Hell to Pay: Ascend Online, Book 3

Like everyone here, I had been waiting for "Ascend Online" book 2, and when I saw that Luke Chmilenko had brought out a new book I immediately stopped what I was doing (studying for an exam in the morning) to read.And like everyone, I will admit that I was disappointed to find out that the book didn't follow the characters we've all grown to love from the first book. These are entirely new new characters and is set in a completely different city, and moves in an entirely different direction than book 1.It is unfair to judge a book that is as self-contained as "Ascend Online: Hell to Pay" from the context of an entirely different book -- even by the same author -- but it is inevitable. First of all, the adventurers in book 1 were your typical heroic characters. Lyrian was the standard nice guy defender of the town and defeater of darkness kind of player that is somewhat of a cliche in LitRPG books (um... fantasy books in general, actually). Secondly there is a bit of a trend in LitRPG to go towards city building, and I suspect that, with Adlford temporarily safe, a large part of the LitRPG community was hoping or even expected Luke to follow in Aleron's path and go for a bit of village growth.That said, the new book is damned good. The new characters are more anti-hero than you usually run into in this sub-genre. The perspective of someone staying in the starter city because they don't care about defeating monsters, and there is enough interesting to do right where they are, is frickin interesting. And to be honest, I think the writing is actually better than Luke's first book. Once you get past the fact that these are entirely new character's that have nothing yet to do with Book 1, the book becomes completely enjoyable. That this book isn't a carbon copy of how a fantasy novel progresses is actually a point in Luke's favor.That said, I wish there had been more links to the first book. Maybe Luke could have made Lazarus college roommates with Lyrian, and pass the occasional text message back and forth between them. Maybe bump into someone from Adleford who came to buy supplies. Little things to remind the reader that: "Hey, this isn't an entirely new path, just a slight detour that will make the series richer." As it is right now, as far as I can remember, there is only one reference to book one in the entire book. A vague reference about 17% in about not stopping running until they hit Adlford.As a result, despite the superior quality and being a really good story, I am only giving "Ascend Online: Hell to Pay" 4 stars out of 5. It is definitely a 5 star book, but looses one star simply because of its detachment from the first book. This isn't fair of me, but life isn't fair. When book 3 comes out, I may revise my rating.

I listened to the first book and read along as well. I got the audible version and didn't use the text to speech to do my listening. The voice actor - not sure who it was- was great and I really liked the book much better since I had went ahead and got the audible version too. Anyway, this second book was one I was not wanting to get because I looked at it and it did not seem like it should be the next one, it really seemed like something was wrong and book three should be two...at least to me that is what I thought. So, I put if off on buying it but the story was something that stayed in my mind and though I read a few books in between, I went ahead and decided to get this book after all so I could just 'get it over with' and then move on to book three. I also got the audible version again since I enjoyed it so much the first book. And btw, I do NOT normally get audible versions with anything I am not even sure why I got the first book in both audible and book form to begin with. Back to the book-- I began to listen to it and my husband was in the room, before I knew it he kept piping up with questions and became very engrossed in the story. I was hesitant to admit that I liked it because I was still wanting it to be about the characters from the first book but I have to say I couldn't help but enjoy the story! I am not one to have ever listened to a lit- rpg book before that first book came out. Somehow, I ended up purchasing that first one and the audible and it exposed me to this genre. I haven't listened ot any other authors or books in this type off book but so far I am a fan. If they are as good as this author's books, I will definitely read more. So my review would normally be a full five stars but I honestly have to say I could of done without the cussing. And just a note here, even if there were cussing in it just randomly here and there I could of just never thought a thing about it but the same cussword (f word) was used repeatedly by a lot of the characters and it just made it seem overboard to me. In summary, I like the genre as far as having only the first and second books from this author as a reference, and I like the style of writing , I like the content (except overboard on cusswords), and I like the person who reads the audible version. I would recommend but would do it with saying something about the cussing just in case people are sensitive to that. Also, note, my husband jumped right in on the second book without having a clue about the first one and he thoroughly enjoyed it as well. We will absolutely buy the third and probably the audible version too and would venture to say that we would probably buy whatever else this particular author ever writes.

To start, this novel is in the same world as the first book (Ascend Online), but follows different characters. For those who wish to jump directly into the next part of the story for the original cast of characters, there is another book "Legacy of the Fallen" that you can pick up instead. Even so, I'd still suggest reading this book before Legacy of the Fallen, as it has characters that (although well explained and referenced in that book) do first appear in this novel.This book starts off somewhat differently than the first (Ascend Online) in that we have a main character who started in the city versus the wilder country that the first book is set in. This character also has a few levels, so we aren't starting at level 1 with a new person - but a new fresh set of characters who have a little backstory already. The main character starts without memory, and that becomes a key plot point the author sticks to until the end - and follows through with a fantastic final act.This story contains:Leveling!Interesting Magic FeaturesStrong main characterIntrigue

I love this series, it's not too crunchy with stats and has a good story. I also like that the characters aren't trapped in the VR game, and that it introduces a world outside of the game. Also that the world outside is fleshed out and is a convincingly described future with the way our technology is developing. I've read quite a few LitRPG/ GameLit series now and this will be at the top of my follow list. Eagerly awaiting book 4. My only feedback would be that this would be better set as book 2 instead of 3, as it seems to make more sense it being in the middle of both books about Lyrian due to it introducing characters and plots that happen between book 1 & 2.

I really enjoyed this and on balance I think was actually better than the first. Yes it follows different characters but you get over that pretty quick. It’s also entirely city based which is fairly novel for a litRGP book. In fact I wish he’d explore the city a bit more, thrown in some taverns etc.My only slight criticism is that’s it’s not litRGP enough. I really enjoy seeing the stats of items and during battles but compared to many series this is kind light on that stuff.Overall really good though. Thanks!

Loved this book and the premise that it is a full immersive game.

Really enjoyed this book. Different characters as the first but same game world. Highly recommended read after Ascend Online #1

Ich mag die Geschichte von Ascend Online. Wenn man aber bereits nach dem ersten Buch den Protagonisten ändert und eine nahezu unwichtige Geschichte für den MainArc schreibt, sollte man Side Quest oder Side Story dazu schreiben.Solche Geschichten lese ich durchaus Mal. Aber eher bei längeren Serien die ich liebgewonnen habe. Sonst Folge ich lieber dem Hauptcharakter und verzichte auf für die Geschichte unrelevantes. Hätte er beide Geschichten in wechselnden Kapiteln geschrieben hätte mich das nicht so sehr g. Aber so hatte ich nur das Gefühl, dass ich mich da durchlesen muss um endlich zu erfahren wie es weitergeht. Bei einzelnen Kapiteln ist das kein Ding. Aber ein ganzes Buch nervt dann schon.Ein Bewertung hat Mal geschrieben. Der Autor scheint kein Gamer zu sein. Und das es hier deutlich wird. Das mag ich zwar mit Sicherheit nicht sagen, aber bei den unterschiedlichen Fähigkeiten sind einige zumindest zu wichtig und es kommen etwas unrunde Charaktere raus.Kein wirklich schlechtes Buch, aber eben halt auch kein gutes. Lasst es weg und ihr verpasst nicht wirklich etwas.Gegen Ende würde es etwas besser, aber ich bin mit Lazarus nicht ganz warm geworden. Ich lese es irgendwann nochmal und hoffe das es einzeln betrachtet besser weg kommt.