The Crucible

Reclaimer, Book 1

De: Waldo Rodriguez

Narrado por: BJ Harrison

From the ashes of a dying world, a god will rise.

As an out of shape nerd, Gabriel Rivera had more pressing issues than outlandish things like godhood: Evacuating the city, joining the military, and protecting his family. Simple right?

Everything changed when the PAC invaded.

When the grim fate of his world is revealed, Gabriel joins the Reclaimer Project to save his family. A lowly F ranker, he's weaker than even the worst recruits. Good thing he's too stubborn for his own good.

Through blood and sweat Gabriel aims to grow stronger and rise above the rest.

Deadly traps lurk around every corner, mysterious factions move in the shadows, and dormant powers within him manifest in wild and dangerous ways.

Battered, bruised, and beaten, Gabriel refuses to stay down. For only in the fires of The Crucible are legends forged.

©2022 Waldo Rodriguez-Santiago (P)2023 Tantor

very good.

very thorough, and well thought out. consistently takes itself seriously and Harrison's performance excellently compliments the atory

Emotional yet thrilling

I loved the thoughts of trying to escape your situations by hiding yourself from everyone else. Only to be shown that the only way out of your individual torture is by communal growth.

Good scifi with a heavy military presence

The book is good, I enjoyed it greatly. I look forward to what comes after The Crucible

fantastic new world, very compelling characters

this is a fantastic new world with really compelling characters. we do not yet get to the root cause of what is going on to make this training happen but it is building!

It has potential

So, it's interesting and little plot armor to be found, rather brutal.

Now there is tons of moral questioning and self doubt and loathing, tons and tons of teenage angst of doing the right thing.

Then there is niave points where the "bad guy" of the book is in the right and the MC just throw a fit because he doesnt like the fact. Like leaving someone to die who would die and couldn't be saved but trying to could get them all killed. He doesnt like that fact so whines and blames the other guy for it, even though it's not the others guys fault. The MC is just upset at the other guys brutal blunt honesty about the fact of the situation and not sugar coating it to make the MC feel better.

So if you like the holes idealist who ignores facts to try to make everything seem black or white. This might be for you. If not you might at times lean towards the bad guy of the story and find the MC a niave idiot.

While the premise is interesting the program is supposed to take place over 2 years and 3 phases with the first phase being the first 3 months. Without to much spoiler, this book only covers the first phase. So the pacing is a little slow and makes on worry the whole series might be about training and not what comes after or takes 5 books to get to it.

So if you like school training completion books this is great, if you want them to get on with the actual story of what the training is for this might be a slow series for that if at all.

A great hard fought origin story

Many reviews compare Reclaimer to The Hunger Games or The Maze Runner due to its young adult cast and trial-based structure. But let’s be clear—this series marches to the beat of its own war drum.
At its core, Reclaimer is not just about dystopian pageantry or puzzle-box arenas. But a militaristic journey, gritty and grounded, where the trials are less about spectacle and more about survival, leadership, and inner reckoning. This is the origin story of a hero in the making—one who must navigate not just external threats, but the battlefield within.
The main character is thrust into the first of three trials, each designed to forge more than just physical strength. Leadership must be earned, purpose must be discovered, and inner demons—well, they don’t go down without a fight. And all of this while trying not to die. No pressure.
This series has serious potential. If book one is any indication, we’re in for a ride that’s as intense as it is introspective. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next chapters lead.
And hey, if surviving deadly trials, confronting your inner darkness, and leading a squad under pressure doesn’t scream “fun weekend read,” I don’t know what does. Just remember to hydrate—both you and the protagonist are going to need it.

Noice.

I enjoyed it. Not ground breaking but at the end of the day I was entertained.

the mystery behind the crucible existence

My only problem was the main character being such a little girl and when they finally explain why he's like that it was the MOST disappointing thing like really I almost just dropped the story till I realized not much is left so might as well finish it besides that pretty good

Fighting against the odds to get ahead. WEPA!

Gritty story. Highlights the struggle. Boricua/ don’t give up we find a way. Palante siempre palante! I definitely would like to see a little more progression but highlighting the struggle balances that out a bit.

Solid start but just a little long winded

Had to play at x1.9-2.0 due to narration. Not terrible but tough. Characterization and voices were good but something just seemed slow.

Story felt like a mix of Naruto and Enders game. I enjoyed that very much but I just don’t care about anyone. Lost me after the first few deaths because they didn’t hold enough weight to me.

I will be back for the next two at least because I had credits to burn