Antimage

Ends of Magic, Book 1

By: Alexander Olson

Narrated by: Phil Thron

Length: 23 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

A scientist from another world. A mage seeking deadly knowledge. A power that could topple an empire.

Nathan's life was defined by labs and lectures until an Archmage yanked him into Davrar and made him a tantalizing offer: master magic in exchange for Earth's scientific secrets. Yet, Nathan can't shake off the feeling that darker truths lurk beneath such promises.

The world of Davrar is a dangerous place teeming with dungeons and monsters–ruled by levels, Talents, and a near-infinite progression of power. Nathan will need to rely on himself to survive, forging alliances and taking every advantage he can get against those that seek to control him.

His unique capacity to counteract magic gives him an unprecedented edge, making him a beacon of resistance against those who wield magic as a weapon of control.
Armed with intellect and an emerging power that could dismantle the very foundations of Davrar's society, Nathan emerges not as a mere student of magic, but as its ultimate adversary: the Antimage.

©2023 Alexander Olson (P)2023 Tantor

a good start, high expectations

It's fun and fast, and the mc is smart and not a douche. the world is interesting, the mechanics are novel. the side character are disting

The mc is a bit too perfect. He has no flaws. He's a genius scientist working on groundbreaking advancements in microbiology while working on his doctorate, who practiced martial arts and various extreme sports, who also had time to schedule dnd games.

While also not being too invested in his friends or family to want to return from being summoned.

Fun fantasy Litrpg

A fun LitRPG that doesn't go too deep into the stats. I liked being able to listen without having to listen to minutes of stats. The story is a lot of fun, I think the main character seems very smart and rational.

The narrator does a great job portraying all of the characters and the protagonist's thought process too!

It's one of the better written series in the genre

I really, honestly, n genuinely enjoyed this one.

No graphic sex scenes or anything ...but the MC randomly comments on how good looking guys r here n there. It threw off my immersion a bit ...but I think I'm man enough to admit that that is more a problem with me not being as open-minded as I thought I was, than there being anything wrong with the book.

Overall, this book is every bit as good an opener as HWFWM, or DOTF ....top quality 1st book. I plan to tune in for book 2, and I highly recommend checking this one out

If ur like me though, just be aware there r few gay thoughts sprinkled here n there ...they don't detract from the story at all ...i jus think it's better for you to know ahead of time than to be blind-sided like I was when I read it

Great and satisfying concept

I came from a reddit post describing the story, it sounded like my kind of thing and i’m glad to say it was, definitely worth a read and i’ll be checking in to see when the next books get audio versions.

If I had to criticize one small thing, I would say I found it kind of confusing how Nathan never really questions the culture of hoarding insights, it seems to me like the only real reason for adventurers not to share knowledge like that is greed and wanting to control the power, it’s not been hinted that the skills get weaker if you share them with too many people, the only other risk would be enemies like giant’s rest getting ahold of them much like the concern with guns. If he’s willing to question the dueling culture then why not at least acknowledge that his world shares knowledge like “insights” freely and have a small discussion as to why this world doesn’t rather than just instantly accepting it as how things work here?
As I said it’s a very small gripe that just tickled the back of my mind a little each time trading or selling insights was brought up, overall it was a great listen and i’m glad I came to check it out!

Fantastic premise

I love the idea of merging science and a magic system, especially turning it on its head the way that's been done here, the narrator has an older voice then I would of given the protagonist but I still think he does a wonder job.

Won't finish, but that's a Me problem

This is a pretty interesting book with a cool premise, powers and an compelling protagonist.

My only relevant issue after having read through half of the book is the utterly ridiculous hesitancy of introducing guns into this world. This isn't our world, it's a fantasy world filled with evil mages that have no qualms about mind breaking and enslaving sentient beings - any real world analogues about introducing guns to a technologically inferior society are just laughable.

That's not the reason why I couldn't and probably won't finish though, but this is VERY much a Me issue. I self insert into books, which means if that line of credulity with the protagonist is strained too far, it snaps and I become un-immersed.

The protagonist is gay. The story does a pretty good job of letting you ignore this fact and I was able to listen normally without a care in the world. The issue came when he'd randomly start sperging over the 'distracting, handsome centaur' or some other gorgeous, buff dudes etc.

None of this is worthy of a demerit of any kind, but it's like a cold slap to the face with a wet fish for me, instantly pulling me out of the narrative every time. If you self-insert when you read like me, be warned of this going into this seemingly pretty good story, you might struggle like I did.

A New Fun Story

This feels like a different type of LitRPG and it was fun for me through and through. The Author is also active and had a self promotion through r/LitRPG and was active with members talking and hearing out suggestions and hearing what people have to say. The Narrator was a Huge Plus for me as well I’m going to have to see what else he does.
For some possible spoilers types of ‘technology’ get added semi-quickly but he also let it be known that in this type of Isekai he wanted science to be kind of a cheat. The main protagonist can’t run around and do magic but understands the natural world and has come from a world with different understandings. I can see some people getting turned off by that but they are basic firearms and honestly it might ruin the world it might not.
It’s a Breath of Fresh air and at the end had me excited and pumped up, if you get monthly credits give it a shot. Finding a new type of LitRPG that isn’t a harem so far as well is Amazing.

Loved it

Amazing story with very interesting plot points. While centered around the RPG and Issekai format without being too much blandly formulaic. Novel with some notes of sci-fi merging with fantasy.

It’s good

I love the book my only two problems I had one is about how at times it feels the MC comes off as teenager like the rest of his team instead of someone in their mid twenties he does act mature here and there but for a lot of it teenager and the other is how much science is explained I personally don’t want everything to be explained away as magic or have the most basic explanations handed to me but this is to technical for me to follow I just started blanking out during the latter half but overall I’m excited for the next one

Fun Science Magic

I really enjoyed the hyperfocus on science. It was a bit like a mesh between Dr Stone and Black Clover. Lot's of great concepts and the author does a phenomenal job of breaking down hard to understand information about science and complex mathematics into something digestible even for someone like me.