Death: Genesis 10: An Isekai LitRPG

Death: Genesis, Book 10

De: Nicholas Searcy

Narrado por: Eric Michael Summerer

A young champion declares war against a tyrannical empire, bringing him into conflict with the woman he once loved in this dark fantasy adventure.

After years of battling elite soldiers, slaying soul-crushing monsters, and acquiring powerful combat skills and destructive mana abilities, the realization of Zeke Blackwood's destiny is imminent. Everything he's endured since being reborn into a system of troll-infested caves has been to prepare him for ascension into the Ethereal Realm, where he'll stand against the forces of darkness that threaten all existence.

Despite his near limitless power, Zeke still has obligations to the multicultural kingdom he founded, in which beastkin, kobolds, centaurs, elves, and other races fight for freedom and justice for all creatures. He refuses to leave his people at the mercy of the Imperium, a fascist regime built on the backs of the enslaved.

The Imperium is led by those who believe humans are superior to every other sentient species throughout the realm. Their forces are ruthless, and none more so than the Radiant Host: zealots devoted to the Sun Goddess, who are more than willing to kill and die in her name. And Abby Summers, once Zeke's companion and lover, is the Host's High Inquisitor.

But Zeke's armies are on the offense, tearing down one Imperium stronghold after another, freeing the subjugated, and slaughtering anyone who dares oppose them. They'll stop at nothing and spare no one—even Abby....

The tenth volume of the hit LitRPG fantasy series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook!

©2025 Nicholas Searcy (P)2025 Podium Audio

Excellent but the pace and storytelling could use a little work

The book is enjoyable, especially thanks to the narrator and I appreciate that the author continues to expand the scope of the narrative, but the main issue is with the pacing is being uneven due to the story juggling too many plot threads at once. With a more balanced approach to progression and character focus, the emotional beats would land more effectively.

I also appreciate that the author is advancing the overarching story progression, conflict with the zealots and also appreciate the speed-running of Zekes timeline through this realm, but, the return of Abby feels unnecessary and actively undermines his and the team's earlier character development without her. Her reintroduction adds little of thematic or narrative value, and I hope this is the last time she appears unless she is later used as a vessel or anchor for Shar Maelaine's power, which could justify her relevance. Otherwise, her role should have concluded a few books ago.
Zeke's portrayal also wavers here. He is generally established as decisive, uncompromising, and shaped by hard-won survival. A character like Abby, whose betrayal was both personal and foundational, and then siding with the enemy zealots, should not be someone he hesitates with. The hesitation shown here contradicts the core of who he is.

Moving forward, Zeke needs to return to the clarity and ruthlessness that define the Akh Toh. Similarly, Micayne's continued presence feels like a narrative delay rather than meaningful progression. His arc could have ended earlier, and thematically, Talia delivering the final blow would have been a stronger moment for her development and also a better depection of kobolds' vs undead had a nice potential for a brief growth of their character arc. Kobolds feeling towards Zeke inside the walls of his Castle could be better described, similar to how the army of the sun goddess is. At this stage, Zeke should not simply be be portrayed as the strongest fighter; but a respected commander, leader, shaping the strategies, values, and evolution of his people. The story is strongest when it explores the tribe as a rising force each with identity, structure, and loyalty, not when it falls back into repetitive one-sided domination scenes, all though occationally it's nice but it needs to move forward together with the side characters. Also Zeke taking the fight with the leader of the enemy could have been better written.

And once again the side characters could have been better described for instance there were so many potential areas Jasper could have been useful but just wasn't, seems a bit wasted. Truckers depiction is also a bit boring. Sasha also seems to be wasted. In reality all should be united under Zeke and have their own growth moments which was not clearly shown, except for a glimpse of Sasha in this book. Since Zeke views the monsters has human-like, effort on making the monsters more humane to the readers/listeners would also go a long way.

Way Too Much Abby

Why is she still in the story she adds absolutely nothing to the story. If you take her out nothing one thing changes. The Necromancer plot still lingering was a waste of time. Zeke needs to stop second guessing everything he does. Overall the story is still decent. The author did a good job scaling the world building. Hopefully it picks back up in the next book

Decent Story, still here

There's a massive difference in between Pluto and Jupiter, the surface area of, 121 earth's, difference. respect your readers Intelligence please