Author: Chikao J
Blurb (From Amazon): “Homunculus #6 successfully completed his first trial, only to be betrayed by those whom were tasked to teach him. Now as he is still struggling with the consequences and memories of that fateful encounter, 6 finds himself exploring the city above, making new friends, eating new food and learning about the vast magical world around him.
Not everything in the city is peaceful though, a dark undercurrent plagues the city and cursed items have started to filter in. Despite 6’s best efforts to live a simple life, the desires and manipulations of his creators continue to put him at the center of their struggles for power. The roots of the infection seek to latch onto 6 and those around him, desperate to drag him down into despair and control him.
6 will need to find the strength to fend off those threats, both internal and external. Keep his new friends out of harm's way and make the hardest possible decision of: ‘What kind of life do I want to live.’ All while trying to defeat the Tainted and the Possessed.
A Progression Fantasy, LitRPG/Gamelit, slice of life novel with elements of horror. Also a tasty noodle or two!”
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/7fiaNw0
My Rating: 4.5/5
Current Amazon Rating: 5/5 (At the time of writing this review)
But this is the second book in a series!
And so here’s a TL;DR of my thoughts on the first one (just for reference). I wrote a full review a while back, and I’ll put the general summary here: 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!
(Oh, and if you want to read it, here’s the link: https://www.felixtaylorbooks.com/post/review-homunculi-eden)
Now, with that out of the way… some general thoughts:
First things first: if you liked the first one, I’m pretty certain you’ll like this one. It continues in the same style as the first, and doesn’t abandon any of the ideas, plotlines, or general tone. It feels like a proper continuation, with a similar writing style and all of the charm of the first. The major evolution (I don’t think it’d be proper to call it a change, because it’s adding to the first book rather than deviating from it) is the addition of a higher stakes plotline. However, while the world gets a little wider, the slice of life feeling remains in most points. If you feared that it might get a little pretentious, I’d be happy to tell you it doesn’t—and that, on the flip side, if you want a story where everything feels serious and deep, this isn’t the novel for you.
Characters:
As with the first book, the characters are all very good (and are the real standout). For all those people looking for good characterization and growth, this is definitely a series to check out. The characters feel real and fleshed-out, and are all people who you want to go on a journey with. While there’s a little more drama in this book than the first, it’s not forced, and it provides an extra bit of a kick to keep you invested in their tales.
Now, at the beginning, this investment is a little trickier, because 6 has had his memory wiped. His desire to live a quiet life remains, though, and I think (in case you didn’t read the review of the first book) a comparison to Beware of Chicken is still appropriate—though Homunculi: Invictus Malus doesn’t necessarily fall into the realm of parody like BoC does.
Magic and Progression:
Well, that’s what we’re here for, right? Well, here goes nothing… I think my biggest (and only) complaint would be that the magic system seems very broad in the places it’s trying to reach, which makes it hard to keep focussed, and at points, a little difficult to keep track of the progress. The litRPG elements have definitely been turned up a little for this installment, which might seem like it makes it easier to follow (stat sheets, ability descriptions, etc…), but there are lots of areas to progress, and sometimes it can be tricky to keep track of (especially since I was reading this alongside a couple of other webserials). It’s not a huge deal, and it still works without taking a ton away from the story. For me, the experience with the magic system was a little like with Virtuous Sons, in that the magic progression can be a little fuzzy (while the rest of the story was great).
Otherwise, the spells and incantations were a nice touch. There were some nice magical items, and some pretty fun fight scenes with magic involved. I would consider any of the above a deal-breaker.
Writing:
Similar to the first book, I’d point out that this is a self-published book, and with that comes its small errors and scattered mistakes. If that’s enough to turn you away, then this is your warning. Otherwise, the prose is effective and clear, and the pacing is solid. This book isn’t let down by its presentation.
Other:
As I mentioned earlier, the stakes are raised in this book a little. I’ll stay away from any spoilers, but the higher stakes don’t interfere with the “foodie” aspects of this book, nor does it take away from the slice-of-life moments.
Lastly, I’d like to point out that the memory wipe mechanic can make the early bits of this installation feel a little like they rendered the first book pointless, but as you read, you’ll soon realize that isn’t the case. Just thought I’d put that warning up there, in case anyone was getting concerned.
Conclusion:
If you liked the first one, there’s no reason not to read this one. If you like excellent characters, awesome slice-of-life writing, and meaningful expansion on the first instalment, it’s probably a good pick for you. If you’re not into a healthy helping of slice-of-life, it probably isn’t for you. Most importantly, I enjoyed myself while reading, and I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice, easy, and lighthearted read.
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