Fun, Fun, Fun!

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book in the litRPG genre and I forgot how much fun they can be when done well. I’ve gone back and forth with whether or not they are better when it is read in the print version or listened to in an audio format, and I do think it is a book by book thing. In THIS situation with this book, it is DEFINITELY better to experience this in an audio format and the narration – done by Jeff Hays – is perfection.

For anyone wondering WHY it may always not be better to listen to these types of books (and this is only MY opinion) but these (litRPG) books basically put an MC in the middle of a video game. And in some of these stories, there can be a ton of tables with points and numbers and bonus points (get the gist?) and before you know it, you are listening to 60 seconds of a summary of what this last bonus of ** (pick a number) just added up to *** and just gave the MC ** – does any of this make sense? So, in those cases, sometimes it IS better to be reading so that you can skip over these tables and continue with the actual story.

All of this is a moot point because that does NOT happen in this book. If fact, the audio narration is done so well that it actually makes this storyline that much better. A true joy for your ears.

The storyline on this revolves around the fact that an event occurs all over the planet Earth at the exact same time. Anyone who was in any type of building or structure that had a roof, or a cover over it (House, garage, car, train, airplane, etc) is instantly atomized or crushed. Sounds like all structures just get pancaked. The people who are left are given a very short time frame to find the nearest staircase leading DOWN. These entrances will be closing in minutes and those left on the surface will not be given any other opportunity to enter ever again. From what little info they are given, it makes it sound like the surface is going to be very dangerous and inhabitable.

So it begins. Our MMC – Carl – just happened to run outside at the time of this event to chase after his ex-girlfriends cat which ended up saving his life, but he ran out in his boxers without his shoes. (That is funny for many reasons, but you need to read the book to understand all the reasons why). Carl and his (now talking) cat – Princess Donut – discover that they have been dropped into a televised intergalactic reality game show. Televised to whom? Well, to the rest of the ENTIRE galaxy….with numbers in the TRILLIONS.

The relationship between Donut and Carl is beyond hilarious – especially when her initial stats in the game are higher than his. Traits such as intelligence and charisma….seriously, she’s a CAT. It is REALLY funny.

The goal is to survive each level, gaining experience, increasing your stats and earning loot as you fight and win against the opponents (both live and NPC’s). Then continue to the next lower level. They are also being televised and realize that they are being judged on everything – from the actions to how many followers they are gaining. This is definitely a crazy, unique and fun ride. This first book covers their experience on the first three (maybe, not positive about that) levels and I’m assuming that each of the next books has us following along in snippets of the next few levels.

A truly fun and humerous ride. Fun, fun, fun!