Synopsis
Thousands of years ago, the five great gods created the world of Pallos. A land of mysticism where mighty beasts and beings struggled to carve out their respective territories, empowered by the System. On this world, a Paladin in service to Xaoc, the god of chaos, struggled and perished.
And then woke up as a young girl in a nation known as the Republic of Remus. She has a head full of patchwork and inconsistent knowledge, but she’s determined to use it to get a leg up on her second shot at life.
Ranthia is an Adventurer at heart, with a knack for getting herself into trouble. Fortunately, she’s never met a problem she couldn’t solve with a well-applied knife (if you ignore the myriad problems that couldn’t be solved with a knife or that she really shouldn’t have tried to solve with a knife). She might not be a [Paladin], but she does her best to embody the ideals of chaos and remains highly devoted to Xaoc. All while the beautiful Dragoneye Moons gaze down upon her.
Blind Chaos is one of the Tales Beneath the Dragoneye Moons, and is set in the same world as Selkie Myth’s Beneath the Dragoneye Moons. But don’t worry if you haven’t read that series yet, Blind Chaos is also intended to introduce readers to the wonders of Pallos!
Review
I read this book as a judge for FanFiAddict during SPFBO XI. These opinions are entirely my own and don’t necessarily represent the views of the rest of the team.
Budding Rhythm is a light, energetic LitRPG adventure that leans fully into the fun of its premise. Set in the mythic world of Pallos—where gods, monsters, and the ever-present System shape daily life—the story follows a fallen paladin who dies in service to a god of chaos… and wakes up reincarnated as a young girl with fragmented memories and a second chance. From there, the novel settles into an easygoing, slice-of-life rhythm that feels less concerned with racing toward a grand destination and more interested in simply enjoying the journey.
Ranthia, the reincarnated protagonist, is the heart of the story. She’s chaotic, stubborn, knife-happy, and brimming with confidence, and her voice is immediately distinct. Her dialogue is cute, quirky, and full of personality, which makes her scenes consistently entertaining. While she sometimes feels larger-than-life—often the most competent person in the room—there’s an undeniable charm to how consistently she’s written. You always know exactly who she is and how she’ll approach a problem, which gives the book a cozy, familiar feel. It’s the kind of character you follow not necessarily for deep transformation, but because you simply enjoy spending time with her.
The plot itself is fairly straightforward and reads more like a series of adventures than a tightly woven narrative arc. Rather than building toward one massive conflict, Budding Rhythm embraces a slice-of-life structure where Ranthia explores the world, gets into trouble, and solves problems in creative—usually chaotic—ways. Readers looking for a heavily plotted epic might find it meandering, but those who enjoy “hangout” stories or episodic adventures will likely find the pacing comfortable and relaxing.
Where the novel shines most is in its worldbuilding and System mechanics. The rules of Pallos, the gods’ influence, and the LitRPG elements are interesting without being overwhelming. There’s enough number crunching and stat tracking to satisfy genre fans, but the story is written in a way that allows casual readers to skim past the numbers and still follow along. The System has a lot of fun quirks, and discovering how skills, abilities, and magic interact is one of the book’s steady pleasures.
On a technical level, the prose has some rough edges. The narrative leans heavily on internal monologue and summary, and certain stylistic choices—like frequent ellipses and soft, qualifier-heavy phrasing—can occasionally interrupt the flow. Some conflicts resolve quickly or conveniently, which softens the tension. Still, the underlying creativity and enthusiasm carry the story forward. There’s a clear sense that CrimCat is having fun with this world, and that energy is infectious.
Overall, Budding Rhythm is an imperfect but enjoyable LitRPG romp. It’s less about high-stakes drama and more about spending time with a lively protagonist as she stumbles, schemes, and slices her way through a game-like fantasy world. For readers who love slice-of-life adventures, reincarnation stories, or simply want something breezy and character-focused within the LitRPG space, this is a charming and entertaining ride worth taking.
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