Merchant Swordsman: A Progression LitRPG
Community Rating
Description
Book one is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, and can be purchased as an e-book or paperback, here:https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B0CB9CS2PQ?maas=&ref=
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Most popular review from Amazon.com:
"Very enjoyable read that is well balanced and has an interesting system that the author sets out for us in this book. However they also pack in lots of magic, action and characters to aid the MC. I look forward to reading more so please download and enjoy!"—Verified Amazon Customer
Blurb forMerchant Swordsman: A LitRPG Adventure:
The world of Arden is vast, filled with ancient magics, opportunity, and brewing political disasters, but above all else it is permeated by an ever-existing and mysterious System that grants power to those who follow its rules. Lysander, born the third son of a second-string and disgraced noble family, must reach beyond his station in life, and acquire higher attribute scores, proficiencies, and skill abilities, if he ever hopes to live up to his own ambitions.
The young swordsman, however, has both a hidden strength and limitation that doesn't plague the others of Arden. His born trait, the term for the randomized power that everyone acquires at birth, is to convert all of the mana in his body into physical strength before it ever enters his magical pathways. The path of the mage is forever barred to our young warrior; however, he will not allow this to deter him from his goals.
Seeking to find a way to earn a writ of trade, an endorsement by the Archport Merchants' Guild that grants certain financial and mercantile privileges, Lysander must journey with his sorceress sister, Anabelle, and train with the members of the Swords Guild, a local mercenary organization only vaguely supported by the nobility.
However, things are never as they seem, and misfortune and witchcraft are brewing around the coastline of the Sea of Drakes and greater High Coasts region. Will Lysander be able to rise above the brutal nature of the world he was born into, to find all of the riches and opportunities the fifth age of man has to offer?
Book two coming soon to Royal Road!
Information
- Status
- Ongoing
- Year
- 2023
- Author
- Nate C.
Royal Road Stats
- Rating
- 4.3/ 5.0
- Followers
- 455
- Views
- 17,888
Chapters(5 total)
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
Community Reviews(3)
- Mister BillRoyal Road★★★★★ 5.0So, yes, it's very early in the story but I've been enjoying it. It's well written, it's fun, it's descriptive, and it's well edited.
I really, really like the premise of both a merchant and a swordsman and I look forward to where the author takes this. I like the main character so far and I'm optimistic about where this story is going. I think it'll have real depth.
Give it a try! - Lack of PoochlineRoyal Road★★★★★ 4.5I will start this review with the big Con, because i believe it serves potential readers more than the pro's beforehand. My score still reflects the opinion of the work as a whole, because this flaw wasn't a dealbreaker for me, but it could be for you.
As you can guess by the title, and this is going to be the "Style" section of the review, I mean Infodumping. The story starts with a big-ass infodump, and then has one or two smaller ones almost every chapter. Luckily, Nate's prose flows relatively well, it isn't extremely pleasurable to read (You won't find Nabokov's passages here), but it takes you to the next sentence, and that is really all I ask of prose in genre fiction: being beautiful is a big plus, but as long as it doesn't pose an obstacle. This is above averagr prose for RR still, and Nate has a decently expanded vocabulary.
As a little addendum, i'd like to say that battles are easy to read, even if small infodumps about skills and such sometimes commit the Cardinal sin of getting in the middle of action.
Story: Sincerely? not much to say so far. Lysander, the main character, has clear short-term goals, a way to acheive them, and a deadline. You can notice the world Nate made is expansive enough. Anabelle, Lysander's sister, has a long term goal even. We are still too early to judge more, but there are no complains about the beginning: This is progression fantasy. You aren't gonna get much more than this far in 25k words for most books of the genre. Lysander got a new toy and got accepted into a mercenary guild as the big progression milestones. He also did some merchant things, if you wondered about that.
Grammar: except some typos and accidental person changes, i didn't notice big flaws. The small ones it has aren't worth deducting half a star from it.
Characters: They aren't flat, are varied enough, and most aren't fatally stupid. Furthermore, the ones supposed to be larger than life speak like they are: I don't mean shakespearean english, but they - FreiPixelzRoyal Road★★★★ 4.0It's really early to be giving out a review but let me talk about the things I've noticed and read so far into the story.
The start was phenomenal; it sucked me straight into the story and its fantasy world, however; it slowed down right after that. What do I mean by that?
Well, Let's talk about all the positives first,
Positives:
Engaging Introduction: Chapter 1 serves as a magnificent gateway into the author's fantastical world, instantly drawing readers in with its allure. This immersive start sets high expectations for what lies ahead.
Well-crafted Characters: The cast members are intricately portrayed, exhibiting depth and complexity. Their actions and dialogues resonate with authenticity, effectively breathing life into the narrative. It is clear that considerable thought and care have gone into shaping these individuals.
Skillful Writing Style and Grammar: The mastery of grammar is evident, with only minor quibbles that would require a discerning eye to identify. Overall, the author's command over language enriches the storytelling experience.
Now, let's talk about the bad.
Cons: While my assessment of the story's shortcomings is admittedly limited at this early stage, there is one aspect that warrants discussion: the pacing. It is important to note that personal preferences can influence this perspective.
Pacing Concerns: As the narrative unfurls, a recurring theme emerges: the presence of information dumps during the introduction of new elements. While such exposition serves a purpose and is not inherently problematic, it is apparent that the story occasionally loses momentum due to these detailed explanations. As a reader, I found myself occasionally skimming through sentences to maintain a steady pace and prevent the narrative from lagging. It is worth mentioning, however, that this critique may vary depending on individual preferences and the importance placed on pacing.
Conclusion: In conclusion, this review offers an early glimpse into the promising wo