Dominion of Blades (Dominion of Blades, #1) in LitRPG Forum

Jul 10, 2022 Chip rated it liked it

Shelves: litrpg

2.5 stars - eh, it was ok. Found and read after binging (and enjoying) books 1-5 of the author’s Dungeon Crawler Carl books; this book (written before that series) seems like a starter version of the Carl books - very similar but not as thoughtful or polished (or good).

Edit: thought this was a (completed) two-book series but some googling indicates the second doesn’t complete the series, and seems like the author has put this one to this side to focus on his Dungeon Crawler Carl books.

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Sep 29, 2017 R. rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

The LitRPG genre has had a tendency towards rather puerile or angsty hormonal content.

Pluaristic relationships with vapid poorly structured supportive characters, Might makes right, and a focus on serialized obvious goals.

I'm happy to say this doesn't.
In fact the protagonists make efforts to avoid the tendencies of NPC driving plots. Where as most LitRPG feature man vs enviroment in the concept of the gamespace, monsters or BBEGs.
The book features a more nuanced approach to such, and a wonderfu ...more

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Mar 08, 2019 Samfosteriam rated it really liked it

I've been going through a lot of litRPG. Some are great, some are just terrible. This was a great one. It has real characters, embraces the whole stuck-in-the-game-must-fight-to-survive trope and runs with it. Its fun, compelling and carries you along the journey to a satisfying conclusion.

We're given just enough backstory and insight into the MC to understand that they have had a difficult journey IRL and are not conventional hero material. But, I'm not sure yet if there's a point to this or if ...more

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May 17, 2022 Phill Peall rated it it was amazing

Well crafted, stay with it for the first chapter or two

I initially passed on this, but had to pick it up as I have read the Dungeon Crawler Carl series and was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. The first chapter or so is pretty boring but is just setting the scene. Trust me, it gets a lot better. Great inventiveness, character creation and twists. The world building is great on several levels.. can't share spoilers lol ...more

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Jun 08, 2024 Coastal Reader rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbt-male-mcs-in-litrpg

Excellent LitRPG adventure, of the trapped in the game variety, with some very high stakes. Main character and his friends are likeable, you care what happens to them. And an interesting mystery unfolding as to what is going on... which brings me to the world building. The set up of the story, the world building, is a really good way to give an excuse for the trapped in a game scenario. And whoh! The stakes really high! Will continue to read this series.

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Aug 18, 2024 Marshy rated it really liked it

A Fun Read with a Dash of Darkness.
I chose this book because I already read all of the available Dungeon Crawler Carl books. I can see glimmers of character archetypes in this earlier work. Gretchen reminds me of Katia, and Alice reminds me of Princess Donut. I like the concept of all the various real-world people hidden in awake or non-awaken npcs. You have no idea which character might actually be 'real' or have motives on the space craft. Lots of possibilities there. I think Dinniman does tha ...more

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Dec 28, 2020 Jack Vinson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: litrpg-2020

Lost in space

Interesting setup to this LitRPG adventure. And the adventure itself is a fun travel across half of an earth-like virtual world loaded with fantasy monsters and some “real” psychos. Book 2 coming up.

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