👊🏻Advent by Seth Ring👊🏻
🤜🏻Full Review🤛🏻

(I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased opinion)

I have read a lot of Seth Ring’s books. I started with the Titan/Nova Terra series and have since read some of Battle Mage Farmer and Tower. I really like how he’s grown as an author since his earliest books, and this book is kind of like seeing all of the good work he’s done in the past pay off. This book, unlike the others, is less LitRPG (story with rpg game leveling mechanics) and more progression fantasy (more traditional story with defined power progression) and it was well done.

I really enjoyed this book as a set up for a series. Seth Ring has a great way of developing relatively interesting characters in a way that feels real to me. The people seem kind of like sketches until you get to know them, and then they get more clear and sharply drawn. The word building here is very clever, and the magic system that Ring has created here makes me want to explore further. I love that powers are not a choice like in some LitRPG or Progression books, but that you basically get what you get. Some powers are kind of lame, others have a lot of uses. I enjoy, also that there’s an aspect of “recovery time” which is often seen in pen and paper rpgs and feels like a good addition here to make the MC not feel overpowered.

I also like that, while Seth Ring loves a good fight, his protagonists find joy in things that aren’t combat. In Titan/Tower it is crafting magical items, and in this it is alchemy and creating potions. His MCs like a good fight but they love the pursuit of their passions.

My ARC was the audiobook narrated by Pavi Proczko and he did a great job imbuing the characters with the correct tone for each of them and kept the book moving with his well paced narration. I really enjoyed his work here and will be listening for him in the future.

Overall this is a good starting point for a series and a great place to jump on board with Seth Ring if you’re interested.

Four and a half stars.

Great book. RPG superpower vibes with lots of action. Lots of different characters but super easy to follow. I really enjoyed this and hope to continue the series.

Mark wants to join the defense forces to help defend the city against the Exlian monsters just as his dad once did. But he doesn't have any special powers. Until (early on in the novel) he tries to help a dying woman on his way home from his dishwashing job and now has "enhancements" and a cat. There's a lot to learn about the enhancements, the ranking and evaluating of potential soldiers, and even this city. It's surrounded by enemies with no easy way of traveling to another "human" enclave. I'm not even sure if this story takes place on an invaded Earth or some other planet humans have colonized. Regardless, Seth Ring weaves a fun tale with high stakes, new friends, a possible girlfriend, and the chance to make a difference. I did not realize this was not a self-contained novel but just the first, so I removed a star for the abrupt ending and the plethora of loose ends! I hope Mr. Ring writes quickly!
My thanks to the author, @BlackstonePublishing, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook of #Advent for review purposes. Book 1 is now available.

I'M SO INVESTED IN THESE CHARACTERS. This audiobook was a total blast! Super fun world, super fun fantasy system, great drama and adventure!! And THE CAT!!! Mime might be my new favorite literary animal.

The audiobook narration is excellent. I listened at a slower Pace than I usually do to keep up with all the detail and the emotional inflection of the narrator, but the content is so good I didn't mind. He did all the voices really well and that definitely helped keep everything in order in my head.

This was my first lit RPG novel, and this might be my new favorite sub genre! Excuse me while I go dive into this authors massive backlist *heart eyes*

I could be misremembering, but I don't remember any explicit language? The violence was not gratuitously described. Unless there was something I missed, this would be a good book for older teens.

Audiobook gifted from netgalley and Blackstone Publishing, all thoughts are my own.

Welcome to the new epic series where the Exlian pose a deadly threat so men and women need to train and learn to fight these foes. Action packed first book and Mark wants to follow his father and brother into the Defence Force.

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters in this fast paced novel. Weird aliens and an even weirder cat form part of this adventure. Looking forward to reading more.

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
#Advent
#SethRing
#netgalley

This was a fun read! I love this type of progression fantasy that has a LitRPG feel to it but also feels more “real”.

I was immediately invested in the characters and love Mime!! I can easily recommend this though I will say the ending felt a little abrupt to me. I don’t mind a bit of a cliffhanger but it was kind of shocking.

Super excited see what happens next!!

My rating: 4.3*

—-
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.