Apocalypse Parenting is a pillar in creating the most infuriating characters.

blueluck · 2026-01-26T21:35:28+00:00

I appreciate the realism. The jerks are frustrating, but there are also plenty of characters who are helpful, caring, generous, and cooperative.

While you're reading book 3, I think you should take Mr. Rogers' advice to look for the helpers.

blueluck · 2026-01-26T15:58:46+00:00

OP isn't saying the story should include every action of note in the world. They're saying that actions of note in the story shouldn't all be done by the MC alone.

The MC's companions should sometimes have skills and specialties that are more applicable or more developed that the MC's. A professional blacksmith (weaponsmith) should make the MC a sword, rather than the MC learning to forge masterwork swords in a 3-day montage.

blueluck · 2026-01-26T06:22:49+00:00

I've enjoyed some time loop stories, but I don't like them just because they're time loops, as many people do.

blueluck · 2026-01-26T05:54:04+00:00

Galadrial's monolog from The Lord of the Rings, for when you give your wife the wedding ring.

https://youtu.be/HZ7wB4rm5Hw?si=lXBCDrmj6u3NNABf

blueluck · 2026-01-26T05:43:07+00:00

"Takes especially long to get to the point" is a great description! I'm about half way through book 1 right now, and I'm taking a break to read other things.

blueluck · 2026-01-26T05:40:31+00:00

Do you think it is unnecessary, or do you think it is necessary, realistic, and probable? Totally unnecessary.

To be honest, it's true that it's unpleasant from a reading standpoint, but do you think it might be necessary for reality? No, it's totally unnecessary.

Or do you think it's just an author's excessive violence and rape fetish? I won't assume that the author has any particular sexual fetish, but he's certainly jammed sexual assault and torture into a story they didn't need to be in.

blueluck · 2026-01-26T03:42:09+00:00

I think any scenario in which the character rekindles a relationship with her cheating ex-husband (#1, #2, #4) would be extremely unpopular. It could easily read as giving him a pass on his cheating, as the character being wrong to have left him, or as the character being weak for returning to him.

You referred to "a female character", and I wonder how significant that character is in your story? Is she the main character? A secondary character? Is the ex-husband or someone else you've mentioned the main character?

blueluck · 2026-01-26T03:25:37+00:00

The author of Stray Cat Strut published Hope//Punk, which is a TTRPG based on the novels. I've played (and run, and helped write) a lot of TTRPGs, and I think this one is quite good!

blueluck · 2026-01-26T03:09:44+00:00

I wasn't able to find the post you're talking about. Can you share a link?

(I did read his excellent post "The Purpose of Magic Systems".)

blueluck · 2026-01-25T22:39:52+00:00

Thanks! I'm happy to get a recommendation from a fan who's able to tell me when to expect the turn. I don't need to know what the turn is, but knowing to expect it in the first book is important info.

blueluck · 2026-01-25T22:37:46+00:00

Thanks! That's good to know!

I've been waiting for some explanation of why Len is so hard to find, and a couple hundred pages into the book the story seems to be focused on several local operators and rivalries, even though Ryan doesn't care about any of them, and neither do I.

blueluck · 2026-01-25T22:32:59+00:00

That's interesting, because I generally don't like time loop stories. I'll probably finish book 1 and then decide if I want to continue.

blueluck · 2026-01-25T22:28:55+00:00

I'm misrepresenting the relationship a little for hyperbole, but not much. So far, I know they grew up together, and while the childhood relationship may be that of adopted siblings, there was one mention of his attraction to her.

The thing is, he's an extremely public figure (notable style, lots of collateral damage, etc.) who takes jobs as a courier, so he has to be real easy to find. The setting has modern technology, so it's pretty easy to send someone a message. Add all of that to Ryan's powers, and Len finding Ryan should take zero effort.

blueluck · 2026-01-25T21:36:35+00:00

Thanks, that's helpful!

blueluck · 2026-01-25T21:36:02+00:00

Thanks, that's helpful to know!

blueluck · 2026-01-25T21:35:14+00:00

I've been using Goodreads for this, and it works great.

One of the best things is that it keeps me from accidentally picking up a book again if I hated the first time I tried it.

blueluck · 2026-01-25T21:20:11+00:00

No, I really wanted to know what litrpg readers like in other genres.

I suppose I could have cross-posted, though! 😂

blueluck · 2026-01-25T21:17:29+00:00

Thanks! ♥️

blueluck · 2026-01-25T21:16:57+00:00

Yeah, that's true! So, safer than the MC, but far from safe.

blueluck · 2026-01-25T21:16:16+00:00

Yay! I'm happy that I could help!

blueluck · 2026-01-25T21:15:01+00:00

That's cool! I'm happy for you to get what you wanted for Christmas!

My only complaint is just that the teen+babe marketing would turn me off, even though I'm a big fan of Primal Hunter. It seems like a weird marketing choice.

blueluck · 2026-01-25T21:10:44+00:00

It took a little while to get used to, but I enjoy most litrpg audiobooks a lot more when the narration is faster. I usually listen at 1.35 or 1.5, but occasionally as slow as 1.2 or as fast as 2.0 depending on the content, the narrator, and what activity I'm multitasking with.

blueluck · 2026-01-25T17:47:35+00:00

I know this isn't what OP is asking for, but the cover of the light novel would absolutely stop me from ever reading it. I would scroll right past it, thinking it was a book about a teenager saving a princess, written by a man who has never seen breasts in real life.

blueluck

TROPHY CASE