(There are some very indirect spoilers in this review) I've read nearly the entirety of this work over the course of the last month, because it was that incredibly engaging of writing. I'm not sure there is a better compliment or critique of a work than that, because the ability to make the reader want to engage, want to turn or scroll to the next page, and thirst to find out more is why we write. Everything else is just flavor.
So, why is this engaging?
The protagonist as an asexual monster is one of the best blue/orange morality characters I have ever seen. Seeing them as the featured character, instead of a side character or villain, makes the development and portrayal so much more impactful. This creature eats humans, it uses a facade of a loving relationship to bolster its own levels and it’s wife’s survival is always rooted in advantage rather than feeling. The way that it also comes at teamwork and relationships within the concept of benefit and mutual gain rather than ideas of morality, friendship, or whatever is fantastic.
After reading and watching a billion Hero’s Journey protangist within and outside the litrpg setting makes this story not only shine with a tasty golden aura but makes me feel like every other new story is going to feel boring and stale going through the motions of being a hero.
I’ve always loved the concept of blue/orange morality and this work is the best example I have ever seen.
What are you, Brandon Sanderson or something?
I’m someone who enjoys making spreadsheets for my dnd characters. I love numbers and mechanics in video games or board games. I’m not the best at these things, I’m not the best gamer, but it is an interest and hobby that I pursue.
That said, the foundation of this world and the rules therein and how organically they are developed within the story is on par, if not better, than a Brandon Sanderson magic system. It all has a logic to it, it all feels complicated, but ultimately fair.
While this would be great in itself, the way that the mechanics of this world serve to both develop and enhance the characters in it are superb. We get a very real idea of power levels, of consequence of action, and scale of encounters. When we’re told a monster is powerful, or big, or threatening in a traditional story, it can be very hard for the reader to eviserally feel a threat. Authors are then forced to Wharf some hero to establish threat level and that gets stale as hell. In this story, when we see a monster with six digit health points, we know that guy is a serious threat. When we see a skill raise 3 levels by avoiding two attacks, we understand the real scope and danger of the attacks being cast, because we spent 2000 some pages seeing how slow proficiency raises. When we see a person dismantle another in combat, achieving a flawless victory by using a faction of their power, we understand truly how little a person’s stats can matter if there is an extreme difference in combat experience.
Everything in this story helps to develop and support everything else. The story is more than the sum of its parts, because the characters and world work beautifully together to make you want to read another page, make you wonder how powerful someone is going to get, and see that new blue note of something of interest happening.
Sex is Part of Life
This story is not safe for work and there is a lot of sex or sexual acts in this story. While there is a great deal of it, I wouldn’t call it gratuitous. Instead, I’m reminded of Oglaf and what a story can do when it isn’t afraid to just do whatever. I’m asexual, I don’t really benefit from the scenes like other people might, but as a writer I really enjoy the subject being explored. It is so often written off completely or treated as the most special night between the hero and their partner. Sex can be special, it can be for fun, it can be everything therein and outside of that binary and I think we see a number of that reflected here.
To me, I think this makes the story breathe.
Misc
I think one of the authors best abilities is writing and developing characters. Kurt Vonnegut’s Sirens of Titan features two characters who have been mind controlled. One of the scenes of the book is them reestablishing their identities, figuring out a puzzle, and escaping from a cavern they had been trapped in. The way Kurt explores intelligence and the building of identity was something that always stuck with me and I think this author does this kind of scene justice.
I started playing path of exile because of this story. I just wanted to explore something with a very complicated and customizable system that feature progression. It does a pretty good job of filling that need and feeling like you’re a small part of the world the author created.
Criticisms
As an author I try to ignore any kind of praise and look for what people hated, because they are the ones who actually see me, right? Twenty people saying, ‘Wow, great job, you’re amazing’ is bullsh*t. I’m looking for that one person saying, ‘you’re terrible and should feel terrible.’
I don’t know if this author feels that and honestly I don’t have any real criticisms. I have not enjoyed a story like this in a long time. My favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut, Terry Prachett, Chuck Palahniuk (kinda), Philip K Dick, and Huraki Murakami. This is just to give an idea of my tastes for relevancy. With that said, I don’t consider Exterminatus writing to be less than any of those authors. Different in scope and themes and scales, but we’re not talking a difference in talent, but one of flavor and this rpglit is a flavor is really enjoyable.
For people who for whatever reason are reading this before reading this story, I will say that Exterminatus style is very direct writing. Most of the story doesn’t mince words and every sentence works towards building something. In this regard there isn’t often flowery passages or a heap of metaphors. He rarely if ever waxes poetic on the topic or gets indulgent with the writing beyond the sex scenes. Like I tried to convey above, this isn’t a criticism, but just an indication of flavor. Personally I think the writing style helps reinforce the notion of both the protagonist and world as progression based.
Conclusion - Note to Author
Thank you for pouring so much of yourself into this work. It’s unbelievable that you wrote so much in just two years, that level of prolific could mirror the protagonists own drive. I sincerely hope that you both continue to write this to whatever natural progression you feel best and that you get the money and appreciation that you deserve for the quality and magnitude of this work. I have no idea what you were doing before this, but holy heck, you’re a powerhouse and beyond every other thought and feeling you have about your own work and self, know that I’m another person who greatly respects, appreciates, and shares your work.
All the love
Faye
