Mud, Blood, and Magic

De: A. D. Krabis

Narrado por: Melanie Hastings

Life doesn't always go according to plan. For ex-CIA Agent Samuel Caulfield, his plans were ripped out from under him after a chance encounter in a firefight.

One deal with a dark goddess later, and he's cast into the trenches of a Victorian world, with clashing empires, Elves, Dwarves, Dragons, and more. Surrounded by death, on the front lines of a war without intelligence, he'll have to rely on his wits, his platoon, and a surprise gift from his goddess.

Will all that he's been given be enough to overcome the plots and machinations of those that oppose him?

©2022 A. D. Krabis (P)2023 Royal Guard Publishing LLC

Surprisingly Well Done

Unfortunately, I come into these isekai books with a lot of skepticism. Many authors lean too much on the main character, unable to separate his current word from his past. While this book does this and very much hinges on the fact that he is trained in the current military and is in a version of WW1, it doesn't take away from the experience.
The main character is well built, damaged, and nowhere near perfect or the stereotype of the "lone man" man. He fails, learns, and lets others help him.
All the supporting characters are very, very well done as well. Each taking their moment to shine and build upon one another.

My biggest complaint is that sometimes things move a little too fast. It feels like there is no downtime. The moment characters open up to each other, boom, combat.
The narrator does a great job. She struggles a bit due to so many characters and trying to give them disrince voices that they start to blend together. I mean, there are a LOT of characters. I feel like getting a male narrator would fix this issue by sharing the load.

All in all, it's a well done book. well worth it. I don't regret a minute or a dollar of it. Can't wait for the next!

great book

really enjoyed this book. I hope to see a second one, the concept is a lot of fun.

cheif

great start second book can't come soon enough. bring it on. lite on sex heavy on inuindo

good one

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Keep it up!! !

A wonderful surprise

This book came out of nowhere and has quickly become a common recommendation on social media outside of the established authors in the subgenre.

The setting feels fresh as we get to experience isekai from modern world to a WW1-like fantasy setting with firearms, magic, fantasy creatures and monster girls.

The MC has two advantages: his training and experience as a soldier and spy from modern times and a single special ability granted by a goddess. Other than that, he's a regular human with human limitations which is seen in his struggles versus magic wielders or other races. The special ability can be a bit controversial as it can be considered overpowered.

The supporting characters in the group are all interesting and all non-human. Plenty of shenanigans and banter. They have what the MC lacks in a world of powerful creatures and magic.

I'm always iffy about stories with gods involved. Not only do they tend to raise the stakes astronomically from the start, they also tend to get in the way of the story by doing deus ex machina. A friendly god could pull the MC out of any trouble or an unfriendly one could stop the most careful and well executed plan. Luckily, the author at least puts some limitations on that and their involvement isn't all encompassing nor do they take up half the plot.

The world and story has been setup and prepared for the next book so I wonder where the author will take things. Theoretically there could be world hopping but I'm not sure if that's what's intended.

Melanie Hastings did the book justice and pulled off the role as a single narrator well in a subgenre that frequently employs two. I wouldn't mind hearing more from her and hope she sticks around to become one of the incumbents in subgenre.