Aeneva

The Path to Cultivation

De: Aaron McKinney

Narrado por: Brian Spratt VoA

-The System -Post Apocalyptic -Aliens -Technology -Cultivation -LitRPG Elements -Space Exploration
-Mind Opening -Dungeon Core -Spaceship -Reality Bending

This book is for people who are familiar with basic LitRPG concepts.

• Contains very light stat use

Have you ever noticed things you can't explain with logic or current science? Have you ever encountered situations that are borderline paranormal? Have you ever considered that all those Isekai and LitRPG books you have read could have an element of truth?

I was dreaming one time, and it came true. After that, everything changed. The system really did come to Earth, and the orcs invaded. However, I wouldn't let evil forces win.

This is the story of how I lost my old life but was granted tremendous power. I brought the fight to those who attacked Earth and found an actual path to ascension along my journey. However, power is relative, and what seems like a strength can also be a weakness.

This story contains elements of spiritualism, Wuxia, cultivation, mana use, dungeon cores, and technical marvels typically seen in space warfare novels. Additionally, there may be unnerving elements, including assassinations, cloak-and-dagger, manipulation, sexual situations, and other thought-provoking plotlines. Read at your own risk. The path of cultivation begins!

©2024 Aaron McKinney (P)2024 Aaron McKinney

Fast pacing and good narrator

Love the narrators voice. The book moves fast so you don’t have to wait long to get to the good stuff. A good listen if you want something fun and easy to take your mind off things.

great

I can't wait for the next book in this series. hopefully it won't be too long a time before it is done.

A Fun Read Missing Key Cultivation Beats

Aeneva was an interesting read, but not quite what I expected from something labeled as a cultivation novel. I enjoy the classic hallmarks of the genre—clear progression paths, varied cultivation methods, body refinement, alchemy, tempering, all of it—and this book only offered touches of those elements. I still enjoyed the story overall, but I definitely felt their absence.

The setup is solid: the main character begins with a system class and then loses it as he starts cultivating. His chosen method relies on ancient relics that function as huge power boosts compared to traditional cultivation, and he also gains a pool of stat points he can freely shift around to suit the situation. It’s a unique take—system meets cultivation in a flexible and interesting way—but I found myself wanting more of the traditional structure to balance it out.

There’s also a noticeable amount of side-story content. I usually prefer a tight focus on the main character, so the detours didn’t always work for me. I’m hoping it’s not a sign that future books, if they exist, will lean heavily into side-character arcs. And that’s another concern: the book isn’t labeled as part of a series, yet the ending clearly sets up a much larger journey. I’d hate for this to be a one-off with no follow-up.

Brian Spratt VoA did a fine job with the narration, and despite the misgivings, I did enjoy the ride—just with the wish that it leaned more fully into the cultivation side of its premise.

poorly written

The only reason I listened to this book is because I bought the book and didn't use a credit, so I wasn't eligible for a refund. The prose is poor, feeling like a western child trying to emulate the writing style of a poorlt translated Chinese web novel or Japanese light novel. There is extended exposition and the info-dumping sessions are prolonged by the fact the author repeats what's said several times.

Additionally, the characters are flat and the plot fails to uphold the premise. Most of the story feels like the author was consulting a checklist to ensure they hit all the "cool" boxes and the "must have" boxes Fantasy fans and YouTube reviewers say are required elements of a story.