Who This Book Is For
Progression fantasy fans who enjoy portal isekai, overpowered MCs, and alternate-world settings with a slow-building harem
Who This Book Is NOT For
Readers who want explicit spice, fast-moving harem development, or polished prose -- the translation shows its seams and romance stays at fade-to-black
Our Review
The Setup
Danya is a soldier who survived a nuclear war and died in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, only to wake up in the body of a ten-year-old boy in an alternate version of Earth. This world looks a lot like Russia — same countries, same languages, same general history — but with one critical difference: anomalies exist, and some people possess the Gift. Danya’s Gift is telepathy, and in this world, telepaths are considered elite mages.
The series follows him from childhood through his teenage years as he develops his powers, navigates noble clans, attends school, and begins accumulating influence. The harem setup is signaled early but develops at a glacial pace compared to most entries in the genre. By the end of Book 1, he is seventeen and starting to become a force in his local community, with romantic interests circling but nothing explicit on the page.
What Works
The setting is the strongest element. Alternate-Russia fantasy is rare territory, and Gron uses the cultural backdrop to good effect. The naming conventions, social hierarchies, and general atmosphere feel distinct from the standard medieval-European or modern-American settings that dominate the genre. Readers who enjoy isekai stories that bother to build a world with its own cultural identity will appreciate the effort here.
The telepathy power system is well thought out. Danya can manipulate minds, create illusions, manifest objects, and even destroy opponents psychologically. The “gaslighter” concept — reshaping reality for those around him through mental manipulation — gives the series its name and its most interesting tension. The progression mechanics are satisfying, with clear milestones and escalation.
The pacing within the book is solid. There are no dead stretches, and the story moves through years of the MC’s life without feeling rushed or dragging.
What Doesn’t
The translation from Russian to English is the most consistent complaint, and it is warranted. Grammatical issues pop up regularly, and some sentences require a second read to parse. It never becomes unreadable, but it does pull you out of the story at inopportune moments. For a series this long, a stronger editing pass would go a long way.
The MC’s attitudes toward women and patriarchy are hard to ignore. Lines about women choosing a man and then deferring all decisions to him recur throughout the series. The author frames this as culturally appropriate for the setting, and some readers will accept that explanation. Others will find it genuinely off-putting. It is worth knowing before you commit to sixteen books.
The Heat
This is a 1 out of 5 on the spice scale. Romance exists in the background and there is a girlfriend, but intimate scenes are strictly fade-to-black. The series is tagged as heading toward a harem route, but this first book is all setup and zero payoff on that front. If you are coming to this from the harem genre expecting heat, you will need to be very patient.
Bottom Line
The Gaslighter is a promising start for readers who prioritize world-building and progression mechanics over romance and spice. The alternate-Russia setting and telepathic power system give it a distinct identity in a crowded field. The translation issues and the MC’s attitudes are real drawbacks, but neither is a dealbreaker if the core concept appeals to you. With sixteen books already published, there is a massive amount of story here for readers who get hooked.
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If You Liked This, Try
Both feature OP protagonists navigating magical academies with political intrigue, though Gron leans harder into progression mechanics
Shares the slow-building mage progression and academy setting with a similarly overpowered main character
The Verdict
The Gaslighter is a competent progression portal fantasy with a unique alternate-Russia setting and an intriguing telepathic power system. The harem elements are very slow to develop and the spice is fade-to-black, so readers looking for heat should temper expectations. Translation issues are noticeable but not fatal. With sixteen books in the series, patient readers who enjoy seeing an overpowered MC climb the ranks in an unfamiliar world will find plenty of material here.