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Mark of the Fool #6
Mark of the Fool 6
To preserve the future, Alex must find the secrets of the past.
After a devastating battle, Alex Roth is left with more questions than answers, and—as the Ravener grows more aggressive—he and his companions struggle to learn the truth of Thameland’s Cycle.
But—thanks to an old enemy—they do have one lead, though it will take them into the bowels of the darkest Hells.
To prepare, Alex will have to reveal who he truly is to the other Heroes of Thameland, and deal with the consequences.
On the line are not only truths about Thameland’s endless, bloody cycles…but also the greatest secret of the patron Saint of Alric�
…the Traveller.
In book 6 of the Best-Selling Series, continue your fantastical journey into a coming of age magic academy fantasy with a weak-to-strong progression into power, a setting inspired by D&D, detailed world building and magical science, action, comedy, slice-of-life, and GameLit elements.
After a devastating battle, Alex Roth is left with more questions than answers, and—as the Ravener grows more aggressive—he and his companions struggle to learn the truth of Thameland’s Cycle.
But—thanks to an old enemy—they do have one lead, though it will take them into the bowels of the darkest Hells.
To prepare, Alex will have to reveal who he truly is to the other Heroes of Thameland, and deal with the consequences.
On the line are not only truths about Thameland’s endless, bloody cycles…but also the greatest secret of the patron Saint of Alric�
…the Traveller.
In book 6 of the Best-Selling Series, continue your fantastical journey into a coming of age magic academy fantasy with a weak-to-strong progression into power, a setting inspired by D&D, detailed world building and magical science, action, comedy, slice-of-life, and GameLit elements.
712 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2024
998 people are currently reading
862 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
February 11, 2024
the cycle continues
Every book starts a little slow, cleaning up threads from the previous and setting up ‘minor� challenges for the narrative.
But it also always ends with a ‘whoa!�.
Claygon is alive. Power grows. Secrets are revealed. And cabals grow mighty.
Waiting on 7.
Every book starts a little slow, cleaning up threads from the previous and setting up ‘minor� challenges for the narrative.
But it also always ends with a ‘whoa!�.
Claygon is alive. Power grows. Secrets are revealed. And cabals grow mighty.
Waiting on 7.
February 17, 2024
Still just feels like a set up.
You can skim through most of this and just read the last few chapters and you will not miss anything of note. This is a lot of filler ending in set up. This needs to get back to traveling story. This is two books in a row that seem to just be placeholders.
You can skim through most of this and just read the last few chapters and you will not miss anything of note. This is a lot of filler ending in set up. This needs to get back to traveling story. This is two books in a row that seem to just be placeholders.
February 23, 2024
Rating 4.0 stars
I was a little disappointed with this installment. This one felt like a filler book. It started out strong. Some of the other heroes find out that Alex is the fool. This could change everything. I do think this was just a blip in the cycle and expect much better in the next book.
I was a little disappointed with this installment. This one felt like a filler book. It started out strong. Some of the other heroes find out that Alex is the fool. This could change everything. I do think this was just a blip in the cycle and expect much better in the next book.
August 8, 2024
4.5 stars
I liked the slice of life in the book. I swear, choosing Travis Baldree to narrate this book is the best decision the author ever made.
I liked the slice of life in the book. I swear, choosing Travis Baldree to narrate this book is the best decision the author ever made.
April 16, 2025
What a twist! Can’t wait to start the next book!
August 10, 2024
This ended well, after aggravating me a lot
This book didn't just get on my nerves, it felt like it was trying to get on my nerves. Like J.M. Clarke was back there giggling to himself while he messed me around. ...or maybe it was just me. I do get a little irritable with authors who pad the page count, attempt to build tension with cheep tricks, and use endless digressions instead of JUST GETTING ON WITH IT!
Having said that, there is a lot to like here too. This is a long book full of both good & bad, and the good in here is pretty damn good. but Oh My God did the "action" sequences drag on and on and on.
This book is 712 pages, it could have been improved by editing about 200 pages, Especially from the underworld scenes.
This book didn't just get on my nerves, it felt like it was trying to get on my nerves. Like J.M. Clarke was back there giggling to himself while he messed me around. ...or maybe it was just me. I do get a little irritable with authors who pad the page count, attempt to build tension with cheep tricks, and use endless digressions instead of JUST GETTING ON WITH IT!
Having said that, there is a lot to like here too. This is a long book full of both good & bad, and the good in here is pretty damn good. but Oh My God did the "action" sequences drag on and on and on.
This book is 712 pages, it could have been improved by editing about 200 pages, Especially from the underworld scenes.
February 14, 2024
I was tempted to go with the 5-stars because the ending really delivered and it's hard not to want to reward ending on a high. However, the overall pace was plodding except when it inexplicably rushed through important events. Like, when Alex goes to hire minions and just hires the first four he talks to with an in-depth interview that boils down to, "You kill demons good? You're hired!"
The story also spends too much time in Alex's head; his thoughts are too verbose and often wholly unnecessary as the setting, action, and subsequent conversations make it clear what is happening in his head. A glaring example,
That said, definitely looking forward to the next book and where everything that we've learned leads us.
The story also spends too much time in Alex's head; his thoughts are too verbose and often wholly unnecessary as the setting, action, and subsequent conversations make it clear what is happening in his head. A glaring example,
The young wizard watched them go, recognizing what was happening.
"Baelin's started his attack," he thought. "Now is our chance."
"This is our opportunity," Alex whispered.
That said, definitely looking forward to the next book and where everything that we've learned leads us.
March 9, 2024
Engaging and fresh
How does the 6th book still have the light hearted fun of the first, and still introduced wild twists that have been foreshadowed, but still feel wild and cool?
Though the multi hell issues did feel very "gaming levels" style if resistance, I still loved how it played out and the battles we got.
How does the 6th book still have the light hearted fun of the first, and still introduced wild twists that have been foreshadowed, but still feel wild and cool?
Though the multi hell issues did feel very "gaming levels" style if resistance, I still loved how it played out and the battles we got.
August 24, 2024
This one is epic! The story takes unexpected turns which manage to fit perfectly with the lore. Not much focus on the side characters from previous books, focusing on new ones instead. The story felt very refreshing.
February 16, 2024
WOW!
No spoilers ahead. Super impressed by this installment in the series. Lots of series roll downhill when they get this far, but you can tell the author planned this series well with this book. Many questions answered, but the mystery remains. Well done, and certainly worth the time it took to get here.
No spoilers ahead. Super impressed by this installment in the series. Lots of series roll downhill when they get this far, but you can tell the author planned this series well with this book. Many questions answered, but the mystery remains. Well done, and certainly worth the time it took to get here.
May 23, 2024
There is waaaay too much going on in this series for such a basic hero story. Alex is the fool, and can't do magic (or can he?), and he escapes his god-given duty to go to school, and gets crazy powerful and rich and well-connected, and goes back to his homeland sometimes and goes to school sometimes and works a part-time job (and also starts a business) and then for some reason goes to hell and then we find out the "truth" about the Traveler, which is kinda out of left field? I don't know, somewhere in there the series lost the plot and I don't know if I particularly want to continue it.
February 15, 2024
Massive Change in Direction
Not sure why the author chose to completely upend the story and make a massive shift. The pacing of the plot is difficult to keep going forward with this series.
Not sure why the author chose to completely upend the story and make a massive shift. The pacing of the plot is difficult to keep going forward with this series.
March 13, 2024
It seems I can list the books that are from a completed series on two fingers. It is a welcome change to read a series that seems to be nearing a conclusion. Sure there are things we can nitpick but the series has been enjoyable and well crafted.
April 2, 2024
Honestly, most of this episode was a three-star experience. The ending was great though, promising an interesting turn in the narrative. I also enjoyed meeting Baelin's peers.
August 6, 2024
Yup yup yup. 5 ⭐️
February 29, 2024
ياخي بطيئة وتحسها مليانه فيلر وكمان مافي ذيك المخاطر اللي تخليك على أعصابك.
لكن عاجبتني ومستمتع في كل شيء فيها.
ومع ذلك ما انصح فيها أحد غير اللي يبغى يقرأها بين الكتب الثقيلة كفاصل خفيف على العقل والقلب.
لكن عاجبتني ومستمتع في كل شيء فيها.
ومع ذلك ما انصح فيها أحد غير اللي يبغى يقرأها بين الكتب الثقيلة كفاصل خفيف على العقل والقلب.
March 11, 2024
A lot to do before school starts
Alex and company continue their adventures in the volume. Our story restarts moments after the previous book ended with Claygon uttering his first words.
Yes, he has indeed gained sentience and everyone is delighted to meet him!
Spoilers below!
I'm excited to see what comes next!
Alex and company continue their adventures in the volume. Our story restarts moments after the previous book ended with Claygon uttering his first words.
Yes, he has indeed gained sentience and everyone is delighted to meet him!
Spoilers below!
I'm excited to see what comes next!
March 23, 2025
This is the closest I have come to awarding 5 stars to a book in this series. After complaining about the lack of pacing in this series for a while now, this book opens with an explosion of activity that moves this story forward at a breakneck pace. The first half of this book is easily the most fun I have had with this series, and I was sure that this would be the first 5-star read.
However, the adventures in the Hells started to appear, and my hopes were dashed. One of the biggest issues with this series has been the author inserting action and adventure where it isn't needed. I enjoy action and adventure as much as the next fantasy fan, but only if it serves the story. In this series, it often feels like it is included because the author feels it has been too long since the last action set piece, and he is worried that the rest of his story can't support the story on its own. As a result, we get what feel like self-contained, meaningless side quests, and it brings the story's momentum to a halt.
To be clear, I am not saying this series shouldn't have any action in it, but rather, that it should only have action that is relevant to the overarching story. Fighting the Ravenr in Thameland is a good example of where action is a welcome addition to this series, especially when it moves that storyline forward while advancing the characters in the process. While not entirely meaningless (and even serving to deliver up one central plot point to the overarching series), the adventures in the Hells in this book didn't consistently achieve this purpose, and they fell flat as a result.
What is worse is that these side-quests interrupted the momentum of other stories that were much more relevant in moving the story forward . It made about a third of this book quite frustrating to read because I would much rather spend that time back on the other stories I was enjoying so much.
This is still a solid book, though, and it is easily my favourite in this series so far. I am eagerly looking forward to book 7 to see where this story goes from here.
However, the adventures in the Hells started to appear, and my hopes were dashed. One of the biggest issues with this series has been the author inserting action and adventure where it isn't needed. I enjoy action and adventure as much as the next fantasy fan, but only if it serves the story. In this series, it often feels like it is included because the author feels it has been too long since the last action set piece, and he is worried that the rest of his story can't support the story on its own. As a result, we get what feel like self-contained, meaningless side quests, and it brings the story's momentum to a halt.
To be clear, I am not saying this series shouldn't have any action in it, but rather, that it should only have action that is relevant to the overarching story. Fighting the Ravenr in Thameland is a good example of where action is a welcome addition to this series, especially when it moves that storyline forward while advancing the characters in the process. While not entirely meaningless (and even serving to deliver up one central plot point to the overarching series), the adventures in the Hells in this book didn't consistently achieve this purpose, and they fell flat as a result.
What is worse is that these side-quests interrupted the momentum of other stories that were much more relevant in moving the story forward . It made about a third of this book quite frustrating to read because I would much rather spend that time back on the other stories I was enjoying so much.
This is still a solid book, though, and it is easily my favourite in this series so far. I am eagerly looking forward to book 7 to see where this story goes from here.
April 16, 2024
Why did you read this book?
I like the series and I want to read all of the books.
What format did you read this book in?
Read it as an eBook on Kindle.
Is this an educational book or a book for entertainment?
I read this book for pure entertainment purposes.
What genres do you think this book belongs to?
Fantasy, Humor and Comedy, Romance, Young Adult
What was your favorite part of the book?
My favorite part is when they all got together to host a funeral for Alex's beard. That part was too funny.
Who would you suggest this book to?
Anyone who likes LitRPG’s, humor, action, or adventure.
What is your general opinion/ rating of this book?
Sadly, this is the last book that has been published in this series. I am going to have to wait a couple of months for the next one to come out. Like the other books in this series, I enjoyed this one. The world-building in this story is complex and fascinating. This one mainly focuses on Alez’s trip to the Hells. The truth is finally revealed about the Traveler and who she was. I was shocked at the connections and figured there was something up with Ulder and the church. I am looking forward to the next book.
EXTRA
Any trigger warnings?
Racial and Religious: Racial Profiling, Slavery, Prejudice
Mental Health: PTSD, Panic Attacks, Trauma
Violence and Death: Death, Graphic Deaths, Mass Death, Murder, Execution, Decapitation, Suffocation, Burning People, Extreme Violence, Gore, Torture, Mutilation, Mutilation of Corpses, Cutting of Limbs, Forced Blood Draining, Escalating Violence, Described Blood, Graphic Violence
Other: Bullying, Classism
I like the series and I want to read all of the books.
What format did you read this book in?
Read it as an eBook on Kindle.
Is this an educational book or a book for entertainment?
I read this book for pure entertainment purposes.
What genres do you think this book belongs to?
Fantasy, Humor and Comedy, Romance, Young Adult
What was your favorite part of the book?
My favorite part is when they all got together to host a funeral for Alex's beard. That part was too funny.
Who would you suggest this book to?
Anyone who likes LitRPG’s, humor, action, or adventure.
What is your general opinion/ rating of this book?
Sadly, this is the last book that has been published in this series. I am going to have to wait a couple of months for the next one to come out. Like the other books in this series, I enjoyed this one. The world-building in this story is complex and fascinating. This one mainly focuses on Alez’s trip to the Hells. The truth is finally revealed about the Traveler and who she was. I was shocked at the connections and figured there was something up with Ulder and the church. I am looking forward to the next book.
EXTRA
Any trigger warnings?
Racial and Religious: Racial Profiling, Slavery, Prejudice
Mental Health: PTSD, Panic Attacks, Trauma
Violence and Death: Death, Graphic Deaths, Mass Death, Murder, Execution, Decapitation, Suffocation, Burning People, Extreme Violence, Gore, Torture, Mutilation, Mutilation of Corpses, Cutting of Limbs, Forced Blood Draining, Escalating Violence, Described Blood, Graphic Violence
Other: Bullying, Classism
August 3, 2024
.
Recap.. The Best book yet. I think I loved it more coz of the EMPIRE BUILDING aspect of litrpg in it.
.
Alex reveals that he is THE FOOL. Drestra shares her secret that she is a dragon. Alex buys a bakery. Starts a business with Mrs Shale to develop advanced golems.
Claygon gets a voice-box. Alex, Thundar, Ripp, go to hell to steal an artificact. They hire some mercenaries.
Baelin and his cabal are there to fight and create a distraction as well.
Zonon-In is killed by Clagon. He skewers her heart with her own war-spear.
Alex teleports inside
Yantrahpretaye (higher demon golem) body and starts ripping out wires and shreds him from the inside and Claygon rips his arms apart. He teleports all the surviors of his party to the exit portal.
It turns out that artifact was a phone and using it he translates Hannah Kim's, the Patron Saint of Alric, diary. He finds out that Hannah was Isekai'd from Earth and she and another fool by the name of Kelda had also stopped worshipping Uldar. They have been researching a way to patch the fool's mark but ultimately failed. Since Alex, Selina, and Theresa have been directly worshipping Hannah directly she has been gaining divinity. Now she has gifted a large portion of it to Alex.
My conspiracy theory is that Uldar had created the Ravenner to scare the people of Thameland to continue worshipping him, as he continues to bless his people with the marks of the chosen. This keeps the sheep in line and he keeps collecting their FAITH power. The shadow church was created to keep the chosen from going too powerful, and that is why they patched the fool, coz that's the only chosen who has the intelligence to unravel and challenge Uldar.
Recap.. The Best book yet. I think I loved it more coz of the EMPIRE BUILDING aspect of litrpg in it.
.
Alex reveals that he is THE FOOL. Drestra shares her secret that she is a dragon. Alex buys a bakery. Starts a business with Mrs Shale to develop advanced golems.
Claygon gets a voice-box. Alex, Thundar, Ripp, go to hell to steal an artificact. They hire some mercenaries.
Baelin and his cabal are there to fight and create a distraction as well.
Zonon-In is killed by Clagon. He skewers her heart with her own war-spear.
Alex teleports inside
Yantrahpretaye (higher demon golem) body and starts ripping out wires and shreds him from the inside and Claygon rips his arms apart. He teleports all the surviors of his party to the exit portal.
It turns out that artifact was a phone and using it he translates Hannah Kim's, the Patron Saint of Alric, diary. He finds out that Hannah was Isekai'd from Earth and she and another fool by the name of Kelda had also stopped worshipping Uldar. They have been researching a way to patch the fool's mark but ultimately failed. Since Alex, Selina, and Theresa have been directly worshipping Hannah directly she has been gaining divinity. Now she has gifted a large portion of it to Alex.
My conspiracy theory is that Uldar had created the Ravenner to scare the people of Thameland to continue worshipping him, as he continues to bless his people with the marks of the chosen. This keeps the sheep in line and he keeps collecting their FAITH power. The shadow church was created to keep the chosen from going too powerful, and that is why they patched the fool, coz that's the only chosen who has the intelligence to unravel and challenge Uldar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 31, 2025Gotta be honest, this one wasn't great. It felt like a sidequest in a video game to me. Intellectually, I understand how it ties back in to the series main plot and underlying mystery. But it just didn't feel like it had as much weight. We were in a new setting for a chunk of the book and for the back third, we lost almost all of the interesting supporting cast we've gotten to know and care about. When your MC and his mentor are talking about hiring mercenaries because you're less emotionally attached to them so that you can take them on missions and it won't hurt if they die like how it would if a friend did the narrative might as well have a blinking neon sign saying "Don't get attached to any of these new characters". So I didn't, and was consequently much less interested in what was going on. The last chapter or so was interesting, answering some long-standing questions and doing some interesting playing around with the Isekai trope, but that wasn't enough to rescue the book as a whole. Really hoping the next one in the series is a more engaging read.
June 16, 2024
Kind of a rocky start. We begin interacting with our newly sentient golem. While I've never personally spoken to a sentient golem before, the conversation seemed a little forced, a little cutesy, a little unbelievable (can you believe that in a fantasy novel - lol).
The standard battle for this book was, well, standard. This is no Game of Thrones. You KNOW our hero is NOT going to die. It was fun watching the creative ways that both protagonists and antagonists creatively used their various magics to battle one another.
Near the end of the book (80%ish) this story really picked up speed. Would Claygon morph again once he got covered in iron? Would Alec successfully find/interact with the Traveler? Would this event allow him to unlock another entire plane of magical manipulation? Is the church truly evil?
The standard battle for this book was, well, standard. This is no Game of Thrones. You KNOW our hero is NOT going to die. It was fun watching the creative ways that both protagonists and antagonists creatively used their various magics to battle one another.
Near the end of the book (80%ish) this story really picked up speed. Would Claygon morph again once he got covered in iron? Would Alec successfully find/interact with the Traveler? Would this event allow him to unlock another entire plane of magical manipulation? Is the church truly evil?
May 18, 2025
DNF
This was the book that had me give up on this series.
It had been a slowly creeping desire. And at this point the story was too dull and repetitious.
- The audiobook was great, but it couldn't help but emphasise that the author employed a limited vocabulary via his characters. If I had to hear "that is awesome", "you're weird", "badass", and many other catchphrases for the next several hours, my eyes would roll out of their head.
- The author created very similar conversations for different character sets. Similar phrases, similar outlooks.
- The baddies were straw mannequins.
- It lacked subtlety, and depth.
- It was all very convenient. Even the setbacks were mild.
Anyway, if you reach a similar point of wanting to stop, I'd recommend googling ending spoilers to find out how things turn out.
This was the book that had me give up on this series.
It had been a slowly creeping desire. And at this point the story was too dull and repetitious.
- The audiobook was great, but it couldn't help but emphasise that the author employed a limited vocabulary via his characters. If I had to hear "that is awesome", "you're weird", "badass", and many other catchphrases for the next several hours, my eyes would roll out of their head.
- The author created very similar conversations for different character sets. Similar phrases, similar outlooks.
- The baddies were straw mannequins.
- It lacked subtlety, and depth.
- It was all very convenient. Even the setbacks were mild.
Anyway, if you reach a similar point of wanting to stop, I'd recommend googling ending spoilers to find out how things turn out.
August 24, 2024
I feel like this book may have been the best in the series. Claygon coming to life and gaining more sentience was interesting and funny. Speaking of funny, Thundars date was hilarious. The action was great throughout, not too repetitive either. And having a MC like Alex being thoughtful and super competent is refreshing.
February 9, 2024
Some of the secrets between the heroes finally came out in the open. The first half was mostly slice-of-life, crafting, talking, preparations, etc. As much as I enjoy these kinda chapters (I even wanted a few of these chapters to have been longer), I wish the pacing had been a bit faster.
The second half was better, but I only really got excited with the action scenes at the end. Plus, many revelations to secrets that had been building since the first book. I was totally caught by surprise by one particular development, which seemed obvious in hindsight. Very much looking forward to how this goes in the coming books.
The second half was better, but I only really got excited with the action scenes at the end. Plus, many revelations to secrets that had been building since the first book. I was totally caught by surprise by one particular development, which seemed obvious in hindsight. Very much looking forward to how this goes in the coming books.
March 1, 2024
This continues to be a fun series and I've already ordered the next book. While my expectations about finding out what was really going on that created the story's dynamic weren't fully met in this book, it does provide a path to get there suggesting the next book will have the answers. Since this feels like a 7 book series, I'm looking forward to what the full back story is. We do find out a lot of things in this book that we needed to fill gaps and the battles are glorious. Light on romance and intrigue, but heavy on demon killing, so my kind of book.
March 29, 2024
Best one so far
It feels to me, like the author is getting better at writing as he progresses through the series. The first several chapters of this book were very gratifying, as they covered some long, anticipated developments. The next half of the book or so, from there, followed along, and several different avenues progressed very strongly as well.
The last quarter of the book or so revealed a lot about the meta-plot, and that makes me anticipate the rest of the series even more than I was before.
If you read this far in the series, you will enjoy this book.
It feels to me, like the author is getting better at writing as he progresses through the series. The first several chapters of this book were very gratifying, as they covered some long, anticipated developments. The next half of the book or so, from there, followed along, and several different avenues progressed very strongly as well.
The last quarter of the book or so revealed a lot about the meta-plot, and that makes me anticipate the rest of the series even more than I was before.
If you read this far in the series, you will enjoy this book.
October 21, 2024
This just goes to show that a competent writer can make or break a story.
I despise magical academies. I feel that they are the lowest and laziest thing an author can write about, but this author made school interesting. I actually enjoy learning along with the protag, and wish to see what he makes of himself in the future.
A lot of hard work (and a divine ability used to cheat) really can make a world of difference, and a better life for your family.
Will pick up the sequel.
3/5 Stars
I despise magical academies. I feel that they are the lowest and laziest thing an author can write about, but this author made school interesting. I actually enjoy learning along with the protag, and wish to see what he makes of himself in the future.
A lot of hard work (and a divine ability used to cheat) really can make a world of difference, and a better life for your family.
Will pick up the sequel.
3/5 Stars
April 23, 2025
Mark of the Fool 6 by JM Clarke is a pretty good continuation, and I particularly enjoyed bringing the heroes on board and the change in direction that brought the novel. The Hannah Kim swerve is something that I imagine is going to be a ticking time bomb in a couple of different ways, not the least of which given Baelin's firm and strong warning about trying to mess with the permanence of death and his misgivings about the divine. Overall, the book offered a lot in character development, but less than would have been expected in plot development.
February 15, 2024
Oh yeah... It's all coming together.
This series has kept me hooked for the last 5 books with it's mystery of what's been happening with The Cycle & Uldar's plan. This book finally starts giving us the answers I needed & it was all I wanted it to be.
J.M. leaves the book on a cliff as per yet it's such a spectacularly unexpected ending that I'll accept it.
You know why you're here guys, go read it already!
This series has kept me hooked for the last 5 books with it's mystery of what's been happening with The Cycle & Uldar's plan. This book finally starts giving us the answers I needed & it was all I wanted it to be.
J.M. leaves the book on a cliff as per yet it's such a spectacularly unexpected ending that I'll accept it.
You know why you're here guys, go read it already!
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