Ruthless: Path of Conquest [Vols. 1-3 stubbed]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

[Volumes 1 through 3 of Ruthless now availableon Amazonand therefore stubbed!]

James Robard is a family man with an unsavory past who has reformed his life and become an attorney. He wanted to do so much when he was young, but somehow his potential blew by him. Now his life is boring but stable—until the System descends upon the Earth. The world is turned topsy-turvy in an instant, and humanity suddenly has a single common mission: survive.

Now James has the opportunity to reinvent himself as the leader he feels he was always meant to be. The System has other ideas. Judging him by his past actions, the System categorizes him as a villainous individual and provides him with corresponding starting abilities and titles. From there, he’s thrown into combat with monsters, treacherous humans, and divinely blessed beings of questionable (at best) moral character.

These obstacles, plus meddling gods, are only the beginning of his troubles. Because if James wants to become a better man, the leader he knows he could be, the biggest obstacle he has to overcome might be himself. Deep down, he knows the System has a point about him. He’s always been RUTHLESS. Will he overcome his enemies and himself? Or will he, and the world, suffer the consequences of his failure?

Release Schedule:

Tuesday-Thursday

Average chapter length: 2000-3000

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Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2023
Author: D.J. Rintoul

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.1/ 5.0
Followers: 1,759
Views: 394,816

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

BookFanaticRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A great book. Definitely deserves to be published. Interesting and fleshed out characters, premises, concepts, mythology and events. I don’t want to spoil the story for people going to read the book. Just know it is worth it. It doesn’t try to be edgy or unrealistic and every character and even gods have their motivations and aren’t one dimensional.
I am a fan of mythology and realistic stories on how fantasy would interact with the modern world so this was a great find. I suggest reading now before the author eventually stubs it and sells some chapters to a major publishing company or website.
The author should definitely keep updating and releasing more chapters.
KalzaraRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style: Great pacing. Sentences are well-structured, I particularly liked the dialogue, it just feels very natural. The first few paragraphs have a strong hook and then there’s a nice transition to before the System appears, which I really liked. The author really knows how to keep you engaged throughout.
Story: Like the synopsis states, System integrates itself with Earth, categorises the MC James as a villain (gives him an interesting skill, James’s reaction to it made me laugh), begins orientation and completely changes the world as we know it.
Grammar: Grammar is perfect, if there were any errors, it didn’t break me out of my immersion.
Characters: Each character introduced has different personalities. I like James, he is a smart, rational MC and like the title suggests, he knows when to be ruthless. He makes decisions that I myself would most likely make. The writer does a great job fleshing the characters out, giving James a family makes sense for him to be ruthless, he’s not a random sociopath, this makes it easier to relate with him. So, if you want to SI, this is the guy! Also, I liked the banter between him and Mina, they seem like a real couple and not robotic.
All in all, the author has done a great job at writing an immersive story, I recommend checking it out. I’m really surprised it hasn’t got more attention, it definitely deserves it!
Kenny CelicanRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Ruthless is an excellent blend of action, character, and LitRPG elements. I recommend it not only to anyone who enjoys LitRPG, but also to anyone who wants to taste-test the genre.
D.J.R's writing Style is concise and punchy, which works really well with the action scenes and LitRPG elements, but he's not afraid to slow things down a little when the MC gets introspective. Not so much that things drag, but enough that the reader can take their time and really feel what James is going through.
Ten chapters in the Story is still taking shape, but with that said there's definitely enough conflict in place to keep things moving as more bits and pieces of the new world and System the MC finds himself in are revealed.
I'm pretty finicky about Grammar, and I don't remember noticing any mistakes. Honestly, that's about the best thing I can say about Grammar or Style, frankly; that at no point did it break me out of my reader's trance / willing suspension of disbelief. Good stuff.
At ten chapters in, I think we've only had serious contact with eight characters, but all of them have been clearly sketched out enough to be recognizable, and then had more filled in as we get to know them. The MC himself is complex without being blatantly self-contradictory or unhinged; he's got aspects of his own psyche he isn't comfortable with, but knows he needs to survive, others he wants to completely suppress because his conscious mind finds them morally objectionable, and still others that he tries to nurture even if they're not reflexive to him, because he wants to be a better person. Getting all that introspection into the narrative without once bogging it down is a hell of an accomplishment, Kudos, D.J.!
Overall, Ruthless is an excellent LitRPG that I'd recommend to anyone, fan of the genre or not. LitRPG fans will see all the elements they expect, carried within a story that's well written and enjoyable to read. Genre newbies will get an excellent story that shows how LitRPG elements o
Lord DarkRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Hell yeah! Ruthless: Path of Conquest" is an engaging read that seamlessly blends the corporate world with an adventure filled with fantasy and intrigue. From discussions about artificial intelligence to a realm of challenges and mysteries, the story's transition is captivating. The protagonist's journey is filled with action, suspense, and unique twists, offering a fresh perspective in the LitRPG genre.
With smooth storytelling and well-handled character development, the world-building adds depth without overwhelming the reader. The way technology and fantasy elements intertwine creates an adventurous tale that's both relatable and thrilling. Whether you're a fan of LitRPG or just looking for a fresh and engaging read, "Ruthless: Path of Conquest" is worth checking out. Can't wait to see where this story goes!
NaydraRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
The MC of this story has morals and a family that he cares about, but the author doesn’t make him naive or a pushover to do that. He’s willing to kill his enemies and make full use of his (somewhat evil seeming) powers, but he never descends into pointlessly villain like behavior either. He actually is very conscious of politics and his interactions with groups which is fairly unique in this genre which often prefers blunt MCs who crash straight through any delicate social issues. Overall a solid story, with an interesting balance of character interactions, power growth, and kingdom building.
ShroomkaboomRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
If you've enjoyed "He Who Fights With Monsters" or "PrimalHunter", you'll likely enjoy this as well.
The writing is very well done, my only gripe being there is nothing indicating when a POV switches (this could easily be fixed with a spaced out ~ or some such). Otherwise, top notch work. Doesnt re-use words or go off on a tangent for unnecessary information. Very concise, yet riveting, story-telling. (Praise Anansi!)
ALL characters feel like believable people. Including the animals/creatues/monsters. There is depth in every named entity.
The "System" interface is very staight-forward (if a bit lengthy at times!). The flavour-text for Skills/Talents/Titles etc. is also a high point. This story definitely doesnt shy away from Comedy, nor Tragedy (like every great story!).
Finally, I managed to binge read the first arc in a week before it went to Amazon (gotta love when a good story gains traction!), so I'll say this.
Ive read about 40 of the stories told on RoyalRoad (and dropped or stopped many more!). This is one of the ones I know I'll be coming back for (ie. Azarinth, Path to Acension, Primal Hunter, He Who Fights Monsters) so I strongly suggest you give it a go!
Taylor ColtRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I saw this novel when it first launched, but I finally had the chance to dip into it this week. I’m glad I did. The tutorial reminded me a bit of Primal Hunter. James, the MC, ends up having to work with some of his co-workers, co-workers who don’t always agree with him. James is also a layered character, with hints of a complex background. The author gets bonus points for referring to James as Jean Valjean (Les Miserables fans will get the reference!). One of the other characters (Alan) is also well-written and likeable—a personal favorite.
Character: I enjoyed reading a System Integration novel from the perspective of a character who’s mature (already in a relationship, baby on the way, well-established in his career); someone who’s already made bad choices decades ago who did his best to correct them. Although reading from a teenager’s or a person in their 20s perspective can be enjoyable, when writing from a mature perspective, it can give the novel that added layer of depth that you don’t always obtain with other LitRPG. I was invested in James—would he be “ruthless” like in his previous life, or would he be the new James, the respected lawyer and family man? I thought I knew the way it was going… until I came to chapter 33! I don’t want to spoil it. I suppose you have to read to find out.
Grammar and Style: The novel is super polished. The author either has a good beta reader or a copy editor… or is naturally a great self-editor. The only minor nitpick I have is with the list of skills—they are extremely creative, but there were so many that I skipped over the full stat screen list a few times. That’d be a long list on Audible! :-)
Right now, I can see myself giving this another read once it moves to Kindle (as per the author’s note – congrats on the book deal!). Followed and favorited.
anthony59237Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm not usually a fan of Litrpg's, but this work was done in a very engaging and down to earth way. The main character, James, is working at a law firm and kind. of fed up with his day to day life. That is, until orientation approaches for earth.
Style: Style is very good. Good pacing, extremely easy to follow along. It was a smooth read that kept me engaged.
Grammar: Grammar was also solid, with very few mistakes. Didn't take away from the story at all.
Story: The story is great so far, as we follow James trying to figure out the phenom that is taking place. The set up is good so far, and I'm looking forward to see where it goes.
Character: The characters are what stand out to me the most. They feel very real, especially with the main character and his conflicting emotions, as the world falls apart. He's a man fed up with life, has occasional dark thoughts, is concerned for his wife and kids. I also liked the dynamic between James and his wife, Mina. Very good dialogue between the couple, that really makes everything seem realistic. Outstanding job with characters so far.
Overall, I think this work has a lot of potential and I'd definitely recommend it. Great job!
ausl0serRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A very well done take on the tutorial isekai genre. Wonderful character building, well worth reading
The word requirement for a review on this website and its consequences are a disaster for writers and readers alike, i can personally say that the prospect of wasting my time typing up a wasteful and needlessly wordy review has discouraged me from leaving constructive criticism on far too many projects, and stopped me from bothering to warn away many readers from worthless trash. An even greater sin is the fact that if your review DOES NOT meet the minimum word requirement it will be deleted. Which means you get to waste even more time on what should be a short, concise summation of a project. These reviews should not be an exercise in essay writing or an excuse to flaunt one's education or vocabulary. Who looks at reviews and says "ohhh, i really need a plot summary and a bunch of worthless exposition!"?
K9Royal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
A wonderful story with interesting twists and satisfying turns.
All characters are well developed and Im yet to be disappointed by any of them. World building, plot, the system here, all of it is near perfect and our main character especially is amazing.
I was so enamoured with this story that I managed to catch up to current chapters in under two days! When the next button phased out I was genuinely surprised!
Im eagerly waiting to see where this story goes and how this next phase of the book develops. I can sense A LOT of good things coming up for us and am determined to be among the first to see it all play out.
Good luck to all, happy writing to authors, and in case I don’t see you, good afternoon, good evening and good night ;)