (of this other fantasy world) describing the systems in place (geography, geopolitical, economic, religious, social, etc.) No real explanation of the magic system and the progression (leveling-up) and how they work. Because this books starts without any sort of descriptions (character or origin of this world, main character and her surroundings) the author is writing basically by the seat of his pants. Sybil loots gold, jewels, even a space/inventory ring, and weapons, without there really being a reason for them. Also, she never eats, never sleeps, never rests. So, there are more things missing from this first book of this series, than what the author writes about.
I would recommend a rewrite to include a lot of the missing descriptions, to explain out the plot holes and to give it a real main theme, with real training, or at least a system-led-training/cultivation that would make it "believable"/credible to the reader.
There is no real main theme. At least not explained by the author or main character. Sybil wants to see if she can meet her Dad again in the end of the world, just because she has a magical diary that acts more like smart phone (with instant messaging from her supposed Dad) than an actual book or diary. She uses magic, weapons, like if she had formal training. (No formal training of any kind).
There are no maps, no inside illustrations, no character summaries, no real world descriptions (of this other fantasy world) describing the systems in place (geography, geopolitical, economic, religious, social, etc.) No real explanation of the magic system and the progression (leveling-up) and how they work. Because this books starts without any sort of descriptions (character or origin of this world, main character and her surroundings) the author is writing basically by the seat of his pants. Sybil loots gold, jewels, even a space/inventory ring, and weapons, without there really being a reason for them. Also, she never eats, never sleeps, never rests. So, there are more things missing from this first book of this series, than what the author writes about.
I would recommend a rewrite to include a lot of the missing descriptions, to explain out the plot holes and to give it a real main theme, with real training, or at least a system-led-training/cultivation that would make it "believable"/credible to the reader.
April 25, 2023
Loved Kick Ass Sybil
Sybil is the MC of the story and she is awesome. She’s no OP, but she is hardcore and has a unique mentality and moral system. The magic system in the book is not overly complex and it’s understandable and consistent. The wider world is a nice mix of a fantasy and a dystopian apocalypse, but it’s not overly political or with an unnecessarily complex mythology. Well paced. Action scenes and leveling scenes are a bit too long, but it’s not too troublesome. I really loved this book and its killer heroine.
Sybil is the MC of the story and she is awesome. She’s no OP, but she is hardcore and has a unique mentality and moral system. The magic system in the book is not overly complex and it’s understandable and consistent. The wider world is a nice mix of a fantasy and a dystopian apocalypse, but it’s not overly political or with an unnecessarily complex mythology. Well paced. Action scenes and leveling scenes are a bit too long, but it’s not too troublesome. I really loved this book and its killer heroine.
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February 19, 2025DNF 58%
January 30, 2024
the writing was weak. characters were lacking. I cant.
There was multiple situations, where the MC though she was going to die but then she didn't ( of course she didn't) it was quite immersion breaking. It also had many forms of annoying repetition, the monsters for example were always used in their full name. It was tedious to experience. Fight scenes went for too long, not unlike in some anime, as every single moment felt like ages.
There was multiple situations, where the MC though she was going to die but then she didn't ( of course she didn't) it was quite immersion breaking. It also had many forms of annoying repetition, the monsters for example were always used in their full name. It was tedious to experience. Fight scenes went for too long, not unlike in some anime, as every single moment felt like ages.
July 23, 2023
Good new series
Very grim world. Magic has left (blocked) the world and now humans barely survive. Some are slaves.. The MC is such. She is used to mine magic artifacts and ore for the upper humans. This is the start of her ascension. The story is a bit grim and the MC has no social skills. This may be awkward later but maybe part of her growth. I enjoyed the plot line and see a lot of growth in her future. I will love to see her help some others ascend to move humanity forward but may not be her focus or in the cards. Looking forward to the next book.
Very grim world. Magic has left (blocked) the world and now humans barely survive. Some are slaves.. The MC is such. She is used to mine magic artifacts and ore for the upper humans. This is the start of her ascension. The story is a bit grim and the MC has no social skills. This may be awkward later but maybe part of her growth. I enjoyed the plot line and see a lot of growth in her future. I will love to see her help some others ascend to move humanity forward but may not be her focus or in the cards. Looking forward to the next book.
June 6, 2023
Worth reading
Interesting take on a system style litrpg. Lots of Dark Souls influence but not so grimdark as to be off-putting. MC does become very pragmatic and merciless, but it makes sense as per her character development. Well written, with three-dimensional characters who all have motives and unique thoughts. My only critique is that I wish the author had taken less inspiration from Dark Souls vague yet thick lore settings.
Interesting take on a system style litrpg. Lots of Dark Souls influence but not so grimdark as to be off-putting. MC does become very pragmatic and merciless, but it makes sense as per her character development. Well written, with three-dimensional characters who all have motives and unique thoughts. My only critique is that I wish the author had taken less inspiration from Dark Souls vague yet thick lore settings.
May 6, 2023
A mad dash to the end
3.5 stars really. My review title describes how I feel about the book. The first 65% to 70% of the book was fairly decent. I would’ve give it at 4.5 stars then put the end it just devolved almost out of control. Not that it was necessarily bad. It just left a lot of gaps. You started to see flaws in how the author had created the world, and a little bit of the leveling system seemed flawed. The end really needed more explanation and it seemed a bit rushed. I know that’s difficult to say with a book that’s over 800 pages but when you get to the end and you have all of this stuff going on you really need to explain it to people or leave me with a cliffhanger. This felt like a sandwich that should’ve given me all the toppings, but instead was missing cheese and mayonnaise.
Note to the author:
I always write a note to the author for a book that I like and this is a book that I like despite me wanting to give it 3.5 stars. I love the MC I love the general world that set up but some of the promises and ideas presented in the book . I don’t get it I don’t see how they can exist. How can you have these characters that don’t have her powers with such high levels. I can understand if they are of the other races then I get how they become so strong but how can a human with no access to magic be stronger than she is. I could also argue how come some of these fights were magic should’ve been sapping the human combatant continue to occur. The fight with a vice commander in the actual commander perfect examples. How can these men keep fighting if they are constantly losing MP that they can’t replenish. Finally, I don’t know how to say this I don’t want to sound cruel, but the story seemed to fall apart after the 70% mark once she got back to the camp. Too much went on too many characters were introduced. Some of them. I don’t even understand why they are important. Will they make it into the next book? If not, why are we meeting these people? We also need an explanation as to how come nobody else besides, her has ever bothered to take a relic and drink it. No one from this camp has ever become an ascended before that just makes no sense. Like I said, overall good story, but there are just some things that need to be explained better. The second book literally when you start out, a synopsis would be great and in that synopsis you can cover the bases and patching some of these holes. Good story, but there are just a few holes that need to be patched.
3.5 stars really. My review title describes how I feel about the book. The first 65% to 70% of the book was fairly decent. I would’ve give it at 4.5 stars then put the end it just devolved almost out of control. Not that it was necessarily bad. It just left a lot of gaps. You started to see flaws in how the author had created the world, and a little bit of the leveling system seemed flawed. The end really needed more explanation and it seemed a bit rushed. I know that’s difficult to say with a book that’s over 800 pages but when you get to the end and you have all of this stuff going on you really need to explain it to people or leave me with a cliffhanger. This felt like a sandwich that should’ve given me all the toppings, but instead was missing cheese and mayonnaise.
Note to the author:
I always write a note to the author for a book that I like and this is a book that I like despite me wanting to give it 3.5 stars. I love the MC I love the general world that set up but some of the promises and ideas presented in the book . I don’t get it I don’t see how they can exist. How can you have these characters that don’t have her powers with such high levels. I can understand if they are of the other races then I get how they become so strong but how can a human with no access to magic be stronger than she is. I could also argue how come some of these fights were magic should’ve been sapping the human combatant continue to occur. The fight with a vice commander in the actual commander perfect examples. How can these men keep fighting if they are constantly losing MP that they can’t replenish. Finally, I don’t know how to say this I don’t want to sound cruel, but the story seemed to fall apart after the 70% mark once she got back to the camp. Too much went on too many characters were introduced. Some of them. I don’t even understand why they are important. Will they make it into the next book? If not, why are we meeting these people? We also need an explanation as to how come nobody else besides, her has ever bothered to take a relic and drink it. No one from this camp has ever become an ascended before that just makes no sense. Like I said, overall good story, but there are just some things that need to be explained better. The second book literally when you start out, a synopsis would be great and in that synopsis you can cover the bases and patching some of these holes. Good story, but there are just a few holes that need to be patched.
August 26, 2024
Interesting setting, tiring combat
The setting has potential, and the story introduces both the idea of fate and changing fate, a good start for a story. Unfortunately, the fights only seem to have two modes: effortless or life-threatening. Rather than being reserved for pivotal or climactic battles, so many are treated as hard-fought tests of survival that the idea loses all tension well before the midway point of the book. By the end I found myself ignoring the danger which the author was trying to establish and waiting for the "boss" fight near the end to resolve in the main character's favour.
Speaking of the main character, she starts as a pretty typical proto-protagonist. She's a down on her luck orphan forced into labour, and she's plucky enough to take risks. Her development feels pretty minor, but is adequate. The RPG aspects are pretty minor as well, mostly just stat points and a small number of skills.
Overall it's an okay book, but I don't know if I'll continue on with the series.
The setting has potential, and the story introduces both the idea of fate and changing fate, a good start for a story. Unfortunately, the fights only seem to have two modes: effortless or life-threatening. Rather than being reserved for pivotal or climactic battles, so many are treated as hard-fought tests of survival that the idea loses all tension well before the midway point of the book. By the end I found myself ignoring the danger which the author was trying to establish and waiting for the "boss" fight near the end to resolve in the main character's favour.
Speaking of the main character, she starts as a pretty typical proto-protagonist. She's a down on her luck orphan forced into labour, and she's plucky enough to take risks. Her development feels pretty minor, but is adequate. The RPG aspects are pretty minor as well, mostly just stat points and a small number of skills.
Overall it's an okay book, but I don't know if I'll continue on with the series.
July 9, 2024
Badly written. Often having the same point brought up twice in one sentence or in quick succession like it was a first draft with no proof reading. The MC is a poorly educated medieval girl who is also the narrator and talks like a modern teenager including things like "finger guns" which makes no sense.
Poorly thought out. The addition of computer readouts because it's popular in isekais makes no sense. The video game lore text on relics are 3rd person description that is updated for her modern time and not something that would have been on the relics when they were crafted.
Nonsense setting, lore and story. The location wouldn't function as a town as described, people couldn't live there or in that way. The MC's background is ridiculous, her actions are ridiculous and the story and lore is just garbage.
Poorly thought out. The addition of computer readouts because it's popular in isekais makes no sense. The video game lore text on relics are 3rd person description that is updated for her modern time and not something that would have been on the relics when they were crafted.
Nonsense setting, lore and story. The location wouldn't function as a town as described, people couldn't live there or in that way. The MC's background is ridiculous, her actions are ridiculous and the story and lore is just garbage.
April 27, 2023
Enjoyable but rough around the edges
The plot is fairly enjoyable, but definitely in need of further editing. The basics are pretty good (spelling, grammar) but I found the writing constantly felt disjoint. Word choices often feel a bit off and various phrases are repeated over and over.
The worst of it is that character motivations feel like they're all over the place and just poorly described in general. Half the time Sybil has no personality to speak of constantly doing whatever the first thing that pops into her head.
The litrpg parts are fairly well designed and the progression was satisfying. Since I'm mostly here for the progression I decided to mostly ignore the character problems and rate this 4/5
The plot is fairly enjoyable, but definitely in need of further editing. The basics are pretty good (spelling, grammar) but I found the writing constantly felt disjoint. Word choices often feel a bit off and various phrases are repeated over and over.
The worst of it is that character motivations feel like they're all over the place and just poorly described in general. Half the time Sybil has no personality to speak of constantly doing whatever the first thing that pops into her head.
The litrpg parts are fairly well designed and the progression was satisfying. Since I'm mostly here for the progression I decided to mostly ignore the character problems and rate this 4/5
July 5, 2023
Great take on dystopian fantasy litrpg
All in all, great. The book very quickly gets interesting and keeps at it. The MC is interesting enough and the mysterious unknown going on in the background makes her plot armour believable.
The author has some weird quirks language wise, using certain expressions in situations were they are awkward or plain wrong. That put me off a few times but I got used to it and it seemed to get better towards the end. All in all, a good read 👍
All in all, great. The book very quickly gets interesting and keeps at it. The MC is interesting enough and the mysterious unknown going on in the background makes her plot armour believable.
The author has some weird quirks language wise, using certain expressions in situations were they are awkward or plain wrong. That put me off a few times but I got used to it and it seemed to get better towards the end. All in all, a good read 👍
March 18, 2024
Exhausting, I couldn't finish
I stopped reading at 23%.
This book has too many open questions about the world that I was unable to get attached to the world or the character.
And this book is exhausting. The author doesn't seem to understand that the readers need a brain break from all of the fighting, otherwise it becomes meaningless and boring.
I hope you like it better than I did.
Have fun!
I stopped reading at 23%.
This book has too many open questions about the world that I was unable to get attached to the world or the character.
And this book is exhausting. The author doesn't seem to understand that the readers need a brain break from all of the fighting, otherwise it becomes meaningless and boring.
I hope you like it better than I did.
Have fun!
June 21, 2024
BORING!
Thug-ish MC with no creativity or tactics who NEVER changes even when given opportunities to do so. Also too easily led/manipulated by others.
Setting is also mostly unchanging.
Narrator is decent, but her voice often gets close to a monotone.
Unchanging MC (answers everything with run, or shoot/hit it with strongest power/weapon until it stops moving) with unchanging setting, and unchanging voice leaves me zoning out for entire chapters without missing anything.
Thug-ish MC with no creativity or tactics who NEVER changes even when given opportunities to do so. Also too easily led/manipulated by others.
Setting is also mostly unchanging.
Narrator is decent, but her voice often gets close to a monotone.
Unchanging MC (answers everything with run, or shoot/hit it with strongest power/weapon until it stops moving) with unchanging setting, and unchanging voice leaves me zoning out for entire chapters without missing anything.
June 11, 2023
Hard to put down
Based on the cover, not what I was expecting...but oh so much better! Azrie puts their own unique spin on the world of magic. Sybil's struggles as she strives to unlock the secrets in her father's journal, her struggle to become strong enough to escape her fate, these all come together in a fantastic tale of struggle, suspense, and triumph. A must read.
Based on the cover, not what I was expecting...but oh so much better! Azrie puts their own unique spin on the world of magic. Sybil's struggles as she strives to unlock the secrets in her father's journal, her struggle to become strong enough to escape her fate, these all come together in a fantastic tale of struggle, suspense, and triumph. A must read.
June 28, 2023
Kill to survive, survive to gain freedom
MC is a starving orphan who has heard stories of the greatness of ascended humans from the past. When she becomes one of the ascended, she starts to kill all of the monsters and humans in her way to achieve freedom. Definitely a murderhobo, but the story is pretty well written.
MC is a starving orphan who has heard stories of the greatness of ascended humans from the past. When she becomes one of the ascended, she starts to kill all of the monsters and humans in her way to achieve freedom. Definitely a murderhobo, but the story is pretty well written.
September 28, 2023
The character does not go through any emotional upheaval despite the many traumatic things happening to her. And the writer abruptly changes her personality later in the book, seen by her interactions with other characters being brief and unconsequential, which makes it hard to empathise with her and the pacing is so freakin' slow.
October 9, 2023
was ok, not amazing
Read the entire thing, the pace was fine, world building was better than just “eh” but not great.
The bond to the mc was a super thin twine, just enough to want to finish the book, not enough to grab the second. For now.
Read the entire thing, the pace was fine, world building was better than just “eh” but not great.
The bond to the mc was a super thin twine, just enough to want to finish the book, not enough to grab the second. For now.
November 18, 2023
Help me read more books
I have read similar books, but they weren't LitRPG tales, so that makes a difference. I liked this one, and will likely read more in the series. It will be interesting to see how this one goes in future books.
I have read similar books, but they weren't LitRPG tales, so that makes a difference. I liked this one, and will likely read more in the series. It will be interesting to see how this one goes in future books.
January 14, 2024
Wowee
I grabbed this title at random cause I liked the cover art. I didn't manage to put the book down even once till i finished it. It was a bit brutal and violent and wonderfully entertaining.
I grabbed this title at random cause I liked the cover art. I didn't manage to put the book down even once till i finished it. It was a bit brutal and violent and wonderfully entertaining.
March 2, 2024
Made it to 52%. It is a bit bland for my taste. The protagonist is a clean slate. The world's kind of interesting but we progress through it very slowly. The main character didn't have much of a motive or anyone to talk to.
July 15, 2024
Great start!
Awesome first book! Love Protagonist Very rare in this genre Solid story Good Character evolution A little weak But enjoyable enjoyable Definitely a worthwhile read Weather your new designer or your old timer
Awesome first book! Love Protagonist Very rare in this genre Solid story Good Character evolution A little weak But enjoyable enjoyable Definitely a worthwhile read Weather your new designer or your old timer
May 20, 2023
The most important aspect to know about the book and weather you're likely to enjoy it I think is that the MC starts out very sympathetic but quickly becomes a murder hobo.
July 5, 2023
Not bad
This was an interesting read, however my biggest complaint is that the main character really doesn't have much of a personality and feels very flat.
This was an interesting read, however my biggest complaint is that the main character really doesn't have much of a personality and feels very flat.
August 15, 2023
A very good read
A very good read well constructed and so well written I enjoyed the story line very much and am hoping a sequel is out there or on the card's.
A very good read well constructed and so well written I enjoyed the story line very much and am hoping a sequel is out there or on the card's.
August 20, 2023
I found the character a bit waffly and repetitive, and as it’s first person, I had to give up. If you like the character voice it may be for you.
October 23, 2023
T
T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T F G H J K L
T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T F G H J K L
April 6, 2024
Solid story. 3/5 for over all epicness. its one I will be looking for more books from but not necessarily one of my reread over and over books.
November 11, 2024
Great read
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and I recommend this book to anyone who likes LitRPG and progression types of books with lots of action.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews