America

Artorian's Archives, Book 18

By: Dennis Vanderkerken, Dakota Krout

Narrated by: John Pirhalla

Modern day. Cars! Computers! Streaming?

Hello Everyone! This is Wholesome Grandpa streaming, on for more learning and reading. Today we'll be watching with Grandpa to figure out what things are in today's segment of "what are things?" After that, I will be reading to you for an hour. Then we shall be playing games, and we will frag that noob this time! But first, the news!

In Grandpa times, we continue to struggle to find a good place to live, to become a real Cultivator again, and the clock on the Heavenlies is running out. Then there's the whole prospect of the Chains of Chaos completely unraveling at great cost to local reality. I'm going to need yet another pillow for the pile.

In worldly news, daily life proves to be difficult as most Cultivators prove that they can't hold down a normal job. You can do it, people! I believe in you!

That's all for the news. Now everyone strap in and prepare your backseats. We're taking our scheduled break, and will come back storming out of the gate to the usual beat. Same wholesome Grandpa place, same wholesome Grandpa time!

©2024 Dakota Krout (P)2024 Mountaindale Press

It's the End of the World as we Know It

*** I Received an ARC from Mountaindale Press ***

We have finally caught up to Completionist Chronicles and get to see what Artorian was up to while the early events of that series were happening. This book tees up a lot of new cultivation content going forward. Lots of new lore and, as always, tons of puns and meta jokes.

I am looking forward to more books and seeing Artorian grow to new heights.

Years of Emotions and Anticipation!

Years of emotions and anticipation come full circle from DD, to the AA, and CC series, and a glimpse into the future. Performance out of this world giving life by great writing.

AA 18 - The Good, The Bad and The Love

Granted first off i know that this was supposed to be the kick off of the “endgame” or apotheosis of artorian triumph. granted at the start of the book i had many laughs and was happy to see A and A live life. but as the story progressed the tangents just kept getting more boring and boring. i feel like some of the side stories could of been one offs or a anthology all of their own.

i had a lot of wanting to see where this book went and when cultivation stated back up again i was happy but the cliff it was left on to not touch on the subject again at all in the late chapters of the book was a bit disappointing. and then the end bbeg well that was way out of left field like oooh peice of candy, oooh peice of candy, oooh giant left shark, huh left shark why are you here, was there a continuity break some how, what in the cal!

its nice to know our white beard is back again but the train of thought is derailed several miles back and the gnome with the wooden train whistle going choo choo isnt helping. i would of been more happy if the bbeg was a heir of zeni but that would be too much it seems.

so sorry daktoa and Dennis but as the story kept flipping direction i think ill have to give this book a 4 out of five and say its the less read version of AA as i think 17 was more concise in telling then 18

Dang Nabbit!

Why must you do this to us! I am now flipping tables and breaking window out of pure frustration on having to wait for the next book!

Jumped around the story

It felt like there was no consistency in the story with extra filler to bulk out the story

Divine dungeon

I love the shadow work process that is integrated into the story, it so helpful to learn how to actually mature.

I can’t wait for the next one.

As always I’m blown away. I love how you get to see Artorian react to modern day technology and ideas. The chapter with him discussing self love was probably my absolute favourite part of the whole book.

More like a blog or patron with some story mixed in

Content feels like a bundle of loose world notes/ideas, mixed with any pun or popculture reference available, wrapped in a thin stretched short story, and then dosed in a pleas for fan fics and social engagement.

Pacing isn't enjoyable and if not for the pieces of setup for the next books I would say skip it entirely.

Cutting this down into a novella would have been the smarter move, a lot should just be a series of blog posts

Mostly Filler

I love the Artorian Archives series, but this book is the first in the series that I've felt wasn't worth the price, especially since it isn't available discounted via WhisperSync. I'm assuming that it's necessary connective tissue for the overarching story, but there wasn't really any plot arc to this book on its own. I'm hoping that means the next one will make it worth slogging through this one.

Mixed Bag

The previous book had me feeling good. The start of this one was enjoyable, I liked Artorian and Dawn in modern times, it was fun. I wasn't a fan of the constant notes and messages we were bombarded with. Whole chapters dedicated to inane information that would never be useful or even come up again. I was enjoying the progress that was being made midway through the book, and then it all came to a crawl. The last 2 and a half hours were a real slog to get through. By then whenever a new tangent started I was like "Holy Heavenlies, CAN WE FOCUS!?"