This was an... interesting story and while I did enjoy the sci-fi aspect of it there were other parts of it that I did not like. For instance, Mime was not given enough thought by any of the characters in this story. I thought Joe, Marks older brother, might ask more questions about this odd little "cat" but even he didn't really question it. The fact that Mime kept "meowing" and miming things to them should have been enough for them to think "yeah, that's not a cat" but most of the time the characters just thought it was funny or all in their heads. Mark himself also never really tells anyone what's going on with him. I thought he might explain the dreams he's having to his brother or question what really happened that night in the alley with the woman but he never does. That should have been the first thing he should've tried to figure out. The whole powers and ranking too was a bit confusing. It sounded like characters become Empowred on their own but you could also gain powers by eating parts of the Exlian? The logistics of that was odd because you'd think consuming random alien genetics would have adverse effects, not positive ones. You also never really learn how these people all came to be on this planet. Are they a colony from Earth? Are they he last remnants of human civilization on a mutated earth? It's unclear. That being said I think one of my favorite characters, surprisingly, ended up being Noah. He gave off Bruce Wayne rich kid vibes and I enjoyed how nonchalant and blunt he was about everything. Mark I didn't really like. He was just... a dude who seemed way too content to just live his life without wondering how he acquired his powers and what his brother/their group's true motives were. Overall the story will leave you with more questions than answers.

If you've read Seth Ring's before, then you are familiar with the quality of his content and you will not be disappointed. This story has a distinctive protagonist and a fun evolving skillset to entertain readers. This one has some flavors from Starship Troopers, Attack on Titan, and My Hero Academia without being derivative. Advent has a satisfying story arc that leaves you hungry for more.

Didn’t get a chance to finish this one in time before the book expired on my tablet. I will have to get the book and read it in person and then edit the review once I’ve finished.

This book was basically excellent. I would give it a 4.5/5 Stars. I think that the characters are compelling, the world is enjoyable and the right mix of new and familiar, and the military training plot works well with the paramilitary subplots on the side. The power system is clearly defined and versatile. There are two reasons why I believe that this book is not perfect. Firstly, the Cutting Palm is an odd martial arts kata, the name has a nice ring to it, but it's hard to visualize how a palm strike cuts through objects like a knife. I default to thinking of it like a karate chop with hardened fingers, but it's not really described like that in the book, so when Mark is working on the technical aspects of his powers, I get a bit pulled out of the story. The second issue I see is that the boot camp training arc lasts just a bit too long before the story broadens to include Joe and the Green Line insurrectionists which then ends too quickly. It's not truly a slog or anything, but there is definitely a lull in the story in the early part of the second third of the book.

This is the best executive summary I can give for the book, my YouTube review will be full of spoilers and much lengthier. I don't believe it would really help Seth Ring much to watch it since a lot of it will be rehashing plot points. I did my best to explain the issues I had above. I will link the review when it's uploaded.

This ARC was provided by Netgalley.

I felt like this novel fell flat for me. I didn't think any of the characters were particularly memorable, and I thought Sky was pretty poorly written.

I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either. I was excited to read this book since the author has had other notable series (e.g. Battle Mage Farmer), but I just wasn't really a fan. While I am curious to see how Mark's story develops in the remaining two books, I don't think I'll be continuing the series. I am still curious about Battle Mage Farmer, and will be checking it out in the future.

What a great start to a long running series (fingers crossed). Seth Ring has already created well love and well I hated characters. I’m excited to see how Mark thrives and grows. It will be hard to continue to wait on new books in the series.

Another engaging LitRPG offering from Seth Ring, and set in a post-apocalyptic world where the Exlians have taken over and mana-empowered humans fight them for survival from their one human city. The protagonist goes from bottom-rung hopeful citizen to mysteriously empowered and rising fast as he starts to uncover the seamy political powers running the city. Interesting fighting styles, weapons and monsters as well as some good character development for his team as they begin to bond. I'm looking forward to see how this series develops!

First and Firstmost, I love everything Seth Ring writes. That being said, this series seems very different from the normal stuff he writes, and I LOVE IT. The story flows very well and is constantly exciting in new ways. I felt like I was in the world very quickly and nothing drew me out until the book was over. The second one is even better, which I'll be reviewing in a moment!

Advent by Seth Ring is my first exploration into the LitRPG area. The story is amazing for an Epic Fantasy reader like me because of its seamless integration of its world building elements. It reads as a great Sci-Fi/Fantasy blend with socioeconomic dystopian elements.

This first installment of the Exlian Syndrome presents us with great characters who keep you engaged thought the story between the action-packed fight scenes with the diverse Exlian aliens. The ending left me wanting more and I cannot wait for the next installment of in this wonderful series.

In addition to receiving the eARC I also received an ALC of the book as well. Pavi Proczko provided a stunning, well paced narration bringing all the characters to live. He did an amazing job reflecting the steady ebb and flow of the story and action in Ring’s writing. This was the first experience I had with Seth Ring, and I cannot wait to explore more of his books.

Thank you, Blackstone Publishing, Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5 Stars
Audio Release and Print Pub Date: Mar 4 2025

Tags:
Blackstone Publishing
@blackstonepublishing
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#netgalley

I really liked this book. I feel like the MC has a lot of room for growth, and the power system is cool. I also tend to like the mix of cultivation and education to start. Then go out and build on it outside the training which is where i assume this will go based on other stories.

Pros
Easy but expandable cultivation system, it might need a way go break the potential barrier for other people in the future

There are multiple options for bad guys giving a lot of potential.

MC can become really OP which I like, and also will have to work for it.

Cons
The MC is still young, I believe an age was eluded to, but not stated. He comes of as really immature and nieve in parts of this. I think this is self correcting though.

Could use more world building, this also feels kind of self correcting

I think you are limiting the the power system by potential, but it feels like its something you may have to find away to get past or the side characters just can't keep up with the way you are eluding to the MCs power

I really enjoyed this story. Made for a nice change of pace as it was a relatively quick read. It did feel like a big info-dump at times, but I have a feeling the information will become more important in future books.

We learn a lot about the military structure and Exlian types, but not much about the history of the city and how everything came to be. I’m interested to know more about the origins of the Exlian and if there’s more to them than what appears. We’re left with a whole bunch of questions at the end of this book, so I’ll definitely be looking out for future books in this series!

Advent has an intriguing storyline set in a perfect mix of fantasy and sci-fi. It has a unique magic system that is tied to the story in a satisfying way. It's definitely one of the best books from Seth Ring so far.

Whether you are a long time resident of the Endless Worlds, or this is your first time visiting, Advent will have you fully immersed from the first page. Every journey Seth Ring takes us on is so much fun, and I feel like I’ve lived as a citizen of New Emery and fought the Exlian right along side Mark and his friends as they explore this world, their developing powers, and so much more. Seth really turned it up to 11 in this one. Eight big thumbs up. 😉

Another promising new series from Seth Ring. A mix of SF, alien invasion, powers, and a tiny smidge of cultivation - an agglomeration that works out pretty well. The main character, Mark, is a fairly likable main character and the supporting cast is decent. There is plenty of action and unseen politics with hidden plot lines to keep you hooked. For those of us with stat page fatigue this has light and fairly infrequent one. The first book is the setup book that introduces us to the world dynamic and starts our protagonist on his path while setting up his relationship ties and circumstances.

I suggest reading as it is another well-polished book by Seth Ring.

Seth Ring is phenomenal at world-building and character development. I don’t know how he does it, but he continues to create new worlds and characters in a way that feels both immersive and effortless. With every book, I find myself fully invested in the story, and Advent is no exception.

I have loved every world and story Seth Ring has created, and this one is no different. I highly recommend this book and eagerly await the next installment in the series—hopefully, with many more books to come!

This book throws you into a series set in a dystopian world. Being the first book in the series, you are introduced to the main character Mark and follow him as he discovers his new power and makes new friends. The story mostly follows his growth as he develops his skills, but there are hints of things going on in the city that are not what they seem. Trouble is brewing, enemies are made, and a mysterious cat plays an interesting role.

If you like epic adventures set in an RPG Lit style world you will not be disappointed. Characters are realistic and the story keeps the action going.

It is clean so you don't have to worry about language or other bad scenes.

I want to state that I received an ARC copy of this book. I have read quite of few of Seth Rings books and this is by far one of my favorites. The characters and world building are top notch and the book is a lot of fun to read. The biggest criticism I have is that there was almost too much time spent on the training arcs and not enough with the characters themselves. I hope that changes in the next one, which I will be sure to read.

My first experience with the author's work was through the Nova Terra series, followed by The Tower and Battle Mage Farmer.
Unlike those, in Advent, the protagonist doesn't start off overpowered. It's a refreshing change of pace to follow his gradual climb rather than seeing him instantly reach S-rank, overpower every situation, or effortlessly solo his way through challenges. Here, he actually needs a team, and others play a crucial role in helping him.

As with the other books, the story and character progression feel natural, without the need for extensive status sheets, experience points, or constantly tracking attribute changes. This is one of the things I really appreciate about Seth's writing. Additionally, he's excellent at describing action and maintaining a strong narrative pace (it's always great when Mime is there) .

The story is just beginning, but I'm excited to continue following Mark, Sky, and Noah’s journey (not forgetting Mime, of course).

Another great book by Seth Ring. I think he did a wonderful job of the world building, and the MC has a decent way of bypassing the current rules. The story progresses at a good pace and kept me captivated. I am looking forward to the next book.

The book is very well paced. It does an excellent job of giving us a struggling war orphan whose only livong family is gone in service, and turning him into a capable MC.

The story is strong, delivers three acts exceedingly well, and ends on a cliffhanger that also perfectly closes out the first book.

The characters feel real and authentic, with room for growth and demonstrated growth over the course of the book.

I look forward to the next one.