★★★★★ 5
Interesting twist on an Isekai
Format: Kindle
I really enjoyed this novel. Not only are the two main characters well developed, but so are the side characters. The slice-of-life setup is done well, with with you (the reader) being pulled along into the story. Right from the beginning, the author is successful in getting you to be fully invested in their struggles.
While the book could stand to have another editorial pass, it does not detract greatly from the story.
I also really enjoyed the Beast Mountain Trials. Far from your standard dungeon run, the - contestants? participants? contender? - whatever you want to call the people who participate in the Trials alongside Erik and Rugrat, who sort of fall into the Trials while trying to just live their lives and figure out how the Ten Realms things works, all participate in the different levels to see how far they can go. While the sect elders seem to understand that passing all the levels grants that person control of the dungeon, it also seems like everybody else who participates (or has participated) stops short of the last trial. Well, either that or, while they may successfully withstand the waves of beasts - the letter of the quest - they fail in the spirit of the quest, and thus fail to "beat" the dungeon. Given the way the villagers respond to Erik and Rugrat almost every time they do something to improve the villagers - often at their own expense or sacrifice - it is clear that the Ten Realms is very much a Darwin-esque universe. The strong rise to the top; the weak fall to the bottom. Yet, the many citizens of the universe, at least in the First Realm, have clearly failed to realize that they are stronger together. Which is perhaps why no one else has successfully completed the Beast Mountain Trials.
Finally, while I knew that Erik and Rugrat were going to enact their revenge upon the Moon Healing House, I did not expect ... that. Not to say that it wasn't warranted, not out of character. Nor was is really unexpected. Not really. I was just a little surprised at the sheer coldness of it.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book, as Erik and Rugrat ascend to Second Realm to continue their work toward healing the dungeon.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2021
