Street Cultivation 3

Street Cultivation Series, Book 3

By: Sarah Lin

Narrated by: Travis Baldree

In the modern world, qi is money.

The days of traveling martial artists and mountaintop masters are over. Power is controlled by corporations, modernized martial arts sects, and governments. Those at the bottom of society struggle as second-class citizens in a world in which power is a commodity.

Rick has attempted to separate himself from the world of cutthroat killers but is drawn in by a chance to participate in a contest at the highest levels. The resulting trials will take him across the world against many different opponents, but he knows that his sponsors ultimately just want to use him for their own profit. In the end, he'll need to decide what it is that he really wants....

©2020 Sarah Lin (P)2021 Tantor

Good stuff.

First... It's Baldree so narration is top notch. Series is great and well worth the cash or the credit. Moving on.

I want this story to continue. Not the story of the Luke kid at the very end, but Rick. He finally gets a hold on the Kettle and I really REALLY want to see that. There's a whole story line to chase down with Alger. Hopefully one day the author will go back to this world. I suppose I need to get on her socials and look around. She's probably talked about it or something.
Cons?... Eh... No real big ones. Rick's whole view of what it takes to get out of poverty was a bit ridiculous and juvenile. His Demon had the right of it.
The thing about getting out of poverty is how much you're willing to put to that goal. In our boring powerless world you HAVE to ignore drugs. From firsthand experience those are what will keep you there. From the time I was born to when I was 27 I never made one step outside my circumstances. Have the talent (artistically) but addiction just stole everything from me. Rick going through withdrawal was pretty gripping for me. Ragast even more. It wasn't until I was like... idk.. 29? 30? Wasn't till then that I was able to start finally keeping jobs... saving a little... NOT pawning everything. And none of that is our economic models fault. It was MY fault. Sure... it would have been easier if things are cheaper and all that... but our system allows that when it isn't abused and we are allowed to innovate without all the red tape and political interference. Hard core righties stagnate everything by making everything about their book... and hard core lefties stagnate everything by making it all about their cultish obsessive ideological hang-ups. Sensible is never in style. But hey ... look at me ranting. Lol. Just talking to myself, ranting into the void now.
Oh well... anyway... Book is worth it. Hope she continues it.

Rick steps back into the fighting arena!

What a completely satisfying trilogy... I'm so happy that I convinced myself to try out this new to me author... in part do to Travis Baldree's wonderful voice performance.
In this book Rick steps back into the fighting arena thinking that he's found the perfect Patreon and Contract. This time, to play in a world event called The Showdown. Eventually Rick faces harsh reality of what he's gotten into. And Rick knows that only he can dig his way out. But Rick also knows he's not alone as he's got the full backing of his family and friends.
You're gonna need to grab this action-driven trilogy to find out what happens because I'm not giving it away that's for you to find out. In this pedal-to-the-metal drive.

The ending before the prologue was great really enjoyed it.

To bad there isn’t a 4 book but at the same time, the 3 books stand well alone. The prologue gives off anime (kenichi) vibes.

A satisfying Close to Rick's story!

This book really rounds out Rick's Journey! Yet I can't help but find myself hungry for more! I hope that she returns to this world she has created, there's still so much left to explore!

Great world building

Really good world building. I loved the whole series and I want more. The series really grows on you and that was a great cliffhanger for the epilog

Appropriate ending!

This book was a satisfying completion of a lot of loose ends. I wouldn't mind another book or spin off though!

Hidden gem

False testimony is truly evil. All these fake reviews making junk 5 stars so I miss stuff like this. Too much “slice of life” for me but the third book has less and is my favorite- plus the cultivation system isn’t very interesting but her writing is good and there’s some decent humor. Also mc isn’t silly op like most in this genre

left me wanting more

I would love some extra stories about Rick and what he's accomplished last this book. this series overall was great!

so good

I adore this series. Just listening to this book motivated me to lift weights and buy some mutual funds. Screw capitalism, hit the gym!

setting expectations

right up front I recommend the trilogy. it's quality writing, it's an entertaining story, and the performance from the narrator is fantastic. now with that said our hero comes from a very bleak impoverished background. he's raised in the sister on his own with deadbeat extended family trying to steal from him. as you progress through the three books he goes from one crisis to another. if you're expecting him to be the chosen one or something that makes him truly special like you might see in other cultivation stories then this isn't the book for you. he's just a broke kid trying to make his way and the only it truly exceptional thing about him is that he doesn't give up when there are so many reasons to do so. the final book in the trilogy has him starting off and sort of a listless area he's doing all right for himself but he doesn't know what to do next. he's no longer got another crisis or emergency to face. he decides to get involved in a competition that to be perfectly honest is way over his head. by the time we get towards the ending of the story he's given the golden opportunity to become like well other cultivation Heroes. instead he makes a choice that I'm going to suggest you listening to the audiobook to find out for yourself. I don't think it's a bad choice. it's an extraordinary World in which the story takes place. but when you strip out all of the magic and Grim dark elements it's a very humanistic story. and there's something to be said about the everyday hero who while may not be able to make a difference to the world, can make a world of difference to someone. truly well done to the writer, the narrator, and everybody else who's had a hand in bringing the story to us the audiobook listeners.