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The Calamitous Bob #1
The Calamitous Bob
Ah, Nyil, with its magic, its monsters, and its petty gods. A divine spat leaves French medic Viv stranded in the middle of an arcane disaster zone crawling with undead horrors. Thankfully, there are strange allies to be found, not least the mysterious interface that helps humans survive in this merciless world.
Viv will have to progress fast to survive this calamity and find civilisation. She will also need a bit of luck. Unless, of course, she becomes the calamity herself. After all, luck is such a fickle thing.
Viv will have to progress fast to survive this calamity and find civilisation. She will also need a bit of luck. Unless, of course, she becomes the calamity herself. After all, luck is such a fickle thing.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2021
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987 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
March 7, 2022
Perhaps the best isekai novel I've read recently
I like the character, the premise, the way the book starts. It might be wrong to call it isekai, as it is not a string of anime stereotypes strung together with a cookie-cutter protagonist gathering two dimensional harem members like lint in a dryer. This is original and fun, with a well imagined world that falls like it has history and depth. The gods are active and true to Olympian style. Can't wait to read more!
I like the character, the premise, the way the book starts. It might be wrong to call it isekai, as it is not a string of anime stereotypes strung together with a cookie-cutter protagonist gathering two dimensional harem members like lint in a dryer. This is original and fun, with a well imagined world that falls like it has history and depth. The gods are active and true to Olympian style. Can't wait to read more!
August 18, 2024
A very fun litrpg/reincarnated in a new world fantasy.
French special forces medic Viv is abruptly teleported into a fantasy world from godly shenanigans and must quickly leave her entry point, the magical radioactive wasteland of a fallen empire. I thought this was so fun! Viv is a great viewpoint to follow: competent, wisecracking, rolls with the punches, and deeply vengeful. The lit-rpg elements are simple and there is not an over focus on it, making it easier for new readers to the sub-genre. I will say that I initially thought this was a kind of cozy-litrpg due to the first book Viv’s upbeat attitude and collection of unlikely allies, but later books are quite willing to kill beloved characters to fuel Viv’s ambitions, so be aware. The later books don’t lose the fun tone, but there are periods of fairly brutal kingdom building/fending off invasions.
Highly recommended if you want a fun portal fantasy and/or are interested in litrpg’s.
French special forces medic Viv is abruptly teleported into a fantasy world from godly shenanigans and must quickly leave her entry point, the magical radioactive wasteland of a fallen empire. I thought this was so fun! Viv is a great viewpoint to follow: competent, wisecracking, rolls with the punches, and deeply vengeful. The lit-rpg elements are simple and there is not an over focus on it, making it easier for new readers to the sub-genre. I will say that I initially thought this was a kind of cozy-litrpg due to the first book Viv’s upbeat attitude and collection of unlikely allies, but later books are quite willing to kill beloved characters to fuel Viv’s ambitions, so be aware. The later books don’t lose the fun tone, but there are periods of fairly brutal kingdom building/fending off invasions.
Highly recommended if you want a fun portal fantasy and/or are interested in litrpg’s.
August 29, 2025
After having her body stolen by a god, Viv has been transferred to a new world into a magical disaster zone centered on the ruins of an ancient conquering empire. Which is infested by undead and is magically radioactive. With the aid of the core of a war golem from the ancient empire, Viv manages to extract herself from the disaster zone and make friends in the process.
This is a smart variant on the isekai genre, with a protagonist who isn't your typical gamer-geek guy, and is instead a former combat medic. That being said, it's definitely litRPG with game mechanics everywhere, only with a magical basis.
Not bad, might be worth continuing.
This is a smart variant on the isekai genre, with a protagonist who isn't your typical gamer-geek guy, and is instead a former combat medic. That being said, it's definitely litRPG with game mechanics everywhere, only with a magical basis.
Not bad, might be worth continuing.
February 18, 2025
Title: The Calamitous Bob (The Calamitous Bob, #1)
Author: Álex Gilbert
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Álex Gilbert's The Calamitous Bob, the first entry in a new fantasy series, is a fresh and captivating novel that mixes witty humor, high-stakes adventure, and an incredibly unique protagonist. The book takes place in a world where magic and monsters are everyday occurrences, but it manages to feel remarkably fresh in a crowded fantasy market. Gilbert uses a blend of traditional fantasy elements alongside modern, often humorous storytelling to create something that both subverts and embraces genre tropes.
The Storyline
The story follows Bob, an unusual protagonist who serves as a guard in a magical and monstrous world. But Bob is not your typical "chosen one" or heroic archetype—he's somewhat of an anti-hero. His clumsiness, bad luck, and knack for accidentally making things worse inject an element of comedy, which contrasts beautifully with the darker and more dangerous aspects of the world he inhabits. The story balances between absurdity and danger in a way that keeps the reader engaged and entertained throughout.
"Bob's world may be dangerous, but his mishaps are even more so."
Character Development
Bob - The titular character is a refreshing change from the usual stoic and brooding protagonists common in fantasy. His unpredictability and frequent errors make him more relatable, and it's through these flaws that his character grows. Bob’s development is organic and gradual, as he fumbles through situations and slowly comes to terms with his own potential.
Supporting Cast - The supporting characters, from the cynical magic users to the various creatures that populate the world, add depth and variety to the narrative. They each bring their own quirks and personalities, making the interactions between them and Bob both humorous and heartwarming at times.
The ensemble cast is dynamic, and though they often play off Bob's misfortunes, they help ground the story's emotional beats.
Comparative Analysis with Contemporaries
When compared to contemporary fantasy works, particularly those that deal with humor and anti-heroes like Joe Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy or Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames, The Calamitous Bob holds its own while offering something unique.
Humor: Like Eames' Kings of the Wyld, Gilbert uses humor as a key storytelling device. However, where Eames employs a band of washed-up mercenaries for comedic effect, Gilbert’s use of a single bumbling hero makes for a more intimate, character-driven form of comedy. Bob’s failures feel personal and consequential, whereas the humor in Kings of the Wyld sometimes leans towards the grandiose.
Character Depth: Compared to Abercrombie’s morally gray and deeply introspective characters, Gilbert’s Bob is lighter and less burdened by philosophical quandaries, but that’s not to say he lacks depth. Bob’s personal growth is more subtle and nuanced, largely driven by his own limitations rather than grand moral choices.
Where The Calamitous Bob distinguishes itself is in the balance between chaotic action and relatable character moments. While Abercrombie and Eames explore grand narratives and sweeping epic tales, Gilbert’s story feels more grounded and accessible, particularly for readers who appreciate a more whimsical approach to world-building.
World-Building
Gilbert’s world-building is intricately detailed but never overwhelming. The monsters are vividly described, and the magic system, while not overly complex, provides enough rules and structure to feel believable. One of the standout elements of this novel is how the world is built around Bob’s interactions with it. The story’s world seems designed to challenge Bob at every turn, and it's both expansive and dangerous in ways that make the reader feel a constant tension.
"The world may be dangerous, but Bob’s true enemy is his own ineptitude."
Unlike some contemporary fantasy settings that delve deep into the politics or mechanics of magic (like in The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch), The Calamitous Bob keeps the focus on action and character, with the world serving as a backdrop to Bob’s frequent misadventures.
Strengths
Character-Driven Comedy: Bob’s blunders provide a wealth of comedic moments, but they also serve as vehicles for character development.
Refreshing Anti-Hero: While many anti-heroes in fantasy are brooding or cynical, Bob stands out as an anti-hero who simply makes things worse, but in an endearing way.
Engaging Action: The fight scenes and magical encounters are well-paced, exciting, and always come with an element of unpredictability due to Bob's involvement.
Weaknesses
Repetitive Humor: At times, Bob’s constant failures can feel a bit repetitive. While the humor works well for most of the book, there are moments where it could use more variety to avoid becoming predictable.
Pacing: The middle sections of the book drag slightly, as the plot takes a backseat to some extended character moments that, while entertaining, slow down the overall momentum.
Conclusion
The Calamitous Bob is a delightful addition to the fantasy genre, offering a refreshing mix of humor, action, and heartfelt character development. Álex Gilbert has crafted a protagonist who is both relatable and hilarious, and while the novel occasionally suffers from pacing issues, it’s an incredibly fun read overall.
Recommended for fans of comedic fantasy with heart, or those looking for something lighter than typical grimdark fare.
December 21, 2024
I feel like I'm a little late to this one, as it's been mentioned to me by multiple people who aren't even gamelit readers. I'm glad I finally got around to it because it's one of the good ones.
Character - 8/10, Plot - 9/10, Setting and Magic - 10/10, Writing - 8.5/10, Enjoyment - 8/10
Character
The story starts off with a knock-off Zeus character who decides to go into hiding in a faraway world so his wife can't find him and pulls the soul from a young, female French soldier serving as a medic so he can possess her body. This poor soul is then teleported back to Zeus's homeworld where her body is magically reconstituted. This poor soul, Viviane, is our main character. The setup is interesting and I appreciate Viv's backstory as being fairly unique compared to many isekai/portal fantasy/gamelit characters who tend to be Generic Gamer Male #8. It's also hinted that Viv is from an affluent family and joined the military to spite her father, so there are multiple layers of personality to be discovered within this character and various contradictory beliefs she may struggle with in her new circumstances.
We also meet Solfis, the core of a war golem that Viv finds early on, which serves as her familiar and informs Viv (and the reader) of how this new world and its magic work. I enjoyed the comedy involving Solfis, since his perspective is that of a murder machine of an ancient (and now extinct) empire. I felt like much of the humor from Viv's perspective was forced and bordering on tiresome at times, but gamelit readers evidently enjoy snark so most people will probably like this.
Plot
The story follows Viv as she wakes up in the middle of a wasteland housing the remains of a once-mighty empire. Now it's a Black mana desert full of undead, like a fantasy version of a radioactive wasteland full of mutants. She acclimates to the dangers of the new world, the fact there's magic and she can even use some, the strange game-like screens that the god of magic created to allow mortals to navigate their skills, and slowly navigates the desert in hopes of escaping the deadlands before the mana poisoning does her in.
I think the pacing is great since many stories skim through the "early game" a bit too fast for my liking in gamelit. This story introduces Viv, and the reader, to elements of the new world one at a time in a way that slowly builds to a satisfying conclusion. Viv, due to her exposure to black mana and her perspective as an outworlder, develops some unique skills compared to the natives, which allows her to serve special roles. Despite this, pretty much anything around is still capable of killing her if she lets her guard down.
Setting and Magic
The twist for this story is that we have a Pantheon and the god of magic is responsible for the game-like screens of attribute stats. It falls within familiar gamelit territory, but also feels like it would be a great introduction for people who haven't read gamelit before and who don't play videogames.
In addition to the basic attributes listed in a person's stat screen, each individual also chooses a Path to follow that provides certain bonuses to various skills. It's somewhat similar to the Class a person would play if it was a game and can be anything from Militia to Knight to Witch. Paths are also upgradable as a person grows stronger and gains new skills.
Magic relies on mana, which comes with different affinities and colors. Black mana isn't simply death mana, but it's not too far off, and then you have Blue and Green mana mentioned and there is healing magic in the world. We don't get an infodump and mostly just learn things as they come up, which is how I like it, and I look forward to seeing more of the magic system in future books.
Writing
Overall, the writing is much better than typically found in gamelit. There were a spattering of typos, mostly in the first half of the book, that jumped out at me. Though they jumped out because otherwise the writing was very good. The prose was clear and I never had to reread anything due to clarity issues.
I will go ahead and say that this is a male author writing a female protagonist, so I can't help but brace myself for the inevitable lesbian/bisexual romance that's sure to pop up. All the tell-tale signs were there in this volume. I really don't have a problem with this existing; the issue is specifically with gamelit stories and that the romance usually feels forced into the story and unnecessary. It's probably just a personal thing, but I usually feel like these characters have a million more important things to think about in their circumstances than romance. Feel free to hook up something casual for stress relief after a multitude of near-death experiences, but spare me the sappy highschool romances.
Enjoyment
Honestly, this was probably one of the best gamelit/isekai stories I've read this year. While some of the humor felt like it was trying too hard, it never got in the way of the plot and the author never had dumb things happen solely for the sake of humor. Most of the humor is from Viv's perspective, the events of the story are actually closer to dark fantasy what with the fact humanity is in a losing war for survival against monsters and then there's also the Deadlands always threatening to overflow.
The magic system seems interesting and the world has some unique elements that set the stage for conflicts in the near future as well as in later books. This was probably as close to a perfect Volume One as you can have for a series in that it introduces a great set of characters and sets hooks in the reader for future events and secrets. I would recommend this book for pretty much anyone, whether they are a current gamelit reader or not.
Character - 8/10, Plot - 9/10, Setting and Magic - 10/10, Writing - 8.5/10, Enjoyment - 8/10
Character
The story starts off with a knock-off Zeus character who decides to go into hiding in a faraway world so his wife can't find him and pulls the soul from a young, female French soldier serving as a medic so he can possess her body. This poor soul is then teleported back to Zeus's homeworld where her body is magically reconstituted. This poor soul, Viviane, is our main character. The setup is interesting and I appreciate Viv's backstory as being fairly unique compared to many isekai/portal fantasy/gamelit characters who tend to be Generic Gamer Male #8. It's also hinted that Viv is from an affluent family and joined the military to spite her father, so there are multiple layers of personality to be discovered within this character and various contradictory beliefs she may struggle with in her new circumstances.
We also meet Solfis, the core of a war golem that Viv finds early on, which serves as her familiar and informs Viv (and the reader) of how this new world and its magic work. I enjoyed the comedy involving Solfis, since his perspective is that of a murder machine of an ancient (and now extinct) empire. I felt like much of the humor from Viv's perspective was forced and bordering on tiresome at times, but gamelit readers evidently enjoy snark so most people will probably like this.
Plot
The story follows Viv as she wakes up in the middle of a wasteland housing the remains of a once-mighty empire. Now it's a Black mana desert full of undead, like a fantasy version of a radioactive wasteland full of mutants. She acclimates to the dangers of the new world, the fact there's magic and she can even use some, the strange game-like screens that the god of magic created to allow mortals to navigate their skills, and slowly navigates the desert in hopes of escaping the deadlands before the mana poisoning does her in.
I think the pacing is great since many stories skim through the "early game" a bit too fast for my liking in gamelit. This story introduces Viv, and the reader, to elements of the new world one at a time in a way that slowly builds to a satisfying conclusion. Viv, due to her exposure to black mana and her perspective as an outworlder, develops some unique skills compared to the natives, which allows her to serve special roles. Despite this, pretty much anything around is still capable of killing her if she lets her guard down.
Setting and Magic
The twist for this story is that we have a Pantheon and the god of magic is responsible for the game-like screens of attribute stats. It falls within familiar gamelit territory, but also feels like it would be a great introduction for people who haven't read gamelit before and who don't play videogames.
In addition to the basic attributes listed in a person's stat screen, each individual also chooses a Path to follow that provides certain bonuses to various skills. It's somewhat similar to the Class a person would play if it was a game and can be anything from Militia to Knight to Witch. Paths are also upgradable as a person grows stronger and gains new skills.
Magic relies on mana, which comes with different affinities and colors. Black mana isn't simply death mana, but it's not too far off, and then you have Blue and Green mana mentioned and there is healing magic in the world. We don't get an infodump and mostly just learn things as they come up, which is how I like it, and I look forward to seeing more of the magic system in future books.
Writing
Overall, the writing is much better than typically found in gamelit. There were a spattering of typos, mostly in the first half of the book, that jumped out at me. Though they jumped out because otherwise the writing was very good. The prose was clear and I never had to reread anything due to clarity issues.
I will go ahead and say that this is a male author writing a female protagonist, so I can't help but brace myself for the inevitable lesbian/bisexual romance that's sure to pop up. All the tell-tale signs were there in this volume. I really don't have a problem with this existing; the issue is specifically with gamelit stories and that the romance usually feels forced into the story and unnecessary. It's probably just a personal thing, but I usually feel like these characters have a million more important things to think about in their circumstances than romance. Feel free to hook up something casual for stress relief after a multitude of near-death experiences, but spare me the sappy highschool romances.
Enjoyment
Honestly, this was probably one of the best gamelit/isekai stories I've read this year. While some of the humor felt like it was trying too hard, it never got in the way of the plot and the author never had dumb things happen solely for the sake of humor. Most of the humor is from Viv's perspective, the events of the story are actually closer to dark fantasy what with the fact humanity is in a losing war for survival against monsters and then there's also the Deadlands always threatening to overflow.
The magic system seems interesting and the world has some unique elements that set the stage for conflicts in the near future as well as in later books. This was probably as close to a perfect Volume One as you can have for a series in that it introduces a great set of characters and sets hooks in the reader for future events and secrets. I would recommend this book for pretty much anyone, whether they are a current gamelit reader or not.
January 20, 2022
amazing
I honestly don't know how to describe how fun and entertaining this book is. it has murderous robots a cute kitten dragons and lots of undead. I can't wait to read the next one and I'm hung to check out the author's other books.
no harem, no romance, no sex
I honestly don't know how to describe how fun and entertaining this book is. it has murderous robots a cute kitten dragons and lots of undead. I can't wait to read the next one and I'm hung to check out the author's other books.
no harem, no romance, no sex
July 22, 2022
Жанрът литРПГ исекаи е все по-популярен напоследък и много автори станаха, които се издържат от писане на такива историйки в интернет, че даже и книги издават. Алекс Гилбърт е доста успешен такъв, пише основно един точещ се безкрайно сериал за вампири, който никак не ми хареса, а това му е страничен проект.
Всъщност, нямам какво толкова да кажа за книгата, освен че е интересна и забавна и има екшън - което е доста слабо ревю, признавам си :D
Всъщност, нямам какво толкова да кажа за книгата, освен че е интересна и забавна и има екшън - което е доста слабо ревю, признавам си :D
March 8, 2022
Интересното е, че ако бях видял кой е авторът на тоя начеващ интернет-сериал най-вероятно нямаше да го захвана, защото основната му творба A Journey of Black and Red не ми хареса особено, въпреки че е много, много популярна в сайта Royal Road. (и да, тук в Goodreads авторът е с две авторски страници, защото не са обединени името му и артистичният му псевдоним).
The Calamitous Bob e забавно и лековато упражнение на автора в добре известният жанр на isekai RPG-литературата, дето главният герой е внезапно транспортиран от нашия в приказен свят дето хората вдигат нива като в рпг-игра.
Има екшън, има забава, има жена-протагонист, има магия, няма много излишни "прогресивни" плъгове, така характерни за модерното фентъзи, а и е интересно. Кво повече да иска човек?
The Calamitous Bob e забавно и лековато упражнение на автора в добре известният жанр на isekai RPG-литературата, дето главният герой е внезапно транспортиран от нашия в приказен свят дето хората вдигат нива като в рпг-игра.
Има екшън, има забава, има жена-протагонист, има магия, няма много излишни "прогресивни" плъгове, така характерни за модерното фентъзи, а и е интересно. Кво повече да иска човек?
September 25, 2024
Male writer, female MC has been disastrous as a reader for me. No audiobook for this but I plan on giving it a try.
as of 2024
Finally read the book 9/24/2024
So, :) lol male author writing female MC issues. It gets messy, there's boob line issues. It's also weird why that always comes up. Like male authors are actually discribing like they have boob line of sight issues. I like her foul mouth fresh outta Afghanistan warrior. I like the fact she has no problem killing, it's disturbing but it's sometimes is what it is.
Overall, I'm not mad at this and I've read the next book already the series is ok. Author is such a good girl, the best girl who eats her treats like a good girl. GO DRAGON!
as of 2024
Finally read the book 9/24/2024
So, :) lol male author writing female MC issues. It gets messy, there's boob line issues. It's also weird why that always comes up. Like male authors are actually discribing like they have boob line of sight issues. I like her foul mouth fresh outta Afghanistan warrior. I like the fact she has no problem killing, it's disturbing but it's sometimes is what it is.
Overall, I'm not mad at this and I've read the next book already the series is ok. Author is such a good girl, the best girl who eats her treats like a good girl. GO DRAGON!
July 23, 2025
3.5 🌟 Enjoyable and I want to read more. Though the repeated use of the R word, some of the attempts at humor, and the weird tone toward some sexual things (something you have to resign yourself to with male writers sometimes, unfortunatly) I did not care for.
January 4, 2022
Comical, but well written
Not a huge amount of comedy, but enough minor moments of wry humor and MC frustration to keep the tone light even as she walks through a land covered in death.
Clean-ish prose. Nothing terrible, just a few odd words and sentences that are constructed a bit strange.
I really want to see the next book soon.
Not a huge amount of comedy, but enough minor moments of wry humor and MC frustration to keep the tone light even as she walks through a land covered in death.
Clean-ish prose. Nothing terrible, just a few odd words and sentences that are constructed a bit strange.
I really want to see the next book soon.
January 18, 2022
Excellent Read
Wonderful world building, and an interesting MC. The addition of a cute baby dragon was a nice touch. I very much want to see sequels to this book.
Wonderful world building, and an interesting MC. The addition of a cute baby dragon was a nice touch. I very much want to see sequels to this book.
February 22, 2022
Enjoying very much
May 31, 2025
it's not bad. overly liberal use of the r-word had me rolling my eyes. could see how it could be fun, but I'm not inclined to continue
November 27, 2024
I imagine the pitch for this book went something like: 'Hey Bob, how do we distinguish our Isekai LitRPG from all the other Isekai LitRPGs to Isekai LitRPG'
'What if we had a French army medic deployed to an active warzone abducted by not!Zeus because he thinks she's hot, only for him to drop her in the middle of necromantic Chernobyl?'
'Perfect'
The premise is bonkers and the series is best when its leaning into the bonkers premise. The protagonist Viviane, or Bob, has the best trait of all which is that she makes plot happen - a lot of fantasy protagonists feel very passive, Bob does not. The supporting cast is otherwise pretty fun, the immortal robot/golem being a particular favourite of mine. I found myself going 'ahaha they're going to do [insert thing here]' with a huge smile on my face multiple times throughout.
All in all it was a fun ride. It's a bit of a shame that the remainder of the series doesn't manage to hit the highs of the first book - the series works best when it leans into the bonkers premise but as the series goes on they run out of steam on their original premise and have to replace it with progressively less fun premises. The three book civil war arc was interesting, played into the positive traits of the protagonist and although I had some issues with specific plot choices I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the two book magic school arc a lot less - the magic school felt more ordinary than the random town we spent the first few books in, the side characters lacked flair (and we even got a scene that made not!Zeus retrospectively kinda boring) and the plot seemed structured in a way that removed agency from Bob - which felt frustrating in Book 5 of a series. More specifically the romance subplot wasn't handled well. It felt forced and the author fell into the trap of establishing Bob's partner as cool and interesting by making Bob look less cool and interesting. The first romance subplot felt a lot better.
On the subject of romance and sex, given that this is a book about a soldier, who is French, who is literally kidnapped by not!Zeus the entire series felt very tame about sex and relationships. Its not really good or bad, but she failed to live down to my expectations of the French (as a Brit). She didn't even flirt with everything that moved.
Overall, I'd recommend book one to anyone who wants a bit of fun, but I tapped out at book 7.
'What if we had a French army medic deployed to an active warzone abducted by not!Zeus because he thinks she's hot, only for him to drop her in the middle of necromantic Chernobyl?'
'Perfect'
The premise is bonkers and the series is best when its leaning into the bonkers premise. The protagonist Viviane, or Bob, has the best trait of all which is that she makes plot happen - a lot of fantasy protagonists feel very passive, Bob does not. The supporting cast is otherwise pretty fun, the immortal robot/golem being a particular favourite of mine. I found myself going 'ahaha they're going to do [insert thing here]' with a huge smile on my face multiple times throughout.
All in all it was a fun ride. It's a bit of a shame that the remainder of the series doesn't manage to hit the highs of the first book - the series works best when it leans into the bonkers premise but as the series goes on they run out of steam on their original premise and have to replace it with progressively less fun premises. The three book civil war arc was interesting, played into the positive traits of the protagonist and although I had some issues with specific plot choices I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the two book magic school arc a lot less - the magic school felt more ordinary than the random town we spent the first few books in, the side characters lacked flair (and we even got a scene that made not!Zeus retrospectively kinda boring) and the plot seemed structured in a way that removed agency from Bob - which felt frustrating in Book 5 of a series. More specifically the romance subplot wasn't handled well. It felt forced and the author fell into the trap of establishing Bob's partner as cool and interesting by making Bob look less cool and interesting. The first romance subplot felt a lot better.
On the subject of romance and sex, given that this is a book about a soldier, who is French, who is literally kidnapped by not!Zeus the entire series felt very tame about sex and relationships. Its not really good or bad, but she failed to live down to my expectations of the French (as a Brit). She didn't even flirt with everything that moved.
Overall, I'd recommend book one to anyone who wants a bit of fun, but I tapped out at book 7.
September 29, 2024
This novel hold true to the Isekai genre and delivers few surprises... but I had a great time reading it. Viv is a terrific protagonist; hard bitten, competent and eminently practical.
Early on, we meet the god who snatched Viv from France. I was expecting two parallel stories, but that's almost the last we see of him. Perhaps in future books? I hope so, as his situation also seemed interesting.
Gilbert has a real talent for creating sympathetic characters. Even those that seem disposable are drawn with pathos. Deaths of even minor characters carry a weight that is rarely felt in fiction. If things continue in this vein, I'll have some quality reading ahead of me.
Early on, we meet the god who snatched Viv from France. I was expecting two parallel stories, but that's almost the last we see of him. Perhaps in future books? I hope so, as his situation also seemed interesting.
Gilbert has a real talent for creating sympathetic characters. Even those that seem disposable are drawn with pathos. Deaths of even minor characters carry a weight that is rarely felt in fiction. If things continue in this vein, I'll have some quality reading ahead of me.
March 6, 2025
Something completely different! Gilbert is excellent in his way of capturing a female character that feels real in her reactions, thoughts and dialogues.
Recommended to anyone who is tired of all novels being rip offs of each other.
Recommended to anyone who is tired of all novels being rip offs of each other.
March 3, 2024
3.5 stars. Difficult start, but I did get interested in the middle. I will probably read onward if next book is on discount in the future.
January 1, 2025
Extremely funny protagonist and loveable supporting cast, but the book can't seem to decide if it wants to be slice of life or action fantasy and ends up being mediocre at both.
December 27, 2024
A fun book. Doesn't take itself too seriously, yet continues to keep the reader engaged with a fast-paced story.
June 23, 2025
(audio)
Nothing special here for veterans of the genre. & plenty of plot holes/issues (one ill put in spoiler) for anyone that cares to think about story overall. I do NOT plan to continuing with this one.
Nothing special here for veterans of the genre. & plenty of plot holes/issues (one ill put in spoiler) for anyone that cares to think about story overall. I do NOT plan to continuing with this one.
April 1, 2025
Racing through this series because it’s so good! I’m embarrassed to admit I judged this book by its homemade looking cover at first and the weird calamitous title. Strong kick-ass female character, underdog you are rooting for. Action packed entertainment. Books you can’t put down. If you’re on the fence just do yourself a favor and read it.
May 10, 2022
Viv!
It's viv! I love that certain points of transitioning worlds are brought up here that can escape other books. Languages that don't have the same consonants, that really stuff is going to smell, diseases are an issue, currencies don't all come decimal...and many many more. Made me laugh several times with the dry humour. Viv, Arthur and Solfis...can't wait to hear what they get up to next!
It's viv! I love that certain points of transitioning worlds are brought up here that can escape other books. Languages that don't have the same consonants, that really stuff is going to smell, diseases are an issue, currencies don't all come decimal...and many many more. Made me laugh several times with the dry humour. Viv, Arthur and Solfis...can't wait to hear what they get up to next!
July 18, 2023
I am rarely so conflicted about a book. I liked it, somewhat against my better judgement.
Basically, this is an isekai. It's the kind where the MC is potentially overpowered, but they have to work for it, so that's not too bad. Viv (the locals can't pronounce Vs, so she becomes Bob, hence the title), gets zapped into another world by a god looking to hide out from his wife on Earth. There she has considerable potential to become a magician using black magic. She arrives in the middle of a dead landscape full of undead monsters. Hilarity ensues.
And I do mean hilarity. At least, I thought it was hilarious in places. Considering that the author is French, I found the humour pleasantly British. Then again, he seems like a Monty Python fan, and probably Blackadder too. That may explain it. The action is well described and pretty action packed. Viv is a flawed hero, well written (I think). The book does NOT end on a cliffhanger, and that gets plus points considering that this was published out of a web series.
However... I'd normally say that the book needs a good editor, but in this case, just using a spellchecker would have been an improvement. There were a couple of times I did not know what a sentence meant because there was a word there which I couldn't replace with anything else to produce sense. Errors like this tend to yank me out of the narrative. An editor would have pointed out the massive copyright violation at the end of chapter 2. Fine for a web series; not fine for a published novel making money on Amazon. The author also likes dropping in long words which aren't necessary. (I learned a new word which I will never need: anxiogenic.)
About halfway through, I was convinced that I'd be ending this series with the first book because the errors were going to make me twitchy. The story, however, is moderately compelling, and I kind of want to find out what happens next. The author also started writing for a similar reason to me, so I feel some kinship. I'll likely give the next book a go and see where that gets me, which makes this better than a few of the books I've read recently.
Basically, this is an isekai. It's the kind where the MC is potentially overpowered, but they have to work for it, so that's not too bad. Viv (the locals can't pronounce Vs, so she becomes Bob, hence the title), gets zapped into another world by a god looking to hide out from his wife on Earth. There she has considerable potential to become a magician using black magic. She arrives in the middle of a dead landscape full of undead monsters. Hilarity ensues.
And I do mean hilarity. At least, I thought it was hilarious in places. Considering that the author is French, I found the humour pleasantly British. Then again, he seems like a Monty Python fan, and probably Blackadder too. That may explain it. The action is well described and pretty action packed. Viv is a flawed hero, well written (I think). The book does NOT end on a cliffhanger, and that gets plus points considering that this was published out of a web series.
However... I'd normally say that the book needs a good editor, but in this case, just using a spellchecker would have been an improvement. There were a couple of times I did not know what a sentence meant because there was a word there which I couldn't replace with anything else to produce sense. Errors like this tend to yank me out of the narrative. An editor would have pointed out the massive copyright violation at the end of chapter 2. Fine for a web series; not fine for a published novel making money on Amazon. The author also likes dropping in long words which aren't necessary. (I learned a new word which I will never need: anxiogenic.)
About halfway through, I was convinced that I'd be ending this series with the first book because the errors were going to make me twitchy. The story, however, is moderately compelling, and I kind of want to find out what happens next. The author also started writing for a similar reason to me, so I feel some kinship. I'll likely give the next book a go and see where that gets me, which makes this better than a few of the books I've read recently.
December 26, 2022
Great story
I first read this on Royal road. i liked the story and am always eager to read newly published chapters. When I found out the Author published it. I bought a copy its an entertaining story that keeps me cracking up.
I first read this on Royal road. i liked the story and am always eager to read newly published chapters. When I found out the Author published it. I bought a copy its an entertaining story that keeps me cracking up.
January 1, 2022
Great book
Well worth reading - good pacing and humor and characters you care about - well edited and good writing - can’t wait for the future books
Well worth reading - good pacing and humor and characters you care about - well edited and good writing - can’t wait for the future books
May 12, 2025
I've been following this author since almost the beginning, but I always avoided reading *The Calamitous Bob* for some nefarious reason. It always seemed like one of those special stories with all the elements I love: a badass female MC with a villainous side, some kingdom building, army fights, and more. So I decided to wait for more books to get published, maybe even for the story to finish, so I could binge it all at once. But when I saw it was getting released by Soundbooth, one of my favorite audiobook producers, I immediately picked it up and finished it in two days.
I enjoyed it. The production was amazing, the narrator Laurie Catherine Winkel is fantastic, and the writing is solid. But I couldn’t help but feel disappointed, maybe because of the expectations I had built up over the years.
While listening, I kept wondering: where is the story? The plot? The intrigue? Maybe I expected too much from a 9.5-hour listen, but it all felt very shallow and superficial. There *is* a story. There *is* a plot. But it's all bare bones.
When I start the first book in a series, I usually expect a somewhat self-contained arc, something with narrative momentum, some intrigue, and hints at a bigger overarching plot. But this book felt like one long introductory arc for a badass, cold female protagonist. That was the bulk of the focus. At least two-thirds of the book could be tightened and compressed to improve narrative flow and pacing.
Speaking of pacing: it's all over the place. Sometimes it feels like a slog. There's the reincarnation and survival arc, where the MC adjusts to this new magical and dangerous world, but the danger is all *told*, never *shown*. She's supposedly in peril, yet breezes through it. Even in the city, where threats are hinted at, we never really feel or see the consequences.
The survival parts are limited and still manage to drag. The MC finds resources right away, meets an exposition-dump golem that helps her even more. Again, we're told how dangerous everything is, but we don't experience it.
The system is detailed and well-designed, but in audiobook form it kills the pacing. Full stat blocks, skill levels, class info, none of which move the story forward meaningfully.
And I’ve only touched on the first third. Later, the pacing becomes even more erratic: weeks pass with nothing happening, then it speeds up, then slows again. It repeats this pattern so often I began to wonder if an editor was involved.
A lot of these issues would make sense in a web novel format. There, you can spend endless pages on setup or indulge in cliches like “the MC breezes through all challenges effortlessly.” But in a published book, especially from such a talented author, I expect more. I want to be captivated from start to finish by the plot, characters, action, and dialogue. But here, it felt like I read the first and half of the second act in a three-act structure. It felt incomplete.
The story needs heavy editing and trimming. Some events happen too fast, others too slow, or not at all. There’s little tension, little intrigue, no real stakes. The MC is just too perfect.
That said, I love this archetype. I *love* badass, villainous female protagonists. And I know it's something the author enjoys writing too.
One other issue I had with the audiobook: the narrator's voice and the MC’s voice are too similar. When POV shifts to other characters, it becomes jarring: especially because the narration style doesn’t change. It still sounds like Viv’s POV, even when it’s not. Given there are multiple narrators in this production, it would have helped to vary the narrator's voice or use a different actor for other POVs to make the transitions clearer.
All that aside, this was still a fun story. I just came in with too many expectations. Hopefully, things pick up in the next books!
I enjoyed it. The production was amazing, the narrator Laurie Catherine Winkel is fantastic, and the writing is solid. But I couldn’t help but feel disappointed, maybe because of the expectations I had built up over the years.
While listening, I kept wondering: where is the story? The plot? The intrigue? Maybe I expected too much from a 9.5-hour listen, but it all felt very shallow and superficial. There *is* a story. There *is* a plot. But it's all bare bones.
When I start the first book in a series, I usually expect a somewhat self-contained arc, something with narrative momentum, some intrigue, and hints at a bigger overarching plot. But this book felt like one long introductory arc for a badass, cold female protagonist. That was the bulk of the focus. At least two-thirds of the book could be tightened and compressed to improve narrative flow and pacing.
Speaking of pacing: it's all over the place. Sometimes it feels like a slog. There's the reincarnation and survival arc, where the MC adjusts to this new magical and dangerous world, but the danger is all *told*, never *shown*. She's supposedly in peril, yet breezes through it. Even in the city, where threats are hinted at, we never really feel or see the consequences.
The survival parts are limited and still manage to drag. The MC finds resources right away, meets an exposition-dump golem that helps her even more. Again, we're told how dangerous everything is, but we don't experience it.
The system is detailed and well-designed, but in audiobook form it kills the pacing. Full stat blocks, skill levels, class info, none of which move the story forward meaningfully.
And I’ve only touched on the first third. Later, the pacing becomes even more erratic: weeks pass with nothing happening, then it speeds up, then slows again. It repeats this pattern so often I began to wonder if an editor was involved.
A lot of these issues would make sense in a web novel format. There, you can spend endless pages on setup or indulge in cliches like “the MC breezes through all challenges effortlessly.” But in a published book, especially from such a talented author, I expect more. I want to be captivated from start to finish by the plot, characters, action, and dialogue. But here, it felt like I read the first and half of the second act in a three-act structure. It felt incomplete.
The story needs heavy editing and trimming. Some events happen too fast, others too slow, or not at all. There’s little tension, little intrigue, no real stakes. The MC is just too perfect.
That said, I love this archetype. I *love* badass, villainous female protagonists. And I know it's something the author enjoys writing too.
One other issue I had with the audiobook: the narrator's voice and the MC’s voice are too similar. When POV shifts to other characters, it becomes jarring: especially because the narration style doesn’t change. It still sounds like Viv’s POV, even when it’s not. Given there are multiple narrators in this production, it would have helped to vary the narrator's voice or use a different actor for other POVs to make the transitions clearer.
All that aside, this was still a fun story. I just came in with too many expectations. Hopefully, things pick up in the next books!
December 4, 2023
I’m a very big fan of the author’s other series “A Journey of Red and Black” (it’s probably in my top 3 of all time) so I decided to give this series a try as well. I do think this story has a completely different tone and feel to it which I really appreciated because it had its own voice to it.
This is one of the better isekai litrpg style books I have read if not one of the best. I think it was a very strong book 1 introducing us to the world and our MC. The first third of the book is the weakest part but things pick up very quickly and the back half of the book had me completely hooked. One thing I love about this author is the way they pace their books and where they choose to spend more time vs moving quickly.
I have read onward on royal road for this story and I would highly suggest giving book 2 a read as well if you aren’t sure if you want to continue the series. I think by the end of book 2 you would have a better idea if the series is for you.
The only reason this book in particular is a 4 star and not a 5 star read for me is because some of the humor (mostly those referencing something from current times e.g Minecraft or along those lines) missed for me a few times during the first half of the book. After that and into book 2 it’s not as prevalent. All in all a very enjoyable read and I plan to continue on with the official releases ✨
This is one of the better isekai litrpg style books I have read if not one of the best. I think it was a very strong book 1 introducing us to the world and our MC. The first third of the book is the weakest part but things pick up very quickly and the back half of the book had me completely hooked. One thing I love about this author is the way they pace their books and where they choose to spend more time vs moving quickly.
I have read onward on royal road for this story and I would highly suggest giving book 2 a read as well if you aren’t sure if you want to continue the series. I think by the end of book 2 you would have a better idea if the series is for you.
The only reason this book in particular is a 4 star and not a 5 star read for me is because some of the humor (mostly those referencing something from current times e.g Minecraft or along those lines) missed for me a few times during the first half of the book. After that and into book 2 it’s not as prevalent. All in all a very enjoyable read and I plan to continue on with the official releases ✨
August 25, 2022
Calamitous Bob started for me as a love-hate affair.
I love the writing, the story and world, but I hated the author for the comedic elements at the start.
Luckily they become less and less the further the story goes, so if you are taken aback by them early on, do not despair, the story only gets better.
The story is a typical portal fantasy of a modern earth human transported into a fantasy world governed by a RPG game like system (think character sheets, stats, classes, magic). While those elements exist, they are not so relevant that they dominate the narrative or every chapter. Which I like. (This is also not the fully story, as the story is still being written by the author who also runs a Patreon)
The protagonist is dropped into a very unfavorable position in a desert with undead and earns her monicker Bob because the local language has no analogue for the letter V, and her names is pronounced as Bibian, aka Bob.
She eventually gets out of the desert, rescues herself a cute little baby animal to take care of and finds civilization, or what counts as such on this fantasy world. Its all uphill from here with good writing, interesting characters. A fun read.
I love the writing, the story and world, but I hated the author for the comedic elements at the start.
Luckily they become less and less the further the story goes, so if you are taken aback by them early on, do not despair, the story only gets better.
The story is a typical portal fantasy of a modern earth human transported into a fantasy world governed by a RPG game like system (think character sheets, stats, classes, magic). While those elements exist, they are not so relevant that they dominate the narrative or every chapter. Which I like. (This is also not the fully story, as the story is still being written by the author who also runs a Patreon)
The protagonist is dropped into a very unfavorable position in a desert with undead and earns her monicker Bob because the local language has no analogue for the letter V, and her names is pronounced as Bibian, aka Bob.
She eventually gets out of the desert, rescues herself a cute little baby animal to take care of and finds civilization, or what counts as such on this fantasy world. Its all uphill from here with good writing, interesting characters. A fun read.
July 15, 2024
An interesting start.
This has been on my to read for awhile but finally decided to give it a chance. I’m sort of tired of isekai but this got right to the point. The magic is pretty cool, the action and pace good. Overall I enjoyed it. Characters are interesting though walk a fine line, MC an antihero who could become a little unbearable in the future, time will tell but smart and practical.
On the negative side there are some grammatical errors. A few typos, incorrect tense a couple of times, some paragraphs I had to reread due to almost changing between first and third person perspective, or just writing that didn’t make much sense. Almost reads like a translation though I don’t believe it is. Also, there is some very juvenile humour that didn’t land for me, and at one point I almost stopped reading because of it. I thought about giving a three because of this, but ultimately I did enjoy on the whole. Unsure how far I’ll go with the series but I’m gonna keep reading for now.
This has been on my to read for awhile but finally decided to give it a chance. I’m sort of tired of isekai but this got right to the point. The magic is pretty cool, the action and pace good. Overall I enjoyed it. Characters are interesting though walk a fine line, MC an antihero who could become a little unbearable in the future, time will tell but smart and practical.
On the negative side there are some grammatical errors. A few typos, incorrect tense a couple of times, some paragraphs I had to reread due to almost changing between first and third person perspective, or just writing that didn’t make much sense. Almost reads like a translation though I don’t believe it is. Also, there is some very juvenile humour that didn’t land for me, and at one point I almost stopped reading because of it. I thought about giving a three because of this, but ultimately I did enjoy on the whole. Unsure how far I’ll go with the series but I’m gonna keep reading for now.
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