Hello and welcome!
I've included this review here because it couldn't fit the review section's word count limit. I'll try to be as in-depth as possible without giving away spoilers. So please read through the entire review first before deciding to submit your questions. And kindly refrain from asking about the spoilers.
*******************
First of all, before you start seeing this piece as only a smut novel after reading a few initial chapters, let me be clear about some things.
The sexual content you will find in the novel is part of Eren's evilness. He will walk on all those routes that are traditionally deemed as paths of sin (the seven sins). He will also do things that might not be able to be categorised as right or wrong.
Of course, the novel will focus on RPG elements, Eren's progress in being a better adventurer than past life, and a lot more in further chapters.
Despite its sexual content, it is not a pure smut novel. However, it does not exempt itself from that category either. It's only a part of Eren's nature and serves as a sneak peek into some of his future endeavours.
I've avoided the smut tag for this novel for this very reason. A lot of smut readers will want the work they read to only focus or prioritize the sexual content over other plotlines. So such readers might be disappointed when further chapters are released.
Also, this note shouldn't be seen as me expressing my aversion to smuts. I like smut novels if they are very well written with a compelling plot and in-depth, multi-dimensional characters. I think writing smuts is also an artistic skill that few people will be able to wield.
Although I don't know how my first attempt at writing pseudo-smut will pan out, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I can already say that it's way tougher than writing about fight scenes.
I've already tagged this novel for adults. If you are not into smut novels, please skip the chapters that have sexual content and keep on reading.
*******************
A lot of things have happened to the novel since I wrote the first review for VEH. First, it received a bronze award at WPC 218. Then it got contracted. It's about time I let the new readers know what they can expect from this title.
Writing quality: I believe I have sound sentence construction. And I'm fairly confident in my linguistic skills. There might be some stray errors that I haven't caught yet, most of which are just ATDs (Attention to Detail). But they won't hamper your readability.
Story Development: The novel gives a fresh take on an extremely saturated market: MC travelling back in time. I aimed to avoid following beaten paths and turning this story into a revenge tale or harem tale. And for the most part, I think I've succeeded. It has those moments, sure. But collectively, it is much more than any of its aspects combined.
The storyline is optimally paced. It is neither too fast nor too slow. One might argue that the storyline could be made a bit faster, and normally I'd agree with them. But the extended explanations I've included have saved the novel from forming plot holes many times now.
As a reader myself, I know how off-putting it can be to find a mood killer plot hole that throws the entire story into disarray. Thus, I have fortified the novel verse with the right descriptions that depict the right world settings, things, people, and more at the right time.
Character design: Eren Idril is a pathological liar and cunning manipulator. He prefers to catch his opponents off guard so that he can deal with them with maximum efficiency while ensuring his interests are not hurt in the process. In his previous life, he had experienced some mishaps. That has changed him into the person he is now.
Therefore, he'd always prioritize his benefits over blindsided revenge. And he'd make his moves in the shadows, for the most part, to get what he wants.
If you are here for an overpowered MC who powers through his obstacles like an unstoppable hurricane, you will be disappointed reading this piece. But if you want to watch a cynic, bitter minded, two-faced, and compulsive liar of an MC take on his challenges with absolute prudence and OCDish preparedness, then this book here is your cup of tea.
Stability of updates: since the novel has become premium, readers can expect stable updates. And I'm counting on you guys to influence me into doing mass releases every so often with your gifts, Golden Tickets, and any other form of support you can provide. ;)
World Background: The novel's world begins to unfold after the end of volume 1. It expands extensively after chapter 100. And by chapter 420, most of the dots placed in volumes 1 and 2 starts getting connected.
VEH takes time to show its readers how diverse it can be. It's a slow read for those who like to take their time in experiencing the novel-verse as a whole.
*****************
The cons:
1) The start of the novel has its info-dump moments. I've tried to keep things in control but for a fresh novel to build up to its lore, info-dumps are unavoidable.
2) The conversational dialogues can be a bit stretched at first. But that's because I've tried to incorporate a lot of world-building information into them.
3) It's not a harem story. That means he'd get intimate with a lot of women without marrying them.
4) The plotline is NOT smut centric. The R18 scenes and other comic relief moments are only used sporadically to give a breather to readers from reading too much serious stuff all at once. Plus, the initial chapters that portray Eren and Nina's interactions might come across as off-putting for some readers. Kindly read past them if that's the case for you.
5) The RPG elements of the story kick in after volume one finishes.
6) No OP MC. No instant power-ups. MC does not possess level-defying abilities to defeat characters higher in rank than him.
7) There might be a few ATD errors that I'm not aware of or yet to rectify.
8) A few lengthy Author Notes. I've included them to open a dialogue with my readers while keeping them in the loop about some extra information that is relative to the current plotline. Of course, you can always skip to the next chapter if you don't want to read them.
*********************
And now the pros.
1) No h@rem bs. Our boy doesn't involve himself too much in the lives of the women he is in bed with. Neither will he fight their battles for them. That means he will be romantically involved with multiple characters. It just won't turn into wedlock.
Plus, no disrespecting other rankers just because Eren is dating someone good looking. Even Eren's opponents are perfectly capable of dating attractive women. Hence they won't be as desperate as Wuxia antagonists.
Furthermore, I've avoided calling it a harem because the women Eren is intimate with are neither his wives, concubines, or servants. Or to be more precise, they won't be restricted to those role alone. They have their individuality which is not limited to only being Eren's partner.
2) Of course, no NTR.
3) Almost non-existent young master troupes.
4) I've tried to balance the grim stuff with situational comic relief moments. I feel that has kept the storyline from becoming bland.
5) The power levels are based on the fusion of RPG elements and cherry-picked cultivation concepts. I've done that to avoid unexplainable system power-ups. Power-ups also include well-known nuances of mana. (You can read chapter 2 from the auxiliary volume to know what I'm talking about)
6) No OP protagonist. Eren has to follow the same rules other characters in the story are bound by. His only advantages are his knowledge of the past events he is aware of, his mature way of looking at things, and his demon beast companion. And he makes sparing use of them all while keeping his safety in check.
7) The MC doesn't wear plot armour for the most part. Eren has to deal with the consequences of his actions directly or indirectly.
8) Minimum dumps of attribute specs. No need to keep on thinking about the ranking statuses of various characters. The BTP (Base Stat Points) would eventually become the only value you need to get a fair idea about characters' power levels.
9) Well-crafted power structure and paths to magic incorporated with a character class. Something I've invested time and effort in.
*******************
VEH has received so much love from most of its readers. I take this review to thank all of them as well as potential new readers.
That being said, the increased reader activity that has come with the novel's popularity has made it difficult for me to reply to every comment. I like to roll with my readers and enjoy a meme-off as much as them. You can see that from the early chapters as well. So you can imagine my irritation when the sheer number of notifications makes me unable to read through every one of them. I need to manage my time better to have a better work-life-writing balance, after all.
Therefore from now on, I'll prioritize replying to queries that either won't get resolved after reading further chapters or those that haven't been raised before. I try to read all the comments in my free time. The ones that have something unique to add, or a fresh perspective on the current plotline.
If you do not receive a response from me within two-three days, there is a possibility that your query will be addressed in subsequent chapters. Or it is something that has already been answered as replies to comments asked by other readers. Please be patient in that regard.
I believe we have something good in store for each of you. At least wait till chapter 360 before you decide to pause VEH. Because by then, I'm sure it'll have you hooked.
Join my Discord or send an invite on Instagram (@GraybackNovels) to stay updated or clear your queries. Details in the synopsis. ;)
That's it. Hope to see you in the latest chapters. Catch up soon. ;)