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

Finally back to form

After to many book with to many characters and information stuffing, we have a book that’s fun to listen to. You can start to hear Dakotas voice again in the book which has been gone for some time. Looking forward to the last 3 book!

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!

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.

Divine dungeon

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

Ready your fusion Beamer

This is a nice addition to the chronicles, lots of backstory and universe filling. A little bit nitty-gritty, but still a great read. Pirhalla is amazing as always can’t wait for the next installment.

losing hope

I'll admit the first books of artorian archives were hard for me to get into, but I quickly began to love the character and the rich retelling of the Divine Dungeon series from a different perspective. it was really fantastic! I even liked some of the world building in Cal's soulspace, but every single book has degraded in quality. Random stuff would happen, and all the names would be changed. it became harder and harder to focus and care, but I had invested so much time and so many credits all with the lure of finding hidden treats and lore associated with Joe and the completionist chronicles. We finally seem to be there, but we only get off handed remarks that blow by so quickly as you drone off from the pointless, endless lists... I feel like there is still hope, and there seems to be a building to something again. I still have 30 minutes left to finish the book, but I am struggling to listen or care. I just had to write a review. I hope the authors can focus on tying up the loose ends and give Artorian a proper ending to the series. Maybe take a little extra time on it rather than pumping out a new book every couple months like it seems. You have some amazing work, please give the series the proper attention!

Dennis do something, anything please

This entire series has been allergic to things happening since they entered the soul space. I’m hoping this is the end of that since we’re finally somewhere in the story where there can be actual risk. This book itself is almost %10 lists of things. Every few chapters the writing gets close to something interesting or some possible character moments then veers away from them like it’s scared of telling its characters they could grow or change at all. It saddens me because the early books had so much drive, consequences, growth, and for the last, what feels like 10 books, it’s put it all on hold. This book has no real conflict. Instead it’s a book sized intro to a possible conflict in the next book all while pandering for other people to write fanfic about the holes it leaves. Dawn and Artorean try really hard to have a relationship but have been denied any real intimacy for many books. I did like that this book seems to be beginning to break that barrier but its refusal to move is like it’s covered in stillness mana itself. If I weren’t using my free credits for these books I wouldn’t listen to them. As is this series is my heroine so I’ll be back hopeful to not be hurt again.