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Heretical Fishing #4
Heretical Fishing 4
An empire has fallen, another blooms in its wake, and one man—
who would rather be fishing, thank you very much
—has finally accepted his role as its leader.
Thanks to overwhelming might, a cadre of violent animals, and a weaponized fish or two, Tropica has wiped Gormona's royal forces from the map. Now at the helm of his own Church, Fischer finally has some time to relax. But life in Tropica is much like fishing from a rocky it's only a matter of time before you hook a snag.
It seems chi has returned to the area, the Church of Fischer and the village of Tropica have grown, and at least one of Fischer's animal pals has experienced a breakthrough that defies metaphysical understanding. Furthermore, these developments send out waves of essence, their echoes spanning oceans and reaching distant shores.
And unfortunately for everyone involved, they haven't gone unnoticed . . .
The fourth volume of the laugh-out-loud LitRPG adventure series—a #1 Rising Star on Royal Road with more than three million views—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
Thanks to overwhelming might, a cadre of violent animals, and a weaponized fish or two, Tropica has wiped Gormona's royal forces from the map. Now at the helm of his own Church, Fischer finally has some time to relax. But life in Tropica is much like fishing from a rocky it's only a matter of time before you hook a snag.
It seems chi has returned to the area, the Church of Fischer and the village of Tropica have grown, and at least one of Fischer's animal pals has experienced a breakthrough that defies metaphysical understanding. Furthermore, these developments send out waves of essence, their echoes spanning oceans and reaching distant shores.
And unfortunately for everyone involved, they haven't gone unnoticed . . .
The fourth volume of the laugh-out-loud LitRPG adventure series—a #1 Rising Star on Royal Road with more than three million views—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
460 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2025
520 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 31, 2025
I really enjoyed the first three books, but the series has taken a disappointing turn. The protagonist is starting to feel less like a compelling character and more like Jason from HWFWM—a preachy, self-righteous figure who seems convinced of his own moral superiority over everyone else. On top of that, Jobson has begun slipping personal political viewpoints into the narrative, and it weighs the story down. For me, that shift broke the immersion. I’ll be passing on the rest of the series.
September 2, 2025
I love this series, but book 4 felt like mostly filler.
September 3, 2025
Just as with anything in life, timing matters. When I started this series, it was the right book for how I was feeling at the time. Why have I started my review of this book with sharing my personal mindset? Because I want anyone who might come across this review to know that their experience may be better than mine. You see, I have been struggling with how I feel about this book given how I feel about the series to date. And if I am honest with myself, this book just didn't really do it for me. It is a tough sentence to write about a series that blew me away in its first three books. But this fourth book is not only a dramatic change from its predecessors, but also seemed too disorganized and scattershot.
I would say about 15% of the book is filled with all the things that made me love this series. Endearing moments, comical situations, the continuation of nautical themed curses, and giving us some insights into the greater world-building and overarching plot. But the vast majority of the book was focused on various individuals finding their moments of inspiration that allowed them to ascend to a higher level. I understand the need, and ultimately, I'm not sure how Jobson could have done it differently, but this book boils down to following one character as they work on their feelings, ascend, then go to the next character who focuses on their feelings, ascendents, rinse/repeat.
The final encounter near the end of the book did mark a nice change and I started to become interested again. The problem was, again, personal to me. I think because the book did not grab my attention for the great majority, by the time we got to the parts that were interesting, I wasn't following a lot of it. While I will admit that missing or failing to follow some of the narrative is largely my fault, I don't think I am the entire problem. I think that even those good moments at the end suffered from the same disorganized mess the entire book suffered from in general.
I hope your experience is better than mine and that I will ultimately chalk this one up to an aberration in an otherwise excellent series. The other issue I am dealing with is that I became totally obsessed with another book series and my self-imposed moratorium from reading more likely influenced my enjoyment of this book. I will always try to call out potential bias in my reviews. That is definitely one of them. I just don't think that explains the rest of my feelings about this particular book.
Book 5 will come out in the near future and I will return. I'll just try my best to remember the positives of this book and forget the rest.
I would say about 15% of the book is filled with all the things that made me love this series. Endearing moments, comical situations, the continuation of nautical themed curses, and giving us some insights into the greater world-building and overarching plot. But the vast majority of the book was focused on various individuals finding their moments of inspiration that allowed them to ascend to a higher level. I understand the need, and ultimately, I'm not sure how Jobson could have done it differently, but this book boils down to following one character as they work on their feelings, ascend, then go to the next character who focuses on their feelings, ascendents, rinse/repeat.
The final encounter near the end of the book did mark a nice change and I started to become interested again. The problem was, again, personal to me. I think because the book did not grab my attention for the great majority, by the time we got to the parts that were interesting, I wasn't following a lot of it. While I will admit that missing or failing to follow some of the narrative is largely my fault, I don't think I am the entire problem. I think that even those good moments at the end suffered from the same disorganized mess the entire book suffered from in general.
I hope your experience is better than mine and that I will ultimately chalk this one up to an aberration in an otherwise excellent series. The other issue I am dealing with is that I became totally obsessed with another book series and my self-imposed moratorium from reading more likely influenced my enjoyment of this book. I will always try to call out potential bias in my reviews. That is definitely one of them. I just don't think that explains the rest of my feelings about this particular book.
Book 5 will come out in the near future and I will return. I'll just try my best to remember the positives of this book and forget the rest.
September 3, 2025
I’m sad to see this series decline so fast after the first two books. But here we are. There is still humor that hits occasionally, but that’s really the only good thing I can say.
This book lacks any forward momentum. All of the original problems have been solved and any new problems are made up (claws) or fixed within an hour of coming up. I need some sort of drama in my reads, and since there’s no one with power to fool anymore I just can’t force myself to care about any of this.
I saw it happening in the last book and didn’t think I’d continue, but I wanted to give the series one more shot and it just fell flat.
I’ll just have to be content with my memories of the early books in this series and move on
This book lacks any forward momentum. All of the original problems have been solved and any new problems are made up (claws) or fixed within an hour of coming up. I need some sort of drama in my reads, and since there’s no one with power to fool anymore I just can’t force myself to care about any of this.
I saw it happening in the last book and didn’t think I’d continue, but I wanted to give the series one more shot and it just fell flat.
I’ll just have to be content with my memories of the early books in this series and move on
August 27, 2025
I just got bored
It’s not *bad*. It just drags along with cutesy scenes and there is barely a point. Everybody is having breakthroughs and hugs all around and COFFEE.
I know it’s lazy, slice-of-life, but there is nothing really driving the plot. There isn’t a seasonal change that makes for ‘new’ opportunities.
I might come back and read more, but this just isn’t *holding* my interest.
It’s not *bad*. It just drags along with cutesy scenes and there is barely a point. Everybody is having breakthroughs and hugs all around and COFFEE.
I know it’s lazy, slice-of-life, but there is nothing really driving the plot. There isn’t a seasonal change that makes for ‘new’ opportunities.
I might come back and read more, but this just isn’t *holding* my interest.
September 4, 2025
I gave book three 4 stars so this is very sad but it honestly doesn't deserve more than 2. The characters no longer act like in the previous books (or they act so much like that they turn into caricatures of the previous books), there are way too many new characters that have no role except to use up page space and the entire plot - if I can call it that - devolved into vague in-jokes. It is just too much of the same, proving that you can have too much of a good thing if the author and/or editor do not manage to keep the narrative on the rails. In this book I have trouble even finding the rails.
February 27, 2025
DNF
So take this review with a grain of salt as I only got half way through before giving up.
I can't stand the MC. At first he was fine but more and more he keeps hiding from responsibility. He's like a whiny manchild who judges all the nobles and everyone else but he himself won't life a finger if it makes him responsible. The only time he acts is when he can pawn off the weight of those choices on Barry or his church.
He acts like a spoiled entitled brat who failed once and now is scared to ever try again. Which is what he is. Now it would be fine if the author made him take action and then deal with negative consequences as an adult. Instead the author is feeding the characters habit of never trying as a 'good thing' .
Making it also so when he does take responsibility it's only outcome will be good, so he doesn't have to suffer his ptsd trauma of one time failing and not being good at business. Fine for the first book, let the character be a whiny entitled rich boy who would rather fish than do anything. Four books in and he's still shoving responsibility off on everyone around him and running at the even thought of negative consequences and it's getting tiresome.
It's like the author is pushing the idea of some basement dweller 40s something living off mom so he doesn't have to work or grow up. Just do his hobbies all day. That's this character. Fearful to the thought of actually having his actions impact others that he has nightmares and literally 'runs' when they come about like in the meeting in book 3 where he literally had a melt down and tried to run away physically from the meeting.
Then you have hypocritical stuff like the cultivators. YOUR FREE! If you believe in our god and support us...otherwise we lock you up. That ...sounds like cult slavery to me, not freedom. That's middle- east terrorist mentality there. Believe in our god or you're locked away? If they were free, they'd be free to leave even if they don't support your god.
Honestly this is literally what cults do in america to get college students and the like to believe in their way of life. Segregate them from society and then make them believe what they believe or lock them up in solitude until they are ready to embrace their ways.
The book is quite fully supporting cult mentality.
So, do I want to read a book that empowers cult behavior, not taking responsibility and constant repression of one's desires with that whole not releasing chi inside him thing?
Nope. Done.
This message of these books are just horrible or if they are setting up to show how horrible they are and will fix them, is taking way to long to do it. I'm done with this series sadly.
So take this review with a grain of salt as I only got half way through before giving up.
I can't stand the MC. At first he was fine but more and more he keeps hiding from responsibility. He's like a whiny manchild who judges all the nobles and everyone else but he himself won't life a finger if it makes him responsible. The only time he acts is when he can pawn off the weight of those choices on Barry or his church.
He acts like a spoiled entitled brat who failed once and now is scared to ever try again. Which is what he is. Now it would be fine if the author made him take action and then deal with negative consequences as an adult. Instead the author is feeding the characters habit of never trying as a 'good thing' .
Making it also so when he does take responsibility it's only outcome will be good, so he doesn't have to suffer his ptsd trauma of one time failing and not being good at business. Fine for the first book, let the character be a whiny entitled rich boy who would rather fish than do anything. Four books in and he's still shoving responsibility off on everyone around him and running at the even thought of negative consequences and it's getting tiresome.
It's like the author is pushing the idea of some basement dweller 40s something living off mom so he doesn't have to work or grow up. Just do his hobbies all day. That's this character. Fearful to the thought of actually having his actions impact others that he has nightmares and literally 'runs' when they come about like in the meeting in book 3 where he literally had a melt down and tried to run away physically from the meeting.
Then you have hypocritical stuff like the cultivators. YOUR FREE! If you believe in our god and support us...otherwise we lock you up. That ...sounds like cult slavery to me, not freedom. That's middle- east terrorist mentality there. Believe in our god or you're locked away? If they were free, they'd be free to leave even if they don't support your god.
Honestly this is literally what cults do in america to get college students and the like to believe in their way of life. Segregate them from society and then make them believe what they believe or lock them up in solitude until they are ready to embrace their ways.
The book is quite fully supporting cult mentality.
So, do I want to read a book that empowers cult behavior, not taking responsibility and constant repression of one's desires with that whole not releasing chi inside him thing?
Nope. Done.
This message of these books are just horrible or if they are setting up to show how horrible they are and will fix them, is taking way to long to do it. I'm done with this series sadly.
August 30, 2025
Ohhhh fun! Fun! FUN! I love Heretical Fishing soooooooo much! It's absodamnlutely magical! And one of my favorite books! I not only love the MC Fischer, the first heretical fisher, and Marie his chosen life mate, but all the others too! Fischer's animal pals, and all his mates living in Tropica, as they're all family to him! And I swear everyone, and I mean everyone has their moment to shine brighter than the sun in this ✨ fantastical story! Plus Calamari is on the menu folks! I thought for sure that this was the end of one of the best series evarrr... but I'm mistaken, I found that book 5 will be released February 2026! And there's no telling where Haylock Jobson is gonna take it! But wherever he does Fischer and his Cadre will be ready!
So grab this action-driven audiobook 'cause Heath Miller's performance is extra Buttery AwesomeSauce!!!
Hey here's some quotes for ya:
“Aphrodite’s bohemian breasts...” the woman swore."
"A wave of relief washed over me. “Looks like we’re not gonna run out of coffee anytime soon..."
"The things were ugly cute. Like a pug. Or those weird dogs that look like someone bred a shih tzu with a naked mole rat then washed them on a four-hour spin cycle."
"Ellis’s need for knowledge was a Sisyphean task, and never before had his metaphorical boulder seemed so heavy as he stared up at the silent barista."
"We called this aluminium foil where I come from—or aluminum foil if you’re American.” I gave an exaggerated shiver. “And you guys call me heretical. The things that country has done to the English language...”
"...the eldritch creature bellowed, its guttural voice about as enjoyable as a garbage
So grab this action-driven audiobook 'cause Heath Miller's performance is extra Buttery AwesomeSauce!!!
Hey here's some quotes for ya:
“Aphrodite’s bohemian breasts...” the woman swore."
"A wave of relief washed over me. “Looks like we’re not gonna run out of coffee anytime soon..."
"The things were ugly cute. Like a pug. Or those weird dogs that look like someone bred a shih tzu with a naked mole rat then washed them on a four-hour spin cycle."
"Ellis’s need for knowledge was a Sisyphean task, and never before had his metaphorical boulder seemed so heavy as he stared up at the silent barista."
"We called this aluminium foil where I come from—or aluminum foil if you’re American.” I gave an exaggerated shiver. “And you guys call me heretical. The things that country has done to the English language...”
"...the eldritch creature bellowed, its guttural voice about as enjoyable as a garbage
September 8, 2025
What is odd about my rating is that I gave five stars to volume 1 and four stars to the next two. And I was very excited to learn that volume four was being issued. I was disappointed. Some call this genre "comfy fantasy" in that these books tend to celebrate domesticity and love, such as enjoying a nice cup of coffee with someone you love most in the world. Who doesn't like that? (Well, yes, many do not, but I am a fan.) My favorites are the Becky Chambers's Wayfarers series and Delemhach's House Witch series. But there is a danger in this style as well, which is to have the plot be taken over by the wonders of the mundane that nothing really happens and the narrative becomes boring, which was what happened with Becky Chambers's next series, Monk & Robot. In this case, by the end of volume three, the main character, Fischer, has taken on god-like powers, as had his fiance; even his menagerie of "spirit beast" friends had become over powered. So what could possibly happen next? Nothing, it turns out. I kept waiting for the book to begin. Instead, all I read about were silly jokes, pranks, and descriptions of the beauty of coffee. In other words, the plot was reduced to humor and sentimentality. Even the rise of some "bad guys" in the second half became mostly a fearless side adventure. I am not sure the series can recover. These books still need some tension, some danger, some true intrigue to keep us interested. Comfy is not enough by itself.
August 29, 2025
Excellent addition to the series
The whole series is tons of fun, and this installment is no exception. The blurb already has a nice synopsis so I won't be going over the plot. Too much, anyway.
What I will say is that Fischer is up to his usual shenanigans and Corporal Claws has too much fun. We get to meet seven (no, eight) new characters. I forgot the raccoon. A couple of them are leftover deities. Our favorite little she-crab has undergone some transformational changes. Her leadership ability has really blossomed and she is now truly leading those from the Church of Carcinization.
There is no real cussing, very little violence, and physical affection is only hinted at, except for cuddle puddles. Fischer is aware of all the kids present in the village, and keeps his speech rated G. Actions, too.
This book (& series) are suitable for all ages. Excellent world-building, great character development, System interface downplayed. 9/10 Unicorns.
🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
Highly recommend to buy or borrow.
The whole series is tons of fun, and this installment is no exception. The blurb already has a nice synopsis so I won't be going over the plot. Too much, anyway.
What I will say is that Fischer is up to his usual shenanigans and Corporal Claws has too much fun. We get to meet seven (no, eight) new characters. I forgot the raccoon. A couple of them are leftover deities. Our favorite little she-crab has undergone some transformational changes. Her leadership ability has really blossomed and she is now truly leading those from the Church of Carcinization.
There is no real cussing, very little violence, and physical affection is only hinted at, except for cuddle puddles. Fischer is aware of all the kids present in the village, and keeps his speech rated G. Actions, too.
This book (& series) are suitable for all ages. Excellent world-building, great character development, System interface downplayed. 9/10 Unicorns.
🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄
Highly recommend to buy or borrow.
August 30, 2025
A slapstick feel-good romp
A little goofy and over the top, the writing is intentionally tongue in cheek. The humor is fast, with great subtle and not so subtle references, all couched in a story of love and acceptance of found family. The characters all have moments of doubt or guilt, only for it to be absolved away immediately with emotionally intelligent and mature communication. You may have to squint to
see it but in a tight knit crew where 50-70 percent of the conversation is sharing emotions, the part we get to see can get a bit ridiculous, especially when you are doing everything you can to dissuade your town from falling over themselves to worship you.
A little goofy and over the top, the writing is intentionally tongue in cheek. The humor is fast, with great subtle and not so subtle references, all couched in a story of love and acceptance of found family. The characters all have moments of doubt or guilt, only for it to be absolved away immediately with emotionally intelligent and mature communication. You may have to squint to
see it but in a tight knit crew where 50-70 percent of the conversation is sharing emotions, the part we get to see can get a bit ridiculous, especially when you are doing everything you can to dissuade your town from falling over themselves to worship you.
September 5, 2025
There are two things this book does very well. OP power coupled to "love everyone" fishing energy and the pure fantasy wish of being surrounded by never ending friends, jokes, and mutual care.
Wait. Isn't this supposed to be a LitRPG with power progression and big battles, etc?
Yeah, it has all that, but mostly it's just fishing, boat building, giving an abyssal kraken a hug, and dealing with evil otters. Details.
Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Arctunn.com
Wait. Isn't this supposed to be a LitRPG with power progression and big battles, etc?
Yeah, it has all that, but mostly it's just fishing, boat building, giving an abyssal kraken a hug, and dealing with evil otters. Details.
Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Arctunn.com
Read
August 31, 2025Brilliantly Insane!
A wonderful fast paced if not a bit jarring tale that keeps you turning pages. This is an amazing story story of friendship and adventure. I won't bother attempting to describe it as I couldn't do it justice. Fisher has outdone himself with hid amazing animals and friends but one hint, A kraken!
A wonderful fast paced if not a bit jarring tale that keeps you turning pages. This is an amazing story story of friendship and adventure. I won't bother attempting to describe it as I couldn't do it justice. Fisher has outdone himself with hid amazing animals and friends but one hint, A kraken!
August 31, 2025
They’re all so fun and the found family aspect is the best thing in this book. All the animal pals and the cosiness of it makes it a fun read.
But I found myself zoning out of many scenes this time around. So much happened yet so little. The breakthrough and changing got a bit much
I’m going to continue the series for sure
But I found myself zoning out of many scenes this time around. So much happened yet so little. The breakthrough and changing got a bit much
I’m going to continue the series for sure
September 3, 2025
I loved the first two books of this series. The 3rd was still pretty good, but this one was not nearly as fun as the others. There was too much technical talk about breakthroughs and upgrading and not enough actual dialogue and plot. The parts with the monster were really confusing to me and I had to keep going back because I felt like I missed something.
September 1, 2025
So much fun to read
This was another delightfully silly adventure in Fischer’s isekai’d life. I love that everyone who deals with him makes perfectly rational decisions, based on logical conclusions, and they end up being 100% wrong 100% of the time.
This was another delightfully silly adventure in Fischer’s isekai’d life. I love that everyone who deals with him makes perfectly rational decisions, based on logical conclusions, and they end up being 100% wrong 100% of the time.
September 5, 2025
As much as I enjoy the humor and animal sidekicks, I felt that this was mostly a filler book following everyone's breakthroughs plus random new grand antagonists introduced and resolved by the end of the book.
September 11, 2025
Always great
Great series love every book. This one seems a little more chaotic but is so much fun. Cozy is a perfect word to describe this book but that does not mean there aren't a few intense moments and action. All around fun book, highly recommended.
Great series love every book. This one seems a little more chaotic but is so much fun. Cozy is a perfect word to describe this book but that does not mean there aren't a few intense moments and action. All around fun book, highly recommended.
August 30, 2025
Fanfreakingtastic!
What an amazing book! I absolutely loved this book and such wonderful characters! I can not wait for the next book to come out!
What an amazing book! I absolutely loved this book and such wonderful characters! I can not wait for the next book to come out!
August 31, 2025
Devoured in less than 24 hrs. Continued perfection. I am still devoured to Corporal Claws.
August 31, 2025
The last book in August 2025.
A fun, casual read to end the month of August.
A fun, casual read to end the month of August.
Currently reading
September 5, 2025Yes, it is funny and cozy like ever.
But at the moment I think I need a dose of reality.
Therefore I might read this one in instalments.
But at the moment I think I need a dose of reality.
Therefore I might read this one in instalments.
September 6, 2025
The end of the series for me. The first three were great, this one just dragged and dragged. I could not finish it. Thanks to Audible for the credit return.
September 6, 2025
dnf'd at 60%. should have stopped early, but was thinking about trying to brute force it. Horrible pacing, and bad jokes on every page that just repeated over and over.
September 8, 2025
Dnf, just got really boring. Found myself looking for other things to do instead of just reading.
September 10, 2025
good
I love the silliness of this series. The characters and action are really good but it’s the humour that makes it so different from other series.
I love the silliness of this series. The characters and action are really good but it’s the humour that makes it so different from other series.
September 11, 2025
this book is good yes but I am realllyyy starting to dislike Claws. I get she's a mischief incarnate but there is a line between mischief and then mean mischief. I feel like she's becoming evil. I'm not finished with the book but im not happy with how much she's becoming a nuisance. like I said some mischief is ok but when you do it all day every day it's annoying. I may change my review once finished but thus far not happy. also all the play fighting is kinda annoying. I hope the writing style goes back to the previous 3 books.
July 16, 2025
Some fishing and cute pets - like Animal Crossing as a book
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews