Lord of the Mysteries

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With the rising tide of steam power and machinery, who can come close to being a Beyonder? Shrouded in the fog of history and darkness, who or what is the lurking evil that murmurs into our ears?

Waking up to be faced with a string of mysteries, Zhou Mingrui finds himself reincarnated as Klein Moretti in an alternate Victorian-era world where he sees a world filled with machinery, cannons, dreadnoughts, airships, different machines, as well as Potions, Divination, Hexes, Tarot Cards, Sealed Artifacts…

The Light continues to shine but mystery has never gone far. Follow Klein as he finds himself entangled with the Churches of the world—both orthodox and unorthodox—while he slowly develops newfound powers thanks to the Beyonder potions.

Like the corresponding tarot card, The Fool, which is numbered 0—a number of unlimited potential—this is the legend of “The Fool”.

Associated Names
One entry per line
LoM
Lord of Mysteries
LotM
Penguasa Misteri
Senhor dos Mistérios
Señor de los Misterios
لورد الغوامض
ราชันเร้นลับ
ราชันโลกพิศวง
序列的戰爭 (old)
詭秘の主
诡秘之主 (new)
신비의 제왕
Related Series
Circle of Inevitability (Sequel)
Recommendations
Deep Sea Embers (13)
My House of Horrors (13)
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint (7)
Throne of Magical Arcana (6)
Release that Witch (6)
Warlock of the Magus World (5)
Recommendation Lists
  1. currently reading/plan on reading
  2. Chinese Novel and Danmei
  3. Let's use our heads
  4. Best Novels I Read in years (Must read for you)
  5. Really Nice

Latest Release

Date Group Release
02/06/19 Webnovel c99
02/05/19 Webnovel c98
02/04/19 Webnovel c97
02/04/19 Webnovel c96
02/03/19 Webnovel c95
02/03/19 Webnovel c94
02/02/19 Webnovel c93
02/02/19 Webnovel c92
02/01/19 Webnovel c91
02/01/19 Webnovel c90
02/01/19 Webnovel c89
02/01/19 Webnovel c88
01/31/19 Webnovel c87
01/31/19 Webnovel c86
01/30/19 Webnovel c85
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375 Reviews sorted by


ResidentialPsycho
ResidentialPsycho rated it
August 4, 2018
Status: c20
This is a thrilling supernatural steampunk mystery that starts a bit slow wit the world-building but then really spins it's story well. Although I'm still in the beginning of the story, the suspense has built up enough to put me on the edge of my seat. I am looking forward to the cases the MC will be investigating.
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Syntheticspirit
Syntheticspirit rated it
March 24, 2020
Status: c1025
It's just not my cup of tea. It's decent enough, but everything just feels underwhelming. After reading so many good reviews about this, I expected something more. I stuck with it for so many chapters hoping for a change, but unfortunately, it never grew on me. Boring novel.

Edits:

  1. Coming back to add in that there really is a lot of unnecessary filler. An 1/3th of an entire chapter could be spent on describing appearances, scenery, and things of similar nature. Sometimes the description of a single thing takes 3 paragraphs. The pacing usually slow but there's a lot to learn so it's understandable otherwise.
  2. The MC really does think one dimensionally. He doesn't seem to be capable of realizing that sometimes necessary evils exist. Even though his moral code doesn't get in the way of the progress too much, it's still annoying to witness when a bunch of time is wasted because the MC wants to be a righteous cuck.
  3. One of the things about this that really gets me though is that the MC never seems to really lose. He seems to have this impenetrable plot armor that surrounds him. Things usually always go his way. He's always involved in matters that have beings that are levels beyond his and but yet he's always coming out on top in the end.
Conclusion: One... more>> of the better novels around but still not flawless. If you're able to look past the few flaws, especially the pacing and over excessive details about everything, you'll enjoy this. I recommend reading the first 100 chapters to see if it really catches your interest. If not, drop it because it'll stay the same throughout.

If it doesn't catch your interest early on, it never will. There's a strange feeling if you decide to continue reading it anyways. As one of the other reviewers said, it has a strange feeling to it that'll make you keep on going but never truly fall in love with the novel. It's truly bizarre. <<less
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Guru Dubey
Guru Dubey rated it
March 18, 2019
Status: v3c217
Best novel I ever read.

Story outline is quiet fantastic you read story and fill you become part of story.

This novel lakes useless tragedy and harem where every chick fall in love with MC for no reason.

Concept of potion makes this story easily conjure to real world.

Story plot is filled with mystery that arouse your curiosity
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Blackbear95
Blackbear95 rated it
April 17, 2020
Status: c1131
I cant read most of the cn novels because they annoy me to death with harems and ruthless protagonist that kill just for the hell of it. But lord of the mysteries may be the best novel on this site. If you cant stand lore and world building a slow start and some horror don't read this this is not a novel for those who just want faceslapping and MCs with 30 wifes.
18 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
oer
oer rated it
August 7, 2020
Status: c1311
Binged the whole thing in less than a week, it’s great. Heavily recommend. Unlike 99% of the garbage on this website stuff actually connects to things from earlier in the story and characters are fleshed out. It’s a good read. Slow to start, but it gets there.
17 Likes · Like Permalink | Report
WhyFriezaWhy
WhyFriezaWhy
November 9, 2019
Status: c674
When I started LOTM, I was walking in with quite the expectations. I mean every single review and comment on the NU forum rave about this novel. In retrospect, I was both pleased and disappointed.

The novel lives up to what others have said with splendid world-building, thought-out characters and well fleshed-out plot-lines.

Still, there is a certain trait about this story that leaves me with a strange sensation. It's the type of characteristic that I can't really put my finger on, but is preventing me from fully falling in love with... more>> this story.

I'm not sure if its the translation style or the writing style, but this story has a weird feel. It's as if the characters are somehow bland, but not. I'm not sure how to put it, but it feels like there's no emotion behind the story. I'm not sure if this is a valid critique that others can relate to, but it's just my two cents on the matter. <<less
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GreyPancake
GreyPancake rated it
March 17, 2019
Status: c702
Caught up with the latest MTL, this novel is just amazing at how it molds the MC character, from someone that just wants to return to earth and not feel attached to this current world to someone that grows with the knowledge he acquires. The potions the MC acquire plus the acting method forces him to change his viewpoints slowly about the world and his personality changes along with the digestion of these potions. Its not a bad thing though seeing him grow and face situations realistically like a god... more>> is amazing. The only disappointing thing or maybe a good thing about this novel is that the MC digestion of potions is just to fast. Maybe the author just wants to speeds up the novel with is good for us readers but its just reduces the thrill for us as well. <<less
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Michael007
Michael007 rated it
February 18, 2019
Status: c121
This is a novel that tells weak to strong different from most other novels. Without excessive cheating and combined with the MC intelligence in hiding his secrets and causing misunderstandings well.
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Darkcloud385
Darkcloud385 rated it
September 4, 2020
Status: Completed
Don't start this novel if you want to go back to generic tr*sh, you'll have a hard time. I'll be real, the first 60 chapters made me want to die and I almost dropped it multiple times, but my friends egged me to keep going and by god I'm glad they did. Author really began to hit his stride after those agonizing 60 chapters, and I was hooked for every single one of those 1134 chapters since.
... more>>
Spoiler

cliffhanger ending but what can you do, he wanted to set up a sequel, so ending chapters really felt rushed af

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artfulFool
artfulFool rated it
August 23, 2020
Status: Completed
It's stellar, simply stellar. I've been reading webnovels/light novels from since the early CD days, and this one - Lord of the Mysteries - is in a class of its own.

Here's a brief list of the aspects that made this book a wonderful read:

  • Consistent power scaling! One of my biggest gripes with cultivation/level-based novels is that they manage power scaling terribly. For most novels, the world's setting will always nearly match the MC's level. The only time you encounter people who are truly above or below the MC's level is for the sake of face-slapping or thigh-gripping. Not here. LotM does a splendid job of establishing a power structure early on, and having that influence the entire development of the novel. Head honchos from the beginning of the novel are still terrifying head honchos at the end, and weak bastards can still screw you over because you weren't paying attention. And, there's no "ascending to the heaven beyond the immortal lands beyond the ninth golden dragon gate heaven" nonsense.
  • Rich plotline! This novel eschews the standard practice of having independent arcs within a novel, i.e. Introduce a problem, solve it via the MC, maybe use it to introduce the next problem, and then boom done the problem no longer influences the plot (I'm especially looking at you, FMoC). Once again, LotM bucks the norm. True to its name, the novel is inherently suspenseful and centered around solving mysteries, and those simple cases in the very beginning are surprisingly influential even 1000 chapters in. It's really fun to read through it even multiple times later and go "oh sh*t so we knew about it from here already??"
  • In-depth character development with continued relevance! Even when novels have good character development, it's usually in one direction. The side characters don't tend to grow as people, but grow as caricatures - their existing eccentricities become stronger, and maybe their strength does too, but in the end the MC is the one calling the shots, and everyone is better off for it. It works, but I always found it annoying when the MC ends up being this blessed unparalleled individual, with or without struggle. I'll assure you that in LotM you'll see full characters; ones that are mature with complex and sincere thoughts, ones that are young but slowly learn of the world. You'll see heroes that the MC can only aspire to be like, and villains that will cause unending despair. I really do like that last part.
I could keep going, but there's no need, I think. It's good, very much so. Have fun.
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Debangan_Daemon
Debangan_Daemon rated it
May 25, 2020
Status: Completed
The LORD of all novels that I've read!

The best of anything you can find in NU!

The novel of novels!

*cough* So, enough of the praises. Let's head over to the pros and cons. (At the time of writing this, I've just finished Volume 3 of the web novel.)

Pros:

    • World-class world-building (everything seems real that can be touched)
    • Mysterious and well-developed plot (the kind that never lets you stop reading)
    • Mature plot meant for adults (no s*upid cliches that plague other web novels these days.)
    • Life-like characters (every single person is alive, with their own thoughts, memories, and dreams)
    • Very interesting power system (not some s*upid 'Nakama' power-ups.)
    • Long-running references to Sherlock Holmes, Moriarty, Gerhman, Jack Sparrow (all my favorite characters)
    • Well-placed comedy (not the main focus though)
    • Secret Organizations; MC is managing things from the shadows (my favorite kind of setting)
Cons:

    • Gore and horror. Sorry, I'm not good with these kinds of stuff
TL;DR: I absolutely recommend this novel.

Edit: So, I have completed this novel now. And.... *sob sob* this is soo sad. I want mooore! I can't get over this. I feel so empty now. When will LotM 2 come out? Please, author, make it quick.

This is the best f*cking thing I've ever read.
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raiha88
raiha88 rated it
February 23, 2019
Status: v3c169
Everything the user Night Ghost said in his review is true! This is so far the best transmigration novel I've read (read the latest chapter thru mtl).

The start of the story might be slow paced and considered as boring but they are relevant to the future events, explaining why the MC encountered those people/events.

Overall, I recommend you to read this story as it's so far one of the best novel out there.
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Hazel00
Hazel00 rated it
February 5, 2020
Status: c853
Hands down, one of the best novel in NU.

bear with 100 decent chapter. Because it's still building it's world and character and after that feast yourself with amazing and one of the best novel i've ever read.

currently at chp 800ish and it's simply blowed my mind. You can read it free if you search well enough ?. Without bothering the alien language (mtl).

... more>> the world building is top notch and some stuff i've never read in many other novel such as :

-super deep lore (and amazing story lore)

-strength not based on level system or cultivation but sequence (from 9 to 0)

-the mysticism and mysterious world where madness can happen anytime and anywhere

ex : - you can't directly look at gods (you could go mad or being a lump of meat)

the pros from this novel

-3D character

-mindblowing plot

-amazing world building

-amazing lore

-so much character development. Not just main character but others too

it's well written and I believe that you must read this novel

bwhahahahahahaha read read read it's truly a beautiful diamond among sea of novel <<less
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Aldenoah
Aldenoah rated it
July 10, 2022
Status: Completed
This is by far one my favorite novels, the storyline, world building, everything is superb! Everything is basically a foreshadowing to future chapters and it's like a giant jigsaw puzzle where everything starts to come together every volume.

Ignore the ones saying that world building is unnecessary filler as most of those people don't even finish the first volume. Also the fact that they complained about every character having a name. It's called giving flesh to each character, and honestly, it's such a refreshing take from the flat 2d characters that... more>> you easily forget about after a couple of chapters. Each character in this novel has a personality of their own that makes them unique. They're not easily forgettable, they're not just there to fill up the word count or take up space, they're there to add more to the story, and it's true because the author doesn't forget that they exist!

I love the thought and effort the author put into this novel. The amount of detail is just wow! Overall highly recommend!

P.s Just saying though to be patient and read through everything. Don't complain about how it doesn't make sense without having read through it further because trust, it will! <<less
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linhliz
linhliz rated it
August 20, 2021
Status: Completed
It took me exactly 4 weeks to finish this absolutely masterpiece. At first it can be a little confusing, the strength system (?) and the names of the respective levels are so many (22 paths). I had to switch between 2 tabs (1 for the novel and 1 for the fandom wiki) to have a better understanding of the world setting. The manhua also helped a lot.

I researched a bit and wow, this novel still ranked 7 (it was published in 2018) in the respective genre chart in Qidian, the... more>> top novel reading website in Chinese, and the author Cuttlefish is one of Qidian's platinum authors, a privilege that guarantees his fame and number of readers.

Now to the characters. Absolutely gold!!! From the main characters to the side characters, everyone plays their roles perfectly, and the character growth is there. Klein (MC) still has his root (?) even after being Sequence 0. I think Audrey's growth is the most noticeable, from a naive noble lady to a mature one

Spoiler

she splits herself as she is no longer the lovable and naive child of her family, she afraids her family will be in danger because of her, so she left the "still somewhat innocent" personality to her family and left her house

[collapse]

What I like most is the Tarot Club. And of course the wrong guessing of Klein (aka Mr. Fool) 's intention :))) I laughed so hard when Alger and Cattleya they thought Mr. Fool only cared about big issue. And the whole club doted on Little Sun aka Derrick (Leonard said: He's the tallest one in the club, what part of him is little LOL). The club is like a family in all but blood. And their fear towards Gerhman (Klein's other identity) is super hilarious :))) Especially Fors :))) I laughed so bad when she was being forcefully studied under Gerhman, poor young lady.

Spoiler

Audrey had to hold it in so bad when she discovered that the notorious and cold Gerhman Sparrow is a softie who liked to lampoon, who bickered like a child with Leonard

[collapse]

Now to the antagonist, and by antagonist I mean you, Amon *stared*.

I knew this novel because of Amon (saw his official goods that were on sale in China and thought *cough* fuxx he's handsome he's my type I have to find what novel he's in and read it *cough*). Amon is a brat, he's God of Mischief after all ehem Loki.

Spoiler

when he knew that Klein once disguised as his clone before Medici, he was like: oh next time I meet Medici I'll wear my monocle on the left eye to fool him then switch ti the right eye. And of course the ringing bell incident :))) Amon be like: Oh Mr. Fool, your holy bible said I'm your subordinate, I'm your Angel who will strike the Heaven Bell to welcome you. Then who am I to not comply. After that he went to strike the bell for real, while smirking at Klein :))) Noted that they are still enemy at this point LOL. Poor Klein was scared (His smirk is like KID's in Conan)

[collapse]

Amon is a born Angel so he doesn't know humanity. His acts can be considered inhumane and caused PTSD for his victims. I swear at this son a xxxxx more than once when reading the novel. I know it's his character setting but still.

The plot is thick and consistent, with little to none plot holes. It's slow in the first arc (getting to know the world) and kinda rush in the last few arcs. I speed read and skimmed the extra chapters because they're not related to the main chapters that much. The second extra is actually our characters in modern time, a prologue for Cuttlefish's next work relating to LotM, a trilogy of sort.

All in all, I absolutely recommend this novel. Reading this will make you set your expectation and rating bar way higher than before. I still struggle with finding another novel that can satisfy me like this one. <<less
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Macho
Macho rated it
April 22, 2020
Status: c1149
I've been reading this novel's updates daily for about a year now and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to a reader with an adequate attention span and interest in the genre.

First I'd like to mention a few things: Klein has wonderful character development. He develops cunningess, logical thinking and a will of steel. Also; this isn't the standard wish fullfillment novel you might have been accustomed to, he will face adverisity and issues he has no way of solving, he starts exhibiting mental issues at some points also. Yet it's... more>> portrayed well and tactly in the story, this isn't a book meant to show how difficult Klein's life is and how he despairs in life, he will hold onto his early personality in some ways at all times so he doesn't forget his identity even if it keeps changing along with his personality, sometimes even with his sense of self. All the while his powers keep growing, along with side charecters, which there are many! And with well developed personalities in my opinion.

The first part of the novel consists of mysteries about his immediate surroundings, the supernatural, his identity and delves slightly into deities and the origin of Klein's transmigration. The part I disliked about the beginning was all sort of detective work he did, which wasn't useless in moving the plotline forward, by the way. There were good reasons for it and it helped shape his view and identity for the future, yet I just wasn't a fan of it.

Moving on with well a developed transition he assumes an identity of an adventurer, which helpes show Klein and us; the reader, how intiruguing and interesting the world in which he exists now really is.

Then it really starts to draw you in at this point if never. Klein delves into secret pacts, mythology of gods, factions of the world, his own origins and secrets of the divine. All the while changing his personality traits and encompassing more and more of a mindset of a proactive schemer as time passes.

There were some reviews about how Klein is a tool of fate and how he is in a downward spiral out of control after discovering his origins and the adverisity ahead of him. I'd like to say that it is written well, I felt intrigued and suprised at the developments most of the time, I never felt suffocated or had a feeling like there was nothing to look forward to, and most importantly; Klein hasn't suffocated or felt like he had nothing to look forward to. He is a man of action and schemes, with a mix of intellect and courage who knows when to advanced and when to retreat.

Is it appropriate for The Fool to be played in the grasp of fate or perhaps one can make fate The Fool for once?

I really enjoy this story and I do hope this review has given some kind of inkling of what to expect. I wrote this quickly on a mobile phone while waiting for a bus since I genuinenly felt like I had to share my opinions of it to encourage more people to read the book. <<less
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Bottled Chu
Bottled Chu rated it
July 23, 2022
Status: Completed
I am simply speechless. I did not expect a novel of such quality here

Disclaimer: Instead of going to the technical stuff, I'm gonna tell you my personal anecdote. They're already explained better by people with more IQ than me here anyways. So I'm gonna tell you 1) why I enjoyed reading this, and 2) why I wanted to read more of this

WHY IS THIS GOOD? ================= The author creates this huge, expansive, and incredibly complex world. This alone is neither unique nor special even in novelupdates. What's amazing is how the... more>> author introduces this world to us through the many POV's of the characters. Every exposition happens where they should and when they should happen. Instead of getting overwhelmed with boring pages upon pages of world history, the author gives us crumbs of lore that make us wanted to read MORE. The act of reading hard-earned lore is a reward on itself. If you enjoyed lore hunting in souls game, you're gonna love this

Now, say you didn't care about any of that. World building isn't really your tempo. Then have no fear. The great thing is that this story FEELS like a story. Plots are more than collection of tropes. There are typical twists and tragedies, sure, but those are organic and believable. Klein as a protagonist feels like a real person with actual thoughts. You will know his struggle, anxiety, and eventual triumphs. He is the kindest MC ive ever read in NU. Because he cares, and in a realistic way. He isn't some goody two shoes, nor is he an antihero who secretly saves the world or something. He is just a guy who cares for his brother and sister

WHY I WANTED TO READ MORE OF THIS ===================

Let's address the proverbial elephant in my room. I like it because it's Lovecraftian and heavily inspired by bloodborne. That said, this novel is way more than that.

Many reviewers may have told you to not drop the story before vol 1 ending. Because if you like it, you are in for a wild ride

Months ago I did the same and was amazed

"This part is really good, this is fan favorite right? This has to be the best part of the novel, and it's gonna get downhill from here isn't it?"

Wrong.

Against my skepticism, the story actually get BETTER

There is a deep sense of mystery in this world. Why is the MC tramsigrated? Who are the gods? Why are they so cruel? Why is the power system so f*cked up? Why is curly haired baboon so popular? All good questions. As you read through the novel, pieces slowly came together. This is the main drive that bring me to this story everytime. The author managed to balance mystery with exposition. It does not feel boring and predictable

Each volume's ending is somehow better than the one before, which then cimaxes into a great ending

AND, THE BAD? ============ To prevent this already subjective pseudo-review into a circlejerk, here is why you might not enjoy it:

_It started slow

_Expect to be confused, a lot. This is not malazan but sometimes you just need to roll with it until it is explained way later

_Lovecraftian. If for some reason you dislike this then this may be a negative. This isn't grimdark though. The world is filled with oppressive eldrtich horror and suffering, but it is not hopeless and full of depression like souls game/darkest dungeon. The closest game analogy I can think of is The Witcher with its monsters

CLOSING THOUGHTS =============

Reading this feels like reading The Children of Hurin again, the magic is there. The sheer creativity displayed by the author is frankly astounding. The world is vast and interesting, the characters are believable yet exciting. You can feel the passion here. I strongly recommend giving this novel a try even if you have no interest in the genre <<less
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Novelweeb624
Novelweeb624
April 20, 2022
Status: --
The best novel you will ever read. Please understand that after reading this novel, you will never ever read one that is better. You will feel an emptiness in your heart and treat this novel as a deity in comparison to all the other crappy copy paste novels out there. This novel had me into the story like I’ve never been before. In other novels, you can skip about 50 chapters and miss nothing important. This book made me feel that every page I turned was heavily important. Every single... more>> sentence in this story is like a work of art that keeps me intrigued. Therefore, fair warning if you read this because you will never read anything better. This is the final boss of books... <<less
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DragonLordADN
DragonLordADN rated it
September 12, 2021
Status: Completed
Praise the Fool! MC is a through and through guardian

A master piece, ultra rare book with solid world building (no holes almost all leads thrown around are used) , Well built system of power and Superb fantastic overarching plotline. Stay away if you expect romance
Spoiler

Perfect description given in the extra story:MC has encounters with 3 female pirate captains but leaves with the boatswain

[collapse]
or can't handle a Ton of gore, terror, horror and grossness.

The bad part:

  • No romance whats so ever and no heroine too (tho we have a lot of female main characters)
  • Some developments later seem forced eg.
    Spoiler

    Trissy's sudden vengeance for the prince

    [collapse]
  • Rushing at the end of the novel
    Spoiler

    Its too fast after MC reached sequence 5

    [collapse]
  • Spoiler

    DOOR was pointless, after so much hype he dies so badly and the door/magician pathway barely plays a point at all

    [collapse]
  • Spoiler

    Personally I disliked audrey's character change with progress, just personal opinion but I would have preferred she stayed the way she was at start, afterall its a gloomy evil world there

    [collapse]
  • Spoiler

    Many characters are named yet never show their faces, eg. Emlyn's parents

    [collapse]
The good parts

Tbh too many to count but anyway:

  • Well built story, world, main characters, backstories and power increase
  • Perfect mix of terror, horror and thriller
  • there's barely a lul where you are left unhooked.
  • The way they bring out horrifying aspects of simple things like omniscience, masquerading, mental manipulation etc. Are amazing, it even strikes harder for those who read quite a bit of fantasy stories where such op abilities are carelessly thrown around.
  • This in my opinion is one of the brilliant points of the story that is filled with secrets and revelations to the brim :
    Spoiler

    The Fool that doesn’t belong to this era;
    The Mysterious Ruler above the gray fog;
    The King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck.

    [collapse]
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Cynicals
Cynicals rated it
September 7, 2021
Status: Completed
Almost all Isekai novels feel like they use the genre as a crutch for bad storytelling. They use it to either give the main character a goal they probably won't reach, explain why they aren't able to write immature or non-human characters, or to make the main character overpowered. Cuttlefish subverts these tropes in a well constructed climb leading to a satisfying ending that leaves the reader wanting a sequel at the end of it all to experience the world even more. The witty dialogue, unique setting and magic system,... more>> smart and action packed fights, with a good dose of lovecraftian horror to tie the bow on it all. Because the biggest enemy Klein has to fight isn't the conspiracy around his arrival to the world, nor the ancient beings fighting for power, but to try and survive all that while not going insane and suffering a fate worse than death.

Setting:

Spoiler

As one of the main defining traits of the novel, the steampunk theme adds a unique style that is rarely seen, especially in a fantasy novel. You can tell that Cuttlefish put months into building this world. For each major area, all the cities, villages, and towns feel like they would exist in the world, and the history of the world adds greater depth while also building up the mystery aspect. The timeline of the world, while confusing as you progress through the novel, all pieces together into a masterful timeline by the end of the book. Cuttlefish gives us the timeline in bits and pieces, and it almost feels like a dark souls game in how much they hold back on it. This is a good thing however as it makes people want to know, and makes the mysteries and plot twists genuine.

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Characters:

Spoiler

Klein, the protagonist, fits the Isekai trope of an everyday man put in another world. Where Cuttlefish makes him shine in how he has unique traits from the beginning, and how he grows as a person as his responsibilities and goals grow. He doesn't want to become more powerful and face these godlike beings, but in order to protect himself he has no choice.

The supporting cast are all diverse and fit the story in almost a Knight's of the round table way. There are few to no supporting characters that don't have large character growth. Some throw away characters end up being keys to understanding the plots going around, tying Klein to all of his supporting cast emotionally. And when characters die it hits hard, because anyone could suffer a fate worse than death in this novel.

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Magic system:

Spoiler

This magic system in one of a kind, pulling inspiration from witchcraft, alchemy, folk tales, religion cultism, cultivation, and tying them together with the staple of H. P. Lovecraft, insanity from the beyond. Cuttlefish has done visible research, with all the mysticism having been pulled or inspired from real life sources, and the mystery of the inner workings of it is almost as intriguing as the plots those using it are making.

[collapse]

Action:

Spoiler

Most cultivation novels suffer from the fatal flow of expressing power creep. Once you split a mountain in half, how is it impressive if you do it again to a bigger one. This isn't a problem in lotm. There are 3 phases to the combat in lotm, low sequence, medium sequence, and high sequence, and you can tell the difference between them as you progress through the novels. Low sequence fights are in the first third volumes, and they are almost alike to real life fights, with the slight addition of light magic and body enhancements. People on both sides of the fight can and will die, and there is not always a clear winner. You may have lost the battle but can always come back to win the war later. Medium sequence fights progress to being hyperfocused on the magic, with the odds tilting based on who has the most contingency plans, allies, and artifacts. The person who planned out the ambush has a clear advantage in these magic fights, but it's never guaranteed they could win the fight, creating a deep tension throughout. High sequence fights big spoilers are fights between gods and concepts that transcend mortal understanding. Most of the time you can win by hitting the enemy harder, you have to drive them insane before they do the same to you. Insanity is a constant threat, and killing someone without mental facilities to stop you is a lot easier than when they can actively use their godly domain to stop you.

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Plot:

Spoiler

First and foremost, this is a mystery novel. Everything hinges on the readers natural curiosity to learn more about the world and it's people. Why is Klein here? What's the secret behind the churches? What is the cult planning here? How will this person protect themselves, and strike back, at their enemy? As the plot progresses, you can feel the Lovecraft influences even more, as the writing style, and Klein as a person, becomes less and less human, if he even ends the novel as one.

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Tldr: this is probably my number one fantasy novel and I highly recommend it ;) <<less
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