I'd Rather Farm Turnips: The Legend of the Immortal Knight

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Farming was hard, but it was easy enough for Arvel. He didn’t have to worry about taking care of anyone but himself and his animals, or even growing enough extra to trade. No one came out to visit his little slice of heaven at the foot of the craggy mountain, surrounded by wastelands.

But when a beautiful marchioness arrives in search of Arvel’s late father, the legendary Immortal Knight who can save her people, he hears the call of destiny... and promptly plugs his ears.

All Arvel wants to do is live a quiet life on the farm, but demon invasions, goblin raids, and new neighbors won’t give him a moment’s peace. But, when beautiful women flock to him, desperately crying out for their savior, he doesn’t have the heart to ignore them. Be they demons, ogres, or crabgrass, none will stand before Arvel’s pitchfork.

[A slow-burn action fantasy, combined with slice-of-life. A high focus on relationships. Intimate scenes are FTB.]

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2023
Author: JustASmuttySlime

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.3/ 5.0
Followers: 96
Views: 63,924

Reviews

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Community Reviews(6)

ArkitektRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A pleasant read, and an excellent start. I hope the author sticks at it and achieves their goals on here. I'll probably do an advanced review after a few more chapters or when I have time. If you're reading this, don't be shy about giving it a try. I won't promise you'll like it, as I'm reviewing it based on my own tastes, but what's the harm in reading a few (all) chapters?
FrellRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Just binged all 12 currently available chapters and so far it has been delightful. It threads a lot of common tropes of the genre, but it does so earnestly, with heart and good humor.
The characters are lovable and fun. It's early days so I can't say much about the overarching plot, but what's there is good. The setting is fairly standard fare but it has enough of a twist not to be completely generic. Don't expect mindblowing, the summary is a fairly apt description of what you're getting (so far at least). But if that sounds like your thing then I give it a strong recommendation.
Can't wait to see where the author goes with this one.
GonganelRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm somewhat surprised by this one.
When I read the blurp I was expeting the MC to suddenly find his father's long lost macguffin and become a all-powerful warrior. But no, the MC (so far) is still pretty average. He's not weak per se, but he's not strong either.
And that, to me, is a breath of fresh air.
Em-dasRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
The whole beginning is put together so well that it is impressive. The author is especially good at situational comedy, and advancing slice of life plot.
The main character is funny, self aware, and has a strong sense of purpose. He’s not just a blank template waiting around for heroine #1 to come along and assign him a goal. Though it does feel like the story might bend in the direction of heroine 1’s wishes at this point. We’ll see. That’s the issue: farmer stories rarely stay farmer stories. I’m interested in seeing where the author takes this excellent beginning.
Either way, the author is skilled and has a very firm grasp on how to convey each character’s personality, and a reader will very quickly be able to predict how a certain character would react to certain things. Not because they’re one note, but because of writing skill.
(this advanced review has to be 200 words, so I’ll continue to ramble)
I know some might be wary of the harem tag, but don’t worry about it. The leads all have personalities and motivations that aren’t necessarily just “advance the MC’s wishes” they have their own things going on—except for poor Fidget. It’s also (quite disappointingly) fade to black. So for all those out there who complain about smut being unnecessary? This book doesn’t have any.
I cannot speak to what the book is becoming, however. There’s such heavy foreshadowing that trouble is coming, so much so that one can hardly enjoy the downtime. Lynette is my fave because she’s so atypical for a female lead
TealiciousTeaRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
Pleasant reading with some nice characters. Manages to have a warm dynamic between the characters which is sometime scarficed to create narrative drama.
Harems are usually about 'sex' as far as I am aware, but emotional depth is also created allowong for the developed of warmth here.
I've detailed some thoughts below. Written on phone so apologises for the typos.
Characters themsleves are where the depth and substance of the story is, not sure how hook worthy they are for mass appeal, but they are well realised and functional.
Narrative flow is smooth and well paced so far. How much tbe reader enjoy said narrative will be up to them.
Like farming is important to the mc, but not the story so far and to the extent it serves building of a new civilisation. Homesteading is rather more what actually happens.
My issue is that the mc doesn't have much driving motovation. No revenge quest, no One Piece, no I'm going to grow the best turnip for the turnip festival competion...
He is trying to protect his way of life (counter to plot developments of fl) and develop relationships. So, more of a slice of life lead than drama leas. There isn't much internal drama involving him he is rather static, but that allows for dynamic cast around him.
Thus opposite is true noble fl whose predicatement and actions drive all the drama and tension.
All that is fine, but makes her the more interesting point of view.
Interestimg subtext (curiousity) about the mc, how the issues the fl leads come with will get resolved.
Does rely on plot convicenes where beautiful woman keep turning up and are happy with the mc and tolerant of each other. Is harem logic the term? It ia aort of just accepted lighrly justifed by mc power and the reputation of his 'father'.
The minor is is that we are supoosed to treat the fantasy world as believable in a 'serious' sense and then wishful events keep happening. Either more susbtanial plotting or leaning into the wishfullness of the world and silliness.
The issue be
Strictly WorseRoyal Road
★★★ 3.0
I didn't get very far into this so I'll caveat that things could change later in the story. I normally wouldn't post a review having read so little but when I'm posting this there a few enough reviews that I thought it might be helpful for some.
I went into this hoping for a slice of life farm story with some of the cast being a harem. What I found was a slice of life story about a harem starting and the bumps along the road to making that work, that happens to be set on a farm. This particular harem was light hearted and comedic in a way that didn't land for me but I think they are well written and if that's the kind of story you want to read then you should check this out.
What I think killed the story for me is the MC while likable and super competent is very much not proactive. In fact that seems to basically be what the premise sits on. I'd expected him not to want to leave his farm but I thought he'd be trying to build it up not starting from a complete farm. I think showing the MC as more proactive in something early on would do a lot to broaden the appeal of the story. Having said that If you don't mind the MC being reactive and while the harem members are significantly proactive this could be the story for you.