Second Life as a Soldier [Book 1 Complete]

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

He died a nobody.Now he’s reborn in a body beaten and left for dead, no family, no food, no future. In the Kingdom of Avalon, strength isn’t just respected, it’s survival. Power is ranked byTiers, magic is earned through blood and elemental affinity, and those without talent are nothing more than fodder for war. Edward has neither noble blood nor rare talent. What he does have is an iron will, a sharp mind, and the stubborn refusal to stay down. Desperate for food, shelter, and a second chance, he enlists in the Royal Army, trading the uncertainty of the streets for the grueling discipline of military life. But the army is no place for the weak. Training is brutal, resources are scarce, and every recruit is just one mistake away from the grave. Here, camaraderie is forged in hardship, tactics matter as much as raw strength, and survival demands more than swinging a sword, it demands learning, adapting, and enduring. The road ahead is long and unforgiving. Yet with each step, Edward edges closer to something greater, growth, purpose, and perhaps a place in a kingdom that would rather see him buried than crowned. Rise… or be forgotten. What to expect: ~Slow-paced progression ~Non-OP ~Military focus ~Gritty, grounded tone ~No harem ~Detailed worldbuilding ~Coming-of-age journey ~Kingdom building(later in the story) This novel is released exclusively on Royal Road. The release schedule is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Information

Status: Ongoing
Year: 2025
Author: Soldier_of_Avalon

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 7,242
Views: 2,176,204

What readers say about Second Life as a Soldier [Book 1 Complete]

“Great writing, good storytelling, perfect balance of plot and progression. I’m really enjoying reading it and my only criticism is that I would like to see more of it.I genuinely like the main character and find Him very relatable. Good dialogue between cha…”
William ColeyRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“A wonderful story about a young man getting sent to another world, and having to start at the bottom. What better way to rise up than to join the army! Just all around excellent storytelling, with a clean and clear system, pacing, world building, and occasi…”
NorskeWeatherSkyRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

William ColeyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Great writing, good storytelling, perfect balance of plot and progression. I’m really enjoying reading it and my only criticism is that I would like to see more of it.I genuinely like the main character and find Him very relatable. Good dialogue between charactersPlease keep it coming! And thank you so much
NorskeWeatherSkyRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A wonderful story about a young man getting sent to another world, and having to start at the bottom. What better way to rise up than to join the army!
Just all around excellent storytelling, with a clean and clear system, pacing, world building, and occasional POV switches to flesh it out.
The combat is wonderfully written, and you can feel the clashes with the beasts. The MC also doesn't just get over loss in a paragraph.
A well written story about a youth becoming a man in the army in a world filled with beasts, barbarians and nobility.
RedtherulerRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Love the world building, love how he isn’t just op coming from another world and that he’s gotta work to get stronger. Love that he got the memories of the body he’s in so it’s not all will he get caught or anything like that, that would slow the story down.
Fantasy loving kfirRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
There are many stories with convoluted titles and concepts which use that concept as a crutch, beyond the clickbaity title there is very little substance.
This is not such a story, it takes the life of a soldier in a system world and expands on it with great world building and realistic characters. The story acknowledges the inherent problems with a feudal world, but doesn't let the usual cynism of "this world isn't fair so I'll only care about myself" control it. At the end of the day a soldier cares for his squad mates, and protects his kingdom even if it isn't perfect.
I highly recommend you read this story as it has a polish not many webnovels have.
Crusty CurmudgeonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a fantastic first novel by a new author. It starts slowly and develops well. Not an overpowered murder hobo, The lead character starts week and by this point is still nowhere near strong. However he does have a very wide skill base and is about to step on the first rung of his journey. World building is strong and consistent. Interesting power/magic system, has both eastern and western motifs. BEWARE that this is a slow burn type of story, we are at chapter 86 and the protagonist is only half way to level 2.If you like stories of medieval military life this is the story you have been waiting for.SofA please keep up the good storytelling - next goal to join the top 10!
HypnoticalRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story does what it says on the tin and does so in an extremely readable fashion that has you rooting for the main character. I really like how everything feels well earning. MC isn't just powerleveling he is building a military career. Im eager to see where it goes.
JM5109Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A realistic rebirth into a new world without OP beginnings or crazy traits and cheat codes.
Just sweat equity and determination, carrying the once-and-a-half-dead MC in his new world of blood, sweat, and tears.
The start is a bit slow as we build momentum through a brief training montage, and then we're ready to hit the big leagues and start swinging swords as if our lives depend on it. Peasants are not gifted great power, and so the MC will enlist in the Army and earn his keep. The promise of 3 hots and a cot is enough to lure him off the street after becoming a homeless orphan following the death of his last parent.
Worldbuilding is being exposed at a steady pace without info dumps or overwhelming us with inane details nonstop. Fleshing out the class and the magic system is also being done in a digestible manner without rushing, excited to see what the main character receives for his class after he comes of age.
Style is good, not standard reincarnation fare 5/5
Story is heating up and is solid as we look to the future war 5/5
Grammar has been good so far 5/5
Character is developing and discovering his new world while he adjusts to being a second chance, re-roll 5/5
ParthJ5696Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Be patient and book will reward you. I usually get impatient, but this time I pushed myself and eventually it was very a great experience to read the book. To see the MC grow is satisfying. The world building is slow, but it is engaging and the writer takes you on a journey. I will highly encourage the author to publish more chapters if possible. There are people like me who want to read more.
MossheartRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I am up to date so far (Ch. 16), and so far I can say that this book is a real page turner! The mc's motivation in this story has a solid, emotional motivation, which I believe is far more durable than the revenge plots so prevalent in today's web novels.The system is pretty cool, and still maintains some mystery to it, and the plot development is without inconsistencies so far, I think.The mc's character is real and relatable, and I hope that with time, the side characters will join and be equally fleshed out too (hopefully around 6-12 real and relatable side characters).Overall, this is a book with a unique beginning that I would definitely recommend.
Yeoman ServiceRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is really good. Why is it really good? Well, because it’s believable. I’ve had to put down soooo many RR books because the MC just stumbles into increasingly improbable windfalls. This doesn’t happen in this book. The MC has to earn every new scrap of strength. You should read it. Seriously.