Author: Chikao J
Blurb: Forged from a taboo alchemical process and tainted magic the newly made 6 has neither a proper name, nor a proper identity. A homunculi, neither human, nor monster, 6's masters intend him and his fellows to be weapons and tools. While the homunculi around him excel in combat, tactics, and powerful magic, 6 struggles with the most basic of abilities, only finding solace in the kitchen and the strange magical garden.
Those tasked and trusted with caring for the homunculi, began their own nefarious plans well before 6's creation. In order to survive their machinations he'll need to attune his new body, unlock supernatural powers, and learn how to defend himself. The first test of his new life and new school is approaching fast, and it's a deadly one. A field trip into a dungeon for each of the newly made weapons to slay their first monster.
A Progression Fantasy novel with very light Gamelit/litrpg mechanics.
Lots of delicious food, terrible monsters, heart wrenching moments, and idle daydreaming.
Link: Amazon
My Rating: 3.5/5
General:
Homunculi: Eden is a progression fantasy novel that follows a young homunculus named 6. He was made for a life of violence and combat, but he is terrible at fighting, and instead prefers more mundane, slice-of-life tasks—like cooking and gardening.
As you can probably guess, this story starts to feature some science fiction and futuristic themes (not aesthetics), and I love that. Despite the very mild genre bending, the book still largely feels like a progression fantasy novel along the lines of Beware of Chicken or The Wandering Inn. I’ve brought up these two as examples simply because of the slice-of-life connection. Beware of Chicken, of course, is more closely-related when it comes to the main character’s goals.
Homunculi: Eden doesn’t try to hide the fact that it will be a slower-paced novel, and that comes with a caveat: it won’t be for everyone. If you’re looking for fast-paced, explosive action… well, you’ll get it, but not as often as you might like. Action sequences are often broken up by large sections of laid-back character interactions, magic academy plots, and worldbuilding. I didn’t mind this, but I understand that it isn’t what everyone is looking for.
Characters:
This book really shines when it comes to characterization, growth, and personality. You can’t help but root for 6 and the others he meets along the way as they uncover mysteries, gain power, or just talk with each other. No matter how much the author slows down to examine and explore the world he has created, you still want to know what happens to the characters—it keeps you reading.
Magic System:
I’ve seen some people commenting that the magic is bland and forgettable. I’d say that it’s middle of the road. I enjoyed the use of spells and incantations, and while it isn’t unique, they were integrated effectively. As stated by the author, there was also a subtle use of LitRPG elements, but it didn’t read like a LitRPG. There wasn’t anything that entirely unique, but rather a mash-up of many other types of magic—and that’s okay.
Writing:
The writing starts off feeling a little unpolished. Even if you're used to reading self-published books, you'll probably notice a few more errors than usual. But, after about the first third of the book, the author really slips into their style and the reading experience becomes much more smooth.
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a new novel to read and have a good time with, consider picking up Homunculi: Eden. It’s got strong characters, a mixture of slice-of-life, and an effective magic system. It’s worth your time and the read.
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