An Unexpected Hero by Rhett C. Bruno
🎧 Narrated by: Jeff Hays, Annie Ellicott, Justin Thomas James, Ian M. Walker
This was my latest dive into RPGLit, and honestly? The audiobook experience is where this shines. 🎮✨
Danny is a washed-up rock star mid–life crisis-ing his way through bad decisions when he wakes up in a whole new world—quests, enemies, found family, and an absolutely unhinged AI with a Scottish accent named Screenie. And yes, Screenie steals every scene. 😅
The story hit me with strong World of Warcraft vanilla nostalgia, which I loved. Danny is messy, relatable, and constantly overwhelmed, and being thrown into a game-like world with no way back felt very real. The supporting cast—Curr, Garrett, and the elves—rounded out the adventure nicely.
That said, the book felt long. Even though I was entertained, I occasionally lost the thread in the quest-building. This one didn’t quite hit the same pacing sweet spot as Dungeon Crawler Carl for me—but that’s more about expectations than quality.
Where this audiobook truly excels is the production. The full cast and Soundbooth-style delivery add humor, personality, and momentum that kept me listening even when the story slowed. 🎧🔥
Final Verdict:
A fun, nostalgic RPGLit adventure with standout narration and great humor. A bit overlong in places, but absolutely worth it in audio—especially if you enjoy game worlds, character-driven chaos, and excellent performances. 🎮✨