It's only been a couple of weeks since Arheis and his friends took down the Nepondus Queen and already they're starved for work. If they want to test their new skills and grow stronger, Arheis knows they'll have to get out of their comfort zone and leave the tutorial area behind.
Following a lead that could help them destroy more beast-frenzying crystals, Arheis and his companions make their way to Iskaral. Little do they know a dangerous beast lurks in the caverns beneath the city, gorging itself on those same crystals, threatening the lives of those above.
And this creature is just the beginning of their troubles. The world of Estalia is ever-evolving and Arheis is starting to believe it's more than just a game. When push comes to shove, he'll have to let go of the world he knows and exist in the moment.
His friends' lives may very well depend on it.
My Opinion: 437 pages, $4.99, Available on Kindle Unlimited
This can actually be read as a stand alone novel. It does a really good job of quickly telling the reader about the main character (MC), his relationship with other characters, and the game world. The novel is definitely inspired by the Monster Hunter games and is very faithful to the feel of those games. Like book 1, most of the action takes place on hunts. The MC and his group get a bounty, research the monster, track it, plan a specific way to hunt, and struggle in the fight barely winning. Or just dying and trying something new next time. I always like that the author carries over that aspect of the Monster Hunter game, dying alot till you learn how to hunt a specific monster.
This novel there is more interpersonal relation building and a bit of romance, some intrigue, and a mystery that pushed the MC and his group to new locations.
Overall, anyone that likes the Monster Hunter franchise will appreciate all the nods the author has to those games in the novel. Even folks that aren’t familiar with those games will like this though. Good action, nice world building, but a unique emphasis on semi-realistic monster hunting as a game mechanic.
Score: 7.4 out of 10
Hunter's Choice: A LitRPG Adventure (Apex Chronicles Book 2)