All The Skills: 2: A Deckbuilding LitRPG

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The card had been meant to inject subconscious thoughts into the minds of its victims to influence their actions. Brixaby had absorbed an aspect of that: He was a blur as he shot down, using the Earth’s natural pull and his streamlined body to every advantage. An absolutely solid read with great writing, fun little magic card system and DRAGONS — while overdone in fantasy — made sense and felt right. While there are confrontations, duels and action sequences this is not a novel that contains many battle sequences with the protagonist. Brix,” Arthur said, interrupting the dark little dragon who was glaring at Brooks and not so subtly flexing his claws. Brooks ignored him. “Do you think it’s time?”

The class had done these practices before with one diamond formation trying to disrupt the other. Then, the terms of engagement had been known ahead of time. If you can’t tell the difference between a scourgeling and a dragon, you have no business being up in the air. Instructor Athena,” he turned to the woman. “This pair has proven themselves to be a liability in combat. I don’t want them anywhere near this class.” While an rrl frequent reader, I actually read this first on kindle and came here once I finished book 2 because I absolutely had to begin book 3 post haste.

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It didn’t stop green Morrice from following the staggering purple down, lining up for another shot. Arthur waited with a held breath. There was no alert from the approaching double diamond formation.

Since Instructor Athena had given Arthur charge of the group today -- he was supposed to know how to train a formation to combat when he couldn't fly with them and was in training himself -- he decided that the purples would play the “scourgelings”. Their job was to upset the formation flying below. It took every iota of self-control not to scream in his face. Instead, he kept his voice level and cold. His father, he remembered, always sounded scarier when he was cold. Arthur and Brixaby cheered as the formation disintegrated into chaos; rides cursing and dragons scattering in every direction.Arthur barely had time to grip the saddle under him before Brooks folded his wings and shot to the ground with more alacrity than he'd ever shown before. His dragon had been a natural flier right out of the shell, and he’d worked hard on leveling his flying skills since then. The howls of the very distressed, itchy purple sounded in the air again. Arthur wanted to punch him. The last reason Arthur disliked riding Brooks during practice drills, Brixaby became incredibly, obnoxiously jealous. I didn’t excuse you,” Arthur snapped. Then he turned again to Athena. “My apologies instructor, I didn’t make myself clear. I don’t want this idiot or his idiot dragon in this class ever again.”

She turned to Willard. “You have displeased your Legendary superior, rider. You’re done for the day.” Joy was a pink meta who was often alerted by useful quests which could be anything from running an errand for an elderly neighbor to, one time, alerting the Hive Leaders of a rare night-time scourge-eruption. She was almost precognizant and her quest card might give her the heads up something was coming. Brixaby was a touch too far away to stop the green. Instead, he put himself in between the two dragons just as the second beam went off.Overall the story in book 2 has been quite good so far. The pacing of the stroy feels quite good however it is beginning to feel like Arthur is fighting against the world a little too much. Having characters struggle is definetly important but it is beginning to feel like Arthur can't catch a break. By the time Arthur made it to the ground and dismounted Brooks, Purple Lilac had landed and was being attended to by her concerned rider. Splotches of lichen were actively growing up between her scales. The little purple rolled over and over on the ground. Pretending he hadn’t heard them, Arthur went on. “Willard and Morrice can make themselves useful tending the dragon soil pits — Morrice is a nature dragon. Fertilizer should be up his alley. Then, when the next class is up to this level in a month or two, hopefully, they will be mature enough to join and complete their training.” These were the two purples in the class. The only ones aside from Brixaby who were still too small to carry their riders. Purples generally didn’t fill a combat role during scourge-eruptions. Traditionally, they were couriers or independent rescue units to evacuate those who couldn't get out of the way. So they were excused from all but the most basic formation flying. With a steady diet of card shards — as many as Arthur could get his hands on — Brixaby had grown more than eight times the size he’d been as a hatchling.

Brooks,” Arthur said, reaching down to touch the orange scales. They were a particularly... unpleasant color that reminded him of spoiled oranges. “Turn to the west. The wing is making another pass.” Athena was silent for a moment. Arthur wondered if he’d overstepped, but he didn’t want to show weakness by looking at her for confirmation. Yes, sir.” The instructor nodded. She had been paying deference to him since the moment Arthur joined the class.

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His hesitation caused Silvy to fear the worst. Her eyes widened and she screamed. "Healer! Healer!" Brixaby concentrated for a moment, and Arthur knew his ridiculously deep voice was currently echoing in two dragons’ heads far above them. That had been a gift from a mind-mage card Brixaby had absorbed a few months ago. The characters in this story tend to be very well written most of the time. My main gripe is normally with Arthur. Now I understand the main character must have flaws and such but since around the start of book 2 Arthur tends to be a bit oblivious to certain things and basically ignores the benefits and use of his 2nd legendary card. To be honest he also isn't using his 1st one to the full effect either but I understand that one a little more due to the amount of work and resources that one needs. The way Arthur has been written throughout the story so far has placed heavy enphasis on how much of a survior he is and how cunning/devious he is at times. This was fine for book 1 but for book 2 it has posed a bit of a problem especially since Arthur's goal and the method he uses to reach his goal are obviously going to lead to bigger problems, problems that may not have a solution. Arthur is also supposed to be reasonably smart but certain events in book 2 have left me questioning this. I have been left wondering why didn't Arthur know certain things more than a few times, and if the answer is because it advances the plot then I say that is just lazy writing.