Villainous - Book One: Denial

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

*Notice: This is for all new readers and those who have been following me for a while.

As of right now my releases are Wednesday and Friday @ 2 pm EST.

Act 1 and Act 2 are under revisions and mild rewrites based on feedback. These edits will be rolled out in groups in order to maintain story cohesiveness. Thank you. *

Leo died. But his life didn't end there. He was given a second chance at life in another world, a chance to make all of his dreams come true. However, the system that allows him to live his new life like a videogame seems fully intent on making him the evil overlord of his new world. Can Leo resist the darker path fate has planned for him or can he build the life he truly wants? He isn't sure, but with a collection of overpowered abilities and items he sets out on an adventure hellbent on bending destiny to his whims.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2023
Author: CT Johnson

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.4/ 5.0
Followers: 120
Views: 49,387

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

PDLondraRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I must say, I’m loving the first book in Villainous: Denial. The author has real promise.
The story is moving at pace. There are handy cliffhangers at the end of chapters that are a must for web serials. I was introduced to LitRPG by Conor Kistick’s Epic and was surprised by how much I enjoyed the genre. Despite that, I haven’t delved into LitRPG. Villainous promises to lead me deeper into it.
The main character, Leo seems quite complex and world-weary, which lends him realism. It is early in his adventure, but I look forward to uncovering his character as the story progresses.
The style of the piece is what I would expect from the genre, with screen messages breaking into the exposition. The author has managed to introduce dialogue into the early chapters with Leo talking to himself, adding another dimension. First-person lends the story a unique angle.
This is a first draft, so there are those small grammatical tweaks that are always required in first drafts. Apart from the occasional typo, some of the sentences need tightening to remove redundancy–none of which could be considered a “show-stopper.”
All-in-all, a great effort, which comes highly recommended by this reader. Bravo.
PelgraineRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This has been absolute pleasure to read. Though I’m only part-way through the novel at chapter 3 I thought I’d pause to post a review here so I can encourage anyone who, like me, is less familiar with the LitRPG genre (or who might have been a little intimidated by the format) to try out this high-quality example.
Having previously spent most of my time reading general sci-fi and fantasy novels, I hadn't quite understood the appeal of LitRPG as a genre until I'd read Villainous. It’s genuinely brilliant. Reading this reminded me of all of the enjoyment I’d had playing video games like Halo, Destiny and Skyrim in the past, and it has definitely given me a newfound appreciation for the genre.
Villainous is incredibly well-written. The main character’s background and motivations are smoothly intertwined into the story, enabling the reader to stay wholly absorbed as the plot moves along. Better yet, the entire RPG system is beautifully integrated, remaining clear and easily understood (by LitRPG novices like me) while keeping the reader enthralled.
I’m delighted to still have many more chapters ahead to enjoy. Highly recommend.
VictorGrayRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
There are a number of things to like in his openeing chapter. the overview hints at a system trying to turn him into an evil character, which he fights, a premise that I find very interesting. I like the description of the character, who nurtures a feeling of righteous anger and a desire for vengeance, whixch is understandable after long periods of physical abuse and bullying. This creates a nuanced character, who is neither good nor evil, but a real person wrestling with his inner demons and struggling to control them. I feel a sense of optimism that he is able to restart his life.
JD GLASSCOCKRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
as a writer of grimdark i am digging the start. A good dark bent anti hero vibe and the self realizations. Take a kid abused, throw him into a litrpg dark world and see how it spins. I dig the premise and can see this rolling out hard to lovers of grimdark. I wish you kick booty success on the series and hope it kills it for you
JD Glasscock
Author of the Series Blood Brothers and The Dream
BobCharlieRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm not usually into OP MC stories, of which this is most assuredly that, but the setting and world building caught my eye, and before I knew it, I found myself drawn into the story.
The style is intense and to the point, with a little polish, it will be something to remember. The pacing is great, the action intense, and the dialogue, while a little on the cliche side, is enjoyable.
The story itself is where this one shines. Poor Leo dies, and gets a chance to be the hero this new world needs and deserves!... No? Oh, wait, you're saying he got a corrupted Race, a Class fit for the Dark Lord himself, and a System generated quest for world domination?!? Ok, well, ladies and gentlemen. Guess you might want to lock your doors tonight. There's Evil afoot.
The grammar needs a good once over, there's a few mistakes, and some simple rewording, or clarification needed, but it in no way detracts from the story. (The author is in the middle of adding a fresh layer of paint, so I will adjust my rating accordingly.)
And finally, the character. Leo is adjusting to his dire new life with relative ease, but although he is technically no longer a human, he still has very human emotions. The side characters thus far have been incompetent cultists, and have died for their idiocy.
BasiliusRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Overall, It's an enjoyable Litrpg about a boy who was given a second chance to experience life after he died a complete loser in his first.
Story: The story follows your typical Litrpg structure. The system is interesting and well defined. It has abit of an isometric feel to it, I felt as if I'm resting on a friday night just enjoying some diablo after work.
grammar: The grammar is impressive and the chapters are structured in tidy and easy to read blocks. However, It edges on the side of being too monotone.
Characters: The protagonist is surprisingly accepting of his new situation, there's a missing awe sentiment. The story initially glosses over his past life, but the way it seems to relate afterwards with the way he reacts to certain circumstances adds a depth that the novel needs more of.
Style: It's abit too straightforward in its narrative, holding the reader's hand throughout with few hidden hints to notice. But that makes it an easy read for someone who wants to relax.
Final Verdict: I am glad that Leo's entire existence didn't end with him being a failure in life, looking forward to see what he'll make of this new opportunity to prove himself.
gomamonRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
One of the highlights of the book has to be the MC! Although I'm only on the seventh chapter, Leo is already well fleshed out by the third. The first person narrative reveals how despite he's repulsed by the idea of being a villain, yet his dark actions and thoughts sometimes contradict that, making for a realistic and complex character!
Also, the comedy helps balance out the overall dark atmosphere of the book, making it enjoyable to read. In particular, when he first summoned his minions, and named the squirrel Nuts! The little sprinkles of comedy here and there really make it an enjoyable read.
Overall, I really like the story! I think my only complaint would be that sometimes the large amounts of text can feel a bit overwhelming to read
LlazyLlamaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Style: The first chapter has a beautiful poeticness that drops off somewhat in the later chapters. One of the more enjoyable things is the M.C. inserting himself into the narration. It adds a personal feel to the writing that's pleasant to read. And to top it off, the system notifications are easy on the eyes without being a cluttered mess.
Story: Nice and to the point. From the start, we learn about our character and what potential horrors are to come. A brief fight, well described, leads to class selection and progress. Then we get dropped into the deep end with a raid against some nasty priests. So far, the lack of pandering and extra drivel make the score 5/5 for me.
Grammar: I rarely dock grammar. Grammar plagues all writers; unless the story is completely unreadable, it will always get a 5/5. And the author has obviously gone back and retroactively fixed mistakes that were pointed out, so there's nothing to complain about.
Character: The M.C., the heart of the story. I like him because he feels somewhat realistic. As realistic as you can be while being reincarnated in a world filled with undead and crazy priests. He's currently along the path of a demonic edgelord, but he keeps a level head. And unlike a psychopath, the M.C. has snippets of rationalization and self-doubt about his actions. It makes the character feel real and more than a 2-D cutout.
There is a lot of internal dialogue that can be either hit or miss for some readers. I think it makes him quirky in his own way without being too over the top.
TLDR: The story is written nicely while being enjoyable to read. The grammar is good, and the character feels like an actual person.
I recommend you read it and give it a go. You can't go wrong when the M.C. has an SSS Class.
MarenVoxRoyal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
Review of Chapter One: Second Life
Style:
The writing style in this chapter is engaging and descriptive. The author effectively sets the tone and creates a sense of mystery and anticipation. The use of vivid imagery and metaphors helps to immerse the reader in the protagonist's experience. The transitions between thoughts and actions are smooth, allowing for a seamless reading experience.
Story:
The chapter introduces an intriguing premise of a protagonist entering a second life after death. The concept of choosing between a standard reincarnation and a customized incarnation adds depth to the story. The exploration of the protagonist's memories and emotions provides insight into their character and motivations. The introduction of the primary, secondary, and tertiary backgrounds adds further complexity and sets the stage for future developments.
Grammar:
The grammar and sentence structure in the chapter are generally solid. There are only a few minor errors or awkward phrasings, which do not significantly detract from the overall readability of the text. With a careful proofreading, these issues could easily be resolved.
Character:
The protagonist's character is gradually revealed through their thoughts, memories, and reactions to the situation. The internal conflict between their desire for the comfort of the void and the awakening memories creates a sense of tension. However, at this stage, the character feels somewhat one-dimensional. Further exploration of their past experiences and the impact on their personality would enhance their depth and relatability.
Overall:
Chapter One: Second Life successfully captures the attention of the reader with its engaging style and intriguing storyline. While the character development could be further expanded, the chapter sets the foundation for an interesting and potentially captivating narrative. The mix of mystery, fantasy elements, and personal struggles creates a promising start to the story. Overall, the chapter holds
HitmarkRoyal Road
★★★★ 4.0
First of all, the cover photo is great. It's not bland nor too extravagant. Just right to the eyes. At first it did confuse me on what connection it has on the story, but I understood after reading the quest. "Conquer the ten kingdoms."
The story itself is good. Although the genre of rebirt is widely used now, you did a great job of making the experience more fun and action packed.
The grammar is where most of the problems occur for me. Some sentences or words have extra letters or missing some punctuations. Using a grammar checker might just fix that. This one is a my personal opinion. The double spacing per paragraph interferes with my immersion, also sometimes the spacing can only be one and not two. You can also try using the table function for your system messages which I think will greatly enhance the experience.
The character is great. He shows realistic reaction on his situation. He felt regret at the killing part and guilt as well. Oftentimes, other protagonist just enters a killing craze without putting much though into it.
Overall, it's a 4/5 for me. It has great potential and I highly recommend to give a try.