Ring delivers once again with a story that is both inventive and compelling. His storytelling remains as sharp as ever—rich with imagination, humor, and a strong sense of momentum. Mark’s latest adventures are filled with unexpected twists and thoughtful worldbuilding that keep the reader eagerly turning pages. Ring’s creativity truly knows no bounds, breathing fresh life into familiar characters while introducing new ones with depth and flair. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and I’m already looking forward to the next installment in the series.

That said, there are a few minor issues in this admittedly uncorrected copy. Several name-related typos popped up—Ace instead of Asa, Matt instead of Mark, and Phoenix in place of Winter Wolf. While these are understandable in a draft version, they can momentarily pull the reader out of the narrative. There’s also a small inconsistency in an arena scene: Mark is described as wearing his Apex mask, yet another character is somehow able to read a look of astonishment on his face. This stands out because later in the story, it’s made clear that the mask completely conceals his expression. Hopefully, these small glitches will be ironed out in the final edition.

Thanks again for sharing an advance copy.

Note: I am a fan of Seth Ring's other books, and I was really liked the previous two books, so I was excited to see this Apex show up for me to review as a DRC on NetGalley.

Apex, the third book in Seth Ring’s Exlian Syndrome series, picks up right where Dark Dawn left off — and continues to deliver! This series continues to impress me. I thoroughly enjoyed Mark’s continued evolution throughout the book, not just his growth in power, or the new abilities he gains, but also his struggles with accepting and adapting to the changes that continue to transform him. A few new characters are introduced, but most of the focus is centered on Mark’s growth. The world continues to be slowly built throughout the story, growing deeper as Mark grows in power. If you’ve enjoyed the first two books in the series, Apex will not disappoint. Can’t wait for the next book!

It was really good. Like other reviewers, I read til I literally couldn't stay awake, then resumed until I finished as soon as I opened my eyes.

I'm a big Seth Ring fan and I've read all his various series. He does excellent world building and character progression, as well as crafting and combat aspects. None of his MCs are the same, but you can see certain traits they seem to share. Mark is the first one, as far as I'm aware, to come up against the idea of losing your humanity (effectively; John in Battlemage Farmer had the dragon spirit corruption, but he was already too strong too be really tempted by It and It only came up in book...5? 6?..ish, so we already knew him as a character, he wasn't still in development like Mark is). So this book is one of Seth's "darker" stories (though by no means is It what I'd consider grimdark, murder hobo, or even really *dark* - only in comparison to the other works by the author) and it's interesting to see Seth try out something new (sci-fi vs fantasy, more morally gray MC than one who believes in - and has affirmed - the basic decency of *general* humanity). Actually, now that I think about It, Mark reminds me more of a young, combat focused Gareth from Dreamer's Throne than John or Thorne. Not in the scheming part, but in the deadly pragmatic way they view the world.

All in all, another excellent addition to the story.

The book had a great flow. I didn't want to put it down I finished it in a day. The development of the character Mark continues to draw you in and the continual obstruction of his development and the adversaries he faces are well written and engaging can t wait for the next installment

Honestly, a fairly awesome installment in the series. The beginning and the end were a whirlwind, and I’m excited for the next one in the series. I finished it in two days, one night staying up until 3am just not being able to put it down. This book was just one thing after another, not a lot of lull points at all.

This is a great book in the series. The main character finds himself in a different environment, a prison for empowered. This makes for a novel way to describe more of the world he lives in. Of course there are plenty of challenges he has to overcome and he learns valuable skills. There is definitely a plot twist at the end of the book, which has me excited for the next book.