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Reborn as a Demonic Tree #1
Reborn as a Demonic Tree: An Isekai LitRPG Adventure
Ashlock wakes in the courtyard of a demonic sect... as a tree. A tree that eats people.
An odd start to a new life. Almost as strange as the humans flying through the skies on flaming swords and challenging the heavens. After all, this is a world where humans could chase the goal of immortality through the art of cultivation.
But Ashlock is merely a sapling in a desolate courtyard, left alone with his thoughts and unable to speak to those passing him by.
Unless he does something about it...
Every day, he grows stronger as he cultivates and uses a suspicious daily sign-in system that grants him powerful skills, mutations, summons, and items, all in exchange for credits earned from eating flesh and watching the seasons pass by.
But his peaceful life and man-eating ways can only go unnoticed for so long. His Qi-rich bark makes him a target for many young masters. If that isn't bad enough, tensions in the demonic sect are at an all-time high with the Beast Tide festers on the horizon.
Ashlock's only option is to grow faster and stronger than any tree has ever done in the history of the nine realms—all while trying to avoid being turned into firewood.
An odd start to a new life. Almost as strange as the humans flying through the skies on flaming swords and challenging the heavens. After all, this is a world where humans could chase the goal of immortality through the art of cultivation.
But Ashlock is merely a sapling in a desolate courtyard, left alone with his thoughts and unable to speak to those passing him by.
Unless he does something about it...
Every day, he grows stronger as he cultivates and uses a suspicious daily sign-in system that grants him powerful skills, mutations, summons, and items, all in exchange for credits earned from eating flesh and watching the seasons pass by.
But his peaceful life and man-eating ways can only go unnoticed for so long. His Qi-rich bark makes him a target for many young masters. If that isn't bad enough, tensions in the demonic sect are at an all-time high with the Beast Tide festers on the horizon.
Ashlock's only option is to grow faster and stronger than any tree has ever done in the history of the nine realms—all while trying to avoid being turned into firewood.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published November 14, 2023
656 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
December 25, 2023
Boring.
It took awhile to plow through the first half. The concept was poorly executed. This is a fun idea that has no solid direction.
It took awhile to plow through the first half. The concept was poorly executed. This is a fun idea that has no solid direction.
October 29, 2023
По детски елементарно написана историйка, чиято целева аудитория очевидно са тийнове или хора, чийто акъл и читателски опит е толкова, която обаче е достатъчно зарибяваща, за да продължавам да я чета - нещо като сапунен сериал, който следиш само за да видиш какво ще стане в следващия епизод. Или просто моят акъл е толкова... ;)
March 2, 2024
This was a fun Cultivation/Gamelit hybrid somewhat in the vein of Beware of Chicken because it balances comedy with a serious story. While BoC to me is 70-30 comedy to serious, this story felt 70-30 serious to comedy.
Character � 8/10, Plot � 8/10, Setting/Magic � 7/10, Writing � 7/10, Enjoyment � 6/10
It’s hard to talk about the characters and plot separately, so I’m going to merge these for the sake of brevity. Our main character is a human, Ashlock, whose spirit has reincarnated and become trapped inside a demonic tree in a fantasy cultivation world. Besides the normal cultivation style of elemental Qi magic, Ash also has a System that lets him earn 1 point per day of being alive and also gain various amounts of points by devouring creatures. He can cash these points once daily via the system’s gacha/slot machine mechanic and receive a random skill or technique.
It’s a unique premise among a growing subgenre of cultivation/gamelit that involves a nonhuman pov. There have been plenty of evolving monster characters in other stories, but it seems lately that authors are trying to one-up each other by getting more outlandish. Granted, the Roomba from All the Dust that Falls probably takes the cake so far. While it may be challenging to write a non-passive story from the perspective of a tree, the author does just that by mixing in smaller scenes with the supporting cast. There are a variety of young master type characters and cultivators of various other sects involved to make things pretty lively on the character side of things. While I usually get annoyed by too many povs, this story balanced it pretty well by keeping them fairly short and on target.
The writing was solid, with few errors. There was a nice balance of introspection and action. Maybe some people will feel there was too much navel gazing/bark gazing, but an intellect stuck in a tree inevitably has plenty of time to think. That being said, something I appreciated was the author’s use of appropriate metaphors. While I think there might have still been a cliché mention of a knife cutting through butter at one point, there were a fair amount of tree-related metaphors that showed a bit more creativity than average.
There were a few things I wasn’t a big fan of, namely the large amounts of deus ex machina involved with resolving the plot. It’s a fine line to walk. I won’t really talk about the biggest part since it’s spoiler territory, but the other parts mostly involve the System rewards. From the get-go, when a character’s ability revolves around luck or random draw, it’s expected to serve as a device for the author to cheaply resolve a plot hurdle. If you are sensitive to that sort of thing, then this book might disappoint. I am one of those people, but I will still say that it should feel mostly organic to the average reader. I am a bit too familiar with writing structure and devices, so I may have stronger opinions about such things than your average reader.
I’m not the biggest fan of cultivation stories, so it’s unfortunate for me that so many gamelit seem to be cultivation hybrids lately. I find myself browsing isekai light novels as an alternative to scratch my gamelit itch. That being said, this book was enjoyable and anyone who enjoys cultivation stories will likely love this.
Character � 8/10, Plot � 8/10, Setting/Magic � 7/10, Writing � 7/10, Enjoyment � 6/10
It’s hard to talk about the characters and plot separately, so I’m going to merge these for the sake of brevity. Our main character is a human, Ashlock, whose spirit has reincarnated and become trapped inside a demonic tree in a fantasy cultivation world. Besides the normal cultivation style of elemental Qi magic, Ash also has a System that lets him earn 1 point per day of being alive and also gain various amounts of points by devouring creatures. He can cash these points once daily via the system’s gacha/slot machine mechanic and receive a random skill or technique.
It’s a unique premise among a growing subgenre of cultivation/gamelit that involves a nonhuman pov. There have been plenty of evolving monster characters in other stories, but it seems lately that authors are trying to one-up each other by getting more outlandish. Granted, the Roomba from All the Dust that Falls probably takes the cake so far. While it may be challenging to write a non-passive story from the perspective of a tree, the author does just that by mixing in smaller scenes with the supporting cast. There are a variety of young master type characters and cultivators of various other sects involved to make things pretty lively on the character side of things. While I usually get annoyed by too many povs, this story balanced it pretty well by keeping them fairly short and on target.
The writing was solid, with few errors. There was a nice balance of introspection and action. Maybe some people will feel there was too much navel gazing/bark gazing, but an intellect stuck in a tree inevitably has plenty of time to think. That being said, something I appreciated was the author’s use of appropriate metaphors. While I think there might have still been a cliché mention of a knife cutting through butter at one point, there were a fair amount of tree-related metaphors that showed a bit more creativity than average.
There were a few things I wasn’t a big fan of, namely the large amounts of deus ex machina involved with resolving the plot. It’s a fine line to walk. I won’t really talk about the biggest part since it’s spoiler territory, but the other parts mostly involve the System rewards. From the get-go, when a character’s ability revolves around luck or random draw, it’s expected to serve as a device for the author to cheaply resolve a plot hurdle. If you are sensitive to that sort of thing, then this book might disappoint. I am one of those people, but I will still say that it should feel mostly organic to the average reader. I am a bit too familiar with writing structure and devices, so I may have stronger opinions about such things than your average reader.
I’m not the biggest fan of cultivation stories, so it’s unfortunate for me that so many gamelit seem to be cultivation hybrids lately. I find myself browsing isekai light novels as an alternative to scratch my gamelit itch. That being said, this book was enjoyable and anyone who enjoys cultivation stories will likely love this.
November 18, 2023
I have not read many of thembut I likeprogression/cultivation stories and I was intrigued when I saw an ad somewhere for this book. The idea of someone being reborn as a tree in a cultivation fantasy world sounded unique and I was curious how the author would handle it. It was a little rough around the edges at times but overall I was hooked and very invested in the progression of the main character as he levels up and unlocks skills. I'm looking forward to thenext book in this series.
November 22, 2023
So much better than I expected
This was really good. I thought about stopping a few times mostly because I wasn’t sure if this was my type of story. The writing is awesome and the story is great. By the end you will be invested in seeing this tree become a god. Read it and enjoy. Fix your favorite beverage and just relax into this world.
This was really good. I thought about stopping a few times mostly because I wasn’t sure if this was my type of story. The writing is awesome and the story is great. By the end you will be invested in seeing this tree become a god. Read it and enjoy. Fix your favorite beverage and just relax into this world.
November 14, 2023
Highly Recommend
Just as good as it was on RR. Highly recommend reading it, even though the main character is a tree. It was my first time reading a book with a non-human mc and it was very enjoyable, especially because Ashlock is such an interesting character.
Just as good as it was on RR. Highly recommend reading it, even though the main character is a tree. It was my first time reading a book with a non-human mc and it was very enjoyable, especially because Ashlock is such an interesting character.
November 15, 2023
Best kind of cultivation story, a different one
An excellent take on the cultivation/progression genre. Well thought out characters with a fun story and enough to keep a reader hooked.
An excellent take on the cultivation/progression genre. Well thought out characters with a fun story and enough to keep a reader hooked.
November 21, 2023
fun
Ashlock is a human turned tree. He grows through cultivation and consuming� things. He learns to be a tree, grows as a person, and learns the grand secrets of reality, all while finding a new family.
It’s a well told cultivation story, great pacing, captivating world, and interesting characters. Please enjoy.
Ashlock is a human turned tree. He grows through cultivation and consuming� things. He learns to be a tree, grows as a person, and learns the grand secrets of reality, all while finding a new family.
It’s a well told cultivation story, great pacing, captivating world, and interesting characters. Please enjoy.
November 15, 2023
Different perspective worth the read
Not typical but I found drew me in. Lots of possibilities for characters to grow, bits of humour that both hint at things and made me smile -interactions between Larry and Maple late in book. Looking forward to next
Not typical but I found drew me in. Lots of possibilities for characters to grow, bits of humour that both hint at things and made me smile -interactions between Larry and Maple late in book. Looking forward to next
February 19, 2024
A refreshing take on reincarnation
Very fun read. MC isn’t overly powerful yet cunning. Side characters are also very charming and fun to read about. Can’t wait for more.
Very fun read. MC isn’t overly powerful yet cunning. Side characters are also very charming and fun to read about. Can’t wait for more.
December 18, 2023
I never expect that i would enjoy a tree cultivator story🤣. Yes, MC is a tree.... a tree looking for another tree to talk about tree life. This book might not for everyone, especially someone who enjoy action from MC. I love the vibe from this story and will continue with 2nd book.
May 30, 2024
I enjoyed this book however it was a little slower paced then I'm used too. That being said it was still really good.
March 20, 2024
5 In Your Moment Of Death, Who Gave You Life Stars
Reborn as a Demonic Tree is the first book in the Isekai LitRPG Adventure series by XKarnation.
Thank you very much for making me empathize with a sentient tree. Ash and Stella's bond is so endearing. That has further depth than simply an emotional attachment, but rather ties their fates together is unsurprising. Diana is a nice addition to the duo. I believe she is the counterbalance to what Stella lacks. I hope they lead together beneath Ash's bountiful boughs.
My favorite character, outside of the growing menagerie of spirit beast summons, is assuredly Senior Lee. I hope he is not truly gone, but his final words in the book left an impression.
Not only must Ash face the highest ranking cultivators of this realm, we now find he has an enemy tree out in the world. A rival, if you will. His growth to come and consolidation of power are sure to be interesting. I'm excited about the development of the Ashfallen sect in the future. Although, I am sure there are many hidden dangers lurking just out of reach.
Reborn as a Demonic Tree is the first book in the Isekai LitRPG Adventure series by XKarnation.
Thank you very much for making me empathize with a sentient tree. Ash and Stella's bond is so endearing. That has further depth than simply an emotional attachment, but rather ties their fates together is unsurprising. Diana is a nice addition to the duo. I believe she is the counterbalance to what Stella lacks. I hope they lead together beneath Ash's bountiful boughs.
My favorite character, outside of the growing menagerie of spirit beast summons, is assuredly Senior Lee. I hope he is not truly gone, but his final words in the book left an impression.
Not only must Ash face the highest ranking cultivators of this realm, we now find he has an enemy tree out in the world. A rival, if you will. His growth to come and consolidation of power are sure to be interesting. I'm excited about the development of the Ashfallen sect in the future. Although, I am sure there are many hidden dangers lurking just out of reach.
August 1, 2024
'Reborn as a Demonic Tree' is probably the best title for a book I’ve ever come across.
My criteria for excellent titles have evolved over time, but are essentially:
I. The title should create an image.
II. The title should suggest the genre or kind of experience.
III. The title should be unique to the individual work of art.
If all of these things are accomplished, then I feel the title will interest the right kind of audience.
(For these reasons, ‘Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia� is my favorite movie title of all time, even though it’s not even my favorite Sam Peckinpah movie.)
So…when I saw the title ‘Reborn as a Demonic Tree,� I had hoped that the reviews would be good (and they were), because I felt I had to put aside what I planned on reading next and dive immediately into this superbly named tome. The gorgeous artwork by Kukuruyo (that reminds me of Todd Lockwood’s awesome Drizzt paintings) is also very compelling and further garnered my interest.
I am new to LitRPG, and I admit to being a bit disappointed when I learned that 'Reborn as a Demonic Tree' was an example of this fantasy subgenre. For those unfamiliar with this term, LitRPG books are ones in which the author explicitly uses the mechanics found in computer Role Playing Games (and the tabletop RPGs whence they sprang). So, characters in these stories are checking their statistics (Health, Hit Points, Strength, etc.) and experience points and looking in their loot bags and are leveling up as they do in Dungeons & Dragons or Legend of Zelda or Monster Hunter. My favorite fantasy authors are very old-school guys like Clark Ashton Smith, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord Dunsany, and Robert E. Howard, and people who write in similar styles like Lin Carter and Schuyler Hernstrom. The LitRPG genre may have extra appeal for some gamers, but for me, it rides the edge of breaking the story's immersion, if not the fourth wall with its continual allusions to game systems and modern day authorial voice.
I recently had a very good experience reading a bunch of Creepypasta horror stories and seeing what younger generations were doing with that genre, and I want to keep an open mind with evolutions in the fantasy genre and all art that interests me, from Black Metal to Rap to Country Music to books and music and movies and pop art and outsider art.
My first foray into LitRPG was The Land: Founding by Aleron Kong. This book was fine, though not all that different from typical fantasy stories apart from the repeated deaths of the main character, various statistics discussions, and the modern day authorial voice that felt geared toward young adult readers. I appreciated some of the game mechanics, battle tactics, moral ambiguity, and humor found Matt Dinniman's LitRPG novel Dungeon Crawler Carl (especially the whole Ball of Swine and Rage Elemental sequences). This book is obviously very indebted to The Hunger Games and lacked tension because of its overall silliness, but was mostly enjoyable, especially from a gamer's perspective, since it is often about exploiting the rules of the game system. The setup for J.F. Brink's Defiance of the Fall was interesting and more seriously handled, but the protagonist Zac was massively overpowered very early on in this huge tome and made the book an okay, but repetitive grind, not aided by the lack of character interactions.
I am happy to report ‘Reborn as a Demonic Tree� is superior to any of these books.
In ‘Reborn as a Demonic Tree,� author Xkarnation created something new and distinct by rendering his original premise with brushes dipped in various gaming, anime, and scientific inks. And while I prefer traditionally told fantasy over LitRPG, this book felt newer and fresher than about all of the fantasy tomes I've read written during the last three decades. Thus, it seems like the parameters of LitRPG freed Xkarnation from traditionalism and rehash. I’d much rather read fiction this idiosyncratic than another book by Jordan, Abercrombie, Goodkind, Rowling, Sanderson, or Hobb.
Xkarnation came up with a premise unlike anything I’ve read in a full-length book. Sure, Dunsany and Lovecraft and others have personified hills and buildings and other inanimate objects in their short fiction, but this is a weighty tome in which a person awakens inside a tree and tries to understand himself and the warring and segregated world into which he has been transported. The portal (isekai) aspect here largely seems to exist so that the main character can have the relatable perspective of an Earthling and serves as a lens rather than an ongoing topic of discussion, for the reborn person’s previous life is not of particular importance nor greatly detailed.
This book is a thick 600 pages, and I’d estimate no less than 150 pages of the book centers around various characters contemplating and discussing Qi, the Chi/Mana/magic that powers the cultivators (sorcerers) in this world. This technical, scientifically rigorous investigation of supernatural power could be tedious, but rarely is, because it allows the author to dig deep into the greater physics of his world as well as the characters� hopes, goals, and flaws and relationships with each other.
The titular tree is named Ashlock. His perspective is the central one for the tale, and also the most interesting. His gradual development from a nearly blind and helpless sapling into a demonic tree is very well done. Ashlock's internal upgrades, acquired items, and various discoveries exemplify author Xkarnation best assets: his creativity and attention to detail. The botanical engineering is extremely smart and done with a scientific mindset that takes into account sap, growth, and transpiration.
Here’s a cool example of the author’s clever engineering: Early on in the book, Ashlock starts draining the blood and life out of corpses to gain Sacrificial Credits with which he can upgrade his abilities. He eventually becomes strong enough to create seeds for new saplings, but he needs to figure out how to disperse these seeds--a difficult task for a firmly rooted tree. Ashlock grows poisonous fruit and adjusts the dosage of toxins inside each one so that a bird eating the fruit will be able to fly an appropriate distance away from him before it dies, falls to earth, and becomes the fertilizer within which the seed grows.
Author Xkarnation comes up with tons of clever and resourceful things for his inert protagonist Ashlock to do in this story: the aforementioned poisoned fruit, Spellcasting with no hands, and root puppeteering are but three highlights. And the conflicts with 'heaven' are quite interestingly conceived.
The definition of magic in this book similar to Alistair Crowley’s, and the Qi system of colors and elements tells me the author probably plays Magic the Gathering (I do). The cute squirrel Maple...that may be terrifying creature...alludes to the excellent anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and the side quest in the cavern reminded me of the open world video game Stardew Valley. Most obviously, the fighting and power ups recall Dragonball Z and Avatar: the Last Airbender. And I’m sure there are scores of others inspirations I just don’t recognize�
I am not pointing out these influences as a criticism, but rather to illustrate that something new is happening here.
Fantasists have been trying for decades to recreate the best-known works by J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard and (more recently) J.K. Rowling and George R.R. Martin, but ‘Reborn as a Demonic Tree� is not any of these things, nor is it trying to be. The core concepts and all of the wonderfully detailed little evolutions Ashlock experiences felt new to me even though I’ve been reading the genre for nearly 40 years. I look forward to the next installment of this series and will seek out other works in this subgenre.
My criteria for excellent titles have evolved over time, but are essentially:
I. The title should create an image.
II. The title should suggest the genre or kind of experience.
III. The title should be unique to the individual work of art.
If all of these things are accomplished, then I feel the title will interest the right kind of audience.
(For these reasons, ‘Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia� is my favorite movie title of all time, even though it’s not even my favorite Sam Peckinpah movie.)
So…when I saw the title ‘Reborn as a Demonic Tree,� I had hoped that the reviews would be good (and they were), because I felt I had to put aside what I planned on reading next and dive immediately into this superbly named tome. The gorgeous artwork by Kukuruyo (that reminds me of Todd Lockwood’s awesome Drizzt paintings) is also very compelling and further garnered my interest.
I am new to LitRPG, and I admit to being a bit disappointed when I learned that 'Reborn as a Demonic Tree' was an example of this fantasy subgenre. For those unfamiliar with this term, LitRPG books are ones in which the author explicitly uses the mechanics found in computer Role Playing Games (and the tabletop RPGs whence they sprang). So, characters in these stories are checking their statistics (Health, Hit Points, Strength, etc.) and experience points and looking in their loot bags and are leveling up as they do in Dungeons & Dragons or Legend of Zelda or Monster Hunter. My favorite fantasy authors are very old-school guys like Clark Ashton Smith, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord Dunsany, and Robert E. Howard, and people who write in similar styles like Lin Carter and Schuyler Hernstrom. The LitRPG genre may have extra appeal for some gamers, but for me, it rides the edge of breaking the story's immersion, if not the fourth wall with its continual allusions to game systems and modern day authorial voice.
I recently had a very good experience reading a bunch of Creepypasta horror stories and seeing what younger generations were doing with that genre, and I want to keep an open mind with evolutions in the fantasy genre and all art that interests me, from Black Metal to Rap to Country Music to books and music and movies and pop art and outsider art.
My first foray into LitRPG was The Land: Founding by Aleron Kong. This book was fine, though not all that different from typical fantasy stories apart from the repeated deaths of the main character, various statistics discussions, and the modern day authorial voice that felt geared toward young adult readers. I appreciated some of the game mechanics, battle tactics, moral ambiguity, and humor found Matt Dinniman's LitRPG novel Dungeon Crawler Carl (especially the whole Ball of Swine and Rage Elemental sequences). This book is obviously very indebted to The Hunger Games and lacked tension because of its overall silliness, but was mostly enjoyable, especially from a gamer's perspective, since it is often about exploiting the rules of the game system. The setup for J.F. Brink's Defiance of the Fall was interesting and more seriously handled, but the protagonist Zac was massively overpowered very early on in this huge tome and made the book an okay, but repetitive grind, not aided by the lack of character interactions.
I am happy to report ‘Reborn as a Demonic Tree� is superior to any of these books.
In ‘Reborn as a Demonic Tree,� author Xkarnation created something new and distinct by rendering his original premise with brushes dipped in various gaming, anime, and scientific inks. And while I prefer traditionally told fantasy over LitRPG, this book felt newer and fresher than about all of the fantasy tomes I've read written during the last three decades. Thus, it seems like the parameters of LitRPG freed Xkarnation from traditionalism and rehash. I’d much rather read fiction this idiosyncratic than another book by Jordan, Abercrombie, Goodkind, Rowling, Sanderson, or Hobb.
Xkarnation came up with a premise unlike anything I’ve read in a full-length book. Sure, Dunsany and Lovecraft and others have personified hills and buildings and other inanimate objects in their short fiction, but this is a weighty tome in which a person awakens inside a tree and tries to understand himself and the warring and segregated world into which he has been transported. The portal (isekai) aspect here largely seems to exist so that the main character can have the relatable perspective of an Earthling and serves as a lens rather than an ongoing topic of discussion, for the reborn person’s previous life is not of particular importance nor greatly detailed.
This book is a thick 600 pages, and I’d estimate no less than 150 pages of the book centers around various characters contemplating and discussing Qi, the Chi/Mana/magic that powers the cultivators (sorcerers) in this world. This technical, scientifically rigorous investigation of supernatural power could be tedious, but rarely is, because it allows the author to dig deep into the greater physics of his world as well as the characters� hopes, goals, and flaws and relationships with each other.
The titular tree is named Ashlock. His perspective is the central one for the tale, and also the most interesting. His gradual development from a nearly blind and helpless sapling into a demonic tree is very well done. Ashlock's internal upgrades, acquired items, and various discoveries exemplify author Xkarnation best assets: his creativity and attention to detail. The botanical engineering is extremely smart and done with a scientific mindset that takes into account sap, growth, and transpiration.
Here’s a cool example of the author’s clever engineering: Early on in the book, Ashlock starts draining the blood and life out of corpses to gain Sacrificial Credits with which he can upgrade his abilities. He eventually becomes strong enough to create seeds for new saplings, but he needs to figure out how to disperse these seeds--a difficult task for a firmly rooted tree. Ashlock grows poisonous fruit and adjusts the dosage of toxins inside each one so that a bird eating the fruit will be able to fly an appropriate distance away from him before it dies, falls to earth, and becomes the fertilizer within which the seed grows.
Author Xkarnation comes up with tons of clever and resourceful things for his inert protagonist Ashlock to do in this story: the aforementioned poisoned fruit, Spellcasting with no hands, and root puppeteering are but three highlights. And the conflicts with 'heaven' are quite interestingly conceived.
The definition of magic in this book similar to Alistair Crowley’s, and the Qi system of colors and elements tells me the author probably plays Magic the Gathering (I do). The cute squirrel Maple...that may be terrifying creature...alludes to the excellent anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and the side quest in the cavern reminded me of the open world video game Stardew Valley. Most obviously, the fighting and power ups recall Dragonball Z and Avatar: the Last Airbender. And I’m sure there are scores of others inspirations I just don’t recognize�
I am not pointing out these influences as a criticism, but rather to illustrate that something new is happening here.
Fantasists have been trying for decades to recreate the best-known works by J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard and (more recently) J.K. Rowling and George R.R. Martin, but ‘Reborn as a Demonic Tree� is not any of these things, nor is it trying to be. The core concepts and all of the wonderfully detailed little evolutions Ashlock experiences felt new to me even though I’ve been reading the genre for nearly 40 years. I look forward to the next installment of this series and will seek out other works in this subgenre.
February 18, 2024
This is...okay. Good even.
Positive elements: The author has delivered a decently realised setting. A bit derivitive (it's a fairly standard xianxia/cultivation setup) but nothing wrong with it. The protagonist is also a strong example of a non-human character, and is executed quite well. It would have been easy for the author to have gone "oh yeah, the protagonist is a tree ...but still thinks and acts like a human", or "...but doesn't have the limitations that being a tree would imply" or "...but quickly gains skills that let him bypass the limitations like being able to shapeshift or manifest a humanoid avatar" or whatever, but nope. The protagonist is a tree, with most of the limitations and issues that you might imagine this would entail. The LitRPG system is also pretty good. And it's a pretty good depiction of a morally grey (at best) protagonist in a genre where even the "bad boy" protagonists are often just vanilla lawful good if you scratch the surface.
Negative elements: Most of the characters other than the protagonist aren't particularly fleshed out. The two main side characters (Stella and Diana) are extremely two dimensional, and Larry, Maple, etc. are if anything, worse. The overall plot isn't exactly compelling. And the book leans heavily into a lot of the more annoying xianxia/cultivation tropes. There's a lot of focus on the actual mechanics of cultivation and on people trying to gain "stages" which can all too easily devolve into pointless bookkeeping (and indeed, often does here). Also, there's a couple of times where the protagonist seems to be in a hopeless situation, then survives by what can only be decribed as plot armour or a deus ex machina, which is a bit dissapointing.
On balance, I don't dislike the book; it's fine. And I appreciate having a book with an actual evil(ish) tree as the protagonist. It's just a shame that all the other characters are so thin, the plot is boring, and much of the action revolved around cliche fights between cultivators presented without the slightest hint of irony.
(Oh, and for anyone curious - as of ~40% of the way through book 2, there's also no romantic subplot of any sort, although there are some very odd hints of one that never seem to go anywhere.)
Positive elements: The author has delivered a decently realised setting. A bit derivitive (it's a fairly standard xianxia/cultivation setup) but nothing wrong with it. The protagonist is also a strong example of a non-human character, and is executed quite well. It would have been easy for the author to have gone "oh yeah, the protagonist is a tree ...but still thinks and acts like a human", or "...but doesn't have the limitations that being a tree would imply" or "...but quickly gains skills that let him bypass the limitations like being able to shapeshift or manifest a humanoid avatar" or whatever, but nope. The protagonist is a tree, with most of the limitations and issues that you might imagine this would entail. The LitRPG system is also pretty good. And it's a pretty good depiction of a morally grey (at best) protagonist in a genre where even the "bad boy" protagonists are often just vanilla lawful good if you scratch the surface.
Negative elements: Most of the characters other than the protagonist aren't particularly fleshed out. The two main side characters (Stella and Diana) are extremely two dimensional, and Larry, Maple, etc. are if anything, worse. The overall plot isn't exactly compelling. And the book leans heavily into a lot of the more annoying xianxia/cultivation tropes. There's a lot of focus on the actual mechanics of cultivation and on people trying to gain "stages" which can all too easily devolve into pointless bookkeeping (and indeed, often does here). Also, there's a couple of times where the protagonist seems to be in a hopeless situation, then survives by what can only be decribed as plot armour or a deus ex machina, which is a bit dissapointing.
On balance, I don't dislike the book; it's fine. And I appreciate having a book with an actual evil(ish) tree as the protagonist. It's just a shame that all the other characters are so thin, the plot is boring, and much of the action revolved around cliche fights between cultivators presented without the slightest hint of irony.
(Oh, and for anyone curious - as of ~40% of the way through book 2, there's also no romantic subplot of any sort, although there are some very odd hints of one that never seem to go anywhere.)
May 19, 2024
You have to have very good ideas and good writing to write a story where you hardly move. It was tedious, but he just about pulled it off 2.5/5.
On the other hand, too much “filler� can lead to errors of logic and universe, and I think that's the case here.
A human in a tree with no feelings? But he gets angry, and so on.
A point system for gatcha that relies on sacrificed/absorbed “points�... But why should these points drop when he levels up? No reason at all, since the amount of Qi “sacrificed� is the same. The same goes for the absorbed. Besides, it should have been one or the other. Or the daily gain indexed to meditation Qi.
Stella should have died 20 times. If she had to be untouchable, and her family when she was younger, whatever her level, she should have been untouchable at all times (vis-a-vis the Patriache).
The size and number of things don't always fit. If a declining family has thousands of members, what about the Crestfallen? The size of the golem? the trees? the other Sects?
The gatcha system is frustrating, but why not? On the other hand, the logic behind its use is questionable (seeds), or the timing (creating thing using Qi that will take weeks in the middle of a fight).
In an egoistic system of cultivators, I find they're particularly good at helping the MC.
I stopped at 75%. I started to get fed up with it, and it no longer interested me at all. Still searching for the "Humor". A little "harem" feeling I really disliked, because Stella act as a teenager AT BEST.
On the other hand, too much “filler� can lead to errors of logic and universe, and I think that's the case here.
A human in a tree with no feelings? But he gets angry, and so on.
A point system for gatcha that relies on sacrificed/absorbed “points�... But why should these points drop when he levels up? No reason at all, since the amount of Qi “sacrificed� is the same. The same goes for the absorbed. Besides, it should have been one or the other. Or the daily gain indexed to meditation Qi.
Stella should have died 20 times. If she had to be untouchable, and her family when she was younger, whatever her level, she should have been untouchable at all times (vis-a-vis the Patriache).
The size and number of things don't always fit. If a declining family has thousands of members, what about the Crestfallen? The size of the golem? the trees? the other Sects?
The gatcha system is frustrating, but why not? On the other hand, the logic behind its use is questionable (seeds), or the timing (creating thing using Qi that will take weeks in the middle of a fight).
In an egoistic system of cultivators, I find they're particularly good at helping the MC.
I stopped at 75%. I started to get fed up with it, and it no longer interested me at all. Still searching for the "Humor". A little "harem" feeling I really disliked, because Stella act as a teenager AT BEST.
March 16, 2025
This story is a slow burn, not in a romantic way, but as a slow build up of world building. The story is fun, has an interesting magic system, and lots of potential. However it is SLOW, we are following the growth of a tree. Who can only do so much, as in it is rooted in place, tiny, and is limited to the activities of a tree.
While it does progress, you get introduced to other humanoid magic users, it is slow. I think this book spans over a period of 10 years? And you feel a lot of those days. Don't let this stop you though, because the potential is there and the ground work is amazing.
The political structure we getting glimpses of, the end goals of the characters, and the magical opportunities for said tree are intriguing. We've got special storage, a login reward system, and entire families of LONG lived magic users all trying to improve and grow stronger. This world is 100% only the strongest survive and the weakest don't even show on the map. To kill and take is to grow.
We also have impending doom looming on the horizon as a "beast wave" is amassing. A expected and cultural relevant event, where most cities and communities are flat out destroyed.
This is a good audio book to have in hand, I listened to it sporadically and it was well suited to being picked back up over time in between other books.
Also - fantastic animal companions 🐿�
I've already started book 2 ♥️
While it does progress, you get introduced to other humanoid magic users, it is slow. I think this book spans over a period of 10 years? And you feel a lot of those days. Don't let this stop you though, because the potential is there and the ground work is amazing.
The political structure we getting glimpses of, the end goals of the characters, and the magical opportunities for said tree are intriguing. We've got special storage, a login reward system, and entire families of LONG lived magic users all trying to improve and grow stronger. This world is 100% only the strongest survive and the weakest don't even show on the map. To kill and take is to grow.
We also have impending doom looming on the horizon as a "beast wave" is amassing. A expected and cultural relevant event, where most cities and communities are flat out destroyed.
This is a good audio book to have in hand, I listened to it sporadically and it was well suited to being picked back up over time in between other books.
Also - fantastic animal companions 🐿�
I've already started book 2 ♥️
December 20, 2023
This is my first cultivator novel, so I found myself navigating uncharted territory, as I have not ventured into this genre before. Initially, the book presented an intriguing premise, and the central character, Ashlock, managed to keep me engaged. Witnessing his frustration with the skills bestowed upon him that were almost never what he wanted but would end up being useful in some way provided a refreshing element to the narrative.
Stella and Larry's characters were notable highlights for me, however, beyond these two, the remaining cast failed to leave a lasting impression. Most characters felt meh and lacked the distinctive qualities that make them memorable, which slightly diminished my overall engagement with the plot. Diana, while not entirely uninteresting, wasn't someone I cared for, and so I struggled to feel any sort of connection with her character.
As the narrative progressed towards its conclusion, I found my interest waning. The slower pace, coupled with a significant focus on the sect expansion made it less captivating for me. While the initial intrigue and Ashlock's character kept me invested, the latter part of the book did not maintain the same level of excitement, leading to a somewhat tepid overall experience.
Stella and Larry's characters were notable highlights for me, however, beyond these two, the remaining cast failed to leave a lasting impression. Most characters felt meh and lacked the distinctive qualities that make them memorable, which slightly diminished my overall engagement with the plot. Diana, while not entirely uninteresting, wasn't someone I cared for, and so I struggled to feel any sort of connection with her character.
As the narrative progressed towards its conclusion, I found my interest waning. The slower pace, coupled with a significant focus on the sect expansion made it less captivating for me. While the initial intrigue and Ashlock's character kept me invested, the latter part of the book did not maintain the same level of excitement, leading to a somewhat tepid overall experience.
March 18, 2024
DNF (did not finish). What made the book unfinishable, in your opinion?
I tried to get into this book, but it was too difficult for me to empathize with or like any of the characters. It starts off with the main character being reincarnated as a demonic tree. That in itself got me to pick up this book because it’s a unique concept. Unfortunately, I was disappointed because the author seemed to have taken the story too seriously. It’s in a Chinese-like fantasy world where superpowered individuals called cultivators exist. The complete disregard for human life irked me from the beginning. And it was really hard for me to believe any -character would be that attached to a tree. What really drove the nail in the coffin was the scene where several cultivators destroyed a village, disregarding the death and destruction they caused. I felt terrible for the people who died as if they were flies. The author doesn't allow us to get attached to any of the characters. It was a unique and original concept, but in my opinion, it was poorly storyboarded. Overall, it just wasn't to my taste.
I tried to get into this book, but it was too difficult for me to empathize with or like any of the characters. It starts off with the main character being reincarnated as a demonic tree. That in itself got me to pick up this book because it’s a unique concept. Unfortunately, I was disappointed because the author seemed to have taken the story too seriously. It’s in a Chinese-like fantasy world where superpowered individuals called cultivators exist. The complete disregard for human life irked me from the beginning. And it was really hard for me to believe any -character would be that attached to a tree. What really drove the nail in the coffin was the scene where several cultivators destroyed a village, disregarding the death and destruction they caused. I felt terrible for the people who died as if they were flies. The author doesn't allow us to get attached to any of the characters. It was a unique and original concept, but in my opinion, it was poorly storyboarded. Overall, it just wasn't to my taste.
June 9, 2024
And 18 hour audio book, 6 hours worth of content, rest is mind numbing garbage with practically no value othe than useless info that is not gonna be completely useless since no one gives a fk about stats in a book where we know it's not gonna matter anyway.
Positive: good story potential, and setting.
Negative: extremely unlikable mc, he is some lazy teen who got turned into a tree, and then got handed power first over first, for no fking reason.
The tension never ramps up, there is no build up, the whole mc being a bumbling idiot with no actual smart sense and motivation is just runing the whole thing, and since there is no motivation, the whole getting powerfull, matters little since we know when the next problem comes, the system will give the tree some bs power again to just move the plot forward.
It's a very good setting, a demonic tree helping a ruined cultivator family, but nothing ever happens, we hear the thouts of the tree on growing fruits and shit .
It baffles me how garbage like this gets published , I mean who the hell is funding this shit.
Positive: good story potential, and setting.
Negative: extremely unlikable mc, he is some lazy teen who got turned into a tree, and then got handed power first over first, for no fking reason.
The tension never ramps up, there is no build up, the whole mc being a bumbling idiot with no actual smart sense and motivation is just runing the whole thing, and since there is no motivation, the whole getting powerfull, matters little since we know when the next problem comes, the system will give the tree some bs power again to just move the plot forward.
It's a very good setting, a demonic tree helping a ruined cultivator family, but nothing ever happens, we hear the thouts of the tree on growing fruits and shit .
It baffles me how garbage like this gets published , I mean who the hell is funding this shit.
January 20, 2025
Maybe one of the worst written things I have ever read, but I enjoyed it--I really like it, even.
I like to imagine this book as being written by a girl on blogspot during y2k-era and obsessed with Misa from Death Note, and Stella is just her Misa self-insert, and underneath all the cultivation/video-game isekai genericness is the beating heart of nightcore and emo culture.
From that reframing I really learned to love this book and looked forward to reading the next one, but honestly besides the super interesting premise, the author has a fairly weak voice and characterization is super flat and it often comes across as a really generic harem isekai with horribly lame humor, but to the authors credit they're actually really good at telling you an entertaining story (hopefully this doesn't sound at odds with writing poorly / having a weak voice).
So I like it, I want to read more, I think I even like the author, but it's a 3 for me. I love my Death Note Misa self-insert y2k Blogspot emo nightcore tree isekai.
I like to imagine this book as being written by a girl on blogspot during y2k-era and obsessed with Misa from Death Note, and Stella is just her Misa self-insert, and underneath all the cultivation/video-game isekai genericness is the beating heart of nightcore and emo culture.
From that reframing I really learned to love this book and looked forward to reading the next one, but honestly besides the super interesting premise, the author has a fairly weak voice and characterization is super flat and it often comes across as a really generic harem isekai with horribly lame humor, but to the authors credit they're actually really good at telling you an entertaining story (hopefully this doesn't sound at odds with writing poorly / having a weak voice).
So I like it, I want to read more, I think I even like the author, but it's a 3 for me. I love my Death Note Misa self-insert y2k Blogspot emo nightcore tree isekai.
February 28, 2025
I really liked the characters, world building, and the demonic sects. However, the author goes into far too much detail regarding the intricacies of their Qi based magic system. When you have a stationary MC who cannot communicate directly with others, you should not focus on detailing every tiny aspect of a tedious cultivation system or rehashing recent events in an internal monologue. The 600+ page ebook should have easily been under 500 pages.
Also, my god this story needed a line editor. The repetitious use of the same descriptive words, adverbs, and proper nouns (sometimes in the same sentence) was worse than in any other book I've read. I know full well that line editing is probably the most expensive service for a self published author to purchase, but taking writing classes online and developing basic self editing skills would have made a world of difference.
But I'm actually going to give the second one a try because the characters and world were that interesting to me. I'm hoping Xkarnation upped his writing game though.
Also, my god this story needed a line editor. The repetitious use of the same descriptive words, adverbs, and proper nouns (sometimes in the same sentence) was worse than in any other book I've read. I know full well that line editing is probably the most expensive service for a self published author to purchase, but taking writing classes online and developing basic self editing skills would have made a world of difference.
But I'm actually going to give the second one a try because the characters and world were that interesting to me. I'm hoping Xkarnation upped his writing game though.
January 24, 2024
What a fun time! I picked this up because I love an inhuman perspective and this delivered.
Ashton dies and finds himself reincarnated in the “body� of a Demonic Tree Sapling. We follow along as he slowly unravels the rules of this world and his own existence.
I enjoyed this book a lot, the pacing was pretty good and I found myself interested in all of the characters, even the ones who annoyed me (looking at you Stella).There were some parts that I felt were dragged out or repetitive but also it’s a 700+ page book so it’s whatevs.
I will say that I find it incredibly odd that in a work that is admittedly based in Chinese Cultivation Arts and culture there is not a single Chinese person. Everyone is snow white with the names to prove it. Ashton, Stella, Diane, Wesley…I could go on but you get the point. It was honestly very distracting and made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story.
Ashton dies and finds himself reincarnated in the “body� of a Demonic Tree Sapling. We follow along as he slowly unravels the rules of this world and his own existence.
I enjoyed this book a lot, the pacing was pretty good and I found myself interested in all of the characters, even the ones who annoyed me (looking at you Stella).There were some parts that I felt were dragged out or repetitive but also it’s a 700+ page book so it’s whatevs.
I will say that I find it incredibly odd that in a work that is admittedly based in Chinese Cultivation Arts and culture there is not a single Chinese person. Everyone is snow white with the names to prove it. Ashton, Stella, Diane, Wesley…I could go on but you get the point. It was honestly very distracting and made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story.
December 31, 2024
Amusing but there's some things I dislike.
The book has an interesting premise, and the characters are likable. I think one of the characters is bland, but they seem to be deliberately so, which gives them a pass.
I dislike how sparsely defined the skills are. There aren't even really any descriptions given. Main character gets the skills, then "reads" the descriptions and narrates the vaguest possbile details. His Qi fruit growth skill, for instance, has "hundreds of options" but all we see are that he can add or remove poison, change the color, size, hardness, and normal properties of his fruit...and maybe give someone a buff of his skill for a day, but we never see that happening.
In fact, he just stops producing fruit at one point and it seems kind of forgotten about.
The lore is built up gradually, bit by bit, through the book, and one can see the foreshadowing fairly easily, but it's not heavy-handed foreshadowing.
The book has an interesting premise, and the characters are likable. I think one of the characters is bland, but they seem to be deliberately so, which gives them a pass.
I dislike how sparsely defined the skills are. There aren't even really any descriptions given. Main character gets the skills, then "reads" the descriptions and narrates the vaguest possbile details. His Qi fruit growth skill, for instance, has "hundreds of options" but all we see are that he can add or remove poison, change the color, size, hardness, and normal properties of his fruit...and maybe give someone a buff of his skill for a day, but we never see that happening.
In fact, he just stops producing fruit at one point and it seems kind of forgotten about.
The lore is built up gradually, bit by bit, through the book, and one can see the foreshadowing fairly easily, but it's not heavy-handed foreshadowing.
May 3, 2025
The book is very interesting in the beginning but if you think this is a slice of life like it seemingly starts out as think again. The books focuses heavily on cultivation and the tree growing in power. The tree itself has a human mind thus the title of the book but exhibits some qualities that you can invision a tree having such as wanting to sleep a lot.
Towards the middle and end of the book cultivation is the name of the game and is the primary focus. Sadly it is around here where it feels the story loses itself and really has no direction. There is a plot throughout but it feels as though the author didn't really know where to take the story. As I write this though there are like 4-5 total books in the series so maybe they figured it out.
The characters overall felt like they were just there to give the story fluf since the tree cannot move but they do a poor job of showing us the rest of the world beyond the tree.
Towards the middle and end of the book cultivation is the name of the game and is the primary focus. Sadly it is around here where it feels the story loses itself and really has no direction. There is a plot throughout but it feels as though the author didn't really know where to take the story. As I write this though there are like 4-5 total books in the series so maybe they figured it out.
The characters overall felt like they were just there to give the story fluf since the tree cannot move but they do a poor job of showing us the rest of the world beyond the tree.
November 26, 2023
Solid Start to a new western cultivation series.
The pacing is relatively slow, but the premise is interesting. An MC that's a demonic tree in the outskirts of cultivation society, where vicious demonic sects kill and topple each other over scraps of resources and prestige. The MC and a young cultivator, who lost everything at a young age, both grow in strength while trying not get killed by monsters, other cultivators, and finally the heavens themselves due their potential to change everything.
This book is them finding their feet (metaphorically for the MC), gaining some allies, and forming their own sect. The story is shaping to be gruesome, intriguing, and entertaining in equal measure, with a few comedic moments and a decent amount of action.
The pacing is relatively slow, but the premise is interesting. An MC that's a demonic tree in the outskirts of cultivation society, where vicious demonic sects kill and topple each other over scraps of resources and prestige. The MC and a young cultivator, who lost everything at a young age, both grow in strength while trying not get killed by monsters, other cultivators, and finally the heavens themselves due their potential to change everything.
This book is them finding their feet (metaphorically for the MC), gaining some allies, and forming their own sect. The story is shaping to be gruesome, intriguing, and entertaining in equal measure, with a few comedic moments and a decent amount of action.
December 17, 2023
There are all types of LitRPG and Progression novels out there with plenty of non-human main characters: chickens, crabs, snakes, etc. Trees as the main characters are not used that often so I wanted to see how this author handled it. It turns out to be better than you might expect. Yes, the story is a little rough in some places but overall satisfying. Plenty of action and growth.
I really liked how the writer explored a little bit how indifferent Ashlock could become to empathy for beings if he just sunk into the ebbs and flows of the season and looked at things from the long life of a tree without any connections. Being aware of how time-focused beings are and interacting with them are essential to keep in touch with his personess.
I really liked how the writer explored a little bit how indifferent Ashlock could become to empathy for beings if he just sunk into the ebbs and flows of the season and looked at things from the long life of a tree without any connections. Being aware of how time-focused beings are and interacting with them are essential to keep in touch with his personess.
April 1, 2024
A demon tree and two OP female teens..
The story of demon tree who consumes peoples and animals and a murderous, autodidactic and absurdly OP girl.
The tree plot is rather underwhelming: consume, sleep, hunt, consume, protect Diana and an eternal gamble for boons..
The story about Stella reminds strongly of modern Disney. She kills first with seven or eight years, teaches herself everything, lives alone for years, advances ridiculously fast and can do everything once she decides to do so (especially in book2 when it really gets ridiculous)
Diana is the second power puff girl..
Negative: Diana once forgets she is a fire cultivator and fights desperately by using only water *rofl*. The author should make up his mind which sects are demonic and stay consistent about it..
The story of demon tree who consumes peoples and animals and a murderous, autodidactic and absurdly OP girl.
The tree plot is rather underwhelming: consume, sleep, hunt, consume, protect Diana and an eternal gamble for boons..
The story about Stella reminds strongly of modern Disney. She kills first with seven or eight years, teaches herself everything, lives alone for years, advances ridiculously fast and can do everything once she decides to do so (especially in book2 when it really gets ridiculous)
Diana is the second power puff girl..
Negative: Diana once forgets she is a fire cultivator and fights desperately by using only water *rofl*. The author should make up his mind which sects are demonic and stay consistent about it..
December 1, 2023
Reborn as a Demonic Tree: 1
In which Ashlock dies and finds himself reincarnated as a demonic tree in a world with cultivation in which he cannot move, understand speech, much less communicate in any way. Fortunately for him, he has a cheat - a System which lets him collect daily points (which he can then exchange for random draws. As a demonic tree, he can also absorb dead bodies which counts towards sacrifice points. Interesting setup. The author took a challenging main character perspective and was able to craft an engaging storyline with Ashlock slowly gaining skills and allies as he progresses. Solidly written, looking forward to the sequel.
In which Ashlock dies and finds himself reincarnated as a demonic tree in a world with cultivation in which he cannot move, understand speech, much less communicate in any way. Fortunately for him, he has a cheat - a System which lets him collect daily points (which he can then exchange for random draws. As a demonic tree, he can also absorb dead bodies which counts towards sacrifice points. Interesting setup. The author took a challenging main character perspective and was able to craft an engaging storyline with Ashlock slowly gaining skills and allies as he progresses. Solidly written, looking forward to the sequel.
March 10, 2024
I wonder if this will be like Tree of Aeons. I wonder which came first, Demonic Tree or Aeonic Tree?
This was really good. I enjoyed this more than Tree of Aeons. I can't recall, but was there a spider in the Norse world tree mythos?
I will definitely pick up the sequel. It's great to read about non conventional characters. I hope the next book keeps up the head of steam the story built, and keeps the outside the box thinking.
3/5 Stars
This was really good. I enjoyed this more than Tree of Aeons. I can't recall, but was there a spider in the Norse world tree mythos?
I will definitely pick up the sequel. It's great to read about non conventional characters. I hope the next book keeps up the head of steam the story built, and keeps the outside the box thinking.
3/5 Stars
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