Hollow Core

School of Swords and Serpents, Book 1

By: Gage Lee

Narrated by: Pavi Proczko

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Jace Warin never wanted anything more than to attend the School of Swords and Serpents to escape the labor camps and restore his family's stained honor.

But the determined young martial artist soon discovers the school he's always dreamed about is teeming with secret plots and sinister designs. To survive, he will have to master long-lost jinsei techniques, repair his wounded soul, and face down a most unexpected enemy: The Academy's ruthless headmaster and cunning professors.

Hollow Core is the first book in the School of Swords and Serpents series, a tale of wuxia adventure, cultivation mastery, and lurking threats.

“Wow, this book is crazy-good. If the Harry Potter series were somehow violently smashed together with the characters from Mortal Kombat, you might have something that comes close to the School of Swords and Serpents.” (James A. Hunter, best-selling author of Rogue Dungeon, Bibliomancer, and the LitRPG epic Viridian Gate Online)

©2019 Shadow Alley Pres Inc (P)2020 Shadow Alley Pres Inc

Fantastic!

Great story and narration!

Jace has a damaged core, but wants to attend the Academy and win back his family's honor. Coming from the lowest rung it will be an uphill battle all the way as he faces discrimination for being a commoner, and is weak due to his issues with his core. He will have to be creative with the talents that he has if he hopes to stand a chance.

Pavi doe a tremendous job with the narration!

This story was great! I cant wait to find out what happens next!

Funny cultivation novel

This is the first cultivation novel that I "read" that is set in modern times, though not quite the world we know. I'll definitely be picking up the 2nd book.

Don’t expect an overpowered character

This is definitely an underdog book where the character has to climb and fight tooth and nail to get anywhere. It isn’t a story that’s going to make you feel good all the time that’s for sure. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The character has a more Chinese idea of honor than American and readers should keep that in mind.

Good one

it was a good story but some parts were irritating like how his friends abandoned him went things were bad for the mc but also i wanted to bitch slap the mc more than once

It's definitely not a YA story

If you a looking at the reviews then you are seeing both extremes. I think it's because the premise sounds like it would be another YA story of a world with magic in a school and an underdog. however the surge doesn't just put everything in a pretty path for the main character.

I had been waiting for a series with amazing world building and characters that felt real. This is filling this spaces for me. He will have struggle after struggle, but he will keep working through it. I am excited for the rest of the story

Brutally awesome

Really cool premise from which to establish a series. I love the brutality of the school I just feel like the MC has more than his fair share of adversity. But he definitely comes out better because of it. The narration was solid.

entertaining

I got to the point where I thought about this book quite often I couldn't put it down

omg enough already

UPDATE: I finished the book, and it's GOOD. im on book 4 now, and it's a great storyline. the author gets the story on track, and im loving it so far!!! The entire story is about a kid trying to regain his family honor. the whole world revolves around honor. yet the headmaster of the school has a personal grudge against the kids' family.. dishonor. and he is spreading lies about the MC.. again, dishonor. then warns the whole student body that the MC is dangerous... AGAIN dishonorable... yet the MC is the #1 person earning points for his class.. yet the rest of his own class treats him like crap.... DISHONOR!! like, come on, he's being attacked in the halls.. teachers do nothing... DISHONOR!! the author needs to stay consistent. wouldn't the teachers help a student t in need? he was sponsored after all.. oigh. but so far, good story

great book

i really like this book series hope that everyone enjoys it as much as me really like the weak that become strong or have s special advantage

This was phenomenal

This book definitely has a Harry Potter meets Mortal Kombat feel to and I love it! At first I was not sure how this book was going to play out but I loved the twist and turns of the story and the character cast was awesome and unique. But above the amazing characters is the amazing lore of the story you don't get the complete picture in this book however you definitely get tantalizing looks into how the book series could go. overall you should check this book out you won't regret it.