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Playful Cradle Epilogues and Short Stories

Revisado: 01-11-25

I agree! These are mostly lighthearted stories, most being basically epilogue chapters for cradle for different characters, with humor at the end of several

Realize that none of the stories are deep or complex, but that they fit within the style of what was written before.

Pick this up (I suggest whispersync) if you want something pleasant, if you have already been through Cradle. Pick up something else if you want grimdark.

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Minor Flaws, BUT at moments i truly laugh

Revisado: 12-28-24

This LitRPG parody series is one that i appreciate and miss, wishing there would be a book 4. The humor that comes from slightly off characters and their interactions has made me laugh at least once for every listening.

This is one of a few series that I actively return to listen to.

The storyline is interesting, characters have distinct personalities, strange environments, some dark humor, some put down humor, some make fun of the protagonist humor.

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Cannot Suspend Disbelief

Revisado: 12-09-24

There's plenty of good in this book, and things to like. But for me there are too many places in this book where something is said or done that breaks my ability to suspend my disbelief.

Things start bad in that way: A romance that has two people who want each other that doesn't start until the absolute end of school?!

Things get worse. Disbelief continues to hit again and again: We have a 21 year old who must live well in the future - VR pods that can keep people alive for years are nowhere close - who somehow knows abouwho Gallagher, Shannon Sharp are, to say nothing of pieces of 70s, 80s, and 90s cinema and culture. -- As If!

That kind of writing - culture references most easily understood by someone who is over 30 or 40 - strikes me as pretty damn lazy.

The good: some pieces of character personalities that are good -- particularly views into the minds of villains show some pretty realistic, and distinct thoughts beyond straight 'evil'. Continued character work, including the evolution of the relationship are not bad.

I find some of the team banter and storylines entertaining enough, and comfortable.

But let's not argue that this is a book that has top tier imagination, planning and structure, writing, humor, etc. It's not - it's a male power fantasy that is pretty derivative, but not poorly executed, despite my complaints.

It deserves to be given a 3* rating at best. Buy on sale. acceptable for a credit, but not first choice.

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I think it's a Pratchett influenced LitRPG

Revisado: 12-04-24

It's lighthearted and humorous.

I do strongly suspect that the author was trying to channel Terry Pratchett - it's a similar tone ; the story is lighthearted, somewhat moral, has scattered puns and a few fish out of water jokes.

Some of the jokes are mens locker room style, though only slightly dirty, not crude.

I can't say that I personally adore the story, but its likeable. It's worth a credit or buy on sale.

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Fine, But Not Imaginative

Revisado: 11-13-24

Review Preface: While I have this book at ~2.5 stars, the book that follows is a better book by my lights, and I can say the same about the book after that. Perhaps the author improved as time passed?

But this book... it's fine for what it is. I cannot agree with anyone who would rate this as a 5* book - it's passable. Reasonably enjoyable.

Ask yourself: why would I value this? Where is the hook? What is novel and new or cleverly done? Any awesome magic system? Any intrigue? Any interesting character? Any humor? Any sort of interesting worldbuilding?

None of this really happens in book 1. There's progress as you follow, but as far as I'm concerned any standalone book deserves that.

As far as I'm concerned this book is pretty weak tea from that perspective. We get perhaps a decent attempt at representing a young man who is a fish out of water in a fantasy world, with some attempts at humor, and we get a 'system' that is constructed with a certain amount of thought.

I agree that the romance feels forced - something that the author seems to have tried to address in book 2. But inevitably I cannot imagine a world where a long lived race like elves would culturally conclude that it's a good idea to spend LESS time on permanent mate selection than humans do.

But otherwise, the book, the story, and plot make a reasonable amount of sense. There' some potential for a story to develop over the next few books. It's fine for what it is.

As a standalone book, I do not believe this book is worth a credit -- my recommendation: listen to it on audible plus, buy it on deep discount, or wait for a publisher's pack.

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Quite Good

Revisado: 11-05-24

I've really rather enjoyed this book, and am quite likely to follow it further.

There's quite a lot to like. Characters have been given motivations and personality traits to have some life to them. The magic system shows some promise. The overall plot is laid out in a manner that makes sense. Villains are competing with each other in addition to the hero, and have human motivations, something any reader should appreciate.

There are indeed some traits that make me want to toss away one star. I marked some parts of the setting and some character plot points struck me as cliche e.g. the trope about the daughter doting on then being betrayed by a manipulating father. I didn't approve of how abruptly our protagonist became a folk hero after just one or two heroic incidents. And while I'll not fault the author for lack of imagination, part of me wants to when I compare to some of my top tier books.

I've noticed that other people didn't like the narrator. Personally, I'm not sure if Wayne was the best narrator for this series (he was a GREAT choice for BuyMort), but he has brought a competent series of voices, engages in a genuine performance, and ended up doing a decent job by my lights.

Good Quality Book.
It ends up in my 2nd Tier -- Worth a Credit

My Tiering Concept:
1st Tier: My absolute favorite books. High imagination, great characters, great story, lots of fun, etc.
2nd Tier: Worth a Buy, Full Price.
3rd Tier: Decent. Buy on Sale
4th Tier: Audible Plus only. The author didn't spend much time actually writing this book, and it shows.

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Entertaining, but a Political Power Fantasy

Revisado: 10-19-24

I've found myself able to turn off my disbelief while listening (Audible Plus Only), and been entertained. But there are some plot complaints to echo.

First: yes, it's a male power fantasy. We have a young man whose combat performance versus the robots far exceeds everyone in the US Military, every policeman and woman, etc.

Second: You have to swallow the idea that were there to be a bunch of murderous drones patrolling Manhattan, that they'd never run out of power (while the military's power armor does), and the rest.

Third: I've not seen anyone else pointing this out - but the book has a pretty clear right wing political message. There's a certain amount of fantasizing about just who the murderous people in the world are, and I'll give you a hint that it's not the Russian or Chinese dictators.

I shake my head.

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Decent

Revisado: 10-13-24

These books entertain me, and I do recommend them as a tentative buy. But let's be clear about what this author's dungeon core books are about:

Conflict against overwhelming entities, some mystery about these enemies, game design based growth, magic systems that are somewhat interesting, character fellowship, and a strength in describing strategy : the action and reaction as intelligent antagonists and protagonists take actions and experience setbacks.

Do not look here for science fiction, sci fi civilizations that make sense, strong worldbuilding, well thought out characters.

It's like... these books are a step above some of the truly quicky written paper thin plots and characters that are floating around, but they aren't top tier either.

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Sci-Fi Action Done Rather Well

Revisado: 08-31-24

I am feeling rather pleased that I picked this up - it's not high art, but it's not low brow either, just pretty good entertainment!

This is obviously the work of an experienced writer - the words and voices flow smoothly. we have modest worldbuilding, but interesting character story arcs. There is a lot of action / each viewpoint character has various experiences. Characters have flaws but reasons for reader / listener sympathy.

i would not argue that the overarching plot is anything special, but it's serviceable, as is the world building. I'm entertained, and happy with it.

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Unimaginative and Derivative

Revisado: 08-29-24

I do not recommend this book for anything more than the plus store or at a deep discount. It's simply not worth full price.

The prose is fine, but ye gads, I find this derivative. Throughout this book I heard nothing imaginative or original, absolutely nothing that I haven't read or heard before, AND better thought out to boot. I keep asking myself, why would I value this? Where is the hook? Any awesome magic system? Any intrigue? Any interesting character? Any humor? Any sort of interesting worldbuilding?

The answer is that there's nothing of the sort in the book. The author did not spend the time necessary to think up an interesting magic system, nor the time necessary to think up interesting characters, nor the time necessary to build an interesting world, nor the time necessary to make events interesting. The prose is fine, the narrator did fine, there's nothing offensive. There's certainly worse entertainment out there, but there's much better to boot.

Don't get me entirely wrong - I am somewhat entertained.

Some caveats: This appears to be the work of a newer author, a first or second book. For all I know, since writing the guy's listened to some lectures on how to be a great writer and put some great ideas into the next few books. But right now - this feels like a book written quickly, without a lot of deep thought, recycling other people's ideas.

Meh.

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