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Bog Standard Isekai #1
Scarred
Sometimes dying isn¡¯t even the worst part of your day.Mark¡¯s new life begins in the worst possible place¡ªa burned-out village haunted by undead. Each morning these ravenous creatures disappear, only to return at night, driven by a relentless hunger. He'll need to stay low and think quick, because trapped and alone in the body of a child, he can¡¯t level up in this new world. At least not yet.
Soon Mark will learn that even among the living, safety isn¡¯t guaranteed. When the small town that he ends up in turns out to be at the center of a conspiracy that threatens the world, he'll need to uncover the truth before it's too late. Mark will need to find allies, gain levels, and face countless horrors in order to survive his second shot at life and prove that he's more than just a bog-standard hero...
With over 4 million views on Royal Road, this is no ordinary LitRPG. Bog Standard Isekai is a slow-burn, incremental, magical progression fantasy containing slice-of-life elements punctuated by moments of intense violence.
Soon Mark will learn that even among the living, safety isn¡¯t guaranteed. When the small town that he ends up in turns out to be at the center of a conspiracy that threatens the world, he'll need to uncover the truth before it's too late. Mark will need to find allies, gain levels, and face countless horrors in order to survive his second shot at life and prove that he's more than just a bog-standard hero...
With over 4 million views on Royal Road, this is no ordinary LitRPG. Bog Standard Isekai is a slow-burn, incremental, magical progression fantasy containing slice-of-life elements punctuated by moments of intense violence.
607 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2024
537 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
April 16, 2025
Rounded up for putting in the work
Isekai / rational magic system / fully developed world build / A plotted out story Not improv
This is an Isekai, like it says on the cover -But not overpowered, or insta-WIN like we're used to. It defies convention in several pleasing ways despite the jokey title.
#1 complement for this book is that Miles English clearly put effort into the plot and the first draft instead of doing some half/ass slapdash crap. That gets BIG points with me. (If the writer doesn't care enough to edit why should I care enough to read it?)
There is a lot of clever writing here. You can tell thought and care went into this. Some big ideas and nice little touches. Such as:
The MC was a grown man before his date with Truck-kun, but he awakens in the body of an adolescent boy. So even though MC was a boring office drone with an investment portfolio, now he can't help feeling what his young new body feels. I love how this gets at the mind / body dilemma. The MC knows he is reacting emotionally to events but can't shut off the the emotions. What a well executed idea, and that's just one of many.
Even that hated old saw "I must be in a coma and dreaming this" (which I usually ding a book one star for using) had a specific point and led to an important and relevant plot development. Talk about finding treasure in the trash. I seriously hate that clich¨¦, so standing it on it's head was worth seeing it one more time.
As a kid, the MC has no power, and can't even start to level until adulthood. What could be a joy killer turns this story smart because the MC can't OP his way out of problems, dude has to use his head.
-Oh, and one last note:
The audiobook performance definitely adds something to experience. the narrator Johnathan McClain has inspired timing as he slightly draws out some words and rapid-fire delivers others. The reading gives it the feel of Marx's Brothers or Carry Grant style screwball comedy. Even though it's not written for laughs the rat-a-tat delivery of Johnathan McClain gives it that extra fizz that is the difference between a four star book and a five. Even though I'd say it was pretty much a five already.
Isekai / rational magic system / fully developed world build / A plotted out story Not improv
This is an Isekai, like it says on the cover -But not overpowered, or insta-WIN like we're used to. It defies convention in several pleasing ways despite the jokey title.
#1 complement for this book is that Miles English clearly put effort into the plot and the first draft instead of doing some half/ass slapdash crap. That gets BIG points with me. (If the writer doesn't care enough to edit why should I care enough to read it?)
There is a lot of clever writing here. You can tell thought and care went into this. Some big ideas and nice little touches. Such as:
The MC was a grown man before his date with Truck-kun, but he awakens in the body of an adolescent boy. So even though MC was a boring office drone with an investment portfolio, now he can't help feeling what his young new body feels. I love how this gets at the mind / body dilemma. The MC knows he is reacting emotionally to events but can't shut off the the emotions. What a well executed idea, and that's just one of many.
Even that hated old saw "I must be in a coma and dreaming this" (which I usually ding a book one star for using) had a specific point and led to an important and relevant plot development. Talk about finding treasure in the trash. I seriously hate that clich¨¦, so standing it on it's head was worth seeing it one more time.
As a kid, the MC has no power, and can't even start to level until adulthood. What could be a joy killer turns this story smart because the MC can't OP his way out of problems, dude has to use his head.
-Oh, and one last note:
The audiobook performance definitely adds something to experience. the narrator Johnathan McClain has inspired timing as he slightly draws out some words and rapid-fire delivers others. The reading gives it the feel of Marx's Brothers or Carry Grant style screwball comedy. Even though it's not written for laughs the rat-a-tat delivery of Johnathan McClain gives it that extra fizz that is the difference between a four star book and a five. Even though I'd say it was pretty much a five already.
June 26, 2024
By the end of the book you know that the author is patting himself on the back with that title, but it's nearly deserved. While not a masterwork, this book ticks most of the boxes while telling an interesting story.
The protagonist Mark/Scar is well fleshed out, believable, and relatable. There are some hard-to-believe events in the book but we can forgive those, knowing that the gods chose Mark's host body deliberately and that the local weaver is nudging him onto a very specific path.
The last quarter of the book started to fray. The fight in the forest was hard to swallow, what with a yet-to-class child surviving a battle with elites. And best not to examine the classes offered to, and chosen by, Scar's best friends.
Regardless, if I'd had book two on hand at the time, I'd have eagerly started reading.
The protagonist Mark/Scar is well fleshed out, believable, and relatable. There are some hard-to-believe events in the book but we can forgive those, knowing that the gods chose Mark's host body deliberately and that the local weaver is nudging him onto a very specific path.
The last quarter of the book started to fray. The fight in the forest was hard to swallow, what with a yet-to-class child surviving a battle with elites. And best not to examine the classes offered to, and chosen by, Scar's best friends.
Regardless, if I'd had book two on hand at the time, I'd have eagerly started reading.
September 25, 2024
What a pleasant surprise of a story. What a delight to read.
Don't let the title fool you into thinking this is a pun laden groan fest. This story is anything but. Towards the end of the book the title reveals itself to have meaning. Once I started reading, I found my kindle difficult to put down. Stayed up past my bedtime even. I loved the surprises that snuck up on me and appreciated the skill of the author.
Thanks for a good read, and I am thrilled book 2 is around the corner.
Don't let the title fool you into thinking this is a pun laden groan fest. This story is anything but. Towards the end of the book the title reveals itself to have meaning. Once I started reading, I found my kindle difficult to put down. Stayed up past my bedtime even. I loved the surprises that snuck up on me and appreciated the skill of the author.
Thanks for a good read, and I am thrilled book 2 is around the corner.
December 7, 2024
Rating 5.0 stars
I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It had all the elements of a typical Isekai story but it didn't focus on any one aspect too much. Every decision the main character made was something I could see myself making or, at the very least, I can understand why he made it. There was a good amount of balance in the story. The magic system, the world building. There was a good balance between fighting, crafting, leveling without distracting from characters and their growth.
26 year old dies on earth and ends up being Isekai'd into the body of a 12 year old boy. He is all alone in a village where everyone is dead and he is surrounded by the undead. He has to deal with the knowledge of being in a new world, dying, and now trying to figure out how to survive.
I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It had all the elements of a typical Isekai story but it didn't focus on any one aspect too much. Every decision the main character made was something I could see myself making or, at the very least, I can understand why he made it. There was a good amount of balance in the story. The magic system, the world building. There was a good balance between fighting, crafting, leveling without distracting from characters and their growth.
26 year old dies on earth and ends up being Isekai'd into the body of a 12 year old boy. He is all alone in a village where everyone is dead and he is surrounded by the undead. He has to deal with the knowledge of being in a new world, dying, and now trying to figure out how to survive.
December 24, 2024
I had this for a while. My friend dropped it, but I'm willing to give it a try.
This was okay. It was a slow start, and a frustrating end. People (at least me and a few others I know), read these books because we are fed up of the powerless protag trope, not being able to change his faith. Reading about one person having the ability or power to change the world is a fresh breath of air compared to the publishing house books of a decade plus ago. I am fed up of the struggling and suffering.
... Seeing how this ended left a bad taste in my mouth. People that set out to do you harm should in turn have harm visited upon them.. Not getting off without any real punishment.
I may pick up the sequel, I don't know. Hopefully it doesn't draw out setting up the pieces (plot) like this felt like it was doing.
3/5 Stars
This was okay. It was a slow start, and a frustrating end. People (at least me and a few others I know), read these books because we are fed up of the powerless protag trope, not being able to change his faith. Reading about one person having the ability or power to change the world is a fresh breath of air compared to the publishing house books of a decade plus ago. I am fed up of the struggling and suffering.
... Seeing how this ended left a bad taste in my mouth. People that set out to do you harm should in turn have harm visited upon them.. Not getting off without any real punishment.
I may pick up the sequel, I don't know. Hopefully it doesn't draw out setting up the pieces (plot) like this felt like it was doing.
3/5 Stars
January 25, 2025
(Spoilers)
I don't like subversion. If done poorly, it becomes a cheap attempt at originality. Have the protagonist reveal their supposed meta knowledge on Isekai anime & RPG video games. Expositing to themselves that they should be granted powerful abilities by dint of the fact they are an otherworlder. Then reveal their apparent lack of ability. I don't find this premise completely objectionable. But it does have some fundamental issues.
Isekai as a genre has two primary appeals. (1) The protagonist is given the opportunity to start a new life while also providing an excuse to sever prior attachments. Despite this, the protagonist usually desires to return back home and it acts as a convenient long term goal for the stories progression. (2) It serves as wish fulfillment. Skills normally considered worthless by society are now made useful. Do you watch anime? Have an encyclopedic knowledge on fantasy tropes? Play TTRPGs and video games? Now's your chance to put all that to good use.
Being an otherworlder also provides an excuse to give the protagonist unique benefits. Maybe the protagonist is blessed by a powerful god along with a mission to save the world. Maybe the protagonist reincarnates as someone with a powerful bloodline or into royalty. Maybe the protagonist is summoned as the chosen hero and they gain a unique class. Maybe the system glitches and it creates a unique opportunity. Maybe the individual in question was a physicist, Marine or Game Developer in their previous life. There's always some sort of twist.
If you give the protagonist a younger body via reincarnation or in this instance possession. It becomes a convenient excuse to ask for basic Information without attracting suspicion. Starting off as an infant or child with the mind of an adult also gives an early advantage for whatever magic system is introduced.
Being a modern person from Earth usually grants a unique perspective devoid of any of the biases the native people of the new world possess. For example, the protagonist is told certain classes are inherently evil. But to the protagonist, classes are not inherently evil, some classes are more inclined towards evil in regards to their usage. But at the end of the day, the individuals behind the class are the ones committing said evil actions. Classes are simply tools that are provided by the system. The protagonist then decides to ignore the advice of the natives and the system takes his disposition into account during his class selection. An education in mathematics and scientific theory are also advantages depending on the magic system or if the story just so happens to be a city/kingdom builder. Queue explaining what germs are as well as modern crop rotation, soil fertilization, cement and more.
Being an otherwolder also provides an air of mystique. A special identity that the protagonist must keep hidden because of the potential consequences. Maybe otherworlders are feared, enslaved or killed for (x) reasons. It helps add more stakes and tension to the plot.
The author subverted pretty much everything. The protagonist basically gives up on the notion of returning back to earth. He is not provided any unique abilities besides a few rare titles that don¡¯t give any immediate benefits because their locked for the majority of the story. The protagonists identity as an otherworlder is quickly found out and there are no obvious drawbacks. But there are no benefits either. Being a child makes it even more difficult to gain information. This also extends to the one character that is aware of his identity but still treats him like a kid. He spends the majority of the story inefficiently training in a village and fails to min-max by acquiring a full list of titles & achievements. His meta knowledge is rendered useless and only provides a vague sense of familiarity. "I know what a few of these things are because I watched anime¡± is pretty much the extent of it. The mother of his new body was revealed to be a witch who defected from the BBEG. This reveal was lacklustre because we are given no reason that such a development would effect the plot going forward. He doesn¡¯t come into new power as result of this revelation and I doubt the BBEG even cares all that much. Both his mother and father are dead and he¡¯s just a kid from the BBEG¡¯s perspective. The author should have established a plot device that would make the BBEG keenly aware of the protagonists existence. Maybe the protagonist has a bloodline or artefact the BBEG wants or fears and suddenly the stakes are raised because the protagonist is now in very serious danger. I doubt the BBEG is even aware the protagonist exists. They only come into conflict because the town the protagonist is living in is a strategic location for the BBEG to send their forces through.
This is what happens when you fuck with the established formula. All you get is a ball of frustration from your readers. What makes isekai appealing is basically washed away. This is truly a bog standard isekai.
Response to a commenter: You can establish advantages that do not make the protagonist overpowered in the short term.
What else? I disliked the severe invasion of privacy. The gods can essentially read your mind. The protagonist should take more issue with the system and the gods. There was a physiologist character who respected the protagonists right to privacy. This single character has more integrity than the gods. I also have issues with the system. The gods can essentially alter or take away your titles and skills. I also doubt the system has the power to enable a path to godhood or immortality either. Some titles and achievements have variable effects. I personally don't like variable effects. I like set effects with rarer titles & achievements acquired through more difficult feats. The protagonist doesn't stand by his principles and basically capitulates to the gods. The nobility would have definitely developed a training methodology to acquire all the titles & achievements for their children despite the restrictions. Claiming otherwise is bad world building.
There was a character who went out of their way to ruin the protagonists reputation and manipulated the protagonist in encountering greater danger. Which also resulted in the protagonist losing out on a bunch of achievements & titles. This character was essentially protected by the village the protagonist was living in. If I was in the protagonists shoes, I would have killed this character off, village be damned.
Despite my frustration I was engaged enough to finish the story. Most of the characters were well written and likable. My favorite scene (ironically enough) was when the protagonist¡¯s notes were being read aloud with magic used to reveal the hidden subtext. That scene felt truly novel to me. I also like the bond the protagonist is slowly creating with his adopted parents. Receiving the precursor to the illusionist class felt nice as well. Although predictable and lackluster compared to what he could have gotten if he got all the achievements and titles.
I don't like subversion. If done poorly, it becomes a cheap attempt at originality. Have the protagonist reveal their supposed meta knowledge on Isekai anime & RPG video games. Expositing to themselves that they should be granted powerful abilities by dint of the fact they are an otherworlder. Then reveal their apparent lack of ability. I don't find this premise completely objectionable. But it does have some fundamental issues.
Isekai as a genre has two primary appeals. (1) The protagonist is given the opportunity to start a new life while also providing an excuse to sever prior attachments. Despite this, the protagonist usually desires to return back home and it acts as a convenient long term goal for the stories progression. (2) It serves as wish fulfillment. Skills normally considered worthless by society are now made useful. Do you watch anime? Have an encyclopedic knowledge on fantasy tropes? Play TTRPGs and video games? Now's your chance to put all that to good use.
Being an otherworlder also provides an excuse to give the protagonist unique benefits. Maybe the protagonist is blessed by a powerful god along with a mission to save the world. Maybe the protagonist reincarnates as someone with a powerful bloodline or into royalty. Maybe the protagonist is summoned as the chosen hero and they gain a unique class. Maybe the system glitches and it creates a unique opportunity. Maybe the individual in question was a physicist, Marine or Game Developer in their previous life. There's always some sort of twist.
If you give the protagonist a younger body via reincarnation or in this instance possession. It becomes a convenient excuse to ask for basic Information without attracting suspicion. Starting off as an infant or child with the mind of an adult also gives an early advantage for whatever magic system is introduced.
Being a modern person from Earth usually grants a unique perspective devoid of any of the biases the native people of the new world possess. For example, the protagonist is told certain classes are inherently evil. But to the protagonist, classes are not inherently evil, some classes are more inclined towards evil in regards to their usage. But at the end of the day, the individuals behind the class are the ones committing said evil actions. Classes are simply tools that are provided by the system. The protagonist then decides to ignore the advice of the natives and the system takes his disposition into account during his class selection. An education in mathematics and scientific theory are also advantages depending on the magic system or if the story just so happens to be a city/kingdom builder. Queue explaining what germs are as well as modern crop rotation, soil fertilization, cement and more.
Being an otherwolder also provides an air of mystique. A special identity that the protagonist must keep hidden because of the potential consequences. Maybe otherworlders are feared, enslaved or killed for (x) reasons. It helps add more stakes and tension to the plot.
The author subverted pretty much everything. The protagonist basically gives up on the notion of returning back to earth. He is not provided any unique abilities besides a few rare titles that don¡¯t give any immediate benefits because their locked for the majority of the story. The protagonists identity as an otherworlder is quickly found out and there are no obvious drawbacks. But there are no benefits either. Being a child makes it even more difficult to gain information. This also extends to the one character that is aware of his identity but still treats him like a kid. He spends the majority of the story inefficiently training in a village and fails to min-max by acquiring a full list of titles & achievements. His meta knowledge is rendered useless and only provides a vague sense of familiarity. "I know what a few of these things are because I watched anime¡± is pretty much the extent of it. The mother of his new body was revealed to be a witch who defected from the BBEG. This reveal was lacklustre because we are given no reason that such a development would effect the plot going forward. He doesn¡¯t come into new power as result of this revelation and I doubt the BBEG even cares all that much. Both his mother and father are dead and he¡¯s just a kid from the BBEG¡¯s perspective. The author should have established a plot device that would make the BBEG keenly aware of the protagonists existence. Maybe the protagonist has a bloodline or artefact the BBEG wants or fears and suddenly the stakes are raised because the protagonist is now in very serious danger. I doubt the BBEG is even aware the protagonist exists. They only come into conflict because the town the protagonist is living in is a strategic location for the BBEG to send their forces through.
This is what happens when you fuck with the established formula. All you get is a ball of frustration from your readers. What makes isekai appealing is basically washed away. This is truly a bog standard isekai.
Response to a commenter: You can establish advantages that do not make the protagonist overpowered in the short term.
What else? I disliked the severe invasion of privacy. The gods can essentially read your mind. The protagonist should take more issue with the system and the gods. There was a physiologist character who respected the protagonists right to privacy. This single character has more integrity than the gods. I also have issues with the system. The gods can essentially alter or take away your titles and skills. I also doubt the system has the power to enable a path to godhood or immortality either. Some titles and achievements have variable effects. I personally don't like variable effects. I like set effects with rarer titles & achievements acquired through more difficult feats. The protagonist doesn't stand by his principles and basically capitulates to the gods. The nobility would have definitely developed a training methodology to acquire all the titles & achievements for their children despite the restrictions. Claiming otherwise is bad world building.
There was a character who went out of their way to ruin the protagonists reputation and manipulated the protagonist in encountering greater danger. Which also resulted in the protagonist losing out on a bunch of achievements & titles. This character was essentially protected by the village the protagonist was living in. If I was in the protagonists shoes, I would have killed this character off, village be damned.
Despite my frustration I was engaged enough to finish the story. Most of the characters were well written and likable. My favorite scene (ironically enough) was when the protagonist¡¯s notes were being read aloud with magic used to reveal the hidden subtext. That scene felt truly novel to me. I also like the bond the protagonist is slowly creating with his adopted parents. Receiving the precursor to the illusionist class felt nice as well. Although predictable and lackluster compared to what he could have gotten if he got all the achievements and titles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2024
Very well written, but I simply didn¡¯t enjoy it as much. Hopefully the second instalment will change my opinion
January 27, 2025
**audible review**
First of all Jonathan McLane does another amazing job narrating. I love his humor and pacing. Feels like I¡¯m listening to a movie not a book being narrated. I especially love the voice he uses for Hog.
The story never has a dull moment. Add to that the cool achievements the MC is hunting in preparation for the day he gets to pick a class and it was a blast. I especially loved the portion of the story where he chooses a class. Never saw it coming. It gave the story depth and nuance and I loved it!
First of all Jonathan McLane does another amazing job narrating. I love his humor and pacing. Feels like I¡¯m listening to a movie not a book being narrated. I especially love the voice he uses for Hog.
The story never has a dull moment. Add to that the cool achievements the MC is hunting in preparation for the day he gets to pick a class and it was a blast. I especially loved the portion of the story where he chooses a class. Never saw it coming. It gave the story depth and nuance and I loved it!
April 15, 2025
3.5 stars , pretty good start to a series
June 13, 2024
This Isekai is Great
Characters are well thought out and well written.?
story pacing is good, variety of different events happen with lore and secrets being revealed in a methodical manner, but with enough being held back to keep the reader guessing.
power advancement is good. World building is good.
There are emotional beats, could be more. But this is only the first book so I am sure that with the groundwork laid vis-¨¤-vis the MC and his relationships with other characters¡ let¡¯s just say there¡¯s a lot of potential for big emotional beats later imo.
On the whole, really well thought out and well written story. Will definitely continue to read the series and would advise others to take a look.
Characters are well thought out and well written.?
story pacing is good, variety of different events happen with lore and secrets being revealed in a methodical manner, but with enough being held back to keep the reader guessing.
power advancement is good. World building is good.
There are emotional beats, could be more. But this is only the first book so I am sure that with the groundwork laid vis-¨¤-vis the MC and his relationships with other characters¡ let¡¯s just say there¡¯s a lot of potential for big emotional beats later imo.
On the whole, really well thought out and well written story. Will definitely continue to read the series and would advise others to take a look.
January 18, 2025
In a world where child abuse gets rewarded.....
The more training you can get your child to do...
The more enemies you can get your child to fight...
The STRONGER your child will be. Forever.
The book is extremely verbose. I had to skim read and flat out skip pages to make it through.
The more training you can get your child to do...
The more enemies you can get your child to fight...
The STRONGER your child will be. Forever.
The book is extremely verbose. I had to skim read and flat out skip pages to make it through.
July 30, 2024
Okay.
But not in any way exceptional. Slow start with extended set up. Weak characters with a equally weak story line. A fun idea leaps this fron being any lower in rating.
But not in any way exceptional. Slow start with extended set up. Weak characters with a equally weak story line. A fun idea leaps this fron being any lower in rating.
April 1, 2025
I'm rounding the rating up for this novel, as it is well-written and has well-rounded characters. It's enjoyable to read, never makes you want to put the novel down, and is basically a pretty solid book.
So why does a novel like that need rounding up to four stars?
Because "pretty-solid" is all this book is.
It delivers the minimum needed to create a decent story but doesn't excel at anything. The characters are well written and believable, but none stand out as memorable or exceptional, and I formed no strong attachments to any of them. The action is well-paced and meaningful, but I can't think of any iconic or thrilling moments that stand out. The plot is competent enough to carry you through to the novel's end, but it's not so intriguing as to truly hook you and get you invested in the story.
Probably the best example of this is the isekai/regression plot device. What little of these elements were included in this book were handled well. The author didn't shy away from having the main character grieve over the world he had lost, nor ignore the awkwardness of having an adult mind in a child's body. What the author didn't do, though, was push these elements anywhere close to their potential.
The main character being from another world doesn't impact the story meaningfully. Besides a slightly heightened work ethic, he doesn't use any knowledge or experience from our world to give him an advantage in the new world. The same is true for the adult mind in a child's body, as again, it is only used to give the protagonist a slightly heightened drive to succeed. The book even goes so far as to nullify this aspect of the story by saying that because his body is twelve, his thoughts and feelings have regressed somewhat to his body's age.
These elements have the potential to create a character who is exceptional in many ways. Whether it's using knowledge from our technologically advanced world to give him an advantage in a magic-focused world or using the wisdom of an adult to excel in a world where children/teenagers are struggling to take their first steps on the path towards adulthood and developing classes, there was a lot left on the table here.
I would even go so far as to say that neither of these elements needed to be included in the story at all. The story could just as easily have gone with the protagonist's fake backstory of losing all his memories in the initial undead attack on his village, and it would be no worse for it. Most of what happens afterwards could be easily attributed to a lonely, traumatised child trying to survive/thrive after the harrowing experiences he has lived through.
Overall, this isn't a bad book, hence the 4-star rating, but truthfully, I only got three stars of enjoyment out of this one. Personally, I read fantasy novels because I love reading about exceptional people living up to their potential. It's frustrating to me to read a book with so much potential that wasn't only underutilised, but handled in a way that gives the impression it's never going to be utilised any better. I will pick up the next book on the off chance that it steps things up a bit going forward, but honestly, that's more curiosity for the unused potential than anything earned by this novel.
So why does a novel like that need rounding up to four stars?
Because "pretty-solid" is all this book is.
It delivers the minimum needed to create a decent story but doesn't excel at anything. The characters are well written and believable, but none stand out as memorable or exceptional, and I formed no strong attachments to any of them. The action is well-paced and meaningful, but I can't think of any iconic or thrilling moments that stand out. The plot is competent enough to carry you through to the novel's end, but it's not so intriguing as to truly hook you and get you invested in the story.
Probably the best example of this is the isekai/regression plot device. What little of these elements were included in this book were handled well. The author didn't shy away from having the main character grieve over the world he had lost, nor ignore the awkwardness of having an adult mind in a child's body. What the author didn't do, though, was push these elements anywhere close to their potential.
The main character being from another world doesn't impact the story meaningfully. Besides a slightly heightened work ethic, he doesn't use any knowledge or experience from our world to give him an advantage in the new world. The same is true for the adult mind in a child's body, as again, it is only used to give the protagonist a slightly heightened drive to succeed. The book even goes so far as to nullify this aspect of the story by saying that because his body is twelve, his thoughts and feelings have regressed somewhat to his body's age.
These elements have the potential to create a character who is exceptional in many ways. Whether it's using knowledge from our technologically advanced world to give him an advantage in a magic-focused world or using the wisdom of an adult to excel in a world where children/teenagers are struggling to take their first steps on the path towards adulthood and developing classes, there was a lot left on the table here.
I would even go so far as to say that neither of these elements needed to be included in the story at all. The story could just as easily have gone with the protagonist's fake backstory of losing all his memories in the initial undead attack on his village, and it would be no worse for it. Most of what happens afterwards could be easily attributed to a lonely, traumatised child trying to survive/thrive after the harrowing experiences he has lived through.
Overall, this isn't a bad book, hence the 4-star rating, but truthfully, I only got three stars of enjoyment out of this one. Personally, I read fantasy novels because I love reading about exceptional people living up to their potential. It's frustrating to me to read a book with so much potential that wasn't only underutilised, but handled in a way that gives the impression it's never going to be utilised any better. I will pick up the next book on the off chance that it steps things up a bit going forward, but honestly, that's more curiosity for the unused potential than anything earned by this novel.
February 18, 2025
wow that was such a fun ride - a surprisingly heartfelt and pretty well-written romp. spoilers ahead!
i think the best part of this is how real brin feels as a character, instead of a scarecrow going through (plot) motions. his anger, excitement, resentment, hope really comes across, thanks to the pacing - things like having him stuck in a cellar for days on end, him chilling out with other kids once he makes it to town. definitely slow burn but it's a kind of slow that's purposeful and fleshes a character out.
for all that majority of the book is a slow burn, epic moments are hella epic. the involuntary scream that came out of me when the child interrupted brin as he was about to pick his class. talk about not wasting a single shred of momentum.
the way the last 20% plays out is just - chef's kiss. from the moment brin chooses the scarred one and the sheer glee at the way his stats kept jumping - so satisfying after being blocked for almost the entire novel. and then it doesn't stop - weaving in brin's newly-persistent anger and emptiness as a succinct and effective way of showing the cons of choosing an evil class and juxtaposing against his new near-immortality just to show how alien and unlike his true self this new class makes him. and then just when doubts of power creep start trickling in, we get brin choosing to sacrifice all that new power and downgrading into the common class glasser, which surprise! can actually be upgraded into something incredible down the line, thereby staying thematically true to the spirit of grinding in an isekai? the sheer emotional turmoil, the rollercoaster of it all - brilliant.
and hogg! what an unexpected treasure of mentor figure turned dad. i was so pleasantly surprised by how well the relationship between brin and hogg grew, and how un-annoying it was. no secret identities, and even after a period of avoidance, hogg shares things with brin openly. and he doesn't die! nicely done.
but of course, this book isn't perfect. one major flaw is the atrocious misuse of tenses, especially with contractions like "it's not" instead of "it wasn't". very irritating but this is the rare instance where the story is good enough that i can tolerate the mistakes.
i think the best part of this is how real brin feels as a character, instead of a scarecrow going through (plot) motions. his anger, excitement, resentment, hope really comes across, thanks to the pacing - things like having him stuck in a cellar for days on end, him chilling out with other kids once he makes it to town. definitely slow burn but it's a kind of slow that's purposeful and fleshes a character out.
for all that majority of the book is a slow burn, epic moments are hella epic. the involuntary scream that came out of me when the child interrupted brin as he was about to pick his class. talk about not wasting a single shred of momentum.
the way the last 20% plays out is just - chef's kiss. from the moment brin chooses the scarred one and the sheer glee at the way his stats kept jumping - so satisfying after being blocked for almost the entire novel. and then it doesn't stop - weaving in brin's newly-persistent anger and emptiness as a succinct and effective way of showing the cons of choosing an evil class and juxtaposing against his new near-immortality just to show how alien and unlike his true self this new class makes him. and then just when doubts of power creep start trickling in, we get brin choosing to sacrifice all that new power and downgrading into the common class glasser, which surprise! can actually be upgraded into something incredible down the line, thereby staying thematically true to the spirit of grinding in an isekai? the sheer emotional turmoil, the rollercoaster of it all - brilliant.
and hogg! what an unexpected treasure of mentor figure turned dad. i was so pleasantly surprised by how well the relationship between brin and hogg grew, and how un-annoying it was. no secret identities, and even after a period of avoidance, hogg shares things with brin openly. and he doesn't die! nicely done.
but of course, this book isn't perfect. one major flaw is the atrocious misuse of tenses, especially with contractions like "it's not" instead of "it wasn't". very irritating but this is the rare instance where the story is good enough that i can tolerate the mistakes.
January 12, 2025
Listened to the Audiobook
(Bought this book because Johnathan McClain was the narrator. Love him in Noobtown and love him still in this book)
I was coming into this book with no expectations and left with that this book and narration are exceptional. This is probably the best where I seen someone from our world transfer into another character body in another world. Isekai fashion and all.
The hook - Great. Finding yourself in another world fighting for your life and just trying to get by. With someone that isnt from this world and into a 12 year old is pretty good. The introduction to the system is subtle a little at a time and has great pacing. A lot better than plenty of litrpgs and doesnt hammer you with them.
World - World building is hard to judge from an audiobook. I will say that the names for a lot of things kind of goes over your head. The general gist of the landscape and the bogs come clearly and has great development of the gods, religious figures, the pronounced obsession with witches, and gives you the feel of a medieval setting with some modern twists.
Characters -Characters is where this novel thrives. Matthew (I even forget his original name)/Brin is a well thought out character and the progress is great through the entire novel. The training and development,again, is at such a great pace. Hog (or daddy) is a great mentor to Brin and introduces a class that not many litrpgs go with in illusionist. The applications and ways its developed in the novel is awesome. The younger kids to even his own adopted mother are all good. Favorite side character goes to Hog or Paris the leatherworker. Love that guy.
One of the best litrpgs I have read(listened) to in quiet some time. Book acknowledges toward the end about the weirdness of 26 year old in a 14 year old body for dating and such. I would like romantic interest sometime during the journey but doesnt have to be now. Brin needs to be smacked over the head sometimes.
Maxie rules!
(Bought this book because Johnathan McClain was the narrator. Love him in Noobtown and love him still in this book)
I was coming into this book with no expectations and left with that this book and narration are exceptional. This is probably the best where I seen someone from our world transfer into another character body in another world. Isekai fashion and all.
The hook - Great. Finding yourself in another world fighting for your life and just trying to get by. With someone that isnt from this world and into a 12 year old is pretty good. The introduction to the system is subtle a little at a time and has great pacing. A lot better than plenty of litrpgs and doesnt hammer you with them.
World - World building is hard to judge from an audiobook. I will say that the names for a lot of things kind of goes over your head. The general gist of the landscape and the bogs come clearly and has great development of the gods, religious figures, the pronounced obsession with witches, and gives you the feel of a medieval setting with some modern twists.
Characters -Characters is where this novel thrives. Matthew (I even forget his original name)/Brin is a well thought out character and the progress is great through the entire novel. The training and development,again, is at such a great pace. Hog (or daddy) is a great mentor to Brin and introduces a class that not many litrpgs go with in illusionist. The applications and ways its developed in the novel is awesome. The younger kids to even his own adopted mother are all good. Favorite side character goes to Hog or Paris the leatherworker. Love that guy.
One of the best litrpgs I have read(listened) to in quiet some time. Book acknowledges toward the end about the weirdness of 26 year old in a 14 year old body for dating and such. I would like romantic interest sometime during the journey but doesnt have to be now. Brin needs to be smacked over the head sometimes.
Maxie rules!
February 5, 2025
This book was a solid 2 stars for about 70%, and then a solid 4 stars for the remaining 30%. Somehow that averaged out to a 3-star review, and me currently halfway through the sequel.
I got the recommendation for Bog Standard Isekai from Reddit, and after over 2,500 pages of Mother of Learning, I wanted a lighter commitment. (I didn't realize this was going to be a trilogy, and not just two books, but it's too late now.)
As with most LitRPGs, the writing isn't exactly... impressive. Some of the dialogue is awkward. Words repeat multiple times in a paragraph. Brin's internal dialogue isn't always convincing. The geography and politics are hard to follow, and they're both crucial to the plot.
So why am I halfway through Book 2? I really enjoyed the fact that the system in this world is part of every day life, and not just an element of warfare. The fact that the townsfolk all have Classes, for every profession (Launderer, Digger, Crafter), that they can level up and get extremely skilled at is pretty cool. I find those a lot more interesting than the classic battle-oriented Classes in most role-playing games. Even the take on bards here is refreshing. That alone might not have been enough to carry me over, but the adrenaline rush from the final 30% did the job. (And so far Book 2 seems to be keeping up.)
I got the recommendation for Bog Standard Isekai from Reddit, and after over 2,500 pages of Mother of Learning, I wanted a lighter commitment. (I didn't realize this was going to be a trilogy, and not just two books, but it's too late now.)
As with most LitRPGs, the writing isn't exactly... impressive. Some of the dialogue is awkward. Words repeat multiple times in a paragraph. Brin's internal dialogue isn't always convincing. The geography and politics are hard to follow, and they're both crucial to the plot.
So why am I halfway through Book 2? I really enjoyed the fact that the system in this world is part of every day life, and not just an element of warfare. The fact that the townsfolk all have Classes, for every profession (Launderer, Digger, Crafter), that they can level up and get extremely skilled at is pretty cool. I find those a lot more interesting than the classic battle-oriented Classes in most role-playing games. Even the take on bards here is refreshing. That alone might not have been enough to carry me over, but the adrenaline rush from the final 30% did the job. (And so far Book 2 seems to be keeping up.)
May 31, 2024
Mark is an outworlder who finds himself in a game realm, in the body of a child called Brin the mistaken in the Frenarian language, which he seemed to know somehow as he awoke in a burnt out mediaeval village with undead attacking the village once night arrived. He could not gain powers or improve his stats as he was a child still, so how was he to survive in this crazy new world he finds himself in? Brin is favoured by the goddess Solia who warned him he was in danger but did not tell him of who or what! He did his best to survive the lonely fearsome nights in the cellars of the burnt out houses until helped arrived in the form of adventurers who had taken him on as a quest. One of whom took him to his own town as his adoptive father. There Brin trains hard to improve, but even in the land of the living it seems he is not safe as there were those who saw him as dangerous and incited others against him. However his perseverance will see him through the worst of his challenges, until it is time for him to be tested on system day whereby he would have his game unlocked. This is the first book in the new Isekai LitRPG series which I am hoping will get even more exciting in book 2, once Brin is now well into the game!
November 23, 2024
4++, because the author has done an excellent job. I'm going to give the 2nd book a 5 just to show that I appreciated all the work.
Mark is dead and finds himself in the body of a child from a world other than ours in a town inhabited by the living dead. And it's with a beginning that could almost be considered classic in the isekai genre that the author already starts to get off the beaten track (I'd say easy) by creating a fresh, albeit slow, coherent and plausible story.
Without spoiling too much, you can forget the classic ¡°Chosen one story¡±, and other ¡°Legendary and rare class/artifact¡± that will make Mark seem invincible, immortal, super-powerful and after reading hundreds of them... bland.
Every action is risky, every reward hard-worked, every achievement a deserved success.
The consequence of this will be a certain slowness in the book which, depending on your mood, might make you want to move on.
An excellent surprise that I hope you'll enjoy!
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Mark is dead and finds himself in the body of a child from a world other than ours in a town inhabited by the living dead. And it's with a beginning that could almost be considered classic in the isekai genre that the author already starts to get off the beaten track (I'd say easy) by creating a fresh, albeit slow, coherent and plausible story.
Without spoiling too much, you can forget the classic ¡°Chosen one story¡±, and other ¡°Legendary and rare class/artifact¡± that will make Mark seem invincible, immortal, super-powerful and after reading hundreds of them... bland.
Every action is risky, every reward hard-worked, every achievement a deserved success.
The consequence of this will be a certain slowness in the book which, depending on your mood, might make you want to move on.
An excellent surprise that I hope you'll enjoy!
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
October 11, 2024
Sour Grapes
At first I was slightly uninterested in this book. It honestly felt fairly meh and didn¡¯t grab me. I kept reading and the further I went, the more interested and invested I became in the characters. Towards the end I was excited to see what would happen and what class Brin would get, till about the last 10% of the book I enjoyed it. Then came class selection¡.
Honestly the last 10% of this book was such a disappointment and load of crap that I don¡¯t know if I will continue the series. I have this 3 stars because the story till then was good, but that last section was such a massive let down that I just find myself not caring anymore. Not to give spoilers but the classes he gets are just stupid as hell. There was no actual resolution of conflict or closure of anything, you¡¯re just left feeling like the whole thing was a waste of time
Also for the main character nothing about him feels special or worth him being isekai¡¯d. He is just there.
At first I was slightly uninterested in this book. It honestly felt fairly meh and didn¡¯t grab me. I kept reading and the further I went, the more interested and invested I became in the characters. Towards the end I was excited to see what would happen and what class Brin would get, till about the last 10% of the book I enjoyed it. Then came class selection¡.
Honestly the last 10% of this book was such a disappointment and load of crap that I don¡¯t know if I will continue the series. I have this 3 stars because the story till then was good, but that last section was such a massive let down that I just find myself not caring anymore. Not to give spoilers but the classes he gets are just stupid as hell. There was no actual resolution of conflict or closure of anything, you¡¯re just left feeling like the whole thing was a waste of time
Also for the main character nothing about him feels special or worth him being isekai¡¯d. He is just there.
December 1, 2024
I usually treat the YA genre tag as an immediate 'do not read'. Generally it seems to indicate overly simplistic writing and annoying characters. This is not that kind of book. Now this isn't one of Joe Abercrombie's books, but it is reasonably written and edited. Things that are sorely lacking in the litrpg genre.
I came to this after finishing the first three, He Who Fights With Monsters. books, and by the end of the third I couldn't take anymore despite enjoying parts of the story. The problem? A lack of editing; needless repetition, sometimes of the exact same text, and some truly horrible fights where every paragraph of prose was interspersed with full descriptions of each skill being used.
Bog Standard Isekai does not have these problems. It has restored my faith that there are some litrpg authors who take pride in their work and aren't just throwing whatever they put on Royal Road into a 'book' and calling it a day.
Some of the characters are a little underdeveloped and there are some plot holes but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Popcorn movie rating 4/5
I came to this after finishing the first three, He Who Fights With Monsters. books, and by the end of the third I couldn't take anymore despite enjoying parts of the story. The problem? A lack of editing; needless repetition, sometimes of the exact same text, and some truly horrible fights where every paragraph of prose was interspersed with full descriptions of each skill being used.
Bog Standard Isekai does not have these problems. It has restored my faith that there are some litrpg authors who take pride in their work and aren't just throwing whatever they put on Royal Road into a 'book' and calling it a day.
Some of the characters are a little underdeveloped and there are some plot holes but overall it was an enjoyable read.
Popcorn movie rating 4/5
April 11, 2025
Great Isekai - Should Read
A fantastic author with a fantastic story. However, it is very apparent that this was written as a sequential story on something like Royal Road. The problem is the same problem of every story that¡¯s written this way. The author does not have the ability to go back and edit things or rewrite sections so instead they make course corrections later on in the story. The issue here? The author listens to a very, very small percent of the readers on some small detail that they caught and feels like, or worries that, they have to plug some hole that doesn¡¯t exist for nearly 100% of the viewers. Write with conviction. The only holes in the story were unseen by nearly everyone. Course correcting later makes it seem like you¡¯ve made a mistake that is now glaringly obvious to the reader. The corrections suspend belief for the whole story, which of course, is the last thing an author wants to do.
A fantastic author with a fantastic story. However, it is very apparent that this was written as a sequential story on something like Royal Road. The problem is the same problem of every story that¡¯s written this way. The author does not have the ability to go back and edit things or rewrite sections so instead they make course corrections later on in the story. The issue here? The author listens to a very, very small percent of the readers on some small detail that they caught and feels like, or worries that, they have to plug some hole that doesn¡¯t exist for nearly 100% of the viewers. Write with conviction. The only holes in the story were unseen by nearly everyone. Course correcting later makes it seem like you¡¯ve made a mistake that is now glaringly obvious to the reader. The corrections suspend belief for the whole story, which of course, is the last thing an author wants to do.
November 6, 2024
fun
Reincarnated young man wakes in the body of a boy in a town filled with undead. He survives for weeks before he¡¯s rescued and adopted by one of his rescuers. He is vilified by a socialite and makes friends. He chases achievements and gets caught by the undead yet again with his only chance at saving himself and his new family to take an evil class. He wins and finds a way to give up the class. His new class gives him a way to schedule his dreams. Book ends.
A fun listen in an intriguing world. The world system is interesting. The narrators are wonderful! The humor and voice are superb. Great pacing, good character growth and world building. Very captivating. Please enjoy.
Reincarnated young man wakes in the body of a boy in a town filled with undead. He survives for weeks before he¡¯s rescued and adopted by one of his rescuers. He is vilified by a socialite and makes friends. He chases achievements and gets caught by the undead yet again with his only chance at saving himself and his new family to take an evil class. He wins and finds a way to give up the class. His new class gives him a way to schedule his dreams. Book ends.
A fun listen in an intriguing world. The world system is interesting. The narrators are wonderful! The humor and voice are superb. Great pacing, good character growth and world building. Very captivating. Please enjoy.
January 22, 2025
Via Audiobook, written after listening to first two books:
Overall a good isekai story that doesn't pay homage to the OP MC trope too much.
A good first installment that balances out the trauma of a past life with growing out of childhood for a second time.
Happily no love arc (as that would be weird in this context, though it is addressed at one point).
There is a LOT of humor in this book that could've gone pear-shaped with the wrong narrator...Johnathan McClain smashed this one to bitz! His timing with the humor was impeccable, and even injected humor in typically dry areas such as reciting the skills table etc.
I'll be listening to this one again after the series is completed...currently I need the third installment.
Overall a good isekai story that doesn't pay homage to the OP MC trope too much.
A good first installment that balances out the trauma of a past life with growing out of childhood for a second time.
Happily no love arc (as that would be weird in this context, though it is addressed at one point).
There is a LOT of humor in this book that could've gone pear-shaped with the wrong narrator...Johnathan McClain smashed this one to bitz! His timing with the humor was impeccable, and even injected humor in typically dry areas such as reciting the skills table etc.
I'll be listening to this one again after the series is completed...currently I need the third installment.
August 10, 2024
Okay but overly contrived story
I found the idea that the undead fake strength against their weakness hilarious. The fact that elite hunt and even a paladin fell for this was ridiculous..
The nemesis seems to be rather confused- on the one hand they let the undead maraud for ages on the other they try to keep their existence a secret.. How do you hide hordes of undead on the move from elite scouts searching for them exactly?
Illusionists are ridiculously overpowered in this story.
I really was no fan of classes that make you evil by choosing them and found the ending contrived once again..
I found the idea that the undead fake strength against their weakness hilarious. The fact that elite hunt and even a paladin fell for this was ridiculous..
The nemesis seems to be rather confused- on the one hand they let the undead maraud for ages on the other they try to keep their existence a secret.. How do you hide hordes of undead on the move from elite scouts searching for them exactly?
Illusionists are ridiculously overpowered in this story.
I really was no fan of classes that make you evil by choosing them and found the ending contrived once again..
November 22, 2024
My initial impression of this was a little underwhelming. It really did feel like a bog standard isekai. That lasted through Part 1. Once we got past that, the story focused on leveling up and I found myself getting more invested. Seeing the protagonist trying to get stronger, working through his trauma, and forming relationships became increasingly compelling. There's a good amount of humorous dialog. By the end, there was a bit of mystery, and a few twists and turns that had me thoroughly engrossed. When I finished, I almost bought the sequel immediately. Overall, recommended.
April 14, 2025
Pretty solid story. The protagonist gets isekaid into the body of a child and begins to train to form a foundation for his first class, while getting harassed by the town¡¯s mystical woman/ future teller.
All in all the characters were well written and had the strength, weaknesses and difficulties to adapt to new situations. Hogg his adoptive father was a clear favorite.
I was a bit disappointed at the class he got in the end. I thought the ?evil class¡° he was pressed into taking sounded at lot cooler and more interesting.
All in all the characters were well written and had the strength, weaknesses and difficulties to adapt to new situations. Hogg his adoptive father was a clear favorite.
I was a bit disappointed at the class he got in the end. I thought the ?evil class¡° he was pressed into taking sounded at lot cooler and more interesting.
April 23, 2025
Book 1 of a fantasy?LitRPG series with system and isekai/portal elements.? Mark dies on Earth but is brought back to life in the body of a 12 year old boy on a fantasy world.? He has to survive a scary situation at first and then adapt to living in a town on this new world.
As technically a child the protagonist does not have a real class yet and much of the story is on him preparing for that to unlock.? There is also the looming threat of a mysterious undead army.
This book did end up grabbing my interest and I'm eager to continue reading the series.
As technically a child the protagonist does not have a real class yet and much of the story is on him preparing for that to unlock.? There is also the looming threat of a mysterious undead army.
This book did end up grabbing my interest and I'm eager to continue reading the series.
June 17, 2024
I'll be looking for the sequal
I was not expecting much when I picked up this book. I didn't particularly like the MC to start, but that quickly changed. It took a couple of chapters but I ended up invested in the characters and the storyline. The MC has to work to better himself and there are no 'cheat' superpowers. I also really liked that your class does not prevent you from learning things outside of it on your own. Anyone can boost their stats with work, etc.
I was not expecting much when I picked up this book. I didn't particularly like the MC to start, but that quickly changed. It took a couple of chapters but I ended up invested in the characters and the storyline. The MC has to work to better himself and there are no 'cheat' superpowers. I also really liked that your class does not prevent you from learning things outside of it on your own. Anyone can boost their stats with work, etc.
June 19, 2024
I was actually enjoying the characters in this. It wasn't the best ever but it was enjoyable. But.. The author did something that I despise. Yes all stories are contrived. That is sort of the point of being an author. But this story depicts a character that doesn't want ANY of the choices they are forced too take by the obviously contrived story. Its like watching someone else be forced to play a TTRPG with the most railroady of GMs who smites any and all player agency. Forget that.
July 14, 2024
I enjoyed it immensely
Fantastic from start to finish a young man is isekaied to another world put into a young child's body and has to survive not only the undead and puberty but murder death intrigue and girls, the Last could be the most deadly of all of them.
Now get ready for book two as this book is only the part of the rollercoaster going up the scary bit is I hope it continues with the suspense and drama.
Fantastic from start to finish a young man is isekaied to another world put into a young child's body and has to survive not only the undead and puberty but murder death intrigue and girls, the Last could be the most deadly of all of them.
Now get ready for book two as this book is only the part of the rollercoaster going up the scary bit is I hope it continues with the suspense and drama.
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