LitRPG Podcast 270 - The Wandering Inn 4, Disgardium Book #8, The Crow Cycle, Lion's Quest 4, Adventures of Dan Book 2, Heroes of Last Resort
LitRPG Podcast 270 - The Wandering Inn 4, Disgardium Book #8, The Crow Cycle, Lion's Quest 4, Adventures of Dan Book 2, Heroes of Last Resort
Aug. 13th, 2021
Hello everyone, welcome to episode 270 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:
Winter Solstice: Book 4 (The Wandering Inn) (16:29)
Entertaining but Smaller story arcs this time
Score: 7.7 out of 10
Enemy of the Inferno (Disgardium Book #8): LitRPG Series (20:31)
Story feels like it's stretching out but still good
Score: 7.3 out of 10
The Crow Cycle Book #1: LitRPG Series (23:40)
Standalone story set in popular Russian RPG universe
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Lion's Quest 4: Charmed (29:32)
I’m not the intended audience anymore
Score: 6 out of 10
https://michaelscottearle.com/products/lions-quest-04-charmed
True John Crusade: A Dark Fantasy GameLit (The New World Adventures of Dan Book 2) (36:45)
Disappointed
Score: 6 out of 10
Heroes of Last Resort (The Other Guys Book 1) (39:45)
Push past the start
Score: 7.3 out of 10
(Play Music 2)
LitRPG News
Mountaindale Press at Dragon Con!
Come join us Friday, September 3rd in Atlanta, GA from 2-5 pm at White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails. Free food and drinks (alcoholic drinks for purchase) and a chance to hang with your favorite authors, purchase their books, and get them personalized.
Let me know what books you'd like to purchase at the event from the authors listed below!
Christopher Johns
White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails
270 Peachtree St NW, 100
Atlanta, GA 30303
Johnathan Brooks, author of a number of LitRPG Dungeon Core stories, has announced several things.
He’ll be at the 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧 from August 27 - 29 this year; He will be selling signed paperbacks and some canvas prints of some of his cover artwork.
He’s also been working with a game development company to create a new game (based on his Dungeon Crafting series) that will be featured in the Steam store, called The Crafter's Defense! It's a Dungeon Defense-type game that uses some of the mechanics of a Tower Defense game and adds action elements, as the defenders and pathway aren't static and can be manipulated.
The first builds for the game will be available for everyone to try out in September, so add it to your Wishlist on Steam so that you'll be informed when it's available!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1715780/The_Crafters_Defense/
Out Now!
War Core, Book 1: Hold the Line (A LitRPG, RTS, Dungeon Core Adventure)
Alpha Physics! Book 2 - Delay: A Post Apocalypse Progression Fantasy LITrpg
Eden's Gate: The Scourge: A LitRPG Adventure
Frameup: A LitRPG Superhero Adventure (VR Hero Book 3)
Blue Screens of Death: A System Apocalypse short story (The System Apocalypse Short Stories)
Apocalypse: Dungeon System (Systems of the Apocalypse Book 3)
The Plaguelands: A Monster Evolution LitRPG (Salvos, Volume 3)
Bushido Online: Pacchi Festival: A LitRPG Saga
Expansion Pack: A litRPG Anthology (The Rogue Dungeon)
The Starlight Fleet (Rogue Merchant Book #7): LitRPG Series
Enemy of the Inferno (Disgardium Book #8): LitRPG Series
Defiance of the Fall 2: A LitRPG Adventure
Alpha Transcendent (Alpha LitRPG Book 3)
Time of Titans: A GameLit/LitRPG Series (Shattered Kingdoms Book 2)
Executor Rising: A LitRPG Adventure (Magnus Book 2)
Tower of Damnation (A LitRPG and GameLIT Saga): Book Four: The Scheme
Golem Dungeon (Orb Keeper #1) - A Dungeon Core LitRPG
Silver Fox & The Western Hero: Warrior's Path: A LitRPG/Cultivation Novel - Book 6
A Fist Full of Credits: A New Apocalyptic LitRPG Series (System Apocalypse - Relentless Book 1)
Myriad Stars: Sage, book 3. A LitRPG Universe
Drone Ensign: A Sci-fi LitRPG Story (Drone Rising Book 1)
This Cursed Sword is E Ranked: A LitRPG Fantasy Progression Saga (The Prince of Apocalypse Book 1)
Old-Fashioned Huntsman: A GameLit Urban Fantasy (High Table Hijinks Book 2)
Crossroads: A LitRPG Cultivation Series (Towers & Rifts Book 3)
Enter System (Natural Laws Apocalypse Book 1)
New LitRPG Audiobooks
Tower Climber 3 - A LitRPG Adventure
Goldenshield - An Epic GameLit Fantasy (Realm Quest Saga, Book 1)
Defiance of the Fall 2 - A LitRPG Adventure
Systems of the Apocalypse, Book 1
Golem Dungeon - Orb Keeper 1 LitRPG
Final Odyssey - Legends Online Book 7
The Noob - Immersion Online Book 1
The Font of Life: A Mecha LitRPG Adventure
Isekai Magus 2 - A LitRPG Progression Saga (The Fantasy World of Nordan)
Gods of Ash and Amber - A Gamelit Novel (Seeds of Chaos Book 4)
The Guardian of the Dead -An NPC’s Path Book 4
City of the Undead - In the System Book 2
Winter's War - A LitRPG Saga (Tales of a Northblood Book 3)
Fate of Excalibur - The Abduction Cycles Book 5
Lotus Lake - Rise of the Mystic Mage Book 1
Re-Roll: A LitRPG Adventure - New Realm Online Book 1
Upcoming LitRPG:
Reincarnation Trials: A LitRPG Apocalypse (Systems of Salvation Book 1) (Aug. 15th, 2021)
Questing for Titles: A System Apocalypse short story (The System Apocalypse Short Stories) (Aug.15th, 2021)
Blessed Time: A LitRPG Adventure (Aug. 17th, 2021)
Viridian Gate Online: Schism: A litRPG Adventure (The Heartfire Healer Series Book 2) (Aug. 17th, 2021)
Skurfaifer (Alpha Rome Book 2): LitRPG Series (Aug. 23rd, 2021)
Neverstone: A LitRPG Adventure (The Mad Elf Book 1) (Aug. 24th, 2021)
The Crew (Captains & Cannons Book 2) (Aug. 24th, 2021)
Towers of Acalia: The Reincarnated Core Volume IV (Aug. 25th, 2021)
The White Knight (Tower of Babel Book 3) (Aug. 27th, 2021)
Legendary Dungeon Seed: The Mage's Academy (Vol. 3) (Aug. 30th, 2021)
The Merchant System (Book Two) (Aug. 30th, 2021)
The Entropic Core (The Dungeon of Stories Book 2) (Aug. 31st, 2021)
Forbidden Zone: An Apocalyptic Space Opera LitRPG (The System Apocalypse Book 11) (Sept. 1st, 2021)
Original Enchantment (True Calling LitRPG Book 1) (Sept. 2nd, 2021)
Rival Crowns (Challenger's Call Book 7) (Sept. 6th, 2021)
Frostworld 2: Honor & Iron: A LitRPG/GameLit Viking Adventure (Sept. 7th, 2021)
He Who Fights with Monsters 3: A LitRPG Adventure (Sept. 7th, 2021)
Back to One: A LitRPG/Gamelit Adventure (The Bad Guys Book 7) (Sept. 11th, 2021)
Resurrection: A LitRPG Adventure (Epiphany Realms Book 1) (Sept. 14th, 2021)
Manipulating Magic: An Epic LitRPG Series (Jeff the Game Master Book 2) (Sept. 14th, 2021)
An Agonizing Day and A Dread Knight: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure (Bone Knight Book 6) (Sept. 17th, 2021)
Immersion Online: The Zealot : Book 2 - A LitRPG Novel (Immersion Online: Lit RPG) (Sept. 19th, 2021)
Soulstream (Rise To Omniscience Book 10) (Sept. 23rd, 2021)
Clan Dominance: The Sleepless Ones (Book #8): LitRPG Series (Sept. 27th, 2021)
Empire Ascendant: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 6) (Sept. 28th, 2021)
Phinean & Jaleal's Unsanctioned Adventure (A LitRPG Novel) (Sept. 30th, 2021)
Cat Core, Book 2, Lich's Bargain (A Dungeon Core, LitRPG Adventure) (Sept. 30th, 2021)
Arbiter (Underdog Book #7): LitRPG Series (Sept. 30th, 2020)
Order: A Superhero LitRPG Adventure (VR Hero Book 4) (Oct. 1st, 2021)
Betrayal of the Arcani: Beginnings (A Real LitRPG series) (Oct. 1st, 2021)
Idea (Starting Point Book #1): LitRPG Series (Oct. 1st, 2021)
They Called Me Maddest: A LitRPG Apocalypse Series (Oct. 5th, 2021)
The Archon (Project Stellar Book 5): LitRPG Series (Oct. 11th, 2021)
Kingdom of Sails: A LitRPG/GameLit Series (World of Magic Book 2) (Oct. 12th, 2021)
Defending Earth (In the System Book #3): LitRPG Series (Oct. 14th, 2021)
Daemonorg Colossus: A Dark LitRPG / LitFPS SciFi-Shooter (Overtaken Online Book 4) (Oct. 15th, 2021)
Infinite Dark: A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG Fantasy: (Cowboy Necromancer Book Two) (Oct. 15th, 2021)
Drakon Prince: A LitRPG/GameLit Adventure (Oct. 19th, 2021)
Player Reached the Top. LitRPG Series. Book VII (Oct. 21st, 2021)
The Nemesis of the Living (An NPC's Path Book #5): LitRPG Series (Oct. 26th, 2021)
Onto New Releases and Reviews
(Play Music 3)
New Releases and Reviews
(Picture 1)
Winter Solstice: Book 4 (The Wandering Inn)
Home. It is time to go home, but home changes.
Erin Solstice is going home, but everyone else seems to be leaving. The Goblin Lord is following Rags and Garen Redfang to the mountain of Goblins where the Great Chieftain, Tremborag waits.
Ceria and Pisces are far from home, the home of [Mages] where they once met. Wistram Academy. Under winter's umbrella, the two meet, and explore how they were first friends, and enemies in Wistram Days, as well as what forced the two apart.
Ryoka Griffin runs north, and her travels lead her to meet possible allies, or at least...another friend from home. The first winter of innworld comes with strange meetings, reunions, and Christmas cheer...and perhaps too much snow.
My Opinion: 1109 pages, $3.99, Not Available On Kindle Unlimited
Entertaining but Smaller story arcs this time
This is an entertaining entry in the series but it does highlight the serial origins of the story. The first half is split between Rag, the smart goblin, and her journey to lead and prepare her tribe to fight the Goblin Lord, and backstory for the mage characters Pisces and Ceria as they attend the famous Wistram Academy. The last half of the book returns to Erin and her journey back to her inn and catches up with Rioka the runner. The story brings in some of the side characters from the last book as they meet the main cast, but for the most part the book feels like a collection of side stories. They are good stories but there’s not much progress on any major storylines. Nor are there any really big conflicts. The storyline with Rags had the most action, but there were other kinds of conflicts in the stories that kept things entertaining.
Oh, just as a side note. I thought the Christmas stuff was very cute.
Overall, while the book is entertaining, it really did feel like a collection of short stories put together. Which isn’t bad since I liked all the characters. It’s just a reminder that this is originally a serial series published online which means tighter smaller story arcs sometimes.
Score: 7.7 out of 10
Winter Solstice: Book 4 (The Wandering Inn)
Enemy of the Inferno (Disgardium Book #8): LitRPG Series
After returning to Cali Bottom and the wider world of Disgardium, Alex realizes that the Demonic Games were a vacation compared to the problems he now faces.He has to help the beta players stuck in the Nether and decide what to do with his friends who ‘betrayed’ him; identify a real traitor and prepare for the citizenship tests; and reach the Inferno to obtain Coals of Hellflame and destroy the Nucleus, whose legates, now free, have gained new powers thanks to the pantheon of dark gods who have joined the Destroying Plague. And as it turns out, there’s more to the third Sleeping God than meets the eye…
My Opinion: 449 pages, $6.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
Story feels like it's stretching out but still good
*Full disclosure: I received an advanced copy for review. I purchased a copy when it became available.
The eighth book in the series continues to push the conflict between the game company, the old gods, and the sleeping gods. There’s long scale conflict from the start and some decent training/leveling stuff. But the real change is the shift for the main character (MC) to the complete other side of the realm. It was interesting to see the MC play as a demon in that realm and I look forward to seeing how that plays out in future stories.
I’m starting to feel like the series is stretching out a bit too long without an end in sight, but it’s still entertaining enough that I’ll stick with it for a few more books.
Score: 7.3 out of 10
Enemy of the Inferno (Disgardium Book #8): LitRPG Series
The Crow Cycle Book #1: LitRPG Series
The Crow Cycle is set in the world of Waldyra, its events echoing the story of Clan Dominance: The Sleepless Ones, a cult LitRPG series by the same author. Nonetheless, The Crow Cycle has a completely standalone plot. Each series is connected to the main storyline and shows certain characters from different points of view, revealing information about their past or explaining the background of events already known to the reader from earlier series.
The world of Waldyra treats its inhabitants differently. Some of them, appearing out of nowhere, suddenly receive unique achievements and quests; they become living legends and idols while basking in the limelight. And there are those who call Waldyra home. They do not play, but rather live in this colorful magic world. They do not get anything unique or legendary in return.
Perhaps they are just unlucky? Or maybe they don't need the hype, and they are content with their simple existence? Or could there be something special about a peaceful and well-planned life? Who knows... As the old saying goes, "Only time will tell."
At the foot of the foreboding Gray Peak lies a desolate valley. These are the backwoods of the world of Waldyra—they offer nothing valuable to players, who rarely visit as a result. Yet this is the very place where the calm and good-natured dwarf named Crow is headed. Straight after leaving the Crèche, he hopes to make a living there. This hero does not crave epic battles with monsters. Quite the contrary. He wants to be a merchant and develop his blacksmithing skills, while staying far away from fighting, long voyages, and clan squabbles. But, as it often happens, if you want peace, be ready for war...
My Opinion: 333 pages, $3.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
Full Disclosure: I received an advanced copy for review. I purchased a copy when it became available
This is a story set in the Waldyra (formerly Valdira) universe. You don’t need to have read the Clan Dominance series, but there are some easter eggs in the story if you have. Otherwise this can be read as a completely standalone story.
The story is a slice of life tale about a player who restarts in the VRMMO and uses his high level knowledge to build a character that focuses on early stat gains, blacksmithing, and commerce as goals. The area the player chooses to restart is a newly built outpost that doesn’t even have a player town to support it. Which is exactly what the main character (MC) wants as it gives him a chance to buy land early before trade starts. Most of the early story is about the low level MC toiling away for reputation, non-level gained stats, and any small resource he can gain from the area while sticking to the safe zone of the local outpost. It's probably my favorite part of the story since it shows off a well prepared character willing to do all kinds of small tedious work to gain benefits that will snowball later. Mid story shows off the MC leveling, hitting local mobs, but still trying to gain resources for his goals. More action here. Late story shows off the gains for the MC along with an introduction to other players coming in. There’s a little tie in to the events in the main series, Clan Dominance, but nothing that spoils the story if you haven’t read that series.
Overall, it’s a good slice of life story with a frontier, start from the ground up, kind of vibe. An easy entry into the story universe that can easily be read on its own.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
The Crow Cycle Book #1: LitRPG Series
Lion's Quest 4: Charmed
Leo Lennox is the world’s best gamer.
But what if he isn’t really playing a game?
In the real world, the line between game and alternative reality becomes more blurred, and Leo seeks answers from the web of conspiracy surrounding Zarra.
In Ohlavar Quest, Leo and his faithful friends must protect the newly crowned queen from necromancers across the sea. Leo knows he’s outmatched, so he enlists the help of two deadly and very beautiful women. One who dances with swords and flirty words, and one who wields dark magic and aims to seduce him.
My Opinion: 700ish pages, $9.99, Only Available on author’s site
Perhaps my expectations were too high for this book. It has been 4 years since book 3 in the series came out and it was so good that I expected something similar with this one. Instead the story just didn't work for me.
I think part of the issue for me is just the large bit of time between publishing the books. 4 years is a long time and I might have lost a connection to side characters. An additional issue may be that book 3 was written at a very different time for the author. One where he was catering to the LitRPG audience on Amazon. Now though, he's moved on. The author turned lemons into lemonade after he was banned from the Amazon platform and does phenomenally well publishing on his own platform. His audience these days is more of a fantasy harem crowd and that change in writing shows here. There's graphic sex in the story now, the RPG elements (though they show up regularly) don't feel like they mean as much, and the story feels pushed to a degree towards some revelations that might have taken longer if the series had played out like was originally planned.
Overall, while there was nothing wrong with the writing itself, I was just a bit disappointed with the story. Characters that I’d liked, like Cornalic, felt less fleshed out than in previous books. The romantic relationships came to a head, though it felt a bit rushed (and graphic). The action is all right, but there was definitely less of an RPG world vibe for the story, which does mesh with the ending, but it still felt less game-like than in past books. The end sort of makes up for the adventures but not enough to save it for me. I wish I liked it more. I’m a huge fan of the author and have always rooted for his success. Though I'll note there are plenty of other readers who thought it was fine. So, go check it out for yourself, but it didn’t work for me.
Score: 6 out of 10
https://michaelscottearle.com/products/lions-quest-04-charmed
True John Crusade: A Dark Fantasy GameLit (The New World Adventures of Dan Book 2)
One Man, One Bat, One Apocalypse
When the end of the world arrives, people know they can always count on a hero.
A John, and there is always a John.
Be it a Sheppard, Sheridan, Lee, Constantine, or Spartan.
One True John to save the world, but until they can find him, they'll have to make do with Dan.
As undead pour into the suburbs and more monsters flood the cities, will Dan and the crusaders be able to stem the tide?
My Opinion: 154 pages, $3.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
I liked book 1 of the series. The main character (MC) while kind of an idiot, was likable enough that I wanted to see him survive the RPG apocalypse. Not this time though. Book 2 strips away most of the stuff I liked about book 1 without replacing it with anything else. The MC is still kind of a goof but his interactions with the crusaders felt like a complete waste of time and I would have liked it better if he was still on his own. There wasn’t really a sense of danger or tension anywhere in the story and why the MC kept taking orders from the crusaders was beyond me. Story just didn’t work for me anymore.
Score: 6 out of 10
True John Crusade: A Dark Fantasy GameLit (The New World Adventures of Dan Book 2)
Heroes of Last Resort (The Other Guys Book 1)
Jack Jensen is a middle-aged nobody who lives a lackluster life in an even more uninteresting town. Having sampled every job the small town of Merrill, Wisconsin has to offer, he has excelled at nothing but growing his beer gut and his luxurious curly, chestnut brown hair. His life is one of unrealized potential and lack of direction.
Things change one morning when his brother, an Army Major, lands his helicopter in the parking lot of Jack’s less-than-profitable gaming store in a desperate bid to thrust the perennial slacker into the role of saving the country, the world, and even more unlikely, himself.
My Opinion: 320 pages, $4.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
*Push past the start*
The opening of the story was honestly a little off putting. It didn’t quite make sense why the military couldn’t send well trained soldiers into the other worldly portal and a regular guy could just cause he played games. Also, the opening relies a bit too much on 80s pop culture references, like the authors felt like that was a trope of the genre based on Ready Player One or something.
But push past that and once you actually get into the new world the story improves. You can tell from the character creation section that the authors are pulling more from a table top experience for the story since the character has background traits that influence him and add bonuses. From there on, it's a slice of life story where the main character (MC) has to face off against an alien group looking to expand into earth by completing quests on a RPG fantasy world.
The game mechanics are regular and should be pretty familiar to any LitRPG reader. There’s regular skill and level gains with the MC choosing a rogue class, though his class doesn’t really mean much since he can learn any skill he wants to including weapon skills, bardic instruments powers, and gatherings skills. The combat notifications took a bit away from what could have been better combat (this does lessen as the story goes on). Which brings me to another odd complaint. There’s a lot of bonuses/skill perks that the MC gets for doing basic things. There’s some story justification attempted, like the MC suddenly knowing how to sneak because he hunted with his grandpa or getting a special skill for first aid cause he was a scout. It’s background information that feels shoved in to justify new powers that the MC really didn’t earn in the story. The sheer number of notifications does lessen as the story hits the midpoint of the story thankfully.
The beginning of the story really doesn’t have much focus. The first part is spent over complicating why the MC is on the RPG world, yet when he gets there he doesn’t do much. There’s one brief fight but mostly a bunch of notifications for doing basic things like starting a campfire, bandaging his wound, or cooking. Then there are just random adventures that don’t have much to do with the main quest to save earth except to get his gamer friends into the world.
It’s not till about 40% in that there’s some direction where the MC and his friends work towards some goals. Which in this case is mostly finishing quests and searching for more pearls to get more of the MCs gamer friends into the world. At this point it feels like the author’s find their pacing and have settled into what kind of story they want. A balance of RPG notifications is found, the action-adventure becomes more prominent, the quests become a bit more cohesive, and dialogue/banter improves as the MC gets his friends in the game. It’s still not a super deeply plotted story, but the slice of life adventure gets a bit more focus.
Overall, it’s a decent story. It takes a while for the authors to find their footing, but it happens as the story leans into the action adventure more.
Score: 7.3 out of 10
Heroes of Last Resort (The Other Guys Book 1)
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(Music 4)