LitRPG Podcast 256 - Alpha Zero, Apocalypse: Generic System, Fortune Favors the Kobold, Reincarnated as a Sword, Sixth Realm Part 2, Pilgrim 2
LitRPG Podcast 256 - Alpha Zero, Apocalypse: Generic System, Fortune Favors the Kobold, Reincarnated as a Sword, Sixth Realm Part 2, Pilgrim 2
Dec. 25th, 2020
Hello everyone, welcome to episode 256 of the LitRPG podcast. I’m Ramon Mejia.
I’m here to bring you the latest LitRPG news, reviews, and author interviews. We have 6 new reviews just for you.
New Releases and Reviews:
Alpha Zero (Alpha LitRPG Book 1) (07:29)
From broken to badass
Score: 7.7 out of 10
Apocalypse: Generic System (14:27)
Anything but Generic
Score: 7.8 out of 10
Fortune Favors the Kobold (18:53)
Drunken Tim Antics
Score:7.3 out of 10
Reincarnated as a Sword (21:20)
Light yet fun adventures
Score: 7.6 out of 10
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/books/reincarnated-as-a-sword-manga-vol-1/
Ian’s (Eye-Ann) Picks of the Week (25:56)
(Pic 0)
New Segment from Ian Mitchell a long time LitRPG community member who reads and reviews as much as me. He was nice enough to agree to join the LitRPG Podcast family as a new reviewer.
(Pic 6)
Sixth Realm Part 2: A litRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 7)
On to the seventh realm
Score: 7.5 out of 10
It's hard to quit when you're an Assassin
Score: 8.8 out of 10
(Play Music 2)
LitRPG News
C.M. Carney has put the first book in his Quintessence series on sale for $0.99 until 12/29. A good deal for a good book.
The annual charity drive from the Gamelit Society on Facebook has ended and they raised $3,468 which has been donated to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Thanks everyone that donated.
Out Now!
High Gloom: A LitRPG/GameLit Adventure (Bad Guys Book 6)
Into the Wild: An Epic LitRPG Series (Axe Druid Book 6)
A Doomed Fight and Not So Great Landing: Boneknight Series Book 2
Legacy Systems: Next Gen Gamer
Condition Evolution 3: A LitRPG / Gamelit Adventure
New LitRPG Audiobooks
Condition Evolution - A LitRPG/Game-Lit Adventure
Land of Demons - Dragon Heart Book 7
Path to Villainy - An NPC Kobold's Tale
Inheritance - A LitRPG Space Adventure (The Last Enclave)
Awakened: The Quintessence: Crucible, Book One (An Epic Cultivation LitRPG Saga)
Upcoming LitRPG:
Small Unit Tactics (Volume #2): LitRPG Series (Dec. 28th, 2020)
Wasteland [RealRPG Wuxia Series] Book #1 (Dec. 29th, 2021)
Keys of Four Elements (Primacy Online Book 5) (Dec. 30th, 2020)
Labyrinth of Fright (Underdog Book #5): LitRPG Series (Jan. 4th, 2021)
Glitch King: A LitRPG Adventure (Mythrune Online Book 2) (Jan. 5th, 2020)
Black Dawn: An Apocalyptic LitRPG Adventure (Fae Nexus Book 1) (Jan. 5th, 2020)
Entriss Online - A VR LitRPG Fantasy (Watson's Worlds Book 1) (Jan. 5th, 2021)
Carl's Doomsday Scenario: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 2 (Jan. 6ht, 2021)
Legacy Systems: Desert Trials (Jan. 8th, 2021)
Reborn: Evolution: A LitRPG Series (Warlock Chronicles Book 2) (Jan. 12th, 2021)
Activation: Book 1 of of the Invasion Series - A Nanomachine Magical World LitRPG Adventure
(Jan. 12th, 2021)
Unity: A Superhero LitRPG Adventure (Henchman Book 3) (Jan. 15th, 2021)
Couch Potato Crisis - (Couch Potato Chronicles Book 2) (Jan. 15th, 2021)
Shadow Seer (Rogue Merchant Book #3): LitRPG Series (Jan. 18th, 2021)
The Call of the Forces: A LitRPG Wuxia Series (The Heavenly Throne Book 4) (Jan. 19th, 2021)
Watcher's Repose: A LitRPG Saga (Life in Exile Book 4) (Jan. 19th, 2021)
Player Reached the Top. LitRPG Series. Book IV (Jan. 20th, 2021)
Underpowered Howard: A LitRPG Adventure (Jan. 26th, 2021)
Rifleman: A LitRPG / LitFPS Adventure (Battlegrounds Online Book 1) (Jan. 26th, 2021)
Spear of Destiny: A LitRPG Dragonrider Adventure (The Archemi Online Chronicles Book 5) (Jan. 30th, 2021)
Ascension: A LitRPG Journey (Legends Online Book 8) (Jan. 31st, 2021)
True John Crusade: A Dark Fantasy Gamelit (The Adventures of Dan Book 2) (Feb. 2nd, 2021)
Eat, Slay, Love (The Good Guys Book 10) (Feb. 4th, 2021)
The Great Centurion: Punic Wars 2 (A Real LitRPG Roman Series) (Feb. 5th, 2021)
The Motors of Keldora: An Automation Crafting LitRPG Adventure (Factory of the Gods Book 3) (Feb. 8th, 2021)
Rule of Cool: A LitRPG Novel (Feb. 16th, 2021)
Dagger of Doom: A LitRPG Adventure (Beta Tester Book 5) (Feb. 17th, 2021)
Path of Spirit (Disgardium Book #6): LitRPG Series (Feb. 17th, 2021)
Jeff the Game Master: A LitRPG Series (Feb. 23rd, 2021)
Onto New Releases and Reviews
(Play Music 3)
New Releases and Reviews
(Picture 1)
Alpha Zero (Alpha LitRPG Book 1)
I should not exist.
All children like me are stillborn, or die in infancy. Those who cannot grow stronger, die. No empty child has ever reached a year of age, yet I am now thirteen.
It has been a long and miserable thirteen years, where the best I can manage to do is walk with difficulty. Sometimes, I cannot even manage that.
My clan has paid dearly for every minute of my life. And money is not so easy to obtain, here at the edge of civilization.
Perhaps I might have lived in this state for many years. A cripple, strong in mind but feeble in body. But when some unexpected guests came to our estate, everything changed. I would die at last – or, I would learn to survive on my own.
My Opinion: 625 pages, $5.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
The philosophy of the story and mechanics reminded me of the Underdog series, where the MC seems to be broken because of his zero level and unable to survive in a world where levels means everything. But that flaw turns into the characters secret boon as he discovers a way to exploit the system for unheard of rewards. There’s still lots of hard work, creative thinking, and in the case of this novel fishing, but it's that kind of game mechanic exploitation story.
It has an interesting, if almost purely cultivation start. But at the 14% mark, the RPG aspects of the martial arts world are explained including: stats, levels, and cultivation cores. More details and specifics related to the MCs unique progression path are given as the story goes on and the details become relevant. I also liked how the ideas were translated by the MC from the native world concepts, with their own particular names, into earth culture and gaming terms. It reinforced the reincarnated into a new world background.
Overall, it’s an interesting story where you see great strides in progression from a character who starts off crippled. I will note that if you need a story with lots of fight scenes, this won’t do it for you. There’s not much combat till the last quarter of the story, though there are many other types of conflicts and a good bit of tension from other sources.
Score: 7.7 out of 10
Alpha Zero (Alpha LitRPG Book 1)
Apocalypse: Generic System
Jeb Trapper tried to kill himself. The gun jammed.
Two months later the vet is participating in underground trials of ecstacy to treat his PTSD.
Everything seemed to be going great until...
>>>The System has Been Installed<<<
Now he's got to choose the difficulty of his tutorial.
Just one problem.
He's high as a kite, and nothing seems Impossible.
My Opinion: 379 pages, $4.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
Game mechanics. Fairly good with unique classes for just about all the characters like: mystic taxidermist, and trap smith. Early in the story stats and levels matter with descriptions about just how physically changing gaining even a few stat points can be. However, after the MC hits level 20 and picks his class the RPG stuff matters a lot less. Instead, the MC develops power through use of his class abilities and cleverness. After that point he never seems to run out of fuel for his spell or abilities or really hit any kind of limit beyond what's artificially created to create tension.
Still the story cranks up the epic goodness as it pushes some good twists that keep you turning page after page.
Score: 7.8 out of 10
Fortune Favors the Kobold
Tim and the C&C gang get more than they bargained for when they follow a lead given to them by a friendly kobold.
Will they find the hidden treasure? Will Tim find his pants? Will any horses survive?
Find out in this exciting addition to the Caverns & Creatures collection!
My Opinion: 39 pages, $2.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
A short story told from a very drunken Tim’s POV with all the expected oddities and blackouts that entails. The story is an entertaining quickie.
Score:7.3 out of 10
I Was a Sword When I Reincarnated aka Reincarnated as a Sword
When he realized it, the protagonist was in another world and had become a sword that was stabbed on an altar in a great plain, crowded with devil beast. The world he was in had a game like system; HP, MP, Strength, Vitality, Agility, Intelligence, Dexterity, Titles and Equipment. Following his instinct as a living sword, he traveled to find the one who could be his wielder, until he met with a cat girl that was about to be attacked by a bear type devil beast.
My Opinion: 41+ chapters; $9.99 (light novel) $12.99 (manga), 8 vol. Light novel, English Publisher
This is a lighter slice of life story with a main character (MC) who was reincarnated as a sword on a fantasy RPG world. He’s OP as heck, but gets stuck somewhere and eventually gets picked up by a young catgirl slave who he saves and frees. The two go on adventures exploring the world and leveling. Simple setup, light, yet fun and funny adventures.
There’s an official english version of the light novel on Amazon and a kinda expensive manga version, though that’s only been translated to volume 6. The most updated webcomic is fan translated up to volume 8.
Score: 7.6 out of 10
I Was a Sword When I Reincarnated
Tensei Shitara Ken Deshita
Manga
https://sevenseasentertainment.com/books/reincarnated-as-a-sword-manga-vol-1/
Light Novel
Ian’s (Eye-Ann) Picks of the Week
(Pic 0)
Contributor Ian Mitchell, a long time LitRPG community member who reads and reviews as much as me. was nice enough to agree to join the LitRPG Podcast family as a new reviewer.
(Pic 6)
Sixth Realm Part 2: A litRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 7)
by Michael Chatfield
On to the seventh realm
I really like Michael Chatfield's books. I really really want more action in this one. The writing is good and I like the story so far. But I like cultivation. This one is slow, bouncing around again visiting lots of interesting people and showing off cool weapon systems. I can't say it was fun. Some hints late that interesting things await. In the next realm. Mostly Alva development with some Erik and Rugrat cultivating. I was thinking, where's the explosions and body count through much of the first 40% of the book.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Pilgrim 2
by Harmon Cooper
It's hard to quit when you're an Assassin
Too many damn assassins after you. I really enjoyed the interactions between Danzen (MC), Kudzu (fox), and Jelmay (cat). Reading this was smooth, almost like a dream. I didn't feel a lot of dramatic tension, even when difficult things were going on (perhaps too smooth). A lot of story packed in. The fights were intense and short. A lot of fun to read. I got worried towards the end as there didn't seem to be enough book left to finish it, but it was well done. Great story and series, I think I liked book one more. This one was more almost awesome.
Score: 8.8 out of 10
That’s it everyone! Thank you for watching/listening.
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(Music 4)
Music Credits
"Blip Stream" "Mighty Like Us" "Big Shift" "Vivacity"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/